Showing results by author "R. M." in All Categories

This is a story from the Classic Ghost Stories collection.

Robert Michael Ballantyne was one of the most popular adventure story writers during Victoria's reign. He believed that boys should grow up taking risks, and his hero, Martin Rattler, certainly has a thrilling time in this tale. Aunt Dorothy Grumbit thinks him a very bad boy, but Martin possesses all the manly virtues that one expects from a Ballantyne hero, and the story has all the traditional elements of a rollicking yarn: jolly jack tars, pirates, shipwreck, travel up the Amazon, diamond mines and capture by savage tribes.

When Sidney Grice journeys to Yorkshire to solve a mysterious death, March Middleton, his ward, is left to her own devices in a London swarming with danger and vice. Curiosity, as we know, has a dark edge. So when an intriguing letter leads March to the gates of the palatial Saturn Villa and into the nightmarish world of her long-lost uncle, it could be the beginning of an end for all.

As with all the Crimzon and Clover tales, this is a short story of about 25 standard book pages. In this episode, Crimzon and Clover have settled in the mountains of Kar, where King Amothy rules the men, and tribes of savage Karsithian giants roam the peaks. To enlarge their hoard our beloved dragon and his rider have started taking sacks of kingdom jewels for odd jobs here and there. Jobs such as searching out lost trade ships and keeping the Karsithian fighters from harassing the good people of the realm. Things get out of hand after some dwarven miners in Crimzon's employ are killed for ...

Clover gets caught up in a fine mess of treachery and frigid betrayal in this exciting short story about a lucky girl who demands respect from all who know her.

A mournful cry, a well that echoes the past, and an invitation to remember the forgotten. In Wailing Well , M. R. James crafts a haunting tale of mystery and spectral terror, where the quiet of a rural landscape is disturbed by a cry from the past—an eerie wail that resonates through time. As James unearths the secrets buried in the forgotten well, he masterfully builds a sense of creeping dread and inevitable doom, reminding us that some things—once heard—can never be forgotten.

Clover is still the Royal Suzerain's captive and he isn't treating her well. What happens when Crimzon hears her call? What happens when he finds the powerful teardrop his mother cried for him being used for evil? Everyone in Ice Locke is about to learn a valuable lesson. DONT MESS WITH A GIRL WITH A DRAGON!

The ruler of the small kingdom of Mythka has stolen some gold from the dwarven mines Crimzon & Clover watch over for King Amothy. It isn't wise to mess with a girl with a dragon, especially Clover, who decides that a one on one showdown between her and the thief king himself, in his own arena, is the best way to handle things. Don't miss this 25 page short story that is #6 in the Crimzon & Clover Short Story Series. **NOTE: The eight stories are available separately, or as an omnibus edition, in paperback and Kindle versions. After these 8 short stories, Crimzon and Clover's tale isn't over...

After racing off to save a pair of poisoned orphans, Clover soon learns that she, and her dragon Crimzon, might have been duped. Is the round old wizard who summoned her what he seems? Or did he lure them into his trap? Excitement and magic await in this second installment of the Crimson & Clover short story series.

Unravel the Mystery of the Blackwood Curse! Step into the spine-chilling world of The Blackwood Curse, a gripping tale that blends folklore, suspense, and the haunting whispers of a village on the brink of terror. In the idyllic English village of Warblington, tradition collides with the uncanny when the peaceful life is shattered by the inexplicable death of a beloved librarian, Miss Eleanor Ainsworth. With no clear cause of death and peculiar marks on her neck, the local police find themselves at a loss. Enter Professor Karl Murphy, a retired folklore expert, whose knowledge of myth and ...

[In a previous John Rehurt adventure, "Agent Red", I described what could happen if the American President had become a Russian asset, allowing the KGB to control American policy. This story got me feedback from my US readership, so I thought it would only be fair to have a British-themed exploration.] In "Traitors At The Top," retired covert operative John Rehurt finds solace in the comfort of his armchair and an ancient biography, reflecting on the weight of history and his own life experiences. As he immerses himself in tales of valour and betrayal, the tranquillity of his apartment is ...

In the tranquil coastal town of Emsworth, the morning sun glinted off the calm waters, casting a serene glow over the quaint cottages that lined the harbour. Yet beneath this picturesque façade lay the stirring currents of disquiet. John Rehurt, a man with a past steeped in intrigue and danger, might have been content to enjoy his retirement, taking long strolls along the shoreline. But fate had other plans. As the familiar scent of the sea mingled with the aroma of baked bread from the local bakery, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows of his memories. Mrs. Jenkins, his long-time ...

In the depths of space, beneath the watchful gaze of distant stars, lies a moon shrouded in mystery and desolation—Luna Secura. It is a world where the echoes of an ancient civilization linger just beneath the surface, waiting for the touch of curiosity to awaken its secrets. A diverse team of explorers, driven by ambition and the insatiable thirst for knowledge, embarks on a mission to unearth the past. Led by the brilliant Dr. Elara Castillo and accompanied by a linguist, an engineer, and a biologist, this group seems prepared for anything. Yet, as they dig deeper into the dusty ...

If, like me, you grew up with Dr Terror's House of Horrors, Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected and Hammer’s House of Horror and were later delighted at Graham Duff and Steve Coogan’s 2001 tribute, Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible, then this collection of short stories will feel familiar. A compendium of cautionary tales for reading on a dark winter’s night. In the heart of London, where the vibrant pulse of life meets the shadows of history, lies a realm where the ordinary intertwines with the extraordinary. Here in Stewart’s Antiquarian showroom, our stories of terror unfold—...

Book Two (Reluctant Deception), and Book Three (Perilous Defiance), are Now Available! In the realm of fantasy, where imagination knows no bounds, there lies a time travel romance series that promises to captivate readers and transport them to a world brimming with magic, adventure, and intrigue. Built upon the meticulous world-building established in the million-selling The Wardstone Trilogy and featuring new, well-developed characters, the Devious Arcana series invites readers on an epic journey where heroism is tested, destinies unfold, and the boundaries between good and evil are ...

My name is Rowan Gant. I'm just an average guy...well, except for the fact that I'm a witch. That last part is the reason I'm the go-to guy for the local cops whenever a murder is a little beyond the pale, and they need a consultant with knowledge of the occult. I didn't actually want the job, but apparently the job wanted me.

Decades ago, Masha hid under a table and watched her parents die. Now, with war in the streets and chaos in the government, she can at last put the ultimate piece of her revenge into action. But it will involve murder, deception, and cunning on an unprecedented scale, and she's no longer as certain as she once was that she can pull this off. In the meantime, behind the barricades, the rest of the crew is trying desperately to survive as the Svodrani System government brings its full weight to bear. And surviving a war against the entire System might be a step too far, even for them.…

His name is Landon Hamilton, but to the angels and demons wrestling for control of our world he’s known simply as ‘diuscrucis’. He is the balancer, the great equalizer, a once mortal and former god who toes the line between good and evil to prevent the end of days...

An Episode of Cathedral History is one of M. R. James's most quietly chilling tales—a masterwork of subtle horror, antiquarian mystery, and creeping dread. Behind the stone walls of a venerable English cathedral, the past stirs with a presence that should have remained undisturbed. In this haunting narrative, the mundane slips imperceptibly into the macabre. A scholar's inquiry unlocks a forgotten secret; shadows lengthen; and something long sealed away begins to wake.

Embrace the Change for a Greener Tomorrow You wake up one morning to an unusually warm breeze, and for a moment, you pause. The signs of climate change seem to be all around you, from the erratic weather patterns to the growing chatter in your community about sustainability. You’re not alone in this feeling; many of us grapple with the pressing realities of our changing environment. This book is here to help you make sense of it all. As you read on, you’ll not only discover the vital facts about climate change but also the practical steps you can take to make a meaningful difference. ...