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Tales of Terror #3
Tales Of Terror From The Tunnels Mouth
Do you dare to read the Tales of Terror? A stunning and commercial new paperback package for this chilling collection of short stories, illustrated throughout by David Roberts and featuring a gloriously creepy new cover! A boy is put on a train by his stepmother to make his first journey on his own. But what should be a thrilling ride becomes weirder than anyone could have imagined when the train stalls at the mouth of a tunnel and an elegant woman in white offers to help the boy while away the hours by telling him stories. But these are stories with a difference - and each is more deliciously chilling than the last ...Who is this mysterious storyteller, and why are her tales so dark and macabre? Can't get enough spooky stories? Crack open the other thrilling titles in the Tales of Terror series: Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror and Tales of Terror from the Black Ship!
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2009
43 people are currently reading
1696 people want to read
About the author
Chris Priestley
58 books397 followersHis father was in the army and so he moved around a lot as a child and lived in Wales. He was an avid reader of American comics as a child, and when he was eight or nine, and living in Gibraltar, he won a prize in a newspaper story-writing competition. He decided then “that my ambition was to write and illustrate my own book”.
He spent his teens in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, before moving to Manchester, London and then Norfolk. He now lives in Cambridge with his wife and son where he writes, draws, paints, dreams and doodles (not necessarily in that order). Chris worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for twenty years, working mainly for magazines & newspapers (these include The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Economist and the Wall Street Journal) before becoming a writer. He currently has a weekly strip cartoon called 'Payne's Grey' in the New Statesman.
Chris has been a published author since 2000. He has written several books for children & young-adults, both fiction and non-fiction, and
has been nominated for many awards including the Edgar Awards, the UKLA Children's Book Award and the Carnegie Medal. In recent years he has predominantly been writing horror.
Ever since he was a teenager Chris has loved unsettling and creepy stories, with fond memories of buying comics like 'Strange Tales' and 'House of Mystery', watching classic BBC TV adaptations of M R James ghost stories every Christmas and reading assorted weirdness by everyone from Edgar Allen Poe to Ray Bradbury. He hopes Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror will haunt his readers in the way those writers have haunted him.
He spent his teens in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, before moving to Manchester, London and then Norfolk. He now lives in Cambridge with his wife and son where he writes, draws, paints, dreams and doodles (not necessarily in that order). Chris worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for twenty years, working mainly for magazines & newspapers (these include The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Economist and the Wall Street Journal) before becoming a writer. He currently has a weekly strip cartoon called 'Payne's Grey' in the New Statesman.
Chris has been a published author since 2000. He has written several books for children & young-adults, both fiction and non-fiction, and
has been nominated for many awards including the Edgar Awards, the UKLA Children's Book Award and the Carnegie Medal. In recent years he has predominantly been writing horror.
Ever since he was a teenager Chris has loved unsettling and creepy stories, with fond memories of buying comics like 'Strange Tales' and 'House of Mystery', watching classic BBC TV adaptations of M R James ghost stories every Christmas and reading assorted weirdness by everyone from Edgar Allen Poe to Ray Bradbury. He hopes Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror will haunt his readers in the way those writers have haunted him.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
December 15, 2021
Un libro infantil que va de menos a más en la intensidad de sus historias. Me gustaron las referencias a autores clásicos y que todos los protagonistas de los cuentos fueran más bien desagradables y no los típicos niños súper buenos, puros y bien portados que vencen al mal. Incluso Robert, quien es el hilo conductor del libro, es un chico más bien sangrón. Mi historia favorita fue "La hermana Verónica" sobre una monja cruel a la que le espera un destino macabro. En segundo lugar me quedo con "El niño de los susurros", un relato sobre muertes misteriosas ligadas a un ser "fantasmal". Este es el tipo de libros que hubiera amado cuando era niña. Puntos extra por las ilustraciones de David Roberts que me hicieron pensar en el estilo de Edward Gorey.
May 23, 2018
Öğrencilerime yaz okumaları çerçevesinde önerdiğim ve elimdeyken buna da şuna da bakayım derken gerçekten de etkilendiğim bir okuma oldu. Tudem’in çocuk ve ilk gençlik serilerini seviyorum sanırım.
December 26, 2018
A wonderful book of utterly creepy tales. Violent deaths and dread fates abound. The Goreyesque illustrations add to the macabre chills
September 6, 2015
This is the third volume in Chris Priestley's Tales of terror (there are also two specials as well) and follows a similar style, where an event causes the main character to be inconvenienced so that to while away the time stories are told - and hence the tales of terror. In addition throughout the series of stories you slowly have unfold the back story of why that person is in that situation to start with and what is their fate (and so in a way becoming the "last" tale of terror in the book).
Like many stories of this nature - once the 'twist" is know the power of the story is somewhat diminished - bit like knowing the punch line to a joke, its not so funny the second time around, and likewise once you know what the twist is then the suspense is lost. Now do not get me wrong this not a criticism, since it has been the basis of many a late night fireside ghost story, no just a warning that if you read these books in any great quantity the danger is that you start to see what is coming.
