Passing Through Veils by John Harrison
Part psychological thriller and part ghost story, John Harrison’s Passing Through Veils is a novel that will keep you guessing
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Book Reviews
Book Review: Wolf’s Trap by W. D. Gagliani
Wolf’s Trap is the story of Nick Lupo. He’s a good cop with an unusual secret. Nick is a werewolf
Read moreBook Review: Whisper of Death by Christopher Pike
Like a lot of Christopher Pike books, Whisper of Death is not a particularly long book to read. In fact,
Read moreBook Review: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
We Have Always Lived in the Castle is told from the viewpoint of 18-year-old Mary Katherine Blackwood. Most people—those who
Read moreBook Review: Weekend by Christopher Pike
Weekend is the story of four guys and five girls who spend a weekend together at a luxury Oceanside mansion
Read moreBook Review: Vampyrrhic Rites by Simon Clark
Vampyrrhic Rites is Simon Clark’s sequel to Vampyrrhic and picks up the story original story three years later. In the
Read moreBook Review: Vampyrrhic by Simon Clark
Vampyrrhic is 441 pages long and the story is set in the North Yorkshire town of Leppington, which is not
Read moreBook Review: Unmarked Graves by Shaun Hutson
If you like stories with zombies in them you may enjoy Unmarked Graves. The story begins in Africa, but the
Read moreBook Review: Unholy Crusade by Dennis Wheatley
The central character in Unholy Crusade is a man named Adam Gordon. He’s a Scotsman and because he has, at
Read moreBook Review: Undone by Michael Kimball
I’d never heard of Michael Kimball until I saw his book Undone hiding next to the Stephen King books in
Read moreBook Review: Twice the Terror: THE HORROR ZINE (Volume 2) Edited by Jeani Rector
Twice The Terror is a horror story anthology compiled by, Horror Zine editor, Jeani Rector. The book is 370 pages
Read moreBook Review: Thieving Fear by Ramsey Campbell
Ten years ago they were teenagers and went camping on Thurstaston Common: There were four of them: Hugh, who wanted
Read moreBook Review: They Thirst by Robert McCammon
They Thirst was first published in 1981. First and foremost, it’s a story about vampires, but the book also contains
Read moreBook Review: The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
The Wasp Factory is written in the first person and the viewpoint character is a sixteen-year-old boy named Frank Cauldhame.
Read moreBook Review: The Unwanted By John Saul
The central character in The Unwanted is a young girl called Cassie Winslow. Her parents are divorced and she has
Read moreBook Review: The Travelling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon
Dwight Thompson is busy mowing his parent’s lawn when Rusty and Slim come over, and he has heard nothing about
Read moreBook Review: The Town by Bentley Little
What would you do if you won the lottery? Or, perhaps, the question should be what wouldn’t you do? When
Read moreBook Review: The Taking by Dean Koontz
The Taking is not so much a horror novel as a cross-genre piece that melds horror and sci-fi. The problems
Read moreBook Review: The Sucking Pit by Guy N. Smith
The Sucking Pit was first published in 1975 and, with a length of just 111 pages, the entire book can
Read moreBook Review: The Sphinx by Graham Masterton
The Sphinx is a little over 200 pages long, I found it a riveting read, and I am sure many
Read moreBook Review: The Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson
The Shrinking Man is a Sci-fi story that is dark enough to appeal to fans of the horror genre. In
Read moreBook Review: The Shee by Joe Donnelly
I’ve read a few of Joe Donnelly’s books. Most of them are set in Scotland, but The Shee is a
Read moreBook Review: The School By T. M. Wright
The School is a paranormal horror story about a middle-class couple who make a bad choice when choosing a new
Read moreBook Review: The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert
The Secret of Crickley was published in 2006. Six years later the BBC adapted James Herbert’s novel for a TV
Read moreeBook Review: The Restless Dead by Steven Savile
The Restless Dead is a short horror story, written by Steven Savile and available in eBook format. It’s a decent
Read moreBook Review: The Red Church by Scott Nicholson
The Red Church was Scott Nicholson’s first novel and it is so good it earned a nomination for a Stoker
Read moreBook Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray was first published in 1891. It was considered quite a shocking book at the time,
Read moreBook Review: The Nameless By Ramsey Campbell
Nine years after her four-year-old daughter, Angela, was murdered, Barbara Waugh has got her life back on track and learned
Read moreBook Review: The Midnight Club By Christopher Pike
The Midnight Club is not really a horror story at all. Not in the traditional sense anyway, but neither is
Read moreBook Review: The Master by Guy N. Smith
The Master is a short horror novel written by Guy N. Smith. It was first published in 1988 and is
Read moreBook Review: The Mailman by Bentley Little
Bentley Little’s novel The Mailman (not to be confused with Little’s short story “The Mailman”) is set in the small
Read moreBook Review: The Husband by Dean Koontz
The central character in The Husband is a gardener named Mitch Rafferty. He is a good gardener, but like many
Read moreBook Review: The Hollower by Mary SanGiovanni
The Hollower was Mary SanGiovanni’s first novel and it’s truly excellent. The story is about a shape-shifting entity called the
Read moreBook Review: The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker
Clive Barkers The Hellbound Heart is a novella length book. It’s also the book the Hellraiser movie is based on.
