Hell to Pay

by Shaun Hutson

A boy's body is discovered on the shores of Kingsfield reservoir. Like the killer's previous two victims, there's no sign of violence, no fingerprints, nothing but two small puncture marks where the overdose of heroin was injected. Whoever is carrying out the attacks is careful, methodical and clever. Detective Inspector Alan Fielding is frantic to find the killer before another child is taken...In a run down house on a nearby estate, Nikki Reed knows only too well what the ominous knock on the front door means - the loan sharks want their money back, and if they don't get it, they're going to get nasty. But Nikki can't pay up - until her brother John comes up with a dangerous and high-risk scheme that could make all of them rich...Roma Todd's relationship with record company boss David is rife with deceit and deception, but the one thing that holds them together is their daughter Kirsten. And though Kirsten may seem like any other child, she suffers from an extraordinary illness, one that without her medication can unleash a bizarre and deadly trail of horror...All desperate people running out of time. When their worlds collide, there'll be hell to pay...

Genres: Horror, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

British 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.

Reviews

[Jemma Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book for several reasons. First of all I would’ve appreciated some kind of warning that what seemed like half of the book was various descriptions of sexual child abuse, despite the fact the little girl kidnapped in the story was kidnapped for money and nothing more. Even Dawson did what he did for moneys sake. No of the characters were likeable, not a single one, even Kirsten herself who also wasn’t written particularly well. The story itself could’ve been told much quicker and, imho would’ve worked better as a novella or short story. Too many words and too much time spent reading this for a very small payoff. I’ve read Hudson before and this has to be the worst thing of his I’ve read, he’s usually much more interesting this was just strange and almost felt at times that he had two basic ideas for a story, couldn’t flesh them out accordingly, so just mashed them both together. In regard to Kristen’s illness? What a waste! The condition that she had could have created a much more interesting tale, instead it was such an anticlimax when it finally came in to play. A very disappointing read.

[Jason Mussett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm, I must be a glutton for punishment. I read this after Hybrid. In this, a couple are hip deep
in debt ( she likes expensive shoes, he likes betting on horses) a woman has a daughter with a
burning disease-literally, she's having an affair with a student. Snore! The couple in debt, Nikki
and her fleckless husband hatch a plot to kidnap kid with illness so they can pay off loan shark.
Again, the ending is good if not predictable. It's just a shame you had to plod through 300 odd pages before you got there.
It seems as once you become an established author you can turn out any old rot and
get it published, this unfortunately seems to prove my point....

[Geoff Battle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hell to Pay is a quick blast. It has no depth, no likeable characters, stretches plausible coincidence to the maximum and despite all these flaws, somehow produces a bit of a page-turner. Shaun Hutson is a seasoned writer and can add just enough plot elements to ensure you see it through, which in this case is a child with an unusual disease. This element creates a small hook in an otherwise uninspiring novel. It's short, although not sweet and an easy way to kill a few hours.

[Ryan Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaun hutson is great writer he keeps the pages turning with antisipation and builds suspense with ease and doesn't disappoint wen it comes to the punch the bloke his tottaly underrated in my opinion he stuck too what he does best unlike Clive Barker who will have a go at anything if you know what I meen !!!

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

The same usual Hutson style of fast paced page turning prose, except nothing really happens until the last 10 pages. Worth reading for completeness but one of his weaker efforts . . .

[Chris Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hutson sure has improved as a writer over the years!
Great horror/thriller,
with the normal sex and rough subject matter.

[Sarah Mck · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, although cliche in its title "Hell to pay.....everyone has a price" (come on people!) Wasn't actually too bad, though I don't think either it was too good that I deserved more than 2 stars, maybe 2.5? Which is disappointing because the plot itself (Once it eventually gets established) and the end storyline, is actually quite interesting with many different characters all linked up into one rather horrific and sad end.
The book didn't really take off until about half way through, in many respects it felt like half he book was wrote and the author suddenly went "OH crap I better start wrapping this thing up and get going I've only got 200 pages left!"
The story itself is rather disturbing, so I wouldn't recommend to anyone with a sensitive stomach or whom is lightly offended. I struggled a bit and held back tears at one point at the cruelty that was portrayed by some of the characters. - And the characters themselves missed a certain depth, their personalities only skimmed over in order to fulfill their purpose in the scheme of things.
The last 50 pages are by far the most breathtaking and it was basically impossible to tear myself away from the horror and suspense in front of me. However afterwards i realized that there was so many questioned left unanswered. For example **spoiler alert** - Why did Dawson inject his victims with heroin and take photos of them? I'm assuming it was for the cash he always bragged about? But considering this theme is the main point of the first half of the book, its relevance suddenly drops off as the Kirsten gets kidnapped. I don't mind a book with some unanswered questioned, but I feel like the author didn't really think the entirety of this novel through. Too many holes, too vague a script. A little disappointed as this could have been a 5 star book with some more work.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this, very dark and filled with tension. However, I found that the first half of the book was considerably weaker than the second part. The climax of the story was incredible but I think the build up could have been a lot better.
Shaun is great at incoorporating the fantastical and the supernatural with the everyday and he manages to do so here, although a lot of detail gets skimmed over. If something isn't feasible and questions get asked, Sean tends to sweep it under the carpet. There are times when reading that you have to suspend your belief and just go with it (when discussing medical conditions in particular, I wont say anything else because I'll ruin the plot!)
I have read other Hutson books where you feel for the characters, whereas in this book they are more like puppets being tossed around. The narrative doesn't allow you to get into the characters heads as much, which for a book that dwells largerly on psychological themes can be seen as a shortcoming.

[Afsana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was half way thru this before I realised that I have read this book. And was enjoying but when I knew I read it and started skimming it.

Continued it and read it. Shame about the child dying but thekidnappers got their comeuppence!! "had no choice" my arse

Can't believe that she wants another child and we know that it will have the same condition

[el Caido · Rating 4 out of 5]

exciting........

[Eliana Da Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, had me on edge throughout the second half if the book not much for the first half though

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than Herbert I thought. The characters were mostly three-dimensional but the story itself didn't quite take off at any point.