👻 Ghost Stories

Whistling Past the Graveyard

✍️ Jonathan Maberry
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$29.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Jonathan Maberry's first print collection of varied horror and adventure short stories.

This anthology showcases Maberry's range across multiple genres and settings. The stories move from the mundane to the fantastical, featuring characters like Sherlock Holmes and John Carter of Mars alongside original creations. Each tale operates independently, exploring themes of vengeance, survival, and the supernatural. The collection highlights Maberry's ability to shift tones and styles while maintaining a consistent level of tension. Readers will find a mix of historical fiction elements in the Feudal Japan segment and science fiction aspects in the space pirate narrative. The work demonstrates the author's versatility beyond his usual horror confines.

Key Themes
ancient evil living dead space pirates
Literary Context

Published by JournalStone in 2016, this collection reflects Maberry's status as a New York Times bestselling author. It draws on traditions of gothic horror, samurai epics, and classic detective fiction. The work sits within the broader landscape of American speculative fiction, bridging pulp adventure with modern supernatural suspense.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · H.P. Lovecraft · Edgar Rice Burroughs
👻
Ghost Stories
🏛 JournalStone 📅 2016 📖 350 pages 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781942712695

📝 Description: Whistling Past the Graveyard

Jonathan Maberry presents his first print collection of short fiction in Whistling Past the Graveyard. This volume gathers stories that traverse diverse genres including horror, suspense, adventure, and mystery. Readers encounter a lonely paperboy facing ancient evil on shadowy roads, a young girl mastering murder through dreams, and Sherlock Holmes investigating a ghostly murder in America. The collection also features a samurai battling the living dead on a forgotten island, special ops soldiers fighting space pirates, and a heartbroken junkie seeking vengeance. These tales transport audiences to the troubled town of Pine Deep, Feudal Japan, and the red planet Mars. Maberry guides these strange journeys through nightmare land with his established reputation as a five-time Bram Stoker Award winner. The book suits readers who enjoy varied supernatural settings and genre-blending narratives. It may not appeal to those seeking a single continuous plot or strictly realistic fiction. The stories stand as distinct entries in Maberry’s bibliography, offering glimpses into different worlds and eras without connecting them through a unified narrative thread.

💎 Our verdict on Whistling Past the Graveyard

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Maberry demonstrates impressive versatility by shifting between horror, suspense, adventure, and mystery within a single volume. The collection succeeds through its independent tales, each offering distinct worlds and eras without a unified narrative thread. It effectively combines supernatural elements with historical fiction and science fiction aspects. This approach suits readers seeking varied settings and genre-blending narratives rather than strict realism or linear plots. The work highlights the author's ability to maintain tension across different styles, making it a compelling choice for those interested in exploring diverse horror-adjacent genres through short fiction.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate versatile storytelling across multiple genres will find this collection rewarding. It offers a diverse array of tales, ranging from supernatural horror to historical adventure and science fiction. The book is ideal for those who enjoy independent narratives that explore themes like vengeance and survival without requiring a continuous plot. Fans of Jonathan Maberry’s established reputation will gain insight into his broad capabilities. Those interested in genre-blending works, featuring settings from Feudal Japan to Mars, will appreciate the varied tones and styles presented here.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Maberry demonstrates impressive versatility by shifting between horror, suspense, adventure, and mystery within a single volume. The collection succeeds through its independent tales, each offering distinct worlds and eras without a unified narrative thread. It effectively combines supernatural elements with historical fiction and science fiction aspects. This approach suits readers seeking varied settings and genre-blending narratives rather than strict realism or linear plots. The work highlights the author's ability to maintain tension across different styles, making it a compelling choice for those interested in exploring diverse horror-adjacent genres through short fiction.

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