Churchyard Shadows

Tales of Clerical Crime, Mystery and Suspense.

Most of us must have walked around a country churchyard at some time or other, looking at the carefully laid-out gravestones, and felt a sense of peace and order. But there can also be movements in the shadows which makes us uncomfortable. The desolation of many churches and cemeteries makes them an ideal spot to commit atrocious crimes. The vicarage can be filled with bitterness and religious frenzy as much as spiritual calm.

'Churchyard Shadows' draws together the best stories from crime and mystery that take the church as their backdrop, written by some of the greatest masters of the short story. Tales such as Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Pit And The Pendulum', T F Powy's 'The Hunted Beast' and Walter de la Mare's 'All Hallows' hold us in unbearable suspense. H C Bailey's 'The Yellow Slugs' sees spiritual cruelty lead to murder. Robert Louis Stevenson examines the corrupting effect of an enormous diamond on a young clergyman. On the other hand, we witness the celebrated Uncle Abner and Jack London's tribal shaman solve crimes using their religious insights. This is an anthology to entertain and enthrall - but not to be read in a darkened churchyard!