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The Traveller and Other Stories
A darkly glittering collection of Northern Irish noir by Stuart Neville, Los Angeles Times Book Prize–winning author
Since his debut novel, the modern classic The Ghosts of Belfast, was published a decade ago, Stuart Neville has published eight other critically acclaimed novels and achieved international recognition as one of crime fiction’s great living writers.
Now for the first time Neville offers readers a collection of his short fiction—twelve chilling stories that traverse and blend the genres of noir, horror, and speculative fiction, and which bring the history and lore of Neville’s native Northern Ireland to glittering life. The collection concludes with the longawaited novella The Traveller, the companion piece to The Ghosts of Belfast and Collusion.
Complete with a foreword from Irish crime fiction legend John Connolly, this volume is the perfect indulgence for fans of ghost stories and noir, and is a must-have for devotees of Neville’s prizewinning Belfast novels.
Since his debut novel, the modern classic The Ghosts of Belfast, was published a decade ago, Stuart Neville has published eight other critically acclaimed novels and achieved international recognition as one of crime fiction’s great living writers.
Now for the first time Neville offers readers a collection of his short fiction—twelve chilling stories that traverse and blend the genres of noir, horror, and speculative fiction, and which bring the history and lore of Neville’s native Northern Ireland to glittering life. The collection concludes with the longawaited novella The Traveller, the companion piece to The Ghosts of Belfast and Collusion.
Complete with a foreword from Irish crime fiction legend John Connolly, this volume is the perfect indulgence for fans of ghost stories and noir, and is a must-have for devotees of Neville’s prizewinning Belfast novels.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 6, 2020
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About the author
Stuart Neville
39 books1,037 followersI have been a musician, a composer, a teacher, a salesman, a film extra, a baker and a hand double for a well known Irish comedian, but I'm currently a partner in a successful multimedia design business in the wilds of Northern Ireland.
I have published short stories in Thuglit, Electric Spec and Every Day Fiction. THE TWELVE is my first novel, and will be published in the UK and Commonwealth by Harvill Secker, an imprint of Random House, on July 2nd 2009. It will be published in the USA as THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST by Soho Press, New York, and by Random House Kodansha in Japan.
I have published short stories in Thuglit, Electric Spec and Every Day Fiction. THE TWELVE is my first novel, and will be published in the UK and Commonwealth by Harvill Secker, an imprint of Random House, on July 2nd 2009. It will be published in the USA as THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST by Soho Press, New York, and by Random House Kodansha in Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
September 8, 2020
Outstanding collection in every possible way! Every single story in this collection of Neville's haunting Irish noir is excellent. Dark, brooding, filled with ghosts and other spirits, mixtures of faith and violence, and, of course, the loss of faith. Young children seeing things that can't be real and men condemned to never escape the ghosts of their pasts, not even in the water closet. Read this one slowly and savor every page. It's that good.
June 13, 2020
Stuart Neville wrote one of the best debuts I have ever read with The Twelve/ The Ghosts of Belfast. In this book of short stories, some of them delve again into the lives of Gerry And Jack and some loose ends are tied up. The other stories are great, quite dark and some verge on horror, each a masterpiece in itself. My favourite, apart from the novella The Traveller, is the first story about the little boy waiting at the ferry for his mother to return home.
For those that have read The Twelve and wondered what happened to Jack and his daughter, The Traveller brings them together again with the ghost of Gerry and the Traveller, a killer for hire.
I loved this collection of stories and if you haven’t read The Twelve and the subsequent novels featuring Jack Lennon, then you are in for a real treat.
#TheTravellerandotherstories #NetGalley
For those that have read The Twelve and wondered what happened to Jack and his daughter, The Traveller brings them together again with the ghost of Gerry and the Traveller, a killer for hire.
I loved this collection of stories and if you haven’t read The Twelve and the subsequent novels featuring Jack Lennon, then you are in for a real treat.
#TheTravellerandotherstories #NetGalley
August 1, 2020
I wasn't expecting to enjoy these short stories as much as I did, but they all felt so perfect. And guess what makes them all immediately intriguing? Murder. We've got a lot of death in this book and it never disappoints!
There was one thing that completely blew me away in The Traveller and Other Stories. And that was the repetitive lines the author uses in each story. You'll definitely notice it in the first story, where a boy's mother is missing and he waits for her to come back from the library on the ferry every day. As the reader, you're obviously expecting the worst and there are a couple of lines here that are like a gut punch. In other stories like The Night Hag (which was one of my favorites) there was another great repetition of a piece of dialogue that had a very different meaning each time. Little things like that bumped this up from a four-star to a five star read to me.
