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Beyond The Smoke And Shadow
A collection of 9 gothic tales and poetry to haunt the darkest of nights. From the distant past to the far-off future, horrors lurk and there are no happy endings. Pirates, witches, ghosts, cryptids, and what will you find waiting for you beyond the smoke and shadow?
What will happen when the spirits of Salem witches seek revenge? Or a hidden city is found beneath the earth? Is there something lurking in the woods at night?
Fans of classic gothic fiction, historical horror, and even science fiction will find a story just for them. Each story comes with an accompanying poem to unsettle and entertain you.
What will happen when the spirits of Salem witches seek revenge? Or a hidden city is found beneath the earth? Is there something lurking in the woods at night?
Fans of classic gothic fiction, historical horror, and even science fiction will find a story just for them. Each story comes with an accompanying poem to unsettle and entertain you.
221 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2025
About the author
Catriona Mowat
6 books60 followersSpecialising in historical, gothic horror, Catriona is influenced by classic horror like Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley, as well as modern classics like The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.
Living in Swindon, UK, Catriona loves museums and exploring the local area, and can often be found wandering through woodlands and exploring the Cotswolds. She sings and enjoys the theatre as well as being a book and movie nerd.
Catriona has previously had poetry published in 8 anthologies and magazines from Forward Press, Aberdeen University Press and The Illustrated Ape art magazine, although she has only been writing prose and publishing full works since Jan 2025. She is one to watch in the indie horror scene
Living in Swindon, UK, Catriona loves museums and exploring the local area, and can often be found wandering through woodlands and exploring the Cotswolds. She sings and enjoys the theatre as well as being a book and movie nerd.
Catriona has previously had poetry published in 8 anthologies and magazines from Forward Press, Aberdeen University Press and The Illustrated Ape art magazine, although she has only been writing prose and publishing full works since Jan 2025. She is one to watch in the indie horror scene
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 15, 2025
ARC Review: Beyond The Smoke And Shadow
This is Catriona Mowat‘s debut collection of “dark stories and poetry,” which I whizzed through because they just naturally flowed and led you from story to poem, and on again.
I loved how the poems and stories are linked (I believe Catriona wrote the poems first and based the stories on those), as it adds an extra perspective to each pairing.
Each story genre was different, which kept your brain bouncing from one century and setting to another.
I particularly loved Lost City, Heads or Tails, and No Man’s Land, with my outright favourite being Lost City—Catriona literally drew me underground with her descriptions, and I totally felt like I was in that forgotten place.
I look forward to reading more from Catriona.
Five out of five Gothic skulls 💀💀💀💀💀
This is Catriona Mowat‘s debut collection of “dark stories and poetry,” which I whizzed through because they just naturally flowed and led you from story to poem, and on again.
I loved how the poems and stories are linked (I believe Catriona wrote the poems first and based the stories on those), as it adds an extra perspective to each pairing.
Each story genre was different, which kept your brain bouncing from one century and setting to another.
I particularly loved Lost City, Heads or Tails, and No Man’s Land, with my outright favourite being Lost City—Catriona literally drew me underground with her descriptions, and I totally felt like I was in that forgotten place.
I look forward to reading more from Catriona.
Five out of five Gothic skulls 💀💀💀💀💀
June 2, 2025
Cat Mowat's debut collection delivers more than you'd expect from a typical short story collection: archaeological horror, gothic horror, historical horror, sci-fi horror, maritime horror, military horror, quiet horror, creepy children, wendigos, ghosts, serial killers, witchcraft... a real treat for horror lovers! Each story (nine in total) is accompanied by a poem (plus one standing on its own) which inspired it, enhancing the reading experience and softening the blow when the story itself goes dark and hits you right in the feels!
I found this happening quite regularly, but "Mama’s Little Boy" especially was a very unsettling reading experience. Similarly, "Broken Dolls," the serial killer story, has a totally unpredictable ending, demanding the story be read again under a different aspect. Loved these stories!
Another two of my favorites were the opening and the closing tales, "Lost City" and "Terra Effugiam," respectively. "Lost City" has terrific atmosphere, figuring an Edinburgh road crew uncovering something entirely unexpected; when the local archaeology team goes to investigate, they slowly realize they have their hands full with a part of the city's past they'd rather have never stumbled upon. Uncanny ending, and disturbing imagery make this a truly memorable horror tale. "Terra," by contrast, is a successful blend of cave horror and science fiction, telling the story of a rescue team trying to evacuate the last cults of humanity on Earth, under a sun ready to blow. It's fast-paced, pretty much well-grounded on physics, and has a very disturbing ending.
