Horror Books

Advantages: Ghost story with a difference
Disadvantages: Sometimes appears a little disjointed

What is the secret of 362 Belisle Street? Or does it have more than one? This is the general theme of this book by Susie Moloney. It is described "no ordinary ghost story" and on Amazon is listed amongst the horror stories. The story - or stories - centres round the house and the various people who buy it, beginning with Glenn Darnley who is the realtor enlisted to sell it, which is shortly after her return to work following the death of her husband. ...
...newly renovated and painted throughout, although not all the colours are to her taste. It has some very unusual features which she feels will help to sell it to any prospective buyer however, many seem to be put off by various aspects. She eventually sells it to a young couple, Rebecca and Dan, who feel it could be the house of their dreams and the first buyers move in in early spring. The husband is an artist, the wife an aspiring business woman. ... Read review

Advantages: Incrdibly easy to read, and less supernatural than his other books
Disadvantages: Disturbing scenarios... what he does best!

I hope to do this James Herbert review more justicve than I did his last! I encountered this book in the none-to-glamorous venue of my local Post Office. Seeing that it was only £2.95, I thought, why not? I had enjoyed the last Herbert book I had read, and I had heard elsewhere that he had received good reviews for some of his other books, which I am yet to read. '48 is based three years after the end of World War II, but it didn't end in the way ...
...a slightly premature end by Hitler, who through desperation to win the war at any costs unleashed a chemical weapon. This chemical weapon back fired though, as it killed everyone. Well.... not quite everyone. Would be a short book then, wouldn't it?! The chemical weapon attacks the blood, and depending on your blood type, you either die a quick, painful death as everything within you ceases working due to the blood thickening, or if you're unlucky, ... Read review

Advantages: A-list horror authors contributing some of their best.
Disadvantages: Not enough mixing of old and new voices.

According to all the hype, this is simply THE anthology to own this millennium. One novel, three novellas, eight novelettes and seventeen plain old short stories. Most of the names on the contents page are from the A-list of dark fiction. It has a nice, eye-catching red cover and an enormous marketing campaign. It would probably iron your shirts for you, given the chance. Headlining is the short novel 'Elsewhere', from the pen of William Peter Blatty. ...
...from his best work, nor indeed the most interesting piece in the collection, 'Elsewhere' is an interesting tale of a haunted house in the middle of nowhere. A premise older than God, but there is enough inversion of the norm to keep the reader confused for much of the tale, and the resolution is ultimately satisfying, if a little simplistic. The characters are as sharp as we've come to expect from this author, but the plot seems to lack the inspiration ... Read review

Advantages: Great ghostly reading
Disadvantages: Not many

...Edward begs Asquith to take a trip with him to Thornham and help in any way he can, and save his brother as he fears for his safety. Upon arrival at the church, they find that the rector is dead, and that there is something not right about the church. Things are hidden in the shadows… Things that are malevolent and want to do harm… And Asquith soon realises that not only is Edward in danger, but so is he and his new wife. Written in 2000 and set ...
...little away and it is a joy to see the story unravel. I have read most of his other books and had been after this one for a while. Now out of print, I ended up buying it on Ebay for eight pounds (second hand). I actually found this a hard to read book, though, and it took me longer than I should have to finish it. Other factors (courses I have been taking etc) might be at work here, but it was an anti climax after searching for the book for so long. ... Read review

Advantages: A true insight into the author, as well as a blunt an honest appraisal of the craft of writing and its industry.
Disadvantages: This book is currently pretty difficult to get hold of, but well worth the effort.

...dismay, Richard Laymon died of a heart attack on the 14th of February 2001. By chance, I had just completed the first draft of this review when I heard the news. It struck me especially hard because, through this unique and special book, I felt I had come to know Mr Laymon very well. 'A Writer's Tale' is a peculiar beast, written by an author in a unique position. While achieving bestselling success in the UK, on his home territory in the United ...
...same time, he was both a success and a failure. 'A Writer's Tale' aims to give the reader an inside look at his story, and is especially geared towards the aspiring writer. Because, at the time, Laymon had absolutely no career to ruin in the United States, he is not afraid to name names, point fingers, and generally give the whole truth of the publishing business as he saw it. These parts of the book make for extremely interesting reading and confirms ... Read review