The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories by R. David Fulcher is an anthology of psychological horror. Not the gruesome, gory type, but a selection of supernatural drama, dark fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, and psychological thrillers with most serving up an unexpected twist. Some stories take you to another dimension like “The Lighthouse at Montauk Point” that seems to be grounded in the life of a criminal on the run, only to learn he has escaped into the supernatural.
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For this review, I’ll name my three favorites. The first is “The Shamblers,” a story of boys growing up in the 80s who enjoyed taunting the elderly men in their community. The backstory sets things up perfectly. Kids that don’t scare easily, bike riding, the woods, slingshots, and old men shambling along like easy targets. Of course, since I don’t include spoilers, I won’t say more, except that if you enjoy the original Twilight Zone, you won’t want to miss this one.
Taking the number 2 spot on my list of favorites is “Drawing the Ace.” This story centers on an unwary traveler by the name of Phil Stevens. He’s a regular everyday guy who hopes to get some shut-eye on a long flight. During the flight, a second passenger takes the seat beside him and wakes him up. This chatty guy talks about his days as a pilot in WWII. Phil wonders about the guy. He looks to be middle-aged, yet he talks about fighting the Japs and the Krauts in the air. He says, “…the books are full of statistics about how this side had so many of these planes and that side had so many of these planes, but any pilot out there would have told you it was the man and not the machine.” For Phil, this statement becomes very real and carries with it a moral to the story with an unexpected twist.
My third favorite is a dark fantasy called “The Faerie Lights.” The best way I can describe this one is Gulliver’s Travels gone wrong. Tiny ethereal beings with Elvin features and gossamer wings bring a parched traveler tiny goblets of wine made from clove and dandelion. All seems well but the sun is setting and the traveler finds himself in a dreamlike state as these tiny beings tug him along by his feet taking him to…. Like I said, no spoilers, but if you enjoy Tales from the Crypt, this one is for you.
And I must give an honorable mention “Boogeyman.” It includes a boy, bedtime, and the monster in the closet. This is another twilight-zone-worthy story with a macabre end that I give a thumbs up.
R. David Fulcher’s story concepts are original and enjoyable. He does a good job of crafting enough backstory to pull the reader in. Several of the stories are set against a backdrop of growing up in the 80s.If you enjoy psychological thrillers without gore, or a fan of the original Twilight Zone, then you’ll enjoy The Lighthouse at Montauk Point and Other Stories thoroughly. In my opinion, the writing could be a little tighter and less passive, but the stories are entertaining and worth a read. Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
As Book Hookup, I am a longtime book reviewer, and I received this book as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. This review is posted in collaboration with Booktasters. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.
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