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Twins of Evil
A new novelization of a classic Hammer film, with a new foreword by the director John Hough Karnstein Castle stands like a bird of prey on the highest point of the hills that surround the village below, a huge monolithic reminder to all those who see it as the power of the family who have lived there for centuries. By day the village of Karnstein is a peaceful place, but by night, an unimaginable evil roams free. Villagers are found dead, their throats ripped open and bodies drained of blood. Young girls disappear and are never seen again. Rumor has it that they are taken to the castle for the pleasure of Count Karnstein, the last surviving member of the family. Into this strange place come beautiful identical twins Maria and Frieda. While Maria lives a blameless life, Frieda is drawn to the castle and to Count Karnstein—a man rarely seen in daylight, a man steeped in Satanic ritual and the blood of beautiful young girls. Before long Frieda and Karnstein unleash a reign of bloody terror on the villagers, and no one, it seems, is strong enough to stop them.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2011
10 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Hutson
112 books534 followersBritish horror novelist, including horror and urban thriller novels.
His novella Slugs was made into a movie, although Hutson didn't like the movie. He also appeared in two horror movies himself.
Hutson is a Liverpool F.C. fan.
His novella Slugs was made into a movie, although Hutson didn't like the movie. He also appeared in two horror movies himself.
Hutson is a Liverpool F.C. fan.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this. I remember reading years ago that there were rumoured “stronger” versions of the Hammer
Horror movies that were shown in Europe. I suspect this is nonsense, but Hutson provides a take on what a stronger version of Twins of Evil might have been like. It’s all just that bit more explicit. It’s also a fun read from the first page and definitely captures the Hammer vibe.
Horror movies that were shown in Europe. I suspect this is nonsense, but Hutson provides a take on what a stronger version of Twins of Evil might have been like. It’s all just that bit more explicit. It’s also a fun read from the first page and definitely captures the Hammer vibe.
April 10, 2012
I really enjoy this book, it was a fresh take on the vampire myth but is a very nice hommage to the daddy of all vampires, Dracula. It incorprates Gothic, religion and superisition brilliantly, weaving all three with vamprism like a dream or should that be nightmare!!
The main characters lack one thing, a back story. Why was Gustav so fanatical in his religious belief? How did the twins parents really die? Was it Freida who did it, which was why she accepted being a vampiee so easily? So many questions but the picture and the actual story that Huston present are eloquent, well written and tell the story that needed telling ( I'm a sucker for a back story)
I would definitely recommend this book.
The main characters lack one thing, a back story. Why was Gustav so fanatical in his religious belief? How did the twins parents really die? Was it Freida who did it, which was why she accepted being a vampiee so easily? So many questions but the picture and the actual story that Huston present are eloquent, well written and tell the story that needed telling ( I'm a sucker for a back story)
I would definitely recommend this book.
October 28, 2011
First things first: I was very suspicious, when I heard this author was chosen to novelize my beloved Hammer classic, costume Gothic abouth two young girls - one pure, one evil little bully - amidst the vampires and witch-hunters in old Styria. Thankfully, my fears were evaporated, when a book turned to be faithful to old Hammer, known - like author said in his introduction - for it´s Gothic splendor. I loved nods to other Hammer classics, including fun cameo roles of Gerard and Marianne Harcourt ((Kiss of the vampire), however "wrong" the timeline was. Sure, the idea of evil old patriarchs burning young girls without any trial was historically inaccurate garbage, something writer Tudor Gates introduced in his original script in true it´s-seventies-so-let´s-suck-up-the-younger-generation fashion. Still 4,5/5 stars for faithfully Hammeresque novel. I want more!
April 20, 2023
Book 3 in the Karnstein Castle series. Not a bad story with lots of well detailed atmosphere. The story revolves around a pair of identical twins, one is virtuous while the other seeks the adventure of a life filled with debauchery.
Well paced the story moves along nicely with little confusion. Not the best in the genre, but still an interesting read.
Well paced the story moves along nicely with little confusion. Not the best in the genre, but still an interesting read.
November 24, 2025
This was pretty much like reading a Hammer horror movie!
In fact there is a Hammer horror movie of the same name and this book is a kind of novelisation of it. The wording and atmosphere was done very well, very reminiscent of the old movies. I did like how the author fleshed out the gore and sexy parts too, for example the movies would show little blood and maybe some cleavage on a woman whereas this book had blood flying all over, eyeballs and skin melting and when a woman disrobed her nipples were brought prominently to attention! 🤘😈🤘
In fact there is a Hammer horror movie of the same name and this book is a kind of novelisation of it. The wording and atmosphere was done very well, very reminiscent of the old movies. I did like how the author fleshed out the gore and sexy parts too, for example the movies would show little blood and maybe some cleavage on a woman whereas this book had blood flying all over, eyeballs and skin melting and when a woman disrobed her nipples were brought prominently to attention! 🤘😈🤘
June 14, 2014
One of my favourite films in the hammer series of films, loved Peter Cushing.
September 26, 2018
Shaun Hutson’s novelisation of Twins of Evil is, to my recollection, very faithful to the movie. Hutson is most famous for writing Slugs, which got turned into a movie by Jean Piquor Simon, the director of Pieces. He freely admits this wasn’t his favourite Hammer movie, and it does show. The writing is perfunctory and totally readable, but passionless.
I was curious as to how this would approach the story. The movie is third in a trilogy of films from Hammer, with the first an adaptation of J Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla. Some fans think Twins is a prequel - some of the clothing implies an older period than the first two films, plus a character named “Count Karnstein” was dead in the earlier movies and was alive now. The movie works whichever time period you place it, which is cool.
The book however explicitly mentions the events of the previous two movies so is 100% a sequel. It also mentions things from other Hammer films - not Vampire Circus or Captain Kronos, which might well be the same universe - but the Dracula films. References to Father Sandor, Van Helsing and a couple called the Kents are made. In another scene, totally anachronistically, the Harcourts from Kiss of the Vampire (a spin off from the Dracula films) appear, an apparent reference to the fact that the same actress appears in both and may as well be the same character.
All in all, I enjoyed but didn’t love it.
I was curious as to how this would approach the story. The movie is third in a trilogy of films from Hammer, with the first an adaptation of J Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla. Some fans think Twins is a prequel - some of the clothing implies an older period than the first two films, plus a character named “Count Karnstein” was dead in the earlier movies and was alive now. The movie works whichever time period you place it, which is cool.
The book however explicitly mentions the events of the previous two movies so is 100% a sequel. It also mentions things from other Hammer films - not Vampire Circus or Captain Kronos, which might well be the same universe - but the Dracula films. References to Father Sandor, Van Helsing and a couple called the Kents are made. In another scene, totally anachronistically, the Harcourts from Kiss of the Vampire (a spin off from the Dracula films) appear, an apparent reference to the fact that the same actress appears in both and may as well be the same character.
All in all, I enjoyed but didn’t love it.
February 18, 2023
This was so hard to finish but I always finish a book once I’ve started.
I thought the characters were shallow and some of the plots were left unfinished. I felt like I was reading an outline of the story before the details were added. I don’t often read books about Vampires but I needed a change. The author, a good writer, but pales compared to Ann Rand.
I thought the characters were shallow and some of the plots were left unfinished. I felt like I was reading an outline of the story before the details were added. I don’t often read books about Vampires but I needed a change. The author, a good writer, but pales compared to Ann Rand.
March 8, 2013
I hadn't realised this was a "Hammer" book when I borrowed it from the library so it was not the usual Hutson writing that I expected. Having said that, I love Hammer films and could see this one being brilliantly acted in my head whilst reading!!
March 26, 2013
One of my favourite Hammer films, but I gave up on the book after a couple of chapters.
February 23, 2018
It's not as over-the-top disgusting and gory as some of his finest works, but it's still a lot of fun especially if you are a fan of the original Hammer horror movie classic.
October 10, 2023
Good take on the classic vampire story. Great gothic vibe and a compelling read. Characters are well written and you really dislike some characters.
October 19, 2024
Very very meh.
I know this is a rehash of a Hammer Horror but wow it was so trashy it wasn’t even trashy good.
Forced myself to finish just incase it got good… newsflash it didn’t
👎
I know this is a rehash of a Hammer Horror but wow it was so trashy it wasn’t even trashy good.
Forced myself to finish just incase it got good… newsflash it didn’t
👎
October 11, 2022
Didn't know this was a novelisation of a movie till I read some of the other reviews just now. I didn't like it much and about halfway through I began skimming it just to see what happened. I finished it ages ago and now I don't really remember what happened, but I don't actually care. On the evidence of this book, I wouldn't read any of Hutson's other books.
November 6, 2013
When I first selected this book I wasn't aware that it is one of a number of novelizations commissioned by Hammer. It is based on the 1971 film of the same name, one I am not familiar with.
Hammer were synonymous with British horror throughout the 1950s and 1960s and into the 1970s. But by 1976 the studio was in decline as the demand for the traditional gothic horror waned.
Now they are back, and in partnership with Arrow Books, are publishing new and old stories, hoping to reach a new generation of horror fans.
“Twins of Evil” was released in 1971, the third part of a trilogy of films featuring the Karnstein family.
I have not yet seen the film itself, so can’t comment on the accuracy of the adaptation, except to say that it has all the hallmarks of a Hammer Horror, including its predictability and stock characters.
The plot is simple and hardly inspiring, but none the less, Shaun’s writing style is such that he can make even the most mundane of activities seem interesting and sinister. And although the book lacks any of the subtleties and unexpected twists I have come to expect from him, it is a good read.
The twins of the title are sisters who find themselves taken away from their home in Venice to live with their aunt and uncle in the remote village of Karnstein, situated in an un-named part of Europe. Their uncle, Gustav Weil is the head of a brotherhood who spend their evenings burning young women who they suspect to be witches, ignoring the evil that lives in the castle that dominates the countryside.
The emotions the beautiful twins arouse in several of the characters eventually leads to confrontations between the villagers and Count Karnstein, with inevitable results.
As I said, far from original, but with Shaun Hutson’s touch, it's a good, uninspiring, read.
Hammer were synonymous with British horror throughout the 1950s and 1960s and into the 1970s. But by 1976 the studio was in decline as the demand for the traditional gothic horror waned.
Now they are back, and in partnership with Arrow Books, are publishing new and old stories, hoping to reach a new generation of horror fans.
“Twins of Evil” was released in 1971, the third part of a trilogy of films featuring the Karnstein family.
I have not yet seen the film itself, so can’t comment on the accuracy of the adaptation, except to say that it has all the hallmarks of a Hammer Horror, including its predictability and stock characters.
The plot is simple and hardly inspiring, but none the less, Shaun’s writing style is such that he can make even the most mundane of activities seem interesting and sinister. And although the book lacks any of the subtleties and unexpected twists I have come to expect from him, it is a good read.
The twins of the title are sisters who find themselves taken away from their home in Venice to live with their aunt and uncle in the remote village of Karnstein, situated in an un-named part of Europe. Their uncle, Gustav Weil is the head of a brotherhood who spend their evenings burning young women who they suspect to be witches, ignoring the evil that lives in the castle that dominates the countryside.
The emotions the beautiful twins arouse in several of the characters eventually leads to confrontations between the villagers and Count Karnstein, with inevitable results.
As I said, far from original, but with Shaun Hutson’s touch, it's a good, uninspiring, read.
February 7, 2025
"Twins of Evil" is a fascinating entry in Hammer Films' Karnstein Trilogy. (Such a shame that the planned fourth film in the series was never made) The film's setting in Styria during the late 1700s adds a rich historical backdrop to its dark and gothic narrative. The conflict between the puritanical Brotherhood and the vampiric Count Karnstein creates a compelling dynamic, especially with the Brotherhood's misguided zealotry mirroring the evil they seek to eradicate.
Gustav Weil's character adds a layer of moral ambiguity to the story with his fanatical pursuit of supposed witches. Introducing his twin nieces, Maria and Frieda, further complicates the plot, as their contrasting personalities lead to inevitable tragedy. Frieda's attraction to danger and eventual encounter with Count Karnstein set off a chain of events highlighting the film's themes of corruption, fanaticism, and the blurred lines between good and evil.
It's a gripping tale that showcases Hammer Films' talent for blending horror with complex character studies and moral dilemmas.
Gustav Weil's character adds a layer of moral ambiguity to the story with his fanatical pursuit of supposed witches. Introducing his twin nieces, Maria and Frieda, further complicates the plot, as their contrasting personalities lead to inevitable tragedy. Frieda's attraction to danger and eventual encounter with Count Karnstein set off a chain of events highlighting the film's themes of corruption, fanaticism, and the blurred lines between good and evil.
It's a gripping tale that showcases Hammer Films' talent for blending horror with complex character studies and moral dilemmas.
February 27, 2012
Re-telling of the Hammer horror film 'Twins Of Evil'.
Karnstein Castle is home of Count Karnstein whose family have been the subject of much fear and speculation for centuries, dominating the small town of Karnstein.
Two beautiful sisters arrive undre the care of their Puritan Uncle who is trying to rid the area of witches and witchcraft. In a completely over the top manner, any woman suspected is immediately burnt at the stake.
Whilst he is struggling to do so, one of his daughters gets involved with Count Karnstein with disastrous consequences.
Kindle Version
Karnstein Castle is home of Count Karnstein whose family have been the subject of much fear and speculation for centuries, dominating the small town of Karnstein.
Two beautiful sisters arrive undre the care of their Puritan Uncle who is trying to rid the area of witches and witchcraft. In a completely over the top manner, any woman suspected is immediately burnt at the stake.
Whilst he is struggling to do so, one of his daughters gets involved with Count Karnstein with disastrous consequences.
Kindle Version
December 20, 2013
"Twins of Evil", a book adaptation of the Hammer film of the same name, is an atmospheric vampire novel. Whilst it doesn't have the scare/gore factor of Hutson's earlier work, and is predictable in places, it is an enjoyable read nonetheless.
Read
March 4, 2016A complete load of shite and drivel...I had tried,really I had,but the person who wrote the original screenplay was a talentless halfwit. I feel sad that Shaun Hutson even attempted to recreate this one. The film must have been diabolical!
July 29, 2012
Boring story lines
November 14, 2012
Needs some cleansing, but otherwise the story had wonderfully Gothic fairytale feeling.
October 8, 2014
It sticks to the Hammer film version and has the odd extras added with the horror of Hutson.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews