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Ritual
When restaurant critic Charlie McLean and his son, Martin visit the little town of Allen's Corners in rural Connecticut, little do they realise what they're letting themselves in for. In the mood to try something different they stop at Le Reposoir, unaware that most of the meals on the menu are not the a-la-carte range they're used to, but more a mixture of mundane dishes and human Hors d'oeuvre.
258 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1988
83 people are currently reading
1877 people want to read
About the author
Graham Masterton
420 books1,957 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
September 13, 2018
This is the most shocking and disgusting book I've ever read. Charlie (he's a restaurant critic) and his son Martin get entangled with a very special religious cult named The Celestials. And they have a very bizarre way in praising God. There are many bizarre scenes in this novel. Can Charlie free his son from the sect? What is special about Mme. Well, there were many passages I almost stopped reading as the scenes were so rough (I'm not a surgeon or coroner by profession). It's a very compelling page turner. Highly recommended but not for the faint hearted. This books haunts you!
March 14, 2015
So far this year I’ve read the powerful Thank You For Your Service, David Finkel’s look at the shattered lives of servicemen returning home from Iraq. I’ve read Donna Tart’s The Goldfinch, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. I’ve read Austin Grossman’s deceptively experimental You that transmutes the lead of early computer gaming into the gold of transcendence. I’ve read Allie Brosh’s so-personal-it-hurts Hyperbole and a Half, Neil Gaiman’s emotional and revealing The Ocean At the End of the Lane, and two new books by Stephen King, one of America’s greatest storytellers. None of them—none of them—has provided me as many moments of pure joy as a little mass market paperback from 1988 called Feast by Graham Masterton. John Waters once said, “Good taste is the enemy of art.” If that’s true, and I believe it is, then Feast is the Mona Lisa.
Read the rest of this review.
Read the rest of this review.
April 2, 2023
Another one from Grady Hendrix's excellent Paperbacks From Hell (called Feast there, btw - took me forever to find this book). I started reading this one with trepidation, after seeing so many reviews saying it had some of the most visceral horror they had ever read. I'm no gorehound - I mean I'm fine with some gore, it's not particularly frightening. There is some gore in the book, and it is quite visceral, but it didn't really affect me - it's just so over the top, it never became actually sickening.
The novel's pacing is quite shoddy, there's a lot of wheel spinning, making it hard for dread to build. It's also clear that Masterton is more interested in the ladies than the men - lots of descriptions of heavy breasts, female genitals. Men get erections, and that's it, no loving descriptions of their stiffened members.
The ending goes deliciously over the top, and the ending ending is silly.
A fun pulpy horror novel that could've been shorter.
The novel's pacing is quite shoddy, there's a lot of wheel spinning, making it hard for dread to build. It's also clear that Masterton is more interested in the ladies than the men - lots of descriptions of heavy breasts, female genitals. Men get erections, and that's it, no loving descriptions of their stiffened members.
The ending goes deliciously over the top, and the ending ending is silly.
A fun pulpy horror novel that could've been shorter.
June 9, 2022
This was quite the grueling read, and I'm glad it's finally over.
I was interested in reading this because the main setting was in the fictional town of Allen's Corners, Connecticut, where a lot of the action took place in one of my favorite horror novels, The Hell Candidate. It is also from the 1980s, when (I thought) Masterton's writing was at its peak.
I'm not giving anything away by saying that the villains in this one are engaging in cannibalism. That's clear from the name of this edition (it has also been published as Ritual), and from the cover art. There's a twist on the cannibalism, which is related to a misinterpretation of the words of Jesus and other gobbledy-gook.
The protagonist is similar to those we've seen in many other Masterton novels. He is a restaurant critic, and he gets obsessed with getting to eat at an exclusive eating club he hears about, just as other Masterton protagonists have gotten obsessed with, say, buying a piece of real estate (see The House That Jack Built and Walkers).
Further, he's so obsessed that he acts in ways that are so stupid that they are beyond belief and put his loved one at risk. We've seen this in other Masterton novels, such as the guy who, when walking around a spooky house, decides it's a good time to fool around with his secretary (was it?) instead of keeping an eye on his son (Walkers) and the guy who, even though he knows a creepy family is trying to get their hands on a painting, leaves his son alone with it (Picture of Evil). In this one, the restaurant critic knows that some weird people are following his son and him, but, when they stay at a hotel, decides it's a good time to get something to eat and get laid. Really? Sometimes the stupidity of Masterton's characters is unbearable.
My main problem with this novel is not the gore. I've said it before: If you read Masterton, there's going to be gore. Almost every novel references intestines. If you are not into that, don't read him. My problem is that this story is too unbelievable. We are supposed to buy that these villains are getting away with it because what they are doing is technically not illegal -- even though it involves things like assisted suicide and the deaths of minors. No. No way. Not buying it.
And something else we've seen in Masterton novels that is in this one, too. Maybe he's trying to shock his audience by revealing that more people were involved in a conspiracy than we realized, but it gets to the point of the ridiculous. We saw this happen in Master of Lies, and in this one, too. My reaction was the same both times: Really, Graham? Did you realize that that person was a part of it from the beginning, or did you just throw it in later (like George Lucas deciding Princess Leia was Luke's sister and Vader's daughter, even though the latter met her in the first movie and was torturing her)?
In short, not recommended. I gave it two stars, not one, because, like most Masterton novels, it is not unreadable. It's just bad.
6/9/2022: It’s hard to believe I reread this novel, but I felt compelled to do so in light of current events. I disliked this novel because I found its premise too absurd. Young people mutilating themselves and being celebrated for it, with authorities doing nothing to stop it because it’s free will? Well, that’s what’s happening today with the transgender movement. Now I see this novel as prophetic.
That is not to say it’s perfect. It sometimes gets too absurd, especially with regard to all the characters who end up being part of the conspiracy. Nonetheless, I see this novel differently now because in many respects it has come true.
I was interested in reading this because the main setting was in the fictional town of Allen's Corners, Connecticut, where a lot of the action took place in one of my favorite horror novels, The Hell Candidate. It is also from the 1980s, when (I thought) Masterton's writing was at its peak.
I'm not giving anything away by saying that the villains in this one are engaging in cannibalism. That's clear from the name of this edition (it has also been published as Ritual), and from the cover art. There's a twist on the cannibalism, which is related to a misinterpretation of the words of Jesus and other gobbledy-gook.
The protagonist is similar to those we've seen in many other Masterton novels. He is a restaurant critic, and he gets obsessed with getting to eat at an exclusive eating club he hears about, just as other Masterton protagonists have gotten obsessed with, say, buying a piece of real estate (see The House That Jack Built and Walkers).
Further, he's so obsessed that he acts in ways that are so stupid that they are beyond belief and put his loved one at risk. We've seen this in other Masterton novels, such as the guy who, when walking around a spooky house, decides it's a good time to fool around with his secretary (was it?) instead of keeping an eye on his son (Walkers) and the guy who, even though he knows a creepy family is trying to get their hands on a painting, leaves his son alone with it (Picture of Evil). In this one, the restaurant critic knows that some weird people are following his son and him, but, when they stay at a hotel, decides it's a good time to get something to eat and get laid. Really? Sometimes the stupidity of Masterton's characters is unbearable.
My main problem with this novel is not the gore. I've said it before: If you read Masterton, there's going to be gore. Almost every novel references intestines. If you are not into that, don't read him. My problem is that this story is too unbelievable. We are supposed to buy that these villains are getting away with it because what they are doing is technically not illegal -- even though it involves things like assisted suicide and the deaths of minors. No. No way. Not buying it.
And something else we've seen in Masterton novels that is in this one, too. Maybe he's trying to shock his audience by revealing that more people were involved in a conspiracy than we realized, but it gets to the point of the ridiculous. We saw this happen in Master of Lies, and in this one, too. My reaction was the same both times: Really, Graham? Did you realize that that person was a part of it from the beginning, or did you just throw it in later (like George Lucas deciding Princess Leia was Luke's sister and Vader's daughter, even though the latter met her in the first movie and was torturing her)?
In short, not recommended. I gave it two stars, not one, because, like most Masterton novels, it is not unreadable. It's just bad.
6/9/2022: It’s hard to believe I reread this novel, but I felt compelled to do so in light of current events. I disliked this novel because I found its premise too absurd. Young people mutilating themselves and being celebrated for it, with authorities doing nothing to stop it because it’s free will? Well, that’s what’s happening today with the transgender movement. Now I see this novel as prophetic.
That is not to say it’s perfect. It sometimes gets too absurd, especially with regard to all the characters who end up being part of the conspiracy. Nonetheless, I see this novel differently now because in many respects it has come true.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2023
Fantastic beginning and end. I slogged through the middle but was well worth it!
January 14, 2021
"Wild horses I'm not worried about. It's these goddamn cannibals."
Well-loved by horror connoisseurs as a classic about a small-town cannibal cult, "Feast" (aka "Ritual") was one I couldn't "stomach," not because of the gore or violence, but because I literally just couldn't stand the main character any longer. When an author has to rely on a character making stupid decisions just to move the plot along, or to even have a plot, I know it's time to move on.
From the very beginning, there was no reason for restaurant critic Charlie and his son to ever go to Le Reposoir, a private supper club in New England run by a hot French couple of the name Musette. They'd been given enough reason to avoid the place and everybody on earth would have. But not Charlie, because there wouldn't have been a story. I can't stand this kind of writing.
Masterton was either drunk or high while writing this story, because there is so much silliness and stupidity in the narrative that it would be charming in its naivete if the book didn't take itself so seriously. In this mildly spoilery example, Charlie discovers a gruesomely mangled body and is attacked by a machete-wielding dwarf yelling "Scaaaaarrch!" That's funny enough. But then just minutes later, Charlie is driving in his Oldsmobile singing along to Bob Seger on the radio. Yep. Just a typical day in Connecticut. But my favorite goof was when M. Musette is chain-smoking while lecturing Charlie about how the vast majority of people do not revere the sacred flesh and the human body as much as they do. I mean, yes this book is a bit dated, but this was the 80s when you didn't have four out of five doctors recommending Camels and everyone damn well knew that cigarettes caused cancer and heart disease and turned your lungs into melted styrofoam. It is highly possible that Masterton was intentionally trying to highlight the hypocrisy of the cult, but it didn't come across as anything that thoughtful at all.
