Episodes
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On a bustling Christmas Eve, John Mudbury, an ordinary man with an ordinary family, has been Christmas shopping. Under his arms, he carries presents for his wife and three children.
As he starts his journey home, the familiar streets of London give way to increasingly strange encounters. Mudbury navigates an increasingly bewildering series of events, where the line between the familiar and the uncanny blurs.
With each step, the veil between worlds grows thinner until he arrives home with presents in hand and finds things very strange indeed.
Algernon Blackwood's "Transition: A Christmas Ghost Story With A Twist" masterfully blends the mundane with the supernatural.
A very sweet ghost story for Christmas
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A Humorous Victorian Ghost Story for Christmas
Set against the charming backdrop of Cornwall's picturesque villages and folklore-filled hedges, "The Vicar's Ghost" by Lucy Farmer weaves a tale of intrigue and whimsy. During a Christmas visit, Lucy, her son Charley, and Aunt Martha become embroiled in a series of mysterious events at the vicarage. Charley's sighting of an enigmatic clergyman leads to Aunt Martha revealing a local legend of a vicar who died many years ago and whose ghost is said to return each year, accompanied by eerie disturbances. As a winter storm brews, the story transforms into a light-hearted romp, reminiscent of a Victorian-era adventure, with the community rallying to solve the mystery.
Unraveling the tale, Lucy and her companions discover that apparitions might not be as supernatural as they seem, hinting at Victorian times being unexpectedly "progressive." The story unfolds with a blend of humor and suspense, reminiscent of a playful detective story. As secrets hidden as a silver sixpence in a Christmas pudding come to light, it becomes clear that truth is sometimes stranger—and more delightful—than fiction. The captivating conclusion leaves both the characters and readers pondering the charming complexities of reality and folklore.
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On a stormy Christmas night in Ireland in 1843, a warm peat fire blazes inside Andy Sweeny's simple home while a fiddler plays jigs and reels for those gathered.
Suddenly, a piercing cry is heard from the darkness outside—a cry of anguish, a cry for help!
Against his wife's advice, Andy Sweeny opens the door. A stranger, breathless and pursued by shadows, stumbles across the threshold.
He falls to the floor, and as the party-goers help him up, he asks one haunting question: "Do you believe in ghosts?"
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What lurks in forgotten rooms?
In an ancient Tudor mansion in the remotest English countryside, a young heiress's pride becomes her downfall.
Rosa enters a room that servants shun. As she tries to sleep, strange noises keep her awake until she finally realizes the true horror of her situation.
Through a seemingly endless night, Rosa is pushed to the very limit of her sanity, and when dawn comes, she sees with terror that she is still not safe.
Perhaps some rooms should remain locked and wise girls should run away...
Published by John Berwick Harwood anonymously in 1861
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An innocent autumn walk turns into a nightmare of supernatural terror.
A lone traveler seeks solace in the misty hills of Surrey, expecting nothing more than a peaceful day of landscape exploration. Instead, he encounters three children who are far from ordinary—two exotic Indian girls and a golden-haired boy with an unsettling presence.
What begins as a curious meeting spirals into a bone-chilling encounter that defies explanation. Strange music echoes through ancient woods. A snake moves with impossible precision. And suddenly, the traveler finds himself trapped, facing a ritual of unimaginable menace, where children hold powers beyond human comprehension.
As darkness falls and reality blurs, one question remains: Who are these children, and what do they want?
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And so it begins... my run up to Christmas. This isn't a massively Christmassy story though it takes place at Christmas.
Who's really in the lift?
In L.P. Hartley's "Someone in the Lift," a young boy's festive hotel stay turns into a chilling encounter with the unknown. As he repeatedly glimpses a shadowy figure in the elevator, his parents' dismissals only deepen the mystery. The line between childhood imagination and genuine supernatural presence blurs, leading to a haunting climax that defies easy explanation. Hartley's masterful storytelling weaves innocence, fear, and the uncanny into a tapestry of unease that clings to the mind like frost on a winter window.
Listen to this classic ghost story and decide for yourself: is there truly someone in the lift? Ha ha ha ha! (etc)
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Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work
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Do The Dead Appear At Noon?
In the leafy paths of Kensington Gardens, where Victorian ladies take their morning walks, one woman feels an impossible touch. Not in darkness, but in searching daylight. Not with terror, but with recognition that defies reason.
Someone watches her from behind curtained windows, measuring time with a doctor's patience. Family ties can bind or strangle, and some kinds of protection leave no visible trace.
Wilkie Collins crafts a story where morning sunshine holds more mysteries than midnight, where what cannot be seen might prove more solid than shadow, and where the line between protection and possession blurs in the space between heartbeats.
Take a while out of your busy day and listen to "Mrs. Zant and the Ghost," where daylight offers no refuge from what waits beyond the veil
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In Charlotte Riddell's "The Old House in Vauxhall Walk," a young man's desperate search for shelter leads him into a world where past and present collide. As Graham Coulton unravels the mysteries of a haunted Victorian mansion, he confronts the spectral remnants of greed, regret, and unfinished business. This ghostly tale weaves together themes of redemption, social responsibility, and the enduring consequences of our choices. Riddell's nuanced approach to the supernatural offers more than mere scares; it presents a poignant reflection on morality and human nature in Victorian society. If you're intrigued by stories that blend historical insight with otherworldly encounters, consider giving this classic ghost story a listen.
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In the shadowy corners of Arkham, where ancient gables loom and whispers of eldritch horrors echo through time-worn streets, lies the infamous Witch House.
Within its warped walls, young Walter Gilman finds himself ensnared in a web of mathematical arcana and otherworldly terror. As he delves deeper into non-Euclidean geometries and the forbidden lore of long-dead sorceress Keziah Mason,
Gilman's fevered dreams begin to blur the boundaries between reality and nightmare. H.P. Lovecraft's "The Dreams in the Witch House" weaves a tale of cosmic dread and insidious witchcraft, where the very fabric of space and time unravels before the protagonist's—and the reader's—horrified gaze.
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In *The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar*, Edgar Allan Poe presents a gripping tale where the boundaries of life and death are pushed in ways both fascinating and unnerving. The story unfolds with clinical precision, yet reveals a deeper, more disturbing reality that lingers long after the last word. If you’re drawn to stories that provoke thought and unsettle in equal measure, this is one you won’t want to miss. Listen now for an experience that quietly questions the limits of science and the mysteries that lie beyond.
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Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out.
You can choose to have ghost stories only, or detective stories or classic literature, or all of them for either $5 or $10 a month.
Many hundreds of hours of stories. Who needs Audible?
Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work
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In the shadowy tunnels of the London Underground, Laura Munro encounters a ghostly figure from the past that will unravel the very fabric of her family history.
R. Chetwynd-Hayes' "The Underground" weaves a haunting tale of wartime secrets, generational trauma, and the spectral echoes that linger long after the bombs have fallen silent.
As Laura navigates the claustrophobic world beneath the city streets, she finds herself drawn into a mystery that blurs the lines between the living and the dead, challenging her understanding of both her family and herself. This chilling story explores the depths of human guilt and the power of unresolved grief, all set against the backdrop of post-war Britain's changing social landscape.
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In a dimly lit room on Curwen Street, an old wooden table bears the stains of countless encounters. A mysterious woman offers a strange drink, and memories begin to blur.
What starts as a simple recollection of childhood fears spirals into a haunting journey of self-discovery.
As the lines between past and present, memory and reality fade, one question emerges: who really sits at this table, and what awaits in the small, windowless room at the top of the stairs? This chilling tale explores the inevitability of fate and the secrets we keep, even from ourselves.
Here's a short story that I've written for my forthcoming live readings around Halloween. People have been asking me to post more of my own, so here you are.
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In the remote Serbian countryside of 1759, a young French diplomat finds himself entangled in a chilling tale of familial love twisted by ancient superstition. As night falls on a secluded village, the air thick with dread, he witnesses a family's agonising vigil for their patriarch's return.
But when the old man appears precisely at the appointed hour, an unsettling question arises: has he come back as the loving father they remember, or as something far more sinister?
Aleksei Tolstoy's "The Family of the Vourdalak" weaves a haunting narrative where the lines between the living and the undead blur, and where the warmth of hearth and home may conceal the coldest of horrors.
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Henry Fern, an elitist who nevertheless lives a most un-elite life, finds himself drawn to Venice by a recurring dream of romance and connection. His arrival in the famed city brings not the fulfillment of his fantasies, but a stark confrontation with decay and disillusionment. As Fern grapples with his shattered expectations, a mysterious encounter leads him on a haunting gondola ride through Venice's shadowy canals. What begins as a journey to reclaim a lost dream soon unravels into a chilling exploration of desire, mortality, and the thin line between reality and nightmare. This narration delves into the depths of human longing and the sometimes terrifying consequences of pursuing our deepest wishes.
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Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out.
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19 Great Hanover Street by Lillie Harris
In the shadows of Victorian England, 19 Great Hanover Street stands as a silent witness to unspeakable horrors. Dr. Alan Forsyth, a man of science and reason, finds his convictions challenged as he confronts a terrifying presence that defies explanation. As the boundary between the living and the dead blurs, Forsyth must unravel the dark history of his new residence before it claims him as its next victim. Lillie Harris weaves a chilling tale that explores the limits of rationality and the power of the unknown, leaving readers questioning what truly lurks in the corners of their own homes
Thanks to Ed Winter for sponsoring this episode.
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In the quiet, rural expanse of Eastern England, a young man unexpectedly inherits an old, isolated estate filled with mysteries long buried by time. As Mr Humphreys explores his newfound inheritance, a labyrinthine maze within the garden begins to reveal profound, unsettling secrets. With every step deeper into the maze's heart, the line between past and present blurs, unveiling a haunting legacy that threatens to consume more than just his curiosity. Join Humphreys as he uncovers the chilling echo of his family's history and the malevolent forces lurking in the shadows of Wilsthorpe Hall.
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Thanks to Ed W. for sponsoring this classic Victorian tale.
In Victorian London, a once-grand mansion holds secrets that span generations. When Edgar Stainton inherits the property, he uncovers more than just dust and decay. Charlotte Riddell's "The Walnut-Tree House" weaves a tale of a child's ghost, a missing will, and long-buried family truths. Through her nuanced storytelling, Riddell examines the injustices of 19th-century society, using the supernatural to illuminate very real human struggles. This is a story where the past refuses to stay silent, and where redemption comes from unexpected places.
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Deep within the Special Books Collection of a time-honored Scottish university, a darkly potent grimoire is secured under lock and iron in an ominously silent room. Previously owned by John, 3rd Earl of Gowrie, a notorious black magic practitioner, the book radiates a malignant presence, its malevolent forces palpably stretching beyond its confinement. Maitland Allan, the sole custodian with access to the key, feels an escalating dread over the powerful tome’s influence. Driven by a mounting sense of responsibility, he seeks out an unlikely ally—an underappreciated colleague from a distant department. In the shadowy enclave of special collections, Maitland reveals the daunting legacy of his burden, hoping to find solace and solution in shared counsel.
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Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out.
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Many hundreds of hours of stories. Who needs Audible?
Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work
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Prepare to be captivated by M.E. Braddon's "The Shadow in the Corner," a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic fiction that will send shivers down your spine. This chilling tale follows the arrival of Maria, a young servant girl, at the foreboding Wildheath Grange. As she settles into her new role, Maria becomes increasingly aware of a mysterious presence that seems to haunt the very walls of the ancient house. Braddon's expert prose builds an atmosphere of creeping dread, blending psychological tension with hints of the supernatural. More than just a ghost story, this narrative offers a compelling glimpse into the social dynamics of 19th-century England, touching on themes of class, gender, and the unseen burdens carried by those on society's margins. Let our narration transport you to a world where the line between reality and the unknown grows ever thinner, and where the shadows in the corner may be more than mere tricks of the light.
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In "The Quest of Iranon," follow the mysterious traveler Iranon as he embarks on a relentless search for a mythical city shrouded in beauty and enigma. Prepare to be spellbound by the surreal landscapes he traverses, the enigmatic beings he encounters, and the eerie truths he unveils along the way. This tale promises to unravel the boundaries between reality and dreams in a way that will leave you questioning your own perceptions.
"The Quest of Iranon" occupies a unique place in H.P. Lovecraft's fiction, showcasing his profound exploration of themes such as longing, existential introspection, and the illusory nature of dreams. While not as overtly cosmic or macabre as some of his other works, this story delves into the psychological and emotional complexities of its protagonist, Iranon, offering a glimpse into Lovecraft's fascination with the human psyche and the transient nature of earthly experiences. Within the tapestry of Lovecraft's mythos, "The Quest of Iranon" stands out as a poignant and introspective narrative that blends elements of fantasy and existential contemplation, inviting readers to ponder the fragile boundaries between reality and fantasy.
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