The collection opens with Don’t Look Now, the basis for Nicolas Roeg’s classic film, but the story is so wonderfully constructed that it not only comes out from under the shadow of that iconic movie, it eclipses it. Things happen to DuMaurier characters, things that have the power to change their lives and not always for the best. The stories here feature psychic dwarves, lost children, drowned holidaymakers, terrorists and the scientific search for life after death. Here Du Maurier has written five stories, which could all be built upon to become novels in their own right such is the detail of plot and setting. This is not always the case in short story collections, which tend to focus more on mood and character. The stories in Don’t Look Now are packed full of action. I am so glad that I picked this collection up, as it is full of suspenseful, perfectly structured stories that veer between thriller, horror and sci-fi. On a trip to the library with the kids the other week, I spotted the Penguin Modern Classics edition of Don’t Look Now and Other Stories and was intrigued. What I did not know is that Du Maurier is a really terrific short story writer. I have always meant to read more of her work so this week was a great opportunity to explore further. I saw and loved the movie years ago and recently read and loved the book. Like most people, my knowledge of Du Maurier is limited to Rebecca. This week Ali over at HeavenAli is hosting a Daphne Du Maurier Reading Week.
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