Shivers: An Anthology of Canadian Ghost Stories

J.B. Snelson is a librarian, bibliographer, and (antiquarian) bookstore
owner in Wolfville.

About half the stories in this excellent collection are new; the others
have been previously published.

The first tale, by L.M. Montgomery, is a rather grizzly ghost
story—yes, there are unexpected dimensions to the author of the Anne
books. Rudy Kremberg’s story—a hockey tale not from the nhl but from
hell itself—is terrifying, very good, and obviously Canadian. My
favorite in the collection—a story less obviously Canadian—is
Indian-born Rohinton Mistry’s “The Ghost of Firozsha Baag.”
Authors of other tales include Charles G.D. Roberts, Elaine Dridger,
Garfield Reeves-Stevens, and Gail Herbert.

Vincent Starrett’s story, “Coffins for Two” is about a couple of
chaps who murder each other (or do they commit joint suicide?) in London
over a woman neither has seen in better than 30 years; they never lose
their cheerfulness throughout the whole affair. It must be one of the
most delightful ghost stories written anywhere. Although there is no
“Canadian content” in it (Starrett was born in Toronto but spent
most of his life in Chicago), the tale is worth more than the price of
the book by itself.

A great collection to introduce Canadian ghosts to a wider audience.
Ioannou and Missen are to be commended.