Mary King's Plague and Other Tales of Woe

Name: Mary King's Plague and Other Tales of Woe
Price: 11.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780692743805

✍️ Brian Kaufman

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$11.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Three novellas by Brian Kaufman exploring plague, haunted homes, and supernatural evil.

Kaufman utilizes distinct settings to explore fear in Mary King's Plague and Other Tales of Woe. The Edinburgh slum offers a claustrophobic struggle against disease and human cruelty. The Denver mansion provides a backdrop for architectural horror where domestic spaces turn hostile. The restaurant setting highlights the vulnerability of isolated workers against unseen forces. Each novella stands alone yet shares a focus on psychological pressure. The characters face immediate, visceral threats rather than abstract concepts. Kaufman's approach emphasizes atmosphere and character complexity within short formats. The stories avoid lengthy exposition, moving directly into the heart of the conflict. This structure allows for rapid escalation of dread. Readers experience the terror through the eyes of those trapped in these situations.

Key Themes

plague riddled slum haunted Victorian mansion night shift restaurant

Literary Context

The book contains three novellas published by Dark Silo Press in 2016. It draws on 17th century Edinburgh history and Victorian Denver architecture. The work fits within the tradition of supernatural fiction that blends historical settings with modern horror elements.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Edgar Allan Poe · Gothic Horror

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Dark Silo Press 📅 2016 📖 272 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780692743805

📝 Description: Mary King's Plague and Other Tales of Woe

Brian Kaufman presents three novellas in Mary King's Plague and Other Tales of Woe. The first story places readers in a plague-riddled slum in 17th century Edinburgh. Town elders wall up the entrance, forcing characters to fight their way out of the confined space. This historical horror draws on the grim traditions of urban quarantine. The second tale shifts to a Victorian mansion in Denver. A protagonist attempts to remodel the property for profit but ignores warnings about what lies inside the walls. The narrative moves from domestic renovation to supernatural dread as secrets emerge from the structure itself. Kaufman builds tension through the slow revelation of these hidden horrors. The final novella follows a night shift worker at a restaurant grill. The mundane routine of cooking breaks down when the establishment brings the employee face-to-face with pure evil. The story relies on the isolation of late-night work to amplify fear. Online Book Club compares Kaufman's tone to Stephen King or Edgar Allen Poe, noting his ability to maintain intensity. Desmond Reddick of Dread Media praises the character work that lulls readers into terror. This collection suits those who prefer short, intense narratives over sprawling epics. It may not appeal to readers seeking historical accuracy or light entertainment.

💎 Our verdict on Mary King's Plague and Other Tales of Woe

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Kaufman delivers three distinct novellas that excel in building atmosphere and maintaining psychological pressure. By utilizing confined spaces such as walled-off Edinburgh slums and hostile Victorian mansions, he creates a claustrophobic sense of dread. The transition from domestic renovation to supernatural horror demonstrates his ability to reveal hidden terrors slowly. The final story effectively uses the isolation of night shift work to amplify fear against unseen forces. This collection is best suited for readers who appreciate character-driven terror and immediate conflict. It may not appeal to those seeking historical accuracy or light entertainment, but it offers a compelling, intense experience for horror enthusiasts.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave short, intense narratives will find this collection highly rewarding. It avoids lengthy exposition, moving directly into the heart of conflict to allow for rapid escalation of dread. Those who prefer experiencing terror through the eyes of trapped characters rather than observing from a distance will appreciate Kaufman's focus on psychological pressure and character complexity. The book suits individuals seeking immediate, visceral threats within distinct settings like plague-riddled slums or haunted mansions. It is ideal for fans of atmospheric horror who value narrative intensity over sprawling epics.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Kaufman delivers three distinct novellas that excel in building atmosphere and maintaining psychological pressure. By utilizing confined spaces such as walled-off Edinburgh slums and hostile Victorian mansions, he creates a claustrophobic sense of dread. The transition from domestic renovation to supernatural horror demonstrates his ability to reveal hidden terrors slowly. The final story effectively uses the isolation of night shift work to amplify fear against unseen forces. This collection is best suited for readers who appreciate character-driven terror and immediate conflict. It may not appeal to those seeking historical accuracy or light entertainment, but it offers a compelling, intense experience for horror enthusiasts.