Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror

 (15 customer reviews)

Admittedly, I purchased this book because it was $1.99 for the Kindle, and I was curious (and David Roberts' cover illustration drew me in).

While the terror tales told by Uncle Montague to his nephew Edgar weren't spine tingling to me as an adult, they were all well written, and I can see how they could keep a younger (little?) person on the edge of his/her seat. Many are written in such a way that a younger person would be full of "why?... how?... what?..." questions that could easily prompt an out-of-the-book discussion.

The ending was a welcome surprise, and it worked in that it explained the Montague/Edgar relationship in more depth as well as providing reasons and origins for the tales told by Montague.

The illustrations by Roberts are included in the Kindle edition and only add to the "classical" feel of the book.

While I am far from a child, Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror is a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

Uncle Montague is a bachelor who lives alone in a house that is packed with artifacts and collectibles. Edward loves to walk through the woods and visit Uncle Montague to hear his spine-tingling stories. Uncle Montague is reminded of each story as he picks up an artifact that is associated with it in his memory.

Edward's imagination is sent into a tailspin when he begins to wonder how Uncle Montague knows all of these frightening stories, and a darker side of Uncle Montague begins to emerge. Not all the stories have clear-cut endings, and Edward's fears become your own as you read these scary narratives.

From the Vicar's son who needed a hammer to mount his collection in the garden, to the Demon on the bench end, and Christina, who, to her horror, was granted three wishes, Chris Priestley has crafted a book that is impossible to put down, and definitely left me wanting more.

This book should appeal to reluctant readers with its fast-paced fear factor...Read more

Young Edgar loves visiting his eccentric, Great-Great Uncle Montague even if it means going though the spooky woods to get there. For Uncle Montague is a very talented storyteller and has a story to tell about all the creepy odds and ends he has lying around his study.

I loved the goosebumpy feeling I had the whole time I read this book. The fact that each tale's main character was a child made it even more spooky for me. I loved the gothicy feel each tale had and although the stories were short they were definitely potent and got their message across. As always, my main complaint with short stories... that they are just too short and right when I'm finally getting into the story they end.

Needless to say, I thought Mr. Priestley delivered with this group of stories. The underlying story of Uncle Montague and Edgar was, I think, the creepiest by far... but I won't give anything away. I loved the wordplay used, I think Mr. Priestley has a talent for using simple...Read more