Captain Dalgety Returns

by Laurence Whistler

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Christmas

72 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[Brette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[John Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

You've been... doo doo doo Thunderstruck!

[Anne Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an odd one for me, and my blasé reaction to it is likely due to the fact that I wasn’t able to read it all in one go. If you can, set aside time to read these entire books through in one sitting, as the spookiness has much more impact that way. Captain Dalgety Returns tells the tale of a father who is cold and uncaring towards his only daughter. He gets in his car to go to town, but the car gets in a minor accident while he’s there so he resolves to walk home. He gets caught in a thunderstorm and is struck by lightning, presumably dying. But he’s not ready to say goodbye just yet…This story seemed unnecessarily long, and leans heavily on the outdoor descriptions rather than any incidents that move the plot along. It was the least spooky of the three, and honestly just annoyed me with how vague the writing was.

To read the rest of my reviews visit my website at: ivereadthis.com

[David Abrams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A widowed father living with his young daughter in a remote mansion. Troubled thoughts of a death in childbirth. A restless foreboding in the dark, near-empty house. A walk across the property. A rapid flutter of leaves. A torrential rainstorm, the like of which seldom seen outside of big-budget movies. A drowning downpour. A whipcrack of lightning. A strange light pulling a man into its eternal embrace.

Laurence Whistler's short story has as much atmosphere as the National Weather Service and washes across the reader in a sudden storm of gloomy setting and skin-tingling transformations. To say more would be to ruin the story.

[Goldi Tewari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short Christmas ghost story, particularly the vivid narration of the afterlife. However, I found the ending a bit complicated. The sudden switch in perspective from Captain Dalgety to his daughter, Clarissa, left me confused. Were both of them victims of the thunder strike, or was it just Captain Dalgety?
Despite this confusion, I would give full marks for the plot and the detailed descriptions of scenes and emotions. The story, though engaging, felt a bit too short and somewhat complicated.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my continuing quest to read all of Seth's Christmas Ghost Stories, this one came up next. This one was by far the least creepy but most depressing ones of the lot. The writing was poetic and atmospheric but it broke my heart. I am glad that the captain came to see the error of his ways but, alas, he is not able to do anything about his mistakes. I will say that this one is best read on a dark and stormy night...

[Ron Kerrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poignant and sort of sad, rather than spooky. The descriptive prose is wonderful in parts, but I thought even as short as the story is, it dragged a little. The text covers 41 small pages, the rest being taken up with Seth's so-so drawings and publisher information.

[JA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tis the season

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Thomas Ricks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best read at night, by candlelight, during a thunderstorm. It reads more as a form of long poetry than a novella, but captures a lonely fear in the reader.

[Canavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

✭✭✭½