I think this is a great series of tales contained within an entertaining series of books. its great for dipping in to and each tale is different to the last. I hope that the series will continue in future volumes.
Like many stories of this nature - once the 'twist" is know the power of the story is somewhat diminished - bit like knowing the punch line to a joke, its not so funny the second time around, and likewise once you know what the twist is then the suspense is lost. Now do not get me wrong this not a criticism, since it has been the basis of many a late night fireside ghost story, no just a warning that if you read these books in any great quantity the danger is that you start to see what is coming.
I think this is a great series of tales contained within an entertaining series of books. its great for dipping in to and each tale is different to the last. I hope that the series will continue in future volumes.
January 9, 2012
I saved up my copy of Tales of Terror From The Tunnel’s Mouth for a long, time. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to read the stories, but I didn’t want them to be over. And I knew that this was the final part, the third book, of a wonderful trilogy.
In the end though I couldn’t resist. And when I picked the book up I read and I read.
I read the story of Robert, a child in Edwardian England, travelling back to school on his own for the very first time.
At first Robert was alone in a compartment. But as the train made stops others joined him. A number of men. And one woman. A pale young woman dressed in pure white ….
The train came to a halt by the mouth of a tunnel. The delay seemed unending. Robert noticed that many of his fellow travellers had fallen asleep, and that only he and the woman in white were awake.
She noticed too. And she began to tell him stories. She was a wonderful storyteller.
She told him stories of children she had known, and of things that had happened to them. Her stories started quietly, but as she spoke the sense of foreboding grew. And each story would end with a strange and unexpected twist. There would not be any happy endings.
The story of a governess struggling with a problem child who will lead her, and those around her, to question her sanity. A boy whose resentment of his father’s other interests leads him into terrible danger. A girl who is fascinated by a puppet theatre that is not at all what it seems. And, maybe the strangest tale of the whole trilogy, the story of a crack in a wall …
There are wonderful echoes of other stories in these tales.
Tales that are of their time, and yet utterly timeless.
It would be quite impossible for anyone, child or adult, not to be entranced.
Robert was. But he began to realise that something was amiss. That the train was two quiet. That his fellow travellers were too deeply asleep. In between the stories he tried to ask questions, but the woman in white gave him no answers.
Until her very last story, when everything would become clear ….
The ending was exactly right.
Everything was right – once again the words of Chris Priestley and the illustrations of David Roberts worked together quite beautifully.
I’m sorry that the trilogy is over, but now that it is I am quite sure that I will be going back to the beginning, visiting with Uncle Montague again, and listening to his tales.
If you haven’t met him yet, you really, really should …
In the end though I couldn’t resist. And when I picked the book up I read and I read.
I read the story of Robert, a child in Edwardian England, travelling back to school on his own for the very first time.
At first Robert was alone in a compartment. But as the train made stops others joined him. A number of men. And one woman. A pale young woman dressed in pure white ….
The train came to a halt by the mouth of a tunnel. The delay seemed unending. Robert noticed that many of his fellow travellers had fallen asleep, and that only he and the woman in white were awake.
She noticed too. And she began to tell him stories. She was a wonderful storyteller.
She told him stories of children she had known, and of things that had happened to them. Her stories started quietly, but as she spoke the sense of foreboding grew. And each story would end with a strange and unexpected twist. There would not be any happy endings.
The story of a governess struggling with a problem child who will lead her, and those around her, to question her sanity. A boy whose resentment of his father’s other interests leads him into terrible danger. A girl who is fascinated by a puppet theatre that is not at all what it seems. And, maybe the strangest tale of the whole trilogy, the story of a crack in a wall …
There are wonderful echoes of other stories in these tales.
Tales that are of their time, and yet utterly timeless.
It would be quite impossible for anyone, child or adult, not to be entranced.
Robert was. But he began to realise that something was amiss. That the train was two quiet. That his fellow travellers were too deeply asleep. In between the stories he tried to ask questions, but the woman in white gave him no answers.
Until her very last story, when everything would become clear ….
The ending was exactly right.
Everything was right – once again the words of Chris Priestley and the illustrations of David Roberts worked together quite beautifully.
I’m sorry that the trilogy is over, but now that it is I am quite sure that I will be going back to the beginning, visiting with Uncle Montague again, and listening to his tales.
If you haven’t met him yet, you really, really should …
January 14, 2025
‘*‘ Meine Meinung ‘*‘
Robert reist zurück ins Internat und eine Dame in seinem Zugabteil vertreibt ihm die Zeit mit Geschichten.
