Reviews & praise for The Librarian's tales

'I came, I saw, I jumped out of my seat'

'Thoroughly enjoyed that. Perfect viewing for a Christmas evening ... so atmospheric and performed so brilliantly. ... You've created something rather wonderful and enduring with that world, very impressive'.

Bestselling author, Robin Jarvis

'We both loved the reading … you really held your listeners'

'It was a really splendid performance - so much more than a simple reading. So glad you're getting such glowing feedback, it's thoroughly deserved'.

Author/playwright, Christopher William Hill

'Tonight I experienced some evocative storytelling from The Librarian. It really captured the imagination and sent a chill down the spine.'

Actor, Richard Usher 

'Very enjoyable, especially with the extra little scare'.

Writer on film & television, Jon Dear

  'The quality of your writing of ghost stories is superb. I have found that very few horror stories have the genuine ability to chill, but both your tales were suitably unnerving and sublimely told’. 

Award-winning 

magician & storyteller, Nick Brunger

'Bespoke and beautiful'

Singer/songwriter/legend, Robert Plant

'The Way Marker is an incredible feat of storytelling - A.G. Smith's storytelling is so vivid that even immediately after seeing it, I remembered it as a full-scale cinematic production! It is a masterclass in the art of the modern ghost story'.

Writer/journalist, Brontë Schiltz

'Supremely creepy. The Librarian's tales will haunt you.' 

Bestselling author, Miranda Dickinson

'The intimate, brooding atmosphere of The Librarian’s reading evoked the fireside tellings of MR James; cosy and chilling in equal measure.'

Co-author of Edgelands of Fear and regular writer for We Belong Dead, The Dark Side and Scream, Simon J. Ballard

It 'really is another marvellous story and very well read. I can only re-iterate my view that the Weeping Bank tales are M R Jamesian in style but do a much better job at being both innovative and fresh than anyone else in the genre.' 

'I attended with my somewhat reluctant husband who was thoroughly converted by the end of the evening.  It was a very welcome change - something out of the ordinary.  The atmosphere was cleverly created.  I particularly enjoyed the use of rich vocabulary in the stories; this seems to be a dying art!'

'May I say that your reading on 22nd was, without doubt, the highlight of my Christmas. You have managed to capture perfectly the atmosphere and sound of the great ghost story writers of yesteryear'.

'Apart from the occasional involuntary gasp of shock, there was not a sound in the room as we were swept along, partly by the humour, but mostly by the unremitting terror of the twists and turns towards the ultimate final solution.

What utter joy it was to recapture the pure childhood pleasure of being read to once again'.

'I'd never been to a Weeping Bank reading before but I had heard from a friend that t captures the chills and atmosphere of a theatre or film ghost story, yet done by storytelling alone. I was doubtful. I honestly felt the hairs rise on my neck during the reading, this is something very different and shouldn't be missed'.

'The story was brilliant - but the way it was delivered took it to another level. The atmosphere was genuinely chilling. Weeping Bank were meant to do this!'

 'A.G. Smith has been scaring audiences at libraries in South Staffordshire now for more than ten years. 

He never fails to deliver a chilling, imaginative story that grips our audiences. I have seen people leap out of their seats with fright and the whole crowd descend into nervous laughter after a particularly effective scare. 

Every Autumn and Winter season needs stories like this, that evoke the tradition of fireside storytelling that have bewitched audiences since the dawn of time'.

South Staffs and Cannock Library Development Manager

'I would like to say a BIG Thank you to you both as it was a fantastic evening again which everyone enjoyed. The story was excellent and I think the sound effects really helped set the atmosphere too, especially the sound of the wind whistling throughout, made it really spooky. 

… Also, it’s really good for us to be able to build an event around your story telling, … [it] increases our footfall and gets people in who may not use the library so they may be encouraged to join.

Thank you for promoting the Library too. I loved the fact that the story was based around the Librarian and the Library. That was really good. …

Many thanks, and looking forward to a repeat visit in the Autumn/Winter.'

Dudley Library Manager

'Working with Rob and Alan to bring Weeping Bank to our library was a dream. They're so dedicated and detail-oriented that everything was arranged well in advance, from tickets and timings right down to set dressing. The event itself was an incredible theatrical experience that had the entire audience enraptured right from the beginning. It attracted an audience that was a great mix of familiar faces and brand new visitors to the library, which we're thrilled about. We can't wait to welcome Weeping Bank back for some more tales'.

Events Co-ordinator at The Hive Library, Worcester