Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World edited by by Eric J. Guignard is a collection of tales about hauntings that will leave you chilled.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the editor in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World edited by Eric J. Guignard
I loved that each featured entry begins with an illustration and a breakdown of what the haunted structure is! It would list out the structure type, location, latitude/longitude, when it was built, and what the ground elevation is. Then there were the Travel Guide Notes as written by Charlatan Bardot. This was such a fun format to kick things off with.
For the Tiny Tales, those were added in-between the feature entries and those also included an illustration.
A Preface by Eric J. Guignard and an Introduction by Charlatan Bardot gets the collection rolling. Both of these entries were wonderful! After that, you dive right in to the rest of the collection guides you to haunted locations all around the world!
My favorites from this collection include:
- Que vagi bé by S. Qiouyi Lu
- The Caretaker’s Hut by Kevin J. Kennedy
- End of the Road by Ray Cluley
- One Day at Recess in the Convent of the Blessed Mother on Victoria Street by Christina Sng
- Ingraham’s Bookstore by Alan Baxter
- The Martha Hotel: Suite 101 by Lee Murray
- The Soccer Fields of Abete, Iwaya by Dare Segun Falowo
- House of Mouths by Osahon Ize-Iyamu
- The Last Booth by Jeffrey Ford
- The Lighthouse by D.R. Smith
- The Gulch by Lisa Morton
- The Norge Theater by Elizabeth Massie
- Hitchhiker by Poppy Z. Brite
- A Shining Vacation by John M. Floyd
- Into the River by Clara Madrigano
- Harkon Tavern by Julian J. Guignard
- Colonia Del Sacramento’s Little Tailoring Shop by Dante Luiz
If you would like to read my notes on each tale, feel free to check out the sections below!
EUROPE
Feature Entries:
Oh Man’s Land by Natalia Theodoridou | Greece – Four Stars
An eerie and heartbreaking tale of loss during times of war. I really enjoyed the main character and how he was determined to go back to check on the friend he had met.
Fish Tale by Eugenia Triantafyllou | Sweden – Four Stars
A sad and haunting tale of family. When a man catches a particular fish and then goes missing, the town believes they are cursed. The sea wants the wife of the fisherman to pay for what they did, and things won’t be the same until she does.
Still Hungry by Ramsey Campbell | England – Three Stars
When a man confronts a shoplifter and her daughter and later sees them jump in front of a train, he’s immediately haunted by the encounter. This spiral into obsession was really unsettling.
In Our Season by Tamara Jerée | Iceland – Three Stars
While venturing to explore an area, these two get sucked into a bit of a warped season. Like a fever dream, the two have to fight to get to the other side. This tale will give you chills!
Que vagi bé by S. Qiouyi Lu | Spain – Five Stars
When a man struggling to keep the family restaurant going decides to do a seance to talk to a family member, he ends up attracting another spirit that wants to make a deal.
I loved how uplifting this one was! I was so nervous things were going to go sideways, so I’m extra grateful that this one stayed lighthearted throughout.
Tiny Tales:
English Martyrs Underground Station by Laura Mauro | England – Four Stars
There’s something so eerie about underground stations to begin with for me! In this short tale, Laura really packs in the darkness and deep emotion!
Ghost Stop by Ekaterina Sedia | Russia – Three Stars
A sad little tale about a reoccurring ghostly appearance.
The Northern Lights Experience by Johann Thorsson | Iceland – Four Stars
This short is so spooky! That last line!
The House of Strawberries by Alessandro Manzetti | Italy – Three Stars
Oooh, these poor women…
The Caretaker’s Hut by Kevin J. Kennedy | Scotland – Five Stars
While the caretaker was found murdered in his hut, the locals still swear you can hear his whistling. Clearly this caretaker is still watching over the grounds. I loved this one!
End of the Road by Ray Cluley | Wales – Five Stars
I really don’t like parking garages, and this story is about exactly that. This one is going to haunt me.
Soaking in Roman Rejuvenation by Setsu Uzumé | Serbia – Four Stars
Oh gosh! This short was super unsettling!
ASIA
Feature Entries:
Soul Sisters by Michelle Tang | Philippines – Four Stars
After a woman has lost a child, she returns to a factory she spent a lot of time at when she was a child. Rumored to be haunted, this woman who is already grieving learns what happened years ago…
This one is heartbreakingly beautiful.
Fools Rush In by Nadia Bulkin | Indonesia – Four Stars
When two members of a crew that had gone to an abandoned mental hospital became ill, they all meet up again to try to pay their respects to the building. Thinking that they just need one of them to finish the dare he chickened out on, they pressure him into it. But will it work?
