Phantasms

by P.G. Bell, Paul Lowe (Cover art)

Sarob Press is delighted to present a superb new collection of ghostly offerings from Peter Bell. Here are twelve stories (five original to this collection – and all others fully revised), many (as the author notes) inspired by “places that have haunted me”. Peter’s previous Sarob Press collection, A Certain Slant of Light, sold out very quickly, and we suspect this one will not be around too long. These traditional ghost stories are perfect fireside companions for the long, cold, dark nights of winter ... snuggle up warm with your favourite tipple but ... be ready for a chilling sense of terror and ... don’t forget to lock the doors and windows.
Stories: “Walking with the Cross” “The Madonna of Picardy” “Party Line” “The Sands o’ Dee” “The Island of One Sheep” “Glamour of Madness” “Southwold” “The Books of Balgowrie” “Abide with Me” “Materials for a Ghost Story” “Princess on the Highway” “Last of the Line”. Foreword by the author.

Hand-Numbered Limited Edition Hardcover. Bound in wibalin (fine linen), lithographically printed on Munken Premium Cream Bookwove, sewn in 16pp sections, with head/tailbands, ribbon marker and wibalin natural coloured endpapers.

146 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2016

About the author

P.G. Bell is a native of south Wales, where he was raised on a diet of Greek mythology, ghost stories and Doctor Who. He's had all sorts of jobs over the years, from lifeguard to roller coaster operator, but all he's ever really wanted to do is write stories for a living. And now he does! He lives in Wales with his wife Anna and their two children.

Reviews

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This dreary, gloomy collection of rain-drenched, fog-shrouded and desolate tales constituted a not exactly cheerful read. Instead of the Jamesian 'Pleasing Terror', these twelve tales were more into the literally bloody traditions that one can encounter during travel or otherwise.
My favourites were~
1. Walking with the Cross;
2. Southswold;
3. Last of the Line.
Overall, it seems that due to age and changing temperament, I am drifting farther and farther away from these well-written but excessively scholarly stories.
End of the line?

[Canavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

✭✭✭½

“Walking with the Cross” (2016) ✭✭✭½
“The Madonna of Picardy” (2012/2016 rev.) ✭✭✭
“Party Line” (2016) ✭✭✭✭
“The Sands o’ Dee” (2014/2016 rev.) ✭✭✭½
“The Island of One Sheep” (2013/2016 rev.) ✭✭✭✭
“Glamour of Madness” (2012/2016 rev.) ✭✭✭✭
“Southwold” (2016) ✭✭✭✭½
“The Books of Balgowrie” (2015/2016 rev.) ✭✭✭
“Abide with Me” (2014/2016 rev.) ✭✭✭½
“Materials for a Ghost Story” (2016) ✭½
“Princess on the Highway” (2014/2016 rev.) ✭✭✭½
“Last of the Line” (2016) ✭✭✭½

[William Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly, this book is for the connoisseur of fine, high-quality literature. Peter Bell is a cut above (and then some) the average writer of horror fiction. If you like your ghost stories told around a blazing fireplace in an old English tavern, and are familiar with the work of M.R. James and Russell Kirk, I do believe there is no reason why you wouldn't be quite impressed with this fine collection of short stories. Old, abandoned graveyards, bizarre ancient rites along the Cornwall coast and witches curses for those who would sell old heirloom books for mere profit, these are among the dark journeys you will embark upon in this nicely done collection, published in a limited edition by the outstanding Sarob Press.