I enjoyed almost every single story here. Like I said, most of them involve murder. But it's not like they're all detective stories, some felt more like horror shorts to me.
My only complaint would be the last story, The Traveller. The short stories were probably an excuse for not writing a novella from a continuation of one of Neville's previous works, but I honestly didn't think it worked well with the rest of the bunch. (And I ended up enjoying the short stories more anyways.) While the others were creative and spooky, the last twenty-five percent to me felt a little dry. But, I wouldn't let one of the thirteen stories bump it down an entire star.
An interesting read, where I read a story every day and was almost never disappointed. I look forward to its pub day and thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for granting my wish and giving me a copy!
There was one thing that completely blew me away in The Traveller and Other Stories. And that was the repetitive lines the author uses in each story. You'll definitely notice it in the first story, where a boy's mother is missing and he waits for her to come back from the library on the ferry every day. As the reader, you're obviously expecting the worst and there are a couple of lines here that are like a gut punch. In other stories like The Night Hag (which was one of my favorites) there was another great repetition of a piece of dialogue that had a very different meaning each time. Little things like that bumped this up from a four-star to a five star read to me.
I enjoyed almost every single story here. Like I said, most of them involve murder. But it's not like they're all detective stories, some felt more like horror shorts to me.
My only complaint would be the last story, The Traveller. The short stories were probably an excuse for not writing a novella from a continuation of one of Neville's previous works, but I honestly didn't think it worked well with the rest of the bunch. (And I ended up enjoying the short stories more anyways.) While the others were creative and spooky, the last twenty-five percent to me felt a little dry. But, I wouldn't let one of the thirteen stories bump it down an entire star.
An interesting read, where I read a story every day and was almost never disappointed. I look forward to its pub day and thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for granting my wish and giving me a copy!
October 18, 2020
THE TRAVELLER AND OTHER STORIES is the perfect short-fiction collection. It provides an irresistible introduction to the work of author Stuart Neville for those who are unfamiliar with him and his loosely connected series of Emerald noir books known as the Belfast novels. These stories, many of which feature characters and situations from those titles, sink the hook and draw one in. Those who are already familiar with Neville’s immense talent will find at least two stories that are new to them --- the previously unpublished title piece and “The Night Hag” --- and a number of others culled from a wide and diverse range of sources. Resistance is futile.
This collection is composed of 12 short pieces and “The Traveller,” a novella, but it is the wonderfully lengthy “Introduction by the Author” that sets the mood. Neville summarizes each of the stories and discusses how they came about, but he creates a bit of a problem in doing so. One is tempted to break off from the Introduction and proceed straight to the meat of the book, even as it is all but impossible to leave these opening pages unread. In any event, let’s proceed to the main course.
THE TRAVELLER is divided into two parts: “New Monsters” and “Old Friends.” The phrase “New Monsters” brings to mind horror and/or the supernatural, and both are in ample supply throughout the book. If there is a lesson here (as if it were needed), it is that monsters exist on both sides of the veil in the area where the natural and supernatural don’t so much meet as meld. We learn this all too quickly in “Coming in on Time,” which is about a young boy who seemingly has been abandoned by his mother. Neville subtly lets the reader know that this is not the case, which makes the story all the sadder as we watch the boy wait for her return as our suspicions are confirmed.
“The Green Lady” is based on a local Irish legend meant to frighten children away from an area. Neville demonstrates that it is equally useful in scaring adults as well. “Echo” concerns a young boy who is raised as the reincarnation of his deceased sister. We get the whole nine yards here: two birthdays celebrated, two sets of presents and the like. It isn’t a long story, but that doesn’t prevent the author from tossing a live hand grenade or two into the already creepy proceedings near the end. “London Safe” repeats the theme of the absent parent, with an extra layer of tragedy applied to the plot. A man travels to London to find his father, who apparently abandoned the family decades before. Some things are better left undone. As with many of the stories in THE TRAVELLER, this one offers a brooding take on the ripples formed in the aftermath of the Troubles that proceed to this day.
“Queen of the Hill,” as noted in Neville’s introduction, is a crime story based on Irish mythology and centers on a man torn between the impulses of his mind and his heart. Of course, as with most of the stories here, it does not end well. Set during the Christmas season, this was an entry in THE USUAL SANTAS, a Soho Press holiday anthology, but remains fresh and new in this setting as well. The aforementioned “The Night Hag” explores what occurs when a guilty conscience results in sleep paralysis. Hilarity does not ensue. Then there is a very short tale titled “Black Beauty,” which documents the horrific consequences of stealing a prized guitar from the wrong person.
