Muckross Abbey and Other Stories

January 2, 2023
Ghosts haunt this smart if repetitive collection from Murray (The Human Zoo). In “Apartment 4D,” a highlight, the 20-something narrator becomes obsessed with the strange and possibly spectral behavior of a single mother and daughter who live down the hall from her. The equally strong “Remote Control” involves a vacationing man and his wife, who are irked by the TV in their room, which switches on every night at two a.m. Here and elsewhere, a ghost ends up shaping the proceedings. Even the dialogue-driven “First Cause,” which has a less paranormal vibe than the others and mainly involves a couple’s argument about their unhappiness, introduces a ghost. Over time, unfortunately, the formula loses its impact. After the protagonist of “The Third Boy” gets locked out of her home, for instance, it’s not hard to suspect that the unsettling neighbor who takes her in may not be fully human. Still, on their own, Murray’s gothic stories pulsate with ornate prose (“The house was so silent that one understood how quiet and still could be synonyms”). Each story has plenty of spookiness and intelligence, though with diminishing returns.

June 10, 2024

Murray follows up her novel The Human Zoo with a collection of atmospheric literary ghost stories featuring contemporary twists on past gothic tropes. Listeners familiar with gothic literature will recognize classic gothic elements sprinkled throughout, drawing similarities to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, and the works of M.R. James, Mary Shelley, and Edith Wharton. Although the stories are set in the current day, they still manage to feel out of time owing to Murray's mastery of the gothic ambiance. References to modern technology, such as telephones and televisions, reel listeners back to the contemporary settings, reminding listeners that ghosts are not all in the past. Kitty Kelly narrates using multiple accents, including English, Australian, and Irish, adding to the kaleidoscopic range of voices throughout the collection. Kelly's cadence fits wonderfully with the atmosphere of moodiness and gloom, evoking a sense of unease and dread. VERDICT This collection of stories is eerie enough to seep into one's bones, but listeners looking for truly horrific ghost stories might want to seek out scarier fare. Recommended for those who enjoy gothic literature and detailed settings and are open to ambiguous endings.--Meghan Bouffard

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