Speaking of the times that this was written, the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans was fresh in the minds of many folks when this book was published. I remember it well. It was like Epcot Center had been transplanted onto the old warehouses on the banks of the Mississippi. Between Justin Wilson and the Fair, Cajun culture became romanticized--and bastardized--around the world. I have Cajun ancestry as well as European French heritage, and believe me, the two cultures are very different. But Masterton didn't seem to know this despite apparently doing some serious research into the post-Napoleonic diaspora of French nobility in the 19th Century. He keeps referring to the Musettes as "Cajun." The history he gives these characters is far from Cajun. Also, they speak classic French, which is very different from the Cajun dialect, where they hardly bother to conjugate their verbs and have a lot more borrowed words and phrases from other languages. But Masterton would have you believe that French people living below the Mason-Dixon line means "Cajun." Hell, he seems to think anybody in Louisiana is Cajun, speaks fluent "Cajun" French, plays an accordion, and practices voodoo. Incidentally, they worship Satan too, those crazy, mixed-up, voodoo-loving Cajuns, did you know that? Perhaps you think I'm taking this a bit too personally, but seriously, this is no small gripe since it matters so much to the plot and resolution! There is an irony to getting the cultures all mixed up here, and if you've read the book and know how it ends, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Regardless, the whole Cajun nonsense reminds me of Hank from the cartoon "King of the Hill" ignoring his neighbor's Laotian heritage and repeatedly asking "So are you Chinese or Japanese?" Not bothering to get it right tends to carry an "all-look-same" connotation which further diminishes Masterton's efforts to flesh out his villains.
And then we have the whole conspiracy theory thing again, where more folks are in on the "secret" than you're at first supposed to realize. Horror fans have seen this many times before. I always have trouble buying it. Some books do it better than others, but I generally lose patience with stories that go in this direction. And in this case, you see it coming early in the story so that I am not including this discussion with a spoiler warning. Do I believe there are protected societies of elites doing weird stuff out there to children and young people with relative impunity? Oh, most definitely. And in this case, the cult members activities are based off of some very real and weird stuff that was going on in my hometown of New Orleans. But "Pizza Gate" seems 1000 times more plausible than anything that happens in this clunky novel.
The conspiracy elements really make this book feel like more of a thriller-parody than a horror novel. In fact, I think I would have enjoyed myself a lot more if the story had embraced its tendency toward satire. There were clearly missed opportunities to make this whole thing a thoughtful and darkly comedic allegory about how politics creates a two-tiered justice system, or about how religious doctrine gets misinterpreted and corrupted over the years, or about declining lack of self-respect among Americans, or about the sociocultural reasons why people join cults and fads and get plastic surgery and kill themselves. The premise was rich with promise, but all this was sacrificed for so much "laissez le bon temps rouler!"
Somehow I kept reading despite wanting to rage-quit this book, and perhaps that is a testament to Masterton's skill as an author. There really are some jaw-dropping and disturbing moments of suspense and gore that reminded me so much of "New French Extremity" films like "Martyrs..." Or is it "Cajun Extremity?" Quelle différence cela fait, eh?
Maybe the humor in this book also kept me hooked. I love a good horror story that can make me laugh as much as cringe in fear. My favorite part was when M. Musette tells Charlie, "God bless you," and Charlie responds, "God bless you too, you maniac." But as I mentioned earlier, most of the funny bits seemed unintentional, the result of bad editing or gaffs. There's a difference between laughing at a 50s B-movie that lacks self-awareness and a cleverly crafted work of comedic interplay. Unfortunately, "Feast" seemed to fall more in the former than the latter.
Or perhaps I kept stubbornly reading just as Charlie stubbornly tries to get a meal at Le Reposoir because of all the hype this book has received in the horror fanbase. Part of me felt I was supposed to like this more. I certainly understand Masterton's talent for crafting scenes that stick to your ribs... and your nightmares. But again, I need to be able to suspend disbelief, or at least be able to be invested in a comically ridiculous world like in the work of Ed Lee, for the gore and scares to mean anything and give me the true horror experience. If you are not invested in the characters or story, then the content and themes will be of little consequence no matter what genre you are reading.
It's a shame. I really was looking forward to this one, as this was my first "taste" of Masterton. But there are just so many other better things to read. If you too found "Feast" to not be up to Chef Masterton's usual standards, kindly drop me some suggestions for his more superior titles.
"Les haricots sont pas salé."
Well-loved by horror connoisseurs as a classic about a small-town cannibal cult, "Feast" (aka "Ritual") was one I couldn't "stomach," not because of the gore or violence, but because I literally just couldn't stand the main character any longer. When an author has to rely on a character making stupid decisions just to move the plot along, or to even have a plot, I know it's time to move on.
From the very beginning, there was no reason for restaurant critic Charlie and his son to ever go to Le Reposoir, a private supper club in New England run by a hot French couple of the name Musette. They'd been given enough reason to avoid the place and everybody on earth would have. But not Charlie, because there wouldn't have been a story. I can't stand this kind of writing.
Masterton was either drunk or high while writing this story, because there is so much silliness and stupidity in the narrative that it would be charming in its naivete if the book didn't take itself so seriously. In this mildly spoilery example, Charlie discovers a gruesomely mangled body and is attacked by a machete-wielding dwarf yelling "Scaaaaarrch!" That's funny enough. But then just minutes later, Charlie is driving in his Oldsmobile singing along to Bob Seger on the radio. Yep. Just a typical day in Connecticut. But my favorite goof was when M. Musette is chain-smoking while lecturing Charlie about how the vast majority of people do not revere the sacred flesh and the human body as much as they do. I mean, yes this book is a bit dated, but this was the 80s when you didn't have four out of five doctors recommending Camels and everyone damn well knew that cigarettes caused cancer and heart disease and turned your lungs into melted styrofoam. It is highly possible that Masterton was intentionally trying to highlight the hypocrisy of the cult, but it didn't come across as anything that thoughtful at all.
