A Haunting Tale

A Short Ghost Story

By: Bill Stokes

Narrated by: Jeff Hays

Length: 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Do you believe in ghosts? No? How about you visit this house and then decide?

There is a haunted house up there that squats like a huge wooden toad behind a thick grove of pine trees on the end of a dead end road. Maybe once it was painted, but now it has a gray cadaver-like complexion, and its siding is sagged and splintered as if the devil had been poking at it with his pitchfork. Its windows are streaked and stained, and trying to see through them from the outside is like trying to look a skull in the eye.

If this doesn't get you to believe in the supernatural, listen to the rest of this short story and you will believe; just like I did!

Warning: Don't listen to this story if you have a weak heart or are subject to night terrors or nightmares! Bill Stokes richly tells the tale of the haunted house in vivid and almost poetic words; you cannot help but be sucked in. Listen if you dare!

©1973 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal (P)2016 Paul Stokes

Quick and spooky

The author and narrator combine to give a quick and spooky tale of a haunted house. A great Halloween listen for any age. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

An excellent campfire story!

The house has stood empty for some time. It’s fallen into a disreputable state. Some say it’s haunted. The rational say that’s not possible, that it’s only silly ghost stories. Our main character takes the dare. Will his mind be changed about ghosts?

This story was deliciously spooky. It is told in both a quaint and lyrical manner, being a straight-forward ghost story peppered with plenty of appropriately creepy imagery. Our main character isn’t convinced this old, rundown house is haunted. On a very cold, snowy night, he ends up stuck at the house with a sleeping bag.

Suspense builds as the character becomes aware of the oddities of the house, the strange sounds (or lack of the expected ones), and, eventually, something more. I really loved that this story didn’t rely of shock and gore; rather, the tale titillated with hints of something just beyond our accepted norm. Plus, there’s bats. Stories always get a bonus point if there’s bats.

In my opinion, this tale is fit for kids and adults alike. I can see reading it at a campfire during Scary Story time or having it available for kids at sleep overs. It’s a well-wrought story that I found very delightful.

Narration: Jeff Hays gave a wonderful performance, as always. His voice contained just a hint of creepy when describing the house. I also liked how he was able to contain a hint of skepticism at the beginning of the story, as the main character, and how that changed as the tale went on.

A Quick Scare

I am definitely not one to deliberately spend the night at a haunted house. But listening to someone else do it is entertaining.

SHORT SHORT HAUNTING

I found this to be to short, footsteps on the ceiling!!! Sounds like it could have potential but needs to be longer leaves a lot to the imagination..
I received this free of charge for an honest review from the author or narrator.

Deliciously creepy!

If you could sum up A Haunting Tale in three words, what would they be?

Terrifying Ghost Story

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character, unnamed, is just as crazy terrified as I would have been in this situation.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Hays’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, quality seems to be part for the course for Hays.

If you could rename A Haunting Tale, what would you call it?

In an effort to not be trite, I'll not name Goosebumps (ok, I named it, but really, I couldn't help it!). In all seriousness, though, "hair raising, creepshow, chiller" could ALL have been possible titles. In eleven minutes, the author has managed to give us all the shivers. There is real talent in that.

Any additional comments?

I received a promotional copy of this audiobook, after purchasing and reading the ebook. My opinion remains the same, that this story is disturbing on a soul deep level. It's a tale to be told around a campfire, or around a ouija board in a haunted house. Beautifully disturbing, in a way that is easy to visualize. Stokes has mastery of the good scare.

A Terrific Story and Storyteller

A HAUNTING TALE by Bill Stokes was so so so good! He set the scene perfectly. The story was indeed almost poetic. He puts the listener in the story and you can picture it perfectly. This was a fantastic short ghost story and I hope to hear more from this exciting author.

Jeff Hays performance was outstanding. His voice was perfect for this story. Another terrific storyteller whom paired with the author made this a hit. Loved it.

“This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobookboom”

very scary

it would be very scary to be alone and hear noise I would be terrified. but then I am a chicken. narrator was great very short I received this book from the publisher, author and or narrator for a honest review and unbiased option via audio book boom dot com

Very well told tale

If you could sum up A Haunting Tale in three words, what would they be?

Great haunting atmosphere.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Haunting Tale?

The narrator spends the night in the haunted house and his sleep is interrupted by a nocturnal visitor that makes a ghost believer out of him.

Which scene was your favorite?

I thought the opening description of the house was well written and masterfully narrated in such a way as to set the mood.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just wish it was a little longer with more of a payoff or twist at the end.

Any additional comments?

I received this audio book free from the author, narrator, or publisher for free.

A Much Too Brief Exercise in Visual Spookiness

Would you consider the audio edition of A Haunting Tale to be better than the print version?

Just listened haven't read

Any additional comments?

Overall 5

Performance 5

Story 5

"A Much Too Brief Exercise in Visual Spookiness"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would. It's very short but memorable for the images being conjured by the writing of Mr. Stokes and the aural interpretation of one of my all time favorite voice talents - Jeff Hays


What did you like best about this story?

The visual impact. You are made to see the images of creepiness. lol


What about Jeff Hays’s performance did you like?

Jeff Hays is one of the most gifted talents in the audio book industry. Perfect for the off the wall work he chooses to work on. Hell, he's just spooky in his own right. lol
I've enjoyed a lot of his work since rediscovering the fantasy genre at Audible.


Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The "foot steps" moved me!!!


Any additional comments?

This is a very short "Halloween time of the year" listen. It was written many years ago and stands the test of time. I've recently discovered the wonderful writings / listens of Bill Stokes.

I was gifted a copy of A Haunting Tale at no charge. Take a brief time out and give it a listen. Enjoy!!

I'm happy to give this two ears perked up!

Spooky Book

Any additional comments?

This was a great book!! The author did a great job setting the scene and writing the book. The narrator did a great job bringing the story and characters to life. This would be a great short story for anyone who loves spooky stories.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.