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13 British Horror Stories
Thirteen creepy, atmospheric stories by Rayne Hall, all set in Britain.
This collection includes:
Take me to St Roch's
Seagulls
Never Leave Me
Double Rainbows
Scruples
Through the Tunnel
The Devil You Know
I Dived the Pandora
Four Bony Hands
Beltane
Druid Stones.
Burning
Only a Fool
The stories have been previously published in magazines, ezines, anthologies and collections. Some are also included in the Six Scary Tales books.
The words, spellings, grammar and punctuation are British English.
This collection includes:
Take me to St Roch's
Seagulls
Never Leave Me
Double Rainbows
Scruples
Through the Tunnel
The Devil You Know
I Dived the Pandora
Four Bony Hands
Beltane
Druid Stones.
Burning
Only a Fool
The stories have been previously published in magazines, ezines, anthologies and collections. Some are also included in the Six Scary Tales books.
The words, spellings, grammar and punctuation are British English.
- GenresHorrorFictionAnthologies
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
4 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Rayne Hall
115 books1,437 followersRayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction, some of it quirky, most of it dark. She is the author of over sixty books in different genres and under different pen names, published by twelve publishers in six countries, translated into several languages. Her short stories have been published in magazines, e-zines and anthologies.
After living in Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, she has settled in a small Victorian seaside town in southern England. Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more. Outside publishing, she worked as a museum guide, apple
picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, trade fair hostess, translator and belly dancer.
Currently, Rayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction and tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can republish them as e-books.
Her books on the writing craft (Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, The Word-Loss Diet, Writing Dark Stories, Writing About Villains, Writing Short Stories to Promote Your Novel, Writing About Magic, Twitter for Writers) are bestsellers.
Rayne Hall is the editor of the Ten Tales anthologies:
"Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires"
"Scared: Ten Tales of Horror"
"Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts"
"Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates"
"Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft"
"Spells: Ten Tales of Magic"
"Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies"
"Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance"
"Dragon: Ten Tales of Fiery Beasts"
"Cogwheels: Ten Tales of Steampunk"
with more titles coming soon.
The stories in her Six Scary Tales series and the Thirty Scary Tales collection are subtle horror: suspenseful, creepy atmospheric, unsettling. Although they contain little violence and gore, they may not be suitable for young readers. Many of these stories have been previously published in other books or magazines.
British English: All Rayne Hall's books use British words, spellings, grammar and punctuation. If you're allergic to British English, avoid them. ;-)
Mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/boqJzD
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/raynehal...
YouTube "Ten Random Facts about Rayne Hall" (2 minute video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXR4T...
Contact Rayne Hall on Twitter
@RayneHall follows back writers and readers. http://twitter.com/RayneHall
After living in Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, she has settled in a small Victorian seaside town in southern England. Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more. Outside publishing, she worked as a museum guide, apple
picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, trade fair hostess, translator and belly dancer.
Currently, Rayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction and tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can republish them as e-books.
Her books on the writing craft (Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, The Word-Loss Diet, Writing Dark Stories, Writing About Villains, Writing Short Stories to Promote Your Novel, Writing About Magic, Twitter for Writers) are bestsellers.
Rayne Hall is the editor of the Ten Tales anthologies:
"Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires"
"Scared: Ten Tales of Horror"
"Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts"
"Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates"
"Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft"
"Spells: Ten Tales of Magic"
"Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies"
"Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance"
"Dragon: Ten Tales of Fiery Beasts"
"Cogwheels: Ten Tales of Steampunk"
with more titles coming soon.
The stories in her Six Scary Tales series and the Thirty Scary Tales collection are subtle horror: suspenseful, creepy atmospheric, unsettling. Although they contain little violence and gore, they may not be suitable for young readers. Many of these stories have been previously published in other books or magazines.
British English: All Rayne Hall's books use British words, spellings, grammar and punctuation. If you're allergic to British English, avoid them. ;-)
Mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/boqJzD
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/raynehal...
YouTube "Ten Random Facts about Rayne Hall" (2 minute video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXR4T...