Speaking of the times that this was written, the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans was fresh in the minds of many folks when this book was published. I remember it well. It was like Epcot Center had been transplanted onto the old warehouses on the banks of the Mississippi. Between Justin Wilson and the Fair, Cajun culture became romanticized--and bastardized--around the world. I have Cajun ancestry as well as European French heritage, and believe me, the two cultures are very different. But Masterton didn't seem to know this despite apparently doing some serious research into the post-Napoleonic diaspora of French nobility in the 19th Century. He keeps referring to the Musettes as "Cajun." The history he gives these characters is far from Cajun. Also, they speak classic French, which is very different from the Cajun dialect, where they hardly bother to conjugate their verbs and have a lot more borrowed words and phrases from other languages. But Masterton would have you believe that French people living below the Mason-Dixon line means "Cajun." Hell, he seems to think anybody in Louisiana is Cajun, speaks fluent "Cajun" French, plays an accordion, and practices voodoo. Incidentally, they worship Satan too, those crazy, mixed-up, voodoo-loving Cajuns, did you know that? Perhaps you think I'm taking this a bit too personally, but seriously, this is no small gripe since it matters so much to the plot and resolution! There is an irony to getting the cultures all mixed up here, and if you've read the book and know how it ends, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Regardless, the whole Cajun nonsense reminds me of Hank from the cartoon "King of the Hill" ignoring his neighbor's Laotian heritage and repeatedly asking "So are you Chinese or Japanese?" Not bothering to get it right tends to carry an "all-look-same" connotation which further diminishes Masterton's efforts to flesh out his villains.
And then we have the whole conspiracy theory thing again, where more folks are in on the "secret" than you're at first supposed to realize. Horror fans have seen this many times before. I always have trouble buying it. Some books do it better than others, but I generally lose patience with stories that go in this direction. And in this case, you see it coming early in the story so that I am not including this discussion with a spoiler warning. Do I believe there are protected societies of elites doing weird stuff out there to children and young people with relative impunity? Oh, most definitely. And in this case, the cult members activities are based off of some very real and weird stuff that was going on in my hometown of New Orleans. But "Pizza Gate" seems 1000 times more plausible than anything that happens in this clunky novel.
The conspiracy elements really make this book feel like more of a thriller-parody than a horror novel. In fact, I think I would have enjoyed myself a lot more if the story had embraced its tendency toward satire. There were clearly missed opportunities to make this whole thing a thoughtful and darkly comedic allegory about how politics creates a two-tiered justice system, or about how religious doctrine gets misinterpreted and corrupted over the years, or about declining lack of self-respect among Americans, or about the sociocultural reasons why people join cults and fads and get plastic surgery and kill themselves. The premise was rich with promise, but all this was sacrificed for so much "laissez le bon temps rouler!"
Somehow I kept reading despite wanting to rage-quit this book, and perhaps that is a testament to Masterton's skill as an author. There really are some jaw-dropping and disturbing moments of suspense and gore that reminded me so much of "New French Extremity" films like "Martyrs..." Or is it "Cajun Extremity?" Quelle différence cela fait, eh?
Maybe the humor in this book also kept me hooked. I love a good horror story that can make me laugh as much as cringe in fear. My favorite part was when M. Musette tells Charlie, "God bless you," and Charlie responds, "God bless you too, you maniac." But as I mentioned earlier, most of the funny bits seemed unintentional, the result of bad editing or gaffs. There's a difference between laughing at a 50s B-movie that lacks self-awareness and a cleverly crafted work of comedic interplay. Unfortunately, "Feast" seemed to fall more in the former than the latter.
Or perhaps I kept stubbornly reading just as Charlie stubbornly tries to get a meal at Le Reposoir because of all the hype this book has received in the horror fanbase. Part of me felt I was supposed to like this more. I certainly understand Masterton's talent for crafting scenes that stick to your ribs... and your nightmares. But again, I need to be able to suspend disbelief, or at least be able to be invested in a comically ridiculous world like in the work of Ed Lee, for the gore and scares to mean anything and give me the true horror experience. If you are not invested in the characters or story, then the content and themes will be of little consequence no matter what genre you are reading.
It's a shame. I really was looking forward to this one, as this was my first "taste" of Masterton. But there are just so many other better things to read. If you too found "Feast" to not be up to Chef Masterton's usual standards, kindly drop me some suggestions for his more superior titles.
"Les haricots sont pas salé."
August 22, 2020
A late review for a SUMPTUOUS and DECADENT classic
From its shocking opening line to its b-movie-like final scare, Masterton's Feast manages to entertain, sicken, and throw you into a speechless stupor. Cannibalism, religious cults, mutilation, graphic sex, and endless discussions on cuisine are on Masterton's menu, and he delivers everything in heaping amounts. Think about this: today's polished Simon and Schuster generation of horror will never exploit and explore these elements with the sick glee demonstrated by Masterton.
If a book's staying power is in its memorable scenes, Feast provides two. First is the infamous finger-cutting scene. What makes this scene disturbing is not the expected result, but the excruciating journey going there. Masterton stretches the experience, making us feel the unbearable agony of the blade going against the bone. In the midst of all this, someone tells the main character to be careful of the table he's sawing his finger on (!!). Second is the final "celebration," which is a smorgasbord of voluntary mutilation (well, mostly) that still has one of the vilest scenes of bloodletting I've read. Hint: it involves one's gonads.
Horror books nowadays will knock the sales charts, maybe get all the critical acclaim. But how many of them made an unforgettable and memorable impression on you?
Feast is one of those books.
From its shocking opening line to its b-movie-like final scare, Masterton's Feast manages to entertain, sicken, and throw you into a speechless stupor. Cannibalism, religious cults, mutilation, graphic sex, and endless discussions on cuisine are on Masterton's menu, and he delivers everything in heaping amounts. Think about this: today's polished Simon and Schuster generation of horror will never exploit and explore these elements with the sick glee demonstrated by Masterton.
