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The Macabre Collection
The Macabre Collection (Box set) by David Haynes
Step onto the shadowy streets of Victorian London and experience the terror of The Macabre Collection.Three books of horror for your darkly delicious entertainment...Mask of the Macabre (13,000 words in total)The date is January 10th 1866 and the snow is falling thick on the blood soaked streets of a murderous London...Mask of The Macabre - A travelling magician appears with a gruesome show. But what secret does it hide?Doctor Harvey - Bethlem lunatic asylum's newest patient has a story to tell, but how will he tell it to his doctor? Memento Mori - A photographer is given a mysterious assignment with disturbing consequences.The New Costume. - The entertainer discovers a new string to his bow and gives the finest performance of his career.Ballet of the Bones (13,700 words)London suffocates under the festering reek of its bursting graveyards. Ballet of the Bones - The curtain goes up on the greatest show on earth, but is everything all it seems?The Bone House - The grave digger reflects on his morbid life, but what does his future hold?The Engineer - His creations are beautiful, intricate and for a discerning palate.Encore - The director makes ready for the end of the show.Seance of the Souls (approximately 21,500 words)January 7th 1855Brookwood Cemetery, London.A boy weeps beside the grave of his dead father; his infant sister clings to his leg. It is another pitiless blow for a life already stained with blood.When all those you hold dear have been taken from you, where do you find solace?In the arms of the dead, for the living no longer care.A story of Victorian terror, where all is not quite as it seems...
Paperback
First published June 4, 2013
16 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
David Haynes
26 books214 followersWhen 12 year-old David Haynes picked up a battered copy of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, he never looked back.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 21, 2014
I have read each of these stories under separate cover.
"Mask of the Macabre"
I love the gritty feel of Victorian horror and Haynes does a great job capturing that feel.
Four related horror short stories that are certainly worth checking out!
4 STARS
"Ballet of the Bones"
Cold, calculated and probably insane. I am really enjoying the murderous exploits of William Fettiplace and his sister, Susanna. If the Victorian era had a Hannibal Lecter, it was William Fettiplace...minus the cannibalism (so far!)
4 STARS
"Seance of the Souls"
Cold, calculated and probably insane...that's how I described William Fettiplace and his sister Susanna after reading Ballet of the Bones. After reading Seance of the Souls, I would like to add evil and vengeful. What a horribly nasty pair. Horribly fun to read though.
4 STARS
4 STARS as a collection!
"Mask of the Macabre"
I love the gritty feel of Victorian horror and Haynes does a great job capturing that feel.
Four related horror short stories that are certainly worth checking out!
4 STARS
"Ballet of the Bones"
Cold, calculated and probably insane. I am really enjoying the murderous exploits of William Fettiplace and his sister, Susanna. If the Victorian era had a Hannibal Lecter, it was William Fettiplace...minus the cannibalism (so far!)
4 STARS
"Seance of the Souls"
Cold, calculated and probably insane...that's how I described William Fettiplace and his sister Susanna after reading Ballet of the Bones. After reading Seance of the Souls, I would like to add evil and vengeful. What a horribly nasty pair. Horribly fun to read though.
4 STARS
4 STARS as a collection!
July 15, 2013
Review originally posted at http://digerbop.ca/2013/07/macabre/
Travel with me, if you will, to January 10th, 1866. Top hats are everywhere, pocket-watches are falling from the sky like rain... and people are dying: death by disease and death by intent. What is happening on the streets of Victorian London? More importantly, what is happening inside the minds of those who roam the streets by day or night, allowing the macabre entertainment of the day to become all-consuming.
The Macabre Collection is an omnibus of three "books." Mask of Macabre, Ballet of Bones, and Seance of Souls. The first two instalments in this collection of books are collections of short stories, the third being a novella... but is the formatting of the content what you are reading this review for? Certainly not. You want to know what lies beneath the cover of this dark collection, and whether it is worth your time. Short answer: yes. Long answer...