The thought of going into a space like this totally creeps me out. But when the character heads into a room alone, and not only sits on the floor, but lays down? No thank you!
Blood Memories by Weston Ochse | Afghanistan – Four Stars
When a rite of passage goes sideways, our main character is determined to solve the puzzle and get the man back after his sudden disappearance. What a neat idea this one was, and so horrific! Going into a tank absolutely terrifies me, but what happens next here is a whole other level of terror.
Where Do Broken Dreams Go? by Andrew Hook | Kazakhstan – Four Stars
When traveling to an area where a mysterious sleep sickness broke out, our main character is determined to document the area with her camera while living through her own experience. But can they stay awake long enough to do any work? This tale was some serious nightmare fuel! The thought of falling asleep in a strange place definitely spooks me.
Above Aimi by Thersa Matsuura | Japan – Three Stars
Oh no… a haunted hospital. This idea just makes sense, but I hate thinking about it! Hospitals scare me enough as is, but add in a haunting? No thank you!
Tiny Tales:
Al Mutaqadimah (The Beginning) by Sara Saab | Lebanon – Three Stars
There is just something so eerie about a room with no entrance!
Café Tanuki by Umiyuri Katsuyama (Translated by Toshiya Kamei) | Japan – Three Stars
Oh! I love when tales have elements of a sudden reappearance like this!
The Hidden Temple of Nakhon Sawan by Rena Mason | Thailand – Three Stars
Yikes! This one will make you cringe!
A Series of Occurrences at Lhasa Hotel by Han Song | China – Three Stars
As a person that gets paranoid and weary when staying anywhere other than my home, this tale really scared me.
Tamarind Candy by K. Hari Kumar | India – Four Stars
A quick blast of terror!
One Day at Recess in the Convent of the Blessed Mother on Victoria Street by Christina Sng | Singapore – Five Stars
OH NO! I can’t wait for other readers to experience this one!
AUSTRALIA AND GREATER OCEANIA
Feature Entries:
Tidemarks by Octavia Cade – Three Stars
When an aquarium and the surrounding beaches are rumored to be haunted, people are determined to see the ghosts penguins. This one was so sad. This author does a great job with grief.
The Five Sisters by Terry Dowling –
This was a tale with a heavy hand of dread and suspense that carried throughout!
Warp and Weft by Kaaron Warren – Four Stars
Determined to catch a bus, this father struggling to hold on to life is brought back to a mine that he used to work in. While his son watches, the father visits the key areas before boarding the bus, ready for the next stop. This tale was so heartbreaking, but it also had an eerie undertone.
Tiny Tales:
Ingraham’s Bookstore by Alan Baxter – Five Stars
I would love to visit this shop! That poor man…
Tiki Godfather by Will Viharo – Three Stars
Ooh, never talk to the bar decorations when drunk!
The Wishing Well by Jack Dann – Four Stars
YIKES! No thank you. I would stay very far away from this wishing well.
The Fairy Door by Angela Slatter –
Oh! What a tale of revenge.
The Martha Hotel: Suite 101 by Lee Murray – Five Stars
YIKES! This one packs a terrifying punch!
AFRICA
Feature Entries:
A Taste of Unguja by Eugen Bacon –
A woman in anguish from losing her son in a separation goes on a journey… Phew! This one reads like a fever dream.
The Case of the Moaning Marquee by Suyi Davies Okungbowa – Four Stars
Trying everything they can think of to free their marquee, they finally call in a team of witchdoctors to investigate. A man and his best friend, who’s mind has been somehow put into a dog, dive in to see what clues they can find. This one was so much fun! I loved the dynamic between the two investigators.
A Tour of the Ramses by Jackson Kuhl –
This tale is set up as the monologue from the individual giving the tour. This one is sure to leave readers asking for many questions to be answered!
The Brother by Makena Onjerika –
This tale is about a man who is determined to find his brother. But in doing so forces him to learn many things that he hadn’t known before… This one was a tough read!
The Biophilic-Designed Haunting by Tlotlo Tsamaase – Four Stars
When these beings hitch a ride to a new vacation destination, they realize that they have hit a sweet spot if they can just hold back and not eat one specific man. I loved that this tale was from the perspective of the otherworldly beings.
Tiny Tales:
Patiko by Dilman Dila – Three Stars
When a sacrifice is made, this space is brought back into the light. While the evil is beaten, it still leaves a mark.
The Bridge With No Middle by Derek Lubangakene –
Wow, the setting this tale brings to mind!
Ghost Roads of the Oude Kimberleys by Cat Hellisen –
Oh, I would love a longer tale here! This short was intriguing.
