What do you think?
Rate this book
The Pariah
The quaint little seaside town of Granitehead seemed like a perfect place for John and Jane Trenton to start their life together. But disaster strikes and Jane and their unborn child are killed. John's grief is total, so when he starts to see the ghostly apparition of his wife he almost welcomes this supernatural phenomenon.
Yet all is not what it seems, and this sinister spirit is not Jane, but something altogether evil and terrifying. In a bid to rid himself of this horrific spectre he soon finds that many more in the town have been victims of unwanted visitations. And when he discovers the body of a local busybody, impossibly impaled on a still hanging chandelier, he knows something must be done. But how do you kill the undead?
As he searches for an explanation he uncovers a link to a mysterious ship, lost around the time of the nearby Salem witch trials. For three centuries the rotting wreck of the David Dark has lain beneath waves, but an awful secret is concealed in the chill waters...
Yet all is not what it seems, and this sinister spirit is not Jane, but something altogether evil and terrifying. In a bid to rid himself of this horrific spectre he soon finds that many more in the town have been victims of unwanted visitations. And when he discovers the body of a local busybody, impossibly impaled on a still hanging chandelier, he knows something must be done. But how do you kill the undead?
As he searches for an explanation he uncovers a link to a mysterious ship, lost around the time of the nearby Salem witch trials. For three centuries the rotting wreck of the David Dark has lain beneath waves, but an awful secret is concealed in the chill waters...
379 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
59 people are currently reading
1324 people want to read
About the author
Graham Masterton
423 books1,982 followersGraham Masterton was born in Edinburgh in 1946. His grandfather was Thomas Thorne Baker, the eminent scientist who invented DayGlo and was the first man to transmit news photographs by wireless. After training as a newspaper reporter, Graham went on to edit the new British men's magazine Mayfair, where he encouraged William Burroughs to develop a series of scientific and philosophical articles which eventually became Burroughs' novel The Wild Boys.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
January 12, 2016
For nearly the entirety of this novel, I thought there was no doubt I’d be rating this 5 stars. Unfortunately, the ending was a slight letdown for me, but that does not change the fact that this is top-notch pulp horror.
The opening 50 or so pages are some of the freakiest, most spine-chilling I’ve ever read. 30-something John, newly widowed after a tragic car accident claimed his wife, and living in an old cottage on the coast of Massachusetts near Salem, one night begins hearing strange whispering and faint singing coming from everywhere around him. It’s severely windy, so he rationalizes it by assuming the wind is making the odd noises. But that doesn’t explain the swing in the backyard, slowly swinging back and forth, and making creaking noises as if someone was on it. And his wife loved that swing.
Creepy as hell.
He soon discovers that many of the other residents of the small fishing village of Granitehead have been experiencing similar supernatural visits by seeming lost loved ones, and these spirits have very bad intentions. So he, with the help of a few friends, is determined to get to the bottom of it. It all may be connected to nearby Salem’s horrific past of witch-hunts and burnings, and an old 17th century ship that went missing soon after embarking on a mysterious voyage.
This was an extremely fun read, filled with non-stop terrifying moments. The paranormal happenings occurred so frequently that it eventually dulled their effect somewhat, but overall it’s hard to ask for much more if you’re into pulpy horror. Every trope I love in these types of novels is here, especially the whole “group of people from different walks of life join forces to battle an ancient mounting evil.” You even get that hoary old standby -- the research project, with the help of an eccentric, reclusive old man with a vast library and who knows a thing or two about Salem’s unfortunate history. I love this stuff in my horror, as well as the small town setting. They're almost comforting to me in a way, which is odd considering the purpose of horror is to disturb and frighten. But this certainly did plenty of that as well.
I even love how all these supposed east coast Americans frequently use British jargon while speaking. Unless everybody from that area of Massachusetts calls their front yards "front gardens?" I pictured all the characters as speaking with an English accent, which was amusing. If you don't mind these sorts of quirks, and you’re in the mood for straight-up, balls-to-the-wall horror, you could certainly do worse than The Pariah. This was by far my favorite of the five Mastertons I've read so far, and one of the best recent horror reads in general, despite the rather anti-climactic ending.
I'm just glad I didn't give up on him after reading The Sphinx, which was pretty underwhelming. I do wish he would spend a little more time polishing his novels, instead of just pumping them out willy-nilly, as this one proves he could have been up there with the horror greats, if only he had chosen to be. I guess it's not too late, but at this point he's probably pretty much set in his ways.
Essential for horror aficionados.
4.5 Stars
The opening 50 or so pages are some of the freakiest, most spine-chilling I’ve ever read. 30-something John, newly widowed after a tragic car accident claimed his wife, and living in an old cottage on the coast of Massachusetts near Salem, one night begins hearing strange whispering and faint singing coming from everywhere around him. It’s severely windy, so he rationalizes it by assuming the wind is making the odd noises. But that doesn’t explain the swing in the backyard, slowly swinging back and forth, and making creaking noises as if someone was on it. And his wife loved that swing.
Creepy as hell.
He soon discovers that many of the other residents of the small fishing village of Granitehead have been experiencing similar supernatural visits by seeming lost loved ones, and these spirits have very bad intentions. So he, with the help of a few friends, is determined to get to the bottom of it. It all may be connected to nearby Salem’s horrific past of witch-hunts and burnings, and an old 17th century ship that went missing soon after embarking on a mysterious voyage.
This was an extremely fun read, filled with non-stop terrifying moments. The paranormal happenings occurred so frequently that it eventually dulled their effect somewhat, but overall it’s hard to ask for much more if you’re into pulpy horror. Every trope I love in these types of novels is here, especially the whole “group of people from different walks of life join forces to battle an ancient mounting evil.” You even get that hoary old standby -- the research project, with the help of an eccentric, reclusive old man with a vast library and who knows a thing or two about Salem’s unfortunate history. I love this stuff in my horror, as well as the small town setting. They're almost comforting to me in a way, which is odd considering the purpose of horror is to disturb and frighten. But this certainly did plenty of that as well.
I even love how all these supposed east coast Americans frequently use British jargon while speaking. Unless everybody from that area of Massachusetts calls their front yards "front gardens?" I pictured all the characters as speaking with an English accent, which was amusing. If you don't mind these sorts of quirks, and you’re in the mood for straight-up, balls-to-the-wall horror, you could certainly do worse than The Pariah. This was by far my favorite of the five Mastertons I've read so far, and one of the best recent horror reads in general, despite the rather anti-climactic ending.
I'm just glad I didn't give up on him after reading The Sphinx, which was pretty underwhelming. I do wish he would spend a little more time polishing his novels, instead of just pumping them out willy-nilly, as this one proves he could have been up there with the horror greats, if only he had chosen to be. I guess it's not too late, but at this point he's probably pretty much set in his ways.
Essential for horror aficionados.
4.5 Stars
August 18, 2018
Extremely eerie read. The book starts reletively slow but then the horror brutally strikes with the dead rising from their graves. Why was this little town formerly known as Ressurrection? What cargo had the David Dark aboard? And who is Mick the Cutler? Will John get his wife back? This is a tremendous story fully of history, witches and an extremely malevolent demon. Another great Masterton novel you can't put down once you've started it. You're literally sucked into this book. Great spooky atmosphere, a real chiller and absolutely recommended!
October 27, 2016
certain spoilers lie ahead...
as a child I first became familiar with that delightful Aztec god of death known as Mictlantecuhtli while perusing the pages of Deities & Demigods: Cyclopedia of Gods and Heroes from Myth and Legend:
(a sad admission: I have only played one game of D&D. hopefully my nerd cred hasn't been completely destroyed.)
so of course it goes without saying that I fell into a drooling paroxysm of glee when his name is first mentioned in The Pariah. gods of death are the best!
the novel is about a number of hauntings that plague the seaside town of Granitehead. but there is something different about these ghosts: their personalities are meaner, angrier, nastily manipulative... they look different than your average remnant - like phantasms made of electricity... they don't want to just haunt, they want to sadistically murder. are these spirits being used for a more nefarious purpose? perhaps they are being employed by a person unknown... say, a sartorially laid-back chap from south of the border with a piercing, come-hither gaze? who also likes snakes?
the first three-quarters or so are riveting. atmospheric, full of tense and unnerving moments, and entirely character-driven; everything I like in my horror. the prolific British author Graham Masterton wrote this in the early 80s but it doesn't feel dated - there is a nicely timeless quality to the book. and except for the occasional use of UK turns of phrase over American ones, the author has a great feel for the people and location. the plot oddly but effectively combines such disparate items as Salem witches, eerie ghost sightings, a sunken ship, and Aztec mythology. the various twists and turns really kept my interest, and Masterton definitely knows how to write a creepy scene. dozens of them!
unfortunately the last quarter is not so great. our protagonist makes a decision that is not just stupidly selfish, it is also inexplicable - given what he's seen and what the reader has seen of him. the blithe acceptance of his decision by other characters was infuriating. it's one of those plot twists that make little sense except to drive the plot forward. alas!
as a child I first became familiar with that delightful Aztec god of death known as Mictlantecuhtli while perusing the pages of Deities & Demigods: Cyclopedia of Gods and Heroes from Myth and Legend:
(a sad admission: I have only played one game of D&D. hopefully my nerd cred hasn't been completely destroyed.)
so of course it goes without saying that I fell into a drooling paroxysm of glee when his name is first mentioned in The Pariah. gods of death are the best!
the novel is about a number of hauntings that plague the seaside town of Granitehead. but there is something different about these ghosts: their personalities are meaner, angrier, nastily manipulative... they look different than your average remnant - like phantasms made of electricity... they don't want to just haunt, they want to sadistically murder. are these spirits being used for a more nefarious purpose? perhaps they are being employed by a person unknown... say, a sartorially laid-back chap from south of the border with a piercing, come-hither gaze? who also likes snakes?
the first three-quarters or so are riveting. atmospheric, full of tense and unnerving moments, and entirely character-driven; everything I like in my horror. the prolific British author Graham Masterton wrote this in the early 80s but it doesn't feel dated - there is a nicely timeless quality to the book. and except for the occasional use of UK turns of phrase over American ones, the author has a great feel for the people and location. the plot oddly but effectively combines such disparate items as Salem witches, eerie ghost sightings, a sunken ship, and Aztec mythology. the various twists and turns really kept my interest, and Masterton definitely knows how to write a creepy scene. dozens of them!
unfortunately the last quarter is not so great. our protagonist makes a decision that is not just stupidly selfish, it is also inexplicable - given what he's seen and what the reader has seen of him. the blithe acceptance of his decision by other characters was infuriating. it's one of those plot twists that make little sense except to drive the plot forward. alas!
March 27, 2023
4.75 Stars ..Greatly enjoyed this one! The mix of archeolgical exploration in to the graphic horror segments worked well for me and I always wanted to get back to it. A sunken shipwreck carrying the remains of an aztec demon seems to be responsible for a small fishing town being attacked by their deceased love ones. An antiques dealer teams up with a local archeologist to locate the ship and exorcise the demon.
February 27, 2022
A fun 80s horror ride by Masterton set in Salem, Mass. The story follows John, a very recent widower living just outside of Salem. John and his wife Jane moved to an old cottage by the sea after they were married and John now runs a maritime antique store in town. We start off with John hearing his dead wife calling his name; obviously, he is being haunted. But this is no simply haunted house story.
