
audiobook
In the shadowy depths of Bussey’s Wood, a string of inexplicable murders shocks a quiet New England community. Rumors of a spectral presence swirl through the trees, and the local populace is torn between fear of a phantom and suspicion of a more human evil. The narrator, a contemplative observer, frames the tale with a meditation on doubt and reason, inviting listeners to weigh the evidence before jumping to supernatural conclusions.
As the story unfolds, a small group of townsfolk—among them a skeptical doctor, a curious child, and a determined investigator—begins to piece together fragmented clues. Their encounters with eerie phenomena, whispered testimonies, and a chilling “ghost‑rock” raise the stakes, while the wood itself seems to pulse with hidden motives. The early chapters set a tense, atmospheric stage, promising a gripping exploration of mystery, morality, and the thin line between legend and reality.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (179K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Loring, Publisher, 1868.
Credits
Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2023-02-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1811–1880
Known in the 19th century as both a writer and an artist, this New Yorker left behind ghostly tales, sketches of everyday life, and landscape paintings. His work carries the mood of an era when magazines, illustrated books, and salon culture often mixed literature and visual art.
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