The Stones of Muncaster Cathedral

First of all, I like Robert Westall's supernatural tales very much. They run the gamut from gentle to utterly chilling (this story belongs to the latter category!). Don't be misled by the fact that he's normally considered a "young adult" writer, his material is completely enjoyable to adults (I'm 44!), and I highly recommend his works. Getting back to this one, all I can say is "WOW"! Just like a Dean Koontz novel, he hooks you on the 1st page, and things just get more bizarre from there. A wonderful ghost story, and while it's not quite in the same league as tales by M.R. James, E.F. Benson, H.R. Wakefield, Frederick Cowles, Eleanor Scott, etc., this one definitely stands on it's own. I won't say anything about the plot, as to give anything away about this excellent short (100 pages, you can and WILL read it in a single sitting!) novel would be just plain wrong. All I can say is find a copy, either for sale or in a library, and if you are a ghost story fan, you won't regret it. One caveat, however... a lot of it is written in Northern British "slang", and it may be a bit slow going for the unitiated (me mum's English, so I grew up knowing many of the speech patterns and colloquialisms that Westall uses. This is really a "non-complaint" though, as in my opinion, it only adds to the authenticity of the tale. Read it, and be prepared to end up looking over your shoulder for a while. Superb book!!! BTW, I also HIGHLY recommend "Antique Dust", a collection of his more "adult" ghost stories. This is probably his most consistently good book of short stories. Believe me, these books are worth the time it takes to track 'em down. Read, enjoy, and rejoice that the classic Brit ghost story is still not dead (even though, unfortunately, Westall is)!!

What a great horror story! No, it's not gross, not bloody, not overtly spooky, and the Terminator does not make an appearance, but Westall's subtle writing and build up of true horror make for a literally hair raising read. I read "Stones..." as an adult, that means I was over 30 folks, while between "real" jobs and while working at a children's bookstore. I took this with me to lunch and was glad I had my back to the wall, even at that I kept looking over my shoulder... Not for under 12, but a great scare! ...Enjoy and read read read!

If someone were to ask me why I read so much fiction, I'd hand them this book. Although it is short, this book is one of the best I've ever read and re-read. From the eerie but gradually intensifying strange occurences, to the uncovering of the cathedral's secret history, to the jaw-dropping climax, this book ROCKED!

...this was one of the scariest books that I read at the time. I still have the book, and have re-read it only a few years ago. The gargoyle is what scared me the most; anyone who reads this will see why I say this. This is like a combination of "The Shining" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say, read this book. It is very, very short, and one can finish it in one sitting. Don't get too scared though...