For the most part, this is a collection of very low-key supernatural stories, told by the titular character. Only a few of them could be described as "horror"; for the most part, they tend towards the wistful. A few stories go a little too far in that direction, to the extent that nothing really happens in them, and a few go too far in the other (the stories are mostly so low-key that when the Connoisseur suddenly turns into Carnacki, it's pretty jarring), but Mark Valentine is mostly successful...

a stellar five stars for me.full post here:http://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/2021...Over the years I've read my fair share of stories featuring supernatural detectives, and prior to starting this book, that's what I thought I had here. What I discovered was not at all what I was expecting, but something unique instead: an "aesthetical detective extraordinaire" in the form of the Connoisseur. He is described as a"connoisseur of the curious, of those glimpses of another domain which are vouchsafed

Two of my favorite contemporary authors, Mark Valentine and John Howard, combine their talents on what I thought might be a promising character, The Connoisseur - aesthetical detective extraordinaire. I had been waiting a while to savor this. With a few days off on holiday, I was able to bathe in this reading a bit more than is usual with my frantic life. I'm glad I took this one slow - I'm hoping I've given Valentine and Howard more time to write more Connoisseur, because I didn't want this to

The Collected Connoisseur is a series of stories in which the main character, the Connoisseur, explores mysteries involving strange events, places, books, and objects affecting people in uncanny ways. Not quite an occult detective, more an aesthetic problem solver?Some tales are poignant in their simplicity and emotional eloquence ("The Paravine Cries"). Others brush against diabolism ("The Lost Moon," "The Serpent, Unfallen"). "The Hesperian Dragon" is a wonderful 'New Arabian Nights' comedy of...

A very fine collection of atmospheric, beautifully imagined short stories that tread a fine line between mystery and dark fantasy/horror with a distinct decadent edge. For me, the finest stories here were those with clearly defined narratives and discernible plots*. Among these, I especially enjoyed 'The Violet Veils', 'Café Lucifer', 'The Hesperian Dragon', 'The Prince of Barlocco', 'The Mist on the Mere', 'The Last Archipelago', 'The Serpent, Unfallen' and 'The Descent of Fire'. While Carnacki...

Mark Valentine, and his unique "occult detective" the Connoisseur, are well-known to all lovers of supernatural. The characteristic features of Valentine's fiction (in rather commercial terms which may be described even as his USP) can be summarised as under: -1) The fiction is gently paced, without ever being hurried into any conclusion, but rather enjoying the building up of that rarity: atmosphere, as well as the characters.2) The stories are invariably haunting and almost unearthly in their

This is a collection of supernatural short fiction, influenced by Arthur Machen, Algernon Blackwood, Lord Dunsany, Walter de la Mare, William Hope Hodgson and M.P. Shiel.The stories take place, I would say, during the Edwardian Age--the period in the UK roughly from 1900 to the outbreak of World War I. The characters are telling their stories after the Great War, and it is perfectly understandable that they have nostalgia for the years leading up to the Great War.The prose style is excellent thr...

Hail to Tartarus Press! This book is a work of art - the finest binding and printing a connoisseur and lover of literature will ever have the pleasure of owning. Holding a work published by Tartarus Press almost makes my fingers and hands tingle. Among the tales of the supernatural and fantastic in the Tartarus collection are those penned by Mark Valentine, an author I've come to treasure, this particular title most especially. The Collected Connoisseur - a series of tales where Valentine recoun...

An excellent collection of occult detective stories. While none of the stories deal with the usual sorts of ghosts or ghouls, they're all the stranger and more intriguing for their lack of a physical horror.

7,5/10

a box of charming confections, if stories that nonchalantly discuss gateways to other dimensions, clockwork devices that can end it all, and various haunting entities bleeding into our world to lead us astray could be considered either charming or confectionary. the feel of these yarns is soft, gauzy, wispy. despite the frequent bits of weird horror, this is a collection of dreamy sighs rather than fearful gasps. The Connoisseur is a stylish and erudite gentleman of leisure, often seen gazing wi...

In his introduction Mark Valentine describes the inspiration for these 23 stories as those of Prince Zaleski, Mr Dyson and Carnacki. I've only met the last of those gentlemen, but these stories are not at all shamed to be mentioned in the same breath. Yet where Carnacki is immensely practical, an almost scientific investigator of the paranormal, The Connoisseur rather experiences events, or provides an understanding of them. The clue's in the name: he is a connoisseur of the weird, as well as th...

If you feel these stories are too precious or pretentious or wishy-washy for you, then you need to meet them halfway, as you will then begin to see how they will yield much bespoke for you as well as for the lover of sleuths, ghosts, patterns, oneiric cosmogony and exquisite language for its own sake.The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long to post here.Above is one of its observations.

A fine collection of well-crafted 'occult detective' style tales. To be more accurate, though, these are not always explicitly about the occult, nor does the Connoisseur necessarily 'solve' a mystery. The Connoisseur himself is an elusive figure, with an air of aestheticism swirling about him. I read most of these stories right before falling asleep at night and am certain they informed my dreams. Valentine's prose is richly meticulous and his vocabulary prodigious, so overindulgence is sure to

I'll give it four stars because the writing is so good. I'm not a big fan of paranormal detectives, Carnacki by William Hope Hodgson coming to mind, but the stories here are varied enough to make the entire volume interesting. At times The Connoisseur is almost incidental. Some are simply old fashioned ghost stories.I probably read this too fast. A proper appreciation would be a savoring of each story with a gap between readings. I tend to start out short story collections this way but end up bl...