Strayers from Sheol

Rating:
Summary: Strayers from Sheol
Review: Once again, Ash-Tree press has resurrected a set of ghost stories that should not have gone out-of-print. I read some Somerset Maugham stories at the same time I was reading this collection, and there were many moments when the voices of the authors sounded the same. Wakefield is very polished in his story-telling. This is not his complete works, but the contents of this book may be his best. "The Triumph of Death" will have to be read twice to catch all of the subtle hints left before the climatic death scene (it's alwasy great when the author can close a story with the climax - no "wrapping up" needed). "The Middle Drawer" is a predictable murder/ghost story, but the telling of the misery of the protagonist is fantastic. The book is rounded out with 4 never before published stories. These are as good or better than the more well-known stories preceding them. "Appointment With Fire" is a story of criminals getting their justice that rivals Robert Bloch's best work. The price is worth the possession of some of the finest ghost stories of the early 20th century. You won't find any of these stories outside of a few ancient Weird Tales anthologies. And who likes to buy an anthology only to find they already own half the stories inside ?