So wild a book you have to ask where Emily got the ideas. Strong sexual undercurrents, supernatural elements and passion that transcends the grave. A Yorkshire lass with Irish roots.

A first class story teller at the top of her game. Despite the title, Rebecca dies before the story begins; yet still haunts the book. The Jane Eyre influence is not hard to see.

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is not a classic without reason. Stevenson is a Scot and one of the world’s great tellers of thumping good yarns.

The world’s most famous ghostly tale? James was of Irish & Scottish descent & became a British subject in 1915, so I’m claiming him! (in return Americans can have Christopher Hitchens, lol).

Remembered now mostly as a classic British film of the seventies. Written by a highly skilled story teller who appears twice in my list (and could have appeared twice more).

A homage to the cult horror film "The Wicker Man" the story is written by the director of that film (and it is, itself, being filmed). A clash between pagans and Christians in a creepy page turner.

A short story set in England’s green and pleasant countryside; a tale evoking strange dark magic, the supernatural and witchcraft.

H.G.Wells is a glorious short story writer & this near 900 page collection incs the classic ghostly tale ‘The Red Room’. Since writing this list this book has, alas, become hard to find

I still find this terrific book troubling to read. The nightmarish screams of the torture house, animal experimentation, scientists playing God. There is something of Frankenstein about it.