Piers Haggard

Explores the folk horror phenomenon and its culturally specific manifestations in international horror, from its first wave in the 1970s to today.

Set in London and Cornwall from World War II to the present, The Shell Seekers tells the story of the Keeling family, and of the passions and heartbreak that have held them together for three generations. The family centres around Penelope, and it is her love, courage, and sense of values that determine the course of all their lives. One of Penelope's most treasured possessions is The Shell Seekers, which her father painted and left her as a remembrance...

Master of the moor: As a boy, Stephen Whalby took to his beloved moor to escape trouble at home. Trouble follows him there as an adult, however, when women's bodies begin turning up among the rocks, heather, and bogs. Stephen finds no refuge when D.I. Manciple--a rude outsider, unwelcome in the village of Vangmoor--targets him as the prime suspect. Vanity dies hard: In the town of Salstead, the lives of two friends seem to take different trajectories....

Callan is a brooding, conscience-stricken assassin for a shadowy British intelligence service so secret it doesn't have a name. With the Cold War grinding on, agents from the East and West engage in elaborate deceptions, both sides seeking temporary advantage in an endless struggle. Callan's sharp eyes, steely will, and steady hand with a gun make him a valuable asset to his superior, Hunter. In a world where men and women serve only as means to another's...

The changeling: Beatrice-Joanna is betrothed to one man, but loves another. She hires her father's servant to kill her betrothed, but is then horrified at what she has done. The apple cart: The king must match wits with an unruly mistress and a cabinet wanting a constitutional monarchy. Caesar and Claretta: The story of Mussolini and his lover, Claretta Petacci on their last night together. The philanthropist: A circle of friends talks of unimportant...