Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley

Only-child Edgar braves the dark walk through the rotting woods to listen to his uncle’s fireside stories: chilling tales of ghosts and jinn, witches and demons, seances and delusion. The children in the stories invariably come to sticky ends and Edgar squirms in the firelight, cheeks pale and eyes popping - but at the conclusion of each, he begs for more.

An exceptional opening chapter!

But, Edgar: wait. Who’s whispering beyond the window? Are those footsteps upstairs? Edgar sips his tea in the fireside chair, but is he safe from the stories?

The framing narrative around these creepy tales is deliciously intriguing. Who is Uncle Montague? What haunts his house? Will Edgar be devoured? Uncle Montague’s history, when it comes, is grim and moving, and somehow rather lovely.

I particularly like the relationship between Edgar and his uncle, and the slow reveal of Montague’s spooky predicament. Uncle Montague is quite the storyteller too: cutting each tale dead at the critical point.

Suitable for upper middle-grade readers. I can’t wait to read more by Chris Priestley.

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