Read moreBook Review: The Heirloom by Graham Masterton
Graham Masterton’s Heirloom is the story of an antique dealer who purchases a cursed chair. His name is Rick Delatolla
Read moreBook Review: The Haunting of Toby Jugg by Dennis Wheatley
The Haunting of Toby Jugg is a supernatural thriller set during World War 2. The central character, Toby Jugg, is
Read moreBook Review: The Haunted Hotel – A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins
With a title like The Haunted Hotel, you can be forgiven if you expect this book to be a ghost
Read moreBook Review: The Glory Bus by Richard Laymon
The Glory Bus was first published by Hodder Headline in April 2005. That was four years after Laymon’s death. A
Read moreBook Review: The Frighteners By Stephen Laws
The Frighteners is a tale of revenge with a supernatural spin. The main characters in the book are Eddie Brinkburn
Read moreBook Review: The Farm by Scott Nicholson
The Farm was first published in 2006. It is the story of a woman and her young daughter, who move
Read moreBook Review: The Eternal Enemy by Christopher Pike
The Eternal Enemy contains elements of horror, but could just as easily be classed as a science fiction story. Like
Read moreThe Dracula Archives by Raymond Rudorff
What is the real history of the House of Dracula? In Raymond Rudorff’s novel, The Dracula Archives, a mysterious narrator
Read moreThe Doll Who Ate His Mother by Ramsey Campbell
The Doll Who Ate His Mother was Ramsey Campbell’s first novel. The story is set in his hometown of Liverpool
Read moreBook Review: The Devil Rides Out By Dennis Wheatley
The Devil Rides Out is a Dennis Wheatley novel about black magic and the occult. It was first published in
Read moreBook Review: The Devil’s Looking-Glass by Simon Rees
The Devil’s Looking-Glass is Simon Rees’ first book. It’s the tale of two Cambridge faculty members, Born and Thomas, who
Read moreThe Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
The Day of the Triffids begins with a meteor storm. “The sky’s simply full of shooting stars,” the nurse says.
Read moreBook Review: The Bishop of Hell & Other Stories by Marjorie Bowen (Wordsworth Editions: Tales of Mystery and the Supernatural)
Marjorie Bowen is one of several pen-names that were adopted by the writer Margaret Gabrielle Vere Campbell Long (1885 –
Read moreBook Review: The Birthing House By Christopher Ransom
The Birthing House is Christopher Ransom’s first novel. It’s the story of a man named Conrad Harrison and what happens
Read moreBook Review: The Beast House By Richard Laymon
The Beast House is the second book in Richard Laymon’s Beast House series. The first book is called The Cellar
Read moreBook Review: The Cellar By Richard Laymon
The Cellar is the first book in Richard Laymon’s Beast House series. The story begins when a young lady named
Read moreBook Review: Stone By Joe Donnelly
Stone is set in Scotland. It’s a story about a family that moves into an old house. The move to
Read moreBook Review: The Haunting of Hill House By Shirley Jackson
I had always wanted to read The Haunting of Hill House, but I could never find it in any of
Read moreBook Review: The House Next Door By Ann Rivers Siddons
The House Next Door is a haunted house story. There are lots of those I know, but this one is
Read moreBook Review: Squirm By Richard Curtis
The book Squirm is the novelization of the 1976 movie of the same name. The script for the film was
Read moreBook Review: Worms by James Montague
Worms was first published in 1979. The book is 186 pages long and the story is set on the Norfolk
Read moreBook Review: Spirit By Graham Masterton
Spirit is an unusual story. It’s also quite sad and tragedy after tragedy unfolds with the turning pages. The trouble
Read moreBook Review: Spiders By Richard Lewis
Spiders is a 1970s horror novel written by Richard Lewis and the story begins by introducing 67-year-old Dan Mason. He
Read moreBook Review: Spellbound By Christopher Pike
Spellbound begins on a nice, warm day. The sky is blue and dew glistens in the sunlight and Cindy Jones
Read moreBook Review: The Dark Tower (Dark Tower 7) By Stephen King
There are seven books in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. One by one they tell the tale of the gunslinger
Read moreBook Review: Song of Susannah (Dark Tower 6) By Stephen King
In Wolves of the Calla, Roland and his ka-tet won their battle but also lost a vital member of their
Read moreBook Review: Wolves of the Calla (Dark Tower 5) By Stephen King
Wolves of the Calla is the fifth book in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. Most of the story is set
Read moreBook Review: Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower 4) By Stephen King
Wizard and Glass is the fourth volume of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. The end of the previous book (The
Read moreBook Review: The Waste Lands (Dark Tower 3) By Stephen King
The Waste Lands is the third book in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. The end of the previous book (The
Read moreBook Review: The Drawing of the Three (Dark Tower 2) By Stephen King
The Drawing of the Three is the second book in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series and, on opening it up,
Read moreBook Review: The Gunslinger (Dark Tower 1) By Stephen King
The fact that there is an official Dark Tower website should tell you all you need to know about the
Read moreBook Review: Son of Rosemary By Ira Levin
If you’ve read Rosemary’s Baby and wondered what happened next, all the answers can be found in Son of Rosemary.
Read moreBook Review: Something Wicked This Way Comes By Ray Bradbury
Something Wicked This Way Comes is a Ray Bradbury novel set in the small town of Green Town Illinois where
Read moreBook Review: Snowman & The Terror By Graham Masterton (Double Volume)
Okay, we are not talking one book here, but two because this is a double volume. Both stories are about,
Read moreBook Review: Snakes By Guy N. Smith
There are no prizes for guessing what this book is about. The title says it all: Snakes. And snakes are
Read moreBook Review: Slumber Party By Christopher Pike
Eight years ago the girls had a slumber party. There were six of them: Lara, Rachael, Mindy, Dana, Nell, and
Read moreBook Review: Sliver By Ira Levin
Sliver is a very different kind of story than Levin’s earlier work, Rosemary’s Baby, but the two books are similar
Read moreBook Review: Shrike By Joe Donnelly
Like most of Joe Donnelly’s books, Shrike is set in Scotland. The story begins with a seance. It goes wrong
Read moreBook Review: Shadowfires By Dean Koontz
Shadowfires was first published in 1987, but Dean Koontz originally chose to publish it under the pseudonym Leigh Nichols. The
Read moreBook Review: See You Later By Christopher Pike
I had never heard of Christopher Pike, so didn’t know what to expect when I opened up See You Later
Read moreBook Review: ‘Salem’s Lot By Stephen King
‘Salem’s Lot was Stephen King’s second novel. It’s set in the fictional Maine town of Jerusalem’s Lot. King planned to
Read moreBook Review: Sabat (Book 1) The Graveyard Vultures By Guy N. Smith
In the early 1980s, Guy N. Smith wrote a series of four books about an ex-priest and exorcist who was
Read moreBook Review: Rosemary’s Baby By Ira Levin
Rosemary’s Baby is quite an important book. Although it wasn’t published until 1967, it quickly became the most successful horror
Read moreBook Review: Rose Madder By Stephen King
Rose Daniels knows how to take a beating. After fourteen years married to Norman, she’s had plenty of practice. It
Read moreBook Review: Roofworld By Christopher Fowler
I had never read any of Christopher Fowler’s work until I read Roofworld, but I’d heard good things about the
Read moreBook Review: Resurrection Dreams By Richard Laymon
Resurrection Dreams is 352 pages long and it’s a typical Richard Laymon horror novel. The characters are great. They seem
Read moreBook Review: Read by Dawn (Hosted by Ramsey Campbell)
Read by Dawn is an anthology of two poems and twenty-six short stories, one of which, “The Place of Revelation”,
Read moreBook Review: Psychoville By Christopher Fowler
Psychoville is a little over 400 pages long and the book is split into two parts. Part one of the
Read moreBook Review: Prey By Graham Masterton
Prey begins by introducing David Williams. His wife has left him and moved to Durham with “Raymond the bearded fart”,
Read moreBook Review: Paradigms of Suffering: Bloody Seconds By Greg Dixon
There are many different kinds of horror story and every reader has their own preference in reading matter. On the
Read moreBook Review: Others By James Herbert
Others is an unusual book with an unusual central character. It is the story of a man called Nick Dismas.
Read moreBook Review: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (Horror Stories By Richard Matheson)
Richard Matheson’s Nightmare at 20,000 Feet anthology is 335 pages long and contains 20 short stories. The first of
Read moreBook Review: Night in the Lonesome October By Richard Laymon
Night in the Lonesome October was the first Richard Laymon novel I ever read. I’d read his short story collection,
Read moreBook Review: Mr Hands By Gary A. Braunbeck
Mr Hands begins with a stranger walking into the Hangman’s Tavern. The proprietor of the tavern, Grant McCullers, begins to
Read moreBook Review: The Shining By Stephen King
The Shining was first published in 1977. It was Stephen King’s third published novel and the central characters are Jack
Read morePsycho By Robert Bloch
Psycho is not a long book. My copy contained just 153 pages and I must admit that, like a lot
Read moreBook Review: More Tales of the Unexpected By Roald Dahl
At only 127 pages More Tales of the Unexpected doesn’t offer as big a slice of Dahl’s fiction as the
Read moreTales of the Unexpected By Roald Dahl
Tales of the Unexpected is a collection of sixteen superb short stories, all of them very different, but sharing one
Read moreBook Review: Mister B. Gone By Clive Barker
Mister B. Gone is written in the first person and the words that you see before you on the pages
Read moreBook Review: Mirror By Graham Masterton
The main Character in Mirror is a man called Martin Williams. Martin is a screenwriter. He is also a man
Read moreBook Review: Manitou Doll By Guy N. Smith
Bank holiday Monday and visitors are flocking to town, in search of a little sea air and a break from
Read moreBook Review: Mania By Guy N. Smith
Mania is set in a hotel situated in the middle of the English countryside and with a name like The
Read moreBook Review: Magic By William Goldman
The central character in Magic is a magician named Charles “Corky” Withers. When he was still at high school Corky
Read moreBook Review: Macabre By Stephen Laws
The central character in Macabre is a taxi driver named Tony Dandridge. He is an ex-soldier who was invalided out
Read moreBook Review: Lord of the Flies By William Golding
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies was first published in 1954 and, at its simplest, it is the story of
Read moreBook Review: Invasion of the Body Snatchers By Jack Finney
Invasion of the Body Snatchers begins with a reunion. When Becky Driscoll comes knocking at Dr Miles Bennell’s door it
Read moreBook Review: The Stepford Wives By Ira Levin
The Stepford wives could never be called feisty, but they do keep nice homes. They wax and vacuum, and clean
Read moreBook Review: In the Tall Grass By Stephen King & Joe Hill
In the Tall Grass is a novella written by Stephen King and Joe Hill. The story was first published in
Read moreBook Review: In The Night Room By Peter Straub
In The Night Room initially alternates between two characters; both of them writers. Later on in the book though, the
Read moreBook Review: In the Dark of the Night By John Saul
In the Dark of the Night is a horror novel about a family that makes an unfortunate choice of holiday
Read moreBook Review: In The Dark By Richard Laymon
In the Dark is a horror novel written by Richard Laymon. The Central Character is a young woman called Jane
Read moreBook Review: I Am Legend By Richard Matheson
It can be lonely when you are the last living man on earth, but for Robert Neville life goes on.
Read moreBook Review: The Turn of the Screw By Henry James
The Turn of the Screw is a classic chiller, written by Henry James in 1898. It is the story of
Read moreHell House By Richard Matheson
I have always enjoyed a good haunted house story and Hell House is exactly that—a good haunted house story. In
Read moreBook Review: Heart-Shaped Box By Joe Hill
Heart-Shaped Box is the story of a middle-aged rock star called Jude Coyne. Jude has a fascination with the strange
Read moreBook Review: Hannibal By Thomas Harris
The first chapter of Hannibal reacquaints the reader with FBI agent Clarice Starling. She is working on a joint operation—a
Read moreBook Review: The Silence of the Lambs By Thomas Harris
The Character of Hannibal Lecter plays a bigger part in The Silence of the Lambs than he does in Red
Read moreBook Review: Red Dragon By Thomas Harris
Red Dragon is the novel that introduces the character Hannibal Lecter. I had been wanting to read it for quite
Read moreBook Review: The Woman in Black By Susan Hill
If you are looking for a good ghost story, The Woman in Black by Susan Hill should be right up
Read moreBook Review: Road to Nowhere By Christopher Pike
Road to Nowhere is the story of Teresa Chafey. She is eighteen-years-old and has run away from home. Teresa has
Read moreBook Review: Gimme a Kiss By Christopher Pike
Christopher Pike’s Gimme a Kiss is only 122 pages long and so it is probably better classed a novella than
Read moreBook Review: The Green Mile By Stephen King
I’m going to begin this review on a positive note and say Stephen King’s The Green Mile is an incredible
Read moreBook Review: Funland By Richard Laymon
Funland is set in the fictional Californian town of Boleta Bay, where the weather is fine and the girls are
Read moreBook Review: Forever Odd By Dean Koontz
Forever Odd is the sequel to Dean Koontz’ best-selling Odd Thomas. The first book was great and I really enjoyed
Read moreBook Review: Petals on the Wind By V. C. Andrews
Although I have seen Petals on the Wind categorized as being a ‘gothic horror’, I don’t really consider the book
Read moreBook Review: Flowers in the Attic By V. C. Andrews
When she locks them in a room at their grandmother’s house, Corrine Dollanganger tells her children that it will only
Read moreBook Review: The Great and Secret Show By Clive Barker
The Great and Secret Show is quite a long book. My copy contained almost 700 pages, but it’s a good
Read moreBook Review: Everville By Clive Barker
Everville is Clive Barker’s sequel to The Great and Secret Show. The two books are also known as the first
Read moreBook Review: Erebus By Shaun Hutson
Erebus is set in a small British town called Wakely. The economy of the whole town seems to rely on
Read moreBook Review: Entombed By Guy N. Smith
Entombed is the story of a failed Jesuit priest called Simon Rankin. Simon has seen a lot of failure in
Read moreBook Review: The Rats By James Herbert
The Rats was James Herbert’s first novel. It was an instant hit and the success of this and many subsequent
Read moreBook Review: Lair By James Herbert (Rats Book 2)
You don’t necessarily have to have read The Rats before you can read Lair, but having read both books I
Read moreBook Review: Domain By James Herbert (Rats Book 3)
Domain is a horror novel written by James Herbert. It’s the third book in his Rats series. Once again the
Read moreBook Review: Die Softly By Christopher Pike
The central character in Die Softly is a young man called Herb Trasker, he is eighteen-years-old and is a student
Read moreBook Review: Devil’s Coach-Horse By Richard Lewis
Devil’s Coach-Horse was first published in 1979 and, as with a lot of novels of the time, it is quite
Read moreBook Review: Demon Seed By Dean Koontz
Demon Seed is a story about a supercomputer. His name is Adam Two, but he prefers the name Proteus. He
Read moreBook Review: Dark Water By Koji Suzuki
If you are not familiar with the name Koji Suzuki, the chances are that you will be familiar with his
Read moreBook Review: Danse Macabre By Stephen King
Danse Macabre is Stephen King’s non-fiction book about the ‘entire horror phenomenon’ as he sees it. In the book King
Read moreBook Review: Cuts By Richard Laymon
Cuts is the story of a young man named Albert Mason Prince and Albert has an obsession. He likes cutting
Read moreBook Review: Gerald’s Game By Stephen King
Gerald’s game involves handcuffs and needs only two players. The other participant in the proceeding being his wife Jessie. Today
Read moreBook Review: Dolores Claiborne By Stephen King
The first unusual thing that I noticed while reading Dolores Claiborne was the lack of chapters—there are none at all.
