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Lighthouses: An Anthology of Dark Tales
Black Beacon Books presents an anthology of dark tales about lighthouses and beacons. This unique book offers you, the most daring of readers, fourteen original stories of horror, mystery, suspense, and adventure.
Within these pages lurk monsters from the depths of the seas and the far reaches of the cosmos. There are murders to solve, hauntings to investigate, and loved ones to be rescued. There are tales of hidden treasure, timeless curses, and ancient orders. Seafarers face ferocious storms while families fall apart and lighthouse keepers lose their sanity.
The storm is coming, so batten down the hatches and let Lighthouses guide you into the darkness.
Within these pages lurk monsters from the depths of the seas and the far reaches of the cosmos. There are murders to solve, hauntings to investigate, and loved ones to be rescued. There are tales of hidden treasure, timeless curses, and ancient orders. Seafarers face ferocious storms while families fall apart and lighthouse keepers lose their sanity.
The storm is coming, so batten down the hatches and let Lighthouses guide you into the darkness.
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2015
8 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Cameron Trost
55 books674 followersCameron Trost is an author of mystery, suspense, post-apocalyptic, and horror fiction best known for his puzzles featuring Oscar Tremont, Investigator of the Strange and Inexplicable. He has written four novels, Dead on the Dolmen, Flicker, The Tunnel Runner, and Letterbox, and three collections, Oscar Tremont, Investigator of the Strange and Inexplicable, Hoffman's Creeper and Other Disturbing Tales, and The Animal Inside. He runs the independent press, Black Beacon Books, and is a member of the Australian Crime Writers Association and The Short Mystery Fiction Society. Originally from Brisbane, Australia, his home is now in southern Brittany, between the rugged coast and treacherous marshland.
I aim to rate every book I finish and I usually leave a short review. I rarely leave one-star or two-star ratings. If I don't like a book, I won't finish or rate it. I'm here to share good reads.
Reviewers: Send me a message if you'd like to receive ebook copies for review.
Authors: If you'd like to suggest I review your book, get in touch via my blog: https://trostlibrary.blogspot.com/p/b...
You can find me on Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub, TikTok, and other platforms. Complete links here: https://linktr.ee/camerontrost
I aim to rate every book I finish and I usually leave a short review. I rarely leave one-star or two-star ratings. If I don't like a book, I won't finish or rate it. I'm here to share good reads.
Reviewers: Send me a message if you'd like to receive ebook copies for review.
Authors: If you'd like to suggest I review your book, get in touch via my blog: https://trostlibrary.blogspot.com/p/b...
You can find me on Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub, TikTok, and other platforms. Complete links here: https://linktr.ee/camerontrost
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 29, 2015
A wonderfully designed cover by Greg Chapman draws the reader into an exploration of the fourteen dark tales inside this anthology, with lighthouses being the primary focus.
We encounter mystery, murders most foul; dark disturbing accounts of growing madness, flights of fantasy, and delving's into the supernatural. This book contains some gems of stories and, even if a few of the offerings are not quite as consistently strong, this collection is thoroughly enjoyable and well worth the read.
To highlight just two of the stories, in ‘Scrimshaw’ Duncan Richardson takes a true happening in history to weave a fascinatingly macabre tale. The tension builds nicely. I would have liked a little more early intrigue between the two main characters but the story is strong and reminiscent of peculiar real life accounts of the long ago past. ‘Psychopomp’ by Mark McAuliffe was my favourite in the book. I don’t think I am giving too much away to say that the unfolding problem to occur in this story becomes apparent quite early on. However, it is just as apparent that the author knows this himself, and he plays with the developing action wonderfully. It is beautifully written, and the characterisation excellent. The protagonists’ spring from the pages as real people, with real needs and genuine human concerns, and the telling of the grim finale is an absolute treat.
Other brief mentions: ‘In Search of Jimmy’ didn’t have a great deal to do with lighthouses, though it was engaging; Sam Muller in ‘The Crystal Lighthouse’ effectively fooled me--I didn’t see it coming. Final thoughts: an enjoyable read. All of the stories had something to offer. All up, my rating for this book was somewhere closer to four stars than three.
We encounter mystery, murders most foul; dark disturbing accounts of growing madness, flights of fantasy, and delving's into the supernatural. This book contains some gems of stories and, even if a few of the offerings are not quite as consistently strong, this collection is thoroughly enjoyable and well worth the read.
To highlight just two of the stories, in ‘Scrimshaw’ Duncan Richardson takes a true happening in history to weave a fascinatingly macabre tale. The tension builds nicely. I would have liked a little more early intrigue between the two main characters but the story is strong and reminiscent of peculiar real life accounts of the long ago past. ‘Psychopomp’ by Mark McAuliffe was my favourite in the book. I don’t think I am giving too much away to say that the unfolding problem to occur in this story becomes apparent quite early on. However, it is just as apparent that the author knows this himself, and he plays with the developing action wonderfully. It is beautifully written, and the characterisation excellent. The protagonists’ spring from the pages as real people, with real needs and genuine human concerns, and the telling of the grim finale is an absolute treat.
Other brief mentions: ‘In Search of Jimmy’ didn’t have a great deal to do with lighthouses, though it was engaging; Sam Muller in ‘The Crystal Lighthouse’ effectively fooled me--I didn’t see it coming. Final thoughts: an enjoyable read. All of the stories had something to offer. All up, my rating for this book was somewhere closer to four stars than three.
