“Lost Hearts” is my first foray into the writing of M R James. It won’t be my last. I am deeply surprised by how dark and evil this story was given the era in which it was written.

In the midst of good, proper, Edwardian culture, the plot revolves around a seemingly sane and rational practitioner of ancient blood rite magic on the children. It is what I imagine it would be like to read a testament from the likes of Jack the Ripper, but worse. It is shocking and disturbing and, for the horror fan, highly enjoyable and satisfying.