If a book's staying power is in its memorable scenes, Feast provides two. First is the infamous finger-cutting scene. What makes this scene disturbing is not the expected result, but the excruciating journey going there. Masterton stretches the experience, making us feel the unbearable agony of the blade going against the bone. In the midst of all this, someone tells the main character to be careful of the table he's sawing his finger on (!!). Second is the final "celebration," which is a smorgasbord of voluntary mutilation (well, mostly) that still has one of the vilest scenes of bloodletting I've read. Hint: it involves one's gonads.
Horror books nowadays will knock the sales charts, maybe get all the critical acclaim. But how many of them made an unforgettable and memorable impression on you?
Feast is one of those books.
October 20, 2022
FEAST is the most horrific book I can ever recall reading. By "horrific," I'm not referring to generating a feeling of gut-wrenching nausea arising from a barrage of graphic details, although FEAST does have some of those moments. Neither do I mean overly violent or dark sex practices. Or even descriptions so "spot on" that an unexpected noise in the room while reading would cause me to jump. By horrific, I mean imagery so mentally upsetting as to become fear-inducing when recalled, even in broad daylight.
Now, I certainly don't consider myself to be a Horror genre neophyte. I've plunged through many books by Clive Barker and Stephen King. I've read several that caused momentary chills. And I've read a few that were genuinely sickening. But, FEAST (and the idea behind it) kept creeping into my mind when I wasn't reading it and generating a sense of worrisome fear.
Recently, I read the book by Grady Hendrix called, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL: A TWISTED HISTORY OF '70's & 80's HORROR FICTION. In it, I was introduced to the writings of Graham Masterton. I had heard of Masterton before, particularly from "The Manitou," the movie made from his book. Hendrix mentioned that Masterton was most adept at leading the Reader along a horror trope trail, then skittering off into a different (and completely unexpected) direction. Indeed, this happened frequently in FEAST, leaving me very much surprised and intrigued.
Hendrix also noted that FEAST had achieved some notoriety among horror fans as being particularly gruesome. Naturally, this made me want to read it all the more. However, when I searched my library system, they didn't have a copy. Amazon had one from a third-party seller, but at a price I thought was much too high for the condition of the paperback as described. A sense arose that FEAST was some kind of Forbidden Book ... and that just fed my obsession. I finally found a "Very Good" copy at Abebooks that was still quite expensive, but at the upper limit of what I was willing to pay.
When it arrived, I settled down for a Halloween season scary read. Would that it had only been scary!
The theme involves cannibalism of teens and young adults. The front cover and the back cover of the book support the expectation that some clandestine group is kidnapping them and carrying on their nefarious practices, not unlike recent Conspiracy Theories involving children being killed and eaten by cannibals who reside in pizza parlor basements. As nasty as that was, I was ready for it.
I was not prepared for what was really happening, however. Frankly, to say much more about the plot would be to reveal a massive Spoiler (although it wouldn't entirely ruin the experience). Suffice it to say that the first quarter of the book read much like many of the paperback horror novels from the 1980's, including some repetition of character emotional feelings that bordered on becoming overdone. When it progressed to what was actually happening, it became chilling ... and from there embedded its Fears into my thoughts. For that reason alone, I can't recommend it, nor would I want to ever read it again. Yet, I now have a new definition of what a Horror novel can actually be.
The back cover of the book has a blurb from the "San Francisco Chronicle": "Graham Masterton is the living inheritor to the realm of Edgar Allan Poe." At first, I didn't know what to make of such a statement. Poe never wrote anything like FEAST. However, he did occasionally create psychologically disturbing moments, such as the man who has an obsessive fear of being buried alive ... and which can cause a sensitive Reader to have related nightmares. I'd say there's also some extreme H.P. Lovecraft thrown in, too. Yet, Graham Masterton has carved out his own niche for me with FEAST. I may try THE MANITOU. But, I'll approach it with some trepidation.
Now, I certainly don't consider myself to be a Horror genre neophyte. I've plunged through many books by Clive Barker and Stephen King. I've read several that caused momentary chills. And I've read a few that were genuinely sickening. But, FEAST (and the idea behind it) kept creeping into my mind when I wasn't reading it and generating a sense of worrisome fear.
Recently, I read the book by Grady Hendrix called, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL: A TWISTED HISTORY OF '70's & 80's HORROR FICTION. In it, I was introduced to the writings of Graham Masterton. I had heard of Masterton before, particularly from "The Manitou," the movie made from his book. Hendrix mentioned that Masterton was most adept at leading the Reader along a horror trope trail, then skittering off into a different (and completely unexpected) direction. Indeed, this happened frequently in FEAST, leaving me very much surprised and intrigued.
Hendrix also noted that FEAST had achieved some notoriety among horror fans as being particularly gruesome. Naturally, this made me want to read it all the more. However, when I searched my library system, they didn't have a copy. Amazon had one from a third-party seller, but at a price I thought was much too high for the condition of the paperback as described. A sense arose that FEAST was some kind of Forbidden Book ... and that just fed my obsession. I finally found a "Very Good" copy at Abebooks that was still quite expensive, but at the upper limit of what I was willing to pay.
When it arrived, I settled down for a Halloween season scary read. Would that it had only been scary!
