The Mysterium by David Bramwell and Jo Keeling

Review published on December 23, 2017.

People are drawn to the strange and the unknown, those stories that even after a second time of hearing make little sense. Some of these are deeply rooted in our oldest legends, but there are a number of mysteries and contemporary folklore that still managed to defy explanation in our modern, always connected, internet age.

In The Mysterium, we will encounter mysteries that have been around for years, like the number stations, tragic deaths that no expert has been able to explain such as when a girl was found in the water tank of a hotel after CCTV showed some very peculiar behaviour when she was in the lift. There are entities that have slipped from the virtual domain to become the elements of our nightmares and words that appear embedded in the road. We will learn from those that hear a hum in the place that they live, and of dunes that sing. You may have heard of the darknet, a place where various nefarious activities take place, but have you have ever heard of the Deep Web? Me neither.

Some of the stories that David Bramwell and Jo Keeling have collected are seriously creepy and they have managed a fascinating summation of the current raft of mysteries and what can now be considered modern folklore. It is nicely written as they take care to explain the background to the story. I particularly like the way that they have given pointers to other things that you could go and read or watch if a specific tale interests you. A great little collection of the truly bizarre.

Paul Cheney 4/3

The Mysterium by David Bramwell and Jo Keeling
Chambers 9781473663565 hbk Oct 2017