Horror Books

I couldn't put this book down, I was drawn into the pages with this story. How exciting to find a book that I liked so much, they are so few and far between. If you like some drama and suspense this is well worth the read.

I loved this book. It is smart, surprising and great fun. If you love history, mystery, magic, or just a good old fashioned page turner, you will love it too. It will keep you guessing from beginning to end.

Dundury is an excellent book! This book captures love, excitement, and adventure as you follow the characters through the southern, gothic town of Dundury.

Read two thirds of the book in the first sitting. The only reason I put it down was because I had to be up for work in 4 hours. Intriguing characters, facinating plot. Well worth the read. Looking forward to book two.

This book is really, really fun! I enjoyed reading it and couldn't put it down. It is a book mixed with magicand begs to be read! It is very thought provoking! I can't wait for the author to get the next book out!!!

There's no point whatsoever in reviewing the work of Poe. As you know, or soon will know, it is the work of genius & above reproach, particularly from a mere mortal Amazon reviewer like myself.

So instead I am reviewing this collection of his works specifically. Safe to say there a hundreds of books out there containing his work, many of which are misleadingly titled 'the complete...' or 'the definitive...'. Nonsense. None of these books have been anywhere near complete. On top of that, few, if any, are attractively presented or pieced together with some logical thought process evident.

This thick, hefty (but not large-sized) 1984 Library of America edition tips the scales at over 1500 pages(!) and has all of his mesmerising short stories, all of his fascinating poems, and his other sought after works which other reviewers here detail more closely. Better yet, for once they are in chronological order, which gives the reader the opportunity to follow Poe's own development.

Yes, it is expensive, but this is an absolute essential for your library, and assuming you bring up your children to love reading, will be in your family for many generations. This is not an expensive book, this is an investment for you and your family that will give you decades of pleasure (150 years after his death and we're still reading Poe!)

THIS my friends, is the absolute and comprehensive collection of the works of Poe, contained within a beautiful and fittingly gothic-styled hardback. Don't sell yourself short and look for a cheaper & inferior book, snap up one of the remaining copys of this book, it will outlive you...

If you want the real Poe, the Library of America version of Poe's Poetry and Tales is the best bargain going. This volume should give either a lover of Poe or a serious scholar a handy volume of the Poe canon. I am not going to extol the virtues of Edgar Allan Poe. He was one of our most important national authors and an innovator of forms and genres. Master of the macabre, inventor of the detective story, explicator of the psychotic soul-Poe was the father of psychological horror literature as well as an accomplished satirist, critic and poet. If you want all of the poems and tales all in one place, go buy this book. Apparently the two volume Borzoi Poe (Knopf) edited by Arthur Hobson Quinn and Edward H. O'Neill is out of print. That was certainly a respectable edition of the poems and stories, and it included, the marvelous metaphysical Eureka as well as all the tales and poems and a respectable cross-section of the criticism in a handsome two-volume edition. The Modern Library and Doubleday complete Poe's are good enough to read for pleasure. But if you want a version of Poe that can be used as a reading text as well as a scholarly resource (meaning serious stuff) then this Library of America volume is just the thing for you. It is edited by Patrick Quinn, a highly respected Poe scholar, and its texts are good-and you get all of them. It's certainly a bargain when compared to the Thomas Ollive Mabbott/Burton Pollin variorum edition, a multi-volume extravaganza. And most of us don't need all that detail anyway. This is a nice volume because it encapsulates the canon of the fiction and poetry-clean and compact. Here you get all the poems and tales (short stories) as well as The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, the timely Poe version of Lewis and Clark called The Journal of Julius Rodman, the cosmological extravaganza/ metaphysical tour de force that Poe called Eureka. This is all of Poe that you might want to read. And the texts are all derived from the real authoritative readers' texts defined by the best Poe scholars. There is a second volume in the series that contains criticism that brings it all back home.

Book was in even better shape than advertised; service was prompt and hassle-free.

The books of the Library of America are among the very best and most beautiful editions I know of. The paper is acid-free material, it won't yellow and get all brittley any time soon, and you can lay that book open on a table and it won't close itself. It is a great object and I won't even discuss Poe's work here, though tons could be said, of course.

This is a hardcover book with a neat dusjacket; it also has one of these thin ribbons to mark your page. It's pure awesomeness I tell you! Anyone who enjoys Poe would do well to get this edition, it's the best out there and it contains all of Poe's fiction, including some never-published-before material.

I've always had a liking for Edgar Allan Poe, with his tales of horror, mystery and suspense, done in the atmospheric prose of a master writer. Since I live close enough, I've even made some trips to his gravesite, a place that is always surrounded by a sense of sadness.

Poe was a tormented genius who died young, under mysterious circumstances, and at the time of his death he wasn't deservingly popular. Certainly his work was not cute romances for the masses -- he explored the darkness of the human heart, love, satire, and the earliest whodunnit stories. And "Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe" brings together all of his poetry and writings in one book.

