👻 Ghost Stories

Whistling Past the Graveyard

✍️ Jonathan Maberry
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$21.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A diverse short story collection by Bram Stoker winner Jonathan Maberry.

This volume gathers short fiction that moves from small-town dread to global fantasy. The stories cover a paperboy in Pine Deep, Sherlock Holmes in America, and a samurai in Feudal Japan. Additional tales involve space pirates, John Carter of Mars, and a junkie’s quest for revenge. The collection demonstrates Maberry’s range across horror, suspense, adventure, and mystery genres. Each story offers a distinct setting and tone, from the shadowy back roads of home to the void of space. The work showcases his ability to blend supernatural elements with traditional genre conventions.

Key Themes
Pine Deep horror Sherlock Holmes mystery Samurai fantasy
Literary Context

Jonathan Maberry is a New York Times bestselling author and five-time Bram Stoker Award winner. This collection was published by JournalStone in 2016. It represents the first print gathering of his short fiction, drawing on traditions of gothic horror, classic detective fiction, and science fiction adventure.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Sherlock Holmes adaptations · Edgar Rice Burroughs · H.P. Lovecraft
👻
Ghost Stories
🏛 JournalStone 📅 2016 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781942712671

📝 Description: Whistling Past the Graveyard

Jonathan Maberry delivers a collection of short fiction that spans diverse genres and historical periods. The volume opens with tales set in Pine Deep, featuring a paperboy facing ancient evil and a young girl learning murder. These stories ground the reader in familiar horror tropes before expanding outward. The collection then shifts to classic literary homage and historical fantasy. Readers follow Sherlock Holmes on an American adventure involving a ghost, while another narrative transports audiences to Feudal Japan for a samurai’s battle against the living dead. Maberry also ventures into science fiction, placing special ops soldiers in space combat and John Carter of Mars on the red planet. This compilation includes a heartbroken junkie seeking vengeance and other nightmare journeys. As a five-time Bram Stoker Award winner, Maberry guides these strange tales with precision. The book suits fans of horror, suspense, adventure, and mystery who appreciate varied settings. It may not appeal to readers seeking only contemporary realism or single-genre consistency.

💎 Our verdict on Whistling Past the Graveyard

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Jonathan Maberry demonstrates impressive range in this diverse short story collection, shifting from gothic small-town horror to science fiction and historical fantasy. The work succeeds by grounding readers in familiar horror tropes before expanding into broader speculative territories. Tales involving Sherlock Holmes, samurai battles against the living dead, and space combat showcase a unique ability to blend supernatural elements with traditional genre conventions. While it may not appeal to those seeking contemporary realism or strict genre consistency, it offers rich variety for enthusiasts of suspense and adventure. The distinct settings and tones ensure each story stands alone yet contributes to a compelling overall package of nightmare journeys.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate genre versatility will find this collection rewarding, as it moves seamlessly from small-town dread to cosmic horror and historical fantasy. The volume offers a distinct experience for each story, ranging from the shadowy back roads of home to the void of space. It suits fans of horror, suspense, adventure, and mystery who value diverse settings and tones over single-genre consistency. Those interested in literary homages or supernatural twists on traditional tropes will enjoy the precision with which Maberry guides these strange tales. The book provides a broad spectrum of nightmare journeys, ensuring that no two narratives feel identical.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Jonathan Maberry demonstrates impressive range in this diverse short story collection, shifting from gothic small-town horror to science fiction and historical fantasy. The work succeeds by grounding readers in familiar horror tropes before expanding into broader speculative territories. Tales involving Sherlock Holmes, samurai battles against the living dead, and space combat showcase a unique ability to blend supernatural elements with traditional genre conventions. While it may not appeal to those seeking contemporary realism or strict genre consistency, it offers rich variety for enthusiasts of suspense and adventure. The distinct settings and tones ensure each story stands alone yet contributes to a compelling overall package of nightmare journeys.

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