Jede dieser Storys ist in sich geschlossen und besitzt einen unterschiedlichen Gruselfaktor und Vorhersehbarkeitsgrad. Mal war mir von Anfang an klar, wie es endet, mal wurde ich überrascht. Aber eines hatten sie alle gemein, sie waren gruselig. Ich denke die Kategorie „junge Erwachsene“ trifft es ganz gut. Diese Zielgruppe kennt noch nicht viele Gruselstorys und ist alt genug, um den Gruselfaktor unbeschadet und ohne Albträume zu überstehen.
Katja Brügger schafft Kopfkino und Gänsehaut mit ihrer Interpretation und Sprechweise.
Alles in allem genau die richtige Lektüre für Halloween und die dunkle Jahreszeit. Doch da einige bekannte Grusel-Faktoren sehr stark aufgewärmt wurden, gibt es nur 4 Schauer-Sterne.
‘*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
Robert ist nicht gerade traurig, dass die Ferien zu Ende sind und er das Haus seines Vaters und seiner unsympathischen Stiefmutter hinter sich lassen und wieder ins Internat fahren kann. Doch er hat nicht damit gerechnet, dass die erste Zugfahrt seines Lebens, die er ganz alleine unternimmt, so unheimlich werden würde. Denn plötzlich bleibt der Zug vor einem dunklen Tunnel stehen. Die anderen Reisenden in seinem Abteil scheinen alle merkwürdig tief zu schlafen. Nur eine Dame in weiß ist wach. Um sich und Robert die Wartezeit zu verkürzen, fängt sie an zu erzählen. Geschichten, die man normalerweise keinem Kind erzählen würde.
Robert reist zurück ins Internat und eine Dame in seinem Zugabteil vertreibt ihm die Zeit mit Geschichten.
Jede dieser Storys ist in sich geschlossen und besitzt einen unterschiedlichen Gruselfaktor und Vorhersehbarkeitsgrad. Mal war mir von Anfang an klar, wie es endet, mal wurde ich überrascht. Aber eines hatten sie alle gemein, sie waren gruselig. Ich denke die Kategorie „junge Erwachsene“ trifft es ganz gut. Diese Zielgruppe kennt noch nicht viele Gruselstorys und ist alt genug, um den Gruselfaktor unbeschadet und ohne Albträume zu überstehen.
Katja Brügger schafft Kopfkino und Gänsehaut mit ihrer Interpretation und Sprechweise.
Alles in allem genau die richtige Lektüre für Halloween und die dunkle Jahreszeit. Doch da einige bekannte Grusel-Faktoren sehr stark aufgewärmt wurden, gibt es nur 4 Schauer-Sterne.
‘*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
Robert ist nicht gerade traurig, dass die Ferien zu Ende sind und er das Haus seines Vaters und seiner unsympathischen Stiefmutter hinter sich lassen und wieder ins Internat fahren kann. Doch er hat nicht damit gerechnet, dass die erste Zugfahrt seines Lebens, die er ganz alleine unternimmt, so unheimlich werden würde. Denn plötzlich bleibt der Zug vor einem dunklen Tunnel stehen. Die anderen Reisenden in seinem Abteil scheinen alle merkwürdig tief zu schlafen. Nur eine Dame in weiß ist wach. Um sich und Robert die Wartezeit zu verkürzen, fängt sie an zu erzählen. Geschichten, die man normalerweise keinem Kind erzählen würde.
October 6, 2020
TW: Children gets hurt. Death. Mentioned of suicide.
Tales of Terror from the Tunnel’s Mouth by Chris Priestly, is the third book in the series “Tales of Terror”.
But, you can read it as stand alone.
It’s a story about a boy name Robert who is on the train ride to meet his grandpa in London. He is alone. But perhaps not completely alone after all. When the train stops at the mouth of the tunnel, a woman who sit across Robert begin to tell stories to pass the time. But what kind of stories? Who is that woman? Why the train stopped? Will Robert make it to London? You have to read this book to find out :)
This book falls on the genre : Horror middle grade. While it’s frightening, I don’t think it would give you a nightmare but creepy enough to chill your bones though :p It is also not a cheap horror tale and not right in your face kind of horror. It’s the one that slowly creeped you out as you read story after story.
Tales of Terror from the Tunnel’s Mouth by Chris Priestly, is the third book in the series “Tales of Terror”.
But, you can read it as stand alone.
It’s a story about a boy name Robert who is on the train ride to meet his grandpa in London. He is alone. But perhaps not completely alone after all. When the train stops at the mouth of the tunnel, a woman who sit across Robert begin to tell stories to pass the time. But what kind of stories? Who is that woman? Why the train stopped? Will Robert make it to London? You have to read this book to find out :)
This book falls on the genre : Horror middle grade. While it’s frightening, I don’t think it would give you a nightmare but creepy enough to chill your bones though :p It is also not a cheap horror tale and not right in your face kind of horror. It’s the one that slowly creeped you out as you read story after story.
February 7, 2019
Chris Priestley has a real gift for writing Victorian ghost stories. These were great—scary, serious, well-written and atmospheric—as were the other two Tales of Terror collections, but these stories seemed a little meaner and crueler than those in the other collections. There was a redemptive ending, though.
The story that scared me most was “A New Governess.” It also had the most frightening illustration, on page 84. This story scared me—in a fun way—like I hadn’t been scared in a long time.
The match between writing and illustration is perfect. But I hope David Roberts is paying royalties to Edward Gorey’s estate, because he owes it.
To my disappointment, www.TalesofTerror.co.uk no longer exists.
The story that scared me most was “A New Governess.” It also had the most frightening illustration, on page 84. This story scared me—in a fun way—like I hadn’t been scared in a long time.
The match between writing and illustration is perfect. But I hope David Roberts is paying royalties to Edward Gorey’s estate, because he owes it.
To my disappointment, www.TalesofTerror.co.uk no longer exists.
October 19, 2015
I`m absolutely in love with this series!!
Read
July 18, 2025Around the world: Germany
August 4, 2011
Book Review: Tales of Terror from the Tunnel’s Mouth by Chris Priestley
Robert Harper is about to take his first ever train ride by himself to his new school in London. Before he boards the train, his stepmother has a premonition that Robert is in danger. Although he enjoys supernatural books, Robert is a rational boy and does not believe in such things as visions. He ignores her warning and boards the train. Not long into his journey, Robert falls asleep, only to wake up and find that all the other passengers are in a deep sleep. Across from him now is a pretty young woman dressed all in white. The train has stopped at the mouth of a tunnel, and the Woman in White suggests that she tell some Robert stories to pass the time. These stories are unlike anything Robert has heard before and he finds himself haunted by these tales. Although he expected an uneventful train ride, Robert is about to have a journey he will never forget.
Tales of Terror from the Tunnel’s Mouth is an example of why it can be good to judge a book by its cover. A good cover can lead you to reading a book you would never have read before. I would never have bought this book if the cover hadn’t been so intriguing. This book is the third in the series, but they’re non sequential and you can start wherever you like. The illustrations by David Roberts are beautiful and do a great job of capturing the overall mood and atmosphere of the book. There are 9 short stories told throughout, all creepy tales featuring children. My favourite was “Gerald” which was the first story to really make my stomach twist (this might be because it was the first one that I read at night.) I didn’t find any of the stories to be excessively frightening or gruesome. They were just scary enough to keep you on the edge of your seat and make you a bit jumpy. Which is very good, since I once had to sleep with the lights on after my brother explained to me what happens in Paranormal Activity.
I’ve found that a bad ending can completely ruin a book for you, even if you loved everything up until the conclusion. It isn’t very often that I read a book where I love the ending so much that it takes me from liking a book to loving it. I should say that the whole of Tales of Terror from the Tunnel’s Mouth did not have the same effect on me that its last few pages did. I liked it a lot, although I was slightly bored once or twice, but the rest of the book didn’t cast the same spell over me that it’s ending did.
Overall, I am very glad that this book has such a beautiful cover that caught my eye. A very enjoyable read that is probably going to make it slightly difficult for me to fall asleep tonight.
4/5
Robert Harper is about to take his first ever train ride by himself to his new school in London. Before he boards the train, his stepmother has a premonition that Robert is in danger. Although he enjoys supernatural books, Robert is a rational boy and does not believe in such things as visions. He ignores her warning and boards the train. Not long into his journey, Robert falls asleep, only to wake up and find that all the other passengers are in a deep sleep. Across from him now is a pretty young woman dressed all in white. The train has stopped at the mouth of a tunnel, and the Woman in White suggests that she tell some Robert stories to pass the time. These stories are unlike anything Robert has heard before and he finds himself haunted by these tales. Although he expected an uneventful train ride, Robert is about to have a journey he will never forget.
Tales of Terror from the Tunnel’s Mouth is an example of why it can be good to judge a book by its cover. A good cover can lead you to reading a book you would never have read before. I would never have bought this book if the cover hadn’t been so intriguing. This book is the third in the series, but they’re non sequential and you can start wherever you like. The illustrations by David Roberts are beautiful and do a great job of capturing the overall mood and atmosphere of the book. There are 9 short stories told throughout, all creepy tales featuring children. My favourite was “Gerald” which was the first story to really make my stomach twist (this might be because it was the first one that I read at night.) I didn’t find any of the stories to be excessively frightening or gruesome. They were just scary enough to keep you on the edge of your seat and make you a bit jumpy. Which is very good, since I once had to sleep with the lights on after my brother explained to me what happens in Paranormal Activity.
I’ve found that a bad ending can completely ruin a book for you, even if you loved everything up until the conclusion. It isn’t very often that I read a book where I love the ending so much that it takes me from liking a book to loving it. I should say that the whole of Tales of Terror from the Tunnel’s Mouth did not have the same effect on me that its last few pages did. I liked it a lot, although I was slightly bored once or twice, but the rest of the book didn’t cast the same spell over me that it’s ending did.
