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Dr Valentine #1
The Nine Deaths of Dr Valentine
Someone is killing doctors in the style of the murders in Vincent Price movies. The Bristol police are baffled. The only man who could possibly be responsible died years ago. Or did he…..?”
A tribute to the films of Vincent Price in general, and Theatre of Blood & The Abominable Dr. Phibes in particular, The Nine Deaths of Dr Valentine is a novella filled with wit, horror and outrageous incident in the grand tradition of the classic horror films of the 1970s.
The limited hardcover signed edition is now SOLD OUT
Paperback edition is still available
The full wraparound dust jacket has been designed to emulate the classic horror movie posters of the 1970s as well. Lovely, isn't it?
A tribute to the films of Vincent Price in general, and Theatre of Blood & The Abominable Dr. Phibes in particular, The Nine Deaths of Dr Valentine is a novella filled with wit, horror and outrageous incident in the grand tradition of the classic horror films of the 1970s.
The limited hardcover signed edition is now SOLD OUT
Paperback edition is still available
The full wraparound dust jacket has been designed to emulate the classic horror movie posters of the 1970s as well. Lovely, isn't it?
88 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 28, 2015
Gory and fun homage to the lurid and ridiculous violence of horror films of yore. Someone is murdering victims in the manner of deaths from Vincent Price films, and it's testament to Probert's creativity that this ludicrous premise never seems entirely implausible. Things are kept taut enough for there to be genuine menace amid the grins of recognition, and Probert knows just when to give us the bloody details, and when to withhold them and let the reader's imagination fill in the gruesome blanks. Brilliantly written and a real pleasure to read - wholeheartedly recommended.
October 3, 2013
We are in Bristol in the present day, but also in the world of Hammer House and horror ‘B’ movies of the 60s/70s for this novella by accomplished practitioner John Llewellyn Probert. A spate of bizarre and grisly murders hits the city, seemingly unrelated but surely too contrived to be coincidence. DI Longdon leads the investigations, aided by Sergeant Jenny Newham and pathologist Dr. Richard Patterson. The task at hand seems beyond their resources – the killer is smarter, better organized and leaves nothing but the scantest of facts for them to grasp at. As the corpses – or rather, their remains – pile up, a pattern begins to emerge.
The atmosphere alternates between prosaic procedural, deliciously dark preludes to the killings and a gleeful mania as the executions are depicted. Stylistically everything is crisp in detail and pace, with lean prose when required whilst at other times a more pungent narrative prevails which relishes in the horror of the scenes unfolding.
Without spoiling it (although the story’s Dedication is a major clue), the degree of enjoyment a reader might glean from reading this depends on the extent to which the reader recognizes the source of this pattern; if you’re a fan of old-school Brit-horror then you are in great company with Probert. Even if you are not [ie. this reviewer], it is a well-paced, gleefully gruesome read punctuated with some moments of humour: the author is clearly enjoying himself and his enthusiasm for the source material is infectious.
Many of the movies from which this tale takes its cue manage to juggle potentially contradictory qualities – a hammy humour that winks to the camera as well as moments that genuinely shock. Once you start watching them, you are drawn in and compelled to stay. ‘The Nine Deaths of Dr. Valentine’ evokes them perfectly -- similarly portraying the macabre without taking itself or the genre it loves too seriously; and once you start reading you too will be pulled along for the ride.
This is a short read (some 80 or so pages in eBook format) so it is not realistic to expect fully-fledged characters that evolve and grow etc. but the author gives us well-realized sketches in the lugubrious Longdon and his dogged sidekick. I would be happy to spend more time in their company and the ending here leaves open that possibility.
I devoured this in one sitting and like the best of tasty snacks, it whets the appetite for a full banquet. It’s a must for kitschy horror-film buffs as well as any readers that take a delight in well-told tall tales of terror. Kudos should also go to Spectral Press for a nicely produced edition including cover art in keeping with the key reference point – a quality product all-round.
Two other things I learned:
i. The meaning of ‘oedematous.’ (Who says horror can’t be educational?)
ii. Mr. Probert could probably kill someone in many inventive ways – I’m very glad I was (honestly) able to give this story a positive review…
The atmosphere alternates between prosaic procedural, deliciously dark preludes to the killings and a gleeful mania as the executions are depicted. Stylistically everything is crisp in detail and pace, with lean prose when required whilst at other times a more pungent narrative prevails which relishes in the horror of the scenes unfolding.