Contact Rayne Hall on Twitter
@RayneHall follows back writers and readers. http://twitter.com/RayneHall
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 19, 2014
These stories have a delightfully old-fashioned feel reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier and Shirley Jackson. Here are tales about ghosts and vanishing hitchhikers, angry birds, dangerous druids and things that go bump in the night. They would be perfect for someone looking for spooky stories that aren't too bloody or violent.
Hall seems to realize that real horror lies in the suspense, the anticipation and the dread - not in a graphic and gory description of the thing that lies waiting at the end of the darkened hallway.
So, technically, I guess these ARE your granny's horror stories...and there's nothing wrong with that!
Hall seems to realize that real horror lies in the suspense, the anticipation and the dread - not in a graphic and gory description of the thing that lies waiting at the end of the darkened hallway.
So, technically, I guess these ARE your granny's horror stories...and there's nothing wrong with that!
October 30, 2013
All of these stories, except for one, were stories that I had previously read in the first three of her "6 Scary Tales" series. I have to say, though, that I enjoyed this set better. It all stems from her "Dear Readers" at the beginning - and I think all short story writers who decided to put them into collections should follow her lead, explaining where they get the ideas, what and why they write them, and the stories behind the stories. It made the stories mean so much more and make so much more sense, plus made them feel like they all belonged together instead of just a bunch of stories combined with no rhyme or reason. Definitely a selection I would recommend everyone read.
The Devil You Know - The story that was not in the previous collection I read. I enjoyed it. Crazy, creepy, even a little scary, and the ending was crazy.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my HONEST review.
The Devil You Know - The story that was not in the previous collection I read. I enjoyed it. Crazy, creepy, even a little scary, and the ending was crazy.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my HONEST review.
November 12, 2013
I love horror stories, especially those of the creepy kind. I want to be intrigued and disturbed rather than revolted. I also really appreciate good, fluent writing. Ms Rayne’s collection satisfies all these criteria. She has mastered the art of creating suspense within a short framework – not an easy discipline – and writes in a crisp, literary style that is absolutely perfect for the gothic tale. Her descriptions are a joy to read and her ability to create real, believable characters is superb. I found it very easy to suspend disbelief even when the premise was inherently unbelievable.
The tales range from traditional gothic to modern psychological horror – all set in Britain. I may be biased, being British myself, but I think Britain lends itself to this genre. It is, after all, the homeland of M. R. James – Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, Mary Shelley – Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson – The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
I enjoyed all of Rayne’s stories and would be hard put to pick a favourite, they were all so very good.
This was the first book I have read by this author but it will certainly not be the last.
The tales range from traditional gothic to modern psychological horror – all set in Britain. I may be biased, being British myself, but I think Britain lends itself to this genre. It is, after all, the homeland of M. R. James – Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, Mary Shelley – Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson – The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
I enjoyed all of Rayne’s stories and would be hard put to pick a favourite, they were all so very good.
This was the first book I have read by this author but it will certainly not be the last.
April 21, 2013
Originally published on Not Now...Mommy's Reading
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories by Rayne Hall! The author has a gift for creating atmosphere in each and every story that lends to the whole creeping effect. An example of this would be the following snippet taken from the story 'The Devil You Know':
An empty coke can rattled across the concrete, a crisp wrapper rustled along the track, and somewhere in the distance, a motor whined.
The stories weren't overly scary in the blood-and-gore sense but were rather chilling and creepy like a well-told ghost story told around a camp fire. All the stories were great but the stand-outs, in my opinion, were:
Take Me To St Roch's
Never Leave Me
Scruples
Through The Tunnel
I Dived The Pandora
Druid Stones
Only A Fool
Again, all the stories were wonderfully written and I enjoyed them immensely! I will definitely be reading more by Rayne Hall.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories by Rayne Hall! The author has a gift for creating atmosphere in each and every story that lends to the whole creeping effect. An example of this would be the following snippet taken from the story 'The Devil You Know':
An empty coke can rattled across the concrete, a crisp wrapper rustled along the track, and somewhere in the distance, a motor whined.
The stories weren't overly scary in the blood-and-gore sense but were rather chilling and creepy like a well-told ghost story told around a camp fire. All the stories were great but the stand-outs, in my opinion, were:
Take Me To St Roch's
Never Leave Me
Scruples
Through The Tunnel
I Dived The Pandora
Druid Stones
Only A Fool
Again, all the stories were wonderfully written and I enjoyed them immensely! I will definitely be reading more by Rayne Hall.
January 6, 2026
Who could have imagined that 2025 would close on so dark a note for me? Pulmonary edema confined me to a bleak cabin in a nursing home—an existence measured by IV lines, injections, tasteless food, and an oppressive solitude. In those days, my only refuge was my iPad: its books, my Kindle, and the familiar quiet comfort of my Goodreads wall. It was there, in that isolation, that I began my reading and reviewing for 2026. I was released on the sixth of January, but the shadow of that time lingers still—a memory etched deeply into my mind, unlikely to fade.
I began with Rayne Hall’s 13 British Horror Stories prior to falling ill. And I finished it in the hospital bed. This book is not a blunt instrument; it’s a velvet-wrapped blade. Each story in the collection contributes to a carefully calibrated atmosphere of unease, reminding us that British horror excels not at spectacle, but at suggestion.
The tales in this anthology are:
1) Take me to St Roch's
2) Seagulls
3) Never Leave Me
4) Double Rainbows
5) Scruples
6) Through the Tunnel
7) The Devil You Know
8) I Dived the Pandora
9) Four Bony Hands
10) Beltane
11) Druid Stones.
12) Burning
13) Only a Fool
And what binds these thirteen tales together is not a shared plot or mythology, but a shared temperament: quiet menace, moral discomfort, and the creeping sense that normality itself is suspect.
The opening stories immediately establish Hall’s range. Some tales lean toward the psychological, focusing on fractured perceptions, unreliable inner worlds, and the slow erosion of certainty.
Others draw from traditional supernatural modes, invoking hauntings, uncanny presences, or inexplicable intrusions that feel less like invasions and more like revelations—things that were always there, simply unnoticed.
Several stories are anchored in domestic spaces: houses, neighbourhoods, and familiar routines.
These are not grand gothic castles but recognisably British settings—places shaped by habit, memory, and politeness. Hall repeatedly returns to the idea that the home, often idealised as a refuge, can just as easily become a site of dread.
The horror arises not from dramatic events but from subtle shifts: a changed atmosphere, a pattern that no longer feels benign, and a silence that grows heavier with meaning.
Other stories widen the lens to explore social horror. Here, unease emerges from group dynamics, traditions, or unspoken rules.
Hall shows a sharp awareness of how communities enforce conformity and how dangerous it can be to question inherited norms.
Without ever preaching, these stories allow readers to sense how cruelty can be disguised as custom, and how fear often thrives where people are encouraged not to ask questions.
A few tales engage directly with the uncanny, playing on that deeply British tradition where the strange and the ordinary overlap.
These stories recall the lineage of M. R. James: the unsettling object, the peculiar incident, the sense that rational explanations are inadequate.
Hall doesn’t over-explain; instead, she allows ambiguity to do the heavy lifting, trusting the reader’s imagination to complete the circuit of fear.
There are also stories that focus on individual moral failure or ethical tension. In these, the horror is not only external but internal. Choices matter.
Small compromises echo. Consequences arrive quietly. These pieces feel especially effective because they blur the boundary between the monstrous and the human, suggesting that horror is not always something that happens to us—it can also be something we participate in.
Tonally, the collection is impressively varied. Some stories are sombre and reflective, others sharp and unsettling, others almost deceptively calm. Yet none feel out of place.
Hall’s control of pacing ensures that each story feels complete while contributing to the overall rhythm of the book. Thirteen is not just a number here; it becomes a deliberate structure, a sequence of moods and pressures that gradually accumulate.
Stylistically, Hall’s prose remains restrained throughout. She avoids excess description, preferring implication and mood.
