Fear and Paranoia, in... ---Tales From The Vault, Episode 17--- SYNOPSIS/SUMMARY: "The Terror" focuses on narrator Monsieur Raymon and his descent into insanity. At the beginning of the story, he tells the reader that he is going to be married simply because recent events caused him to have an irrational fear of being alone. Raymon tells us the tale of how one night after arriving home, he sees someone sitting in his armchair by his fireplace... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Produced, translated and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com MUSIC: Fantasia in F minor by Franz Schubert ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURED PODCAST: The Afterworlds Podcast - available through all audio podcast platforms

Bram Stoker Audiobook: "The Judges House" | Rats inhabit an old house, in... ---Tales From The Vault, Episode 18--- SYNOPSIS/SUMMARY: A student arrives in a small town looking for a quiet place to stay while preparing for his examination. Making light of the local superstitions, he moves into an old mansion where a judge notorious for sending people to the gallows once lived. He is comfortably settled and engrossed in his work when, in the middle of the night, he is visited by an enormous rat with baleful eyes. He soon learns why the locals fear the Judge's House. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Produced, and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com MUSIC: Michele Esposito - Sonata for Violin and Piano in E Minor Op 46 - I. Allegro moderato ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Check out the featured podcast: Murray Mysteries - A gothic-comedy audio retelling of Bram Stoker's Dracula - https://knovesstorytellingcollective.wordpress.com/

🔫A Time-Travelling Assassin, in... ---Tales From The Vault, Episode 16--- SYNOPSIS/SUMMARY: A prison inmate is given a second chance...The man, Conger, must go back in time and kill a mysterious and religious leader (the Founder) who gave just one speech before disappearing. The only clue to his identity is a yellowed 200 hundred year old skull. He travels back in time to a small town near Denver in 1960 and waits for his target. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Philip K. Dick's "The Skull" (first published in 1952), is one of my favourite short stories and it was a great pleasure to narrate. Enjoy the story... And do let me know what you thought in the comments below :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com MUSIC: "My Good Lord Done Been Here" - Aunt Hampton, recorded: Livingston, Alabama, May 29, 1939 by John Lomax https://www.loc.gov/item/lomaxbib000443/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURED PODCAST: https://www.letsstartacultpodcast.com/ - by Josh Schell

A Man Is Re-Animated Over and Over, in: ---Tales From The Vault, Episode 15--- Our protagonist is saved from drowning, only to find himself the subject of bizarre experimentation, carried out by none other than his estranged father. Will he escape, or will he perish at the hands of a mad scientist? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was great fun to narrate into audiobook form this classic piece of weird literature told in Jack London's unique style. Enjoy the story... And do let me know what you thought in the comments below :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com MUSIC: Mozart - Oboe quartet - 2 - Adagio

A Nefarious Plot is Averted, in... ---Tales From The Vault, Episode 14--- [Part 2] Having heard the bizarre account of Mr Jabez Wilson, Holmes and Watson head to the pawnbroker's premises to investigate. There, Holmes gathers enough information to feel he has solved the mystery and to predict a crime about to be committed. Holmes and Watson, along with Police Inspector Jones and a Mr. Merryweather secrete themselves in an underground vault awaiting the emergence of the perpetrators and hopefully to foil their plans. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Considering the many modernisations and re-interpretations of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, it was extremely rewarding to read the original text as it was intended. I hope you enjoyed it too, let me know what you thought in the comments :) Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com MUSIC: Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20

A Sherlock Holmes Detective Mystery... ---Tales From The Vault, Episode 13--- [Part 1] A pawnbroker, the red-headed Jabez Wilson, approaches Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson with a mystery to be solved. He recounts his tale of having been recruited by an obscure organisation called "The Red-Headed League" and employed by them on account of his fiery red hair. However, he is much dismayed when the league, along with his employment, suddenly disappears. Having listened to the facts, Sherlock Holmes is convinced that a much more sinister plot is at play than might at first sight appear. Link to Part 2: https://youtu.be/fzx6NWKuDJY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was a great pleasure to read this classic Holmes mystery. Of all the many portrayals of Holmes and Watson, my personal favourite is the combination of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Let me know what you thought in the comments, Happy Listening :) Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com MUSIC: Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20

**A Young Man Trapped In An Old Man's Body, in... ---Tales From The Vault, Episode 12---** An impoverished young medical student, Edward Eden, is visited by the wealthy and elderly Mr. Elvesham with an offer to make Eden his heir - but the offer comes with certain conditions that the younger man couldn't have imagined! This tale featured in the 2016 Sky Arts TV series "The Nightmare Worlds of H G Wells", albeit in somewhat adapted form, starring the great Michael Gambon. In a bizarre case of quirky casting, Ray Winston played the part of the narrator of the series: H G Wells himself! Introducing each story in the series, I never imagined H. G. as "a bit of a bruiser"! I really enjoyed reading from one of the myriad H G Wells stories, possibly one of his lesser-known works. Please let me know what you thought in the comments :) Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com MUSIC: Chopin Piano/Violin/Cello Trio in G Minor

Phantom Echoes In This Nightmare Tale... ---Tales From The Vault Episode 11--- Mr. Izvertzoff, a wealthy Russian landowner, mysteriously disappears while visiting a cavern on his land - the so-called "Cave Of The Echoes". He is presumed to have been murdered and the finger of blame is pointed firmly at his man-servant, Ivan. Many years after the tragedy, an enigmatic Hungarian traveler and a mysterious Tibetan shaman conduct an eerie ceremony within the cave to determine the true identity of the murderer. Mesmerized by the atmosphere of the place and the ghostly echoes which reverberate through the cave, the onlookers are shocked to learn the truth of what happened to Mr Izvertzoff. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was a Russian philosopher and author who co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. While best known for her occult knowledge and the book "The Secret Doctrine", she also wrote a collection of fictional short stories, collected in a volume called "Nightmare Tales", first published in 1907. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and producing this story, and look forward to reading a few more of HPB's Nightmare Tales very soon. Please let me know what you thought in the comments :) Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com Audio sample for convolution reverb effects is from Inchindown Oil Tanks, Scotland (the longest known reverberation in the world), provided by Matt Gray https://mattg.co.uk Music: J S Bach: Ciaconna from fifth Partita for Solo Violin, performed by Ben Goldstein

A Ghost In The London Underground... In: ---TALES FROM THE VAULT Episode 10--- In this spooky classic tale, our narrator, is an overnight guest at the house of Anthony Carling. Anthony begins the story with a philosophical monologue on the nature of time, space and eternity. The story that emerges from this tantalizing beginning contains a paradox: How can one man witness another in a London Underground train station one night, only to meet him elsewhere the following day and discover that he had only just arrived in London that very morning? After Carling has related his story, in which it becomes clear that he not only met an apparition but also experienced a premonition of tragic events to come, the two men are visited by a ghostly presence. It then transpires that Carling must take action to enable the departed soul to rest in peace. E F Benson is best known for his “Mapp and Lucia” series of books, but he was also a prolific writer of short stories. “In The Tube” was first published in 1923 in the book Visible and Invisible. I was inspired to read this story when I first came across it in Roald Dahl’s “Book Of Ghost Stories”, and my portrayal of Anthony Carling is loosely based on the venerable Alan Watts! I hope you enjoy it... Do let me know what you though in the comments. Happy Listening Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com

An Egyptian Mummy Is Re-animated.... In: ---Tales From The Vault Episode 8--- In this satire on American scientific culture by Edgar Allan Poe, Dr Ponnoner invites our narrator to the unwrapping of a 5000-year-old Egyptian mummy. First published in 1845, the story is the earliest known representation of a revived Egyptian mummy. I hope you enjoy this classic tale, do leave a comment and let me know... Happy Listening Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com

A Ghostly Pack Of Dogs Get Their Revenge... In: ---Tales From The Vault Episode 7 (part 2 of 2)--- Edith Wharton’s 1916 ghost story, “Kerfol,” tells the story of a young woman convicted of her older husband’s murder. Her claim that the dogs the man had systematically murdered for their devotion to her were responsible for maiming her husband was met with derision, and yet ever after, on the anniversary of his death, the caretakers leave the estate to avoid encountering the silent, sinister pack of ghostly canines. I hope you enjoy this two-part special of Edith Wharton's classic tale, do leave a comment and let me know... Happy Listening Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com

A Deserted Mansion... In: ---Tales From The Vault Episode 6 (part 1 of 2)--- In part 1 of "Kerfol", our narrator goes to visit an old semi-fortified mansion in Brittany, at the suggestion of his friend Lanrivain. He is impressed by its age and the sense of history it exudes. No guardian or owners appear, but he is met by a pack of assorted dogs which are mysteriously quiet. When he returns to his friend’s house that night, Mrs Lanvirain tells him that the dogs are the ‘ghosts of Kerfol’.... I hope you enjoy this two-part special of Edith Wharton's classic tale, do leave a comment and let me know... Happy Listening Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffe.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com

Zombies and Sleepwalkers Everywhere... In: ---Tales From The Vault - Episode 5--- "The Leadington Incident" recounts the disturbing experience of a Cabinet minister who suddenly perceives that though the people around him move and talk as though alive, they are all actually just animated corpses or sleepwalking zombies. I hope you enjoy this reading of a J B Priestley weird classic, do leave a comment and let me know... Happy Listening Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c) 2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio Full DSB Audio production of J B Priestley's "The Other Place, and Other Stories of the Same Sort" collection available at: UK - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B082LRCW3P/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H7-BK-ACX0-175132&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_175132_pd_uk US & Global - https://www.audible.com/pd/B082LSG2KW/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWU-BK-ACX0-175132&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_175132_pd_us More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com Skeleton Image by Paul Brennan https://www.instagram.com/photobug Music: Bach: Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor by Colin Carr

The Ghost of a Hanged Man Haunts A Priest... In: ---Tales From The Vault - Episode 4--- Alfred Wadham is convicted of murder and about to be hanged. He protests his innocence but no one believes him. Then, on the evening before the hanging is to take place, another man goes to the prison priest, Father Denys, and confesses that it was he and not poor Alfred Wadham who committed the murder. Father Denys begs him to own up. He refuses. He also reminds the priest very forcibly that he cannot break the secrecy rule of the confessional. Denys , bound by his religious vows, is therefore unable to save the wrong man from being hanged. After the hanging, the ghost of Alfred Wadham does some horrid things to the wretched priest. This is my second E F Benson reading, along with "In The Tube". I was inspired to offer both these short stories by Roald Dahl's "Book Of Ghost Stories". I look forward to reading a few more choice selections from this marvelous little book soon. Be sure to let me know what you thought of this story in the comments below, and please do share it with any fellow fans of this style of Victorian Horror, thanks :) Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio

A Covert Conspiracy By Non-Human Entities... In: ---Tales From The Vault - Episode 3--- A patient fears evil is at work in the shape of a sinister conspiracy. Will his psychiatrist be able to help? I hope you enjoy this reading of a J B Priestly weird classic, do leave a comment and let me know... Happy Listening Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio Full DSB Audio production of J B Priestley's "The Other Place, and Other Stories of the Same Sort" collection available at: UK - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B082LRCW3P/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H7-BK-ACX0-175132&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_175132_pd_uk US & Global - https://www.audible.com/pd/B082LSG2KW/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWU-BK-ACX0-175132&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_175132_pd_us More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com Slender Man - illustration by Lux Amber (CC BY-SA 4.0) Creepy Hallow - music by Alexander Nakarada

A Man Falls In Love With A Woman's Portrait... In: ---Tales From The Vault - Episode 2--- Here is my second reading of an Edith Nesbit Tale, famously also read in audiobook form by Anton Lester (from British TV's Hustle, The Ghost Squad & Endeavour series). Mr. Devigne inherits a house in Chelsea and an annuity from his wealthy Aunt Dorcas. There he discovers two portraits, one bearing a striking resemblance to himself, and the other of a woman clad in a black velvet gown with “large, deep, luminous eyes”. Infatuated with the image of the beguiling beauty, he wishes that she “...were a woman and not a picture”. A story of dark romance and tragedy unfolds. I hope you enjoy this rendition of E Nesbit's ghostly classic, do leave a comment and let me know... Happy Listening Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2020 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio Full DSB Audio production of E Nesbit's "Grim Tales" collection available at: UK - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Grim-Tales-Audiobook/B0851QSPPR US & Global - https://www.amazon.com/Grim-Tales/dp/B0851R7Y8C More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com

Man vs Machine... In: ---TALES FROM THE VAULT Episode 9--- Following a debate between our narrator and Moxon regarding the degree of intelligence a machine can possess, one of Moxon's inventions - a chess-playing automaton runs amok, with fatal consequences. I hope you enjoy this classic short story, do leave a comment and let me know... Happy Listening Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2021 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com

Sinister Stone Statues Come To Life... In: ---Tales From The Vault, Episode 1--- A newly-wed couple rent a cottage in the country which at first seems idyllic, but they soon learn of a local superstition concerning the local church, where the marble effigies on the tombs within the church are said to arise and walk "in their marble" each year on All Saint's Eve (Halloween). This is a classic ghostly tale from Edith Nesbit, best known as the author of the novel "The Railway Children", (also a 1970 movie starring Jenny Agutter and Bernard Cribbins). E Nesbit was also the author of numerous weird tales and "Man-Size In Marble" shows her more sinister side. Enjoy this classic chiller, Happy Listening :) Produced and narrated by David Sweeney-Bear (c)2020 https://buymeacoffee.com/dsbaudio Full DSB Audio production of E Nesbit's "Grim Tales" collection available at: UK - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Grim-Tales-Audiobook/B0851QSPPR US & Global - https://www.amazon.com/Grim-Tales/dp/B0851R7Y8C More full-length audiobooks at https://dsbaudio.com

Don't just write words... Write Music!

Check out [DSB Audio's Youtube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5wttOZb1Ha9Gu1tQk7d1mA), where you will find my regular podcast series of full audiobook short stories ["Tales From The Vault"](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIGDQkCNfSyUhp43gMjJ95oROcqpF-n5P) Alfred Wadham is convicted of murder and about to be hanged. He protests his innocence but no one believes him. Then, on the evening before the hanging is to take place, another man goes to the prison priest, Father Denys, and confesses that it was he and not poor Alfred Wadham who committed the murder. Father Denys begs him to own up. He refuses. He also reminds the priest very forcibly that he cannot break the secrecy rule of the confessional. Denys , bound by his religious vows, is therefore unable to save the wrong man from being hanged. After the hanging, the ghost of Alfred Wadham does some horrid things to the wretched priest. This is my second E F Benson reading, I have also produced “In The Tube”. I was inspired to offer both these short stories by Roald Dahl’s “Book Of Ghost Stories”. I look forward to reading a few more choice selections from this marvelous little book soon, as well as more E F Benson tales. Be sure to let me know what you thought of this story in the comments, and please do share it with any fellow fans of this style of Victorian Horror, thanks 🙂