Without giving too much away, Masterton builds a supernatural story based on Aztec legend. Just before the 17th century witch trials in Salem, something was brought from Mexico to Salem, and lets say it had quite an impact (e.g., the witch trials and more). John is not the only one suffering from hauntings; in fact, it seems that such things have been going on here for generations. The recently dead keep coming back to lure close relatives to their death. The source? Read it to find out.
Masterton is usually good for a fun read and this is no exception. Be prepared for some odd turns of phrase and expressions as while this is set in Salem, MA, Masterton utilized a bevy of British 'isms' here. Also, to say the ending was abrupt would not do justice to the term. Still, Masterton drives the story along with aplomb, and of course adds in some graphic sex-- this seems to be a feature of almost any 80s horror. Good pulp horror! 4 'hearty' stars.
Without giving too much away, Masterton builds a supernatural story based on Aztec legend. Just before the 17th century witch trials in Salem, something was brought from Mexico to Salem, and lets say it had quite an impact (e.g., the witch trials and more). John is not the only one suffering from hauntings; in fact, it seems that such things have been going on here for generations. The recently dead keep coming back to lure close relatives to their death. The source? Read it to find out.
Masterton is usually good for a fun read and this is no exception. Be prepared for some odd turns of phrase and expressions as while this is set in Salem, MA, Masterton utilized a bevy of British 'isms' here. Also, to say the ending was abrupt would not do justice to the term. Still, Masterton drives the story along with aplomb, and of course adds in some graphic sex-- this seems to be a feature of almost any 80s horror. Good pulp horror! 4 'hearty' stars.
March 28, 2011
The Pariah is an obscure horror novel from 1983, a good time for horror fiction. Phantoms, Floating Dragon and Pet Sematary were all published that year; so was The Pariah, but hardly anyone heard about it.
Being a British author, Graham Masterton has somehow never gathered a big following in the USA, despite being as prolific as the two titans of terror, King and Koontz. In his native Britain and Europe he remains a strong figure, publishing a new novel or two every year. Being prolific certainly has its advantages, as fans never have to wait too long for new work from their favorite author; however, such endless stream of new words buries the previous achievements and renders them obscure, as is the case with The Pariah.
Now, from all of Masterton's output, this was the one that was regularly selected and recommended by my peers when we were in school. This was the book people talked about during the breaks; this was the book to be read, if you wanted to discover Masterton. This was the book that even people who don't read horror enjoyed; it was good.
The key word when describing The Pariah is atmospheric. Graham Masterton has written a ton of novels, which wildly range in quality; this one is up there when it comes to setting the mood. It's all creaking floorboards, big victorian houses, people with secrets and weird, strange paintings. The sense of mystery is strong. Working on the ever reliable canvas of small-town horror, Masterton set his novel in Granitehead, a small, sleepy town near the Massachusets lake. John Trenton, an antique dealer, tries to cope with his wife's death. He is disturbed by noises he hears at night; he blames his state of mind. But when he discovers a strange painting of Granitehead's sea-shore, which shows a ship that should not be there. John discovers that not everything in Granitehead is what it seems; he sets on to discover the secret of the painting, a quest on which he will discover much more than he bargained for.
Masterton takes his sweet time in setting the mood and tension, the plot develops slowly, but is filled with a brooding sense of sadness. Graham is well known for employing folk myths and history in his novels, and The Pariah is no exception. The well-drawn locale of Granitehead does indeed hide many secrets, and perhapes the best element is the process of discovery. Myths, legends, old papers and books...I do not want to spoil the novel so I'll refrain from discussing the plot further. It's worth discovering on your own.
The only bad thing about the novel is the climax, that for me came to suddenly. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, the characters, their search for understanding and the eeriness of it all, so maybe that's why I did not want to reach the end. But I'm glad I did. It's a novel worth your time for the atmosphere alone, and the very ending is a satisfying and fitting conclusion.
To sum up, The Pariah is a novel that should satisfy every fan of horror fiction. It has been proclaimed Masterton's best numerous times, and he indeed might have never gotten better than this. It stayed with me; for a long time after finishing it in my mind I still heard waves breaking on the shores of Granitehead.
Being a British author, Graham Masterton has somehow never gathered a big following in the USA, despite being as prolific as the two titans of terror, King and Koontz. In his native Britain and Europe he remains a strong figure, publishing a new novel or two every year. Being prolific certainly has its advantages, as fans never have to wait too long for new work from their favorite author; however, such endless stream of new words buries the previous achievements and renders them obscure, as is the case with The Pariah.
Now, from all of Masterton's output, this was the one that was regularly selected and recommended by my peers when we were in school. This was the book people talked about during the breaks; this was the book to be read, if you wanted to discover Masterton. This was the book that even people who don't read horror enjoyed; it was good.
The key word when describing The Pariah is atmospheric. Graham Masterton has written a ton of novels, which wildly range in quality; this one is up there when it comes to setting the mood. It's all creaking floorboards, big victorian houses, people with secrets and weird, strange paintings. The sense of mystery is strong. Working on the ever reliable canvas of small-town horror, Masterton set his novel in Granitehead, a small, sleepy town near the Massachusets lake. John Trenton, an antique dealer, tries to cope with his wife's death. He is disturbed by noises he hears at night; he blames his state of mind. But when he discovers a strange painting of Granitehead's sea-shore, which shows a ship that should not be there. John discovers that not everything in Granitehead is what it seems; he sets on to discover the secret of the painting, a quest on which he will discover much more than he bargained for.
Masterton takes his sweet time in setting the mood and tension, the plot develops slowly, but is filled with a brooding sense of sadness. Graham is well known for employing folk myths and history in his novels, and The Pariah is no exception. The well-drawn locale of Granitehead does indeed hide many secrets, and perhapes the best element is the process of discovery. Myths, legends, old papers and books...I do not want to spoil the novel so I'll refrain from discussing the plot further. It's worth discovering on your own.
The only bad thing about the novel is the climax, that for me came to suddenly. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, the characters, their search for understanding and the eeriness of it all, so maybe that's why I did not want to reach the end. But I'm glad I did. It's a novel worth your time for the atmosphere alone, and the very ending is a satisfying and fitting conclusion.
To sum up, The Pariah is a novel that should satisfy every fan of horror fiction. It has been proclaimed Masterton's best numerous times, and he indeed might have never gotten better than this. It stayed with me; for a long time after finishing it in my mind I still heard waves breaking on the shores of Granitehead.
July 5, 2022
Miasteczko w cieniu legendarnego Salem, tajemnica przeklętego statku, zmarli, którzy powstają z grobów...
Snujące się pośród wiatru duchy zmarłych, makabryczne miejsca niewyjaśnionych zbrodni, odgłosy szeptów, widma widziadeł… To dopiero początek! Czytelnicy nie tylko przejdą się malowniczymi uliczkami Granithead i Salem, ale odwiedzą też miejscowe sklepiki z kuriozami, dotrą nawet do biblioteki, której nikt nigdy nie widział na oczy, a której początki biorą się podobno jeszcze z miasteczka Dunwich. Graham Masterton dorzuca dopracowaną legendę statku, zakazanej bandery i koszmarnego ładunku, który wciąż woła z otchłani głębin. Całość dopina postacią starożytnego demona i tych, którzy myśleli, że mogą ujarzmić jego moc. To wszystko składa się na świat „Wyklętego”, to wszystko też sprawia, że trudno nie zanurzyć się w lekturze z przyjemnością.
Podobno „Wyklęty” dla wielu z Was to opus magnum Grahama Mastertona i wcale się temu nie dziwię. To powieść dopracowana w każdym calu, horror z krwi i kości, jeden z tych, które czarują czytelnika, omamiają fabularnie – musimy poznać wszystkie jego tajemnice. Masterton po mistrzowsku buduje i rozkłada napięcie, trzyma nas w garści od początku do samego końca.
„Wyklęty” to horror w starym dobrym stylu, perełka Złotej Ery Horroru, dzisiaj jeden z moich ulubionych, bez dwóch zdań.
Snujące się pośród wiatru duchy zmarłych, makabryczne miejsca niewyjaśnionych zbrodni, odgłosy szeptów, widma widziadeł… To dopiero początek! Czytelnicy nie tylko przejdą się malowniczymi uliczkami Granithead i Salem, ale odwiedzą też miejscowe sklepiki z kuriozami, dotrą nawet do biblioteki, której nikt nigdy nie widział na oczy, a której początki biorą się podobno jeszcze z miasteczka Dunwich. Graham Masterton dorzuca dopracowaną legendę statku, zakazanej bandery i koszmarnego ładunku, który wciąż woła z otchłani głębin. Całość dopina postacią starożytnego demona i tych, którzy myśleli, że mogą ujarzmić jego moc. To wszystko składa się na świat „Wyklętego”, to wszystko też sprawia, że trudno nie zanurzyć się w lekturze z przyjemnością.
Podobno „Wyklęty” dla wielu z Was to opus magnum Grahama Mastertona i wcale się temu nie dziwię. To powieść dopracowana w każdym calu, horror z krwi i kości, jeden z tych, które czarują czytelnika, omamiają fabularnie – musimy poznać wszystkie jego tajemnice. Masterton po mistrzowsku buduje i rozkłada napięcie, trzyma nas w garści od początku do samego końca.
„Wyklęty” to horror w starym dobrym stylu, perełka Złotej Ery Horroru, dzisiaj jeden z moich ulubionych, bez dwóch zdań.
August 6, 2021
Παλιός καλός Masterton. Απόλαυση!
February 26, 2025
Ghosts, witches, sunken ships, Aztec demons, and Native American magic. Masterton is at it again. After a more subdued and spooky first half, the story escalates into a series of ridiculous world myth info dumps and heart-hungry undead. It’s silly but flows nicely, and has some scary scenes and a memorable monster. For the first hundred pages or so, I almost thought this was a restrained Masterton. But the gory deaths and random scenes of horniness put my mind to rest. The women in this book are a hoot: a super sexy twenty-year-old small business owner who throws herself at the protagonist after like five minutes of conversation, a steamy bakery employee who invites him over for homemade lasagna, and a mysterious nymphette servant whose nipples need to be described about ten times to get the point across. Goofy fun and nice use of Salem as a setting for demon antics. There’s a moment where the author uses the word “anoxolyte” to describe a death mask and when I looked it up, the only reference was a passage from this book. Making up words, man’s got style.
February 2, 2013
Οι βραδινές σκηνές με την κούνια που πηγαίνει μόνη της πέρα δώθε, είναι από τις πιο ανατριχιαστικές που έχω διαβάσει.
Θυμάμαι πως το ξεκίνησα βράδυ αυτό το βιβλίο και με κάθε βεβαιότητα ήταν η πιο spooky νύχτα που έχω περάσει με βιβλίο του Μάστερτον. Το συγκεκριμένο ήταν πραγματικά απολαυστικό. Διότι όταν μπορείς με μία μονο κούνια, τί κοινότυπο αλήθεια!, να γεννήσεις στον αναγνώστη τέτοια συναισθήματα, τότε το΄χεις καταφέρει !
Θυμάμαι πως το ξεκίνησα βράδυ αυτό το βιβλίο και με κάθε βεβαιότητα ήταν η πιο spooky νύχτα που έχω περάσει με βιβλίο του Μάστερτον. Το συγκεκριμένο ήταν πραγματικά απολαυστικό. Διότι όταν μπορείς με μία μονο κούνια, τί κοινότυπο αλήθεια!, να γεννήσεις στον αναγνώστη τέτοια συναισθήματα, τότε το΄χεις καταφέρει !
February 3, 2016
Ποιος Stephen King και βλακείες... Όταν λέμε Λογοτεχνία Τρόμου εννοούμε Graham Masterton. Πρώτη φορά διάβασα βιβλίο που φοβόμουν να γυρίσω την σελίδα!!!!
Υπεραγαπημένο βιβλίο από έναν υπεραγαπημένο συγγραφέα!!!!
Υπεραγαπημένο βιβλίο από έναν υπεραγαπημένο συγγραφέα!!!!
March 28, 2016
Before I say what I thought about The Pariah, here's a piece of info about yours truely. I used to be a horror buff. In my teens and afterwards, I would watch and read tons of horror movies and books and always aim for getting scared. For example, I would always read a horror novel at night often with candles or low lighting and watch a horror movie with no lights at all and preferably with headphones on. I was always going for the full horror experience. Otherwise, why bother with horror, right? So at some point, I think I became impervious to horror. What's more, having experienced the true masterpieces of the genre, I became picky. Real picky! Nowadays, I rarely get satisfied with horror movies and books. Let's face it. They don't make them like they used to. Now it's all about cheap thrills and jump-scares and that is NOT what I call horror. So, when I read a horror novel I'm a strict judge. Now, allow me to take a break while you answer the following question:
Which of the following is closer to what you're thinking while you're reading my review?
a. Amen, brother! I couldn't agree more!
b. Well, yes but horror is still fun.
c. What the fuck are you talking about "they don't make them like they used to"?
d. Just go on with your fucking review now, will ya?
If you answered anything but c, you can go on reading. If c was closer to your thoughts, I suggest you stop reading right away and go on living your miserable lives elsewhere cause you're not gonna like what's coming.
First of all, I have to admit that in The Pariah's pages I found one of the most "out-there" phrases ever printed!
I laughed my ass off!
Now, I think everyone agrees that what's scary in a horror novel, is the unknown. When you're not sure of why what's happening is happening or what's gonna happen next. After the middle, things usually start to clear up and toward the end it always becomes more of an adventure with the hero trying to destroy the villain or whatever. I consider this to be the somewhat standard formula of the genre. In The Pariah, the first 70 or so pages are creepy as hell. Masterton managed to make me look behind my back every 5 minutes. The tension builds up gradually and there's an eerie atmosphere that makes you feel threatened by an unknown force, which is what's ideal for me to get scared. The problem is that things get explained really fast and abruptly. Before even the middle of the book, the protagonist has already figured out pretty much of what's going on and the factor of threat vanishes. So, from that point until the end, it's all a matter of procedure.
Despite the fact that it stops being scary rather quickly, it's still an interesting story. Of course, it's impossible to overlook certain things like when the ghost of the hero's wife suddenly realizes it can't claim his soul due to what seems like a beaurocratic detail. That turned me right off. It was talking to him like a tax collector from hell. Which, now that I think about it, didn't have to be so bad if only it was delivered in a different way perhaps. Still, as I said, it was an interesting story and I still wanted to know what was going to happen. Up until the last 50 pages.
When I realized that there were so many things left to happen in those 50 pages, I knew that the ending would be a huge let down. And it was. It was so cheap, I thought I was reading Goosebumps. It was like Masterton got tired of his own story and wanted to just get it over with as quickly as possible. No climax, no surprise. I think flat is the right word.
It's a shame because at first I really thought it would be what I was looking for. They say it's Masterton's best novel, which really makes me wonder. However, I think I'm gonna give him one more chance because I definitely saw some good signs in his writing. Besides it wouldn't be the first time if I disagreed with the public opinion.
Which of the following is closer to what you're thinking while you're reading my review?
a. Amen, brother! I couldn't agree more!
b. Well, yes but horror is still fun.
c. What the fuck are you talking about "they don't make them like they used to"?
d. Just go on with your fucking review now, will ya?
If you answered anything but c, you can go on reading. If c was closer to your thoughts, I suggest you stop reading right away and go on living your miserable lives elsewhere cause you're not gonna like what's coming.
First of all, I have to admit that in The Pariah's pages I found one of the most "out-there" phrases ever printed!
On a black windy night, cold as a witch’s nipple, with the thermometer down to zero
I laughed my ass off!
Now, I think everyone agrees that what's scary in a horror novel, is the unknown. When you're not sure of why what's happening is happening or what's gonna happen next. After the middle, things usually start to clear up and toward the end it always becomes more of an adventure with the hero trying to destroy the villain or whatever. I consider this to be the somewhat standard formula of the genre. In The Pariah, the first 70 or so pages are creepy as hell. Masterton managed to make me look behind my back every 5 minutes. The tension builds up gradually and there's an eerie atmosphere that makes you feel threatened by an unknown force, which is what's ideal for me to get scared. The problem is that things get explained really fast and abruptly. Before even the middle of the book, the protagonist has already figured out pretty much of what's going on and the factor of threat vanishes. So, from that point until the end, it's all a matter of procedure.
Despite the fact that it stops being scary rather quickly, it's still an interesting story. Of course, it's impossible to overlook certain things like when the ghost of the hero's wife suddenly realizes it can't claim his soul due to what seems like a beaurocratic detail. That turned me right off. It was talking to him like a tax collector from hell. Which, now that I think about it, didn't have to be so bad if only it was delivered in a different way perhaps. Still, as I said, it was an interesting story and I still wanted to know what was going to happen. Up until the last 50 pages.
When I realized that there were so many things left to happen in those 50 pages, I knew that the ending would be a huge let down. And it was. It was so cheap, I thought I was reading Goosebumps. It was like Masterton got tired of his own story and wanted to just get it over with as quickly as possible. No climax, no surprise. I think flat is the right word.
It's a shame because at first I really thought it would be what I was looking for. They say it's Masterton's best novel, which really makes me wonder. However, I think I'm gonna give him one more chance because I definitely saw some good signs in his writing. Besides it wouldn't be the first time if I disagreed with the public opinion.
October 4, 2011
This is the second book by Masterton that I've read but even though there were a few things I didn't like about it, it certainly won't be the last I read of him. This was an earlier publication by him. A few months ago I read Trauma, which was a more mature effort, in my opinion.
But, there was a lot to like about Pariah, as well. This guy really knows how to move a story along without any needless bogging down. And
atmospherically, there were moments, especially early on in the story, where he really knocked it out of the park. I was reading this at 2:30am and was getting nicely unnerved.
What I didn't like about the novel, and what made this a two-star read, was his main character, John.
Here's a spoiler-rich rant on John:
So, this book was a two-star read. Until:
That earned the story one more star. It made it was worth the entire read.
A recommended read all in all, and I'm looking forward to reading Mirrors and Prey. I hear they are among his best.
But, there was a lot to like about Pariah, as well. This guy really knows how to move a story along without any needless bogging down. And
atmospherically, there were moments, especially early on in the story, where he really knocked it out of the park. I was reading this at 2:30am and was getting nicely unnerved.
What I didn't like about the novel, and what made this a two-star read, was his main character, John.
Here's a spoiler-rich rant on John:
So, this book was a two-star read. Until:
That earned the story one more star. It made it was worth the entire read.
A recommended read all in all, and I'm looking forward to reading Mirrors and Prey. I hear they are among his best.
January 15, 2023
4.5 stars
My previous views on Masterton seem to be pretty much the common thoughts of others: a decent writer whose work isn’t ever truly amazing but at least it’s entertaining and easy to read.
But that was all before The Pariah…
…which may very well be one of the creepiest and most unsettling books I’ve read since Adam Neville’s The Ritual.
With the already haunting backdrop of Salem, Massachusetts as its setting, The Pariah is one of those rare novels that starts with the sense of crawling dread and only grows more and more terrifying with each passing page.
Masterton masterfully (ha!) crafts a horror novel that easily deserves its place in this genre. Complete with ghosts, zombies, sunken ships, native folk horror and even some well done erotica, I loved every moment of this one.
And this was so close to being yet another 5 star read for the month of January up until the last few pages where Masterton pulls a tired and true Deus ex Machina and totally wimps out on what could have been a wholly satisfying conclusion. Sure, it didn’t totally ruin this story (still immensely creepy and well done), just felt like such a let down after such an otherwise amazing book.
My previous views on Masterton seem to be pretty much the common thoughts of others: a decent writer whose work isn’t ever truly amazing but at least it’s entertaining and easy to read.
But that was all before The Pariah…
…which may very well be one of the creepiest and most unsettling books I’ve read since Adam Neville’s The Ritual.
With the already haunting backdrop of Salem, Massachusetts as its setting, The Pariah is one of those rare novels that starts with the sense of crawling dread and only grows more and more terrifying with each passing page.
Masterton masterfully (ha!) crafts a horror novel that easily deserves its place in this genre. Complete with ghosts, zombies, sunken ships, native folk horror and even some well done erotica, I loved every moment of this one.
And this was so close to being yet another 5 star read for the month of January up until the last few pages where Masterton pulls a tired and true Deus ex Machina and totally wimps out on what could have been a wholly satisfying conclusion. Sure, it didn’t totally ruin this story (still immensely creepy and well done), just felt like such a let down after such an otherwise amazing book.
September 6, 2007
I enjoy Graham Masterton's novels.
He does a great job of extending the Lovecraft Mythos in his writing.
In this case, setting is modern day Salem Massachusetts; an appropriately creepy venue.
The novel starts up pretty scary as the protagonist, a man whose wife has recently died in a car accident, becomes haunted by the ghost of his deceased wife. He does some research and realizes that the recently dead are rising in ghostly form to haunt and kill their living relatives.
The reason for the imperfect rating is due to the fact that the book seems to switch tone between ghost story, to nautical thriller, and then to a brief zombie rampage at the end.
The climax seems to come on too fast and end too abruptly, but all-in-all it's a good read, especially if you're a Graham Masterton fan.
He does a great job of extending the Lovecraft Mythos in his writing.
In this case, setting is modern day Salem Massachusetts; an appropriately creepy venue.
The novel starts up pretty scary as the protagonist, a man whose wife has recently died in a car accident, becomes haunted by the ghost of his deceased wife. He does some research and realizes that the recently dead are rising in ghostly form to haunt and kill their living relatives.
The reason for the imperfect rating is due to the fact that the book seems to switch tone between ghost story, to nautical thriller, and then to a brief zombie rampage at the end.
The climax seems to come on too fast and end too abruptly, but all-in-all it's a good read, especially if you're a Graham Masterton fan.
January 31, 2023
Riveting from beginning to end. A masterpiece.
March 18, 2011
What a great book! The myths, legends, witchcraft, scuba diving, marine salvaging, antiques and area where he lives is written with wonderful detail to keep you interested without getting boring, he keeps you engaged in how it will all fit together. All the characters are well fleshed out with real life traits, some likeable some not so much. How he deals with the ghost aspect of the story is thought provoking (certainly not Casper). There is out right horror but the subtle horror reaches out slowly and makes one feel uncomfortable on a different level. An excellent read.
April 8, 2012
One of the most chilling books I've ever read. I will put this book up against any horror book anytime. It is as perfect as the creation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The author spares no detail and spins a tale so creepy and so macabre that you will not sleep a wink but you can not put this book down. If you have not read it add it to your library. It is a keeper and great gift for anyone who enjoys the tales of Salem, ghostly visits and hauntings. This is an unforgettable book I read in high school and can not stop speaking of it to this very day.
April 14, 2023
2η φορά που το διαβάζω. Μια ωραία και ατμοσφαιρική ιστορία φαντασμάτων. Δεν έχει το μακελειό που μας συνήθισε αργότερα ο Μάστερτον, όμως είναι μια σφιχτοδεμένη ιστορία με μια απειλή που καραδοκεί τις σελίδες του βιβλίου.
November 2, 2023
I did really enjoy the story, even though I found the main character quite unlikable. The story has a nice warm feel to it, like one of those horror movies you enjoy because of the atmosphere not because it's scary. There is quite a high level of corn but Masterton really does know how to right tension, there is an underwater scene that is brilliantly written.
Quite hard to review this because a quarter of the book was misprinted, the last 100 pages were 89-188 (again), basically missing the most important 100 pages in the book.
I gave it 4 because that was my feeling while I was reading.
Quite hard to review this because a quarter of the book was misprinted, the last 100 pages were 89-188 (again), basically missing the most important 100 pages in the book.
I gave it 4 because that was my feeling while I was reading.
September 7, 2015
I am not sure why I had this particular Masterton marked as read, but in my obsessive quest to own all of his books, I assume I made a mistake early in my Goodreads career. Mistake corrected.
I stayed up waaay past my bedtime last night as I had hit the "rolling downhill point" in the book and had a really hard time putting it down. There are very few authors that have that particular trait for me--normally if I really love a book I might slow down my reading so as to make it last longer (I tend to do that a lot with books that have beautiful language). Stephen King and Graham Masterton are the absolute "masters" of this effect (pardon the pun--but it was gonna be a pun either way--"the kings" or "the masters"...it had to happen. It's sort of like being unable to control eating an entire box of Girl Scout cookies or a bag of chips. It just tastes so good, you cannot help yourself.
This book is set in Salem, Mass. and as is often the case with Masterton's horror work, involves the mythology of indigenous peoples--in this case both Narragansett and Aztec. This happens to be one of the reasons I love his work--I find the mythology to be so vast, rich and frightening that I always wonder why more authors don't use it as a background. There are also touches of Lovecraft here but as is always the case with Masterton, he has his own very pronounced style--violent, sexual and deeply dark. This book has a deep melancholy pervading it, as the main character is a new widower and the evil in the book is drawn to the loved ones left behind after death. The book is suspenseful and full of detail (I plan to ask Mr. Masterton on twitter if he is a diver, as the detail involving diving here is rather amazing and he is an engaging guy and will often speak back to those who tweet him--I nearly had to be picked up off the floor when he answered a tweet I sent him--starstruck is not the word). I love how he blends his own signature themes and style here with gothic and Lovecraftian touches and still comes off as very much himself. My biggest complaint here is pretty minor--I don't like putting spoilers in my reviews but suffice it to say, I took issue with some of the decisions made by the main character towards the end of the book--they were understandable but frustratingly selfish. That's all I've got...I am such a big fan--it's rare that I don't love his books. On a personal note, I found the detail of the main character's suffering to be very moving in light of the fact that that he lost his beloved wife and agent Wiescka in 2011, long after he wrote this book. He clearly understood this type of loss even before he had actually been subject to this particular type himself.
I stayed up waaay past my bedtime last night as I had hit the "rolling downhill point" in the book and had a really hard time putting it down. There are very few authors that have that particular trait for me--normally if I really love a book I might slow down my reading so as to make it last longer (I tend to do that a lot with books that have beautiful language). Stephen King and Graham Masterton are the absolute "masters" of this effect (pardon the pun--but it was gonna be a pun either way--"the kings" or "the masters"...it had to happen. It's sort of like being unable to control eating an entire box of Girl Scout cookies or a bag of chips. It just tastes so good, you cannot help yourself.
This book is set in Salem, Mass. and as is often the case with Masterton's horror work, involves the mythology of indigenous peoples--in this case both Narragansett and Aztec. This happens to be one of the reasons I love his work--I find the mythology to be so vast, rich and frightening that I always wonder why more authors don't use it as a background. There are also touches of Lovecraft here but as is always the case with Masterton, he has his own very pronounced style--violent, sexual and deeply dark. This book has a deep melancholy pervading it, as the main character is a new widower and the evil in the book is drawn to the loved ones left behind after death. The book is suspenseful and full of detail (I plan to ask Mr. Masterton on twitter if he is a diver, as the detail involving diving here is rather amazing and he is an engaging guy and will often speak back to those who tweet him--I nearly had to be picked up off the floor when he answered a tweet I sent him--starstruck is not the word). I love how he blends his own signature themes and style here with gothic and Lovecraftian touches and still comes off as very much himself. My biggest complaint here is pretty minor--I don't like putting spoilers in my reviews but suffice it to say, I took issue with some of the decisions made by the main character towards the end of the book--they were understandable but frustratingly selfish. That's all I've got...I am such a big fan--it's rare that I don't love his books. On a personal note, I found the detail of the main character's suffering to be very moving in light of the fact that that he lost his beloved wife and agent Wiescka in 2011, long after he wrote this book. He clearly understood this type of loss even before he had actually been subject to this particular type himself.