This makes the collection particularly effective as a whole: readers are never bludgeoned by horror but drawn into it, story by story, until the atmosphere begins to feel pervasive. Compared to more graphic or experimental horror collections, 13 British Horror Stories is almost classical in its confidence.
In comparative terms, the book sits comfortably alongside classic and contemporary British horror without mimicking any single influence. It echoes the subtle dread of James, the psychological acuity of du Maurier, and the modern unease of writers like Ramsey Campbell, while maintaining its own voice—clear, controlled, and quietly insistent.
What ultimately makes 13 British Horror Stories memorable is not any single tale, but the cumulative effect. By the time the collection ends, the reader has been led through a gallery of fears that feel disturbingly plausible.
Nothing here relies on shock alone. The terror lingers because it feels rooted in everyday life—in relationships, habits, spaces, and silences we recognise all too well.
This is a collection for readers who appreciate horror that seeps rather than screams. It rewards attentiveness, patience, and rereading.
And once you close the book, the stories don’t quite leave—they settle in, like a faint draft in a familiar room, making you wonder what else you might have missed.
Go for it. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I began with Rayne Hall’s 13 British Horror Stories prior to falling ill. And I finished it in the hospital bed. This book is not a blunt instrument; it’s a velvet-wrapped blade. Each story in the collection contributes to a carefully calibrated atmosphere of unease, reminding us that British horror excels not at spectacle, but at suggestion.
The tales in this anthology are:
1) Take me to St Roch's
2) Seagulls
3) Never Leave Me
4) Double Rainbows
5) Scruples
6) Through the Tunnel
7) The Devil You Know
8) I Dived the Pandora
9) Four Bony Hands
10) Beltane
11) Druid Stones.
12) Burning
13) Only a Fool
And what binds these thirteen tales together is not a shared plot or mythology, but a shared temperament: quiet menace, moral discomfort, and the creeping sense that normality itself is suspect.
The opening stories immediately establish Hall’s range. Some tales lean toward the psychological, focusing on fractured perceptions, unreliable inner worlds, and the slow erosion of certainty.
Others draw from traditional supernatural modes, invoking hauntings, uncanny presences, or inexplicable intrusions that feel less like invasions and more like revelations—things that were always there, simply unnoticed.
Several stories are anchored in domestic spaces: houses, neighbourhoods, and familiar routines.
These are not grand gothic castles but recognisably British settings—places shaped by habit, memory, and politeness. Hall repeatedly returns to the idea that the home, often idealised as a refuge, can just as easily become a site of dread.
The horror arises not from dramatic events but from subtle shifts: a changed atmosphere, a pattern that no longer feels benign, and a silence that grows heavier with meaning.
Other stories widen the lens to explore social horror. Here, unease emerges from group dynamics, traditions, or unspoken rules.
Hall shows a sharp awareness of how communities enforce conformity and how dangerous it can be to question inherited norms.
Without ever preaching, these stories allow readers to sense how cruelty can be disguised as custom, and how fear often thrives where people are encouraged not to ask questions.
A few tales engage directly with the uncanny, playing on that deeply British tradition where the strange and the ordinary overlap.
These stories recall the lineage of M. R. James: the unsettling object, the peculiar incident, the sense that rational explanations are inadequate.
Hall doesn’t over-explain; instead, she allows ambiguity to do the heavy lifting, trusting the reader’s imagination to complete the circuit of fear.
There are also stories that focus on individual moral failure or ethical tension. In these, the horror is not only external but internal. Choices matter.
Small compromises echo. Consequences arrive quietly. These pieces feel especially effective because they blur the boundary between the monstrous and the human, suggesting that horror is not always something that happens to us—it can also be something we participate in.
Tonally, the collection is impressively varied. Some stories are sombre and reflective, others sharp and unsettling, others almost deceptively calm. Yet none feel out of place.
Hall’s control of pacing ensures that each story feels complete while contributing to the overall rhythm of the book. Thirteen is not just a number here; it becomes a deliberate structure, a sequence of moods and pressures that gradually accumulate.
Stylistically, Hall’s prose remains restrained throughout. She avoids excess description, preferring implication and mood.
This makes the collection particularly effective as a whole: readers are never bludgeoned by horror but drawn into it, story by story, until the atmosphere begins to feel pervasive. Compared to more graphic or experimental horror collections, 13 British Horror Stories is almost classical in its confidence.
In comparative terms, the book sits comfortably alongside classic and contemporary British horror without mimicking any single influence. It echoes the subtle dread of James, the psychological acuity of du Maurier, and the modern unease of writers like Ramsey Campbell, while maintaining its own voice—clear, controlled, and quietly insistent.
What ultimately makes 13 British Horror Stories memorable is not any single tale, but the cumulative effect. By the time the collection ends, the reader has been led through a gallery of fears that feel disturbingly plausible.
Nothing here relies on shock alone. The terror lingers because it feels rooted in everyday life—in relationships, habits, spaces, and silences we recognise all too well.
This is a collection for readers who appreciate horror that seeps rather than screams. It rewards attentiveness, patience, and rereading.
And once you close the book, the stories don’t quite leave—they settle in, like a faint draft in a familiar room, making you wonder what else you might have missed.
Go for it. Thoroughly enjoyable.
April 27, 2013
This collection of stories by Rayne Hall certainly did not disappoint. The author's detailed descriptions and mood setting were spectacular. Great creepy stories that I would highly recommend. Looking forward to reading more of Rayne Hall's work.
October 29, 2013
What. fantastic collection of very British horror stories. Subtle and creepy, and lacking in gore, as only the best horrors are. Full review to come.
August 20, 2015
Some very spooky stories here very well done.
August 10, 2013
These stories are light horror. They are perfect for people who aren't horror fanatics and much rather atmosphere over scare. The descriptions in the books are breathtakingly beautiful and crisp. The majority of the stories share a similar format. The main character is introduced and we discover a brief background and get a very vivid description of the current location of the character. Then we're taken on a journey that sends goosebumps to the skin, but won't plague us with nightmares when the story finishes. There's amazing character depth and uniqueness in the stories. It's clear that the goal of the author is to tell a story and not just scare the bejeezus out of the reader.
I think that the book could be titled "What Goes Around Comes Around" because of how many of the stories play out. I can't say that I'd suggest this to MG due to the subject matter in stories like Never Leave Me, but this would be great for YA or Adults that want to dip but not commit into a horror book.
Stories that were amazing:
*Take me to St Roch's - Jean is my favorite character of the book. Any other character and that situation would go an entirely other way. The humorous twist at the end made me laugh.
*Double Rainbows - This story is based on a real beach with super fast tides. I don't think I'd have the guts to walk across it, especially after reading this story.
*Scruples - I was shaking my head at the main character when the twist happened at the end. He should of known better.
*The Devil You Know - One of my favorite stories. This is about a woman running away from an abusive boyfriend only to be confronted by an unknown creature on an empty railway station.
*Four Bony Hands - A creative twist on a popular Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.
*Beltane - I liked the personality of the character and how focused she was on something so that she completely missed clues for something else.
*Druid Stones - I hope that this wouldn't actually happen. Such a crazy ending!
*Burning - Possibly the saddest of the stories, especially after reading its inspiration in the prologue.
*Only a Fool - This one is written in second person and I really like how the ending connected back to the beginning.
Stories that were okay:
*Seagulls - I liked the setup and how vivid the house and birds were described, but I thought the climax should of been extended.
*Never Leave Me - I didn't connect to the characters and perhaps this is because the POV character is a controlling husband. This story feels rushed and I didn't grasp the setting like in the other stories.
*Through the Tunnel - I liked the setup for the story, but the ending was horribly predictable for me and that killed the suspense.
*I Dived the Pandora - Not being a diver myself, I found it hard to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
(I received a copy for review from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.)
I think that the book could be titled "What Goes Around Comes Around" because of how many of the stories play out. I can't say that I'd suggest this to MG due to the subject matter in stories like Never Leave Me, but this would be great for YA or Adults that want to dip but not commit into a horror book.
Stories that were amazing:
*Take me to St Roch's - Jean is my favorite character of the book. Any other character and that situation would go an entirely other way. The humorous twist at the end made me laugh.
*Double Rainbows - This story is based on a real beach with super fast tides. I don't think I'd have the guts to walk across it, especially after reading this story.
*Scruples - I was shaking my head at the main character when the twist happened at the end. He should of known better.
*The Devil You Know - One of my favorite stories. This is about a woman running away from an abusive boyfriend only to be confronted by an unknown creature on an empty railway station.
*Four Bony Hands - A creative twist on a popular Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.
*Beltane - I liked the personality of the character and how focused she was on something so that she completely missed clues for something else.
*Druid Stones - I hope that this wouldn't actually happen. Such a crazy ending!
*Burning - Possibly the saddest of the stories, especially after reading its inspiration in the prologue.
*Only a Fool - This one is written in second person and I really like how the ending connected back to the beginning.
Stories that were okay:
*Seagulls - I liked the setup and how vivid the house and birds were described, but I thought the climax should of been extended.
*Never Leave Me - I didn't connect to the characters and perhaps this is because the POV character is a controlling husband. This story feels rushed and I didn't grasp the setting like in the other stories.
*Through the Tunnel - I liked the setup for the story, but the ending was horribly predictable for me and that killed the suspense.
*I Dived the Pandora - Not being a diver myself, I found it hard to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
(I received a copy for review from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.)
January 16, 2016
REVIEW
I love a good horror story and this book has 13 of good creepy stories. They are quick reads, between 5-20 pages each. At the beginning of the book the author tells how she gets her ideas. I enjoyed this a lot. She spends a lot of time and heart into her writings. She says in the front of the book that she doesn't find ideas, they find her, I liked that. My favorite part was where she spent a night in a cemetery to get the feel for her writings.The author did a wonderful job of describing characters and locations felt that these weren't horror, horror, but scary and eerie. A few will put chills on your arms. The author introduces the main character with background and then does her magic with the adventure that scares but isn't so bad that you'll have nightmares and be looking behind your back. The stories aren't just about scaring you but putting the scare in a story. I really liked THE DEVIL YOU KNOW. A woman who meets a creature at the empty railway station after leaving her abusive boyfriend. You can just picture this distraught woman at the empty railway station and around the corner comes this creature. That is a little creepy. There are a couple of stories that have a twist of humor in them and will make you smile. She wrote some amazingly creepy stories that would be fine for middle schoolers to read. They are not guts and gore. Just good creepy stories. the author has a talent of creating an atmosphere that puts you in the mood for the story and holds you there. I would recommend this book to anyone, probably 10 and up. If you are a light horror, creepy, and eerie story lover than this is a good book to read. Go get a copy and watch out. Some are
C R E E P Y!!!!!!!!!
I gave this book 4 STARS.
I was given a complimentary copy of 13 BRITISH HORROR STORIES from the author, Rayne Hall for my unbiased review.
I would give the cover 4 STARS.
I love a good horror story and this book has 13 of good creepy stories. They are quick reads, between 5-20 pages each. At the beginning of the book the author tells how she gets her ideas. I enjoyed this a lot. She spends a lot of time and heart into her writings. She says in the front of the book that she doesn't find ideas, they find her, I liked that. My favorite part was where she spent a night in a cemetery to get the feel for her writings.The author did a wonderful job of describing characters and locations felt that these weren't horror, horror, but scary and eerie. A few will put chills on your arms. The author introduces the main character with background and then does her magic with the adventure that scares but isn't so bad that you'll have nightmares and be looking behind your back. The stories aren't just about scaring you but putting the scare in a story. I really liked THE DEVIL YOU KNOW. A woman who meets a creature at the empty railway station after leaving her abusive boyfriend. You can just picture this distraught woman at the empty railway station and around the corner comes this creature. That is a little creepy. There are a couple of stories that have a twist of humor in them and will make you smile. She wrote some amazingly creepy stories that would be fine for middle schoolers to read. They are not guts and gore. Just good creepy stories. the author has a talent of creating an atmosphere that puts you in the mood for the story and holds you there. I would recommend this book to anyone, probably 10 and up. If you are a light horror, creepy, and eerie story lover than this is a good book to read. Go get a copy and watch out. Some are
C R E E P Y!!!!!!!!!
I gave this book 4 STARS.
I was given a complimentary copy of 13 BRITISH HORROR STORIES from the author, Rayne Hall for my unbiased review.
I would give the cover 4 STARS.
April 4, 2016
Overall, I enjoyed these stories. Some more than others but each one worth taking a look at. Each story is about 5-20 pages long so they are quick to read.
These stories vary from creepy ghost stories, vengeful people and more. My favorites included 'Take me to St Roch's,' and 'Druid Stones.' But there were many others I liked as well. Seagulls reminded me a bit of the old horror story, 'The Birds' by Daphne du Maurier.
One thing the author did that I found nice, was that at the beginning, she tells the reader how she got the idea for each story. While I found this interesting, especially the time and dedication she puts into each one (and it shows in the stories), I wish she had kept it s bit shorter. A paragraph or so for each story would have been plenty but we get a bit more than that.
As I said, the author put in good time to understand the setting for each story, and it shows. The description makes you feel as if you can be there yourself. How she spend time in a cemetary at night to get that feeling is nicely portrayed.
To me, a misleading fact is the title. While the author does state that these are more creepy and not gore-fill (very true), I would not claim them as horror either. Some are slightly unsettling and others have a creepy atmosphere but I don't like the use of the word horror to describe them.
These stories can be read by any ages Middle school-adult and enjoyed by all. You can read the whole book in one sitting or even just a story a day.
You can see my original review here
These stories vary from creepy ghost stories, vengeful people and more. My favorites included 'Take me to St Roch's,' and 'Druid Stones.' But there were many others I liked as well. Seagulls reminded me a bit of the old horror story, 'The Birds' by Daphne du Maurier.
One thing the author did that I found nice, was that at the beginning, she tells the reader how she got the idea for each story. While I found this interesting, especially the time and dedication she puts into each one (and it shows in the stories), I wish she had kept it s bit shorter. A paragraph or so for each story would have been plenty but we get a bit more than that.
As I said, the author put in good time to understand the setting for each story, and it shows. The description makes you feel as if you can be there yourself. How she spend time in a cemetary at night to get that feeling is nicely portrayed.
To me, a misleading fact is the title. While the author does state that these are more creepy and not gore-fill (very true), I would not claim them as horror either. Some are slightly unsettling and others have a creepy atmosphere but I don't like the use of the word horror to describe them.
These stories can be read by any ages Middle school-adult and enjoyed by all. You can read the whole book in one sitting or even just a story a day.
You can see my original review here
April 26, 2013
This book contains 13 "Horror" stories. I have to say I laughed during them and found them fun to read. They weren't scary in the least, creepy I suppose would be a better word to describe them with. Just to test that out, I put them in my kindle to play at night while lying in bed and I still found them enjoyable but not scary.
I think these stories can be read and enjoyed by any age. My son is 10, and he really enjoyed me reading the story "Take Me To St. Roch's", so if you have a pre-teen this book would be right up their alley.
The author did a wonderful job and the use of descriptive language is perfect for the tales. Very good job all around. I think its a great short book for people who like quick reads or something a little on the creepy side.
Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review
I think these stories can be read and enjoyed by any age. My son is 10, and he really enjoyed me reading the story "Take Me To St. Roch's", so if you have a pre-teen this book would be right up their alley.
The author did a wonderful job and the use of descriptive language is perfect for the tales. Very good job all around. I think its a great short book for people who like quick reads or something a little on the creepy side.
Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review
June 18, 2013
These stories were as I expected from Rayne Hall; beautifully written, with excellent creation of atmosphere. The ones I liked best were: Double Rainbows, in which a man faces trouble with his calculation of high and low tides... the difference that tides can make to a landscape has always intrigued me.. I'll say no more! Then there was The Devil You Know, with its theme of domestic abuse - yes, sometimes the horror comes in human form, which is actually more frightening. This is illustrated best in Burning, which I think is the strongest of the stories. It's a tale about prejudice and people herding together to make a terrible deed seem justified. Spine chilling. I also liked Druid Stones very much; when I was reading it I could really see and feel the setting.
Very good, Ms Hall!
Very good, Ms Hall!
August 24, 2013
This collection of short stories is definitely along the lines of the stories I used to read when I was younger, similar to the Max Haines collections that I love.
It took me about a week to read this book because each story is short and I could read one or two right before bed. They are very creepy stories, without being horrific or too scary. They stay in your brain long after you have read them!
I would definitely read more of Rayne Hall's books, they are worthwhile if you are looking for something that is completely different to what is out there at the moment. Prepare to been creeped out in a good way!
It took me about a week to read this book because each story is short and I could read one or two right before bed. They are very creepy stories, without being horrific or too scary. They stay in your brain long after you have read them!
I would definitely read more of Rayne Hall's books, they are worthwhile if you are looking for something that is completely different to what is out there at the moment. Prepare to been creeped out in a good way!
April 5, 2013
Some of these stories are very compelling. The author does a fine job in luring the reader in and, at least in my case, creeping him out. The 4 star rating is solely because not all of the stories are of the same caliber. While all are well edited and convey a sense of eeriness and historical interest( it may being that I'm from America and having never set foot in England) some stories just didn't have that "creep" factor that the initial story "Take me to St. Roch's" provided - but at least 4 did. Overall, this collection is well worth reading.
April 8, 2013
Got this for free while it was free on amazon.com and then had coincidentally signed up for a Read to Review thing.
These were 13 short, creepy tales that would be PERFECT for sharing around a campfire. I thought the first few stories were creepier than the rest, especially the very first St. Roch story and the seagull story.
I can easily imagine re-telling these stories at night, trying to unsettle your friends and family as you try to top one another's ghost stories.
Fun and definitely worth buying at any price!
These were 13 short, creepy tales that would be PERFECT for sharing around a campfire. I thought the first few stories were creepier than the rest, especially the very first St. Roch story and the seagull story.
I can easily imagine re-telling these stories at night, trying to unsettle your friends and family as you try to top one another's ghost stories.
Fun and definitely worth buying at any price!
August 20, 2013
I rather liked this little collection of spooky tales. Horror is not a genre I would normally choose to read but I do have a love of a good short story and wasn't disappointed. My favourite was "Take Me to St Roch's", a spooky tale which shows one should always think twice before picking up a hitchhiker...
October 21, 2013
Just in time for Halloween! This collection of short stories was masterfully written. The author has incredible insight into what spooks, creeps, and thrills, with a true talent for setting the atmosphere.
In this book, she has included illustrations to go with each story, black and white and brilliantly fitting the mood. You can also find these stories in "Thirty Scary Tales" by Rayne Hall.
In this book, she has included illustrations to go with each story, black and white and brilliantly fitting the mood. You can also find these stories in "Thirty Scary Tales" by Rayne Hall.
November 5, 2013
An interesting collection of 13 imaginative stories. Some were complete stories with a fitting ending, others felt more like a fragment of larger stories. All were worth a read. I wasn't that comfortable with the ones that relied on women's vulnerability against men's violence to produce the scares. Good to find another contemporary female horror writer all the same.
October 24, 2013
From the moment I started 13 British Horror Stories with Take Me to St. Rochs, I just knew this short collection was going to be interesting. As I continued on I was proven right and now I want to read more of this author's writing.
November 4, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of creepy horror stories. I read them all on a dreary afternoon perfect for some light reading! I found the stories well written and many humorous. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes scary stories that are not too scary.
February 13, 2014
A nice little collection of stories I enjoyed. Some were quite classic in structure and I still enjoyed. I think I'll eventually wander through some of his other collections if they are at least this good.
October 24, 2014
A nice collection of mild horror stories. Some take an interesting turn and others are typical.
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May 19, 2016i like it
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