After Midnight: Thirteen Chilling Tales for the Dark Hours by Daphne du Maurier, published on 30th September 2025
The UK edition of After Midnight
There is currently much excitement surrounding the publication of After Midnight: Thirteen Chilling Tales for the Dark Hours, a stunning new hardback collection by Daphne du Maurier, published in the UK and the US on 30th September 2025.
The US edition of After Midnight
From Daphne du Maurier, "a writer of fearless originality" (The Guardian), comes a collection of her thirteen most mesmerising tales including iconic stories such as "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now" with an introduction by Stephen King.
During her writing career, Daphne du Maurier wrote over 50 short stories, some very early on when she was learning her craft, but others at different times later in her life. There are even at least ten drafts and plans for short stories that never actually reached publication in the Special Collections Archive at the University of Exeter, where many of Daphne's papers and manuscripts are held.
Despite the volume of her output of short fiction, it is an area of Daphne's writing that has often been overlooked, and she is undoubtedly best remembered for her novels, particularly the ones set in Cornwall, such as Jamaica Inn, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel and The King's General. This has always been a shame, as Daphne's short stories show a quality of writing that is second to none. They are often dark, grim, and challenging, but sometimes witty and entertaining, and they are always unputdownable. But now, this new collection will bring Daphne du Maurier's short stories into the forefront of people's imaginations.
When Virago decided to publish this remarkable collection, they set out to choose the very darkest of Daphne's writing and, in doing so, have put together a magnificent body of work. Some of the stories will be familiar to you, such as The Birds and Don't Look Now, but others will be less so, although just as gripping. If you have not read some of these short stories before, you will enjoy finding a new side to Daphne's writing.
Here are the titles you will find in After Midnight:
The Blue Lenses, Don't Look Now, The Alibi, The Apple Tree, The Birds, Monte Veritΰ, The Pool, The Doll, Ganymede, Leading Lady, Not After Midnight, Split Second and The Breakthrough.
And here are the publication details you will need when ordering your copy:
UK Hardback
After Midnight: Thirteen Chilling Tales for the Dark Hours by Daphne du Maurier
Virago Press, part of the Little, Brown Book Group
ISBN: 978-0349019543
Published: 30 Sep 2025
RRP: £25.00
US Hardback
After Midnight: Thirteen Tales for the Dark Hours by Daphne du Maurier
Scribner, an imprint of Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 978-1668204269
Published: 30th September 2025
RRP: $33.00
Audiobook
After Midnight: Thirteen Chilling Tales for the Dark Hours
W.F. Howes Ltd
Ebook ISBN: 9780349019536
Listening Length: 21 hours and 49 minutes
Release date: 30th September 2025
£25.00
Ann Willmore, September 2025.