Without spoiling it (although the story’s Dedication is a major clue), the degree of enjoyment a reader might glean from reading this depends on the extent to which the reader recognizes the source of this pattern; if you’re a fan of old-school Brit-horror then you are in great company with Probert. Even if you are not [ie. this reviewer], it is a well-paced, gleefully gruesome read punctuated with some moments of humour: the author is clearly enjoying himself and his enthusiasm for the source material is infectious.
Many of the movies from which this tale takes its cue manage to juggle potentially contradictory qualities – a hammy humour that winks to the camera as well as moments that genuinely shock. Once you start watching them, you are drawn in and compelled to stay. ‘The Nine Deaths of Dr. Valentine’ evokes them perfectly -- similarly portraying the macabre without taking itself or the genre it loves too seriously; and once you start reading you too will be pulled along for the ride.
This is a short read (some 80 or so pages in eBook format) so it is not realistic to expect fully-fledged characters that evolve and grow etc. but the author gives us well-realized sketches in the lugubrious Longdon and his dogged sidekick. I would be happy to spend more time in their company and the ending here leaves open that possibility.
I devoured this in one sitting and like the best of tasty snacks, it whets the appetite for a full banquet. It’s a must for kitschy horror-film buffs as well as any readers that take a delight in well-told tall tales of terror. Kudos should also go to Spectral Press for a nicely produced edition including cover art in keeping with the key reference point – a quality product all-round.
Two other things I learned:
i. The meaning of ‘oedematous.’ (Who says horror can’t be educational?)
ii. Mr. Probert could probably kill someone in many inventive ways – I’m very glad I was (honestly) able to give this story a positive review…
October 6, 2015
It took me a while to take this book in the right context, but once I got my head around that it became a marvellous little read.
The story itself clocks in at a little under 73 pages and is a loving tribute to the horror movies of yesteryear, particularly those of Vincent Price.
When a series of bizarre murders start taking place in the city of Bristol, it soon becomes apparent that the mysterious killer is aping Vincent Price moving. It follows the police investigation, while at the same time giving us each murder as it happens.
The payoff is good fun, even though I realised who the killer was from the moment he was first mentioned. That being said it adds to the tension and you want to shout at everyone else that they are being idiots!
This edition came with an appendix listing each of the films that inspired the story, which gives it an added depth and really allows the authors love for the films shine through as he reminisces about them and why he had to include them in the story.
It is well written, with not just a love of the films, but for the conveyance of the killings, funny in places just like the movies were and with a familiarity with the city that adds an extra spark of life to the tale.
The characters come across well, particularly the lead policeman, Longdon. You feel that they are in over their heads and that they just cannot keep up with the killer who right to the end is one step ahead.
An entertaining read, and I look forwards to the sequel.
The story itself clocks in at a little under 73 pages and is a loving tribute to the horror movies of yesteryear, particularly those of Vincent Price.
When a series of bizarre murders start taking place in the city of Bristol, it soon becomes apparent that the mysterious killer is aping Vincent Price moving. It follows the police investigation, while at the same time giving us each murder as it happens.
The payoff is good fun, even though I realised who the killer was from the moment he was first mentioned. That being said it adds to the tension and you want to shout at everyone else that they are being idiots!
This edition came with an appendix listing each of the films that inspired the story, which gives it an added depth and really allows the authors love for the films shine through as he reminisces about them and why he had to include them in the story.
It is well written, with not just a love of the films, but for the conveyance of the killings, funny in places just like the movies were and with a familiarity with the city that adds an extra spark of life to the tale.
The characters come across well, particularly the lead policeman, Longdon. You feel that they are in over their heads and that they just cannot keep up with the killer who right to the end is one step ahead.
An entertaining read, and I look forwards to the sequel.
November 3, 2014
At one point of time, after being rather badly stung by Clive barker and (Heaven help me) Graham Masterton, I had decided to stay away from any horror that deals with sex & gore. Fortunately, JLP had compelled me to become more flexible in my reading, with his Hammer & Amicus anthology-films styled "Faculty of Terror" and "Catacombs of Horror". And now, he has again shown his loving admiration for those films with a visceral-yet-exquisite novella, which has been brought out by the Spectral Press that has already set rather high standards for itself within a strikingly short period.
The story deals with the actions of a killer who is disposing off his victims in styles & scenes inspired by Vincent Price movies. It ends, satisfactorily, in a rather open manner, keeping the probability of the killer's return and hence a sequel rather high. I can only hope that it arrives quickly, because from a reader's perspective, JLP's novellas (with their unique style where violence, suspense, and black comedy mixes to create an incomparable concoction) are illuminating sparks in the gloomy field of drab door-stoppers and weak stories. Highly Recommended, esp. if you can somehow get hold of the hardcover edition that describes the Vincent Price films which had inspired the author to enact the murders in this book.
The story deals with the actions of a killer who is disposing off his victims in styles & scenes inspired by Vincent Price movies. It ends, satisfactorily, in a rather open manner, keeping the probability of the killer's return and hence a sequel rather high. I can only hope that it arrives quickly, because from a reader's perspective, JLP's novellas (with their unique style where violence, suspense, and black comedy mixes to create an incomparable concoction) are illuminating sparks in the gloomy field of drab door-stoppers and weak stories. Highly Recommended, esp. if you can somehow get hold of the hardcover edition that describes the Vincent Price films which had inspired the author to enact the murders in this book.
December 21, 2023
A gruesome novella that pays tribute to the horror films of Vincent Price. With the murderer replicating deaths from the films, you'd be right to expect that it's rather an OTT tale... but it's all the more fun because of it!
It was a delight from start to finish, nice & gory but with the sort of humour I love - I particularly liked DI Longdon's rather sardonic tone as he tries to track down the perpetrator of these bizarre yet inventive macabre murders.
While it maybe rather gruesome at times, at others, images were simply conjured up eg : " His hair was white, his velvet jacket was burgundy , and his age had to be well past bus pass qualification"
Overall, I loved it - admittedly I think part of the enjoyment for me was how it took me right back to the early 1970's when I was allowed to stay up very late on a Friday night to watch these grisly bloodfests - & I'll certainly be on the lookout for more by this author.
It was a delight from start to finish, nice & gory but with the sort of humour I love - I particularly liked DI Longdon's rather sardonic tone as he tries to track down the perpetrator of these bizarre yet inventive macabre murders.
While it maybe rather gruesome at times, at others, images were simply conjured up eg : " His hair was white, his velvet jacket was burgundy , and his age had to be well past bus pass qualification"
Overall, I loved it - admittedly I think part of the enjoyment for me was how it took me right back to the early 1970's when I was allowed to stay up very late on a Friday night to watch these grisly bloodfests - & I'll certainly be on the lookout for more by this author.
November 1, 2021
MARATÓN HALLOWEENESCO 2021
Parte 5
THE NINE DEATHS OF DR. VALENTINE
John Llewellyn Probert
** 3.2 **
Dumat did have mercy on my soul after all!
Después del mal sabor de boca que dejó mi lectura anterior, The Nine Deaths of Dr. Valentine vino regresarle un poco de alegría a mi muy irregular maratón del terror.
A pesar de ser un texto relativamente breve, este relato resulta muy atractivo y entretenido. La trama, una mezcla de horror y thriller aderezada con una pizca de humor negro, quizás no sea la más original, ni la más estéticamente exquisita, pero yo la disfruté mucho porque no se enreda en absurdos, y su desarrollo resulta ágil y sin pretensiones. Y en ocasiones, eso es lo que uno busca: algo divertido, palomero y con un poco de coherencia.
🎃🎃🎃
👍
September 18, 2018
Superb horror novella
The Nine Deaths of Dr Valentine is an absolute delight, a recreation and homage to the movies of Vincent Price. By turns funny and horrifying, the story unfolds at a blistering pace, and the fact that it uses my adopted hometown as a backdrop is just the icing on the cake.
The Nine Deaths of Dr Valentine is an absolute delight, a recreation and homage to the movies of Vincent Price. By turns funny and horrifying, the story unfolds at a blistering pace, and the fact that it uses my adopted hometown as a backdrop is just the icing on the cake.
November 30, 2018
Good bit of fun, if a little slender. Moving straight on to book 2 in the Compleat Valentine collection. [Leaves twirling his moustache and laughing archly]
October 31, 2024
This novella won the British Fantasy award in 2013. It's an homage to some of the horror films of Vincent Price.
November 3, 2014
magine a British police procedural with a dark, sinister undertone, and a villain who delights in staging devilishly macabre crimes. Like the bastard son of Hammer House of Horror and A Touch of Frost, with just a dash of Tales of the Unexpected thrown in for good measure, The Nine Deaths of Dr. Valentine is the latest from small publisher Spectral Press. Outlandish as it is engrossing, I’ve read it a couple of times now and I reckon it’s a perfect little gem of a story.
Who should read this then? Well, personally I think everybody, but if you are a fan of the likes of Hammer and Amicus (especially the films of Vincent Price) then you’ll be particularly over the moon. I don’t doubt for a moment that any horror film buff is going to be in their element with this. Dr Valentine is an evil genius and each of his crimes reflects this. I can’t say much more than that, for fear of spoilers, but take it from me the discovery is well worth it.
As an aside, I know Bristol a little, I have family in that neck of the woods, and I couldn’t help but smile when I spotted locations I was familiar with. A personal favourite was the inventive use of Clifton Suspension Bridge. I’m never going to be able to look at it in quite the same way again.
As an added bonus there is a cheeky little appendix tucked away in the back that details each of the films that Dr Valentine draws his diabolical inspirations from. I defy anyone to read this and, if they haven’t already seen them, immediately want to seek these cinematic classics out. Entertainment and education in equal measure? Mr Llewellyn Probert, truly you’re spoiling us.
Sometimes when you read a story, and the author absolutely nails it, you can easily picture every character in every scene. The Nine Deaths of Dr Valentine falls firmly into this category. All I need to do now is figure out some way to convince the team behind The League of Gentlemen that this is exactly the sort of thing they need to make into a one off TV drama. Their dark, sometimes creepy, visual style merged with this story, oh wow, it could be phenomenal. Perhaps in time for Halloween next year? I can picture the cast already.
Bravo to the author, and to Spectral Press. This latest release is an absolute corker. In fact, I think I’ll go so far as to say that this may be my favourite Spectral release so far. Gruesome, gory and just a little bit camp. I don’t think you could want for anything more when it comes to a great story. It’s exactly the sort of thing that I can see myself revisiting again in the future.
The Nine Deaths of Dr Valentine has already sold out in hardback (so very pleased I managed to snag myself a copy now, why yes I am slightly smug about that now that you mention it). Check the Spectral Press website for details of availability in other formats.
Who should read this then? Well, personally I think everybody, but if you are a fan of the likes of Hammer and Amicus (especially the films of Vincent Price) then you’ll be particularly over the moon. I don’t doubt for a moment that any horror film buff is going to be in their element with this. Dr Valentine is an evil genius and each of his crimes reflects this. I can’t say much more than that, for fear of spoilers, but take it from me the discovery is well worth it.
As an aside, I know Bristol a little, I have family in that neck of the woods, and I couldn’t help but smile when I spotted locations I was familiar with. A personal favourite was the inventive use of Clifton Suspension Bridge. I’m never going to be able to look at it in quite the same way again.
As an added bonus there is a cheeky little appendix tucked away in the back that details each of the films that Dr Valentine draws his diabolical inspirations from. I defy anyone to read this and, if they haven’t already seen them, immediately want to seek these cinematic classics out. Entertainment and education in equal measure? Mr Llewellyn Probert, truly you’re spoiling us.
Sometimes when you read a story, and the author absolutely nails it, you can easily picture every character in every scene. The Nine Deaths of Dr Valentine falls firmly into this category. All I need to do now is figure out some way to convince the team behind The League of Gentlemen that this is exactly the sort of thing they need to make into a one off TV drama. Their dark, sometimes creepy, visual style merged with this story, oh wow, it could be phenomenal. Perhaps in time for Halloween next year? I can picture the cast already.
Bravo to the author, and to Spectral Press. This latest release is an absolute corker. In fact, I think I’ll go so far as to say that this may be my favourite Spectral release so far. Gruesome, gory and just a little bit camp. I don’t think you could want for anything more when it comes to a great story. It’s exactly the sort of thing that I can see myself revisiting again in the future.
The Nine Deaths of Dr Valentine has already sold out in hardback (so very pleased I managed to snag myself a copy now, why yes I am slightly smug about that now that you mention it). Check the Spectral Press website for details of availability in other formats.
September 9, 2018
Someone is killing people following the model of Vincent Price films. Lots of fun.
December 29, 2014
I enjoyed this novel immensely, even given the fact that it's very light on plot. The premise is basically that someone is murdering people in the style of Vincent Price, or at least the characters he plays in various old horror movies. This is all well and good but does rather limit the plot, it being composed in the end of little more than a serious of vignettes of people being killed in gruesome ways. This was the stated aim of the novel though so I can't be too hard on him for that really.
I remember nearly all of the movies which made it a lot of fun, but I generally like my books to be a little more involved or maybe, you know, to be a little more than just a serious of interlinked scenes of someone killing someone else. Still, I liked it and it was very short. The irony is that the author's reviews of the movies at the end of the book are at least as enjoyable as the novel itself.
Having said all that I would recommend it to anyone who loves the old horror movies and had a pound or so to spare, which is a very good price for any novel, but especially one as entertaining as this even given it's negatives.
I was on the verge of giving it 3 stars but it was simply too much fun not to up it to 4. I suppose in the end, if you've seen the movie 'Theatre of Blood' then you'll know exactly what to expect with this offering.
So, great fun, but a bit too light on plot for my liking.
