While all the stories lack the murky mystery that pervaded Murray's last novel... the strongest of them read like carefully crafted slices of modern gothic layered with intrigue, suspense and macabre delights ... Read these stories in quick succession and we notice a recurring pattern of tropes and themes. Better just to dip into Murray's collection at leisure to fully appreciate each devilish tale's dark charms.
What raises these stories to a fresh level is the juxtaposition of such tried-and-true tropes against the mundanity of the 21st century ... A masterly recharging of a treasured literary tradition that Murray clearly loves and respects.
Murray provides 10 updated takes on gothic ghost tales ... The cumulative effect of the parade of ghosts may blunt the surprise factor in later stories, but each tale presents a uniquely crafted poltergeist.
Smart if repetitive ... Over time, unfortunately, the formula loses its impact ... Still, on their own, Murray’s gothic stories pulsate with ornate prose ... Each story has plenty of spookiness and intelligence, though with diminishing returns.
