As with most collections, the stories in Haunted Houses vary in impact, but there isn’t a weak entry in the bunch.
High Point: “The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James
Low Point: “The Spook House” by Ambrose Bierce
Authors: Various (D.K. Publishing, editors)
Publication Date: 2020
Genre: Horror
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Haunted Houses is a fun anthology best read at the rate of one or two stories at a time. Giving yourself a short break will enhance the pleasure of these classics.
As with most collections, the stories vary in impact, but there isn’t a weak entry in the bunch. The lineup reads like a who’s who of classic literature, including authors like H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe and H.G. Wells.
Although each story centers around a haunted house, the tones shift nicely from story to story. Some are truly spooky such as “The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James; some are outright creepy like “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman; and some are pure fun like “The Canterville Ghost” by Oscar Wilde. And the last story—“The Open Window” by Saki—has a twist that is the perfect way to conclude this collection.
Once you’ve worked through the entire anthology, you’ll find this book is the kind you’ll want to revisit from time to time. Like a good movie, you’ll notice new things the next time you tour Haunted Houses.
Movie/TV Adaptations
The Innocents (Turn of the Screw) (1961); The House of Usher (1960); The Canterville Ghost (1944); The Yellow Wallpaper (2021)
Sources For This Book
Free eBook (Project Gutenberg): Not available
Free Audiobook (LibriVox): Not available
Available to Purchase: AbeBooks, Biblio, Thriftbooks
