And in 'Samhain', marital strife threatens to turn deadly when a witch turns to black magic to do away with her pathetic husband. A tourist fascinated by the serial killer John Reginald Christie undergoes an uncanny and horrific experience on a trip to London in 'Forget-Me-Not'. In 'Travelling Light', a traveller is obliged to share a room with a strange man who seems to know a little too much about a series of bizarre murders in which wives have been slain by their husbands. In 'Out of Sorts', things get hairy for a man's wife and his mistress when he begins to feel unwell on the night of a full moon. The Reaping is another satisfying installment.The complete short fiction of a master of modern horror fiction I recently finished The Tribe (my review here), another from the series, and it made my 2020 Best list. (The book is in no way related to the less-than-stellar 2007 movie of the same name.) My only quibble with The Reaping is that it does take a while for the supernatural element to slide its way into the story-ah, but when it does! The Reaping is one of Paperbacks from Hell series of horror classics originally published in the 70s 80s. I’m surprised this hasn’t been made into a film it would be wildly successful. While you suspect some of Miss Stewart’s machinations, the ending is a shocker. The creepy factor builds deliciously, in the best kind of country-house mystery fashion, and you’re not sure exactly what horrors will emerge. Taylor takes his time letting us get to know Tom and better empathize with his frustrations.
What a fun read! The Reaping is a slow burn.
Tom finishes the portrait and hopes he is done with Woolvercombe House for good…only to find neither he, nor his family have escaped Miss Stewart clutches. Then there are the five mysterious nuns living on the property, who Tom discovers are not exactly models of piety. The ailing Miss Stewart, whose garish makeup fails to hide the sight and smells of her sour old age the sly manservant, Carl the too-efficient secretary, Mrs.
Tom’s love of his craft is reenergized and, inexplicably, so his libido…but Tom gets a creepy vibe about the rest of Woolvercombe’s inhabitants. He seizes the chance, and he and the shy Catherine warm to each other (“warm” is an understatement). Life is uninspiring until Tom gets the lucrative opportunity of a lifetime: spend a week at Woolvercombe House painting the beautiful Catherine. His relationship with his globe hopping girlfriend, Ilona, is on the rocks. Tom has all but given up his dreams of being an artist and settled for a steady career as shopkeeper to best support his young children.
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