Edited by Mark Morris

Titan Books, out now

A second collection of new horror tales.

It comes as something of a surprise when you look at the list of authors for this second volume from Titan that none of them appeared in the earlier book – some modern masters of the unsettling and horrific are here, with stories that will stick in your mind for long after you’ve read them (and yes, to one of the authors, that’s why I didn’t shake your hand at the BFI a couple of weeks ago…!) Mark Morris hasn’t commissioned connected stories, but you may find yourself seeing subtle links between them as you progress through the book.

My comments about the first volume apply here too. Some stories are outright horror, others tend more towards the unsettling end of the spectrum – and there are a few where you’ll wonder exactly what it is you’ve just read. As always with such a diverse collection, you don’t want to be spoiled by reviews going in, but suffice it to say that there’s not a dud among them – and you may well find yourself looking askance at some commonplace items, particularly if you’re thinking of buying a present at an airport or restoring a typewriter…

Verdict: A strong mix of styles and tales. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to buy New Fears 2 from Amazon.co.uk

Click here for our interview with editor Mark Morris