The theme involves cannibalism of teens and young adults. The front cover and the back cover of the book support the expectation that some clandestine group is kidnapping them and carrying on their nefarious practices, not unlike recent Conspiracy Theories involving children being killed and eaten by cannibals who reside in pizza parlor basements. As nasty as that was, I was ready for it.
I was not prepared for what was really happening, however. Frankly, to say much more about the plot would be to reveal a massive Spoiler (although it wouldn't entirely ruin the experience). Suffice it to say that the first quarter of the book read much like many of the paperback horror novels from the 1980's, including some repetition of character emotional feelings that bordered on becoming overdone. When it progressed to what was actually happening, it became chilling ... and from there embedded its Fears into my thoughts. For that reason alone, I can't recommend it, nor would I want to ever read it again. Yet, I now have a new definition of what a Horror novel can actually be.
The back cover of the book has a blurb from the "San Francisco Chronicle": "Graham Masterton is the living inheritor to the realm of Edgar Allan Poe." At first, I didn't know what to make of such a statement. Poe never wrote anything like FEAST. However, he did occasionally create psychologically disturbing moments, such as the man who has an obsessive fear of being buried alive ... and which can cause a sensitive Reader to have related nightmares. I'd say there's also some extreme H.P. Lovecraft thrown in, too. Yet, Graham Masterton has carved out his own niche for me with FEAST. I may try THE MANITOU. But, I'll approach it with some trepidation.
September 30, 2009
I haven't read any Graham Masterson, and thought I'd give him a go when I saw this, in an omnibus along with Walkers. I started this with no preconceptions of his work.
Wow. If this guy repeatedly writes at this standard, I'll be looking for more of his books.
Restaurant critic for the MARIA road guide, Charlie, takes his son Martin on his next tour through Connecticut. They have a strained relationship, and Martin is increasingly annoyed by his father's obsession with a French Restaurant they come across. The problem is, they aren't allowed into this private diners' club.
One night at a hotel, Martin vanishes. After being warned about the dining club, Charlie is sure it has something to do with his son's disappearance.
And so starts a roller coaster of religious fanaticism, pain and suffering.
This isn't as gory as Ketchum or Laymon, but it's there. Oh yes, it's there. This is the second of only two books that made me wince my way through a chapter. This is a very squeamish read in places...which is great!
Slight niggle with the ending, but if you consider it as tongue in cheek, it adds to the fun.
In conclusion, this book won't change your life, or your eating habits, but it's lots of hair-raising fun. Bring on Walkers!
Wow. If this guy repeatedly writes at this standard, I'll be looking for more of his books.
Restaurant critic for the MARIA road guide, Charlie, takes his son Martin on his next tour through Connecticut. They have a strained relationship, and Martin is increasingly annoyed by his father's obsession with a French Restaurant they come across. The problem is, they aren't allowed into this private diners' club.
One night at a hotel, Martin vanishes. After being warned about the dining club, Charlie is sure it has something to do with his son's disappearance.
And so starts a roller coaster of religious fanaticism, pain and suffering.
This isn't as gory as Ketchum or Laymon, but it's there. Oh yes, it's there. This is the second of only two books that made me wince my way through a chapter. This is a very squeamish read in places...which is great!
Slight niggle with the ending, but if you consider it as tongue in cheek, it adds to the fun.
In conclusion, this book won't change your life, or your eating habits, but it's lots of hair-raising fun. Bring on Walkers!
November 25, 2017
Review: RITUAL by Graham Masterton
RITUAL is a really complex horror novel, and as befits the author, seriously graphic and visceral. As with THE DEVIL IN GRAY and HYMN, the author weaves in history and religion, albeit not the type of religion most of us have learned to expect. An itinerant travelling restaurant inspector, employed by a travel guide, is the feckless protagonist of this story. As is frequently pointed out to Charlie in the course of the novel, he is an individual virtually devoid of purpose. He does his job, which involves constant travelling, but he does not scintillate nor excel. He is divorced, with a fifteen-year-old son he scarcely knows. He by attrition and apathy has failed his wife, his son, and a former mistress.
When Charlie, accompanied by his son Martin, visits a family restaurant in Connecticut, he stumbles upon rumor of a mysterious and secretive "dining society," so of course he must know more. But as with every Lovecraft story, there are aspects of life and knowledge we are better without. Charlie will discover this to his ever-lasting regret.
{Personal note: I do not like the ending. On further reflection, I see that it may fit, and may even in a sense be poetically just; but I don't like it.}
RITUAL is a really complex horror novel, and as befits the author, seriously graphic and visceral. As with THE DEVIL IN GRAY and HYMN, the author weaves in history and religion, albeit not the type of religion most of us have learned to expect. An itinerant travelling restaurant inspector, employed by a travel guide, is the feckless protagonist of this story. As is frequently pointed out to Charlie in the course of the novel, he is an individual virtually devoid of purpose. He does his job, which involves constant travelling, but he does not scintillate nor excel. He is divorced, with a fifteen-year-old son he scarcely knows. He by attrition and apathy has failed his wife, his son, and a former mistress.
When Charlie, accompanied by his son Martin, visits a family restaurant in Connecticut, he stumbles upon rumor of a mysterious and secretive "dining society," so of course he must know more. But as with every Lovecraft story, there are aspects of life and knowledge we are better without. Charlie will discover this to his ever-lasting regret.
{Personal note: I do not like the ending. On further reflection, I see that it may fit, and may even in a sense be poetically just; but I don't like it.}
August 3, 2022
Ritual by the master of horror Graham Masterton is as disgusting as it is tense. The quick chapters and descriptive language make it a fun and quick read. I didnt particularly feel much empathy for the main character due to the way he treated his son in the first half of the novel or have any understanding why in the world the reporter was helping him but its definately a great read that I will pick up again in a few years.
November 20, 2020
„Rytuał” to nieco przerysowany horror z krwi i kości i mięska przy okazji. Nie do końca straszy, ale w tym przypadku liczy się bardziej efekt tajemnicy i budowania napięcia niż czysty strach jako taki.
Graham Masterton bardzo ciekawie buduje całą fabułę – z jednej strony od pierwszym chwil dokładnie wiemy, co spotka bohaterów w legendarnym Le Reposoir, ale z drugiej – nie jesteśmy pewni z czym tak naprawdę przyjdzie nam się zmierzyć. Kanibalizm bowiem miewa różne oblicza, a to, które wybrał Masterton okazuje się jednym z najbardziej zaskakujących.
Dekadencka atmosfera eksluzywnego klubu kulinarnego, zdziwaczałe towarzystwo, jakie kręci się wokół bohaterów, zabite dechami małe miasteczka, które gotowe są trzymać swoje sekrety blisko, bliziutko… „Rytuał” nie jest może powieścią z gatunku wybitnych, jak „Nie ma wędrowca” czy „Dunkel”, ale to jest po prostu najlepsza horrorowa rozrywka, na jaką można trafić. U Mastertona wszystko jest na swoim miejscu, a element zaskoczenia i nieoczywisty finał sprawiają, że „Rytuał” po prostu cieszy czytelnika. Ta historia bywa karykaturalna, nieco przerysowana, z elementami gore, ale fabuła poprowadzona jest po mistrzowsku. To tylko udowadnia, że Masterton jest dość nierównym twórcą, takim, którego warto odkrywać, bo nigdy nie wiadomo na co się trafi.
„Rytuał” polecam z zastrzeżeniem, bo przecież nie każdy w kanibalizmie się odnajdzie. Ja się odnalazłam.
Graham Masterton bardzo ciekawie buduje całą fabułę – z jednej strony od pierwszym chwil dokładnie wiemy, co spotka bohaterów w legendarnym Le Reposoir, ale z drugiej – nie jesteśmy pewni z czym tak naprawdę przyjdzie nam się zmierzyć. Kanibalizm bowiem miewa różne oblicza, a to, które wybrał Masterton okazuje się jednym z najbardziej zaskakujących.
Dekadencka atmosfera eksluzywnego klubu kulinarnego, zdziwaczałe towarzystwo, jakie kręci się wokół bohaterów, zabite dechami małe miasteczka, które gotowe są trzymać swoje sekrety blisko, bliziutko… „Rytuał” nie jest może powieścią z gatunku wybitnych, jak „Nie ma wędrowca” czy „Dunkel”, ale to jest po prostu najlepsza horrorowa rozrywka, na jaką można trafić. U Mastertona wszystko jest na swoim miejscu, a element zaskoczenia i nieoczywisty finał sprawiają, że „Rytuał” po prostu cieszy czytelnika. Ta historia bywa karykaturalna, nieco przerysowana, z elementami gore, ale fabuła poprowadzona jest po mistrzowsku. To tylko udowadnia, że Masterton jest dość nierównym twórcą, takim, którego warto odkrywać, bo nigdy nie wiadomo na co się trafi.
„Rytuał” polecam z zastrzeżeniem, bo przecież nie każdy w kanibalizmie się odnajdzie. Ja się odnalazłam.
March 19, 2016
De momento, Ritual es de lo más divertido que he leído de GM. Una historia sobre un crítico culinario que pierde su hijo a manos de una secta de caníbales que se lo quieren zampar y con ello resucitar a Jesucristo. Llena de personajes memorables y la habitual casquería marca de la casa, solo flojea por su final, pero el viaje ha sido tan divertido que no importa.
August 14, 2017
I read this ages and ages ago and I can still picture so many unbelievably horrific moments. I think this may have been the first true horror book I ever encountered and attempted to read and I remember it to have been quite an experience. I do hope to read him again soon.
August 18, 2015
This was my first ever Graham Masterton book that I have read twice already. I bought the Omnibus version with Ritual & Walkers in it. In my opinion its 1 of the best ones he has written & its 1 of my favorite. It takes place in my home state Connecticut which was pretty cool& I have been to all the city's & town's they talked about. The plot was def sick, but it was really good. I have a lot of books that talk about Canabalism, but this was a little different just because they put it into a religion. The characters were great you really got into it. It didn't take long for the action to start & some of the scenes were really gorey. I really liked the book a lot & recommend it to any horror fans. If you haven't read Graham Masterton i def recommend it. It's 1 of his older books & still today a scary read!!
July 20, 2022
This story definitely had some fun and gory moments. However, I would have enjoyed this much more if it had been about 150 pages shorter.
I talked about this book in depth (with spoilers) on my YouTube channel, here: https://youtu.be/4ENeIaPienY?t=140
I talked about this book in depth (with spoilers) on my YouTube channel, here: https://youtu.be/4ENeIaPienY?t=140
September 20, 2009
Graphicly gorey but wonderfully written
August 29, 2021
This is the first book I've ever read by this author and it definitely wasn't what I expected. It's basically about this father, Charlie, who has just reconnected with his son, Martin, and they're traveling together for his work reviewing restaurants. His son ends up getting talked into joining this mysterious cannibalistic "dining society" for the greater good of sacrificing his life to bring about the second coming of Jesus.
"It was time he called Marjorie to tell her what had happened - or at least to tell her that Martin was missing - but he couldn't even begin to think of what to say.
'Marjorie, listen, we've got a problem here, Martin wants to eat himself.'
'I'm sorry, Marjorie, but Martin has decided to join a society of cannibals.'"
Yeah - all the while his father tries desperately to find some way to rescue him. I liked the writing style; it reminded me of Laymon, but it could have gotten the point across being a much shorter book.
"Happiness is obedience. Nirvana is an empty mind. Heaven only comes to those who surrender their private will to live."
"It was time he called Marjorie to tell her what had happened - or at least to tell her that Martin was missing - but he couldn't even begin to think of what to say.
'Marjorie, listen, we've got a problem here, Martin wants to eat himself.'
'I'm sorry, Marjorie, but Martin has decided to join a society of cannibals.'"
Yeah - all the while his father tries desperately to find some way to rescue him. I liked the writing style; it reminded me of Laymon, but it could have gotten the point across being a much shorter book.
"Happiness is obedience. Nirvana is an empty mind. Heaven only comes to those who surrender their private will to live."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2021
Que dire, que dire de ce livre. Ce livre était excellent à lire, j’avais toujours hâte de savoir la suite, mais aussi de savoir que vas t’il se passer à la fin! L’auteur mets beaucoup de description, j’ai trouvé ça super j’avais l’impression de voyager avec le personnage principal et de sentir les odeurs culinaire. Par contre, je ne peux pas dire que ce livre ne m’a pas donner la nausée à quelques moments, je me demande encore comment j’ai fait pour manger en même temps de lire lire 😂 bref j’ai adoré ce roman rempli de péripéties et d’espoir tout au long du récit! La fin me laisse bouche bée ! Je le place dans mes tops!
March 4, 2014
After getting to the 80% mark I was really wanting to finish, but it was simply too tedious and I just don't have it in me persevere with it any longer.
If there is some sort of twist at the end I've long since lost all interest in finding out what it is. I won't be reading any more from this author now.
If there is some sort of twist at the end I've long since lost all interest in finding out what it is. I won't be reading any more from this author now.
March 15, 2024
If you like a really slow-burn horror story, or one with creepy religious overtones, this is just the read for you. Well-written and suspenseful, told from the point of view of a man with an incredibly dreary, repetitive life who finds much more excitement than anyone would want. The edition I read needed a final copyedit, but that didn't slow me down.
August 22, 2011
A favourite horror of mine. The gore is plentiful, the storytelling masterful
and the end fantastic. I could read this book over and over. Definitely his best.
and the end fantastic. I could read this book over and over. Definitely his best.
April 2, 2019
Seriously one of the grossest, most insane books I’ve ever read. Masterton is a lunatic.
April 23, 2025
Греъм Мастертън надминава себе си в тази книга. Той има няколко романи, с които разцепва мрака и достига кресчендото на ужаса, но този може би е най-чудовищният измежду всички, по-реален от “Маниту”, по-епичен от White Bones, по-постоянен в жестокостта си от Death Trance и Black Angel, драматургично построен по-убедително от Charnel House и Mirror, по-стряскащ дори от непоносимия разказ на Ерик Пая. Започва като типично хорърче, но се изкачва нагоре (или по-скоро слиза надолу?) към най-забранените кътчета на човешкото въображение, за да опише този грях, за който си мислите, но по начин, показващ един злокобен екстаз на абсолютния фанатизъм. А финалът – единственият възможен, за да изкупи прегрешението, че такъв сюжет е написан и измислен, макар епилогът леко да разваля впечатлението, връщайки се към клишето на жанра, единственият недостатък на този потресаващ роман.
Цялото ми ревю може да прочетете в Цитаделата:
https://citadelata.com/ritual-feast/
Цялото ми ревю може да прочетете в Цитаделата:
https://citadelata.com/ritual-feast/
January 11, 2025
“Would you give your cock and your balls to the Lord Jesus Christ?”
“All that’s holding me back now is my earthly body, and I’m going to eat that.””
Actual lines from this novel
“All that’s holding me back now is my earthly body, and I’m going to eat that.””
Actual lines from this novel
December 6, 2019
My story enjoyment was more of a 1, but due to Masterton's writing style and creativity, I'm going with 2. I'm happy to say the ending eased some of my annoyance and frustration with the group, but the very last page ruined that all over again. Charlie isn't a likable main character for the most part, but the group frustrated me to no end. I'm not crazy on the cult stuff, but his inability to act frustrated me and kept me tense throughout the book. Disturbing stuff, and not an enjoyable reading experience. I love most of what I've read by Masterton otherwise.
July 29, 2013
I'm a romantic at heart, but Graham Masterton made me fall in love with horror when I read this.
Unbelievable! That's all I can say.
This guy has the ability to make your greatest fears come to life right in front of you. Once you pick up this book, you never want to put it down again. It is as engrossing as it is terrifying.
Definitely my favourite horror book of all times.
Unbelievable! That's all I can say.
This guy has the ability to make your greatest fears come to life right in front of you. Once you pick up this book, you never want to put it down again. It is as engrossing as it is terrifying.
Definitely my favourite horror book of all times.
December 25, 2014
Plodded my way through this. If this is the best he's got then I am totally underwhelmed. Not the worst thing I ever read quality wise, especially for the genre, just boring. Surprised after all the rave reviews. Oh well.
June 18, 2017
Meh. A fair share of disturbing imagery carrying a mediocre story that becomes dull and boring at times. Considered dropping this one but kept reading thinking that the ending would have some sort of a twist or atleast be exciting but was really disappointed in the end.
March 5, 2012
Ho. Lee. Shite!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews