The Story

‘Madam Crowl’s Ghost’ pulls you into Applewale House, where a new governess, Miss Barlow, arrives for a seemingly simple job. But the children are strangely fearful, especially of a particular bedroom. Through whispers and old servants' tales, she learns of the house's former mistress, the cruel and bedridden Madam Crowl. The story suggests her wicked spirit might still be clinging to the place, but the real horror often lies in the memories of the living and the secrets they keep.

‘The Dead Sexton’ shifts to the village of Golden Friars. Here, we meet the miserly and unpleasant sexton, Toby Crooke, who has a nasty feud with a local lawyer, Mr. Longcluse. After a public threat, Toby is found drowned in the moorland well. The village is quick to call it an accident or suicide, but the lawyer’s strange behavior and a series of eerie sightings of a drowned figure near the churchyard suggest something far more sinister is at work.

Why You Should Read It

Le Fanu is a master of what I call ‘quiet horror.’ He doesn’t rely on gore or monsters jumping out of closets. Instead, he builds a world where the setting itself feels haunted. The drafty manor houses, the foggy churchyards, the gossip in the village pub—it all feeds a deep sense of unease. His ghosts are often tied to very human crimes: greed, cruelty, and revenge. You end up being just as scared of the bad people as you are of the specters. Reading these stories feels like uncovering old, unsettling local legends. The fear settles in slowly, and it stays with you.

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for anyone who loves classic, atmospheric horror. If you’re a fan of M.R. James or early Edgar Allan Poe, you’ll see Le Fanu as a brilliant bridge between them. It’s perfect for a dark and stormy night, or for readers who prefer their scares psychological and steeped in gothic mood over bloody action. Just be prepared to side-eye dark corners of your own home for a little while after you finish.