Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of After Midnight.

I've never read Rebecca before (I know, shocking) but I've seen the movies. 😆

I didn't know Daphne du Maurier wrote short stories so I went into After Midnight open minded and without expectations.

Stephen King writes the foreword, which is short, sweet, and to the point.

With any short story collection, a few stand out but never all of them

I liked The Birds (also didn't know she wrote the short story Hitchcock's movie is loosely based on because the story is SO different from the movie).

A couple of stories were creepy, unsettling, with ambiguous-ish endings, which sounds like the author's style.

I don't mind vague endings; I'm one of those readers who do like to use their imaginations. We rarely use them as it is.

Daphne Du Maurier writes well with a distinctive style; at times she's too wordy but maybe that's the style back in the day.

I also noticed nearly all of her main characters are male.

Its funny to see how 'queer' and 'gay' is used in the narrative back in ye olden times.

If only those authors knew how they're used in modern times! 😆

I might try reading Rebecca again. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it before.

Stephen King's nod to "Rebecca" in his introduction sold me immediately. King did a great job encompassing all of Du Maurier's work and life. I appreciated his ideas on short stories versus novels.

Before reading this 13 story collection, I had read some of Du Maurier's short stories. Some of them were included in here, so I already knew that I enjoyed those.

Daphne Du Maurier's pieces are some of the most original and unique I have ever read. The first story in this book, "The Blue Lenses," blew my expectations out of the water. Tis was jus the beginning! Everyone will find a piece that resonates or calls to them in this compilation.

This collection made me feel ready and eager for spooky season. Daphne Du Maurier truly knows how to mess with your mind and question everything. She loves to use ideas of illusion, deception, and the unknown. Queen of horror, psychological thriller, and gothic literature!

Overall, not one short story was lacking. I enjoyed reading each and every one of them. Daphne Du Maurier's work stays with you, making you ponder it for eternity.

Thirteen Tales of Suspense

After Midnight is a rich collection of thirteen short stories that showcase Daphne du Maurier’s range—from eerie suspense to sharp psychological insight. What impressed me most is how varied these stories are: some feel like gothic tales with her trademark sense of menace, others are quieter character studies, and a few take unexpected turns.

As with any collection, some stories lingered with me more than others. The strongest ones had that unmistakable du Maurier chill—where ordinary settings twist into something unsettling. Others were more reflective, exploring the darker corners of human nature and relationships. After Midnight is a fascinating way to see how she plays with mood, character, and suspense across different forms.

Daphne Du Maurier is the queen of Gothic for me! She is what got me into the genre and why I love Gothic literature so much. Her version of The Birds was so amazing, wish the movie had followed it. After Midnight is a set of her short stories in a collection. This book is perfect for lovers of Daphne Du Maurier or for those who haven't read her before and looking for a great introduction. I'm not a big fan of short story collections but I have never read a short story by her that I haven't loved! This book is perfect for the upcoming Spooktober Season!

Phenomenal collection. She is the queen of gothic literature, I was completely immersed in every story.

I've always had a soft spot for Du Maurier's stories; they are se well done and have all the vibes I'm looking for. From spooky to weird girl fic her stories are top tier. I was absolutely ecstatic to see a new publication keeping her work alive and thriving in the new generations and hopefully many to come as well. Her stories will always be considered the best of the best as far as classic literature goes.

What a treat to read this dark and delightful collection of exquisitely-written stories by Daphne du Maurier, a paragon of the macabre! Her pitch-perfect prose and subtle, incisive insight into human frailties plunge you into the eerie, twisted worlds of her characters. You're never quite certain what is real and what is illusion in these vivid, chilling tales. I'd read several of these stories before, and found them just as unsettling the second time around. Macabre, creepy, and just delicious, this collection will delight du Maurier fans as well as those looking for a little taste of gothic horror.

A new Daphne du Maurier release was not on my 2025 bingo card but I'm not complaining. From one of the queens of gothic tension, this collection of thirteen stories spanned genres, styles, and spooky levels. I especially loved The Birds, which made me want to turn around and watch the Hitchcock film. What an absolutely eerie spin on post-apocalyptic literature that absolutely left me wondering what I would do if faced with a similar sense of being completely cut off from the world. Monte Verita was another standout for me. du Maurier reigns supreme at the unsettling reading experience, and I could picture each of the stories like a movie in my head. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Most of these books were very enjoyable. Several left the reader high and dry with endings that cut off abruptly. I cannot find fault with the writer. I find it interesting that her main character was almost always a man. I also enjoyed the stories that took place in Europe. The writer is obviously well traveled

Being a fan of Daphne du Maurier's writing, I was excited to see a collection of short stories come up on NetGalley as an ARC! Du Maurier has a way of writing that draws you in instantly, even if it's a story you think you've read before. You start it just meaning to read a couple pages and all of a sudden it's an hour later and you've read two short stories when you meant to read just one! It's this dark intriguing factor that captivates and keeps you hostage until you finish the story and when it ends ambiguously, you immediately go on to the next in curiosity! I love it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars for "After Midnight" - a "new" collection of 13 stories by the late Daphne du Maurier, of "Rebecca" fame, and intro'd by the amazing Stephen King. I had not read any of them before and of "The Birds", I will say it was quite different than the film. I have not seen "Don't Look Now" so I enjoyed it as well, as with any collection others were more hit & miss for me. I enjoyed quite a bit of Uncle Stevies intro, though there needs to be a "spoiler alert" on a bit of it, LOL! Anyway, recommend, especially for spooky season - very dark & suspenseful & a bit... unsettling. My sincere thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my advance readers copy, always appreciate the opportunity to read & review early!

"From Daphne du Maurier, "a writer of fearless originality" (The Guardian), comes a collection of her thirteen most mesmerizing tales - including iconic stories such as "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now" - with an introduction by Stephen King.

Daphne du Maurier is best known for Rebecca, "one of the most influential novels of the 20th century" (Sarah Waters) and basis for Alfred Hitchcock's iconic film adaptation. More than thirty-five years after her death, du Maurier is celebrated for her gothic genius and stunning psychological insight by authors such as Ottessa Moshfegh, Maggie O'Farrell, Lucy Foley, Gillian Flynn, Jennifer Egan, and countless others, including Stephen King and Joe Hill.

After Midnight brings together some of du Maurier's darkest, most haunting stories, ranging from sophisticated literary thriller to twisted love story. Alongside classics such as "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now," - both of which inspired unforgettable films - are gems such as "Monte Verità," a masterpiece about obsession, mysticism, and tragic love, and "The Alibi," a chilling tale of an ordinary man's descent into lies, manipulation, and sinister fantasies that edge dangerously close to reality. In "The Blue Lenses," a woman recovering from eye surgery finds she now perceives those around her as having animal heads corresponding to their true natures. "Not After Midnight" follows a schoolteacher on holiday in Crete who finds a foreboding message from the chalet's previous occupant who drowned while swimming at night. In "The Breakthrough," a scientist conducts experiments to harness the power of death, blurring the line between genius and madness.

Each story in this collection exemplifies du Maurier's exquisite writing and singular insight into human frailty, jealousy, and the macabre. She "makes worlds in which people and even houses are mysterious and mutable; haunted rooms in which disembodied spirits dance at absolute liberty" (Olivia Laing, author of Crudo). Daphne du Maurier is mistress of the sleight of hand and slow-burning menace, often imitated and rarely surpassed.

Stories include:
-"The Blue Lenses"
-"Don't Look Now"
-"The Alibi"
-"The Apple Tree"
-"The Birds"
-"Monte Verita"
-"The Pool"
-"The Doll"
-"Ganymede"
-"Leading Lady"
-"Not After Midnight"
-"Split Second"
-"The Breakthrough""

What's interesting about this collection is that it includes the "Don't Look Now" which is rarely included in short story collections because of it's length and "The Doll" which was recently rediscovered and I don't know if it's been available stateside until now.

After Midnight is a delicious collection of thirteen stories from the talented and twisted Daphne du Maurier. Not all of these stories are newly published—in fact, I have already read many of them before—but they are always worth the read and re-read. It includes cult classics like The Birds which when on to be adapted to film by Hitchcock himself, and Don't Look Now, as well as lesser known stories like The Doll and Split Second. With a thoughtful introduction form Stephen King, this collection is sure to delight readers everywhere; fans of du Maurier and newbies to her work will enjoy it in equal measure. I can't wait for this to hit shelves in September.

Rebecca is a favorite novel of mine so I was excited to read this collection of short stories, and I think any fan will be pleased. They are all very much in the gothic du Maurier mode, and I very much enjoyed the introduction from Stephen King as well.

I love Rebecca and also enjoyed My Cousin Rachel so I was immediately interested in this short story collection. Daphne du Maurier excelled at creating an ominous and suspenseful tone with each of these stories. I enjoyed some more than others, finding a couple of them a little too far out there for my taste. On the whole, I’m glad I read this and can see readers who love creepy tales enjoying this book.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication!

After Midnight, Daphne du Maurier’s short story collection is bone chillingly superb. There is a subtlety to the way she builds suspense within her storytelling. Her characters are fleshed out, complicated and brilliant to behold. The plot to her stories are usually intricate and layered complete with what mystery writers call, 'red herrings!' Even if you don't enjoy every short story in After Midnight it will never be for bad writing. I don't know what it will be for but it won't be for that.

Wow. I was hooked to this collection of short stories from the start. Such a great read. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read ARC.

After Midnight is a haunting collection of short stories from the incomparable Daphne du Maurier. As the author of Rebecca—one of my all-time favorite novels—du Maurier already had my full attention, and I leapt at the chance to wander into these darker corners of her imagination. Each story hums with an eerie unease, the kind that pricks at your skin without ever revealing exactly why. Intriguingly, many are told from a male perspective, which she does flawlessly. Reading them feels like taking a midnight stroll through a shadowy forest—you can’t quite see what’s ahead, but you can feel eyes watching from the trees.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for a honest review. These are honestly my favorite short stories I’ve ever read!

There are all stellar classics and deserve to be as revisited - and as beloved and ubiquitous - as Rebecca!

Daphne du Maurier was truly an artist of her time. I love her writing style it is eerie and Gothic very very atmospheric. I enjoyed reading each one of these creepy short stories she wrote. She will continue to be one of my favorite authors.
My favorite stories were The Birds ..that story was different than how I remembered the movie to be.
The Blue Lenses was possibly my favorite.. It was humorous and quirky. Monte Verita was good but a bit drawn out. The Alibi was very good as well...i enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Publishers for this ARC.in exchange for my honest review.