Detail
Title: Haunted (David Ash #1) ISBN: 9780330451574Published 1989 by Pan Books (UK) (first published 1988) · Paperback 228 pages
Genre: Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Ghosts, Fantasy, Mystery, Supernatural, Gothic, Ghost Stories, Audiobook
Must be read
User Reviews
TK421
Stephen King gushes over James Herbert; I don't see why. Herbert is a decent writer and storyteller, to be sure; but, I found nothing fascinating about HAUNTED. For a haunted-house story, it was pretty clear from the beginning that Herbert never intended to do anything different from the already established sub-genre of horror fiction (how can a writer expect to top THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE?). With that said, it does have an interesting protagonist, an anti-hero named David who is battling his own personal demons while trying to debase the supernatural. But the supporting cast in this novel is laughable. (view spoiler) Overall, this is a fast read that suits the Halloween atmosphere. Perhaps because it was written in the early 80s some of the pizzazz has been lost. Perhaps. You could do worse for a "fright" read. That being said, I am still going to read some of Herbert's other titles, they just won't be moving to the top of the TBR pile any time soon.
RECOMMENDED (with reservations)
Bandit
James Herbert continues to impress me. This book was so much better than an average haunted house fare, it was dark, well written, atmospheric and really kept the reader guessing as to what was going on. The characters were interesting and well developed and the pacing kept me turning the pages and finishing the book pretty quickly. Years ago (before I read any Herbert) I watched a movie this book was based on, I couldn't remeber much of the plot, but I remembered some of the cast and so while reading this book I kept picturing Ash as Aidan Quinn and Christina as Kate Beckinsale. Good casting, actually, although now I want to see the movie again. Very good book, highly recommended.
Werner
"Our complacency is shaken; we thought the universe was a tidy, locked room, but there seems to be a scratching outside the door. For a moment, we pretend to know everything and pridefully assert, 'There is no such thing!' Something out there seems to respond, 'Oh, really?'" --Lint Hatcher, "The Truth That Is Out There," Rutherford, 1995.
The above quote could well serve as an epigraph for this novel; for the author has very clearly set up a conflict here between two opposite views of the world. Hard-drinking, emotionally distant paranormal investigator David Ash is, above all else, an apostle of a hyper-rational, purely materialistic view of reality; natural causes, he believes, must explain all of the phenomena he investigates, and he's built a very successful career on debunking the supernatural. Now, however, when he's been summoned by the eccentric Mariell family to their isolated 16th-century country seat Edbrook to investigate a purported haunting, my shelving this book as supernatural fiction should be a dead giveaway that his worldview is going to undergo some revision. (And it won't be a particularly easy or comfortable experience.) Herbert's message here, IMO, isn't necessarily to be taken as a literal assertion that ghosts actually exist; but as supernatural elements in fiction often do, the haunting here serves as a metaphor for aspects of reality that aren't reducible to the neat, the mathematical, the rational, and the naturally explainable.
During his lifetime, James Herbert was the best-selling fiction author in the U.K. Often, best-seller status only testifies to the power of advertising and the ability of bookstore chains to manipulate the lists. But after reading this page-turner, I'd surmise that Herbert earned his status a different way: by providing serious readers with well-crafted, good-quality, extremely effective fiction, which is exactly what this is. His characterizations are round and life-like, and his prose style suited perfectly to his intention. The pacing is flawless, and the evocation of an increasingly scary atmosphere nicely done. Transitions from David to his Psychical Research Institute colleagues are ably positioned to build suspense; the prologue, set in David's childhood, and the flashbacks aren't just filler, but serve a very real purpose in the crafting of the whole edifice that is the novel. David's inner psychological baggage is as important here as the external goings-on at Edbrook; and as noted above, there is some real philosophical depth here, not just scares for scares sake.
This is definitely a dark novel, at many levels. Although there's no explicit sex, it has a franker treatment of sexuality than the classic ghost story tradition characteristically did; and while there's no obscenity, there's a certain amount of religious profanity that I found gratuitous (though, to be sure, some people do talk that way). But there's no splatter-punk; the horror here is mainly psychological (though that can be potentially lethal). One reviewer characterized the plot as "predictable." Personally, I beg to differ; I found it to be anything but, and in fact to involve more than one jaw-dropping surprise. But Herbert is a consummate master of literary surprises --he knows they have to grow organically from the story itself, not be dragged in from left field against logic, and he adeptly hides his clues in plain sight.
Much later, the author wrote two more novels with David as the central character, so that they form a trilogy. But this one stands on its own perfectly well, with no cliff-hangers and a basic resolution.
Adam Light
David Ash is sent to a remote village to investigate a haunting at the Edbrook house. Ash is renowned for debunking supernatural phenomenon, and he dives into this assignment ready to do just that.
Too bad the place is really haunted.
Well executed, but fairly predictable ghost story with some genuinely hair raising scenes.
I will certainly read the rest of the series.
Joe Krakovsky
"Haunted" was my attempt at a horror book. This was about an investigator from the Psychical Research Institute in London (a real thing as far as I know) who travels to a run down secluded English estate to prove or disprove a haunting. Before going any further, I must mention that I was interrupted several times during the course of my reading of this story. So one will understand why I am saying that the story was confusing at times, which detracted from my enjoyment of it. Some books I can come back to later and pick up right where I left off, but I had trouble with this one, especially with time jumping.
In the beginning I admired the author's mastery of the written word. He could describe mundane things in such a way that they set the setting. I guess some would equate it to world building.
As for the story itself, even though it was supposed to be scary, I had no trouble reading this at night. Then again, I was seated next to my wife.
Nancy Oakes
can't think of a star rating I'm happy with right off the top of my head right now.
Back when I initially read Haunted (which was probably in the 90s), for some reason I thought it was one of the best haunted house stories I'd ever read; now rereading it, I think that it had its moments, it was fun, but in the end, it's really only the ending that saved this story from being just another ho-hum haunted house story. Before anyone who is a huge James Herbert fan starts mentally pelting me with rotten tomatoes, consider the fact that eons and a growing taste for more sophisticated haunted house stories now stand between this reading and my first time with it. What I did notice most prominently about it this time around, and what I really enjoy about it in the long run is that it's really quite twisted in a hugely-ironic way, and what the author's done here turns his story into something wholly unexpected.
plot (if you want it) without spoilers can be found here; if not, just keep reading.
The sad thing is that up to the last few pages, and I'm really sorry major Herbert fans, what happens along the way may have been earth shattering in the 80s but well, kind of old hat by now. That's not saying I didn't like it, but it really is a book that depends on its final few pages for the major shock value.
On the flip side, it was fun revisiting this novel even if I no longer think it's the greatest haunted house story ever told.
Peter
I really liked the movie better! The book was a bit tedious. Maybe I was a bit balanced because I've first seen the movie.
Ajeje Brazov
David Ash, il nostro protagonista, è un investigatore di eventi paranormali. Dal passato oscuro e misterioso, David, si trova ora a risolvere situazioni che alla maggior parte della gente farebbe rizzare i capelli. Un giorno capiterà in una casa desolata ad Edbrook, dove...
Il romanzo ha una scrittura molto scorrevole ed emana una forza evocativa tale da rendere il lettore parte integrante della storia, si è lì al fianco di Ash e si cerca di districarsi tra gli innumerevoli colpi di scena e il ritmo incalzante poi rendono tutta la narrazione al cardiopalma.
Sarebbe da leggerlo tutto d'un fiato, di notte col silenzio assoluto, inframezzato soltanto dal continuo gocciolare della pioggia sul vetro della finestra e con un leggera luce, proveniente dell'abatjour intermittente, data dal filo di tungsteno, della lampadina di tempi che furono, ormai quasi corroso dal tempo e lì nella semioscurità, sfogliare le pagine una dietro l'altra con il mistero ed il terrore che aleggiano sopra di esse e che si fanno beffe di noi!
Ghost story consigliata!
Maria Hill AKA MH Books
My thoughts:
At the beginning - I love me a Ghostbuster tries to debunk the haunted house story with lots of cliches.
1/3 the way through - That is the wrong use of the word Szchiophrenic - I am really not liking this story.
2/3 of the way through - I know exactly where this is going - I love this particular twist when done well.
85% through - the protagonist is only beginning to suspect the twist ? He should read more ghost stories and see more movies.- wait this was written in the 1980's - some of them hadn't happened yet? Maybe some Shirley Jackson would have helped though.
100% Well Mr - How come it took you soooo long to see all of this?
Now? - Must read the next in the series.
Jade
3.5 stars rounded up
Kevin Lucia
I've already read Ghosts of Sleath - the sequel to this, didn't know it existed - and The Shrine, and it's very clear I need to read more of James Herbert's work.
Tony
Add one over-enthusiastic GCSE English student to a generous helping of equally over-enthusiastic grammar teacher and arrive at a grade 2 result.
Total fucking drivel, possibly the worst thing I’ve ever read.
So it goes.
Bill
Ash is a great character. The story a wee slow.
Paranormal investigators are a bit of a tired trope these days. I wish I would have read it years ago when it first came out. Still a good and entertaining read. I will definitely be seeking out the next in the series.
joyce g
Pretty darn creepy!