I remember nearly all of the movies which made it a lot of fun, but I generally like my books to be a little more involved or maybe, you know, to be a little more than just a serious of interlinked scenes of someone killing someone else. Still, I liked it and it was very short. The irony is that the author's reviews of the movies at the end of the book are at least as enjoyable as the novel itself.
Having said all that I would recommend it to anyone who loves the old horror movies and had a pound or so to spare, which is a very good price for any novel, but especially one as entertaining as this even given it's negatives.
I was on the verge of giving it 3 stars but it was simply too much fun not to up it to 4. I suppose in the end, if you've seen the movie 'Theatre of Blood' then you'll know exactly what to expect with this offering.
So, great fun, but a bit too light on plot for my liking.
November 3, 2014
Someone has embarked upon a killing spree around Bristol, killing doctors with spectacular methods which, as the story progresses, it becomes obvious have been gleaned from Vincent Price films. Detective Inspector Longdon is in charge of the case, ably assisted by Sergeant Jenny Newham and pathologist Dr Richard Patterson and once they determine the pattern, it becomes a race against time to stop the body count increasing. As good as this book is - and it’s wonderfully written and plotted - I think your enjoyment will ultimately rest on how you feel about chillers from the late 60s and 70s (especially the Vincent Price canon) because John has somehow managed to distil the sense you get watching these films into the written word. This is a joyous book - funny and grisly, urbane and shocking - and as unputdownable as those films are impossible to stop watching halfway through. The murder set pieces are all beautifully described, the plot makes perfect sense, the characterisation is spot on and Bristol makes a great backdrop to the whole thing (with extra points for fine use of the Clifton Suspension Bridge). A brilliant story, told by a writer firing on all cylinders and clearly having a whale of a time, this is highly recommended.
December 8, 2014
Do you fall under any of the following categories? Fan of Vincent Price, Roger Corman, THE FLY, THE TINGLER? Think THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES is one of the great horror films of all-time? Like your literature with a heavy dose of the cinematic? Want a fun read? If you find yourself answering yes to any of the above questions, then THE NINE DEATHS OF DR. VALENTINE is for you. It's a reimagining, a contemporarizing and a love letter to Vincent Price's MGM (and other) films of the late '50s to the '70s. The read is smooth, fun and engaging from front to back, and I knocked it out earlier today in one sitting. For a fun horror novel that reminds you of the great entertainment horror can be, this is your book. And it sneaks in some very sharp horror ideas, like the similarities between SAW and THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES, which I think has gone almost complete unaknowledged It also shouts-out one of my favorite psychedelic horror flicks SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN, which features a brilliant Vincent Price, along with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. It's highlight is these three icons in one film, but the title song is so cool. Dr. Phibes was able to rise again, and I wait in hopes that Dr. Valentine manages to do the same.
July 16, 2013
The book had a great pace, a constant sinister feel, and amazing setting. It was a quick read.
On the flip side, I felt the victims were more fleshed out that the main character and his side-kick. In fact all there was in way of character for her was a name and what she smoked. This may be a clever trick by the author to put the reader right in the scene, right in the victims shoes, and if so, it worked.
As a reader I would have liked to see the detective make the antagonist uncomfortable by questioning his hand in the event that triggered this fun romp. Why hadn't he done something? Where did he go? Why didn't he come forward to help etc.
All in all, it was very visual, delightfully gruesome and being in the victims POV was a nice touch.
On the flip side, I felt the victims were more fleshed out that the main character and his side-kick. In fact all there was in way of character for her was a name and what she smoked. This may be a clever trick by the author to put the reader right in the scene, right in the victims shoes, and if so, it worked.
As a reader I would have liked to see the detective make the antagonist uncomfortable by questioning his hand in the event that triggered this fun romp. Why hadn't he done something? Where did he go? Why didn't he come forward to help etc.
All in all, it was very visual, delightfully gruesome and being in the victims POV was a nice touch.
November 3, 2014
A fantastically fun read that I devoured quickly after it was released in eBook format by Spectral Press. My only real criticism would be that there wasn't enough of it! Will definitely look out for other stories by this author
August 11, 2013
I'm seriously beginning to believe that Probert is incapable of writing a bad story. I loved this novella. Not only was it well written, it also showed a genuine love for campy horror movies of the past, especially those of Vincent Price. A job well done!
February 11, 2014
My review of this excellent novella here, at my blog...
http://paul-feeney.blogspot.co.uk/201... — with Simon Marshall-Jones and John Llewellyn Probert.
http://paul-feeney.blogspot.co.uk/201... — with Simon Marshall-Jones and John Llewellyn Probert.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews