Paul Seaton gets wrapped up in a mystery because of love, and then he becomes tormented with the darkness that surrounds this mystery. The backstories seemed to lose my attention, but in the end, you'll see that they are all connected... The way they are connected is a big surprise, and I felt they were a bit dull but necessary. I think they could have lost some of the unnecessary description to get to the present day plot. You really do like Seaton, and you want him to be devoid of what is haunting him and to finally be happy. What lost me the most is some historical references that were placed throughout the book. Some of these, however, caused me to want to do research and I have learned some new things. Overall it was a good story with a satisfying ending that could have just lacked the vast, though expertly written, details that sometimes lost my attention.
Well, this book had a lot of negative reviews both here and on amazon, but I actually loved it. It's not your typical horror novel. It stretches out the story much longer than a horror novel would. I feel it's more like one of those Gothic novels but without some great love story. Plus the main character is a guy and not some female governess. But there is quite a bit of Gothic like dark and brooding descriptions and hints of the full story. The full story won't be reveled till very near the end. So if you are looking for a fast pace horror novel this isn't the book for you. But if you like to be teased and finally given a really good story plot then you just might like this one.
This was one of the featured books on paperbackswap and I bought it through Amazon. I was expecting more. The story was vague and I ended up more confused than scared. I am still not sure what happened.
I really savored every page of this haunting novel. I especially enjoyed Cottam's multilayered story, his descriptions, characters, and his use of the English language to tell the story. The novel starts out at a funeral of a young girl who had committed suicide after visiting a house on the Isle of Wight with a group of other young women. The house was formerly owned and used by Klaus Fischer who was the head of a coven of spiritualists or witches. The funeral is attended by the brother of another of the young women who also attempts suicide. Cottam goes on to tell the story of the history of the house and the people who used it during the 1920's. He also tells the story of Paul Seton, who visited and was haunted by the house in the 1980's and the story of Pandora Gibson-Hoare, an obscure photographer who Seton is researching for his girlfriend. Seton finds a diary left by Gibson-Hoare that details the diabolical affairs at the Fischer house in 1927.
Members of the coven included actual historical figures such as
Dennis Wheatley,
Aleister Crowley, and Hermann Göring. Wheatley was a writer of occult fiction and Crowley was an occultist who was later considered "the wickedest man in the world." I had never heard of Wheatly but he was evidently a best-selling author in Britain for many years. I need to seek out and read some of his books. I would also like to read more about Crowley.
Overall, this novel really capture the imagination and has an overall tone of foreboding. I would highly recommend this one!
