Haunted by James Herbert

Haunted, James Herbert. New York: Jove Books, 1990. paperback, 338 pps.


James Herbert is an English writer apparently of some fame. Haunted is the first book by him that I've ever read.

David Ash is a skeptic of the supernatural who investigates paranormal claims for a society. The society employs psychic mediums but is not interested in furthering the cause of charlatans who give the genuine mediums "a bad name." Some of the claims of hauntings or ghosties are falsified but some others aren't. 

David is hired to investigate a ghostie at the Edbrook Manor. It is a tragic story that he finds there-- three young siblings had been left to the care of an old auntie after their parents died in a horrific car crash in France-- along with a terrifying dog and lots of dust and unkempt grounds.

Things happen. David drinks a bit to take the edge off of his nerves. There is an attractive young woman of course. And two past stories of investigations included within the pages of this novel.

To be fair, I know a bit about cold readings and how to fake psychic phenomenon. Even so, the story drew me in until the end.

sapphoq reviews says: Although the descriptions of the places in Haunted were a bit sparser than I like, the characters were well-developed and the whole book was eerie. I like that in a book. For a mature audience who are able to separate fantasy from reality and who want a good English horror, highly recommended.

Let's Drink to the Dead by Simon Bestwick

* may trigger *


Let's Drink to the Dead: More Stories of the Faceless, Simon Bestwick. Oxford UK: Solaris/ Rebellion Publishing Ltd., 2010. e-book, 81 pps.

     A teen makes her way to a deserted train station to sleep after narrowing avoiding calamity with a horny trucker. The woods are shadowy and menacing. An old fellow who lives in a deserted hospital offers her hospitality.

     Children are being sexually abused and sometimes sold to a sinister man. He arrives on a train. There is a farmhouse where the exchange is made. A young man who had previously been a victim seeks redemption. 

     A woman has the Sight and a friend that she trusts. A ghost places upon her the task of revenge.


sapphoq reviews says: Child sexual abuse and children being sold to predators are the stuff of horror in real life. In Simon Bestwick's capable hands, they become horror multiplied. Highly recommended.

Asylum by Madeleine Roux

Asylum, Madeleine Roux. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2013. e-book, 216 pps.

Some teens labeled as gifted descent upon a college in New Hampshire for a summer program. They stay in a dorm building which used to be an asylum. Three of them become pals. Daniel is described in the book as being anxious and was given the label of "mild dissociative disorder." Jordan is a gay teen who is supposed to be somewhere else. Abby is an artist. They explore the warden's office on the first floor of the building and find other hidden stuff there.

sapphoq reviews says: I was dismayed by the label of "mild dissociative disorder." It seemed not to fit the story as it was told. I think it might have been better to use the words "fugue states" and to explain to the [probably mostly teen] readers what that is.

Asylum started off slowly. I didn't really get interested until the trio began their extended exploration of the secret rooms. Until that point, I was forcing myself to stick with the book. The ending was somewhat predictable. I would have liked also for the characters of Daniel's roommate and the history professor to be fleshed out a bit more. 

The old photos were pretty cool but easily located on the internet. 

A disappointing read, even for teens. Skip this.