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Angel's Mass: A Medieval Ghost Story
Historians believe aside from two days in which the great monastic house of Tintern Abbey gave sanctuary to a king fleeing a usurper, nothing of note ever happened there.
But they are wrong.
In the early hours of Christmas Eve sometime in the 1340s, a man appears to an ordinary monk named Edmund. A man who only Edmund could see and hear.
Edmund, find me.
Who is the man? What does he want with Edmund? And can Edmund uncover a great mystery that threatens to change the world that Edmund knows and loves?
But they are wrong.
In the early hours of Christmas Eve sometime in the 1340s, a man appears to an ordinary monk named Edmund. A man who only Edmund could see and hear.
Edmund, find me.
Who is the man? What does he want with Edmund? And can Edmund uncover a great mystery that threatens to change the world that Edmund knows and loves?
70 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2024
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
M.G. Mason
16 books95 followersHello, I'm MG Mason, real name Matt.
I was born in Swindon in the 1970s but currently living on the Cornish south coast.
I'm a web content writer by trade but fiction is my first love.
How would I describe my work? Well, a friend once asked "have you considered writing a book in one genre without throwing two other genres into the same story?" Until that point I hadn't realised just how much mashing up genres defined my work.
They were right of course. But what else can you expect from a scifi nerd with an archaeology degree?
These days, when not writing for businesses or fiction, I'm usually found somewhere in Cornwall with a camera attached to my face.
I was born in Swindon in the 1970s but currently living on the Cornish south coast.
I'm a web content writer by trade but fiction is my first love.
How would I describe my work? Well, a friend once asked "have you considered writing a book in one genre without throwing two other genres into the same story?" Until that point I hadn't realised just how much mashing up genres defined my work.
They were right of course. But what else can you expect from a scifi nerd with an archaeology degree?
These days, when not writing for businesses or fiction, I'm usually found somewhere in Cornwall with a camera attached to my face.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 9, 2025
Find Me...
ANGEL'S MASS: A Medieval Ghost Story
by M.G. Mason
No spoilers. 3 1/2 stars. Brother Edmund, a monk at Tintern Abbey, asleep in his bed, dreamed of the monastery...
In his dream...
Edmund had passed through the abbey until he reached the church...
At the church doors...
A man's gentle voice called to him: Edmund, find me...
Edmund woke from the dream in a cold sweat. The man seemed intent on warning of some threat to the monastery...
Who was the man?...
And what was the threat he was warning about? Why did the man haunt Edmund with his entreaty:
Find me...
This was an atmospheric Gothic style story that carried several mysteries concerning Tintern Abbey. Its conclusion was somewhat open-ended, so if you're looking for a cut-and-dried plot, I'm afraid you're in for some disappointment.
Otherwise, the trip was almost worth it.
ANGEL'S MASS: A Medieval Ghost Story
by M.G. Mason
No spoilers. 3 1/2 stars. Brother Edmund, a monk at Tintern Abbey, asleep in his bed, dreamed of the monastery...
In his dream...
Edmund had passed through the abbey until he reached the church...
At the church doors...
A man's gentle voice called to him: Edmund, find me...
Edmund woke from the dream in a cold sweat. The man seemed intent on warning of some threat to the monastery...
Who was the man?...
And what was the threat he was warning about? Why did the man haunt Edmund with his entreaty:
Find me...
This was an atmospheric Gothic style story that carried several mysteries concerning Tintern Abbey. Its conclusion was somewhat open-ended, so if you're looking for a cut-and-dried plot, I'm afraid you're in for some disappointment.
Otherwise, the trip was almost worth it.
May 18, 2025
This story is superb!
A historical, spooky mystery novelette, perfect for an afternoon read - particular in the autumn or winter (the latter due to story reasons).
Well-written, educational, and a tad bit spooky - I think, I'm not easily scared... I'm the kind of person who'd invite a ghost for tea and have a good time, and hire them to keep people away; if I'd believe in ghosts, that is.
Don't let people tell you education can't be entertaining. This story is the perfect example that it very well can be.
A historical, spooky mystery novelette, perfect for an afternoon read - particular in the autumn or winter (the latter due to story reasons).
Well-written, educational, and a tad bit spooky - I think, I'm not easily scared... I'm the kind of person who'd invite a ghost for tea and have a good time, and hire them to keep people away; if I'd believe in ghosts, that is.
Don't let people tell you education can't be entertaining. This story is the perfect example that it very well can be.
December 6, 2024
Nothing quite hits me like a MG Mason short story. Somehow this author packs so much heart into a story under 100 pages.
I loved the time period, the landscape, the pacing. The descriptions are poetic. This is much more than a ghost story. Make sure you read the historical facts at the end. They made this history nerd’s heart excited!
I loved the time period, the landscape, the pacing. The descriptions are poetic. This is much more than a ghost story. Make sure you read the historical facts at the end. They made this history nerd’s heart excited!
November 30, 2024
Often unfairly maligned as overwrought, melodramatic, and campy, what we now refer to as Gothic literature began in 1764 with the publication of Horace Walpole’s seminal novel, The Castle of Otranto. Wildly popular with 18th-century audiences, the book created many of the conventions still associated with the subgenre today: distressed damsels beset by supernatural evils amid the oh-so-scary backdrop of ruined castles, ancient monasteries, and/or creepy catacombs. Gothic literature flourished in its original form, popularized by authors like Ann Radcliffe, Mary Shelley, and Edgar Allan Poe, and continues to fascinate the public today through the works of mainstream names like Anne Rice and the independent efforts of such niche proprietors as Quill & Crow Publishing House.
Swindon, UK-born author M.G. Mason, known best for his spectral cozy mystery series Salmonweird, is one modern aficionado of Gothic literary traditions. Citing classic ghost-story conjurer M.R. James as his primary influence, Mason has shown previous affection for Gothic trappings in his single-author collection Spooky Salmonweird, and does so again in his latest effort, the short novella Angel’s Mass.
Set in the mid-14th century and subtitled A Medieval Ghost Story, the storyline focuses on Edmund, a Cistercian monk living at the remote Welsh monastery Tintern Abbey. Edmund has been plagued from youth by periodically recurring nightmares of a dark wave consuming Europe; waking from one such nocturnal episode a few days before Angel’s Night (Christmas), Edmund is subsequently tormented by visions of a phantom stranger calling his name. At first fearing he’s suffering some sort of demonic attack, he confesses to the monastery’s abbot, Henry, the nature of his problem, but both Henry and Eric, one of Edmund’s fellow monks, believe Edmund is simply going mad. When the unearthly visitations persist, Edmund comes to think a genuine spirit has singled him out, but is it a specter, a loss of sanity, or does a more flesh-and-blood threat stalk Tintern Abbey’s sacred halls?
Angel’s Mass functions on multiple levels, by turns historical fiction, ghost story, and whodunit. Unlike his humorous Salmonweird outings, Mason adopts a suitably stark, solemn approach that pairs perfectly with the novella’s chilly atmosphere. All the Gothic lit hallmarks are present: isolated locale, cold wintry setting, looming madness, red herrings, and just the perfect dash of paranormal intrigue. A trained archaeologist, Mason is clearly in his native element here, and with its wealth of researched detail and brooding ambiance, Tintern Abbey comes alive in a way reminiscent of Umberto Eco’s medieval mystery novel The Name of the Rose.
With notes just as fascinating as the novella itself, Mason gives additional depth to the insular monastic world Edmund inhabits. Though one could argue utilizing The Black Death as a narrative hinge is wearisome in the post-Coronavirus era, doing so actually provides a solid sense of social relevancy. After all, speculative warnings about a possible global pandemic existed for decades prior to Covid, both in fictional form and from numerous medical and scientific authorities. Edmund’s dark visions of a Bubonic scourge and the apocalyptic upheaval it eventually wrought rings true in our own time as much, if not more so, as during the Middle Ages.
At only 70 pages, Angel’s Mass is capable of being finished in a single devoted sitting and offers the perfect escapism for a rainy afternoon. With haunted characters and a foreboding aura, Mason’s novella proudly upholds the Gothic standards upon which it’s indebted, and for that reason I bestow it a 4 (out of 5) here on Goodreads. Horace Walpole would love this.
Swindon, UK-born author M.G. Mason, known best for his spectral cozy mystery series Salmonweird, is one modern aficionado of Gothic literary traditions. Citing classic ghost-story conjurer M.R. James as his primary influence, Mason has shown previous affection for Gothic trappings in his single-author collection Spooky Salmonweird, and does so again in his latest effort, the short novella Angel’s Mass.
Set in the mid-14th century and subtitled A Medieval Ghost Story, the storyline focuses on Edmund, a Cistercian monk living at the remote Welsh monastery Tintern Abbey. Edmund has been plagued from youth by periodically recurring nightmares of a dark wave consuming Europe; waking from one such nocturnal episode a few days before Angel’s Night (Christmas), Edmund is subsequently tormented by visions of a phantom stranger calling his name. At first fearing he’s suffering some sort of demonic attack, he confesses to the monastery’s abbot, Henry, the nature of his problem, but both Henry and Eric, one of Edmund’s fellow monks, believe Edmund is simply going mad. When the unearthly visitations persist, Edmund comes to think a genuine spirit has singled him out, but is it a specter, a loss of sanity, or does a more flesh-and-blood threat stalk Tintern Abbey’s sacred halls?
Angel’s Mass functions on multiple levels, by turns historical fiction, ghost story, and whodunit. Unlike his humorous Salmonweird outings, Mason adopts a suitably stark, solemn approach that pairs perfectly with the novella’s chilly atmosphere. All the Gothic lit hallmarks are present: isolated locale, cold wintry setting, looming madness, red herrings, and just the perfect dash of paranormal intrigue. A trained archaeologist, Mason is clearly in his native element here, and with its wealth of researched detail and brooding ambiance, Tintern Abbey comes alive in a way reminiscent of Umberto Eco’s medieval mystery novel The Name of the Rose.
With notes just as fascinating as the novella itself, Mason gives additional depth to the insular monastic world Edmund inhabits. Though one could argue utilizing The Black Death as a narrative hinge is wearisome in the post-Coronavirus era, doing so actually provides a solid sense of social relevancy. After all, speculative warnings about a possible global pandemic existed for decades prior to Covid, both in fictional form and from numerous medical and scientific authorities. Edmund’s dark visions of a Bubonic scourge and the apocalyptic upheaval it eventually wrought rings true in our own time as much, if not more so, as during the Middle Ages.
At only 70 pages, Angel’s Mass is capable of being finished in a single devoted sitting and offers the perfect escapism for a rainy afternoon. With haunted characters and a foreboding aura, Mason’s novella proudly upholds the Gothic standards upon which it’s indebted, and for that reason I bestow it a 4 (out of 5) here on Goodreads. Horace Walpole would love this.
October 11, 2024
Angel's Mass by M.G. Mason is a Medieval ghost story set at Tintern Abbey on Christmas Eve at some point in the 1430s. Immediately I was drawn into the austere setting, almost feeling the chill as I read about Edmund, a young monk who is troubled by the appearance , and disappearance of a strange man in the monastery chapel. No one else can see or hear him, and the other monks are questioning Edmund's state of mind, but he remains absolutely convinced that the man has come for a purpose and is determined to find out what that purpose could be. The secret he uncovers will change everything he knows, not just about himself and his community, but is also a warning of the disaster that is to come.
I was drawn to this story not just because I had enjoyed the author's previous ghostly tales but also because I was intrigued by the setting and the history. The sense of place is excellent, and it was absolutely clear that the author had done his research about life in a monastery. If the reader is paying attention there are many little clues woven into the narrative and its always a lot of fun to try to solve the mystery before the big reveal. It's a relatively short read, so you don't have long to wait! As a bit of a nerd I really liked the author's notes section at the end which gave more information about the abbey itself and the community of monks who lived there.
A well crafted ghost story that could be enjoyed at Christmas just as easily as at Halloween, or indeed at any time you are in the mood for a little spooky mystery.
I read an ARC courtesy of the author , all opinions are my own.
I was drawn to this story not just because I had enjoyed the author's previous ghostly tales but also because I was intrigued by the setting and the history. The sense of place is excellent, and it was absolutely clear that the author had done his research about life in a monastery. If the reader is paying attention there are many little clues woven into the narrative and its always a lot of fun to try to solve the mystery before the big reveal. It's a relatively short read, so you don't have long to wait! As a bit of a nerd I really liked the author's notes section at the end which gave more information about the abbey itself and the community of monks who lived there.
A well crafted ghost story that could be enjoyed at Christmas just as easily as at Halloween, or indeed at any time you are in the mood for a little spooky mystery.
I read an ARC courtesy of the author , all opinions are my own.
October 6, 2024
As someone who has long had a fascination with the concept of monastic life, I was excited to see this latest book by M.G. Mason. At less than 70 pages, I knew it would be a great little weekend read, and the premise of a medieval ghost story intrigued me.
What I found was a story that had me trying to piece together the information and figure out what was going on right from the start. The little tidbits woven into the narrative led me to quickly realise that someone in the abbey was hiding something, but who it was and how everything fit together didn't become clear until the very end.
