*Title: In the Confessional by Amelia B. Edwards
Date Read: 26 October 2008
Available Online?: YES
Briefly: Recovering from a sorrow in his life, the narrator takes to rambling around Europe. He happens on the idyllic Swiss town of Rheinfelden which borders with Germany. Tired he enters the church and after sitting for a while, and determining it to be empty, he begins to explore the interior of the church. He pulls back the curtain of the confessional box to be met with the seated priest who scowls vehemently at him. Embarrassed and fearful the tourist flees the church and goes in search of the town’s local inn to bed down for the night. So begins a tale of ghastly murder and ghostly encounter.
Afterthoughts: I really liked this tale from Edwards. In the first instance, the author’s description of the town and his scene description generally is superb, and a definite highlight of the story. Furthermore it’s a story with real depth and a good plot. Most certainly one of the best stories I’ve read in this challenge so far.
Notable Quote: “The moat outside the walls was bridged over and filled in – a green ravine of grasses and wild flowers. A stork had built its nest on the roof of the gate-tower. The circalas shrilled in the grass. The shadows lay sleeping under the trees, and a family of cocks and hens went plodding inquisitively to and fro among the cabbages in the adjacent field. Just beyond the moat, with only this field between, stood a little solitary church – a church with a wooden porch, and a quaint bright-red steeple…”
Rating: 
*Story read as part of the 31 Tales of Terror reading challenge.
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