Fireside Horror
P. A. Sheldon
Independently published (May 11, 2024)
Reviewed by Carson Buckingham

Fireside Horror is a gem of a book, reminiscent of the short-lived and long missed television series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker. But in Kolchak’s place we have Elspeth McGinnity, a turn-of-the-century folklorist who travels the British Isles in search of strange local tales and the legends behind them. But her travels take her way beyond the oral tradition and fully immerse her in some pretty horrific mythology-come-true. Some folklore is most definitely has factual roots.

Much of Elspeth’s experiences are epistolary. We read her notes and thoughts and not only experience her adventures, but get to know her well too. It is an enjoyable device, in which we also meet her assistant, Nolan, a young man whose diffidence and circumspection contrasts with and balances Elspeth’s impulsiveness and risk-taking behavior.

Their adventures are masterfully interconnected, so it is imperative that the stories be read in order. The tension is built well, the pacing is perfect, and the chills abound. The stories are definitely cumulative.

I knew very little about British folklore and this book interested me enough to delve into exploring it further. In a genre where it seems that everything has been done to death, this book stands out as a beacon in the night, and I can’t wait to read of Elspeth’s and Nolan’s further explorations into the legends and myths of the countryside. Isn’t it interesting that cities seem to be without a folkloric tradition?

I am looking forward to more books from this author. As a debut, this is one successful novel.