He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide. Herbert's final novel has an eerie political edge. Ash imagines Princess Diana and her secret son as well as Lord Lucan, Colonel Gaddafi and Robert Maxwell living together in a Scottish castle. [15]

More than anything, I loved the way this was written. This is a proper story-telling narrative, with the author explaining things for us and injecting some brilliant humour in the process. It's clever, witty, and I found myself just really enjoying the narrator as a character himself. Herbert's own interjections as the storyteller are a slightly irritating mis-step but the story is decent enough. Some of the creature descriptions veer too far into silliness, undermining any threat or fear they might hold. Estate is extensive and desolate… Christina, her two brothers and their aunt inhabit the antiquated mansion… Thowvin the deformed child of Hitler with special powers, the translucent??? son of Lady D, some orbs that fly, a nurse that is a lesbian and a driver that is gay (without any meaning, they are just there and they are being GAY) and you can understand that i was ripped off when i payed for this pile of rubbish. Spark, Alasdair (1993). "Horrible Writing: the Early Fiction of James Herbert". In Bloom, Clive (ed.). Creepers: British Horror & Fantasy in the Twentieth Century. London: Pluto Press. pp.147–160. ISBN 9780745306650.To sum up, I liked this a lot, It does drag in a couple places, but never for long. If you like Herbert, or just want an exciting bit of ghastliness, you will most likely be satisfied with this. I could have been okay if at least the rest of the story was actually good. Unfortunately, the "fantasy" elements were flimsy at best (regular fantasy- not sexual fantasy). There was nothing "horror" about it. (Well, except for maybe reading that book itself. Maybe that could be considered a horror....)

The rest of this review will contain some kind of SPOILERS, so if you are serious about reading this book with no prejudice, I suggest you turn to my great buddy Edward Lorn's review instead. Not that he hid his spoilers either, but his review will bring much more entertainment and literary value than this book, and it may persuade you to give it a miss! Williamson, J.N., ed. (1988). The Best of Masques. New York City: Berkley Books. ISBN 978-0-425-10693-8. Cannot believe in the time ive bought and read this the author passed away - ive grown up reading James Herbert and my mum loves him too, so sad. (also spooky reference to Maggie Thatcher within the book who also died whilst i was reading it!!) Joe Creed is a paparazzo. He lives for that one shot. Sadly, his involves celebrities caught with their pants down. Preferably literally.

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There are so many other things I hated about this book, but frankly I don't even want to think about it any more. I understand this was James last book. I read it in two days. The mystery that is Balmoral. Very worth the read.🐯👍👍🐯 This is a sequel to Haunted, a much more traditional ghost story, and starts with David Ash recovered, but still shaken, from the events of that book. He's still cynical, but he's aware that sometimes, the ghosts are not just unquiet memories or hoaxes. And the he gets called to the village of Sleath, which has as many secrets as it does ghosts. a b c d Holland, Steve (21 March 2013). "James Herbert obituary". Guardian.co.uk. London . Retrieved 24 March 2013.

It’s almost Halloween as I write so I’m in the mood for some creepy read. If you are ever in the mood for horror fiction and you have never read anything by James Herbert you have been outrageously remiss. In t Herbert gets everything right with this book, there is no padding, no waffle. It’s straight to the nerve endings with this book and it really manages to induce both fear and hope for the protagonist to survive. Ash is sent up to a remote area of Scotland to Comraich Castle to investigate the hauntings and to get to the root of what appears to be a gruesome murder.He was the subject of a This is Your Life programme in 1995, when he was surprised by Michael Aspel at the London Dungeon. [ citation needed] Reception [ edit ]