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Hell's Underground #1
Scared to Death
Late one night after a strange journey to Whitechapel in East London, Paul makes a new friend, John Redman—daring and enigmatic, just as Paul longs to be, away from his cloying mother (his only family, so he thinks). Redman immediately charms Paul as well as Jude—a girl they meet on a night on the town. A few days later, Paul learns that Jude has mysteriously died, and Redman has disappeared. Soon after, one of Paul's teachers dies suddenly—frightened to death—near where Jude's body was found. Paul senses that Redman is involved. His new friend is dangerous. But so, we learn, is Paul. In uncovering the truth about Redman he learns shocking facts about himself. There's an evil curse loose in his family and Paul is the latest inheritor. The spree of death—camouflaged as copycat Jack the Ripper-style murders—will continue until Paul confronts the demon in himself head on.
395 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2007
10 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Alan Gibbons
137 books58 followersAlan Gibbons is an author of children's books and a Blue Peter Book Award. He currently lives in Liverpool, England, where he used to teach in a primary school. His father was a farm laborer, but was hurt in an accident when Alan was eight years old. The family had to move to Crewe, Cheshire where Alan experienced bullying for the first time. He began to write for his pupils as a teacher, but never tried to get any of his work published.
Gibbons trained to be a teacher in his mid-thirties and starting writing short stories for his students. Later, he began to write professionally. In 2000, he won the Blue Peter Book Award in the category "The Book I Couldn't Put Down" category for Shadow of the Minotaur. He was a judge for the 2001 Blue Peter Book Awards. He was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2001 and 2003 and shortlisted twice for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. He has also won the Leicester Book of the Year, the Stockport Book Award, the Angus Book Award, the Catalyst Award, the Birmingham Chills Award, the Salford Young Adult Book Award and the Salford Librarians' Special Award.
Gibbons trained to be a teacher in his mid-thirties and starting writing short stories for his students. Later, he began to write professionally. In 2000, he won the Blue Peter Book Award in the category "The Book I Couldn't Put Down" category for Shadow of the Minotaur. He was a judge for the 2001 Blue Peter Book Awards. He was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2001 and 2003 and shortlisted twice for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. He has also won the Leicester Book of the Year, the Stockport Book Award, the Angus Book Award, the Catalyst Award, the Birmingham Chills Award, the Salford Young Adult Book Award and the Salford Librarians' Special Award.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 15, 2015
This book blew my mind.
At school I was in the top set for English, and due to this I was one of the lucky individuals who was given the chance to read this book. I cannot remember the specifics of how it came about but one day we walked into class to find out we were in some kind of cross-school reading challenge. Some groaned whereas others were intrigued. The same is true of the book choices: some left us groaning whereas others had us fighting to be the next to read it.
I was unsure about this one yet when my friend handed it over to me, telling me it was a cracking read, I jumped right in.
It is a wonderful young adult horror story. With a believable main character and the creepy atmospherics you hope for this one keeps you interested throughout. By the time I was done with the book I was needing the next one in the series. Although, I will admit that I never did enjoy the second book as much as this, it is still a wonderful series.
A must read!
At school I was in the top set for English, and due to this I was one of the lucky individuals who was given the chance to read this book. I cannot remember the specifics of how it came about but one day we walked into class to find out we were in some kind of cross-school reading challenge. Some groaned whereas others were intrigued. The same is true of the book choices: some left us groaning whereas others had us fighting to be the next to read it.
I was unsure about this one yet when my friend handed it over to me, telling me it was a cracking read, I jumped right in.
It is a wonderful young adult horror story. With a believable main character and the creepy atmospherics you hope for this one keeps you interested throughout. By the time I was done with the book I was needing the next one in the series. Although, I will admit that I never did enjoy the second book as much as this, it is still a wonderful series.
A must read!
January 18, 2012
A cracking read, gripping, inventive, clearly thought out, grounding the horror in clearly recognisable locations. A believable hero in Paul, classic villain in King Lud and atmosphere and myth to spare. Looking forward to finding the next book.
October 14, 2014
I lifted a couple of books in a charity shop and took them to the counter and the woman said: ‘It’s 3 for a pound.’ Never one to pass up a bargain, I quickly scanned the shelves again and seeing nothing that I recognised, I grabbed the first book I saw with an interesting title.
Scared to Death is a YA novel about a boy who gets in with a bad crowd, the enigmatic Redman, and finds ending the friendship a lot more difficult than starting it. For Redman isn’t your average ASBO in a hoodie, he’s been sent from Hell on serious business of the Jack the Ripper variety.
This book is very easy to read and extremely compelling. The sense that our young hero is getting in over his head will be a familiar territory for young teens and this is magnified by the supernatural element. The book leaves the story open for a sequel, and maybe more.