I am prattling on too long and yet not long enough. “The Craftsman” concerns Albert Ryan, a hitman in the twilight of his life who retains his skills but has lost his drive and that which he holds most dear --- until he is motivated to do what he does best one more time. At least. Gerry Fagan, who first appeared in Neville’s debut novel, THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST, makes an appearance in several of these stories (sometimes as a surprise, so I won’t say which). He is a tragic figure, an enforcer with a conscience who is haunted in the most literal sense and who in turn... But that would be telling.
“The Traveller” closes the book and, as Neville notes, was written at the request of his fans, who wanted to know what happened to Belfast cop Jack Lennon and his daughter, Ellen, after the conclusion of THE FINAL SILENCE. The answer would be “Nothing good.” That said, it is a superlative tale in a collection filled to the brim with such.
The tales in THE TRAVELLER AND OTHER STORIES are beautifully crafted. They are also grim, dark and humorless, shot through with people whose lives are running out of a pot-holed road but who knowingly trudge gamely onward toward the inevitable without a deus ex machina or “happily ever after” to be had. How then can one help but be absolutely enthralled by every word that is found here? As you sit comfortably in your chair and bemoan the state of the world these days, read this book. It will put you and all of your blessings in perspective.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
This collection is composed of 12 short pieces and “The Traveller,” a novella, but it is the wonderfully lengthy “Introduction by the Author” that sets the mood. Neville summarizes each of the stories and discusses how they came about, but he creates a bit of a problem in doing so. One is tempted to break off from the Introduction and proceed straight to the meat of the book, even as it is all but impossible to leave these opening pages unread. In any event, let’s proceed to the main course.
THE TRAVELLER is divided into two parts: “New Monsters” and “Old Friends.” The phrase “New Monsters” brings to mind horror and/or the supernatural, and both are in ample supply throughout the book. If there is a lesson here (as if it were needed), it is that monsters exist on both sides of the veil in the area where the natural and supernatural don’t so much meet as meld. We learn this all too quickly in “Coming in on Time,” which is about a young boy who seemingly has been abandoned by his mother. Neville subtly lets the reader know that this is not the case, which makes the story all the sadder as we watch the boy wait for her return as our suspicions are confirmed.
“The Green Lady” is based on a local Irish legend meant to frighten children away from an area. Neville demonstrates that it is equally useful in scaring adults as well. “Echo” concerns a young boy who is raised as the reincarnation of his deceased sister. We get the whole nine yards here: two birthdays celebrated, two sets of presents and the like. It isn’t a long story, but that doesn’t prevent the author from tossing a live hand grenade or two into the already creepy proceedings near the end. “London Safe” repeats the theme of the absent parent, with an extra layer of tragedy applied to the plot. A man travels to London to find his father, who apparently abandoned the family decades before. Some things are better left undone. As with many of the stories in THE TRAVELLER, this one offers a brooding take on the ripples formed in the aftermath of the Troubles that proceed to this day.
“Queen of the Hill,” as noted in Neville’s introduction, is a crime story based on Irish mythology and centers on a man torn between the impulses of his mind and his heart. Of course, as with most of the stories here, it does not end well. Set during the Christmas season, this was an entry in THE USUAL SANTAS, a Soho Press holiday anthology, but remains fresh and new in this setting as well. The aforementioned “The Night Hag” explores what occurs when a guilty conscience results in sleep paralysis. Hilarity does not ensue. Then there is a very short tale titled “Black Beauty,” which documents the horrific consequences of stealing a prized guitar from the wrong person.
I am prattling on too long and yet not long enough. “The Craftsman” concerns Albert Ryan, a hitman in the twilight of his life who retains his skills but has lost his drive and that which he holds most dear --- until he is motivated to do what he does best one more time. At least. Gerry Fagan, who first appeared in Neville’s debut novel, THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST, makes an appearance in several of these stories (sometimes as a surprise, so I won’t say which). He is a tragic figure, an enforcer with a conscience who is haunted in the most literal sense and who in turn... But that would be telling.
“The Traveller” closes the book and, as Neville notes, was written at the request of his fans, who wanted to know what happened to Belfast cop Jack Lennon and his daughter, Ellen, after the conclusion of THE FINAL SILENCE. The answer would be “Nothing good.” That said, it is a superlative tale in a collection filled to the brim with such.
The tales in THE TRAVELLER AND OTHER STORIES are beautifully crafted. They are also grim, dark and humorless, shot through with people whose lives are running out of a pot-holed road but who knowingly trudge gamely onward toward the inevitable without a deus ex machina or “happily ever after” to be had. How then can one help but be absolutely enthralled by every word that is found here? As you sit comfortably in your chair and bemoan the state of the world these days, read this book. It will put you and all of your blessings in perspective.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
July 13, 2021
Stuart Neville's first novel The Ghosts of Belfast has been called the best novel about the Troubles. Neville is from Armagh in Northern Ireland, a city and county that saw a great many of the worst incidents during this period. He writes crime novels, and in this case, short stories and a novella. This book includes ghost stories, and stories about the Troubles and post-Troubles period. There are still people seeking retribution more than 20 years after the peace agreement.
The ghost stories are chilling, and some appear to be based on local stories. His protagonists include vicious sorts, and sympathetic figures. The novella, "The Traveler", features Jack Lennon, a former policeman, seriously injured at the hands of terrorists. This story is the ultimate one featured in the collection and suspenseful. Lennon has been threatened by an old adversary who has tracked him down. There really is no place to hide in Northern Ireland. Lennon and his teenage daughter are in extreme danger.
Neville deserves more attention than he gets. This volume includes an introduction by John Connolly. Hopefully Connolly's name will lead more readers to pick up this worthy collection.
The ghost stories are chilling, and some appear to be based on local stories. His protagonists include vicious sorts, and sympathetic figures. The novella, "The Traveler", features Jack Lennon, a former policeman, seriously injured at the hands of terrorists. This story is the ultimate one featured in the collection and suspenseful. Lennon has been threatened by an old adversary who has tracked him down. There really is no place to hide in Northern Ireland. Lennon and his teenage daughter are in extreme danger.
Neville deserves more attention than he gets. This volume includes an introduction by John Connolly. Hopefully Connolly's name will lead more readers to pick up this worthy collection.
November 11, 2023
This collection of a novella plus twelve short stories was my introduction to the work of Northern Irish crime writer Stuart Neville, and on the strength of the work on display here, I’ll be looking out for his novels. Neville makes it clear in his introduction that many of the stories in The Traveller feature characters who are central to his longer works; in many cases acting as a sort of mini-sequel to earlier books. In that sense, this probably wasn’t the best place to start with a new author, but the stories stand up well even without the wider understanding of what has gone before. This probably would have been a four star review though if I’d read the stories in the intended order. Neville portrays a Northern Ireland where the Troubles continue to cast a long, dark shadow. Many of his characters are living with secrets, guilt and a drive to complete long-unfinished business. It’s powerful, if disturbing, stuff.
January 21, 2021
The Traveller and Other Stories by Stuart Neville is a collection of short stories that center around characters and events from Neville's earlier works, primarily his award winning The Ghosts of Belfast and Collusion. The tales are gritty and thick with noire and horror, a blend that unique and satisfyingly original.
From the Night Hag -
"...Oh God, no, please, not that.
Lips against her ear, a breathy giggle. Fingers creeping to her lips, between, nails scratching at her teeth and gums.
I know what you did.
Catherine screams with every breath, but each one is trapped in her throat, drowned out by the smoke alarm and the voice in her ear.
I know what you did..."
From Faith -
"...The day I lost my belief was the same day Mrs. Garrick asked me to help kill her husband.
Not the same moment, mind. The moment God left me was during my Sunday morning sermon..."
A collection of horror, the supernatural and Irish crime noire, The Traveller and Other Stories is a blend of modern crime and Irish Lore that will leave the reader begging for more of these characters and their lives. There are ghosts and supernatural beings that are real or simply the haunted sub-conscious of the men and women who live with them daily. There is a tale of a father who betrayed the cause and went into hiding, and the son he doesn't remember who goes searching for him with a horribly tragic end. A priest, seduced into adultery and murder; only to find that life and love outside of the cloak of the Church has dire consequences.
Full disclosure, when I picked up this book I thought initially that the author was a different writer whose novels I had read before but haven't in sometime. A happy accident. A very happy accident. How I have been in the dark of Stuart Neville's writing and storytelling when I so love Irish Crime novels is beyond me. Graham Masterton, Adrian McKinty and the Elfen Goddess; Tana French, make room for a new collection of Irish Crime Novels on my bookshelf. Stuart Neville has arrived.
These short stories are terrific and vary so much subject and genre that you would believe you are experiencing the literary equivalent of a bar crawl through Spain in the late afternoon and evening, tasting every offering of tapas you can. In The Traveller and Other Stories you will get your fill and yet wake the next morning, wanting more. The end result of which is now, I have four of Neville's novels on my shelf, waiting to be enjoyed.
I really good read!
From the Night Hag -
"...Oh God, no, please, not that.
Lips against her ear, a breathy giggle. Fingers creeping to her lips, between, nails scratching at her teeth and gums.
I know what you did.
Catherine screams with every breath, but each one is trapped in her throat, drowned out by the smoke alarm and the voice in her ear.
I know what you did..."
From Faith -
"...The day I lost my belief was the same day Mrs. Garrick asked me to help kill her husband.
Not the same moment, mind. The moment God left me was during my Sunday morning sermon..."
A collection of horror, the supernatural and Irish crime noire, The Traveller and Other Stories is a blend of modern crime and Irish Lore that will leave the reader begging for more of these characters and their lives. There are ghosts and supernatural beings that are real or simply the haunted sub-conscious of the men and women who live with them daily. There is a tale of a father who betrayed the cause and went into hiding, and the son he doesn't remember who goes searching for him with a horribly tragic end. A priest, seduced into adultery and murder; only to find that life and love outside of the cloak of the Church has dire consequences.
Full disclosure, when I picked up this book I thought initially that the author was a different writer whose novels I had read before but haven't in sometime. A happy accident. A very happy accident. How I have been in the dark of Stuart Neville's writing and storytelling when I so love Irish Crime novels is beyond me. Graham Masterton, Adrian McKinty and the Elfen Goddess; Tana French, make room for a new collection of Irish Crime Novels on my bookshelf. Stuart Neville has arrived.
These short stories are terrific and vary so much subject and genre that you would believe you are experiencing the literary equivalent of a bar crawl through Spain in the late afternoon and evening, tasting every offering of tapas you can. In The Traveller and Other Stories you will get your fill and yet wake the next morning, wanting more. The end result of which is now, I have four of Neville's novels on my shelf, waiting to be enjoyed.
I really good read!
January 14, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. It was my first introduction to this author and now I want a whole lot more. I only wish that the stories were longer!!
June 24, 2021
Very spooky, and an occasional horror stories. Well written and all very engaging. I really enjoyed this book of short stories and looking forward to reading more by this author!
October 11, 2024
I usually don’t read short stories but I have read everything else this author has written, and so I decided to change it up and read the short stories. Each one of them was better than the last he is such a good writer, and I so enjoy reading his Irish mysteries, dark and brooding, and never disappointing.
The last story in the book answered some lingering questions from one of his novels, very satisfying, even though violent
The last story in the book answered some lingering questions from one of his novels, very satisfying, even though violent
June 11, 2021
Being one of the most prolific modern Irish crime authors, Stuart Neville delivers a suberb collection of short stories featuring all the elements that made his writing style one of the most alluring among his contemporaries. There are thirteen stories in total, including one novella that's never been published elsewhere, the titular Traveller, which concludes the book and extends the story of one of the most beloved protagonists, ex-cop Jack Lennon who is now retired from the force and lives along with his daughter in a little village. The Traveller picks up the story after the events of the fourth novel of the "Jack Lennon Investigates", The Final Silence, and narrates the relentless hunt carried out by a contract killer nicknamed "The Traveller" who tracks down Jack and is dead set on exacting revenge from the man that left him for dead a long time ago. The plot is tight and the readers who are familiar with the main characters will have a field day as the novella offers a dignified closure of their personal stories and the finale is explosive enough to satisfy even the most hardcore fans of Neville's work. Of course, the story can be read by those who are oblivious of the author's previous novels, nevertheless it would be nice if you checked out the previous installments first.
To read my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/the-tr...
To read my full review, visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/the-tr...
November 15, 2020
The Traveller and Other Stories—
3 Stars. I have been a fan of Stuart Neville since his first book “The Ghosts of Belfast”. He is one of the best and consistent writers out there and no one captures the “troubles” in Ireland quite like him.
I’m not a big fan of short stories in general, but hey, it’s Stuart Neville so I figured I’ll give it a shot. It goes without saying, that my primary interest would be on part 2 “Old Friends which brings back characters from previous full-length novels. It does disappoint, in particular the novella “The Traveller which I expected so much more from.
Part 1 “New Monsters. as there were some interesting reads but some others that I was less than enthralled with. Overall a book that I would not recommend.
The book is divided into two parts: New Monsters, which contains seven chilling stand-alone tales that traverse and blend the genres of crime fiction, horror, and speculative fiction; and Old Friends, which contains five short pieces that reveal the origins or hidden backstories of Neville fan-favorite characters like Albert Ryan, Roberta Garrick, and of course Gerry Fagan. It also contains the long-awaited novella The Traveller, the companion piece to The Ghosts of Belfast and Collusion.
3 Stars. I have been a fan of Stuart Neville since his first book “The Ghosts of Belfast”. He is one of the best and consistent writers out there and no one captures the “troubles” in Ireland quite like him.
I’m not a big fan of short stories in general, but hey, it’s Stuart Neville so I figured I’ll give it a shot. It goes without saying, that my primary interest would be on part 2 “Old Friends which brings back characters from previous full-length novels. It does disappoint, in particular the novella “The Traveller which I expected so much more from.