The Good:
The first thing that stood out to me while reading this collection was the writing style. Mask of Macabre starts by telling you it is January 10th, 1866, and this is certainly not a lie. Not only does David Haynes tell us the date, but he draws us into that time using some kind of other-worldly mechanic: words. The #1 tool at any writer's disposal is their words. They can be used in many different ways - some good and some bad - but it is imperative that they are understood. Haynes sets the scene right from the first sentence, bringing us back to a time when macabre entertainment and all things wild, dark, and disturbing were normative. Not only is the story set in the past, but Haynes somehow manages to get his head into the time so completely that even his writing style takes on the flavour of the era. He is right up there with H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, the flavour of words holding many similarities to the horror authors who have gone before us. David Haynes is able to integrate so well into the time that the reader is no longer sitting on their couch sipping iced-coffee from whatever mug they could find clean that day, but is standing out in the snowy streets of Victorian London, afraid of what may be lurking in the shadows.
Though both Mask of Macabre and Ballet of Bones are groups of short stories, they are not just a random smattering of Haynes writings slapped between two covers. Not only are they set in the same universe/world/time as each other, but one story builds off of the next in a refreshing, engaging, and unique way. All of the stories in this collection are in the same world, but each book focuses on a different character, telling their story from a variety of different perspectives. When starting the second story in Mask of Macabre, I wasn't sure how (or if) it would be connected in any meaningful way. By the time I reached the end of the third story I was so drawn in that I wanted to know what happens next (not next in the strictest sense of a natural chapter progression, but next nonetheless.) It goes without saying that each short story has its own conclusion - as any story should - but the package of Mask of Macabre and Ballet of Bones each tell their own story in their own right. By the time the "conclusion" of the first book roles around, you see how everything comes together and may say "clever" or applaud Haynes with a slow clap. The problem is that the writing style does not allow for such cultural relevances as a "slow clap" and Haynes, being stuck in Victorian London, would not understand the implications of such applause.
Each short story on its own comes together with some grotesque ending in the final paragraphs which reveal a lot about the over-arching story. The reader is enjoying a nice little day on the beach (or rather a dark day on the streets of London) and all of a sudden everything makes sense. The sun comes up, and the shadows of the night are lifting revealing the twilight demons who have been stalking there. The final paragraphs of each story often left me with an appropriate gross feeling vs. the simple darkness the rest of the tale emanates. It's like walking through a swamp at night, not thinking anything of it, but when someone shines a light you can see the slimy mess that you are really walking through. The almost abrupt realizations that are thrown at the reader upon story's end reveal just enough about the over-arching story to keep you interested, but not enough to be obvious. Even after finishing the entire Macabre Collection, there are still a few things that I was scratching my head about, but not in a bad way. David Haynes does not believe in hand-holding, but allows his readers to think for themselves.
The Bad:
No matter how good something is, there is always something that isn't perfect. Fortunately the opposite is true as well. Concerning Mask of Macabre and Ballet of Bones, each short story within these books are from a different point of view. There is some character cross-over and the connectivity of the stories is astounding, but though the POV changes add some flavour, they don't allow for as much character development as I would have liked. Because of the different format in Seance of Souls, this is not the case. Haynes does a good job of getting the reader into the POV character's head, but sometimes I wished that there was more going on within their head before the story came to a close, knowing that I wouldn't hear anything from them again, or if I did, it would be under very different circumstances.
Though each book has a distinct conclusion of its own, I wasn't as impressed with the conclusion of Ballet of Bones. The book was not un-entertaining, but I do feel that it is the weakest of the collection. It is through much pondering that I come to a conclusion as to why this is. Mask of Macabre and Seance of Souls are more closely connected to the over-arching story than Ballet of Bones is. Yes, there is some character cross-over, and yes Ballet of Bones is still set in the same world, but it tells a distinctly unique tale of its own. Seance of Souls brings up a lot of things that were introduced in Mask of Macabre, answering some questions and asking even more. The close relation of the first and third instalments was excellent, but I feel that Ballet of Bones fell a little bit when it came to this.
