Horror Aficionados discussion

Beginning next week (around April 8), join Marie Helene and myself in a buddy read of James Herbert's last published book, Ash.

!! this sounds so good but there's just no way i can fit in another book in April :( if something changes, i'll jump in.

After sitting on this book for, like, a year, finally digging in tonight.
It's a long one, so plenty of time for y'all to still join in!

Ahhhh. Diving into my first James Herbert in ages, and this one feels like an old friend. It's like comfort food, like drinking a cup of hot cocoa while bundled under a warm comforter. David Ash once again being asked to investigate possible paranormal activity, this time in an exclusive reclusive retreat in a Scotland castle.
I'm 78 pages in, he was just finished an interesting, to put it mildly, plane ride to Scotland. It's getting late, so I'll wait till next time to get him to the actual castle.
But the words flow like crystal clear water. I can't remember the last time I was enjoying reading a book so much from page one.

BTW, in case you're wondering about the name of the castle - Comraich - I looked it up and it's a Gaelic word pronounced Comree. Those crazy Gaels.....

Didn't get too far tonight, just up to page 111 and "Part 2" when Ash finally arrives at Comraich Castle. Shit's about to get real, yo.

Started it a few hours ago. So far so good! 32 pages in.

The reading went remarkably smoother tonight. Up to page 199 and Part 3. Haven't even got to the beginning of the haunting investigation, as there's so much backstory of what else is going on at Comraich besides being a "retreat" facility. But unlike many of Herbert's last few books, the narrative really flows in this one, like his books of yore. So far, it looks like his last was up there with his best. I'm kind of sorry he didn't write more books with David Ash, because he developed a great character there.

Ready to start Part 3 : The Hauntings
I was a little intimidated by this 'big book', but it is such a pleasurable read. Part mystery/thriller, part supernatural/horror, what a great combo.
And when it comes to the (ultra-wealthy) people attending a 'retreat' at Comraich castle, they are given so many names by the staff looking after them: residents, clients, patients, guests, inmates... 🤔

I didn't even think about that point, that the attendees keep getting referred to by so many terms.

I'm going to finish up the Grisham book I got from the library today, so will get back into this one tomorrow.

Up to page 310. Well, the investigation is underway, and the book is getting bogged down a bit by side stories that, thus far, seem to have no real bearing on the book. And I'm finding it frustrating that Ash is called in to investigate, but the powers that be won't give him access to shit, even when they ask for statue reports and he can't give them much because of the lack of access. Hopefully he gets around that soon.

Made some good progress tonight. Up to pg 455 and Part Four. Daaaaamn, shit went wild in this last section. Herbert wasn't content with just another wild haunting, all the other cray-cray that had been the subject of several of his later books got mixed in as well. So much happening, it was exhilarating and exhausting getting to this point. I need a break before continuing.

Up to page 547. The story lines are all heading towards a crash together. Some of them, like Twigg's, are not going the way I thought the would. Overall, it seems like this story should be wrapping up in a chapter or two, but stil about 150 pages to go....

Finally finished this bad boy. It really got cray-cray in the final act. And it also dragged out too much. Once the (view spoiler)[bombs went off (hide spoiler)] it really should have wrapped up several chapters earlier. But jeez, Herbert crammed so much crazy in there before the end (view spoiler)[escaped Nazis, Hitler's deformed crazy daughter, Princess Di's deformed son, Ghaddafi (hide spoiler)]. Good gravy!