Verona: A Ghost Story

by Benedict Ashforth

An infertile couple escape to Italy for a short break but soon understand they are not alone, and that an ancient evil has awoken.

Genres: Horror, Audiobook, Short Stories, Gothic, Fiction, Supernatural, Paranormal

132 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2015

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verona: A Ghost Story (Kindle Single)
by Benedict Ashforth
This is a pretty good horror ghost story. It starts slow then keeps building up! A couple can't have kids although they have tried and tried. They give up and buy a big home and decide to foster or adopt. They first want to take a vacation to get back the closeness they had before.
As the story unravels, new details emerge that caused this reader to rethink the plot repeatedly! Well played! What I thought was going to be a simple ghost story was certainly a lot more and a lot more complicated!

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unhappily childless couple take a holiday in Verona, hoping to distract themselves from the heartbreak of the many failed fertility treatments they have endured. They are, however, beset by peculiar occurrences from the moment they arrive, as well as finding themselves strangely drawn to a particular church and its distinctive stained glass window... Verona seems to riff on both Daphne du Maurier's 'Don't Look Now' and the ancient religious horrors found in many of M.R. James's stories. It is subtler and, in my opinion, more effective than Abbot's Keep, the other ghost story I've read by Ashforth, and apparently his most widely read. It doesn't induce electrifying terror, but there were definitely more than a few moments that gave me chills. If you like this sort of thing then I'd certainly recommend it, and I'll be investigating the rest of Ashforth's stories at some point too.

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[F.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given how often modern horror writers want to dress up and pretend they’re H.P. Lovecraft, it’s always lovely to find one content to wrap himself in a comfortable old frock-coat and imagine himself M.R. James. ‘Verona: A Ghost Story’ focuses on a young couple in the 1980s who cannot have children, but such is Ashforth’s spot-on emulation of James’s late Victorian/early Edwardian prose style, there’s immediately a spooky dissonance. You may well be reading about a (fairly) modern couple trying and failing with IVF, but you can’t fail but recognize you’re in an old time ghost story.

Needing a break, the couple visit Verona, where matters become swiftly spooky – in a way which has echoes of ‘Don’t Look Now’ (the film, rather than the story which I’ve shamefully never read), and the tale is, for the most part subtle, scary and mysterious.

Unfortunately, by the end that subtlety has been kicked away to make room for something big and Hollywood, which is more than a tad disappointing. I wish Ashforth had had the courage of his convictions and kept true with James right to the end, to give us something opaque, wonderful and brilliant for not having all the answers.

[Freesiab BookishReview · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a nice classic style ghost story. The audible narration was excellent, definitely brought it to life.

[Adrienne L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie and Caroline Carter travel to the Italian city of Verona, but their trip is not the romantic respite from grief they hoped for and an ancient evil follows them home to England.

Verona: A Ghost Story was a fun, quick read of a novella with strong shades of Don't Look Now and The Woman in Black. The book revels in Gothic tropes and atmosphere. I'll definitely read more by this author.

[Michelle {Book Hangovers} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been listening to all of Benedict Ashforth’s audiobooks that Audible has available and I’ve been blown away by how delightfully creepy they are. Ghost stories with a gothic horror vibes. What’s next? I want more.

[Christine Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After experiencing other failed fertility treatment, a couple goes on trip to Verona to get away and rediscover each other. In Verona the couple is drawn to an old Church by the hotel, than ghostly encounters begin to happen at the church, street, and hotel. The couple is told the story of other couple that visited Verona with their son, who goes missing. When they return home the ghostly boy seems to have followed, Caroline begins research into their home and family…….. This is other great dark, creepy short ghost story and wow the ending.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third work I have read by this author. He is extraordinarily gifted at writing ghost/horror stories in the Gothic vein. Reminds me of the great M.R. James who knew how to scare via the mind, not guts and gore. This work is very creepy and twists and turns abound. Magnificently atmospheric, eerie and unsettling. Even better on audio, Kris Dyer's superb narration fits this work perfectly. I will be reading the final two, Dark Past and Church Farm House as well. I hope he writes more, I can't wait to read/listen to them.

[Jordi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just shy of a 3* story.
It's a novella and so, you know the characters can't be overly fleshed. The atmosphere and sense of place are fine with no further impressions. It has its spooky moments, well placed here and there and served in sips, besides, the story is entertaining, however sometimes with a feeling of déjà vu.
In the end, a so brief story, which fell short, and feel so wishy-washy to me.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who is not a horror reader or fan, this ghost story had just enough creepiness and spooky atmosphere for me. It wasn’t terrifying, but it did build steadily to a disturbing conclusion. I thought it was a perfect short Halloweenish story.

If you read a lot of horror, I’d guess based on other reviews that this may fall a little short for you. If you are more like me and just dip your toes into this genre once in a blue moon, then I think you may enjoy it.

[Prof Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see this earned a lot of mid-range reviews, and while I don't believe in [grade] review inflation, I think this story is better than a three-star level. It's short, has a great unexpected ending, and it's told epistolary-style, which I really like. (Cite my early Dickens exposure to my love of stories told through letters.) I highly recommend it for an Audible listen while on a two-hour or so car ride.

[Reuxbot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this would have been much better and creepier had it not contained the final chapter. It was very over the top and a bit like a mustache twirling villain level of ridiculous.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story and felt the narrator did a good job, though I really hate when men put on women's voices it's always like nails on a chalkboard.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've tried dabbling in gothic novels, only to be disappointed. This one, while short is quite good. It left me satisfied with the dark vibe. I wouldn't call it spooky, but enjoyable.
It's just under 2 hours, so not a lot of time to develop and fully develop characters, and expect full arcs to take place, but in the span of time allotted, I was satisfied.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good horror and ghost story that started off slow and ended with a bang. Definitely a story of evil at work and history repeating itself. Short in length but that doesn't take away from the story or the characters.

[Marisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Being a horror fanatic this book had good reviews so i checked it out. To me it was slow and kind of a typical story line with nothing exciting. It was a short read to add to my books this year. Wasnt horrible but also wasnt anything phenomenal.

[Eileanór Bláth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great way to start off with 2024. It was a solid 4-star since the beginning, but it got increasingly better and, with that ending, it doesn't deserve anything less than 5 stars. Loved it. I'll definintely look for more books by Ashforth.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. The pace was fast and this was a no-fluff novel. I really enjoyed the length of this also. Characters were well developed. Some good moments of tension and gore. I really enjoyed the ending

[Louise Storey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this on audible. I found it in the plus catalogue for something to listen to whilst I waited for my credits.
I’m glad I did. A quick spooky little ghost story that made it easy to listen to in one sitting.
Although short it contained enough detail and built an almost gothic atmosphere.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quick and easy read. It's not scary scary but it's a good story and is a little un-nerving. I would recommend this book.

[Gareth M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadfully simplistic writing. Other reviews seemed to suggest this was absolutely my kind of ghost story but it was a real disappointment. Short though!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I’ve finished a book in under an hour! Testament to a great read, a brilliant story and one that I NEEDED to get finished!

Brilliant book!

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Free Audible edition. I made it about 1/3 of the way through and nothing about this story engaged or interested me so I threw in the towel.

[Ophilia Adler · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok Gothic ghost story. I cant say im wow'ed and it wasnt as horror'ish as i wanted it to be. But for ppl wanting to try out horror this could be a good start. Its not really that scary.

[Essay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good, frightening short story that I read in my horror binge prior to Halloween. The ending was definitely a surprise, but it wrapped everything up nicely.

[Angelika Silva · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this one quite boring. It got better towards the end, but I still feel I could’ve skipped it.

[noor · Rating 3 out of 5]

switched to the audiobook 20 pages in and the audible narration made it much more engaging. it was an interesting short ghost story not quite memorable but still entertaining.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a difficult time staying focused with this story. I just never connected with the characters and felt disinterested in what happened.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is very creepy and twists and turns abound. Magnificently atmospheric, eerie and unsettling. Even better on audio, Kris Dyer's superb narration fits this work perfectly.

[Puck · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean I had a good time but I wouldn't necessarily call it a good book