Part 1 “New Monsters. as there were some interesting reads but some others that I was less than enthralled with. Overall a book that I would not recommend.
The book is divided into two parts: New Monsters, which contains seven chilling stand-alone tales that traverse and blend the genres of crime fiction, horror, and speculative fiction; and Old Friends, which contains five short pieces that reveal the origins or hidden backstories of Neville fan-favorite characters like Albert Ryan, Roberta Garrick, and of course Gerry Fagan. It also contains the long-awaited novella The Traveller, the companion piece to The Ghosts of Belfast and Collusion.
February 18, 2022
I found this compilation of short stories and novella to be quite the mosaic of writing. Some were quite, to me, predictable or underwhelming, such as Coming in On Time which felt to me very self-explanatory, though the writing itself was eloquent, or Echo, which felt to me as an example of the overused horror cliche of “evil twins” and creepy kid ghosts. Aside from certain short stories leaving me with a “well.. duh” reaction, others left me puzzled, excited, and thinking deeply such as “London Safe” which had a well-executed twist ending, and the novellas “The Catastophist” and “The Traveller”, which were the action packed peak we were looking for. They had heightened sensory experiences for the reader and purposefully left the right things unsaid, and gave explicit details to the most important aspects. However, I do wish this book ended on a slightly different note. Though it had a realistic and properly mundane final sentence, I felt that it was we written out of exhaustion and impatience rather than tying the story together as a whole. All in all, I really liked this book besides a few slight subjective opinions on writing style.
October 29, 2020
An eerie, noirish collection of stories by this Irish master. If you're looking for comfort stories, you've come to the wrong place. These are tales of bad 'uns, usually unrepentant and unredeemed, with a hint of the supernatural thrown in. An excellent choice for around Halloween.
While these stories can be read as a stand-alone, the only caution I would have is that they are better read after you have read some of the authors other novels. His classic thriller, "The Ghosts of Belfast," the first chapter of which is reprinted here in its original short story form, introduces one of the characters you'll read about in at least two other stories here. Other stories, including the title one, include characters in three other of his novels. So if you don't want some surprises to be revealed, you'd be better to read other stand-alone novels before. But definitely come back to this collection of tales to close the loop.
While these stories can be read as a stand-alone, the only caution I would have is that they are better read after you have read some of the authors other novels. His classic thriller, "The Ghosts of Belfast," the first chapter of which is reprinted here in its original short story form, introduces one of the characters you'll read about in at least two other stories here. Other stories, including the title one, include characters in three other of his novels. So if you don't want some surprises to be revealed, you'd be better to read other stand-alone novels before. But definitely come back to this collection of tales to close the loop.
January 17, 2021
Stuart Neville brings together a collection of short stories that are both a gift to long-time fans and a pleasure to those who've never read his novels. The collection is broken into three sections, with the first being stand-alone short stories that skew towards ghost stories and horror. The second section is made up of shorts that intersect with the places and characters of his larger works. The final section is a novella that wraps up a few loose ends for characters from his Belfast Trilogy.
Each story is packed with atmosphere and character. It may be a bit of a tired comparison, but as a quick reference it was a bit like if you took the best of Stephen King's early short stories and run them through the prism of Ireland's bloody Troubles. I hope the latter stories don't spoil too much of Neville's trilogy, as these great stories make me want to run out and devour those next.
Each story is packed with atmosphere and character. It may be a bit of a tired comparison, but as a quick reference it was a bit like if you took the best of Stephen King's early short stories and run them through the prism of Ireland's bloody Troubles. I hope the latter stories don't spoil too much of Neville's trilogy, as these great stories make me want to run out and devour those next.
December 3, 2020
This is a book of short stories and a novella, The Traveler. A warning to the reader: these stories are dark - every single one of them. The final story, the novella for which the book is named, follow up with Jack Lennon who narrowly escaped with his daughter, Ellen, when she was a little girl. She is now a teenager living in a small town with her father, Jack, who is working as a security guard. However his past is about to catch up with him. The final scene is grisly. I would love to see Neville give Ellen a book of her own though. She's an interesting kid. There is also a story based on an Irish lesson of an old hag who steals children plus a few more that are as dark as they can be.
It's a short book and worth the time, but, again, I can't stress enough. It's DARK and not for those who are prone to nightmares.
It's a short book and worth the time, but, again, I can't stress enough. It's DARK and not for those who are prone to nightmares.
July 21, 2021
I am very eclectic when I buy short story books, because I love reading good, short stories. Short stories are perfect when I'm taking daily public transport to and from work. This one was exceptionally good, the stories had depth. The book is full of fascinating short stories with original tales (I wonder where and how he gets his inspiration, he is so good!!) and it contained even a novella that had such a haunting effect on me.
I enjoyed the introduction by John Connolly, that was a lovely surprise for me for I adore Connolly books.
Stuart Neville won my loyalty as a reader with this book and I will buy his books; novels and short stories and follow them. I already preordered his next new novel at No Alibis independent book store in Belfast, (hopefully signed edition) which will be released in September) and am looking forward to it.
I enjoyed the introduction by John Connolly, that was a lovely surprise for me for I adore Connolly books.
Stuart Neville won my loyalty as a reader with this book and I will buy his books; novels and short stories and follow them. I already preordered his next new novel at No Alibis independent book store in Belfast, (hopefully signed edition) which will be released in September) and am looking forward to it.
September 16, 2021
It's always hard to know how to review a collection of works, especially in a genre that's less familiar to me. These stories are very dark. They tend to show the very worst of the world and the people in it. Some of the characters cross over between stories, and whenever that happened I was interested to learn a bit more about them, but honestly they are all so evil that I had trouble telling them apart sometimes. Was that the guy that did that really evil thing, or was he the other really evil guy? I wasn't sure I'd be up for finishing this, but I did, and I don't regret it. Despite their being full of darkness and terrible acts, the writing style and the bite-size quality of the short stories made this collection surprisingly easy to consume. I'm not sure what that says about me, but there you have it.
September 24, 2020
I am not familiar with Stuart Neville, and I cannot BELIEVE it! This was a phenomenal collection of short stories. They were dark and noir, but also incredibly unsettling and otherworldly. I most enjoyed the first half of the collection, grouped under "Monsters," but the second half was also good, just more noir than supernatural. Neville writes children suuuuuuper eerily and perfectly. The mastery of this collection is the incredible atmospheric quality he creates, with grit, chill, dark, and eeriness, almost Gothic without the historical feel. Even when his stories are more about a gritty mobster underbelly of this Northern Ireland setting, something just feels perfectly, darkly "off" and unsettling. I will definitely be adding Stuart Neville to my must-read authors.
March 13, 2022
An enjoyable, well-written collection of mostly dark tales set in Northern Ireland. The Troubles form an uneasy undercurrent, although the story about the Faeries delves into Irish folklore. I also enjoyed the story told through the eyes of a boy who enjoys watching the ferry come and go in a remote community and doesn't understand the world of adults - why his mother left and his father drinks himself to despair. The longest story, a novella, The Traveller, is a tense thriller that hooks you until the end. My father's family are from Ulster, and the settings in these stories chime with my memories of visiting. I've passed it onto my Dad, now in his 90s - perhaps it'll rekindle his memories. In Stuart Neville I've discovered a new top literary talent from our windswept islands.
March 16, 2021
I am glad that I decided to reach out and try new authors and randomly grabbed this book. The collection of stories presented, is really enjoyable and entertaining, and in many ways thought provoking. Each story is unique and interesting, but feels at home as a collection.
I wasn't aware of the dark and brooding style, when I grabbed the book, but really enjoy the details and the ghosts that inhabit the stories. The mixtures of faith hope and violence moved the stories along and the use of children to bring a reality to the settings was well done. The book is worth seeking out and enjoying.
I wasn't aware of the dark and brooding style, when I grabbed the book, but really enjoy the details and the ghosts that inhabit the stories. The mixtures of faith hope and violence moved the stories along and the use of children to bring a reality to the settings was well done. The book is worth seeking out and enjoying.
December 8, 2021
There are twelve short stories in this book followed by a novella that comes in at 122 pages. I'm not generally a fan of horror/supernatural stories, and some of these are on the uncomfortable side of eerie for my tastes. That said, there's no denying Neville's ability as a storyteller and as a creator of memorable characters. I read this book quickly, and had no desire to put if down for any length of time. Certainly there's a strong sense of location, with most of these stories firmly ensconced in Northern Ireland, with many of the characters shaped by Ireland's tragic fratricidal conflict.
April 22, 2022
Whew! So much violence, so well written. Stuart Neville gets into the minds of his very disturbing characters who are murderers or, at the least, very wounded people. Actually, some are not people at all, but are apparitions or spirits or ghosts, one of these. Whatever they are, the reader gets to see them not so much as malevolent but as horribly wronged dead people.
How does Neville’s Irish identity influence his concept of these “travelers?” How has the Catholic Church brought him to create them? All is wrapped in stories of woe and, dare I say, horror. The stories are intriguing and will keep the reader turning the pages.
How does Neville’s Irish identity influence his concept of these “travelers?” How has the Catholic Church brought him to create them? All is wrapped in stories of woe and, dare I say, horror. The stories are intriguing and will keep the reader turning the pages.
March 23, 2024
Stuart Neville shares his powerful mastery of Irish noir writing in this collection of twelve short fiction stories and the concluding novella, The Traveller. There's something here for everyone; horror, noir, and speculative fiction. It represents ten years of his writing life and is an utterly sublime collection. Do yourself a favor and go back to Neville's stunning debut, The Ghosts of Belfast (2009) to see the birth of this exceptional talent. Other must-read Irish crime authors I would recommend are Ken Bruen, John Connolly, and Declan Hughes. Happy reading all of you awesome book peeps!
September 29, 2020
Normally I recommend that one read a single short story from a collection each night before bed but that's not the case with this wonderful collection. Read them in the light,. This is Irish Noir at its best. The 13 stories here are about dreadful crimes and scary things, It's divided into two sections- New Monsters and Old Friends. As I'd not read Neville before I might have missed the additional pleasure his fans will have from seeing familiar characters but that doesn't mean I enjoyed it any less. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a great and interesting read.
December 9, 2020
It was ok. The writing is solid, but unless you read this in just 1 or 2 sessions (or write down the character associations), it's very difficult to piece together the relationships from the characters at the start of the book with those toward in the end. Some of the characters re-appear and I caught myself saying, "I vaguely remember that name from page 30, but I can't remember who he/she was." I feel like if the short stories were re-arranged more effectively, this would've been a better read.
December 16, 2020
All I can say is WOW and try to hide my jealousy.
I love finding new, wonderful authors and Stuart Neville is one. And that is new as in "new-to-me". He has a following for his crime noir and for good reason. Creepy Crate blessed me when they sent his collection of short stories this year. I was hooked after the very first story, "Coming In On Time". And it continued to be consistently good, nay, great! You can feel the surroundings, touch the emoticons and willingly taste the fear and worry. I now have to read his novels, all of them! I only wish I could write so well.
I love finding new, wonderful authors and Stuart Neville is one. And that is new as in "new-to-me". He has a following for his crime noir and for good reason. Creepy Crate blessed me when they sent his collection of short stories this year. I was hooked after the very first story, "Coming In On Time". And it continued to be consistently good, nay, great! You can feel the surroundings, touch the emoticons and willingly taste the fear and worry. I now have to read his novels, all of them! I only wish I could write so well.
September 6, 2021
The stories are beautifully told . . . but are so very dark. There's little relief for the reader as Neville unfolds one story after another of matricide, patricide, infanticide, drug deals gone awry and numerous lost souls who stumble their way towards tragedy. It almost feels as if the characters themselves have no agency; death and horror are the true protagonists.
I like bleak, but as a mother with two young kids, living in a pandemic world that is barely maintaining its grasp on humanity, this book did not bring me enjoyment.
I like bleak, but as a mother with two young kids, living in a pandemic world that is barely maintaining its grasp on humanity, this book did not bring me enjoyment.
January 22, 2022
Mr Stuart opens this opus with a disclaimer that writing short stories is hard and most authors don't like to do it. Also, I believe he mentions there ain't a lot of money in it either. I love short stories and writers of good short stories abound. Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Jeffrey Archer all come to mind off the top of my head. These stories were OK, I can't go lower than a three star rating, but I am certainly not intrigued to read anything longer by this author.
September 1, 2020
This was a really great short story collection featuring 12 stories and 1 novella which has an introduction by the author that gives you a description or the background for each story and an amazing foreword by John Connolly. I have never read any of Stuart Neville's books and I really want to now. This was set up in 2 parts in Part 1 New Monsters the stories are largely more on the supernatural side with a side of tragedy and sadness as well while Part 2 Old Friends ties into characters who have appeared in his other novels which ends with a novella about what happens to Jack Lennon and his daughter Ellen after the events in The Final Silence.
So this was a really fast read and every story was super interesting and Stuart Neville is a really great engaging writer. Even though I had no clue about any of the characters in Part 2 since I haven’t read any of his other novels, it didn’t matter I wasn’t lost and every story was so intriguing that it kept me engaged even when I wondering what was happening here. So all in all a fabulous read and can’t wait to start on his other novels.
Thanks to Soho Crime and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.
So this was a really fast read and every story was super interesting and Stuart Neville is a really great engaging writer. Even though I had no clue about any of the characters in Part 2 since I haven’t read any of his other novels, it didn’t matter I wasn’t lost and every story was so intriguing that it kept me engaged even when I wondering what was happening here. So all in all a fabulous read and can’t wait to start on his other novels.
Thanks to Soho Crime and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.
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