It should go without saying that if you don't like the grotesque, you probably shouldn't read horror, but I will comment on it here. The extremely disturbing content of this book could put a lot of people off, thus limiting the collection's audience immensely. Despite this fact, taking away the overly grotesque aspects would take too much away from the feel, and never did it feel too over-the-top or gross just for the sake of it. The disturbing "images" were less overt descriptions and more psychological disturbances which are as much as, if not more so, off-putting (for some).
Conclusion:
All in all, this is an excellent collection, and I highly recommend to anyone who likes a dark tale (especially if you are tired of the zombie hordes and over-used ghost children). If you are not turned away by potentially disturbing content and like to get your hands dirty in the mind of some pretty disturbed individuals, this book is for you. Also, if you have ever read and H.P. Lovecraft and enjoyed it, this book will make you feel right at home. The psychological turmoil of the characters is believable and David Haynes never ceases to draw you from your reading chair, placing you right into the scene with his beautifully crafted words.
Travel with me, if you will, to January 10th, 1866. Top hats are everywhere, pocket-watches are falling from the sky like rain... and people are dying: death by disease and death by intent. What is happening on the streets of Victorian London? More importantly, what is happening inside the minds of those who roam the streets by day or night, allowing the macabre entertainment of the day to become all-consuming.
The Macabre Collection is an omnibus of three "books." Mask of Macabre, Ballet of Bones, and Seance of Souls. The first two instalments in this collection of books are collections of short stories, the third being a novella... but is the formatting of the content what you are reading this review for? Certainly not. You want to know what lies beneath the cover of this dark collection, and whether it is worth your time. Short answer: yes. Long answer...
The Good:
The first thing that stood out to me while reading this collection was the writing style. Mask of Macabre starts by telling you it is January 10th, 1866, and this is certainly not a lie. Not only does David Haynes tell us the date, but he draws us into that time using some kind of other-worldly mechanic: words. The #1 tool at any writer's disposal is their words. They can be used in many different ways - some good and some bad - but it is imperative that they are understood. Haynes sets the scene right from the first sentence, bringing us back to a time when macabre entertainment and all things wild, dark, and disturbing were normative. Not only is the story set in the past, but Haynes somehow manages to get his head into the time so completely that even his writing style takes on the flavour of the era. He is right up there with H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, the flavour of words holding many similarities to the horror authors who have gone before us. David Haynes is able to integrate so well into the time that the reader is no longer sitting on their couch sipping iced-coffee from whatever mug they could find clean that day, but is standing out in the snowy streets of Victorian London, afraid of what may be lurking in the shadows.
Though both Mask of Macabre and Ballet of Bones are groups of short stories, they are not just a random smattering of Haynes writings slapped between two covers. Not only are they set in the same universe/world/time as each other, but one story builds off of the next in a refreshing, engaging, and unique way. All of the stories in this collection are in the same world, but each book focuses on a different character, telling their story from a variety of different perspectives. When starting the second story in Mask of Macabre, I wasn't sure how (or if) it would be connected in any meaningful way. By the time I reached the end of the third story I was so drawn in that I wanted to know what happens next (not next in the strictest sense of a natural chapter progression, but next nonetheless.) It goes without saying that each short story has its own conclusion - as any story should - but the package of Mask of Macabre and Ballet of Bones each tell their own story in their own right. By the time the "conclusion" of the first book roles around, you see how everything comes together and may say "clever" or applaud Haynes with a slow clap. The problem is that the writing style does not allow for such cultural relevances as a "slow clap" and Haynes, being stuck in Victorian London, would not understand the implications of such applause.
Each short story on its own comes together with some grotesque ending in the final paragraphs which reveal a lot about the over-arching story. The reader is enjoying a nice little day on the beach (or rather a dark day on the streets of London) and all of a sudden everything makes sense. The sun comes up, and the shadows of the night are lifting revealing the twilight demons who have been stalking there. The final paragraphs of each story often left me with an appropriate gross feeling vs. the simple darkness the rest of the tale emanates. It's like walking through a swamp at night, not thinking anything of it, but when someone shines a light you can see the slimy mess that you are really walking through. The almost abrupt realizations that are thrown at the reader upon story's end reveal just enough about the over-arching story to keep you interested, but not enough to be obvious. Even after finishing the entire Macabre Collection, there are still a few things that I was scratching my head about, but not in a bad way. David Haynes does not believe in hand-holding, but allows his readers to think for themselves.
The Bad:
No matter how good something is, there is always something that isn't perfect. Fortunately the opposite is true as well. Concerning Mask of Macabre and Ballet of Bones, each short story within these books are from a different point of view. There is some character cross-over and the connectivity of the stories is astounding, but though the POV changes add some flavour, they don't allow for as much character development as I would have liked. Because of the different format in Seance of Souls, this is not the case. Haynes does a good job of getting the reader into the POV character's head, but sometimes I wished that there was more going on within their head before the story came to a close, knowing that I wouldn't hear anything from them again, or if I did, it would be under very different circumstances.
Though each book has a distinct conclusion of its own, I wasn't as impressed with the conclusion of Ballet of Bones. The book was not un-entertaining, but I do feel that it is the weakest of the collection. It is through much pondering that I come to a conclusion as to why this is. Mask of Macabre and Seance of Souls are more closely connected to the over-arching story than Ballet of Bones is. Yes, there is some character cross-over, and yes Ballet of Bones is still set in the same world, but it tells a distinctly unique tale of its own. Seance of Souls brings up a lot of things that were introduced in Mask of Macabre, answering some questions and asking even more. The close relation of the first and third instalments was excellent, but I feel that Ballet of Bones fell a little bit when it came to this.
It should go without saying that if you don't like the grotesque, you probably shouldn't read horror, but I will comment on it here. The extremely disturbing content of this book could put a lot of people off, thus limiting the collection's audience immensely. Despite this fact, taking away the overly grotesque aspects would take too much away from the feel, and never did it feel too over-the-top or gross just for the sake of it. The disturbing "images" were less overt descriptions and more psychological disturbances which are as much as, if not more so, off-putting (for some).
Conclusion:
All in all, this is an excellent collection, and I highly recommend to anyone who likes a dark tale (especially if you are tired of the zombie hordes and over-used ghost children). If you are not turned away by potentially disturbing content and like to get your hands dirty in the mind of some pretty disturbed individuals, this book is for you. Also, if you have ever read and H.P. Lovecraft and enjoyed it, this book will make you feel right at home. The psychological turmoil of the characters is believable and David Haynes never ceases to draw you from your reading chair, placing you right into the scene with his beautifully crafted words.
September 15, 2013
I've previously read the components of this collection and can say that this is some of the finest horror I've read in a while, the author truly gets the feel of Victorian horror, here's what I thought of the individual parts:
Mask of the Macabre:
This is a collection of four stories that connect with each other. They are set in Victorian London and is written in a style reminiscent of the penny dreadfuls of the time.
The writing is excellent and stands out compared to the more economical modern style we're used to. The description is lovely and the horror of the stories is remarkable.
Ballet of the Bones:
After reading the previous collection 'The Mask of the Macabre' (if you haven't read that yet - you should) I picked this up immediately hoping for more of the same and I wasn't disappointed. While it follows on loosely from 'Mask of the Macabre', you don't need to have read that to read 'Ballet of the Bones', but as I've already said, if you haven't you should.
'Ballet of the Bones' follows the same format of four short stories that weave in and out of each other. My favourite was the story about the grave digger, but they were all good. The setting is Victorian London and the writing matches that of the period.
Seance of the Souls:
A new horror classic from David Haynes. Having read his previous two short story collections I was sure this would be a good read and I wasn't disappointed. The format has changed slightly, this is a novella rather than a short story collection. The story is set in the same era (Victorian London) as the short stories, but you don't need to have read them to enjoy this - although if you haven't read them yet then you should!
The story itself concerns a young man who has lost everything and his quest to right that wrong. The writing describes his journey perfectly and the style fits the period. Reading it I am drawn to writings of the greats from that age, but also the ornate darkness and gruesomeness of the 'penny dreadfuls'.
There is nothing in this book not to like. The cover is a work or art. I loved this book. If you enjoy proper old fashioned horror tales then you have to read this book. It is simply splendid.
All in all this collection is a must read for all horror fans!
Mask of the Macabre:
This is a collection of four stories that connect with each other. They are set in Victorian London and is written in a style reminiscent of the penny dreadfuls of the time.
The writing is excellent and stands out compared to the more economical modern style we're used to. The description is lovely and the horror of the stories is remarkable.
Ballet of the Bones:
After reading the previous collection 'The Mask of the Macabre' (if you haven't read that yet - you should) I picked this up immediately hoping for more of the same and I wasn't disappointed. While it follows on loosely from 'Mask of the Macabre', you don't need to have read that to read 'Ballet of the Bones', but as I've already said, if you haven't you should.
'Ballet of the Bones' follows the same format of four short stories that weave in and out of each other. My favourite was the story about the grave digger, but they were all good. The setting is Victorian London and the writing matches that of the period.
Seance of the Souls:
A new horror classic from David Haynes. Having read his previous two short story collections I was sure this would be a good read and I wasn't disappointed. The format has changed slightly, this is a novella rather than a short story collection. The story is set in the same era (Victorian London) as the short stories, but you don't need to have read them to enjoy this - although if you haven't read them yet then you should!
The story itself concerns a young man who has lost everything and his quest to right that wrong. The writing describes his journey perfectly and the style fits the period. Reading it I am drawn to writings of the greats from that age, but also the ornate darkness and gruesomeness of the 'penny dreadfuls'.
There is nothing in this book not to like. The cover is a work or art. I loved this book. If you enjoy proper old fashioned horror tales then you have to read this book. It is simply splendid.
All in all this collection is a must read for all horror fans!
September 19, 2014
This collection of short stories is an omnibus edition of Mask of the Macabre, Ballet of the Bones and Séance of the Souls, to give a total of 12 very gothic, creepy short stories portraying the underbelly of Victorian London - the slice of the city that is made up of macabre entertainment such as freak shows and séances and populated by conniving showmen, mediums, spiritualists and charlatans preying on the Victorians' morbid fascination with all things death related. The stories can be read as stand alone tales, but the same characters do crop up throughout the collection to give a feeling of continuity.
The stories are very well written, characters behave and talk appropriately for the times the stories are set in and the descriptions of London are so evocative that you can almost smell the London fog. The tales are gruesome, grisly and macabre with very much a Tales of the Unexpected feel to them and you can almost picture Christopher Lee or Vincent Price as some of the characters. Highly recommended.
The stories are very well written, characters behave and talk appropriately for the times the stories are set in and the descriptions of London are so evocative that you can almost smell the London fog. The tales are gruesome, grisly and macabre with very much a Tales of the Unexpected feel to them and you can almost picture Christopher Lee or Vincent Price as some of the characters. Highly recommended.
May 22, 2024
1.5 stars rounded up to 2.
My Thoughts:
Right here at the start I do want to say that I am not typically an enjoyer of short story collections. I have read a number of them and I pretty much always find them to be mediocre and forgettable. I read at least one collection each year hoping that this time I’ll actually enjoy it. What I’m saying here is take this with a grain of salt.
Unfortunately this is not the collection that is gonna change my opinion on them. The stories we get here are fine but that’s kinda all I can say about them. They are fine. They are ok. They are without any significant fault but also if you’re gonna ask me for reasons why you should read this… I’m not really sure what to say.
The horror elements that we get here are fairly tame so you don’t have to worry about anything particularly brutal or disgusting, but there’s also nothing all that dramatic or inventive. This is clearly a collection of collections with each of the smaller collections having a clear theme. Mask of the Macabre is all about a serial killer who cuts off people’s faces. The theme of Ballet of the Bones is corpses and how they are generally unpleasant. Seance of the Souls is, you’ll never guess this, about talking to the dead and also loss.
All of the stories are related at least a little to the others, mainly through repeat characters showing up in multiple stories. Seance of the Souls is much more explicitly connected as all of the stories in the collection follow the same main character and work out to be almost a novella rather than a collection of short stories.
For me, the strongest story was The Bone House which follows a man who violently takes over as a cemetery groundskeeper to protect the resting spots of his family.
My Thoughts:
Right here at the start I do want to say that I am not typically an enjoyer of short story collections. I have read a number of them and I pretty much always find them to be mediocre and forgettable. I read at least one collection each year hoping that this time I’ll actually enjoy it. What I’m saying here is take this with a grain of salt.
Unfortunately this is not the collection that is gonna change my opinion on them. The stories we get here are fine but that’s kinda all I can say about them. They are fine. They are ok. They are without any significant fault but also if you’re gonna ask me for reasons why you should read this… I’m not really sure what to say.
The horror elements that we get here are fairly tame so you don’t have to worry about anything particularly brutal or disgusting, but there’s also nothing all that dramatic or inventive. This is clearly a collection of collections with each of the smaller collections having a clear theme. Mask of the Macabre is all about a serial killer who cuts off people’s faces. The theme of Ballet of the Bones is corpses and how they are generally unpleasant. Seance of the Souls is, you’ll never guess this, about talking to the dead and also loss.
All of the stories are related at least a little to the others, mainly through repeat characters showing up in multiple stories. Seance of the Souls is much more explicitly connected as all of the stories in the collection follow the same main character and work out to be almost a novella rather than a collection of short stories.
For me, the strongest story was The Bone House which follows a man who violently takes over as a cemetery groundskeeper to protect the resting spots of his family.
May 3, 2023
The Macabre Collection is a collection of three stories: Mask of the Macabre, Ballet of the Bones and Seance of the Souls.
Against the atmospheric setting of Victorian London, the stories explore freak shows and séances, morbid creations and gruesome shows with a mysterious magician willing to go to extreme and disturbing lengths to ensure an unforgettable performance.
Told in elegant language, the collection features murder and portrays Victorians’ morbid obsession with death, turning it all into a theatrical spectacle.
Although each story in the collection can be read independently, there are recurring characters which connect the stories.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a dark, eerie, atmospheric read with beautiful prose.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. The only reason it is not a perfect 5-star read is because I wanted a bit more from the ending.
Against the atmospheric setting of Victorian London, the stories explore freak shows and séances, morbid creations and gruesome shows with a mysterious magician willing to go to extreme and disturbing lengths to ensure an unforgettable performance.
Told in elegant language, the collection features murder and portrays Victorians’ morbid obsession with death, turning it all into a theatrical spectacle.
Although each story in the collection can be read independently, there are recurring characters which connect the stories.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a dark, eerie, atmospheric read with beautiful prose.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. The only reason it is not a perfect 5-star read is because I wanted a bit more from the ending.
May 25, 2017
Different and Enjoyable
This was a different sort of story. I liked it so much that I read it in one sitting. Fast paced with some intriguing twists to the story. Kept me entertained. Three stars for this one.
This was a different sort of story. I liked it so much that I read it in one sitting. Fast paced with some intriguing twists to the story. Kept me entertained. Three stars for this one.
January 6, 2024
4 stars.
February 17, 2024
i really love the writing style but the ending wasn't very good.
September 19, 2019
I adored reading this book and highly recommend it, especially for those who enjoy a good creepy story and/or the darker side of Victorian London.
This is made up of 3 books, the first 2 are made up of short stories, and the third is 1 longer story. The 3 books in this are available to buy/ read separately, but if I can offer this one really useful piece of advice in this review it is to not read them separately, get this version, and read it from start to finish! The reason I suggest this is that each small story is linked, and as you go through and read more about William Fettiplace and his sister Susanna, the more you think they can't possibly get any worse. Of course they do get worse, and again you're forced to continue further through the stories.
I found it un-putdownable, a real page turner. Perfect for reading on a dark winters night when you're curled up alone. The books are deliciously moreish, the scenes of the underbelly of Victorian life are addictive.
I won't give any more away... just read it!!
This is made up of 3 books, the first 2 are made up of short stories, and the third is 1 longer story. The 3 books in this are available to buy/ read separately, but if I can offer this one really useful piece of advice in this review it is to not read them separately, get this version, and read it from start to finish! The reason I suggest this is that each small story is linked, and as you go through and read more about William Fettiplace and his sister Susanna, the more you think they can't possibly get any worse. Of course they do get worse, and again you're forced to continue further through the stories.
I found it un-putdownable, a real page turner. Perfect for reading on a dark winters night when you're curled up alone. The books are deliciously moreish, the scenes of the underbelly of Victorian life are addictive.
I won't give any more away... just read it!!
October 21, 2013
David Haynes’ “The Macabre Collection” is a paperback that contains three stories originally released in ebook format. At the request of his fans, Mr. Haynes released this box-set for your “darkly delicious entertainment”. Mask of the Macabre, Ballet of the Bones, and Séance of the Souls takes you to the streets, theaters, shops and yes, graveyards of Victorian London. I’ll not lift the veil on Haynes’ morbid world, but suffice it to say, if you are a dark horror enthusiast, look no farther than “The Macabre Collection”. You will not be disappointed. Very highly recommended.
February 7, 2016
David Haynes takes you on a dark and cruel journey into the perversion in Victorian London. See the horrors perpetrated by the blackest hearts and minds of society. Discover the true depths to which mankind can descend, all brought together in vivid detail. I look forward to more books by this author. His stories are quite bizarre, not for the faint of heart!
October 1, 2015
This is the first book I've read by David Haynes, and I haven't read much Victorian horror, and I really enjoyed this. Very atmospheric, and I liked the fact that even though the first two were short stories, there was a link between all of them, very cleverly done.
Will definitely read more by David Haynes.
Will definitely read more by David Haynes.
April 5, 2016
Fantastic
Really enjoyed this book. It put together the fascinating and gory trends of the Victorian era in page turning stories that intertwine with each other. You know a story is good when your left with wanting more, I just hope the author hasn't finished with the grisly brother and sister duo.
Really enjoyed this book. It put together the fascinating and gory trends of the Victorian era in page turning stories that intertwine with each other. You know a story is good when your left with wanting more, I just hope the author hasn't finished with the grisly brother and sister duo.
February 9, 2016
Really enjoyable book, loved the writing style and the clever weaving of several stories together.
May 20, 2019
Outstanding.....
I had stopped reading ghost and horror stories years ago, tired of their worn out cliches and abject failure to even raise a yawn. In this collection, David Haynes does something very few in the genre manages: genuine suspense, chill, and beautifully written, with an unguessable denouement.
I had stopped reading ghost and horror stories years ago, tired of their worn out cliches and abject failure to even raise a yawn. In this collection, David Haynes does something very few in the genre manages: genuine suspense, chill, and beautifully written, with an unguessable denouement.
April 14, 2023
4.5 I really love the way all of the short stories in this collection and interwoven. I did find the last portion, the Seance of Souls, to be the weakest of the three but still offered a satisfying conclusion. I’d definitely read more by the author.
August 3, 2017
I was very surprised at how well written this book was! A fabulous collection of gothic Victorian short stories that are full of unsettling atmosphere. A quick read but a very enjoyable one.
June 23, 2024
Tag yourself, who are you from the stories?
I'm the desiccated baby corpse that the nefarious siblings doted on.
I'm the desiccated baby corpse that the nefarious siblings doted on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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