I particularly loved all the little references to things that cemented the story in a particular time and place, such as the queries over whether Edmund had recently had his blood let. And the historical notes at the end gave a great overview of Tintern Abbey's history.
My only issue is that the ending seemed a little blunt. From the book's blurb we can assume nobody was ever told the truth, but how did Abbot Henry explain the events that led to Edmund and Eric leaving? And what did Brother Walter think about everything he witnessed? Whilst I know this would have extended the story beyond the author's vision, I can't help but wish there was just a little bit more included to round off the ending.
All in all though it is a minor quibble and I would recommend this as a great addition for when you want to lose yourself in a story for an hour or two.
What I found was a story that had me trying to piece together the information and figure out what was going on right from the start. The little tidbits woven into the narrative led me to quickly realise that someone in the abbey was hiding something, but who it was and how everything fit together didn't become clear until the very end.
I particularly loved all the little references to things that cemented the story in a particular time and place, such as the queries over whether Edmund had recently had his blood let. And the historical notes at the end gave a great overview of Tintern Abbey's history.
My only issue is that the ending seemed a little blunt. From the book's blurb we can assume nobody was ever told the truth, but how did Abbot Henry explain the events that led to Edmund and Eric leaving? And what did Brother Walter think about everything he witnessed? Whilst I know this would have extended the story beyond the author's vision, I can't help but wish there was just a little bit more included to round off the ending.
All in all though it is a minor quibble and I would recommend this as a great addition for when you want to lose yourself in a story for an hour or two.
August 22, 2025
I wanted to enjoy this story way more than I did. It’s about an asexual monk who has strange visions about a dark wave of rats coming from eastern mountains, seeing a ghost. The story takes sometime in the 1340s, before the Black Death. I think the story could have been much better if the pacing was different. The ending was extremely rushed for the amount of build up it had in the beginning. I think if the story was at least 100 pages (or even 150!) instead of the 70 pages it was, the pacing problems would be completely solved. Edmund the protagonist was likable. But I did find him being fine three days after being stabbed unrealistic. Especially taking into consideration medieval medicine. (Not saying he couldn’t survive that, but I’d like him to have more recovery time than three days based on the description of his wound.)
Also the fact the abbot let Eric (who stabbed Edmund and also killed Edmund’s long lost brother) wander free after seeing him stab Edmund and confess to the murder was unrealistic. That’s a grave fault! He should be thrown into the monastery prison! Also there were a lot of tidbits that should have been introduced sooner to make the story clearer.
I do think the story could have been a lot stronger if there was more of a buildup, as I enjoyed the ghost story and the characters.
Also the fact the abbot let Eric (who stabbed Edmund and also killed Edmund’s long lost brother) wander free after seeing him stab Edmund and confess to the murder was unrealistic. That’s a grave fault! He should be thrown into the monastery prison! Also there were a lot of tidbits that should have been introduced sooner to make the story clearer.
I do think the story could have been a lot stronger if there was more of a buildup, as I enjoyed the ghost story and the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2024
When a young monk, with a history of visions and no recollection of his past, hears a voice calling his name at the monastery in the pre-dawn hours at Tintern Abbey, a mystery begins which will have deadly consequences.
Brother Edmund is wakened by a man's voice demanding he be found. The Abbot, who comes across Edmund searching the deserted church at night, thinks he needs medical attention. The reason why is one mystery. The source of voice is another. So many twists as the story comes to fruition.
A fast read, it was informative in the way of historical fiction, but there was also something supernatural about it which appealed to the gothic horror lover in me. I highly recommend this gem of a suspense story.
Brother Edmund is wakened by a man's voice demanding he be found. The Abbot, who comes across Edmund searching the deserted church at night, thinks he needs medical attention. The reason why is one mystery. The source of voice is another. So many twists as the story comes to fruition.
A fast read, it was informative in the way of historical fiction, but there was also something supernatural about it which appealed to the gothic horror lover in me. I highly recommend this gem of a suspense story.
November 5, 2024
Another excellent ghostly tale from MG Mason. I had a great time reading this; the sense of mystery draws you in straight away and despite its short length the plot manages to keep you guessing right to the end, taking several interesting and unexpected turns along the way. I loved the historical setting too; as always the author has done a brilliant job of taking readers back in time with impressive attention to detail. More great work from a talented author
June 24, 2025
A fantastic piece, I assume. I'll update this when I actually read it
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews