Haunted Castles The Complete Gothic Stories

Ray Russell reads very well; the delight of these gothic stories is their visceral violence, psychological maiming of their characters, and the exquisite twists that doom all therein. If there is one criticism, it is that one can feel the weight of Russell’s inspirations too strongly; connections, reflections, and references to the classic gothic of writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, and the darker sides of European history overshadow Russell’s delicious stories in a few instances. But it’s no matter; the reason to read Russell is not his originality but the way in which he unravels the threads of his stories. These are little gems sparkling in the dark. Much to be enjoyed in this small tome. One is left with the wish that he had written more gothic tales than contained here!