The Conception of Terror: Tales Inspired by M.R. James
A few years ago, Audible offered a monthly selection of free short audiobooks. Since the offer was included in my membership, I tried to make the best picks of the audiobooks available. I love scary stories, so this collection of tales seemed like a fitting selection. The Conception of Terror: Tales Inspired by M. R. James, Volume 1, is a collection of four short stories all designed to invoke fear. Audible does a great job with narration to include music and sound effects. Listening to this audiobook is a full theatrical performance in your ears.
I really enjoyed the first story, Casting the Runes. Jo, is an academic working in a library. She is asked to review a paper and it turns out she doesn’t like it. Despite the author having many followers, Jo isn’t a fan. She writes her review honestly; however she is faced with some serious consequences. This story has curses, death predictions, and revenge.
The second story, Last Hearts, begins with a teenage orphan, Stephanie, who is moving into her latest foster home. The building her foster mother lives in is quite unique; it’s called Aswarby House. Inside, it’s a community of its own with residents having close relationships, a restaurant, regular town hall meetings, and a playground. Ironically, there are no children living in Aswarby House. Stephanie meets a boy her age living in Aswarby House and they become close friends. This story has all of the elements of a ghost story, with unexplainable noises and sightings. I liked this one very much.
Story number three, The Treasure of Abbott-Thomas, was my least favorite. I had a difficult time keeping the characters straight. Very likely that was a “me problem,” and not the story. This one is about a newly hired teacher, the school’s former student, and a former teacher’s memorial. This story offers a very creepy treasure hunt.
The final story, A View from a Hill, was also very enjoyable. Paul and Sarah embark on their first getaway since the loss of their young son. While hiking one day, they find a beautiful, abandoned abbey. Sarah explores while Paul does some recording for his podcast. Sarah begins hearing children’s voices, which spirals into her thinking she hears her son calling for her. This story takes on the setting of a haunted location and the parents having difficulty separating ghosts from reality.
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