Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

An elderly man discovers an anomalous creature on the Irish moors in the jarring short story, Jeremiah Kildare and the Wolf of the Same County by Robert E. Kearns. Jeremiah Kildare lives in a state of stasis. He has lived in the county of Kildare and the same house for all fifty years of his life. Even though his parents are dead and gone, Jeremiah is still using the same room and bed that he always had. As per his normal routine, Jeremiah gets up early to take care of his animals. However, this morning Jeremiah hurries through his chores. Today, he has other plans. Jeremiah has some valued items buried in the moor awaiting his return. Unbeknownst to him, there is something sinister lying beneath the peat in the moor. Something waiting for him to unearth it.

Jeremiah Kildare and the Wolf of the Same County by Robert E. Kearns is a bewitching and succinct narrative that comes to an unexpected and hair-raising conclusion. The text is flawlessly written in the literary vernacular of the area. The backdrop of the Irish countryside is so exquisitely portrayed, the reader is drawn in by the solitude of the picturesque landscape. The scenery is so well expressed, I felt as if I were there experiencing the cold beauty of the moors along with the main character. The serene setting and the pedantic protagonist are incongruous with the bizarre ending, which creates a paradoxical twist to the plot. Fans of vintage horror flicks will be certain to enjoy this story. Superbly written!