Boss Madam Kadungure’s Extra-Deluxe Import and Export International Ltd by T. L. Huchu – Three Stars
Oh no! When young people receive job offers when they are desperate for work, of course they’re going to accept even when they are warned not to…
The Soccer Fields of Abete, Iwaya by Dare Segun Falowo – Five Stars
LOVED this one. What a neat tale about ghosts and soccer.
House of Mouths by Osahon Ize-Iyamu – Five Stars
Absolutely heartbreaking.
UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Feature Entries:
The Last Booth by Jeffrey Ford – Five Stars
Plagued by writers block, this man goes to a diner late at night. On one trip, a man appears that spooks the owner. Asking the writer to keep and eye on the guest, the guest suddenly disappears. Turns out, the diner is haunted! This one had such a heartwarming feel to it with the late night diner trips, but it also had sadness.
The Lighthouse by D.R. Smith – Five Stars
When a man is sent out to get a lighthouse up and running, he’s cautioned about the place. Not fully believing the tales until he finds a log book, this man soon learns what must be done. This one had a very dark feel throughout, and I kept waiting for a jump scare to happen at any moment!
Bluster by Norman Prentiss- Three Stars
A group heading to an original structure to do a séance gets quite the show in this one!
The Gulch by Lisa Morton – Five Stars
When a movie crew goes to a run down area that is rumored to be haunted, things seem tense form the start, but they push onward. But the evil of the space starts to sink its claws into everyone on set, and things start going sideways. This one starts out so hopeful, but then gets so dark!
Dead Car by Joe R. Lansdale – Four Stars
An absolute gut-punch of a story about four friends and a tragic car accident.
Tiny Tales:
The Norge Theater by Elizabeth Massie – Five Stars
Quick, dark, and brutal!
Hitchhiker by Poppy Z. Brite – Five Stars
Oh no! This poor lonely ghost. What a terrifying premise!
A Shining Vacation by John M. Floyd – Five Stars
What a fun one!
The Cold House by Simon Strantzas – Three Stars
Spooky!
Vanport Speedway by Cody Goodfellow – Four Stars
A high speed trip toward death! Phew!
Greenbelt Bus Shelter by Lisa L. Hannett – Fours Stars
Yikes! The draw of trying to help children gets me every time!
LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN
Feature Entries:
The Haunting of the Plaza de la Beneficencia Pinkberry by Gabriela Santiago – Three Stars
When a young woman returns home, she has lost a bit of her culture and is haunted in a way that quickly makes her realize what has happened as well as what needs to be done.
Juan Clemente’s Well by H. Pueyo –
Beautiful and haunting!
Xtabai by Jo Kaplan – Four Stars
When a scientist can’t help but follow his curiosity, he is in for quite the discovery… This one certainly pulls readers along as we follow this man and want to scream at him to turn around.
Into the River by Clara Madrigano – Five Stars
When two women move into a new place after life threw them both curveballs, they are warned about the flooding. When November rolls around and the river starts to rise, they realize that they are not safe. This one had me totally captivated. I would have happily read much more from this, but it was perfect as is as well.
Tiny Tales:
Lopinot Plantation by R.S.A. Garcia –
Haunting!
Last News by Carlos Orsi – Four Stars
Such a sad tale, with a dash of haunting.
Cuarto Frio (Cold Room) by Alvaro Rodriguez – Four Stars
OH NO! That last line…
Harkon Tavern by Julian J. Guignard – Five Stars
What a lively picture this one paints! I loved this short.
The Door Ajar by Malena Salazar Maciá (Translated by Toshiya Kamei) – Four Stars
This one was so eerie!
Colonia Del Sacramento’s Little Tailoring Shop by Dante Luiz – Five Stars
Loved this one!
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
Lesser Known Locales (“Tiny” Tiny Tales)
These super short pieces of flash fiction were so much fun! Each one was just a few sentences long.
A Select Reading List of Novel-Length Fiction Works Set In Haunted Buildings (That Are Not Houses)
Prepare your TBR list! I added many books to my long list of books I need to give a read.
A Brief and Illuminating Interview With Professor Charlatan Bardot Conducted by Eric J. Guignard
This interview was so cool. I loved learning more about the professor!
My Final Thoughts on Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology
From train stations and bus stops, to department stores and clothing factories, all the way to hospitals and aquariums, and everything in between, you’ll be surprised at the list of haunted locations included here!
This collection is a must-read for fans of ghosts and hauntings!
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Thanks for reading!
Woah, lots of stories! Glad you seem to enjoy most of them.
For sure! There is a TON here! 🙂