Three macabre tales unfold in this first volume, with time-honoured protagonists; Death, remorseless & implacable, The Boogeyman, wicked & depraved, beyond redemption.........and an incarcerated Demonic Spirit, a satanic emanation from the bowels of Hell! All, in their own inimitable way, determined to cause chaos and consternation, where once only peace and serenity prevailed. But they did not wager on the unquenchable courage of children and on this occasion at least, their dastardly designs may well be foiled?! The first tale - A Dance with Death; is about a boy who, whilst serving on the altar at a funeral, notices Death standing in the corner, presumably in attendance for the person who has recently expired, or maybe not? The young boy grows up and at various points in his life encounters death once again, but each successive meeting seems to bring Death closer to him and the encounters become more personal, until the inevitable conclusion. Death is inescapable of course and no one can know their appointed hour, but life is surely for living and there is everything to live for! The second tale - The Jack in the Armoire; is about a precocious little girl called Tilly and her encounter with a demon in her wardrobe! The wardrobe is an antique Armoire, recently purchased on Ebay, by her mother, and it conceals a secret that Tilly soon discovers, and which causes her a great deal of distress, over the coming nights. This story suggests that curiosity is a wonderful thing but, once in a while, it is better to remain incurious, lest you let the jack out of the box! The third tale - The Solitary Tree; interlaces several stories as it builds up towards a denouement between the hero, Arthur Hastings and the villain, 'Black Sam the bogeyman who never grows old'. Black because his heart is impenetrable black, lacking any empathy toward human-kind and harbouring down right enmity towards children. The eponymous tree, disfigured and isolated due to its sinister past, plays a key role in the disappearance of several children, over the course of time, as it provides a gateway to Sam's dark domain. When young Arthur Hastings finds himself there, he must summon all his courage to confront and escape the clutches of this black hearted villain! For fear and courage are inextricably bound and it is ok to be afraid, sometimes. How you face up to that fear, may well be the making of you! The three stories may be read in isolation or, for the emboldened amongst you, over successive nights, preferably after dark, by a wanning moon, with a fierce wind, wailing like a banshee and an incessant rain, pelting vigorously against your window pane, compelling you to look up and check that no one, or no thing, lurks in the shadows, outside! I hope readers and listeners of all ages enjoy these curious tales and if you are awoken in the depths of night, by a strange, unholy noise or ethereal light, there is one sure way to banish all ghosts, demons and preternatural agencies from sight ........do as I do, turn on all the lights!