Poe's fiction writings include short stories and novellas, which tend to be rather weird -- a treasure-hunt and a golden insect, a ship caught in a whirlpool, a hypnotized man talks about the universe, and stories of despair, madness, and occasionally beauty. There is also his trilogy of Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin stories, which were the first to feature a brilliant detective solving an impossible crime.

Most people know about "The Raven" (which even has the Baltimore Ravens named after it) but Poe actually wrote a lot of poetry, most of which readers never heard of. Sometimes dark, or whimsical, or even both. "By a route obscure and lonely/Haunted by ill angels only/Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT/On a black throne reigns upright..."

And, of course, the horror. This is what Poe is best known for, including such well-known stories as "The Fall Of The House Of Usher." But there are also lesser-known gems -- tales of a plague invading a party, being buried alive, a portrait that siphoned the life out of its subject, and a nightly visit to an Italian crypt leading to madness.

Don't read "Complete Stories and Poems" all at once. It's too intense. It's better to soak it in a little at a time, so that you can get a better feel for the different kinds of writing that Poe did, and how he excelled at pretty much everything he put down on paper. Most great writers can't boast of that much.

Poe's writing is what makes even his least story or poem come alive -- he brought a gothic, misty vibrancy to his stories, and could make his quiet dialogue seem utterly chilling (" "I have no name in the regions which I inhabit. I was mortal, but am fiend..."). It's not hard to see why he was an influence on authors such as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Conan Doyle and Franz Kafka.

The Library of America edition is a lovely collection of Poe's work -- the paper is thin and of high quality, the binding is very strong, and great care has been made for this copy. It's expensive, but it's ideal for the serious, frequent Poe reader.

"Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe" is a must-have for anyone with an appreciation for great literature and beautiful, dark writing.

This beautifully written, lyrical book is genuinely scary in a way that puts much modern children's literature well and truly in the shade. Grandmother Oldknowe is protected by all the good things of the earth - stone and water, and all the deep things of nature - in her struggle with the horrible Melanie Powers. Aided by Tolly and Ping, it's a battle for the soul with moments that will make adults draw their breath sharply.
Not a book for those who are easily scared, nor for those with strong prejudices against the supernatural - but for the bravehearted reader, an truly thrilling ride awaits.

Why is this book out of print?

In this, the fifth Green Knowe book, Tolly AND Ping come to spend the summer with Tolly's great grandmother, Mrs. Oldknow, and do battle with the forces of evil as personified by a newneighbor, Melanie Powers.

Absolutely wonderful -- my favorite part is the very end, where everything comes together serendipitously to defeat Miss Powers, leaving you to feel that all is right with the world.

After "The Children of Green Knowe," this is my favorite of the five central books of the sequence. It includes all the elements that make the series immortal: the mysterious old Norman manor house with its lush garden and bordering river, the wise and wonderful Mrs. Oldknow who often seems to have more than one foot in any time but her own, her young great-grandson Tolly (now probably about 12) to provide the spark, tales of the mysterious past of the house, and magic--some of it not very nice. Kids who enjoy identifying with the juvenile protagonists of R. L. Stine's horror tales may be well served by being introduced to Tolly and his friend Ping, the Chinese refugee boy, and following along as they slowly become aware of the character and lack of scruples of "Dr. Melanie Powers," the sinister lodger at The Firs, who wants to acquire a gramarie (book of spells) said to have belonged to a tutor employed at the house in the 17th century. While Mrs. Oldknow quickly comes to agree that Dr. Powers is both powerful and evil, it's left up to the boys to beat off her nastier efforts and, ultimately, find a means of defeating her utterly. (Ping has an excellent heroic role when he summons the shade of the slain gorilla Hanno.) Mrs. Oldknow's lodger, the scholarly Mr. Pope, also has his moment of glory when, reciting an ancient Hebrew spell for his tape recorder, he unknowingly halts a spell that threatens to literally ruin the manor. Even the time-travelling blind girl Susan makes an appearance, though I wonder that Tolly's first ghost-friends, Toby and his sibs, are conspicuously absent, this being as much their house as Tolly's--perhaps more: they've been there longer! The one question that itches at me is what has become of Tolly's stepmother: her husband, his father, is mentioned and even arrives at the end of the book, but she isn't and doesn't.

Children like to be deliciously frightened, and this book is a superior title to frighten them with--though not one you'll want them reading alone in their rooms late at night! A superior entry into the series.

I remember reading these books on my summer vacations to my grandparents...I was bored and the local town librarian recommended them to me. Many years later, looks for books on mysterious houses for a nephew, I remembered and re-discovered them. My favorite is An Enemy At Green Knowe. The story is full of twists and turns and quite frightening events, with the excitement lasting just long enough to tantalize the reader. You feel the house itself is a living breathing character, as is true of the entire series. This is the kind of book an adult needs to put in the hands of the student -- as is true with A Wrinkle In Time -- and sit back while the child becomes wrapped in the world of Green Knowe. A superior children's book!

The fifth book in Lucy Boston's "Green Knowe" series finally brings together our two main protagonists: the house's blood relative Tolly and the Chinese refugee Ping, both of whom have featured in the previous books, but never together. Unfortunatly we do not see their meeting, but instead join the story half-way through the summer, by which time the two are already best friends.

As always, the mysterious Green Knowe is filled with ancient and semi-magical artefacts (all of which are actually real relics that belong in the author's home on which she based the books) and Grandmother Oldknow tells the children stories concerning the past inhabitants of the house. Now for the first time, she tells them a story that holds a more sinister edge to it. In the 17th century a young boy had a tutor that was said to dabble in alchemical practices, and have a number of magical books with which he created his spells. An author with astonishing vision for her time, Boston highlights the unfairness of such a man being thought of as noble and intelligent for following such a practice, whilst harmless women were often prosecuted for dabbling in herblore. Grandmother Oldknow tells the children that Doctor Vogel eventually burnt all his equipment with the help of the local minister (whose testimony was found in "The River of Green Knowe", but only now translated), but it is rumoured that one book of dark spells may have escaped the flames.

In typical Green Knowe fashion, in which the past regularly surges up to greet the present, it is not just a coincidence that directly after this storytelling a new neighbour comes to call: Melanie Powers, whose interest in the house and in the legend of Dr Vogel hints at her true intentions. She is after the missing book, and begins a systematic assault on Green Knowe as its first truly evil antagonist, whereas up until now the worst the children have faced is meddling adults. Like the Twelve Plagues of Eygpt, Ms Powers sends nasties crawling into the Green Knowe: maggots, snakes and bird-snatching cats.

But of course, Tolly and Ping have their own spells and allies, and with this comes wonderful reappearences from previous characters, including the spirit of the gorilla Hanno and the ghostly past-resident Susan. Even the starlings, who have been pests in previous books, prove their worth. It is stirring stuff to see the children fight passionatly for the home they love and attempt to reach the book before Powers does. I only wish Boston had taken the opportunity to include more characters: what about Ida and Oskar? Toby, Alexander and Linnet? Boggis and Feste the horse?

It is the first Green Knowe book to instigate a good against evil theme, and for that reason is sure to be a favourite among most readers since all the other books make more meandering and whimsical reading. In fact, one should be warned that this installment can get a little scary at times, and even gruesome, as in the case of Powers hanging dead birds on a clothesline or the sight of a horned ritual stick, which was described so evocatively that it sent shivers down my spine: "they recognized it at once as absolutely evil." I should also warn New-Agers and modern day "witches" that Ms Powers is a witch in the medieval description of the word - with black magic and links to Satan.

A great addition to the "Green Knowe" books, though often mistaken for the final installment. This is false, as there are six books in the series, and the last title is "The Stones of Green Knowe", an essential part of the collection. Boston claims that she wrote these books for her own amusement, and that has never been more apparent than in "An Enemy at Green Knowe" since many questions are left unanswered concerning the background of Mr Powers and the real intentions of Dr Vogel, yet despite that, this book is one of my favourites.

And as always, Peter Boston's illustrations are excellent, and I love Brett Helquist's new covers; let's face it, these books were in need of a face-lift.

C.S. Friedman is the author. OMG is this a good book. So thick and rich and... gah - it even makes you think. I LOVE this book.

This is also a very interesting story in many ways. The introduction details how the "documents" were recovered and we discover something which I've known as a storyteller all along -- ghouls are a vital part of Kindred existance. We see just want a ghoul will go through to service his master and himself, we see his identification with a clan, and indeed we see his own desires for knowledge -- all of these are something that other Vampire guides might lead you to think were impossible once enslaved by the blood. The "documents" themselves are written interestingly -- text from the "ancient sources" interspersed with a dialogue of commentaries through the ages each written in a unique script giving the sense of a real exchange of ideas and personalities. Some intriquing play on previous "ancient texts" as well as comfirmation of some ideas I'm sure are not unique to our game. Well worth buying and using.

I found the Erciyes Fragments very interesting because I have always been interested in what kind of character Cain (real and fiction) was. This book gives you an insight about Cain from Cain. It's also very interesting how it seems like Cain almost felt like a foster father or a loving uncle to the "Sons of Seth", or Humans. He even punished his childer for killing without reason, which is part of the reasons for each clan and their unique curse. I also thought it was rather intriguing how Cain left his childer to fend for themselves during the flood. This apparently resulted in the 3rd generation's cannibalistic tendencies in the respect that the only way they could survive was to drink one another's blood. Then when the flood was over that was the only blood they preferred. This book gives a unique and extremely thrilling look at vampires and what made them what they are. I highly recommend getting the Erciyes Fragments.

Here's my easy description- in content it is very similar to the book of Nod. I think of it as a beuatiful sequel, the art direction immaculate, the legends and myths, stunning. Overall, it is one of the most impressive books White Wolf had yet released, full of hints, subterfuge and pondering the nature and lineage of the damned. It is well written, and interesting enough on its own without the context of the game that spawned it, Vampire: The Masquerade. As far as brilliant tomes go, I have no complaints, only adulation for the hard work that went into it. Viva unlife! (I apologize, dear reader, it is a penchant of mine to become carried away.)

Another fascinating addition to the "legend" that created the clans. (I have read the "Book of Nod" and The Erciyes Fragments is supposed to be a more complete version although I HIGHLY recommend getting both. The Erciyes fragments also has in the margins "comments" from elder vampire clan members and/or scholars who had come previously to the secluded monestary mentioned in the book to read the "Book of Nod" and written their opinions and interpretations in the margins. Not only do you get a fascinating story, but the comments made makes a reader question even more the actual "truth". The Erciyes Fragments answers SOME questions while posing more in the end! It continues White Wolf's ever torturous tradition of mystery, intrigue, and darkness and it is a WONDERFUL supplement to both table-top and live-action Vampire the Masquerade ... although I don't recommend quoting it to an elder. *WINK* (a little gaming humour there...)

This book had my attention from the first word to the last. A definate must read. I wait in anticipation for the sequel.

I enjoyed the book immensely, I am eagerly anticipating the announcement that this book is going to film.

where is the second book?!?!we need a sequel!!!catherine taylor is a breath of fresh air when it comes to storytelling. we need more books by her...(very soon, we hope!!!)

Essence of Lilacs will make a believer out of a non believer. This book has such depth and stories within a story that you can't help but turn page after page. I read this book while off on holiday break and literally finished it in 8 hours! I have since recommended it to several friends. Just when you think you have the story figured out, the author hits you with a slight twist that again leaves you hanging to the point that you can't put it down. Although this book is fiction, it holds more truths then we may care to admit. I look forward to a sequel but even more would love see this done in movie form. I hope to read more from this author. Her ability to keep me interested was something that not all authors have been able to do. I highly recommend this book.

AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!!!! YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT THIS ONE DOWN...A PARANORMAL PLEASURE. The psychic community would love more books from this down to earth, tell it like it is author!

Well, what to say.

Having been to the reading and book signing for Gabrielle's book down in Austin only alil while ago. I arrived early to aquire My copy of the book and a few others I was looking for. Making My way upstairs to the signing area, the band who opend for her BlackMolly was setting up, So being early I found a comphy spot an began to read. Getting into it was alil hard, but then again every book I read is like this for Me. I was pleased to see the book open up further and I dived right in... I enjoy the fact that Gabrielle told a vampire story in an untraditional way. Most books I've read that leaven an opening for it to be come a series are not done so well. I was pleased to see she left that door open just perfectly...

I really do not have any negative comments about her book what so ever... chuckles ok maby alil longer... as I'm trying to patiently wait till April for the 2nd half... but as they say. " all good things come to those who wait" sooo I wait.

Gabrielle.. you did a lovely job dear!!!! I love the book

and again Was a delight to meet you.


With Respect


Chris

Gabrielle Faust's Eternal Vigilance breaks new ground in the vampire genre with a host of questions still remaining. Enter the mind of Tynan Llyweln who awakes to find a world he once new shattered by a brutal war. And an ancient vampire race seizes its own dark magic to help an ancient vampire God. In a futuristic world,taking place in Scotland, part Blade Runner, part Thirty Days of Night, Gabrielle brings something fresh to the table to drink. Her descriptions are poetic, beautiful and frightening. Not since Interview with a Vampire has there been an original tale of the undead such as this one. I recommend it for a Stoker.

" Voices swarmed around me like hungry spirits eager to visit the flesh again. A million caustic sounds burned a twisted path to where I stood at the edge of mayhem"-

Poetic, enchanting. This book has all the artful and horrifying prose of Clive Barker, yet delivers non-stop story. Faust is fleshing out brilliant characters. I can only look forward to an immortality such as her story. And it will continue in a sequel.

Vampire fiction usually doesn't interest me at all, and I picked this up hesitantly at the recommendation of a mutual friend. Needless to say (based on the five-star rating) I was pleasantly surprised.

The first in what I hope will be a successful series, "Eternal Vigilance" avoids the typical vampire cliches and sets up characters and plot well for future installments.

It starts off somewhat slowly, but the pace continues to build rapidly throughout, drawing you in and leaving you wanting more.

If you're already a fan of the vampire sub-genre, I can only assume you'll be wishing there was a six-star option

When I know a book is going to be part of a series, it has to be pretty darn good for me to consider forking out for future instalments. Unfortunately, this book doesn't work so well as a stand-alone novel, and that was disappointing.

Basically, Eternal Vigilance is a vampire Fantasy novel set in 2111. Tynan, a vampire who created and led his own religion, has been asleep for a hundred years. After letting down the vampires who followed him, when his belief in his own faith crumbled, he cast a spell that should have sent him to sleep forever. It didn't. He wakes to find the world he once knew ravaged by a fierce war, and technology literally evolving on its own.

Tynan is different from other vampires--every time he kills and feeds he absorbs the pasts of his victims into his own memory. It is this unusual characteristic, as well as the human traits he can't shake off, which led to his hatred of the world and a battle in which he disgraced himself by killing another vampire.

The first half of Eternal Vigilance deals mainly with backstory, which is necessary but a little tedious. However, when you get through that part, things start to get more interesting. Some of the immortals are not exactly pleased by Tynan's return, and he fears their reactions. It's obvious Tynan is special, as well as an outcast in the immortal council. The story builds up slowly and delicately, as we gradually learn more about the Phuree, a rebel uprising that believes in ancient magic rather than the new technology favoured by the all-powerful Tyst Empire.

I absolutely loved the cover art, with a moment of "Ooo, shiny!" when I first picked the book up. Very appealing to my goth side. It took me a while to get into the story, and I wasn't really sure if I was going to like it at first. It's a bit hit and miss in places, but it's obvious the author has a lot of good ideas, which I'm really hoping will come through later on.

Tynan is quirky and likeable. The relationship he has with his pet cat Dune is a particularly nice touch. I would have liked all the main characters to be drawn with a little more depth, but as this is only the first part of a series I would expect their story arcs to be pursued later on. I found it a little hard to follow the story in places as some of the characters weren't distinguished well enough from others. Although Eternal Vigilance can be tough going at times, I still think it's a pretty good read.

Eternal Vigilance is interesting and poetically written, although the poetic language can get a bit purple in places. I am intrigued to see what will happen in the second instalment--hopefully after such a long build-up there will be a lot more violence and action, and also more explanation of the exciting technology and magic which has appeared only in brief glimpses so far.

Good fun, and slightly camp. A worthy addition to any collection of vampire fiction.

[review written by Jess Nash for GUD Magazine]

I just finished Eternal Vigilance this morning. It kept me up the entire night. I am now anxiously awaiting book two of this series :/ I'm not a big Vampire fan, though I read Vampire Lestat after seeing "Interview"...I'm more of a sci-fi reader, but this book has something for everyone in it. It's an engaging story with some of the most beautiful, poetic writing I've seen in a long time. The book is getting good reviews too, so don't just take my word for it: http://www.fearzone.com/blog/eternal-faust.

I love the book and I'm sure you will too! Enjoy!

I couldn't go to bed without finishing this book. Eight years ago when I actually had a bedtime I stayed up until 4:28 in the morning because I had to finish it. You get a clue of who's evil in the book, obviously but there are so many suprises. He's very intelligent.I honestly felt like I was watching the whole thing happen. If I tell anyone about certain scenes I might ruin the book for you. The author describes everything beautifully.

Seventeen-year-old Toni West is new to Clear River, Florida, and eager to find a summer job. So, when she answers a want ad and is hired to baby-sit an 11-year-old kid (William Southerland) for two weeks, she thinks she's got it made. Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true. After receiving several threatening crank calls and finding a dead pet in the pool, she's ready to call it quits and go home--but someone won't let her leave alive. (Hmm, I wonder who...)

"The Evil Child" is kind of slow, and certainly predictable. I mean, the reader already knows who the bad guy by reading the title alone. This second addition to the Baby-sitter's Nightmares series isn't as good as the first one ("Alone in the Dark" by Daniel Parker), but it is worth checking out if you like teen horror, as well as the other two: "Lights Outs" by Bernard O'Keane and "A Killer in the House" by J. H. Carroll.

Hello I'm from Belgium. And i Have read that book and i found it very exciting. Ofcours i have got read it in Dutch.(De Laatste nacht).

This book would have to be the best book I have ever read.It is very scary and it is very exciting.I have to buy the whole series!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was packed with mystery and suspense from beginning to end.i read this whole book in one day,and i would like to buy the whole babysitter's nightmares series.this book was excellent and it is way better than any of the other thrillers that I have on my bookshelf.

I'll admit to you that I'm not a novella person. I love big, meaty books. Well, this may be short (about 120 pages or so), but the story is thick and meaty enough to satisfy.

The book starts out innocently enough, but soon enough it draws you into a very tense, almost bitter story of madness. The book is extremely well written and the gorgeous language ensnares you until, before you know it, you are thoroughly hooked.