Overall, I am very glad that this book has such a beautiful cover that caught my eye. A very enjoyable read that is probably going to make it slightly difficult for me to fall asleep tonight.
4/5
February 8, 2017
Review for when I re-read it in 2013:
I have read this book many times over the years. And I keep loving it.
Every story begins with a prologue, a character (always a kid), special circumstances and a story teller (mostly a creepy character or someone who deals in creepiness).
Throughout the stories there are pauzes were the main character and the story teller talk, what they think of the story or other things.
I love it. This book in particular, it is very very creepy. Some stories are also quite scary (or gross), but they all deliver. Unlike some short story books, were some stories are boring and some are fun, this one has only good ones. :)
From kids with a scary greenery, to a mysterious burrow in a field to all kinds of other settings.
Really recommended to those with a strong stomach, who like horror stories, are fan of Chris Priestley, and those who like short stories.
I have read this book many times over the years. And I keep loving it.
Every story begins with a prologue, a character (always a kid), special circumstances and a story teller (mostly a creepy character or someone who deals in creepiness).
Throughout the stories there are pauzes were the main character and the story teller talk, what they think of the story or other things.
I love it. This book in particular, it is very very creepy. Some stories are also quite scary (or gross), but they all deliver. Unlike some short story books, were some stories are boring and some are fun, this one has only good ones. :)
From kids with a scary greenery, to a mysterious burrow in a field to all kinds of other settings.
Really recommended to those with a strong stomach, who like horror stories, are fan of Chris Priestley, and those who like short stories.
January 14, 2022
it’s not even 300 pages but oh god what a chore this book was to finish.
the stories were uninteresting and too predictable, unlike in the first two books in this trilogy where there were well-executed twists in each bone-chilling story. in the first two books, i was also motivated to keep reading because i had questions about what was happening to the main character(s) listening to the tales and wtf was going on. in this one, that wasn’t even a question because you can easily guess right.
in conclusion, no wonder it took me almost two months. there was no mystery about the main plotline, and the stories weren’t creative. i just wanted to get it over with.
the stories were uninteresting and too predictable, unlike in the first two books in this trilogy where there were well-executed twists in each bone-chilling story. in the first two books, i was also motivated to keep reading because i had questions about what was happening to the main character(s) listening to the tales and wtf was going on. in this one, that wasn’t even a question because you can easily guess right.
in conclusion, no wonder it took me almost two months. there was no mystery about the main plotline, and the stories weren’t creative. i just wanted to get it over with.
April 25, 2017
Ich liebe diese Reihe. Es ist wirklich schöner irgendwie klassischer Grusel ohne Blut und Splatter.
Wer braucht das schon. Ich brauche eher dieses Gefühl mich zu fürchten und gleichzeitig etwas geheimnisvolles zu erleben. So komisch das auch klingen mag, es hat auch etwas Schönes - dieses Gruselgefühl.
Wer braucht das schon. Ich brauche eher dieses Gefühl mich zu fürchten und gleichzeitig etwas geheimnisvolles zu erleben. So komisch das auch klingen mag, es hat auch etwas Schönes - dieses Gruselgefühl.
May 24, 2015
Creepy!! Although these are short stories, they all tie together with the character of Robert. They are very strange little tales, and not for the squeamish. Some of them are pretty scary. I do like horror though and thoroughly enjoyed this. 4 ½ stars, recommended.
August 4, 2015
É certo que é um livro juvenil e nada o meu género, mas tinha bastante curiosidade em lê-lo e não me desiludi.
São pequenas estórias contadas de forma estranha por uma figura bizarra, sendo que cada estória é uma lição. É um livro engraçado.
São pequenas estórias contadas de forma estranha por uma figura bizarra, sendo que cada estória é uma lição. É um livro engraçado.
May 20, 2023
Con una narración breve y que me gustó.
Me agradó la mujer y sus cuentos de terror. Eran todos en un ambiente lúgubre. Me fascinaron, debo admitirlo.
Sin duda alguna leería de nuevo este autor.
Cuentos favoritos.
🍄La hermana Verónica.
🍄El primer cuento. (No recuerdo su nombre)
Me agradó la mujer y sus cuentos de terror. Eran todos en un ambiente lúgubre. Me fascinaron, debo admitirlo.
Sin duda alguna leería de nuevo este autor.
Cuentos favoritos.
🍄La hermana Verónica.
🍄El primer cuento. (No recuerdo su nombre)
May 1, 2020
SBC Summer Text
This set of short horror stories is structured in a way that is memorable and engaging. Told from the perspective a young boy, Robert meets a curious Woman in White who proceeds to tell him a series of short tales. The stories are gruesome and engaging for younger readers and the nature of the structure leaves the reader curious about this underlying story of Robert and the Woman in White. The language used in the book is challenging but appropriate for older primary school children and offers a great deal of vocabulary teaching.
In terms of the theme of fear and horror, Priestly uses many techniques that would be interesting to explore in the classroom. His use of descriptive imagery is captivating and would be a good model for children developing that skill. He uses all of the senses in his stories to capture the reader and make the horror experience an all-consuming one. He plays on what the characters can see, hear, smell in order to build up a picture of his various spooky and mysterious settings.
This book would be good to use in the classroom during the topic of short stories. They follow the traditional patterns of a short story as well as that of the horror genre. Through it, children could explore the build up of tension in the mini-plots as well as the overarching story and the authors use of language to paint a picture. In terms of work produced, children could write their own short horror story as if it were one of the stories the Woman in White is telling Robert. This gives the children a very relevant context to their written work and would make for a good progression of lessons that could easily end in a publication scenario (children pull their stories together to create their own set of short stories for Robert).
This set of short horror stories is structured in a way that is memorable and engaging. Told from the perspective a young boy, Robert meets a curious Woman in White who proceeds to tell him a series of short tales. The stories are gruesome and engaging for younger readers and the nature of the structure leaves the reader curious about this underlying story of Robert and the Woman in White. The language used in the book is challenging but appropriate for older primary school children and offers a great deal of vocabulary teaching.
In terms of the theme of fear and horror, Priestly uses many techniques that would be interesting to explore in the classroom. His use of descriptive imagery is captivating and would be a good model for children developing that skill. He uses all of the senses in his stories to capture the reader and make the horror experience an all-consuming one. He plays on what the characters can see, hear, smell in order to build up a picture of his various spooky and mysterious settings.
This book would be good to use in the classroom during the topic of short stories. They follow the traditional patterns of a short story as well as that of the horror genre. Through it, children could explore the build up of tension in the mini-plots as well as the overarching story and the authors use of language to paint a picture. In terms of work produced, children could write their own short horror story as if it were one of the stories the Woman in White is telling Robert. This gives the children a very relevant context to their written work and would make for a good progression of lessons that could easily end in a publication scenario (children pull their stories together to create their own set of short stories for Robert).
July 19, 2017
This collection of horror tales for younger readers by Chris Priestley (part of an ongoing series) is a pleasure to read. Somewhere in the early part of the twentieth century, young Robert is on his way to London by train to attend a new school. He shares a compartment with an enigmatic young woman and some other people. Soon only Robert and the mysterious woman -- whom he calls the Woman in White as a result of her attire -- are awake in the compartment. While the train is inexplicably stalled in front of the entrance to a dark tunnel, the Woman in White begins to regale Robert with a series of spine-tingling tales of the supernatural.
Most of these tales will have susceptible readers on the edge of their seats. (I think some might even be a tad too intense for nervous younger readers.) Children come to horrifying harm in the bulk of these stories ("The Island", "The Little People", "The Crotach Stone" and "The Whispering Boy", among others) but adults too find themselves enmeshed in uncanny and terrifying situations ("A New Governess" and "Sister Veronica".) And "A Crack in the Wall" is a splendidly creepy tale which had me looking over my shoulder more than once.
The paperback edition has a bonus tale that, in my opinion, does nothing to enhance the storyline. In fact, it seems forced and out of place.
This collection is definitely worth reading and will guarantee a few hours of inventive entertainment for anybody keen on horror.
Most of these tales will have susceptible readers on the edge of their seats. (I think some might even be a tad too intense for nervous younger readers.) Children come to horrifying harm in the bulk of these stories ("The Island", "The Little People", "The Crotach Stone" and "The Whispering Boy", among others) but adults too find themselves enmeshed in uncanny and terrifying situations ("A New Governess" and "Sister Veronica".) And "A Crack in the Wall" is a splendidly creepy tale which had me looking over my shoulder more than once.
The paperback edition has a bonus tale that, in my opinion, does nothing to enhance the storyline. In fact, it seems forced and out of place.
This collection is definitely worth reading and will guarantee a few hours of inventive entertainment for anybody keen on horror.
July 18, 2023
I absolutely LOVE Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror, and Tales from the Black Ship was a very solid sequel rich in its dark, creepy atmosphere. The final book in this trilogy is still more than decent enough, but it's the weakest entry for me.
The first two books had compelling reasons for the adults to be telling stories to these children, whereas the Woman in White here and the context for her stories just did nothing for me. The setting in the train also had zero atmosphere or tension, and finally the stories, especially the first four or so, followed almost identical beats.
Two stories stood out to me - "Gerald" and "Sister Veronica" in particular were great, as the darkest and creepiest stories of the bunch, with the most interesting developments and shocking twist endings. Most of the rest were just fine. Still, I'm glad I read this.
The first two books had compelling reasons for the adults to be telling stories to these children, whereas the Woman in White here and the context for her stories just did nothing for me. The setting in the train also had zero atmosphere or tension, and finally the stories, especially the first four or so, followed almost identical beats.
