High Spirits

by J.T. Croft

A Haunting and Fantastical Collection of Supernatural Tales

Discover a magical collection of ten hauntingly fantastical short stories, underscored by universal themes of fellowship, love, and hope.


A spectral highwayman returns from the gallows to help a locksmith restore his fortune, a magician’s apprentice must deal with the aftermath of a magic trick gone terribly wrong, a lonely pensioner is comforted by a nurse from beyond the grave, and many more…

Striking a poignant balance between whimsical and melancholy, this collection of fantastical short stories offers readers a unique and engaging selection of speculative fiction tales which explore powerful themes that will touch the hearts and minds of readers alike. Imbued with a bittersweet charm and a dash of wit, High Spirits deals with the living and the dead, the bizarre and the paranormal, all in a way that will enchant readers and provide a glimmer of hope against a sombre backdrop.

Perfect for fans of classic ghost stories and imaginative fantasy alike, these tales will satisfy your curiosities and speak to your deepest human desires to connect and empathise, making them ideal for readers of Neil Gaiman, M. R. James, Roald Dahl and many others. Stories include:

❋ The Spirit of the Place ❋ Tyburn’s Shadow ❋ The Most Magnificent Menka ❋ The Dark Heart ❋ My Fellow Man ❋ Familiar’s End ❋ The Box in the Belfry ❋ The Last Laugh ❋ Beloved ❋Two Left Feet ❋

Genres: Short Stories, Anthologies

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2020

About the author

J. T. Croft is a Gothic and speculative fiction author with a passion for tales both fantastical and supernatural.

An avid fan of Gothic fantasy and ghost stories, J. T. imbues his work with strong emotional themes designed to tug readers’ hearts and make them think. His stories roam between good and evil, exploring the grey area between with a melancholy, bittersweet, and strangely charming feel.

J. T. Croft is enchanted by the works of Edwardian ghostwriters such as M. R. James, E. Nesbit, and E. F. Benson, as much as the Gothic works of Laura Purcell, Susan Hill, and Daphne du Maurier.

When not writing, he enjoys listening to podcasts, drinking coffee, and spending time with his partner and their grey tabby in Worcestershire, UK.

Website - www.jtcroft.com
Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/jtcroftauthor/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jtcroftauthor
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jtcroftauthor
BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-t-c...

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75🌟
In the vein of The Haunting Season, this is a book of short supernatural tales, perfect for winter/Christmas cosy reading. There are some really good stories in this collection, some more enjoyable than others (as is always the way), and they vary in style and setting. A good start to spooky season👻

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute cracker of a book - ten very different stories and not a duff one amongst them all. I'm not going into details about each story, but they ranged from the gentle to the utterly terrifying, the whimsical to the macabre, from historical to contemporary.

Great fun. I romped through it in a couple of hours (I'm a very fast reader!) and I finished it feeling rather sad that I'd come to the end.

[Toni Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and Ghostly

While I don't usually read.short.stories, I found this book entertaining and also making you think about life and death. Good read. Enjoyed.every story.

[Wanda B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough good things about these 10 fantastical short stories. They are well written and kept me wanting more. I did not want this book to end. Absolutely great!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short stories! Definitely recommend reading this.

[Gregory Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Collection of Supernatural Tales

Each story is well crafted and told simply yet elegantly. Much food for thought. Reminiscent of Ray Bradbury. A fun read.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked the way this book was written. Each story was well written and gave enough details that didn't leave you wanting. My favorite story was Tyburn's Shadow although Two Left Feet was a close second.

[Christine RN-H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this collection of short stories by pure chance when looking for new authors dealing in a subtle way with the paranormal. The very first of the stories drew me right in - truly original and deeply emotional without getting cheesy. The following stories more than lived up to the promise of the first, although I have my favourites. "The Spirit of the Place", "Tyburn's Shadow", "Beloved" and "Two Left Feet" linger long after the reading, and I enjoyed the variety of skilfully employed styles and motives. From fairy tale to reminiscences of the classics of the spooky genre, plus a wry sense of humour, everything is there. Highly recommended!

[Jingizu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an excellent read! These short stories are truly phenomenal, as once again the author packs an incredible amount of story into a short space, with excellent history, characters, plot and pacing.

The stories are dark, gothic and though-provoking. Some are truly scary, some eerie, and some are laced with true sadness.

These stories are unique, and different than the usual run-of-the-mill ghost stories, and I am looking forward to any new stories from this excellent author!

Highly recommended.

[Richard Brulotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paranormal With A Hint of Fascination

A delightful collection of stories,each with a different type of paranormal fantasy. Different stories border on different genres and inspirations — sci-fi/fantasy, mystery, romantic ponderings and even horror and terror. Each story distinct from the others, but all enchanting. Looking forward to reading more by the author.

[Annie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Keith Innes · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written

A cut above so many short stories of this genre, very difficult to put down once I started
Searching for the next edition

[Dani Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this newly discovered author (at least for me). This is the 2nd book I've read by this author and it does not disappoint.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite story was Box in the Belfry, followed by Familiar's End, then Tyburn, then Menka.

[Claire’s Slight Book Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this collection of short stories! I tend to read large books which take a while to get through.. sometimes you fancy a change.. so picking up a short story is a perfect pallet cleanser! These stories did exactly that.. short around 30min reads for the most! Excellent atmosphere and chills a plenty! I’m still creeped out by Punch and Judy!

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant mix of engrossing short stories. Highly recommended read.

[Honey Milk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love short stories. They are the perfect bite to read during a break and a lovely way to have a quick reprieve. Now, I've gripped? griped? about short stories before because it always ends too soon and I want to see more of the characters. But these short stories were perfectly ended. Each one was wrapped up with a nice neat little bow (I definitely appreciate this!).

So things I loved:
There was a diversity in the characters: men, women, old, young. Absolutely perfect
Each story had a perfectly coherent world. I've seen some short stories that have poor world building so this was a delight to see.
A little bit of historical fiction, a dash of mystery, and a healthy helping of magic. (honestly, my favorite genres all around).

I definitely liked the first two stories best. The only criticism I will say is that I was super sad to see the stories get shorter and shorter as I reached the end of the book. But altogether, a lovely reading experience.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kkhmonrai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of ten unique and engaging short stories, with magic, ghosts, and paranormal flair. Their is some nostalgia, joy, sadness, eeriness, and humor. The length of the individual stories is perfect for a quick read (or perhaps 2) that you can finish in one sitting.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.