For a chance encounter, this was a nice surprise and I’ll be seeking out the rest of this series.
Scared to Death is a YA novel about a boy who gets in with a bad crowd, the enigmatic Redman, and finds ending the friendship a lot more difficult than starting it. For Redman isn’t your average ASBO in a hoodie, he’s been sent from Hell on serious business of the Jack the Ripper variety.
This book is very easy to read and extremely compelling. The sense that our young hero is getting in over his head will be a familiar territory for young teens and this is magnified by the supernatural element. The book leaves the story open for a sequel, and maybe more.
For a chance encounter, this was a nice surprise and I’ll be seeking out the rest of this series.
September 2, 2016
I THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME YA KNOW THE CHARACTERS WERE COOL, THE COVER LOOKED AWESOME AND IT MADE ME START WANTING TO READ THE WHOLE SERIES. I BOUGHT IT YO, THE WHOOOOLLLEEEEEEE SERIES. IT WAS THAT GOOD!
November 7, 2010
Oh. A wastE!
December 18, 2022
3.5
This book was interesting. At first I wasn't sure I would like it but as i read further and discovered more about Redman and Paul i became pretty invested.
It's definitely one of the better Jack the Ripper related stories I've read and i thought the author did well intertwining the original Ripper murders and the present day murders. The tension and the pace were pretty good too, this book was an easy read for me because there was definitely a good level of escalation through each part of the book.
I'm also intrigued by the idea of this demon seed being handed down in different generations and how this might effect Paul later on, as we did start to see him changing in this first book. Definitely something i hope the author expanded upon in following books.
I'm not sure if I'll read further in the series just because this genre doesn't tend to be my sort of thing but i did enjoy reading this one.
If i had to say what this book reminded me of, I'd say it has a similar vibe to Demon Road by Derek Landy though i preferred that one just because it was funnier - this one definitely has a more serious tone but both were quite dark and graphic in some ways.
One thing that did stick out in a bad way to me was the dialogue. It felt a bit clunky at times, mostly due to the slang choices as I can't imagine any teenager even at the time this was published speaking the way the author wrote. Thats my only main criticism though! 😂
Would recommend for teenagers who like horror in the age range of probably about 15+ just due to the pretty dark nature of the story. The only graphic things are related to the murders and horror aspects there's nothing else explicit so depends on how well you deal with horror imagery.
This book was interesting. At first I wasn't sure I would like it but as i read further and discovered more about Redman and Paul i became pretty invested.
It's definitely one of the better Jack the Ripper related stories I've read and i thought the author did well intertwining the original Ripper murders and the present day murders. The tension and the pace were pretty good too, this book was an easy read for me because there was definitely a good level of escalation through each part of the book.
I'm also intrigued by the idea of this demon seed being handed down in different generations and how this might effect Paul later on, as we did start to see him changing in this first book. Definitely something i hope the author expanded upon in following books.
I'm not sure if I'll read further in the series just because this genre doesn't tend to be my sort of thing but i did enjoy reading this one.
If i had to say what this book reminded me of, I'd say it has a similar vibe to Demon Road by Derek Landy though i preferred that one just because it was funnier - this one definitely has a more serious tone but both were quite dark and graphic in some ways.
One thing that did stick out in a bad way to me was the dialogue. It felt a bit clunky at times, mostly due to the slang choices as I can't imagine any teenager even at the time this was published speaking the way the author wrote. Thats my only main criticism though! 😂
Would recommend for teenagers who like horror in the age range of probably about 15+ just due to the pretty dark nature of the story. The only graphic things are related to the murders and horror aspects there's nothing else explicit so depends on how well you deal with horror imagery.
August 3, 2025
eh this was ok.
I only really read this because I have memories reading this years and years ago in school but never finished it, it kept modern day me entertained and I got through it pretty quick so I have to give credit where credit is due.
I never have read a YA book all the way through until now either haha, they just don't really interest me although this was fun for the most part
if I ever see the 2nd book in the series in the wild I might check it out, this was fine it should keep you entertained for a bit :)
I only really read this because I have memories reading this years and years ago in school but never finished it, it kept modern day me entertained and I got through it pretty quick so I have to give credit where credit is due.
I never have read a YA book all the way through until now either haha, they just don't really interest me although this was fun for the most part
if I ever see the 2nd book in the series in the wild I might check it out, this was fine it should keep you entertained for a bit :)
March 18, 2022
When I had the opportunity to read this wondrous book, I was hooked within an instant. The plot, the characters, the gore. It all felt like an experience I had not felt before. I do enjoy gore books, but I have not found a book this hooking before. I can not wait to read the second book.