This is the perfect introduction for people wanting to experience what horror is all about, but it'll satisfy experienced readers of the genre as well. Buy it as a gift, or treat yourself; either way, you'll find lots and lots to enjoy!
I found this happening quite regularly, but "Mama’s Little Boy" especially was a very unsettling reading experience. Similarly, "Broken Dolls," the serial killer story, has a totally unpredictable ending, demanding the story be read again under a different aspect. Loved these stories!
Another two of my favorites were the opening and the closing tales, "Lost City" and "Terra Effugiam," respectively. "Lost City" has terrific atmosphere, figuring an Edinburgh road crew uncovering something entirely unexpected; when the local archaeology team goes to investigate, they slowly realize they have their hands full with a part of the city's past they'd rather have never stumbled upon. Uncanny ending, and disturbing imagery make this a truly memorable horror tale. "Terra," by contrast, is a successful blend of cave horror and science fiction, telling the story of a rescue team trying to evacuate the last cults of humanity on Earth, under a sun ready to blow. It's fast-paced, pretty much well-grounded on physics, and has a very disturbing ending.
This is the perfect introduction for people wanting to experience what horror is all about, but it'll satisfy experienced readers of the genre as well. Buy it as a gift, or treat yourself; either way, you'll find lots and lots to enjoy!
May 16, 2025
A wonderful collection of stories that flow together so easily, even with them being different subject matters. The added poems (that I believe she wrote first) just tie them all up into a perfect little bow. Full of gothic prose, every one of these stories hits differently and packs a punch. This collection of stories has it all - ghostly tales, untrustworthy boyfriends, a killer obsessed with dolls, futuristic tales, a great war tale, and even tales of the sea (it gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes and it was perfect!). It seems there is no story or subject matter that Cat can't cast her spell on, and I loved them all.
My personal favourites were -
The Lost City, No Man's Land, Broken Dolls (based in my home town too!), and Judge Me Not. I could not put this book down. Give me more!
Cat is definitely one to watch. What an awesome debut 👏
My personal favourites were -
The Lost City, No Man's Land, Broken Dolls (based in my home town too!), and Judge Me Not. I could not put this book down. Give me more!
Cat is definitely one to watch. What an awesome debut 👏
June 1, 2025
I was lucky enough to get to read this in exchange for a honest review and I enjoyed it.
I feel like this collection was refreshing, it had a little bit of everything, including some fun futuristic type horror, which I do not get enough of to be honest.
Everything about this sung well together, even though, it was a collection, of totally different stories, and while yes, this was the same author, trust me, not every short story collection vibes like this one did, it all worked in a way that by the time you were finished, you didn’t feel like you missed out on anything, even though these were just short bite sized stories, they were enough to make you want more in a good way.
Crazy boyfriends, futuristic horrors the mind can only imagine, dark poetry and freaking pirate witches and let me be the first to say, dolls freak me out, so someone who is a killer, obsessed with them? Nightmare fuel.
Now as I have said, not a huge poetry reader, but I love when it’s incorporated into books the way Cat has worked it in, it’s beautiful and haunting, it lingers with you long after you’ve finished the book.
I think if I had to pick a favorite it would be Lost City, maybe, ugh they were just so good, it’s splitting hairs for me.
Next book please??
I feel like this collection was refreshing, it had a little bit of everything, including some fun futuristic type horror, which I do not get enough of to be honest.
Everything about this sung well together, even though, it was a collection, of totally different stories, and while yes, this was the same author, trust me, not every short story collection vibes like this one did, it all worked in a way that by the time you were finished, you didn’t feel like you missed out on anything, even though these were just short bite sized stories, they were enough to make you want more in a good way.
Crazy boyfriends, futuristic horrors the mind can only imagine, dark poetry and freaking pirate witches and let me be the first to say, dolls freak me out, so someone who is a killer, obsessed with them? Nightmare fuel.
Now as I have said, not a huge poetry reader, but I love when it’s incorporated into books the way Cat has worked it in, it’s beautiful and haunting, it lingers with you long after you’ve finished the book.
I think if I had to pick a favorite it would be Lost City, maybe, ugh they were just so good, it’s splitting hairs for me.
Next book please??
June 5, 2025
I recently received Beyond The Smoke and Shadow as an ARC from the author Catriona Mowat.
Her debut book consists of 9 short horror stories and a poem which relates to each. The stories are all exceptionally well written. With horror being my favourite genre I felt so spoilt to have so much choice from historical horror to Sci Fi. I haven't read much poetry as such but the associated poems were all superb!
If you're a fan of horror you will love this debut book.. there really is is something for everyone!
Many thanks to the author for the ARC. Well deserved 5* read from myself. Wishing you every success.
Her debut book consists of 9 short horror stories and a poem which relates to each. The stories are all exceptionally well written. With horror being my favourite genre I felt so spoilt to have so much choice from historical horror to Sci Fi. I haven't read much poetry as such but the associated poems were all superb!
If you're a fan of horror you will love this debut book.. there really is is something for everyone!
Many thanks to the author for the ARC. Well deserved 5* read from myself. Wishing you every success.
July 18, 2025
Beyond the smoke and shadow, the debut from Catriona Mowat is a collection of 9 gothic tales from many different times and places in history. The level of detail and research which has gone into these pieces of work is testament to Catriona's love for the genre and her writing skills. She has a beautiful style of writing, which is equally haunting as it is engaging.
There were some of the stories where I wanted more, and potentially a more detailed back story or for it to be turned into a novella. This is an incredible writing skill for the author to have, and would be great to see some of the short stories developed further.
Looking forward to reading more from Catriona in the future.
There were some of the stories where I wanted more, and potentially a more detailed back story or for it to be turned into a novella. This is an incredible writing skill for the author to have, and would be great to see some of the short stories developed further.
Looking forward to reading more from Catriona in the future.
June 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A fantastic collection of short stories that all bring something different to the table.
Broken Dolls was my favourite story in the collection with a twist that I didn’t see coming.
To be included in the acknowledgments was humbling and made it even more special for me.
A fabulous debut for a fabulous author that has a very promising future ahead of her.
A fantastic collection of short stories that all bring something different to the table.
Broken Dolls was my favourite story in the collection with a twist that I didn’t see coming.
To be included in the acknowledgments was humbling and made it even more special for me.
A fabulous debut for a fabulous author that has a very promising future ahead of her.
June 20, 2025
I am sitting here completely awe struck. As someone who rarely gravitates toward short stories or poetry, I was apprehensively optimistic going into this but every misgiving I've ever had regarding those, Cat shattered. I AM NOT exaggerating when I say this was the most beautifully written, viscerally encompassing, dreamlike collection I have ever had the pleasure of being immersed in.
Each story was ethereal in its terror and many times I felt unable to pull myself out of the nightmare she had weaved. I cannot express the emptiness I'm feeling that I'm done reading this book, and I have every intention of bugging her for her next release.
Bravo Cat 👏👏👏 Truly remarkable debut!!!
Each story was ethereal in its terror and many times I felt unable to pull myself out of the nightmare she had weaved. I cannot express the emptiness I'm feeling that I'm done reading this book, and I have every intention of bugging her for her next release.
Bravo Cat 👏👏👏 Truly remarkable debut!!!
May 17, 2025
When Cat announced that she was writing this book, I had high expectations from the very beginning, and this exceeded every single one of them! This is a brilliant collection of stories and poems that flow together perfectly and make it unputdownable. Every story offers something different, and each one is cleverly told, with characters that you can identify with in very different ways. At one point I even chortled! If this high level is Cats Debut, I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us- we are in for a treat!
June 13, 2025
It would be easy to throw out some kind words, given all the good Cat has done for this community. A thumbs up, a nod of approval & give myself a pat on the back for my trouble.
But I'm here to tell you just how deserving praise is for this book, which I give purely on merit. It was a rollercoaster, but without the risk of being vomited on.
There is so much variety to these stories & their accompanying poems, so much so that at no point did I feel like we'd trodden these boards before. That's the mark of a true writer, who knows what they're doing & is happy to let their imagination lead you down a number of these dark paths, whether that be underground plague cities, pirate shenanigans, World War 1 slashers, or a twisty turny serial killer tale. (To name but a few.)
Pick it up, there's something for everyone here!
5 out of 5 witches? Damn, I forgot my glasses. Yeah, I think they're witches.
🧙🧙🧙🧙🧙
But I'm here to tell you just how deserving praise is for this book, which I give purely on merit. It was a rollercoaster, but without the risk of being vomited on.
