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Chilling Christmas Tales
Following on from Haunting Christmas Tales, ten best-selling authors have come together to bring you Chilling Christmas ten original horror stories, all with a Christmas theme. Some are certain to shock and terrify, whilst others will inspire your pity for an innocent victim. The woman who is transported back twenty years to relive the grim secret of her past, the boy who is ensnared in the clutches of the evil Megowl, and the tragedy of the highwayman's last ride will freeze you to the depths of your soul.
285 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
84 people want to read
About the author
Joan Aiken
332 books602 followersJoan Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. She was known as a writer of wild fantasy, Gothic novels and short stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 1, 2022
Some good, some ok stories. I enjoyed googling the British slang and learning about British Christmas traditions. So many mince pies! My favorite story was “In the Bleak Midwinter.” “Megowl” was also good for some Mogwai, I mean Gremlins fun.
December 3, 2025
I've had birthday cards more chilling than these stories
December 23, 2020
Christmas ghosts goblins and vampires galore.
Despite being for kids I really enjoyed this festive tale of spooky short stories. Usually in short story collections it is a mixed bag with a few being duds in this case I enjoyed every story. Ghosts a plenty with lots of great morality lessons. I'm not sure of the suitability for ages as I imagine some of these may scare younger readers but as an adult I appreciated how well written they were for being aimed at kids.
Despite being for kids I really enjoyed this festive tale of spooky short stories. Usually in short story collections it is a mixed bag with a few being duds in this case I enjoyed every story. Ghosts a plenty with lots of great morality lessons. I'm not sure of the suitability for ages as I imagine some of these may scare younger readers but as an adult I appreciated how well written they were for being aimed at kids.
December 31, 2023
This was a fantastic collection of tales, all of them horrifying and creepy yet set around Christmas.
I read this with aloud my niece and as we read along her favourite story kept changing as we read.
There really is something for everyone here, old fashioned tales, ghosts, monsters, old and modern stories.
A feast for all tastes.
Such a great read that over Christmas I found another two volumes online I purchased for our reading sessions as my niece enjoyed this so much.
I read this with aloud my niece and as we read along her favourite story kept changing as we read.
There really is something for everyone here, old fashioned tales, ghosts, monsters, old and modern stories.
A feast for all tastes.
Such a great read that over Christmas I found another two volumes online I purchased for our reading sessions as my niece enjoyed this so much.
June 15, 2025
This book wasn’t as good as I expected it to be at all. Some of the stories in this book were just okay reads and some of the stories were so boring and draining to read. I expected more from these stories if I am being honest. The stories were not the chilling at all. I am so glad I didn’t wait to read this book at Christmas as I would be so disappointed by it. Xxx
December 3, 2024
Some good, some freaky. Overall, just ok
December 26, 2025
Really enjoyed it, even more than the Mysterious Christmas Tales! My favourites were I'll Be Seeing You and The Highwayman's Last Ride.
January 10, 2017
A great collection of chillingly entertaining tales!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews