Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29126 in Books
• Published on: 1995-06-12
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Synopsis
Investigator David Ash is sent to the picturesque village of Sleath in the Chiltern Hills to look into mysterious reports of mass hauntings. What he discovers is a terrified community gripped by horrors and terrorized by ghosts from the ancient village's long history.

Customer Reviews

One for the Herbert fans only
This was my first James Herbert read; I was attracted by the classic ghost story feel of the synopsis.

The book starts well, Sleath becomes a real village in your mind because Herbert's descriptions are so detailed. The plot is carefully constructed, albeit a bit slow, but I really got into it. There was a real sense of tension in the air.

But then... halfway through the book my enthusiasm died. Herbert's best quality (it seems) is his ability to describe places in detail but this is also his downfall. How the pages drag on!

At one point there were perhaps 400 words describing David Ash's camera equipment which we already know about; a box, a slightly smaller box, a suitcase, a tripod, another unmarked box, and lots more boxes in the boot of his car. Riveting stuff!

In the end I could only handle this in small chunks before getting bored, till finally I couldn't pick it up again. Too bad, it was captivating to begin with but as the story evolved, every scene became a tired bag of cliches built around what is otherwise a good plot.... but that just doesnt inspire the effort needed to finish it.

Depends on what writing style you prefer. Not for me...

Could do better...much better
I tried my best with this book, I really did. But I just couldn't finish it. Not because it was too scary, or the plot was bad; it was the dialogue. The stiff, absurdly formal, buttock-clenchingly awful dialogue that could have come from some really dull 1940s black and white movie. I can hardly believe the same man who gave us the excellent Domain and Shrine wrote this rubbish.
You know, you just know, that whenever our (invariably male?) protagonist has necessary or prolonged contact with an invariably young, pretty, available female that they are going to "get it on". Tedious and predictable. Why not give our man a taste for the older ladies, and have him chasing her mother instead! That would be fun and make a refreshing change from the usual `Vicar's daughter' plot fodder.
Or, why not have it so that they can't stand each other, but have to work together. That would be interesting, and would provide opportunities for some humour, of which James Herbert is quite capable. More imagination and scope please, Mr. Herbert.

Good but predictable
I enjoyed this book because of the style with which it was written. I thought the characters were very believable and beautifully brought to life, as James Herbert always does.
There were some excellent moments that were repulsive, frightening and left me checking over my shoulder, as I walked up dark stairs to bed.
However as the story progressed I felt that I was rushing towards an inevitable ending hoping for a twist that never came.