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The Clock Strikes Twelve and Other Stories
Collects seven highlighted stories taken from the original hardcover edition.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1940
6 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
H.R. Wakefield
72 books5 followersHerbert Russell Wakefield was an English short story writer, novelist, publisher, and civil servant. Wakefield is best known for his ghost stories, but he produced work outside the field. He was greatly interested in the criminal mind and wrote two non-fiction criminology studies
Used These Alternate Names: H.R. Wakefield, H. Russell Wakefield, Рассел Уэйкфилд?, Herbert Russell Wakefield, Herbert R. Wakefield, Henry Russell Wakefield, Henry R. Wakefield, Sir H. Russell Wakefield, Horace Russell Wakefield
Used These Alternate Names: H.R. Wakefield, H. Russell Wakefield, Рассел Уэйкфилд?, Herbert Russell Wakefield, Herbert R. Wakefield, Henry Russell Wakefield, Henry R. Wakefield, Sir H. Russell Wakefield, Horace Russell Wakefield
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 20, 2025
✭✭✭
“Why I Write Ghost Stories” (1946) ✭✭✭
“Into Outer Darkness” (1940) ✭✭✭½
“The Alley” (1940) ✭✭✭½
“Jay Walkers” (1940) ✭✭✭½
“Ingredient X” (1940) ✭✭✭✭
“‘I Recognized the Voice’” (1940) ✭✭½
“Farewell Performance” (1940) ✭✭✭
“Not Quite Cricket” (1940) ✭✭½
“In Collaboration” (1940) ✭½
“A Stitch in Time” (1940) ✭✭½
“Lucky’s Grove” (1940) ✭✭✭✭
“Red Feathers” (1940) ✭
“Happy Ending” (1940) ✭✭½
“The First Sheaf” (1940) ✭✭✭½
“Masrur” (1940) ✭½
“A Fishing Story” (1935) ✭✭✭
“Used Car” (1932) ✭✭✭
“Death of a Poacher” (1935) ✭✭✭½
“Knock! Knock! Who's There?” (1932) ✭½
“From the Vasty Deep” (1949) ✭✭✭½
“Out of the Wrack I Rise” (1949) ✭✭✭½
“A Black Solitude” (1951) ✭✭✭✭
“Why I Write Ghost Stories” (1946) ✭✭✭
“Into Outer Darkness” (1940) ✭✭✭½
“The Alley” (1940) ✭✭✭½
“Jay Walkers” (1940) ✭✭✭½
“Ingredient X” (1940) ✭✭✭✭
“‘I Recognized the Voice’” (1940) ✭✭½
“Farewell Performance” (1940) ✭✭✭
“Not Quite Cricket” (1940) ✭✭½
“In Collaboration” (1940) ✭½
“A Stitch in Time” (1940) ✭✭½
“Lucky’s Grove” (1940) ✭✭✭✭
“Red Feathers” (1940) ✭
“Happy Ending” (1940) ✭✭½
“The First Sheaf” (1940) ✭✭✭½
“Masrur” (1940) ✭½
“A Fishing Story” (1935) ✭✭✭
“Used Car” (1932) ✭✭✭
“Death of a Poacher” (1935) ✭✭✭½
“Knock! Knock! Who's There?” (1932) ✭½
“From the Vasty Deep” (1949) ✭✭✭½
“Out of the Wrack I Rise” (1949) ✭✭✭½
“A Black Solitude” (1951) ✭✭✭✭
October 22, 2025
•Why I Write Ghost Stories
•Into Outer Darkness ⭐⭐
•The Alley ⭐⭐
•Jay Walkers ⭐⭐
• Ingredient X ⭐⭐
•"I Recognised the Voice" ⭐⭐
•Farewell Performance ⭐⭐
•Not Quite Cricket ⭐⭐
•In Collaboration ⭐⭐
•A Stitch in Time ⭐⭐
•Lucky's Grove ⭐⭐⭐
•Red Feathers ⭐⭐
•Happy Ending? ⭐⭐
•The First Sheaf ⭐⭐⭐
•Masrur ⭐⭐
•A Fishing Story ⭐⭐
•Used Car ⭐⭐
•Death of a Poacher ⭐⭐⭐
•Knock! Knock! Who's There? ⭐
•From the Vasty Deep ⭐⭐
•Out of the Wrack I Rise ⭐⭐
•A Black Solitude ⭐⭐⭐
•Into Outer Darkness ⭐⭐
•The Alley ⭐⭐
•Jay Walkers ⭐⭐
• Ingredient X ⭐⭐
•"I Recognised the Voice" ⭐⭐
•Farewell Performance ⭐⭐
•Not Quite Cricket ⭐⭐
•In Collaboration ⭐⭐
•A Stitch in Time ⭐⭐
•Lucky's Grove ⭐⭐⭐
•Red Feathers ⭐⭐
•Happy Ending? ⭐⭐
•The First Sheaf ⭐⭐⭐
•Masrur ⭐⭐
•A Fishing Story ⭐⭐
•Used Car ⭐⭐
•Death of a Poacher ⭐⭐⭐
•Knock! Knock! Who's There? ⭐
•From the Vasty Deep ⭐⭐
•Out of the Wrack I Rise ⭐⭐
•A Black Solitude ⭐⭐⭐
November 8, 2015
Some Very Good Stories
As it is probably pretty apparent by this time that I am a fan of Wakefield's stories (despite certain opinions of the feminine species) it shouldn't surprise you to know that I have enjoyed this one very much. Although, to be honest, not quite as much as his others. The stories just didn't seem as strong or stealthily creepy as some of his other collections.
The strongest in my opinion:
1. The Jaywalkers- Horrible title but very enjoyable story.
2. Lucky's Grove- Just about the best one here. Very creepy and I am very much surprised that it was not in Weird Tales.
3. The First Sheaf- Quite possibly a minor inspiration for 'The Wicker Man'
4. The Old Car- I think that maybe I have read it before, it seems slightly familiar but I'm not sure if it has ever been anthologies. Still, pretty good story
5. " I Recognized the Voice"- I do believe this one (along with Lucky's Grove) tops my list for the best story. It has a wonderful build and tension to it and the twist in the tale is that kind that with some deduction you can guess but still packs a wallop.
The two weakest (to me) are easily 'Red Feathers' which has kind of a ridiculous ending if you picture it in your head. And the other would be 'Masrur'. It wasn't horrible, just a rather weak story altogether.
The altogether best title, however, would be 'Out of the Wrack I Rise'. Great title and the story is pretty good too. It is reminiscent of an earlier story in the collection called 'Farewell Performance'.
I also very much liked the last story in the collection called 'Black Solitude'. I really can't list it as the best or even as strong as the others being that while it seems to be trying to keep things mysterious by not giving much detail or background of the haunting or it's effects that is also what sinks it a little. There is so little by way of explanation that it was a bit of a let down.
All in all though, a very solid collection where even the weaker stories are still very good (and might be more effective for others) and entertaining.
As it is probably pretty apparent by this time that I am a fan of Wakefield's stories (despite certain opinions of the feminine species) it shouldn't surprise you to know that I have enjoyed this one very much. Although, to be honest, not quite as much as his others. The stories just didn't seem as strong or stealthily creepy as some of his other collections.
The strongest in my opinion:
1. The Jaywalkers- Horrible title but very enjoyable story.
2. Lucky's Grove- Just about the best one here. Very creepy and I am very much surprised that it was not in Weird Tales.
3. The First Sheaf- Quite possibly a minor inspiration for 'The Wicker Man'
4. The Old Car- I think that maybe I have read it before, it seems slightly familiar but I'm not sure if it has ever been anthologies. Still, pretty good story
5. " I Recognized the Voice"- I do believe this one (along with Lucky's Grove) tops my list for the best story. It has a wonderful build and tension to it and the twist in the tale is that kind that with some deduction you can guess but still packs a wallop.
The two weakest (to me) are easily 'Red Feathers' which has kind of a ridiculous ending if you picture it in your head. And the other would be 'Masrur'. It wasn't horrible, just a rather weak story altogether.
The altogether best title, however, would be 'Out of the Wrack I Rise'. Great title and the story is pretty good too. It is reminiscent of an earlier story in the collection called 'Farewell Performance'.
I also very much liked the last story in the collection called 'Black Solitude'. I really can't list it as the best or even as strong as the others being that while it seems to be trying to keep things mysterious by not giving much detail or background of the haunting or it's effects that is also what sinks it a little. There is so little by way of explanation that it was a bit of a let down.
All in all though, a very solid collection where even the weaker stories are still very good (and might be more effective for others) and entertaining.
February 20, 2021
The Clock Strikes Twelve and Other Stories is an excellent collection of supernatural short stories. Wakefield tightens the coiled spring at the heart of each tale with impeccable prose. Nothing is left to chance or misunderstanding: when the reader leaps ahead, they land on the spot Wakefield previously swept and garnished.
Full: http://jayrothermel.blogspot.com/2021...
Full: http://jayrothermel.blogspot.com/2021...
August 4, 2025
Yes, right, it's not M.R.James. So what? There are some very effective yarns here, although the first couple are a pair of duds but after those two the creep factor starts to rise.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews