As I began to think about books to review for the Fall and Halloween, I came across a book I never knew existed, After Midnight. Daphne du Maurier is famous for her dark story, Rebecca, but little did I know she was also known for her short scary stories such as The Birds and Don’t Look Now, which of course have been made into films. What also drew me to the book was the fact that the great Stephen King did the forward…that alone was an incredible essay in itself. And the book did not disappoint! It was one CHILLING story after another! Who knew?
Of course, many of us have seen The Birds, but the initial story itself is riveting. The reason for the birds never explained and the eeriness of it all on paper exceptional!
But there are twelve more stories in this edition each fascinatingly scary and dark.
The Blue Lenses describes a woman who has just had eye surgery and what happens during her recovery.
The Apple Tree gave me serious goosebumps. When a man who has just lost his wife (and seems a bit happy about it) decides to take down an apple tree on his property, well, things don’t go very well.
The Breakthrough is an incredible science-fiction like story in which two scientists attempt to discover what happens to a person after death…do they still have consciousness? Of course, remember, this is a book about being scared…
My favorite is The Alibi in which a man seems to lead a double life…to what end?
The other stories I leave for you to devour and use your imagination and draw your own conclusions as to what has just happened!
Not After Midnight, and yes, that too is one of the stories, is an absolute must for anybody who loves to be terrified at things that go bump in the night!
Thank you #NetGalley #Scribner #AfterMidnight #TheLateGreatDaphneduMaurier for the advanced copy.
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