Book Review - Kate Mosse short stories

I enjoyed reading Kate Mosse's collection of short stories (The Mistletoe Bridge & Other Haunting Tales). Christmas always brings out the ghost stories on TV and I have been saving this book for now. The collection features many haunted houses and includes one where a Christmas bride hides in a trunk and is never found (game of hide and seek); in another a man who rows the dead to the other side, and then there's the woman who's husband died at sea and she sees his ghost in Chichester Cathedral when he comes to say sorry.

Some of the stories are taken from myths and stories Mosse has read and was drawn to. A few were written before she wrote her famous trilogy, some were commissioned and some appeared in women's magazines. They span time from the early 1900's to the present day and all but one story takes place in Europe. Included in the seventeen stories is a play, Syrinx, which was commissioned by Sandi Toksvig as part of a series for live theatre on TV.

There is an author's note about each story, where it came from or the idea around it. A nice collection to curl up with by a fire.

On another note I was watching Midsomer Murders last night (not a place you want to live in!). I found it amusing that the deaths were all cheese related - one was killed by a giant cheese, one with cheese wire and another with a cheese probe. The final two were trodden on by the dairy cows (one was hit with a spade first). What I like about these rather amusing stories is the plot and the red herrings. I find them fascinating and helpful - sort of updated Agatha Christie's. Entertaining without be too taxing. I have to admit I rather enjoyed it.