July 19, 2017
Slow to start but good once it got going.
April 3, 2019
Great character build-up and design!
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February 11, 2021Nice twist on an old subject, written well and easy to read.
April 13, 2021
the best book around you have to read is the best
March 21, 2015
Really wasn't feeling this book. I don't always like doing reviews of books I didn't enjoy because I don't want to sway anyone away from something they might actually love. And in all honesty I didn't finish it, I got up to about chapter 6 (which is something I don't like doing either).
I think it was all down to the fact that I didn't like the two main characters, Paul and Redman. I found them a bit immature to be honest. And whether they became a bit more heroic or interesting later on in the story I don't feel I'm missing out on it right now. I couldn't empathise with them, and you don't have to like a character to enjoy a story, I just found them a bit... boring. If they died halfway through the book I don't think I would've cared. It was all very "meh".
It's never fun not finishing a book and I'm pretty disappointed because I've had this book in my collection for years and I might have really enjoyed it when I was younger. Then again maybe not. Hey ho
I think it was all down to the fact that I didn't like the two main characters, Paul and Redman. I found them a bit immature to be honest. And whether they became a bit more heroic or interesting later on in the story I don't feel I'm missing out on it right now. I couldn't empathise with them, and you don't have to like a character to enjoy a story, I just found them a bit... boring. If they died halfway through the book I don't think I would've cared. It was all very "meh".
It's never fun not finishing a book and I'm pretty disappointed because I've had this book in my collection for years and I might have really enjoyed it when I was younger. Then again maybe not. Hey ho
August 10, 2015
I always thought I was a kid at heart, with all of my childish interests (dragons and monsters galore), until I pick up a YA book, and learn that I'm actually past this stage. Would I have enjoyed this book better if I was younger? Would my mind have been more innocent and accepting, instead of meticulous and critical? I always thought that stories have no age limits, but I'm beginning to think differently.
Anyway, I suggest to skip the prologue. It spoils like 50% of the fun of reading a mystery/horror book (really, what was the editor thinking? And seriously who uses italics for a whole bloody chapter?). Otherwise, this book was really... meh at best. The build-up was alright but the finale was... too easy. A part of me wants to read the next book so I would finally have an ending, but at the same time I don't want to subject myself to this series again. King Lud? Really?
I think I am the wrong age group for this book.
Anyway, I suggest to skip the prologue. It spoils like 50% of the fun of reading a mystery/horror book (really, what was the editor thinking? And seriously who uses italics for a whole bloody chapter?). Otherwise, this book was really... meh at best. The build-up was alright but the finale was... too easy. A part of me wants to read the next book so I would finally have an ending, but at the same time I don't want to subject myself to this series again. King Lud? Really?
I think I am the wrong age group for this book.
July 25, 2022
Loved this book from the very beginning I just couldn't put it down at all I had to read it to the end and I did which I was not disappointed at all, everything about this book was simply amazing wouldn't mind reading the rest of the series once a find it in the shops.
The main topic of this book was based in the Jack the ripper murders which I do like this subject myself and decided to do my own investigation into the murders.
I loved how the killings were done so different but was put in a very good way and the characters throughout the book were amazing too.
I would Definately recommend this one to anyone that likes to read about Jack the ripper and to top it all off, what an amazing start to march and yes u would for definate fact would read again in the near future.
The main topic of this book was based in the Jack the ripper murders which I do like this subject myself and decided to do my own investigation into the murders.
I loved how the killings were done so different but was put in a very good way and the characters throughout the book were amazing too.
I would Definately recommend this one to anyone that likes to read about Jack the ripper and to top it all off, what an amazing start to march and yes u would for definate fact would read again in the near future.
April 25, 2011
so far so good...
this book was greatt! it had a really good plot with the two brothers, and i loved the way the jack the ripper story was tied in
found a few mistakes but they didnt bother me
overall very good
this book was greatt! it had a really good plot with the two brothers, and i loved the way the jack the ripper story was tied in
found a few mistakes but they didnt bother me
overall very good
September 7, 2013
It's really good. I read the first few pages and I'm already hooked. I can't put it down ..not until I know what's going to happen next. Finished reading the book in 3 days! That's actually an achievement for me since I rarely read books in that short period of time! Bravo! *clap*clap*
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April 14, 2010Part ofr the Leeds Book Award 11-14 shortlist. I wouldn't go for it otherwise. It's full of Jack the Ripper references, which I tend to avoid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2012
Love it!
April 5, 2016
Nothing happened until at least 2/3 of the way through. This seems to be fairly common in Gibbons' works. I'm not a fan. The concept of the novel is genius but the writing itself is below par.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews