The Shadow on the Wall

Name: The Shadow on the Wall
Price: 40.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9789390652785

✍️ Ruskin Bond

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$40.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Ruskin Bond collects twenty-one chilling tales of ghosts and spirits.

This volume gathers short stories by Ruskin Bond that focus on supernatural encounters. The text includes previously unpublished material alongside established classics. Specific entries like 'The Shadow on the Wall' and 'Haunted Places' illustrate his range. The author uses Indian settings to explore fear through familiar cultural figures. Readers find spirits in hill stations and mischief from jinns. The structure presents these tales as a unified collection rather than an anthology of disparate works. Bond’s approach relies on atmospheric dread rather than graphic violence. The stories invite readers to consider the unseen world within everyday places.

Key Themes

hill station spirits malignant jinns Mussoorie's Bhoot-aunty

Literary Context

Ruskin Bond is an Indian author known for his connection to the Himalayan region. This collection draws on Indian folklore, featuring prets and jinns. The stories are set in places like Mussoorie and Chakrata. The publisher Aleph Book Company released this edition in 2022. The work reflects a specific tradition of supernatural fiction rooted in South Asian culture.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · M.R. James · Jeff VanderMeer · Gothic folklore

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Aleph Book Company Private Limited 📅 2022 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9789390652785

📝 Description: The Shadow on the Wall

Ruskin Bond assembles twenty-one tales of fright and terror in The Shadow on the Wall. This collection features classic stories such as 'A Face in the Dark' and 'The Chakrata Cat', alongside new works that have never appeared in print before. Readers encounter a young writer who finds an unlikely first reader in a ghost within the title story, while 'The Doppelganger' offers a creepy account of beings occupying two places at once. The volume also includes 'Susanna's Seven Husbands' and 'Haunted Places', which provides a spooky look at the world around us. The narratives draw on hill station spirits, hauntings in abandoned mansions, and malignant jinns. Shape-shifters and prets appear alongside Mussoorie's Bhoot-aunty. Bond demonstrates his talent as a master of horror fiction through these varied encounters. The book suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction and gothic tales set in Indian landscapes. It may not appeal to those seeking American-style slasher narratives or purely psychological thrillers without supernatural elements. The collection bridges traditional folklore with modern eerie storytelling, offering a distinct voice in the genre.

💎 Our verdict on The Shadow on the Wall

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Ruskin Bond demonstrates his mastery of horror through twenty-one tales that rely on atmospheric dread rather than shock value. The collection effectively uses Indian hill stations and abandoned mansions to create a sense of lingering terror. By featuring both established classics and previously unpublished material, the book offers a unified experience rather than disparate anecdotes. It suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction and gothic elements set in specific cultural landscapes. While it may not satisfy those seeking purely psychological thrillers without supernatural components, its distinct approach to fear through familiar cultural icons makes it a valuable addition for enthusiasts of the genre.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking atmospheric horror set against the backdrop of Indian landscapes will find this collection compelling. It appeals to those who prefer psychological unease and supernatural encounters over graphic violence or American-style slasher narratives. Fans of gothic tales and ghost stories rooted in specific cultural contexts will appreciate how Bond integrates familiar figures like Bhoot-aunty into everyday places. The volume offers a unique voice that bridges traditional folklore with modern storytelling, inviting contemplation of the unseen world within ordinary settings.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Ruskin Bond demonstrates his mastery of horror through twenty-one tales that rely on atmospheric dread rather than shock value. The collection effectively uses Indian hill stations and abandoned mansions to create a sense of lingering terror. By featuring both established classics and previously unpublished material, the book offers a unified experience rather than disparate anecdotes. It suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction and gothic elements set in specific cultural landscapes. While it may not satisfy those seeking purely psychological thrillers without supernatural components, its distinct approach to fear through familiar cultural icons makes it a valuable addition for enthusiasts of the genre.