Two stories stood out to me - "Gerald" and "Sister Veronica" in particular were great, as the darkest and creepiest stories of the bunch, with the most interesting developments and shocking twist endings. Most of the rest were just fine. Still, I'm glad I read this.
October 24, 2025
Terminei, finalmente, a saga que comecei no início do ano. Huzzah!
O primeiro livro continua a ser o meu favorito, de longe. O segundo, acho que conseguiu ter histórias mais fortes que este, mas ao mesmo tempo tinha de me forçar imenso a lê-lo. Granted, esse forçar deve-se, em grande parte, à minha reading slump, mas também tive de me obrigar um pouco a ler este e não me custou tanto fazê-lo! Hence the 4 stars.
Algumas histórias foram boas, outras achei bastante mais fracas em comparação com os outros livros, mas, all in all, recomendo-os todos a quem esteja interessado numa spooky read, para combinar com a vibe de Halloween :)
p.s.: Recomendo que se leiam os livros por ordem, uma vez que há uma personagem do 1° livro que aparece, embora brevemente, nos 3 livros!!
O primeiro livro continua a ser o meu favorito, de longe. O segundo, acho que conseguiu ter histórias mais fortes que este, mas ao mesmo tempo tinha de me forçar imenso a lê-lo. Granted, esse forçar deve-se, em grande parte, à minha reading slump, mas também tive de me obrigar um pouco a ler este e não me custou tanto fazê-lo! Hence the 4 stars.
Algumas histórias foram boas, outras achei bastante mais fracas em comparação com os outros livros, mas, all in all, recomendo-os todos a quem esteja interessado numa spooky read, para combinar com a vibe de Halloween :)
p.s.: Recomendo que se leiam os livros por ordem, uma vez que há uma personagem do 1° livro que aparece, embora brevemente, nos 3 livros!!
September 28, 2019
This book is an anthology of horror tales framed inside the story of a boy riding a train who meets a mysterious lady.
The tales are fine. A little dark if you think in the public that this is written for. And yet, this novel kept me engaged the whole time.
Although you can guess what is happening with the strange lady, the ending is still interesting and (honestly) brave, since it doesn’t shy away from being dark and gory.
The only flaw in this is that the short stories are not that memorable. But I still feel like this book is a decent and entertaining anthology.
The tales are fine. A little dark if you think in the public that this is written for. And yet, this novel kept me engaged the whole time.
Although you can guess what is happening with the strange lady, the ending is still interesting and (honestly) brave, since it doesn’t shy away from being dark and gory.
The only flaw in this is that the short stories are not that memorable. But I still feel like this book is a decent and entertaining anthology.
August 21, 2017
Probably because I have read 2 other books of Tales of Terror series recently,I didn't like this book much. But hiding under a blanket,sweating on a hot summer night,but too afraid to read normally,this book is perfect for a midnight reading.
March 23, 2021
Having read this book as an adult and the other two members of this collection as a pre-teen it didn’t scare me as severely as it did back then, but then again it still had a good twist and a decent shock even for a throughly desensitised adult.
July 29, 2025
Bu kadar seveceğimi düşünmemistim ama bayıldımm. İçindeki hikayelerin hepsi çok güzeldi bence ve bir korku sever olarak beni çok fazla tatmin etti sonra açığa çıkan gerçekler de hikayeye tat kattı birazcık elimde süründü ama olsun bu kitabın güzelliğinden götürmüyor 😌
September 25, 2017
very good. enjoyed all the stories although guessed what was happening not half way through it...very good young adults book
November 25, 2017
this was just amazing
April 21, 2022
A quick, creepy read of spooky interconnected tales. Obviously aimed at the younger reader but I still found this eerie and unsettling to read. Great fun. Cool illustrations too!
April 1, 2014
Este foi um livro que me veio parar às mãos graças ao projecto Prémio Literário da Blogosfera. Estava nomeado, com mais dois finalistas, para livro do ano de 2013 do género fantástico e eu ainda não o tinha lido. Foi rápido e fácil aperceber-me do porquê da nomeação e do entusiasmo à volta do mesmo. Apesar de ser uma obra juvenil/jovem-adulto, é uma daquelas narrativas que conseguem fazer pensar e arrepiar gente grande. Camuflado com ilustrações e uma escrita simples, As Histórias de Terror da Entrada do Túnel é um livro surpreendente que prende do início ao fim.
Robert é um rapazinho que já não consegue aguentar a madrasta e está ansioso por voltar para o colégio. Quando se vê na plataforma completamente embaraçado com as demonstrações de afecto da madrasta, o constrangimento não podia ser maior do que o alívio sentido na hora de partir. Entra no comboio, escolhe a carruagem, e é quando este pára, sem razão aparente, que tudo começa a tomar contornos interessantes e inesperados. Todos os passageiros à sua volta parecem estar num sono profundo tirando a misteriosa mulher que se encontra à sua frente. Quando dá por si, está a falar com ela e em menos de nada vê-se a mergulhar em história após história contada pela mesma.
