Once you start it, you won't be able to switch it off!
How does it compare to audio works by the same author?
Excellent
Advantages:
One more to go !
Disadvantages:
Could have been clearer character blending with Rats
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
The next instalment in "The Rats" trilogy was a surprise to me, simply because I had no idea "The Rats" was part of a set of three books until I posted the review on Dooyoo for it. I was genuinely excited that there was more in the series to read about the giant, killer rats from London's sewers.
This time however the stage is set in Epping Forest and the tranquil and calm forest becomes the stomping ground for a breed of animal that is far from calm and peaceful.
Luke Pender is our lead character this time round and he has a link to the first outbreak of killer rats in London four years prior, by way of his family having been slaughtered.
During the four years after the initial outbreak, Pender joins a company called Ratkill, who research and implement new and improved methods to combat vermin problems, and stay on top of any new Intel that may suggest the giant killer rats have returned to satisfy their blood lust.
After the first of what is believed to be killer rats are spotted in the forest by a young tutor, Jenny, and reported, Pender is called in and the whole nightmare begins again.
It takes a fair while for Herbert to really get going with this instalment. There is a small appetiser of horror at the beginning where he describes some farm cats being found after what is obviously a rat attack but other than that it is fairly quiet for about the first quarter of the book.
Lots of characters are introduced during this time, all except Pender being extras to the story and not really developed past their ultimate reason for being in the forest and subsequent death which you know is coming. The characters are described in enough detail that you can wince at their grisly demise but not enough it seems boring and too developed for such a small role in the story. Herbert did tend to do this with a character in The Rats and it just seemed a little bit surplus to requirements.
The only constant character that we hear from all through the book is Luke Pender and he is our hero. Herbert has managed to create a very normal, yet compelling man in Pender and his history with the rats means he has a real hatred for them, which shines through in the scenes where he is sharing the limelight with them so to speak. There is a romantic interest for him and this is played exactly right in my opinion. There is not too much detail on the relationship, just a few "close personal" scenes which a few may find uncomfortable, although if you pick up a book about killer rats ripping apart humans the odd bit of sex should not deter you too much. Unfortunately I would have liked a more solid link with Pender to the first book as I felt the simple sentence two thirds of the way through, to explain about his family, was too weak and could have been played out a lot more for a better connection.
What I did find disappointing was the exclusion of all mention of Harris, the main character from the first book, The Rats. I didn't necessarily want him to be central to the second story but he was so important in the beginning it seemed slightly odd that he was not consulted or drafted to help with the second outbreak. He was mentioned once but that was it and I felt it could have been a better link to the two stories if Harris had been a little more involved in the Epping Forest saga.
This of course means that the second book could be read as a stand-alone story. Herbert mentions at the beginning how the rats came to be in Epping Forest, journeying from the underground in London, to escape the noxious gas and pulse emitted to kill them after the London outbreak. This gives you enough information to understand what happened without having to read The Rats if you chose to do so. On the other hand I am glad that I am reading them in order as it does build up the tension slightly more, knowing what they are capable of, and waiting for the hell to be unleashed.
I did find the setting much more pleasing in Lair than in The Rats, simply because it was out of a dreary London street/sewer and into the fresh green surroundings of the forest. The book was published in 1979 but it does not feel as dated as the first one did to me and the background was much more pleasurable to read about, which actually led to more horror as the animals were massacred by the rats.
The ending of this book was very good and I have to say it could go either way in its conclusion. I was unsure as I was reading as it has been so well written that it is hard to tell what will become of everyone and has to be one of my favourite endings of a horror story. There was enough gore and horror to satisfy fans and enough character story tied in with the revulsion to satisfy the less blood lusty of us.
Overall, I am again very pleased that there is one more book to read in this trilogy, being Domain, and I look forward to it with anticipation.
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How does it compare to similar audio books?
Excellent
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