The Museum of Dr. Moses is the intriguing title of a collection of short stories by the marvellous Joyce Carol Oates. The stories are billed as ‘Tales of Mystery and Suspense.’ This is a misnomer. These are a collection of dark, disturbing, macabre maybe, but no less delicious slices of this clever author’s imagination.
Never judge a book by its cover and that is something you should do here. The titles of the stories are sometimes innocuous, ‘Hi! Howya Doin!’, ‘Valentine, July Heat Wave’ but they hide the true nature of the tales of the unravelling of persons, who could be your neighbour or indeed the jogger you pass every day, to the extent of homicide.
The stories are peopled with seemingly ordinary men and women and this makes them even more disturbing. You can almost imagine yourself in similar situations and makes you question your own sanity. Joyce Carol Oates writes deftly and builds the tension brilliantly. Once you begin to read you have to keep going even though you know that something really nasty is going to happen. And there is blood but not always. This author knows the power of suggestion and uses it to outstanding effect. A collection to be enjoyed in daylight.
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Elaine Warden
Joyce Carol Oates has written many books and has one other collection of Tales of Mystery and Suspense- The Female of the Species.