It's not a quick read, but by the time it's finished you feel like you've just experienced a rollercoater ride!

Kevin grew up in a household with seven siblings, his parents, and a menagerie of animals. He knew death when he was young as his dad had a tendency to back up without looking so was always running over a pet or two until the day he ran over his three years old daughter Doris. Forty years later on his deathbed, he tells his only surviving child Kevin that he wishes he never hit Doris.

Over the years filled with death, Kevin learns to speak with ghosts who over time have become his only friends; phantasms like Ghastly William and Fat Leonard, his late dad or some other dead blood relative. He keeps track of his encounters in a journal, but when he looks back he wonders about his spouse; neither William nor Leonard can explain where she fits into his life as she seems just out of his reach even when they touch.

THE EYES OF THE CARP is a complex character driven ghost story though readers will wonder if the phantoms are real or the imagination of an individual who has lost his mind. The journal entries make the circular plot that arcs to various points but never linear (even on the circle) difficult to follow and requires a one sitting read (the novella format is perfect for this thriller), but it is worth the time as the audience will find the logic behind what seems insane ramblings of a deluded soul whose mind is spiraling out of control fascinating. This terrific psychological ghostly tale will send readers seeking other such horror stories from T.M. Wright (see COLD HOUSE).

Harriet Klausner

Kevin, the deliciously unreliable narrator of T.M. Wright's "The Eyes of the Carp," loves his wife, works with his hands, enjoys entertaining friends, keeps a dish full of bright, foil-covered Easter egg chocolates to offer his guests, and occasionally explores the inside of his wife's mouth with the aid of a flashlight as she sleeps at night.

Kevin is witty, smart, hungry for knowledge, curious, resentful, sometimes hilariously so, and to this reader's delight, very, very weird. Oh, and he also may well be inhuman, but that's for the reader to decide -- Wright isn't the sort of storyteller who paints simplistic characters for the simpleton reader; he doesn't shout Lookie! and point to his characters with a heavy finger for benefit of clarity, rather, he challenges the reader with a conspiratorial elbow nudge and a wink. I like an author who assumes his or her readership is intelligent.

"The Eyes of the Carp" is one of the most authentic representations of psychosis I have read to date, and one of the most disturbing. The narrative is constructed in such a way that sucks the reader in with its deceptive calm, Kevin's initial trustworthiness and likeability as he rambles on about his new property, the odd things he discovers there, as well as the humorous repartee between Kevin and his wife, Janet. Kevin is a strange one, no doubt about it, but he's not threatening -- eccentric, perhaps, but definitely not threatening. As is Wright's style, however, nothing is ever as it seems, and the reader soon begins to worry as Kevin delicately reveals tidbits here and there that seem a bit...off. Something's wrong with Kevin, something bad.

"Forgive me, I am not Capone, crippled by syphilis, power, and greed. I am Kevin, husband to Janet, son to Lawrence and Margaret, brother to Gwen, Laura, Bobby, Howard, and others unnamed. I have a passion for macaroni and cheese, women with large breasts, the sound of water flowing in the deep woods, brisk April breezes...[I have a passion for] finding quiet bodies in strange locations, living nearly alone, submission by theretofore unwilling women, blind kittens."

Yes, something is definitely not right with Kevin, and as Wright skillfully leads the reader on a hideous journey through Kevin's ravaged mind, each new revelation brings with it a palpable chill, a queasy pinch, even as Kevin waxes ridiculous with his random "Gaggle" searches and seemingly arbitrary recounts of childhood memories. It is the randomness, the unforced humor, and the seemingly arbitrary that make Kevin all that more frightening. Wright knows that the devil doesn't always sport horns, that sometimes evil comes in the beguiling form of an ordinary man who loves his wife, macaroni and cheese, and bright, foil-covered Easter egg chocolates, and that the commonalities between the average man and the monster are greater than we'd like to believe.

The Eyes of the Carp takes you places you have never been
before, and may not ever want to go. I will tell you, honestly, that
upon the first reading of this book I hated it. Not because it was
poorly written or because it was a bad story, but because it takes
place in the mind of a serial killer. And that serial killer, whose
name is Kevin, is the consummate liar. He does unspeakable
things, and he reconstructs them, in his own mind, to make them
acceptable.
This is a very difficult book to read. The language is simple
enough, the concepts are another matter. TM Wright uses very
simple language to express very complex ideas. The first person
narrator of this story is Kevin, and you better know, just from the
beginning, that Kevin lies. He lies to himself, repeatedly. And it is
up to us, the readers, to figure out just what is going on.
Read the book. Take notes. Take notes, I repeat. When reading
TM Wright, you have to take notes. He doesn't explain anything,
that's up to the reader. We have to find the clues and decipher the story.
Does this sound too hard? It's all worth it, believe me. This book is
absolutely brilliant and absolutely devastating.
There's just one other thing...rushing to the end, or reading the last page of this book won't get you anywhere. Everything is in every word, in every sentence, and on every page.
I've given you two clues: Kevin is a liar and a serial killer. The rest is up to you. Enjoy!