Todas as histórias, no final, deixam-no profundamente perturbado, como se parte daquilo estivesse a ser vivido por ele e sentisse a presença duma identidade invisível comum em todas as histórias. São vários os temas abordados em cada um dos mini-contos, mas existe um ponto comum entre todas que é o impacto visual, quase sensorial, que algumas descrições provocam. Este ponto da escrita de Chris Priestley provoca no leitor um sentimento de terror e de fascínio ao mesmo tempo, que é complementado e alimentado pelas excelentes ilustrações de David Roberts.
Um livro de leitura rápida, que apenas peca pelo fim algo precipitado e por alguns momentos de expectativa não saciados. Perceberão quando o lerem, caso sintam o mesmo que eu, pois em mim ficou a necessidade de saber mais sobre as personagens que o rodeavam e mais sobre aquela mulher tão misteriosa, de ar inocente e provocador ao mesmo tempo. Gostei e fiquei com vontade de pegar nos restantes livros de contos de terror do autor.
Robert é um rapazinho que já não consegue aguentar a madrasta e está ansioso por voltar para o colégio. Quando se vê na plataforma completamente embaraçado com as demonstrações de afecto da madrasta, o constrangimento não podia ser maior do que o alívio sentido na hora de partir. Entra no comboio, escolhe a carruagem, e é quando este pára, sem razão aparente, que tudo começa a tomar contornos interessantes e inesperados. Todos os passageiros à sua volta parecem estar num sono profundo tirando a misteriosa mulher que se encontra à sua frente. Quando dá por si, está a falar com ela e em menos de nada vê-se a mergulhar em história após história contada pela mesma.
Todas as histórias, no final, deixam-no profundamente perturbado, como se parte daquilo estivesse a ser vivido por ele e sentisse a presença duma identidade invisível comum em todas as histórias. São vários os temas abordados em cada um dos mini-contos, mas existe um ponto comum entre todas que é o impacto visual, quase sensorial, que algumas descrições provocam. Este ponto da escrita de Chris Priestley provoca no leitor um sentimento de terror e de fascínio ao mesmo tempo, que é complementado e alimentado pelas excelentes ilustrações de David Roberts.
Um livro de leitura rápida, que apenas peca pelo fim algo precipitado e por alguns momentos de expectativa não saciados. Perceberão quando o lerem, caso sintam o mesmo que eu, pois em mim ficou a necessidade de saber mais sobre as personagens que o rodeavam e mais sobre aquela mulher tão misteriosa, de ar inocente e provocador ao mesmo tempo. Gostei e fiquei com vontade de pegar nos restantes livros de contos de terror do autor.
April 7, 2012
Lisa Campbell
Horror
Set in Victorian England, the story begins at the train station. Robert Harper is embarking on his first solo train ride. His step-mother has a terrible premonition about a kiss and a tunnel and begs him to not board. Happy to be leaving, he rudely dismisses her fears. He settles himself in a car with three other men and is lulled to sleep by the rocking. Finally he awakes to discover the car has a new passenger, a prim young woman dressed all in white. The train has stopped. The woman responds to his questions simply that they are waiting and offers to tell him stories to pass the time. The stories are spine tingly tales of horror and death. With each story Robert becomes more certain that things are not all they seem. The other occupants of the car refuse to awake. He is so sleepy, but he knows he should not sleep. Finally he demands to know the time and the woman responds that it is his time. She grabs him in a death kiss and he finds himself falling into shadow only to be thrust back into life at the scene of a terrible train wreck. He sees the woman standing to in the mouth of the tunnel with the dead from the wreck, terrible and frightening in her spotless white dress.
The book had a definite gothic horror feel to the short stories. The stories were fairly benign in their horror content and would most likely appeal to younger teens or those who wanted a scary tale with little violence and gore.
Horror
Set in Victorian England, the story begins at the train station. Robert Harper is embarking on his first solo train ride. His step-mother has a terrible premonition about a kiss and a tunnel and begs him to not board. Happy to be leaving, he rudely dismisses her fears. He settles himself in a car with three other men and is lulled to sleep by the rocking. Finally he awakes to discover the car has a new passenger, a prim young woman dressed all in white. The train has stopped. The woman responds to his questions simply that they are waiting and offers to tell him stories to pass the time. The stories are spine tingly tales of horror and death. With each story Robert becomes more certain that things are not all they seem. The other occupants of the car refuse to awake. He is so sleepy, but he knows he should not sleep. Finally he demands to know the time and the woman responds that it is his time. She grabs him in a death kiss and he finds himself falling into shadow only to be thrust back into life at the scene of a terrible train wreck. He sees the woman standing to in the mouth of the tunnel with the dead from the wreck, terrible and frightening in her spotless white dress.
The book had a definite gothic horror feel to the short stories. The stories were fairly benign in their horror content and would most likely appeal to younger teens or those who wanted a scary tale with little violence and gore.
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