There is so much variety to these stories & their accompanying poems, so much so that at no point did I feel like we'd trodden these boards before. That's the mark of a true writer, who knows what they're doing & is happy to let their imagination lead you down a number of these dark paths, whether that be underground plague cities, pirate shenanigans, World War 1 slashers, or a twisty turny serial killer tale. (To name but a few.)
Pick it up, there's something for everyone here!
5 out of 5 witches? Damn, I forgot my glasses. Yeah, I think they're witches.
🧙🧙🧙🧙🧙
May 13, 2025
A spectacular collection of short stories enhanced beautifully by the poems at the start of each chapter. A gloriously gothic thread runs through this book like a twisted haunted river and although a macabre mix of horror genres they flow together perfectly.
Lost City
A claustrophic journey into a forgotten city, some things need to stay hidden. (In my humble opinion there is a full length novel in this story, I want to know more!)
Head or Tails
The law of the sea but be careful what you wish for.
No Man’s Land
The revenge of the Great War Fallen
Mama’s Little Boy
A boy’s love for his mother is tested by a new boyfriend.
Let Me In
A local legend want to be let in.
Broken Dolls
A killer’s hobby is collecting dolls.
The Painted Lady
A sumptuous gothic tale of madness, fear and revenge.
Judge Me Not
The Salem witches have their revenge.
Terra Effugiam
A rescue mission turns supernova.
Lost City
A claustrophic journey into a forgotten city, some things need to stay hidden. (In my humble opinion there is a full length novel in this story, I want to know more!)
Head or Tails
The law of the sea but be careful what you wish for.
No Man’s Land
The revenge of the Great War Fallen
Mama’s Little Boy
A boy’s love for his mother is tested by a new boyfriend.
Let Me In
A local legend want to be let in.
Broken Dolls
A killer’s hobby is collecting dolls.
The Painted Lady
A sumptuous gothic tale of madness, fear and revenge.
Judge Me Not
The Salem witches have their revenge.
Terra Effugiam
A rescue mission turns supernova.
August 19, 2025
All throughout reading Beyond the Smoke and Shadow the word ‘meticulous’ kept popping into my head. The size and feel of the book in hand, Perfect. The front and back cover illustrations depicting stories bursting from a book, perfect. I was so glad I picked up the signed edition that came in a book box. Cram-packed with trinkets and ephemera (that were always meant to be and will be retained) all related to the collection of stories contained within the book.
And what a collection of stories it is.
Historical fact blends seamlessly with fiction. Plague Doctors, pirates and privateers, Witches, Cryptids and Serial killers. All have their own stories, all give that sense of delightful unease. All stories are held together with poetry that add to the immersion and lead you from tale to tale.
Hard to pick favourites but I’ll go for The Painted Lady, the Gothic tale I wanted and got from Catriona Mowat. Definitely a re-read on Christmas Eve. Sitting by the fire, glass of port in hand. Perfect. Broken Dolls because I love a twist. Terra Effugium, I just wasn’t expecting a sci-if story and I loved it.
Beyond the smoke and Shadows starts you in the depths and leads you through time to the stars. The whole brilliant adventure carefully curated. Nothing left to chance. Every detail researched with careful precision.
The amount of care has paid off. One of the best collections of short stories I’ve ever read.
And what a collection of stories it is.
Historical fact blends seamlessly with fiction. Plague Doctors, pirates and privateers, Witches, Cryptids and Serial killers. All have their own stories, all give that sense of delightful unease. All stories are held together with poetry that add to the immersion and lead you from tale to tale.
Hard to pick favourites but I’ll go for The Painted Lady, the Gothic tale I wanted and got from Catriona Mowat. Definitely a re-read on Christmas Eve. Sitting by the fire, glass of port in hand. Perfect. Broken Dolls because I love a twist. Terra Effugium, I just wasn’t expecting a sci-if story and I loved it.
Beyond the smoke and Shadows starts you in the depths and leads you through time to the stars. The whole brilliant adventure carefully curated. Nothing left to chance. Every detail researched with careful precision.
The amount of care has paid off. One of the best collections of short stories I’ve ever read.
May 28, 2025
Beyond the Smoke and Shadow is Catriona Mowat’s debut collection of horror shorts. This is a fun collection full of dark tales, with a variety of subgenres, including gothic, witches, sci-fi, and pirates. There is a type of story that will appeal to most everyone who loves horror. One of the things I loved most was the accompanying poem that went with every short story. They were all beautiful and some were quite haunting. I’m looking forward to reading more from Cat in the future!
My favorites in the collection were:
The Lost City
Broken Dolls
The Painted Lady
Terra Effugium
My favorites in the collection were:
The Lost City
Broken Dolls
The Painted Lady
Terra Effugium
June 15, 2025
A great first collection. I always like stories that teach me things and make me Google stuff and quite a few of the tales in this book did. From hidden secrets beneath Edinburgh to the end of the world as we know it, this book features horror from the 1700s to the 4700s!
My only dampener was that I would have loved it if some of these stories had been fleshed out into novellas or novels but that's my own preference.
My only dampener was that I would have loved it if some of these stories had been fleshed out into novellas or novels but that's my own preference.
May 25, 2025
A really good collection of spooky stories.
I honestly can’t pick a favourite. I said heads and tails, then read the next then the next and they’re all really good.
Poetry to compliment each story as well.
It’s a cover all book.
Looking forward to more from this author.
I honestly can’t pick a favourite. I said heads and tails, then read the next then the next and they’re all really good.
Poetry to compliment each story as well.
It’s a cover all book.
Looking forward to more from this author.
May 29, 2025
In this debut novel of poetry and stories, you will find frightening worlds of witchcraft, end of world, retribution and caution to future generations. My favorite story was Painted Dolls. I was not expecting this gruesome, nightmare fuel story of a serial killer. This story would be a great novel if the author chose to develop the longer story. I enjoyed how the poetry was connected to the stories. All the stories have potential to be novels and I hope to read more about these characters. I cannot wait to read more from this new horror author.
June 7, 2025
This was a very engrossing set of nine short stories. I loved the bits of poems worked in to each one and found each story to be wildly creative.
There were a lot of subgenres represented in this collection from gothic to maritime tales to historical horrors. The stories are all very well written and for that reason, I had a hard time choosing a favorite.
If I had to pick though, I would say The Lost City.
Atmospheric and well-written, this is a fantastic debut release!
There were a lot of subgenres represented in this collection from gothic to maritime tales to historical horrors. The stories are all very well written and for that reason, I had a hard time choosing a favorite.
If I had to pick though, I would say The Lost City.
Atmospheric and well-written, this is a fantastic debut release!
June 29, 2025
Stylish, deep and complex. This is how I'd describe both this story collection as well as its author, who I am honored to be friends with. I've had so much fun with these stories and I can't wait to see what else Cat can summon from the depths of her mind and soul.
My favourite story? Oh Gosh, Broken Dolls left me mouth agape! 😱
But all tremendously good stories. And the last one, Terra Effugium, I loved almost as much as Broken Dolls, given the fact I am not usually a sci-fi consumer.
My favourite story? Oh Gosh, Broken Dolls left me mouth agape! 😱
But all tremendously good stories. And the last one, Terra Effugium, I loved almost as much as Broken Dolls, given the fact I am not usually a sci-fi consumer.
June 8, 2025
This collection of stories and poems was the perfect blend of horror. From murders, pirates, sci-fi, monsters, and historical features. These stories kept me entertained, and despite being short, they packed a punch and felt complete.
September 15, 2026
A collection of short stories, each one with an accompanying poem. All stories were really enjoyable looking at an array of known entities or themes so there's something for everyone in this collection. The Painted Lady was a particular favourite of mine, saying that each one was a five star read and the writing was excellent, drawing you in with just the right amount of build up, suspense and intrigue. I'm not a fan of poetry but still liked these shorts that were a nice little addition to the end of each tale.
Definitely check this one out, it's a real gem.
Definitely check this one out, it's a real gem.
July 4, 2025
A dark, moody collection that creeps under your skin. Each story is set in a different era, from shadowy pasts to more modern day horrors, giving the whole book a timeless, haunted kinda feel. Some stories move slower than others, but that's fine for me. All of them manage to build a quiet dread that lingers. I could easily see a few of these expanded into full novellas. Great fun for fans of gothic vibes and subtle horror.
July 21, 2025
Stunning debut, a mesmerizing mix of short stories and poems that spans a range of horror subgenres. I loved the variety and creativity throughout. Catriona Mowat is definitely an author to watch. I absolutely loved this collection.
July 3, 2025
What a wonderful set of stories loved each and everyone great author keep writing and I’ll keep reading
October 31, 2025
Bite sized frights to see you through the dark nights. Does that rhyme?! Very on brand as each story in the book is accompanied by a poem which is so unique and adds an extra edge to the stories. If you love gothic short stories, then you will love this collection. The Lost City is currently ingrained in my brain. Plus, I love it when there are no happy endings… so much fun! Can’t wait to read more from Catriona.
September 29, 2026
‘Beyond The Smoke and Shadow’ is the debut story collection by Catriona Mowat. And what a strong and confident debut it is. We get nine stories with potent gothic energy throughout. Ghostly urban hauntings, strange curses, Salem witch sisters. There are some excellent stories here. Each tale has a poem adjoining it. So, the mix of creepy, suspenseful storytelling with a poetic pallet cleanser is a unique and fantastic way to journey through the collection.
My favourite story:
‘Heads or Tails?’ - this was a hyper-vivid maritime horror tale. The setting, dialogue, and magic take us across the sea on a mind ending trip to Nassau, in an era of intrigue and pirates.
What I wanted more of:
‘Let Me In’ - Dan is a writer, and all he wants to do is just catch up on his writing work in his dream home by Lake Bass. But the Wendigo has different ideas. This was a brief but creepy as hell story. I haven't read much or know much about the Wendigo. Is this an underwritten subject in horror, or am I just living under a rock? I wanted more of this for sure. This one was great.
Favourite poem:
‘Hell Awaits’ - just after the Salem horror fest story ‘Judge Me Not’ is this excellent poem. Catriona has an extraordinarily strong poetic sensibility, and it blazes here. Nearly all the poems sprinkled across the collection are strong in imagery and pull you deep into the scenes they conjure up. They show Catriona’s strong talent isn't just with gothic tales. Her poems show she could stand strong with a collection in that format alone. Overall:
The different horror settings and unique evils explored in the collection were a strong pull for me. I read the collection chronologically and loved the diversity of characters, the descriptive settings in the future and long in the past, and this book really lined me up for whatever Catriona Mowat publishes next Highly recommended as a standout collection!
My favourite story:
‘Heads or Tails?’ - this was a hyper-vivid maritime horror tale. The setting, dialogue, and magic take us across the sea on a mind ending trip to Nassau, in an era of intrigue and pirates.
What I wanted more of:
‘Let Me In’ - Dan is a writer, and all he wants to do is just catch up on his writing work in his dream home by Lake Bass. But the Wendigo has different ideas. This was a brief but creepy as hell story. I haven't read much or know much about the Wendigo. Is this an underwritten subject in horror, or am I just living under a rock? I wanted more of this for sure. This one was great.
Favourite poem:
‘Hell Awaits’ - just after the Salem horror fest story ‘Judge Me Not’ is this excellent poem. Catriona has an extraordinarily strong poetic sensibility, and it blazes here. Nearly all the poems sprinkled across the collection are strong in imagery and pull you deep into the scenes they conjure up. They show Catriona’s strong talent isn't just with gothic tales. Her poems show she could stand strong with a collection in that format alone. Overall:
The different horror settings and unique evils explored in the collection were a strong pull for me. I read the collection chronologically and loved the diversity of characters, the descriptive settings in the future and long in the past, and this book really lined me up for whatever Catriona Mowat publishes next Highly recommended as a standout collection!
May 14, 2025
Oh my god, this book has everything and I couldn’t put it down! I recommend this to all horror fans because, whatever your preferred sub-genre - be it pirates, witches, historical realism, ghosts, serial killers, sci-fi and so much more - there is something in here for you.
Catriona Mowat is an incredible writer, capturing an insidiously creepy (sometimes even harrowing) atmosphere very quickly & consistently throughout every story, woven together with some very funny and very emotive moments (the last story made me cry, even though it was pretty damn scary!).
There is so much research that she has clearly put into every story: from WW1 battlefields in Belgium; accurate pirate lore & history; Edinburgh’s history of luckenbooths and plague doctors; to actual quotations & historically-accurate spellings from the accounts of the Salem witch trials. This is absolutely grounded in reality (well, supernatural aside) which adds so much impact to the realistic sense of loss & fear we witness the characters experience in each chapter.
The poems appended to each story added yet another new level of depth and interpretation for the stories, and I’m also a sucker for a book cover with hidden Easter eggs from the stories within (and mid-story small illustrations as section breaks).
I am so delighted I got to read an ARC of this book, many thanks to the author for thinking of me & accurately predicting how much I would love it 🖤 The book comes out in mid-June, so get your pre-orders in soon!
I am including a list of Content Warnings for each short story in this collection - but fair warning that some of these include either MINOR OR MAJOR SPOILERS, so stop reading here if you want to avoid that!
——————
Content Warnings (includes Spoilers):
Catriona Mowat is an incredible writer, capturing an insidiously creepy (sometimes even harrowing) atmosphere very quickly & consistently throughout every story, woven together with some very funny and very emotive moments (the last story made me cry, even though it was pretty damn scary!).
There is so much research that she has clearly put into every story: from WW1 battlefields in Belgium; accurate pirate lore & history; Edinburgh’s history of luckenbooths and plague doctors; to actual quotations & historically-accurate spellings from the accounts of the Salem witch trials. This is absolutely grounded in reality (well, supernatural aside) which adds so much impact to the realistic sense of loss & fear we witness the characters experience in each chapter.
The poems appended to each story added yet another new level of depth and interpretation for the stories, and I’m also a sucker for a book cover with hidden Easter eggs from the stories within (and mid-story small illustrations as section breaks).
I am so delighted I got to read an ARC of this book, many thanks to the author for thinking of me & accurately predicting how much I would love it 🖤 The book comes out in mid-June, so get your pre-orders in soon!
I am including a list of Content Warnings for each short story in this collection - but fair warning that some of these include either MINOR OR MAJOR SPOILERS, so stop reading here if you want to avoid that!
——————
Content Warnings (includes Spoilers):
October 1, 2026
I am not massive on short stories, but this collection is fantastic.
My first delve into the mind of Catriona, and wow....... I was hugely impressed.
She has a beautiful writing style and these stories move along at a bullet like pace, and keep you turning pages quicker than me eating a cake!!!! And that is fast!!!
Her attention to the characters, and the content wedged into each story is nothing short of fantastic....... My personal favourite being the Wendigo!!!
Awesome stuff which I highly recommend, and I cannot wait to read more from Catriona.
My first delve into the mind of Catriona, and wow....... I was hugely impressed.
She has a beautiful writing style and these stories move along at a bullet like pace, and keep you turning pages quicker than me eating a cake!!!! And that is fast!!!
Her attention to the characters, and the content wedged into each story is nothing short of fantastic....... My personal favourite being the Wendigo!!!
Awesome stuff which I highly recommend, and I cannot wait to read more from Catriona.
May 11, 2025
Catriona Mowat - Beyond The Smoke and Shadows ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What I really loved about this anthology was being part of how it fully evolved. From an initial discussion of encouragement over a Christmas meal in a fancy Cotswold pub, to the excitement of the first story. I was blown away by that one (The Lost City), and all those that followed afterwards.
I knew Cat could write. She was known for her well-scribed book reviews and the poor lass had even found her way to reviewing me in times of lean offerings. I’d also read some of her poetry so knew she had prose that danced along the page and sat quite comfortably in both your heart and your mind.
Cat’s style is historical gothic, but each story is very different indeed. Her attention to historical detail is first class, and whilst most stories she held an incredibly high knowledge of any way, she never failed to confirm each detail to be correct. The Lost City drew on her time working at Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh. What she doesn’t know about plague doctors is not worth knowing, believe me. This opened my eyes to just how good her writing is.
We have pirates in Heads or Tails, and a fantastic unique take on a slasher set in WW1 with No Man’s Land. A slice of contemporary domestic noir in the twisted Mama’s Boy, the haunting Wendigo tale of Let Me In before the wonderfully crafted, dark and gritty Broken Dolls, a story that could well have been a nice meaty novel. In fact, a lot of these could well have been larger stories, but the fact that Cat can condense them to be so succinct is truly an artform.
If the first half was great then the second half is just as good if not better! The Painted Lady is Gothic Horror at it’s best and showcases her voice as well as any other story, but dipping into the Salem witch trials in the wonderful Judge Me Not takes an event known by many and spins it from another point of view, and then to finish we have the futuristic explosion of Terra Effugium.
I would struggle to pick my favourite here, although Lost City being the first story I read will always have a special place in my heart, and No Man’s Land was clever and unique, The Painted Lady is I feel Cat in her element, and Terra Effugium a fitting end story.