December 21, 2015
(Please note: I have a story in the collection, 'Will o' the wisp', which I'm leaving out of this review.) Editor Cameron Trost has put together an entertaining and intriguing mix of dark stories. I especially liked the broad range of styles and genres. Recommended reading for aficionados of the short story form.
October 7, 2018
This is not quite what I was looking for but that is just me, I would highly recommend this for any nautical horror shelf. A nice collection. I was just looking for something more 1800's.
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July 18, 2023
Disclaimer: I wrote this review based on an advance reading e-copy that the publisher, Lorikeet Ink, sent me.
Most of us as readers have one or a couple of preferred literary genres. Because there is never enough time to consume all the books on our TBR lists in our favourite genre(s), it is rare – or at least not often – that we will venture outside of our reading comfort zone and explore those authors and books unknown and unfamiliar to us. Sometimes I wonder what I have missed and am still missing.
Which is why Lighthouse – An Anthology is refreshing, as it offers a delightful glimpse of some of the reading routes that I have never before taken. The 15 stories collected here share the same theme but are from a diverse range of genres, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, crime, historical fiction, dystopian and paranormal. In the words of Chris Foley, the anthology’s organiser and contributing author: “Each contributing writer accepted the challenge of setting their story in a lighthouse, applying their own special brand of creativity to produce this collective work… The willingness by everyone to be involved, and additionally to offer other talents, is truly inspiring.”
Each of these stories leads down a unique path, with its author serving as a guide not only to that particular literary genre but also to his or her writing style and vision. Indeed, some of the stories make me want to know more about their authors and their previous publications, just to find out whether they can handle novel or novella-length projects as well as they do short stories. Other stories are intellectually intriguing, graceful yet tense, thoroughly challenging until the very end. Still others are light and fun, and surprisingly heart-warming. In general, these are stories that make me ask, Why are short stories so short? I want to read more!
I am hopelessly biased towards horror and sci-fi, so my favourite stories in this anthology are “Alice” by Carleton Chinner, “In the Dark” by Sophie Evans, “The Sound the Sea Makes” by Alyssa Mackay” and “Bereft of Morna” by Brooke Maggs. I also like “Jezebel” by Lane Thornton, a story that is both scary and infuriating. But, to me, the special treats are “A Gift to the Sentinel” by Kelly Lyonns and “Light the Way Home” by Sharyn Swanepoel. While I enjoy the former’s loving tenderness, the latter is smooth as silk and highly satisfying.
I am sure that you, too, will discover your own favourable stories in Lighthouse – An Anthology. While the book reveals how the same literary theme can be explored and enriched by writers of diverse backgrounds and genres, it is also an excellent and empowering demonstration of short story writing styles and skills.
For more information about Lighthouse – An Anthology, please visit Lorikeet Ink.
Most of us as readers have one or a couple of preferred literary genres. Because there is never enough time to consume all the books on our TBR lists in our favourite genre(s), it is rare – or at least not often – that we will venture outside of our reading comfort zone and explore those authors and books unknown and unfamiliar to us. Sometimes I wonder what I have missed and am still missing.
Which is why Lighthouse – An Anthology is refreshing, as it offers a delightful glimpse of some of the reading routes that I have never before taken. The 15 stories collected here share the same theme but are from a diverse range of genres, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, crime, historical fiction, dystopian and paranormal. In the words of Chris Foley, the anthology’s organiser and contributing author: “Each contributing writer accepted the challenge of setting their story in a lighthouse, applying their own special brand of creativity to produce this collective work… The willingness by everyone to be involved, and additionally to offer other talents, is truly inspiring.”
Each of these stories leads down a unique path, with its author serving as a guide not only to that particular literary genre but also to his or her writing style and vision. Indeed, some of the stories make me want to know more about their authors and their previous publications, just to find out whether they can handle novel or novella-length projects as well as they do short stories. Other stories are intellectually intriguing, graceful yet tense, thoroughly challenging until the very end. Still others are light and fun, and surprisingly heart-warming. In general, these are stories that make me ask, Why are short stories so short? I want to read more!
I am hopelessly biased towards horror and sci-fi, so my favourite stories in this anthology are “Alice” by Carleton Chinner, “In the Dark” by Sophie Evans, “The Sound the Sea Makes” by Alyssa Mackay” and “Bereft of Morna” by Brooke Maggs. I also like “Jezebel” by Lane Thornton, a story that is both scary and infuriating. But, to me, the special treats are “A Gift to the Sentinel” by Kelly Lyonns and “Light the Way Home” by Sharyn Swanepoel. While I enjoy the former’s loving tenderness, the latter is smooth as silk and highly satisfying.
I am sure that you, too, will discover your own favourable stories in Lighthouse – An Anthology. While the book reveals how the same literary theme can be explored and enriched by writers of diverse backgrounds and genres, it is also an excellent and empowering demonstration of short story writing styles and skills.
For more information about Lighthouse – An Anthology, please visit Lorikeet Ink.
January 7, 2026
I received this as a free download. I enjoyed this collection. I thought the stories would all be horror or at least darker themed, but there were a few fantasy ones in there too. Not every story was a winner, but most I found quite engaging. 3.5 ⭐️
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February 7, 2016Read for judging.
September 22, 2016
3.5 stars. Lots of ghost stories here, which isn't my usual fare. Standout stories for me were Steve Cameron's "To Keep the Lamp Alight" and Alice Goodwin's "Into the Light".
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews