The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
Thank you to Little Brown Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book, on the occasion of its reissue, in exchange for an honest review.

A masterful collection of dark and mysterious tales that will captivate readers who delight in exploring the complexities of human relationships, the power dynamics between men and women, and the eerie consequences of playing with the natural world.

I had not re-read The Birds in many years so this was a treat. Du Maurier's writing is gorgeous, of course, and I loved how the tension and sense of threat ramped up.
The other stories were new to me. The two stand-outs were The Apple Tree (which was the original title of this collection,) which was slow, dark and disturbing, and The Old Man, which didn't do a lot for me until the very end; that last sentence was ✨️ chef's kiss ✨️
This really put me in the mood for a re-read of Rebecca, which I have done a few times since I first read it in college (some 30-odd years ago! 😳) but is probably overdue by now.

This is a great re-issued book if you have not read Ms du Maurier,'s work before, even if you have its a great reminder as to how wonderful her writing is. This is a great introduction or reminder.

The Birds and Other Stories are 6 short stories that are all equally good but yet different in plot. My favorites would have to be The Little Photographer, The Apple Tree and The Birds.

The Birds - 5 stars
Monte Verità - 2 stars
The Apple Tree - 4 stars
The Little Photographer - 2 stars
Kiss Me Again, Stranger - 2 stars
The Old Man - 3 stars
Each wonderfully crafted story explores mystery, isolation, and the supernatural

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I went to Cornwall years ago, and at a pirate museum, I heard of “Rebecca” by this author. I’ve not yet picked up a copy as I wasn’t sure if it was my thing, but when I spotted some short stories I thought I would give it a go.

Some of these stories are just ok…I didn’t know that she wrote “The Birds” - that famous Hitchcock film! That wasn’t my favourite though…two of the stories are brilliant! The rest are “ok” to “good” I’m my personal opinion , but I am definitely now picking up this author’s other books!!

My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for introducing me to this author - what a find!

A classic collection of short stories each one worth 5 stars on their own. I've never read Du Maurier before but glad I got the chance to read this book. Thank you Little Brown Book UK and Netgalley for letting me read this ARC.

If you haven't read Du Maurier before, this is a great place to start. I love a classic anthology and this really brings to light some of her earlier, less popular stories that are still incredibly eerie and accessible! The Birds is the clear frontrunner, but I'd give the other stories solid fours across the board. A really fun read and would make a great present for the literary/horror fan in your life.

The modern classics are 'classic' for a reason. When I read this book, I wondered to myself why I do not read more of the golden oldies.'The Birds' is perhaps the most famous among the stories in this collection. It was scary, the way the birds literally terrorize the people of the village. I think I enjoyed 'Monte Verita' the most. It's about the new bride Anna, wife of the nameless narrator's best friend Victor. The narrator and Victor love mountain climbing and one day Anna is lost (or so it seems) to the mountains. This is the longest story in the collection and it's compelling to make you not put the book down. There's a wife who haunts the husband in the form of an apple tree (The Apple tree).

Some of these stories make you feel a certain way about the protagonist and then change your feelings towards them as the story progresses. I'll keep updating this review when these stories pop up in my mind. I think they will keep popping up. If you are in a dry spell, pick this collection up. It reminded me of everything I love in books.

Du Maurier’s short story book “The Birds” is a chilling collection, rich with eerie atmospheres and psychological depth.
In “The Birds”, a farmer notices the birds along the coastline behaving erratically, thrusting onto him the responsibility to care for his family amidst the chaos and uncertainty.
“Monte Verita”, my personal favourite, is a gothic tale of a young wife losing herself in the ominous mountains where women are rumoured to be taken away.
“The Apple Tree” is an odd story of an older man who is haunted by the memory of his deceased wife in the form of a gnarled apple tree. It is an interesting portrait of an ill-fitting relationship in the days when separation was stigmatised and misogyny commonplace.
“The Little Photographer” Is a tragic and cruel cautionary tale, painting the portrait of a bored young mother on a foreign holiday, feeling alone in her stifling role as woman, wife and mother. She gives in to temptation and finds some sadistic satisfaction leading to a stupefying conclusion.
“Kiss Me Again Stranger” is ambiguous in its genre but certainly chilling. A young man becomes hopelessly infatuated with a young woman, but he doesn’t know who she is and why she wants to meet at a cemetery. It is a chilling depiction of an encounter and romantic disillusion.
In “The Old Man”, a man describes the dysfunctional family that lives opposite his house. It is a dazzlingly clever take on domestic abuse and fear of the other.
All the stories are refreshingly different from one another, but share an element of ambiguous horror and gothic, with some deeply uncomfortable moments where the ordinary turns into something unsettling and sinister. The author manages to make all her characters surprising and has a predilection for writing naive romantic men and fatale cold women.
Du Maurier meticulously peels off the mundane to uncover the macabre at its core. With her signature gripping suspense, her stories have the power to truly grip the reader, making them need to know how it ends.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for my honest review.

Absolutely brilliant. Loved it. One of my favourite books is Rebecca and so I am a fan of Daphne Du Maurier anyway. Was a real treat. Beautifully written.

I generally enjoy du Maurier's novels, but her short stories didn't really work for me. I enjoyed "The Birds" and "Kiss me stranger", but the other ones just weren't for me.

A solid read! A collection of short stories with, thankfully, no unnecessary filler. Each story is creepy, haunting and thoroughly enjoyable.

It is very complicated to review story collections because not every story is the same and some I liked more than others. Obviously the title story is what caught my eye, since it has been immortalized in culture by Hitchcock's film, but I found that Du Maurier's writing is as great as I thought it would be. Really made me think I need to get on a finally read Rebecca, Will be rereading this in the autumn.

"Daphne Du Maurier's 'The Birds And Other Stories' is a compelling collection that showcases the author's skill in blending everyday life with elements of the extraordinary. The most famous story, 'The Birds,' sets the tone for the anthology, turning an ordinary occurrence - birds in the natural world - into a narrative filled with suspense and a sense of impending doom. This story, which inspired Alfred Hitchcock's iconic film, is a testament to Du Maurier's ability to create tension and fear from the simplest of concepts.

The collection is not limited to tales of terror. 'Monte Verità,' another standout story, is a fascinating exploration of the human desire for escape and the allure of the unknown. Set against a backdrop of an enigmatic mountain, the story weaves a narrative that is as much about the inner journey of its characters as it is about their physical adventures.

'The Apple Tree' is a subtle, yet deeply affecting story that delves into themes of guilt, grief, and the human psyche. The narrative revolves around a man who becomes fixated on an apple tree, believing it to be a malevolent force. Du Maurier's storytelling in this piece is particularly noteworthy for its psychological depth and the haunting atmosphere she creates.

Other stories in the collection, such as 'The Little Photographer,' 'Kiss Me Again, Stranger,' and 'The Old Man,' contribute to the overall theme of the ordinary becoming extraordinary. Each story stands on its own, yet together, they create a rich tapestry that reflects the diverse range of Du Maurier's writing.

As a long-term reader of Du Maurier's work, I find 'The Birds And Other Stories' to be a representative example of her storytelling prowess. The characters are thoughtfully developed, and each narrative is infused with a sense of realism, despite the often unusual circumstances they find themselves in. This balance is what makes Du Maurier's stories so engaging and relatable.

The settings of each story are vividly described, bringing the scenes to life in the reader's mind. Du Maurier’s descriptive prowess transports the reader to the Cornish villages, the mystical mountains, and the everyday homes where the stories unfold. The attention to detail in her descriptions contributes significantly to the immersive experience of reading her work.

Furthermore, the collection showcases Du Maurier's range as a writer. From psychological thrillers to introspective narratives, each story in the anthology highlights a different aspect of her writing style. This variety ensures that the collection remains engaging throughout and offers something for a wide range of readers.

I have been a fan of Daphne Du Maurier for a good while, largely based on the beautiful, evocative setting, and creepiness, of 'Jamaica Inn', and disturbing 'Rebecca'. Of course, many of Du Maurier's tales, novels and short stories, have been made into films, and largely successfully. In 'The Birds and Other Stories', a collection of six stories in a re-issued classic, brings modern-day readers up-to-date with the writer's work.

The titular 'The Birds' is superb - but most people will be familiar with Alfred Hitchcock's film, and the Californian setting. In the short story, the setting is the Cornish coast - and the tale largely focuses on Nat Hocken and his family. It is suitably creepy, shocking and scary and certainly deserves its place as the title story.. Another favourite is 'The Little Photographer' which is set in France - and shows how such a horrific crime can take place with little thought for its repercussions. I did find some of the other stories a little drawn-out and perhaps strange - maybe some tighter editing could have helped.

This is a great introduction to Daphne Du Maurier's work. I, personally, prefer her novels overall, but the short stories here show quality prose and gripping plots. The stories are definitely worth a read.

I have been intending to read this for years so I was thrilled when this was available to read from NetGalley for Halloween. Du Maurier, in my opinion, is one of the greatest ever short story writers and this collection displays her talents well. Each of the six stories gripped me and whilst the title story is probably the main draw for most, the others should not be overlooked.

It was wonderful to re-read du Maurier’s stories, especially as I have read bios of her life. I will never forget seeing “The Birds” movie a very long time ago as a teenager, and I still can’t see a murmurationof starlings or a crowd of ‘menacing’ black birds without thinking of it. Each of the very different six stories included showcase du Maurier’s skill at building a feeling of menace, off-kilter, dangerous. All are gems and can be read again and again.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC e-copy.

What a treat! A collection of short stories from this master storyteller and an opportunity to review The Birds, if you’ve only seen the film as the story here is very different.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed these stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to review.

This is a must for any Du Maurier fan but is also the perfect introduction for those not familiar with her work. This collection of stories is a great reminder of why DDM is still regarded as one of the best authors.
The stories include The Birds, Monte Verità, The Apple Tree, The Little Photographer, Kiss Me Again, Stranger, & The Old Man and of I'm honest its hard to choose a favourite from the collection.
The book comes with a short introduction giving you a little information about the successes and failures of turning books into films, reminding us that some authors create such a vivid image in the readers mind that no matter how hard you try the book with always be better.

I was enchanted by this captivating selection of short stories, each quite different led by a strong protagonist, intriguing in the manner of Roald Dahl’s ‘Tales of the Unexpected’. Monte Verita had me totally mesmerised! Written during the 1950’s with a delightful style and classic Du Maurier prose.

What a phenomenal collection of gorgeously gothic short stories. Wonderfully done and brilliantly executed

Let's just get this out of the way first; I have never seen the Alfred Hitchcock film, The Birds. I know about it and I've seen film stills. I also knew it was written by Daphne du Maurier so, when the opportunity to read it arose, I was very happy.
She is a master at creating settings and characters. The Birds itself felt oppressive and the tension was built throughout the story.
I enjoyed the other stories too although some were more successf6than others.
All in all, a great collection of short stories.