Abbot's Keep

A Ghost Story

By: Benedict Ashforth

Narrated by: Ric Jerrom

Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

"Brother, do not try to follow me once you have read this. No good can come of it..." When Clifford Fox QC receives a desperate letter from his estranged younger brother, Simon, he departs his comfortable Yorkshire home to locate him. The letter outlines the harrowing events that have led Simon to the very edge of sanity.

Following a stint at the Brentwell Rehabilitation Unit, failed architect and recovering alcoholic Simon is invited by an old school-friend to Abbot's Keep - a Tudor residence, nestled deep in remote Berkshire countryside. Soon after arriving, he is left to explore the neighboring monastery ruins and discover the house's dark history. But the more he learns, the more certain he becomes that he is not alone at Abbot's Keep, and that nothing is as it seems. But can he stop the house's medieval past repeating itself one final time? And can his brother find him before it's too late?

©2014 Patrick O'Neill (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Abbot’s Keep is refreshing a hell. Finally, a ghost story that reminds you why the basement is so terrifying!" (Brett McNeill of Rue Morgue Magazine)

"Ashforth does Edgar Allen Poe and Bram Stoker proud delivering a solid contribution to the literary movement. It is time that the ghost story made a comeback. With writers like Benedict Ashforth writing Abbot’s Keep, a revival just might be at hand." (Matthew J. Barbour of Horror Novel Reviews)

"A really entertaining read with a delightful frisson of fear." (Simon Ball of Horror Hothouse)

Creepy as hell.

Well-written, unsettling horror story. Ric Jerrom is an excellent narrator... his voice conveyed the horror so perfectly. It gave me chills!

Typically Ghost Story

I enjoyed the readers voice. It matched well with the time and location of the story. Although there was nothing spectacular about the story, it was a solid piece.

💥a blast... enjoyable for every single minute

I truly applaud this one simply for the fact that it hit all the requirements of a novella. It's rare to me, in truth not very well read... that a short story get 2 suck you in! A drunken brother... another that's used 2 helping his younger brother. What can he do? However now just out of rehab an old friend has chosen to step-up! As he stays in The Keep, things go from having a safe space to come back to the world. Then quickly become a reality he is not at all ready for. Does DNA make one guilty for its sins? Don't go looking for them no matter what you do. the Foxes are out there for the hunt. Are they the predators or the prey & to whom?

Very Good Ghost Story

A very good ghost story and it was well performed. It was reminiscent of the old Tales From the Crypt comics.

reader gets too dramatic

good story and generally good reader, but he descends into bathetic buffoonery at dramatic points, ruining the flow. too much the ham.

Echoes of Poe

I've listened to this 3x in the last month and still not tired of it. As I said above, this story is very Poe-like in its words, themes, and construction. An excellent narrator makes this story even better. LOVED IT!

Abbott's Keep

I'm not sure if this book has some sort of thing that I could possibly find to make me enjoy it more. I just didn't love it.

GREAT GOTHIC HORROR

this is my second story by Benedict Ashforth. cant wait to start the next!

An interesting ghost story

Great narration. Epilogue muddied the waters for me. Unsure of the point it was making but that could just be me.

Good

Definitely a good ghost story but what I didn’t enjoy was the main character as he was such a truly horrible person. And I really hate it when something bad happens to animals in that he story. So unnecessary. Minus all the tragic deaths is have given it 5 stars for being a good old fashioned ghost tale.