I received this book directly from the author.

Leslie Garland is not a beachy book writer. He is the type of writer that challenges you to think while you read. You learn about places you’ve never been and he will also challenge your beliefs. His Red Grouse Tales begin in a pub, “The Red Grouse”, where a group of friends gathers. What goes well with a good pint? A story of course! This group of friends meet to have a pint and take turns telling a tale. Each tale is as different as the person that tells them and into each tale is woven a bit about the storyteller’s life.

The Ghost Moth is told by Joe about a book that was given to him by his wife. The book is about a young novice brother named Adam Callow. He is the younger son of a wealthy family, who has been delivered by his parents to the monastery, in 1535. As a novice monk, he is assigned to an older monk as a mentor. Adam’s mentor is the monk in charge of all novices, Brother Rodiron McBane (great name, right?). Each monk is assigned work around the monastery and the work chosen for young Adam is gardening. The garden provides fresh vegetables for the monks and the excess is harvested and sold in town on market day. Funds from the sale of vegetables and other monastery products help provide for the other needs of the monastery.

Adam works with the gardener, Brother La Roche. He takes Adam under his wing and begins teaching him all the tasks involved with being the gardener. Adam has lead a very sheltered life and going to market was his first real contact with a variety of people. He was in awe. So many people! Lovely young ladies would stop and chat while buying their vegetables. Did they flirt with this young novice? Adam began to look forward to market day. Brother La Roche felt ill on market day and asked Adam to go by himself. Nervously, Adam works the stand by himself. Across the market a beautiful woman catches his eye. She stopped to talk (and flirt) with him and that is when Adam’s troubles began.

At the monastery, the monks were told in daily mass that women were evil. Monks need to avoid women (evil) to keep their souls pure. Adam accepted the teachings but began to wonder why the church was so set on this particular teaching. After all, Mary was the mother of Jesus and how could God allow his son to be born of a woman if they were evil? Adam also marvels at the awakening feelings of sexual attraction he begins to have.

I don’t want to give anything away, especially since this is a story that must be read to fully appreciate. Adam’s soul searching causes him to examine his and the church’s position on many doctrines of the day. How will he reconcile himself to the teachings regarding women, sexual temptation and salvation? As this story continues to develop, Joe divulges some interesting occurrences in his life. The story has intrigued him and with a bit of investigation, he has determined the location of the old monastery and cave mentioned in the story of Adam. Naturally, he wants to go and explore the area.

Joe, his wife, and son travel to the location to begin exploring. As children do, Joe’s son scampers ahead. As Joe and his wife rush to catch up, Joe’s son exits the cave claiming there is a beautiful lady in the cave. Joe enters and doesn’t find anyone. As Joe begins questioning his son, the boy begins to feel ill and they return home. Later, his son tells him something very disturbing that the beautiful lady in the cave told him. Is it true or just the imagination of a young boy?

One theme that many authors explore is the inherent evil of a place. Can a location be evil? Would an evil location attract evil? Do evil events cause something to become evil? As you continue reading this absorbing tale, you will begin to wonder whether places absorb the energy of events. Ah, so many questions.

I like to read about quirky, unusual events. If there is an element of horror, all the better. This book will definitely appeal to horror and suspense fans. If you are a fan of odd happenings, this is the perfect book for you. I recommend this wholeheartedly and encourage you to look into the other Red Grouse Tales. They are fantastic!

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Additional Thoughts: This book isn’t anything meant for children since there are sexual scenes and some violence.

I really enjoy Mr. Garland’s Red Grouse Tales. As an American, I am not familiar with some locations, scenes, and even the occasional word in these stories. I read to learn and love looking up the things unknown to me, learning something new! Imagine a cozy pub, a pint and a warm fire, open this book!