The Statues Have Eyes in Cast a Cold Eye

There is nothing like a classic ghost story. The kind of story that you tell around a campfire or late at night is something all too rare these days. These days stories and, in particular, movies, have to be gross and lots of spurting blood. There's also something to be said for stories that leave things to your imagination and develop characters and then put them in situations that put you at the edge of your seat.

There is also something about a novella. They are often the bastard step-children of the literary world. They are not long enough to be novels and they are too long to be published anywhere that publishes short stories. However, if you spend time reading novellas, it can be a pleasureable experience. You get to read a full story, with fully developed characters, and yet it isn't quite the time investment of a novel.

The novella by William Shunn and Derryl Murphy "Cast a Cold Eye" is a classic ghost story likely to give you a few chills, a few thrills, but is only long enough to give yo a taste of the characters and, thus, leave you wanting more. In fact, if I had one complaint about the book is that it is too short. I wanted more.

The story is a simple one. Luke Bryant lost his parents in the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918. Since then he has been living with his aunt and uncle. Is is 1921 and he is just about to transform from childhood to adulthood. However, he has not yet come to terms with the death of his parents. He is constantly getting into trouble and opening his mouth and saying the wrong things at the wrong times.

Into his life, suddenly, comes a woman named Annabelle Tupper. She is a photographer who drives a colorful truck. She wears a big floppy hat, and has one eye that appears totally black - the result of an accident with her chemicals. She takes standard portraits, but she also takes something called "spirit photographs." Is she for real, or is she a fraud?

Luke has a secret too. You see, when he enters a graveyard, the statues and figures in there seem to open their eyes and follow him. It's been happening since his parents died and he doesn't want it to happen. Becoming the apprentice of a woman who dabbles in spirits doesn't seem like something he should be doing.

The story starts out creepy and introduces Luke in the midst of a foot-chase. Yes, he's gotten himself in trouble again. Then, slowly, more and more of Luke's personality is revealed. Is he just a whiny, petulant teen, or is there something more lurking beneath the surface? We soon find out.

The entire feel of the time in which this book is set is captured amazingly well. There are no misplaced phrases or words to take you out of the story or make you disbelieve you are in 1920s Nebraska. It is also interesting that much of the story depends on something that much of the world seems to have forgotten - the Spanish Flu outbreak.

I would hesitate to call this an outright horror story. However, there is a feeling of "gothic" horror here. There is an all-encompassing creepiness throughout this story, up until the ending.

If there are two complaints I could add it would be that the ending seems to wrap things up a little too quickly and neatly. However, the story spends a lot of time earning that ending. It may not be as satisfying as some other options, but it manages to work fairly well here. I guess, really, the problem I have is that it endede when it did at all. This is a character that needs to be brought back. He has more adventures in him and I hope that Murphy and Shunn decide to collaborate again and maybe expand the adventures of Luke Bryant.

Even the story of how this novella came to be is interesting. It was Murphy who had the photography background. He had the intial idea, but turned to Shunn help flesh out the idea and turn it into the novella here.

All in all, "Cast a Cold Eye" is a very good thriller, coming-of-age story and an above average ghost tale. It has interesting, believable characters. It has a well-written and described setting. All of that adds up to a very good story.

"Cast a Cold Eye" is currently available for purchase online at PS Publishing. The run is limited, so get there fast and check out Luke and his adventures with statuary that stares back. If you love good stories, and creepy stories, then you'll love this one.