By Brian James Freeman

PS Publishing, out September

A collection of tales that will chill your heart even in the current ridiculously hot temperatures…

One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve found with regard to the temperature going insanely hot is that you should stay inside and read a book in the cool. And if you want to really make your internal temperature drop by more than just a couple of degrees, pick up Brian James Freeman’s collection of tales.

I’ve read a few of his stories before, and found them unsettling, so decided it might be a good idea to ration reading the thirty tales in this new book to one or two a day. Freeman has the gift for creating a world economically in his stories that lingers long after the final paragraph, sometimes because of the characters but often more the ambience evoked, something that William Peter Blatty picks up on in his introduction.

Beautifully illustrated by Vincent Chong, the stories span Freeman’s career to date – starting with one of the oldest, followed immediately by a new tale – and the notes at the end are well worth reading for the insights they provide (unlike some writers, Freeman doesn’t use this to seek further applause, but genuinely seems to want to inform his readership). Some of the titles may seem familiar to long-time readers but Freeman has edited the stories (sometimes quite drastically) for this collection.

A carelessly chosen word in a review can spoil the power of these stories, or give away the very carefully plotted twists (and whatever you do, do not read Freeman’s notes prior to reading them!). Suffice it to say that there are none that won’t make you stop and think after they’re done… and often wonder if your own heart is quite as dark as those we meet in these pages.

Verdict: A dark and chilling collection of stories that will inveigle their way into your mind. 9/10

Paul Simpson