Don't Look Now
Summary (from the publisher): Collecting five stories of suspense, mystery and slow, creeping horror, Daphne Du Maurier's Don't Look Now:
John and Laura have come to Venice to try and escape the pain of their young daughter's death. But when they encounter two old women who claim to have second sight, they find that instead of laying their ghosts to rest they become caught up in a train of increasingly strange and violent events. Adapted into a terrifying film starring Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, 'Don't Look Now'.
The four other haunting, evocative stories in this volume also explore deep fears and longings, secrets and desires: 'Not After Midnight', in which a lonely teacher investigates a mysterious American couple; 'A Border Line Case', in which a young woman confronts her father's past and his associations with the IRA; 'The Way of the Cross', in which a party of pilgrims to Jerusalem encounter strange phenomena in the Garden of Gethsemane; and 'The Breakthrough', in which a scientist claims to be able to trap the soul at the point of death.
John and Laura have come to Venice to try and escape the pain of their young daughter's death. But when they encounter two old women who claim to have second sight, they find that instead of laying their ghosts to rest they become caught up in a train of increasingly strange and violent events. Adapted into a terrifying film starring Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, 'Don't Look Now'.
The four other haunting, evocative stories in this volume also explore deep fears and longings, secrets and desires: 'Not After Midnight', in which a lonely teacher investigates a mysterious American couple; 'A Border Line Case', in which a young woman confronts her father's past and his associations with the IRA; 'The Way of the Cross', in which a party of pilgrims to Jerusalem encounter strange phenomena in the Garden of Gethsemane; and 'The Breakthrough', in which a scientist claims to be able to trap the soul at the point of death.
Review: This collection of five short stories is an excellent collection of horror and suspense. The titular story is arguably the most horrifying with the most shocking ending, but all five stories slowly build tension and a building sense of unease. Themes include travel, vacations gone wrong, lost family members, unlikely connections, and sudden and often tragic accidents.
As with any collection of short stories, it is difficult to write a cohesive review that sums them all up. My least favorite story, in part because it seemed out of place with the eerie tone of the others, was "The Way of the Cross" about a British tour group in Jerusalem who undergo unfortunate accidents and revelations. Unlike the other stories, it's far less gothic horror and there is far less dramatic tension built over the course of the story. Additionally, it doesn't focus in on one main character, but instead covers a large group, and it was somewhat difficult to learn so many characters for such a relatively short number of pages.
However, I enjoyed the other four stories immensely. Du Maurier's ability to create a sinister tone and hint at the supernatural in very believable ways is clearly felt in all of the stories. Du Maurier is a master at creating atmospheric fiction and characters who are fully enveloped, and sometimes consumed, by the settings they find themselves in. An excellent set of short stories that I was sad to finish.
Stars: 4
Related Titles:
- My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
- Mary Anne by Daphne du Maurier
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