December 5, 2025
John Trenton właśnie przechodzi żałobę po tragicznie zmarłej żonie i nienarodzonym dziecku. Jego stan psychiczny nie jest najlepszy, a kiedy zaczyna widzieć ducha zmarłej żony, zaczyna zastanawiać się, czy aby nie zaczyna odchodzić od zdrowych zmysłów. John jednak nie ma pojęcia, że to wszystko, czego obecnie jest świadkiem, związane jest ze starożytnym azteckim demonem, który spoczywa na dnie morza we wraku statku, którym próbowano go wywieźć z miasta.
Inna wersja historii czarownic z Salem, taka w połączeniu z azteckim władcą krainy umarłych – mi się ten motyw podobał. Plus stare, dobre nawiedzenie, klasyka. Zresztą to druga przeczytana przeze mnie książka Masterona i chyba mam do niej pewien sentyment :)
7/10
Inna wersja historii czarownic z Salem, taka w połączeniu z azteckim władcą krainy umarłych – mi się ten motyw podobał. Plus stare, dobre nawiedzenie, klasyka. Zresztą to druga przeczytana przeze mnie książka Masterona i chyba mam do niej pewien sentyment :)
7/10
April 1, 2020
"I know new something else..something terrifying...these apparitions had the power to do strange and horrible things. Not only the power, but the will."
The Pariah fulfills all your horror needs and them some; ghosts, the reanimated dead, hauntings, demonic lore, and scares a-plenty.
Granitehead is a small coastal town with a deadly secret, one that steadily surfaces as the story progresses; deceased loved ones can be seen by their significant others in lightning flashes and quick glimpses, objects move on their own, and voices can be heard on the cold air. For John Trenton, the sight of he recently deceased wife brings a concoction of terror and elation - until a grisly murder sways his feelings firmly towards terror.
Cold, atmospheric, and engaging. The Pariah reads like you're watching a high grade horror film; everything just works.
The Pariah fulfills all your horror needs and them some; ghosts, the reanimated dead, hauntings, demonic lore, and scares a-plenty.
Granitehead is a small coastal town with a deadly secret, one that steadily surfaces as the story progresses; deceased loved ones can be seen by their significant others in lightning flashes and quick glimpses, objects move on their own, and voices can be heard on the cold air. For John Trenton, the sight of he recently deceased wife brings a concoction of terror and elation - until a grisly murder sways his feelings firmly towards terror.
Cold, atmospheric, and engaging. The Pariah reads like you're watching a high grade horror film; everything just works.
August 17, 2017
This, the first by Masterton that I read, is the only one I really liked. I don't remember the story, other than the fact that the protagonist concludes some sort of pact with the outlandish monster that's the villain of the piece, to bring his dead wife back to life - a pact which, of course, goes badly. But the following poem from the novel has stayed with me, because it's so hauntingly eerie.
The men they sailed from Granitehead
To fish the foreign shores.
The fish they caught were naught but bones
With hearts crushed in their jaws.
August 15, 2018
Very interesting, but specially entertaining book. This is my first read book of this author and I'm sure now, no the last one. What I have relished the most has been the atmosphere (superb, I'd like to find and read much more books with that well accomplished "character", so if anyone who reads this review have any suggestion, feel free to share it :) ; the characterization is satisfying, as well as the plot and setting. What I liked less, it was the resolution, a bit rushed and too much tipical.
Written some thirty odd years ago it remains a cozy horror book, which I find hard to equal to his pairs written today, ..., call me romantic, but maybe it has something to do with the internet, some books written before it, they used to involve slow burn searchings, libraries, old books and weird people expert in the topic, history and place that help to create an athmosphere that today, obviously including the internet has somehow spoiled, or maybe it's just me,...
Whatever, read it, if you have not done yet.
Written some thirty odd years ago it remains a cozy horror book, which I find hard to equal to his pairs written today, ..., call me romantic, but maybe it has something to do with the internet, some books written before it, they used to involve slow burn searchings, libraries, old books and weird people expert in the topic, history and place that help to create an athmosphere that today, obviously including the internet has somehow spoiled, or maybe it's just me,...
Whatever, read it, if you have not done yet.
October 23, 2023
3,5/5 stars.
I really liked this book sooo much up until about 50% and then I felt that it was okay. The general idea of the story is great and I still get goosebumps when I think about certain scenes but I'd like it more if it had fewer pages. A tigher story would had a more powerful grip on the reader, I think.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read and I'm glad I read it now because I'm in my Halloween mood and the bad weather helped with me being scared af at some scenes. It was what I wanted and I got it, mostly.
I really liked this book sooo much up until about 50% and then I felt that it was okay. The general idea of the story is great and I still get goosebumps when I think about certain scenes but I'd like it more if it had fewer pages. A tigher story would had a more powerful grip on the reader, I think.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read and I'm glad I read it now because I'm in my Halloween mood and the bad weather helped with me being scared af at some scenes. It was what I wanted and I got it, mostly.
September 27, 2018
It's a touch too long and you have to suspend your disbelief at times, but there are many good moments which make this an entertaining read. I prefer the subtler elements of the storytelling rather than the gore we get later on.
May 3, 2015
Old school Masterton. Enough said! I love the picture taken from The Shining movie of Shelley Duvall screaming on the cover.
April 19, 2019
Напоследък не мога да се спра с книгите на Греъм Мастертън, а трябва, защото все по-трудно и трудно заспивам след като ги чета :D Това само по себе си би трябвало да ви говори колко ефективен е хорърът на този автор, а сега пристъпям към резюмето на един от най-прочутите му романи, до който най-после стигнах.
Цялото ревю четете на линка:
http://citadelata.com/the-pariah/
Цялото ревю четете на линка:
http://citadelata.com/the-pariah/
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews