'Dogs and Monsters' is a disturbing collection of eight short stories, based on myths and legends - Haddon explains which in the acknowledgements at the end. Some I was familiar with, like the story of the minotaur that opens the collection, others I didn't know. The stories are dark, verging on horror, although compellingly written in Haddon's clear, readable style. For me, the first story about the minotaur is the best, and the cleverest. Some of the others I found too horrible, particularly the one based on the story 'The Island of Dr Moreau'.

Although I didn't exactly enjoy the stories at times, I can certainly admire how effectively they are written. If you enjoy being disquieted by what you read - and lots of people do - this would be a great choice. Haddon is very good at creating atmosphere and conjuring up a vivid sense of place and time - really important in short stories where there's less time than in a novel to make an impression. I think these stories will stick in my mind, even though I may not want them all to.

I'd recommend this to readers looking for something a bit dark and a bit different. It's not a book to read if you're feeling squeamish or are looking for something to cheer you up. But if you're in the mood for a bit of spine-shivering then it's a great choice.