Cats, old churches, antiques and antique dealers: these are a few of the creatures, settings, items and individuals that crop up again and again in this posthumous collection of Westall's fiendishly clever, spine-tingling short fiction. In "Graveyard Shift," a story which has not previously appeared in print, a cemetery superintendent whose duties include ushering the recently departed into the next world encounters a sinister, modern-day vampire. The book's 10 other entries are culled from various collections of the author's work. "A Walk on the Wild Side" is the chronicle of a shape-shifting cat's attempts to monopolize the affections of her owner. Felines also figure in "The Creatures in the House," in which a motley crew of strays star in an uproarious slapstick scene and save the soul of the woman who rescued them. "The Last Day of Miss Dorinda Molyneaux," the tale of a haunted church, shares a common theme with Westall's recent novel The Stones of Muncaster Cathedral. Besides being genuinely creepy, these stories are witty, wise and laced with insight. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up-This first volume in a projected set includes eight short stories, all but one previously published. The flawless execution of plot and character clearly illustrates Westall's skill in spinning a tale. These are not slash-and-gore horror stories, but rather subtle, sometimes whimsical page-turners that are so fraught with tension. The contents range from the almost playful "Graveyard Shift," in which a cemetery custodian, who visits nightly with the spirits of the newly dead, has an ugly run-in with a vampire, to the truly frightening "The Last Day of Miss Dorinda Molyneaux," a tale about a corpse that vandalizes the tombs of his contemporaries and fancies little girls. The heavy use of Briticisms may cause confusion for some readers, but for horror buffs this book should prove to be a fine addition.
Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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