I've enjoyed some of Oates' work, while others left me cold - she's prolific and varied, so it's hard to say. But this one sounds right up my alley!

Later: OK, some of the stories worked well for me, others not so much. Among my favorites:

"The Doll-Master", in which the narrator describes his childhood fascination with dolls, leading to a horrific (if, for me, not terribly surprising) denouement.

"Equatorial," a very vague-unease-inducing story of a couple with... issues; reminded me of some of Ray Bradbury's darker couples-on-a-trip-find-how-bad-things-really-are tales.

"Big Momma" is about a neglected and unhappy child who finds a connection with an unusual family - only to learn what part she really plays in their plans. Oddly poignant given the horrific details.

"Mystery, Inc." is great fun, with lots of references to New England locations and thinly-disguised versions of actual (often, alas, defunct) bookstores. The premise: the narrator is attempting to take over every independent bookstore he can - but has he met his match in his latest target?

The book will be on its way to BCer perryfran in California in exchange for Picnic at Hanging Rock. Enjoy!

Received today. Thanks for sending this wishlist book!

I really enjoyed this collection of stories from Oates. Although to me the stories were not really tales of terror as the title implies, they were all well written suspense stories that kept me busily turning the pages. The stories all had some sort of twist at the end but I really could see most of them coming. Even with this, I thought the collection was a superior group of well-paced stories in the Ray Bradbury vein. I saw at the back of the book that most of these were originally published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine as late as 2016. I didn't realize that this was still being published. I used to read this magazine along with Alfred Hitchcock's mystery magazine back in the 70s and always enjoyed the stories presented there.

Two of the stories were more terrifying than the others:
"The Doll-Master": About a boy who likes to collect dolls. These dolls are "found" dolls that he collects through the years as he grows older and keeps in a stall in the barn. The story ends with a very unsettling conclusion but it was somewhat easy to see what was coming.

"Big Momma": This one's about a girl who is having a hard time adjusting to a new school and making friends. But then she is befriended by a classmate whose father gives her rides home from school. She is soon spending more time with the friend's family but should she be embracing this family?

Of the remaining stories, I especially liked "Gun Accident" where a woman looks back on a startling event that happened when she was a teen. And probably "Murder, Inc." was my favorite. It was about book store owner who wants to expand his stores by buying others after their owners have died. He has his eye on a particular store in New Hampshire that is filled with rare books of mystery and other artifacts. But the owner of the store may be more shrewd that he is.

Including in small box of horror/supernatural books as a RABCK.

Received a wonderfully scary box of books from perryfran as a RABCK! Can hardly wait to get started on them. This ought to keep my mind off of what's going on in the world! Thanks perryfran!

Just wow! Some I did "enjoy" more than others....

Wow! I hope you didn't think that was the only box you were getting for your Birthday!!!! LOL! Happy Birthday, bamaforever!

Thanks for the 2nd birthday box heartthumper! You're so sweet.