It has to be said that on the whole, the gothic element of this book is just a gimmick. And Neil Gaiman offers a crow with the knowledge of how to revive an author from writer's block, in a completely clever, witty and subversive effort. The elderly man with the foreign accent, in the first story, knows just how to put an errant spirit to rest. Other examples of the horror or ghost story in this selection of ten offer more sagacity. Who would have thought quite what young Walter would be left guarding when told to prove himself responsible? Should we blame Mark Banks for not foreseeing what happens when he buys a rarely cheap country pile, with turreted room for his daughter to choose to live in? Other people you can forgive in their ignorance. If you're employed to guard over a man's corpse for the night so that no witch can come and take his face, you just do not fall asleep on the job. If you intend to build a tractor ride that incorporates a chamber of horrors, do not build it on the site of a serial killer's farm. A 15 certificate for language, but otherwise for 11-14 year olds. Summary: A range of ghost stories for the teenage reader, with very varied styles, approaches and success.
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