Helpful Score: 2
This is the first James Herbert novel I've read but it won't be the last. Okay - the story is a little cliched about a family moving into a haunted old house but Herbert really makes you care about the characters and weaves some genuine chills into the story. I would highly recommend all 633 pages of this - although it's long, it's a real page-turner.
Helpful Score: 2
If I could give this book 10 stars I would, and it is worth every star you can vote. From the first page to the very last, I was on the edge of my seat, I bit my fingernails and read long into several nights. This story is just fantastic. BRILLIANT! It is now my 2nd fav book EVER! Has a few bloody scenes and it does involve children. If you are sensitive to that, it isn't for you. Not that I thought it was ok, but it helps to read just what happened to the orphans who came to Crickley Hall, to know what became of them. The terror they had to endure. This is James Herbert's best in my opinion. If you love horror, or ghost stories, you must own this book! I am cringing to repost it after buying it from PBS, I debated keeping it, but there are no other copies, so I shall post it and give someone else a few nights of nail biting.
If you like ghost stories this is one that you need to read.Great story holds you to where you don't want to put it down.One of many good ones by James Herbert shows he still has it.