The Magic Cottage - James Herbert

I am an absolute follower of James Herbert and all his work, I think I own nearly ever book he has written, so of course I have to read them all. I have to say though I am not a fan of this particular book.

It starts well, telling you all about the 2 main characters, Mike and Midge (her real name is Margaret). They both live in the 'big city' but want a slower paced life in the countryside to help with their work. Mike is a musician and Midge is an artist.

After a lot of searching they finally agree on a beautiful, yet rundown cottage in the middle of nowhere. On first viewings of the cottage Mike finds an awful lot wrong with it and gets the builders in, but they can't find as much wrong with the place as anticipated, which is good I guess.

Anyway, once moved in we get to meet some new characters, there is Midge's agent and Mike's old drug taking friend from way back. We also get to meet a few animals that like to visit the 'magic' cottage, there are two main characters here also, a little bird and a little squirrel (Rumbo), there are various other animals who also like to visit.

As the story proceeds we learn more about Mike and Midge's relationship and how their talents flourish while living in the cottage, paintings coming to life, music flowing beautifully, etc. There is however something in the attic, but I will not spoil this for you....just what could it be.....Mike explores....

We then get to meet the Synergists (a cult) and their leader, the other main character, Mycroft. He is a mysterious figure and it seems he might have strange powers, which you will learn of as you read on. Mycroft has a special interest with Midge, not so with Mike. Mike doesn't like exploring his Psyche and is very cynical, while Midge is into it in a big way, but this is only because of her past and the feelings she has laid hidden for years, things that happened in her childhood.....

Anyway, strange things happen, strange people visit and things seem to get darker as the story goes on and what just do the strange cult from the big grey and daunting mansion want with Midge? What happened to Midge when she was younger? What happens to Rumbo? Who exactally is the mysterious Mycroft? What happens to Mike and Midge? A lot of questions that get answered as you read......

I do have to say you can put the book down once you start reading it, due to the lack of the gore and excitement, but you just want to keep reading to see if anything truly exciting is going to happen......more intreigue than dramatics I would say!

Overall I think this book is not as good as Herbert's previous work and the only reason I kept reading is because I was waiting for a 'big' finish so to speak. This is a very very slow paced book, maybe I only think this because I love the fear and gore of most of Herbert's other books. If you like a nice, not so scarey, slowpaced read, then this is the book for you. It is interesting in parts, but for the most I could only read a few chapters at a time so it took me a long time to finish.

Could be scarey I guess, that is if you live in a cottage in the middle of nowhere on your own.....just read on and discover the secrets of Granmarye Cottage......