Read moreBook Review: Cujo By Stephen King
I’m going to begin this book review by pointing out Cujo is a little different from most other books. There
Read moreBook Review: Cry for the Strangers By John Saul
Clark’s Harbour is not a good place for strangers. The locals all come from family’s that have lived there for
Read moreBook Review: Creed By James Herbert
The Central Character in Creed is a freelance photographer called Joseph Creed. He is good at his job and has
Read moreBook Review: Crab’s Moon By Guy N. Smith
Just before the first chapter of Crab’s Moon there is a note from the author which says: ‘In the summer
Read moreBook Review: Night of the Crabs By Guy N. Smith
Night of the Crabs was first published in 1976 and was a bestseller for its author, Guy N. Smith. As
Read moreBook Review: Comes the Blind Fury By John Saul
At 318 pages, John Saul’s Comes the Blind Fury, is of quite a reasonable length, and is quite an interesting
Read moreBook Review: Cold Blue Midnight By Ed Gorman
Cold Blue Midnight is the story of Jill Coffey and begins a number of years after the death of her
Read moreBook Review: Cinema Macabre by Mark Morris
Cinema Macabre is 233 pages long and is the brainchild of best-selling author Mark Morris. Basically it is a collection
Read moreBook Review: The Chosen Child by Graham Masterton
The Chosen Child is set in Poland, so a lot of the names of people and places are in Polish.
Read moreBook Review: Christine by Stephen King
As soon as he sees her he wants her. Her name is Christine, she is 1958 Plymouth Fury and Arnold
Read moreBook Review: Chained Together by Christopher Pike
Chained Together is a double volume book that contains the stories Chain Letter and Chain Letter 2, The Ancient Evil.
Read moreBook Review: Lisey’s Story by Stephen King
I have read a few negative comments about Lisey’s Story. I am one for making up my own mind about
Read moreBook Review: Cell by Stephen King
I read a hardback copy of Stephen King’s Cell and it ran to a little shy of four hundred pages
Read moreBook Review: Carrie by Stephen King
Before I start this Carrie book review, I’m going to point out it’s a book that nearly never was because
Read moreBook Review: Candlenight by Phil Rickman
Candlenight is set in the fictional Welsh village of Y Groes. Surrounded by beautiful countryside and with picture-postcard views the
Read moreBook Review: Breeding Ground by Sarah Pinborough
If you are scared of spiders and other creepy-crawlies then, should you decide to read it, you will probably find
Read moreBook Review: The Bad Place by Dean Koontz
When Frank Pollard wakes up he is in an alley he doesn’t know his name and he doesn’t know how
Read moreBook Review: Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon
Boy’s life is such a good book it’s going to be hard to write a review that does it justice.
Read moreBook Review: Bats out of Hell by Guy N. Smith
There is a popular saying that suggests Don’t mix business with pleasure. Professor Brian Newman has either never heard these
Read moreBook Review: Among the Missing by Richard Laymon
If you are a Richard Laymon fan, Among the Missing is definitely a book you are going to want to
Read moreBook Review: Alarums by Richard Laymon
Alarums is a horror novel written by Richard Laymon. He’s one of my favourite authors so Alarums is not the
Read moreBook Review: A Stable for Nightmares By J. S. Le Fanu
A Stable for Nightmares was first published in 1896 by The New Amsterdam Book Company (New York). There are eleven
Read moreBook Review: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Clockwork Orange is an unusual book to read and review. It was written by Anthony Burgess and is the
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