I've been looking forward to the release of this book for over a year. As always, T.M. Wright is at the top of his game. This book puts you in a trance with it's smooth prose and mysterious imagery. T.M. Wright makes the reader work. And the more you work, the more you uncover. I loved everything about it. In a market where horror writers try to top each other with violence and gore, T.M. uses his incredible skills as a wordsmith and storyteller to stand out. In time, at least within the intelligent horror community, T.M. Wright will always be known as one of horror's pioneers and the most original and effective ghost story writer in history. Without question, The Eye's of the Carp deserves the Bram Stoker award.

I have loved all the Merrily Watkins mysteries, and this one is the best so far. By now I have a real emotional investment in the characters. I love how people are not always who, what or how the seem. And that even people like Jimmy Hayter can have a decent side.

I bought this book for my wife and she can't stop singing its praises.
She is a fan of England and in this case, Wales.

The characters are well drawn and interesting.

The village and surroundings are creepy and taut.

My wife would recommend any book by Phil Rickman.

Well, he's done it again.
Phil Rickman continues to deliver with his latest Merrily Watkins book. Excellent story telling, deep and rich characters. He is constant in his ability to create a very particular atmosphere, of shadowy people and places. Never giving any solid clues. Are you dealing with just strange/odd people and places or truely supernatural events? It's truely a rare talent, to never quite go "over the top" - leaves you wondering.
There are more things in Heaven and earth.....

If someone like Phil Rickman had been my history teacher in high school, I probably would have got better grades and an earlier interest in what may be the most fascinating subject of all. The point is, he does meticulous research and has the ability to make it come alive for the reader. Merrily's Border Country is steeped in ancient mysteries that can only be speculated about; so much is shrouded in the depths of time. This time out we have the Knights Templar and their connection with present day Freemasonry. Also there is a reference to the writer, M. R. James, without whose wonderful ghost stories many of us would have been cheated out of the experience of shivering in our beds late at night, searching the shadows and thinking, "There's no such thing as ghosts. Really there isn't..."

But this certainly isn't some musty old tome written by an academic. This is the ninth (and you will see the significance of that number in the story) adventure with Merrily Watkins, her daughter Jane and her extended family. At this point poor Merrily is very stressed and who wouldn't be in her situation? Her position as Diocesan Exorcist is in jeopardy with the distinct possibility of losing it and having to take on multiple parishes much like the circuit riding preachers of old in the U.S. That, coupled with the gruesome things she has seen, would be enough to drive the most stable of us over the edge. But we are seeing her eventually becoming toughened by her experiences. She may still have self doubts but she won't be pushed around, even by her superiors.

Helping in her investigation into the strange events surrounding the Master House in Garway are her lover, Lol Robinson and her daughter Jane. In the course of the book we see Jane growing up, taking charge of her life and Lol reaching a possible turning point in his career.

I think this really is the best book of the series with Rickman throwing in the occasional biting social commentary. The murder mystery makes me think of Raymond Chandler who said that he did not write whodunits but rather was concerned with the reasons that people commit the act. Whodunit becomes whydunit and the motive in this one, when it is finally revealed, is absolutely shocking.

Rickman is one of a group of really exceptional writers in the U.K. who include Kate Charles, Andrew Taylor, Stephen Bishop, Deborah Crombie and others who never seem to make our best seller lists which says something about the state of the publishing industry in our country. He is the best of the bunch and, while the temptation is to compare him with other writers like Chandler, Hammett and McBain, his writing is unique. There just is no one else like him. Unfortunately, we have to wait until next year for the next chapter in this superior series.

Let me add my enthusiasm for Fabric of Sin to the other reviews here. I've read the Merrily series from the beginning and have always thoroughly enjoyed them. This one is no exception. I'll not revisit the plot; I'll only say that the tension and action build to an excruciating climax. The main characters, Merrily, Jane, and Lol have all evolved and matured. Jane is no longer an obnoxious adolescent and Lol is not just a peripheral character but is in his own way a counseler. Merrily is losing her diffidence and becoming more comfortable as Diocesan exorcist, quite able to confront the bishop when necessary. Add the ghost stories of M. R. James, the Knights Templar (no, this isn't another DaVinci Code knock-off), and hints of royalty, and you have a book that is not easy to put down. Highly recommended!

The Faceless (the first Terry Sharp tale in a long line I hope) is one of the rarest of all birds these days. A graphic novel that manages to create a solid air of mystery around both the characters and what could happen next. Taking an obvious love of horror films to a new level in comics storytelling, not only is it LIKE the classic Hammer films, it creates something new from that stylized mythos. A character obviously crafted with care, Terry is exactly the kind of guy you would expect to find in the middle of a bizarre conspiracy...but cooler! Blended with just the right sprinkles of cool and confusion-The Faceless leaves the reader wanting more. And you get it with the bonus interview and a short "film" that is worthy of it's heritage with each panel. And the art... Adrian Salmon mixes total stylistic coolness with the rare ability (and attention to) actual SEQUENTIAL STORYTELLING that is lost so often in the "hep" world of graphic (design) novels. Excellent character design that doesn't forget expressiveness in both motion and in simple telling details such as facial expressions, it flows well and compliments the story instead of overpowering it. The coloring is simply peerless as well-instead of candy coloring everything and making it look like everything else on the market these days, the mood is set by the colors and the story flows through the art. Neil Vokes provides the startlingly cinematic backup art, complimented well by the coloring of lead artist Salmon.
Overall, a chance to get something that many comics don't bear out of late-pure graphic satisfaction.

Robert Tinnell is indeed one of us...the lurking faceless hordes of "monster kids" who love classic horror films. That he has parlayed that love into the creation of such an engaging and original character - horror film director by day, occult adventurer by night - is a boon for anyone who loves spooky noir-ish atmosphere, historical background (in this case, Midwich Films as a stand-in for the famous Hammer studios) and hints of mind-numbing horrors just beyond the everyday facade of British civility. These hints are what make one salivate for the next Sharp adventure...that, plus the fact that the character is so much fun! Adrian Salmon's artwork is just fantastic...some of the most imaginative use of color and shadings I've seen.

i picked up the faceless at my local comic shop and couldn't put it down. terry sharp is a old school swashbuckling type hero who you can tottaly enjoy and the story has teh right mixture of british cinema and the supernatural.i can't wait for the next one...no one will regret buying this book.

"You were drafted into a war, Terry. A war against an enemy who is nameless. Faceless. They lay low for years, spinning their webs. Makes one paranoid in time - wondering if you've dreamt it all. And then tonight happens. And you realize it isn't all a dream."

I love that. For me, that passage sums up the mood of THE FACELESS perfectly. Subtle. Secretive. It takes its time to weave its magic spell, much like Bava took his time to work his sorcery with some of his films (KILL BABY KILL being the best example of his slow-burn approach to horror). Terry is a enigma. A womanizer. A creative. Arrogant and full of bluster, it's no surprise he has at least one failed marriage behind him. But you like the guy. He's tough. He doesn't mess around and he doesn't suffer fools. And he's larger-than-life, but if twice-as-ugly, at least the ladies don't care. ("Will you be breaking my heart too, Terry?" "Most likely." "Splendid. . .")

Unanswered questions tantalize us. Who are The Faceless, and what, exactly, were the tragedies that Terry was unfortunate enough to witness which pulled him into this nightmare requiring magical protection to survive? We want to know. Peppered with Hammer Films in jokes, and a very pleasing THE DEVIL'S BRIDE vibe running thru it, I am already thrilling at how the circles of protection in basement rooms and freshly conjured marauding demons would translate to the big screen. Perhaps Terry could even meet the Duc De Richleau? Will the J&B flow freely in YELLOW? *CLINK*

I write a blog all about horror from the '60s-'70s, and I'm here to tell you that FACELESS hits the groovy nail on the head. The story is an absolute treat for Hammer fans. The look is spectacularly reminiscent of the colored-gel lighting techniques of Italian horror masters Mario Bava and Dario Argento. If, like me, you have an overlapping love of Hammer and eurotrash, you'll really be in heaven!

Tinnell knows his Hammer. He doesn't just make references or winks; he creates a whole alternate world where "Midwich Studios" cranks out schlocky cult classics like Baron Frankenstein, Return of Frankenstein, Blood of Frankenstein, and Cult of Dracula. We get stars like "Peter Lingham" selecting eyeballs from glass jars in gruesome close-up. I got so caught up in it, I started to wish there really had been a Midwich Studios, and then I had to remind myself--oh yeah, there was! Satanic cults were probably the top horror staple all through the period, so Tinnell's use of them here just ratchets up the groovy factor that much more.

Art-wise, this is Adrian Salmon's American breakout effort, and he clearly understands the stakes, because he goes for broke. I've already remarked on the eye-popping colors, which are the first thing you'll notice on a casual flip-through. Salmon's drawing is just as arrestingly stylized and non-realistic, and it suits the story to a T.

Then we get a mock retrospective article on Midwich by Mark Clark and Bryan Senn, and a mock interview with one of the actresses by Tom Weaver. The backup feature--scenes from Return of Frankenstein drawn by Neil Vokes--alone is worth the price of admission.

I just can't recommend this highly enough!