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Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was a New Zealand-born English novelist famous for his skill at scene setting and vivid plots. He was a best-selling author in the 1920s and 1930s and remains popular to this day. "The Snow" is a multilayered ghost story in which the phantom of a jealous and vindictive first wife seems to haunt the new young bride of her husband. As the cracks in their relationship widen, the malevolent ghost tightens her evil grip on the second wife.

Barry Eric Odell Pain (1864-1928) was an English journalist, poet, and writer best known for his outstanding mystery and horror stories, often with a strange twist at the end. "A Considerable Murder" is the odd tale of a retired gentleman and his daughter who are suddenly imposed upon by an old, sick and highly cantankerous man...a former friend of their father and grandfather, who had helped them out in earlier years.

A collection of 50 of the world's great creepy stories. "Creepy" does not necessarily mean ghost or horror stories but rather stories that literally make our flesh creep by shaking our false sense of security and comprehension of the world.

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was a New Zealand-born English novelist, famous for his skill at scene setting and vivid plots. He was a best-selling author in the 1920s and 1930s and remains popular to this day. This collection includes some of Walpole's finest works, including 'The Whistle', which he described as "the best short story I have ever written".

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884 - 1941) was a New Zealand-born English novelist, famous for his skill at scene setting and vivid plots. He was a best-selling author in the 1920s and 1930s and remains popular to this day. Lilac is a multilayered tale of a marriage proposal. Frederick Anstey, an art dealer, asks his beloved Lily Brocket to marry him. But she is in a hurry to get away, as her Aunt Clara has appeared from out of town, and she promises to write him a letter by ten that evening to give her reply.

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was a New Zealand-born English novelist famous for his skill at scene setting and vivid plots. He was a best-selling author in the 1920s and 1930s and remains popular to this day. The Tarn is one of the most grisly horror stories ever conceived. Giles Foster goes to visit his old acquaintance, Fenweick, in his remote cottage in the Lake District. He has heard that Fenwick bears him some grudge, and he is keen to put things right between them.

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was a New Zealand-born English novelist famous for his skill at scene setting and vivid plots. He was a best-selling author in the 1920s and 1930s and remains popular to this day. One recurring theme in his works, based in his own unhappy experiences of being bullied at school, is alienation in childhood. The Ruby Glass is a story of dysfunctional childhood. The Cole family play host to their little cousin, Jane, one spring.

William Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories, and was a great friend and collaborator of Charles Dickens. The Biter Bit is a detective story with a twist. A rookie investigator, Matthew Sharpin, has been thrust on Scotland Yard with instructions to try him out on a case. He is assigned the case currently being worked on by experienced officer Sergeant Bulmer.

Richard Austin Freeman (1862-1943) was a British writer of detective stories, mostly featuring the medico-legal forensic investigator Dr. Thorndyke. Freeman used some of his early experiences as a colonial surgeon in West Africa in his novels. The Case of the White Footprints is a murder mystery set in Margate. A lady has been found dead in her room in a boarding house.

William Fryer Harvey (1885-1937) was an English writer of short stories, most notably in the mystery and horror genres, in which many of his works are recognized as masterpieces. The Lake is an intriguing mystery story. "There is something terribly wrong with the lake" are the dying words of the rich, elderly invalid Mrs. Carstairs, spoken to her private nurse. The death of Mrs. Carstairs is extremely opportune for three people - the nephew and nieces of the deceased.

John Joy Bell (1871-1934), known professionally as J. J. Bell, was a Scottish journalist and author, popular for his vibrant short stories. A Thread of Scarlet is a mystery story. In an inn in a remote village, three locals are drinking and discussing the extraordinary events of the day. They all attended a hanging that morning. One of their number had been on the jury which had convicted the murderer. The men are deeply affected by the events of the day....

Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was an English writer of 957 short stories and over 170 novels. He is widely recognized as one of the most prolific writers of his age. The Mind-Readers is a classic detective story of a Scotland Yard detective determined to trap the master criminal who has just executed a remarkable and ingenious emerald heist. The only way to outwit the thief is going to be to read his mind.

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was a New Zealand-born English novelist, famous for his skill at scene setting and vivid plots. He was a best-selling author in the 1920s and 1930s and remains popular to this day. The Staircase tells the story of a house. An old house, which has seen much and knows many things about the ways of humans. In this story the house feels compelled to intervene in the affairs of the inhabitants to prevent an impeding disaster by murdering one of the humans.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was the preeminent figure in late 19th-century detective fiction. A physician by profession, he soon found such popularity as a writer of detective stories that his writing was far more profitable than his medical practice. In The Adventure of the Three Garridebs, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are faced with a very unusual case. A certain Mr. Nathan Garrideb, living a reclusive life in London, has been visited by a Mr. John Garrideb from America.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910) was better known by his pen name, Mark Twain. He is widely recognized as one of America's greatest authors and humorists. A Ghost Story is a classic Twain story. The author skillfully builds up layers of atmosphere and tension as he describes spending the night in a spooky house where chains rattle and terrifying apparitions appear...and then Twain amusingly turns the narrative into humour with a hilarious twist. Brilliant!

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was the preeminent figure in late nineteenth century detective fiction. A physician by profession, he soon found such popularity as a writer of detective stories that his writing was far more profitable than his medical practice. The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone is a Sherlock Holmes mystery in which Holmes is in pursuit of a stolen diamond. By the start of the story, he has already solved every aspect of the case except the one crucial point.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) was an English writer best known for his fictional priest-detective, Father Brown. In The Paradise of Thieves Father Brown is travelling in Italy when he comes across a strange situation. An English family on vacation is in the guidance of a local courier, and the daughter is also flirting with an Italian poet and musician who appears to be something of a lothario. But Father Brown senses that something is not right.

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was a New Zealand-born English novelist and short-story writer. When Charlie Penwin arrives home with a dog, his wife is horrified. Mrs. Penwin agrees to keep the dog only if it is looked after by Blake, the wonderful, talented chauffeur whom she dislikes intensely. Blake and the dog take to each other instantly, but the presence of the dog upsets the equilibrium of the household. Mrs. Blake and Mrs. Penwin hate the dog, as does Mopsa, the family's Sealyham terrier.

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was a New Zealand-born English novelist famous for his skill at scene setting and vivid plots. He was a best-selling author in the 1920s and 1930s and remains popular to this day. The Silver Mask is a multilayered tale of an elderly lady who falls victim to an insidious but dreadfully attractive confidence trickster. Like a fly trapped in a spiderweb, she cannot extricate herself from the clutches of this gorgeously wicked man...and he is so very attractive...so very, dreadfully attractive....

O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), an American writer of outstanding short stories, known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization, and surprise endings.The Clarion Call tells of the chance encounter between two old childhood friends. One, Kernan, is now a burglar who three weeks ago committed his first murder. The other, Woods, is a New York detective. Woods is faced with a terrible dilemma....