This is not so much a running review as an appreciation of a book by a friend. A book in which, as it happens, five of the twelve stories included were previously published in Supernatural Tales, and so they're obviously first-rate. So instead I'll just muse a little on the contents, and follow the author's neat conceit - that each story is set in a different month of the year, beginning in January.
The January tale is the suitably wintry 'Chambers of the Heart' (from ST 40, 2019). A sensible woman, rather an Aickmanesque character, is employed by a dodgy character to front a questionable business in the Thatcher's London. An unusual visitor requests a meeting with her employer. When this takes place, a portal to Somewhere Else seems to be opened. As the author makes clear in his notes, this is partly a homage to the long tradition of doors in various walls that lead to unlikely places. As such, it is one of the best modern examples. And it's more, thanks to the charm and quirkiness of the Dante-quoting Mr. Aamon.
February sees another great genre tradition revived and rejigged in 'The Other Four O'Clock'. Living up to that excellent title, the story takes us deep into the realms of English folklore, and in particular the legends of towns lost the advancing coast. Dunwich gets a mention as Matt and Samiya explore the environs of their holiday cottage. Matt would have preferred the Algarve, but Samiya wanted East Anglia and birdwatching on the RSPB reserve. Matt, the insomniac of the pair, listens to the chimes of the church bells in the small hours. And at four o'clock in the morning, he hears the chimes of another church, faint with distance.
The story is so enjoyable in part because of the way modern ingredients - Googling on an iPhone - have much the same effect as quizzing garrulous locals in the four-ale bar of the Edwardian ghostly tale. Enough information is gleaned to warn the reader of where Matt is going to end up after he encounters what may be Black Shuck, the legendary dog with glowing eyes. What makes the tale more moving is the way that the couple's love for one another ensures that it will be a double tragedy.
Moving on to March, we find 'The Last House on Mullible Street'. This is another take on a classic theme, albeit in a very different way. The period is the Blitz, the setting London's East End, and the narrators are a group of old men whose reminiscences are being transcribed from tapes by the author. This cleverly combines the traditional approach - 'The following documents came into my hands...' - with a new twist. Here were are offered the voices of working class characters, not as comic supporting characters but playing the central roles in the story.
The house in question belongs to an reclusive Jewish scholar. The voices of the old-timers record how, as teenagers, they resolved to sneak into his house and see if the rumors about him having a hoard of gold were true. What they find is that his real treasure consists of books, lots of them, and that he is not exactly alone. The story is reminiscent of Robert Westall's wartime tales, direct and full of incident, with many authentic details. While not a new story, it's themes - bigotry and how to combat it - remain all too relevant.
(To be continued)
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