For a debut, this is incredibly strong, and I know from inside sources that there is a lot more to come. You can call me biased, but grab yourself a copy and I dare you not to find a few stories here that you’ll love. This is quite simply perfect.
What I really loved about this anthology was being part of how it fully evolved. From an initial discussion of encouragement over a Christmas meal in a fancy Cotswold pub, to the excitement of the first story. I was blown away by that one (The Lost City), and all those that followed afterwards.
I knew Cat could write. She was known for her well-scribed book reviews and the poor lass had even found her way to reviewing me in times of lean offerings. I’d also read some of her poetry so knew she had prose that danced along the page and sat quite comfortably in both your heart and your mind.
Cat’s style is historical gothic, but each story is very different indeed. Her attention to historical detail is first class, and whilst most stories she held an incredibly high knowledge of any way, she never failed to confirm each detail to be correct. The Lost City drew on her time working at Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh. What she doesn’t know about plague doctors is not worth knowing, believe me. This opened my eyes to just how good her writing is.
We have pirates in Heads or Tails, and a fantastic unique take on a slasher set in WW1 with No Man’s Land. A slice of contemporary domestic noir in the twisted Mama’s Boy, the haunting Wendigo tale of Let Me In before the wonderfully crafted, dark and gritty Broken Dolls, a story that could well have been a nice meaty novel. In fact, a lot of these could well have been larger stories, but the fact that Cat can condense them to be so succinct is truly an artform.
If the first half was great then the second half is just as good if not better! The Painted Lady is Gothic Horror at it’s best and showcases her voice as well as any other story, but dipping into the Salem witch trials in the wonderful Judge Me Not takes an event known by many and spins it from another point of view, and then to finish we have the futuristic explosion of Terra Effugium.
I would struggle to pick my favourite here, although Lost City being the first story I read will always have a special place in my heart, and No Man’s Land was clever and unique, The Painted Lady is I feel Cat in her element, and Terra Effugium a fitting end story.
For a debut, this is incredibly strong, and I know from inside sources that there is a lot more to come. You can call me biased, but grab yourself a copy and I dare you not to find a few stories here that you’ll love. This is quite simply perfect.
May 25, 2025
I am a huge lover of short fiction, but up until now I didn’t really see the appeal in poetry. But Beyond the Smoke and Shadow by Catriona Mowat has completely changed my thoughts of this style of writing.
Each of these short tales sent a shiver down my spine, either with fear or by the increasing tension. By the very nature of a short story, the author needs to grab the reader instantly and these definitely did. I loved the way the poems perfectly accompanied each story, with each of them also being a tale in itself. These very different stories each had their own special appeal, but for me, Broken Dolls and The Lost City were my favourites. I truly enjoyed the poetry and within these poems, the one that spoke to me the most was Stained-Glass Sun.
It’s very difficult to believe that Beyond the Smoke and Shadow is a debut collection, but Catriona’s strong writing shows an amazing talent and I can’t wait to read more by her.
Each of these short tales sent a shiver down my spine, either with fear or by the increasing tension. By the very nature of a short story, the author needs to grab the reader instantly and these definitely did. I loved the way the poems perfectly accompanied each story, with each of them also being a tale in itself. These very different stories each had their own special appeal, but for me, Broken Dolls and The Lost City were my favourites. I truly enjoyed the poetry and within these poems, the one that spoke to me the most was Stained-Glass Sun.
It’s very difficult to believe that Beyond the Smoke and Shadow is a debut collection, but Catriona’s strong writing shows an amazing talent and I can’t wait to read more by her.
June 13, 2025
Gothic short fiction + eerie poetry = haunting perfection
This collection is a moody, lyrical dive into gothic horror. Think shadowy forests, crumbling houses, ghost stories with teeth, and just enough dread to keep you glancing over your shoulder. What really stands out is how well each piece flows into the next. Each of the stories and poems offers something different: some spooky, some sad, all dripping with atmosphere. There is something for everyone in this collection! My personal favorites were Broken Dolls and Lost City.
Light a candle, grab a blanket, and enjoy!
This collection is a moody, lyrical dive into gothic horror. Think shadowy forests, crumbling houses, ghost stories with teeth, and just enough dread to keep you glancing over your shoulder. What really stands out is how well each piece flows into the next. Each of the stories and poems offers something different: some spooky, some sad, all dripping with atmosphere. There is something for everyone in this collection! My personal favorites were Broken Dolls and Lost City.
Light a candle, grab a blanket, and enjoy!
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