Open Grave: The Book of Horror

I have a rather ambivalent relationship with Gothic writing.  I've read my share (and continue to do so), but I seem to have difficulty finding authors that are able to create an engaging tale without reverting to unbearably verbose dialogue.  So it was with some expectation of tedium that I began reading "Open Grave: The Book of Horror" by Jeani Rector.  

I was pleasantly surprised.

The book is effectively split in two: the first half short stories, the second a novella.  I found the short stories engaging -- the consistent pace and economical writing made them very memorable, and I must say the author is obviously unafraid of taking risks in the Gothic genre (as can be seen in "The Burial", which is based on Native American rituals).

Mid way through the book begins the novella "Open Grave", and here is where the author really shines -- motivations are explored, and characters developed.  I found every aspect to be memorable, and in fact wished it were longer -- always a good sign.  The author has a talent for unpredictable plot twists, and uses this skill to great advantage.  Not much surprises me, but I found the novella's ending particularly surprising -- this is what I expect from the Gothic genre.

I can't quite think of an author that I would compare these stories to, and as such I believe the author speaks with an original voice.  For any fan of horror or Gothic writing, I highly recommend this book.