Shadows on the Page: My Favorite Ghost Stories

Since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by how some stories manage to fuse the paranormal with the intimate and psychological, creating universes where fear and melancholy are subtly interwoven. These aren’t merely tales of wandering, restless souls in dim corridors; they are narratives in which the inexplicable—sometimes absurd—seep into everyday life, transforming the mundane into something unsettling.

These works have served as both muses and guides in my creative process, leaving their mark on much of my writing. Below, I share five stories that I consider among my favorites in this genre. I’ll do my best to convey the essence and distinctive details of each work without giving away any spoilers.

In The Signal-Man by Charles Dickens, a solitary watchman works at a remote train station that seems suspended between time and space. Each night, he confronts monotony and loneliness while noticing strange omens—sliding shadows and barely audible whispers emerging from the darkness. These phenomena begin to consume him, drawing him into a mysterious series of inexplicable events.

One night, he recounts to the narrator how he saw the ghostly figure of a man waving his arm and covering his face as if issuing a warning. These eerie apparitions appear to be linked to unsettling occurrences at the station.

Dickens’s meticulous description of the gloomy setting and the eerie sounds heightens the sense of fear and bewilderment for both the watchman and the narrator. This atmosphere inspired El Sueño, one of the stories featured in Giraffe Horn and Other Strange Side Effects, where the supernatural subtly intrudes upon everyday life, echoing a similar mood of mystery and anxiety.

In The Fall of the House of Usher, Poe portrays a decaying mansion whose damp walls and crumbling structure mirror the physical and emotional disintegration of its inhabitants. The house, with its moist walls, dark corridors, and the constant creak of aging wood, creates an oppressive atmosphere brimming with impending tragedy.

The narrative follows a visitor who comes to see his childhood friend, Roderick Usher, a man tormented by a mysterious mental illness. During his stay, the visitor uncovers unsettling secrets about the Usher family and their eerie connection to the mansion.

Additionally, the 2023 Netflix miniseries directed by Mike Flanagan reimagines this classic tale for the modern era, capturing the atmospheric and psychological elements of the original while delving deeper into family dynamics and the hidden secrets of the House of Usher.

In his story The GhostlyRental, Henry James offers a measured and subtle vision of the inexplicable. The narrative follows a tenant who moves into an old property and, from day one, begins noticing details that defy logic: doors that open by themselves, unsettling noises in the still of the night, and an ambiance where every shadow takes on a mysterious hue. James’s detailed prose invites readers to scrutinize every gesture and creak, leaving them to wonder whether these phenomena are real or the product of a mind under strain.

The story unfolds in an environment of constant uncertainty, where small, inexplicable events gradually build a sense of unease rather than delivering immediate shocks. This ambiguity, achieved through suggestion rather than overt exposition, keeps the mystery alive until the very end, compelling the reader to question both the tenant’s reality and the nature of the inexplicable occurrences.

This pervasive atmosphere of uncertainty and suspense has notably influenced several of my own paranormal tales in Giraffe Horn and Other Strange Side Effects, where I strive to capture that same blend of the uncanny woven into everyday life.

The Narrative of a Ghost of a Hand is a 19th-century gothic tale by Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. The narrative centers on the Prosser family, who move into a residence known as “Tiled House.” Soon after their arrival, they begin to experience seemingly supernatural phenomena that incite growing unease among them.

As these manifestations intensify, the Prosser family’s fear escalates, eventually compelling them to reconsider their stay in the house. The story is celebrated for its eerie atmosphere and the lingering ambiguity surrounding the supernatural events that unfold within the home.

In The Landlady, Roald Dahl crafts a story that at first appears to offer refuge to a traveler in search of accommodation. The tale follows a young man who, upon arriving at a boarding house, is greeted by a seemingly kind and attentive landlady. However, as the story progresses, unsettling details begin to emerge: an almost obsessive record-keeping of guests, glances that reveal more than they should, and subtle hints in the décor that point to a sinister fate.

Gradually, the initially welcoming atmosphere turns oppressive, transforming what once seemed like a safe haven into a trap of mystery and disquiet. The precise depiction of the landlady’s behavior and the labyrinthine ambiance of the setting leaves the reader questioning whether they have found true refuge or stumbled into a dark enigma. This story notably influenced my own approach in writing La Señora Holmes, which is featured in Giraffe Horn and Other Strange Side Effects.

Each of these stories offers a unique window into the inexplicable, where sensory details and atmosphere take center stage. Have you read any of them? Which of these tales has left the most unsettling impression on you?