The Long Lost

by Ramsey Campbell

David and Joelle's long-lost relative, Gwendolen, helps them recover from a family tragedy, but soon the young couple is caught in a web of evil and dark secrets seemingly spun from Gwendolen's white hair. Reprint.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Fantasy

439 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Ramsey Campbell is a British writer considered by a number of critics to be one of the great masters of horror fiction. T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today," while S. T. Joshi has said that "future generations will regard him as the leading horror writer of our generation, every bit the equal of Lovecraft or Blackwood."

Reviews

[Carl Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another insidious Campbell slow-burner. This starts off brightly enough, indulging the author's love of the double entendre and misunderstood phrasing to almost Carry On proportions in a middle-class Chester suburb. As usual, however, there is an dark undercurrent that slowly swells and strengthens, lending an uneasy atmosphere to even the most mundane and banal of proceedings until the tragedies begin and the storm waves pound. Ramsay's writing is at its most assured here, often quite beautiful, leading his readers along introspective paths they probably really wouldn't rather follow, but can't help themselves... and Ramsay does not pull his punches. Excellent Horror of the Everyday.

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hey, I just finished this Ramsey Campbell book."
"Don't you HEY me. And it looked like you were reading on your tablet. Don't you mean you finished a Ramsey Campbell e-book?"
"I mean, if you want to get pedantic."
"I do."
"Then yes, I read his e-book. I really enjoyed it."
"Oi, don't you know that I hate the word 'enjoy'? Around here we use the word 'love' or we use nothing at all. 'Enjoy'. Ptew!" *spits at your feet*
"Sorry mate, I didn't realize."
"You what? You came in here talking shite without realizin' that I hate the word 'enjoy'? Now you're just trying to piss me off."
"No really, I'm sorry, I'll just go."
"Now you're walking away from me, eh? I see how it bloody is."

No, seriously, how come every conversation in a Ramsey Campbell book is intensely psychotic???

[Rachael Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a massive fan of horror which is geared towards the darker side of human nature, and that's exactly what Campbell created here.

I loved the interaction between all of the characters, Campbell's dialogue is an absolute joy to read. As are his descriptions - I found myself reading certain passages more than once because they were so wonderfully done.

The book is more character driven than action driven, however, so if you want something fast paced this might not be for you.

Me? I loved it!

[Jim Smith]

Meandering, but odd and compelling slowburn inconsistently sprinkled with excellent eerie atmosphere.

[TeeKay · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first Ramsey Campbell book I have tried, and it was underwhelming.

The premise of the story is that the main characters David and Joelle meet Gwendolen, a seemingly long lost relative of David's, on a deserted island. They bring her back to their home town of Chester, and their lives and those of their close friends spiral out of control after Gwendolen serves them all cakes at a party.

It is revealed at the end, in what seems like a haze, that Gwendolen is a sin eater.

I felt that the story did not adequately connect Gwendolen to the events which befall all of the other characters. These events (i.e. Herb crashing the train to kill himself and Victor, Bill's assault, Richard killing himself and his family to avoid bankruptcy) seemed like they would have happened of their own accord.

There were too many characters squeezed into the story and most of them were one-dimensional and undeveloped. I didn't connect with any of them and felt no sympathy for their fates. The character dialogue was not inspirational, and in Gwendonlen's case frustratingly cloudy and vague.

About the only positive I could find was the part of the story focusing on Herb and his rage. Herb was about the only believable character and his jealous descent to killing could have made for a much better short story.

I was glad to get this book over and done with.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say that I'm glad I finished this book. Now I can get rid of it and not think about it anymore. I've read some of Campbell's work before, and I liked what I read before better. I spent the first fourth of the book bored. Then I spent the rest of the book feeling horribly depressed. The characters feel more like roles than people. Not alive at all. The book was overstuffed with details, but most didn't seem relevant. There seemed very little to the story for the most part of other than bad stuff is happening to people. There was a little at the beginning and some more at the end, but it wasn't really developed that much. Things just sort of went away instead of resolving. Admittedly, Campbell does make me feel things throughout the latter 3/4ths of the book, but they aren't good things. Well, maybe it isn't that bad, but Lord it wasn't good (Bloom County reference). Still, I'm not a big fan of this sort of fiction so maybe people shouldn't listen to me. Maybe this is exactly the sort of thing Campbell fans are looking for. If so, they can have it. It just seems to prop itself up by a few weird things, and frankly I find weirder things floating in my coffee.

[Amanda M. Lyons · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read many times that Ramsey Campbell is one of the greater horror novelists out there if that is true then this was his dud. I absolutely hated this book for many reasons. Several characters acted in ways that were incredibly stupid, one suicide scene in the book was ridiculously drawn out, and the ending did nothing to make up for all of these errors. I hated this book so much in fact that I shredded my copy to pieces out of frustration. If I try this author again I shall have to choose one with less likelihood of being so terrible.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled on this after some glowing mentions (or at least one) in "The Book of Lists - Horror".

It's a bit slow-going but I would say give it a go. It's quite different to other horror books that I have read. You know that the little old lady has something to do with all the surrounding events but you don't really know what she is or how she's managed to do it (other than the dodgy cake).

There is one chapter that is just brilliant towards the end. You know it's coming, but it's still very disturbing.

[Carol Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this writer's use of language but the plot was stretched pretty darned thin. The cakes of sin that Gwen had the people eat- there seemed to be no fairness and no rightness to that act. What after all was she losing by staying where she was?

Life is random in their world.

The portrayals of the residents of this little town are pretty flat. The lawyer is a slimeball, his aunt a shrew, the man who owns the store that sells choral music (really, is that even feasible) and the computer salesman who sits around playing video games all day at work, not to mention the women: the one who cheats on her husband at work , the overweight woman unable to conceive, the one who shares the bill from her abortion, the wife who seems to focus on sex and decorating, the teen who OMG smokes cigarettes, all without much character at all.

Gwen's career choice is just out of the blue. Pointless, too.

[Mike Marsbergen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ramsey Campbell himself has described THE LONG LOST as being "from [his] leisurely period (some would say catatonic)." That summarizes it well. What I loved about this book—the idea of Gwen and her apparent power—was minor in comparison to the rest of the book. Much of this book was about the characters being impacted by Gwen, before and after meeting her at the barbecue. There's a lot of good stuff here, but it just moved too slow for me.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even the greatest novelists have a bit of a dud in them.
It reads like an extended episode of The Eastenders where the penalty is invariably death or disfigurement. The supernatural cause often seems completely forgotten about in the wake of bankruptcy and infidelity.

[Will Sargent · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf-ed. campbell is hit and miss for me, and this one was oddly disjointed from the off. Some weird attempts at childish wit and banter early on then more clumsy pacing / structure just killed it for me. Pains me to DNF, but too many good books on the shelf I'm afraid.

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but nothing really special. Perhaps it would have seemed better back in 1993 when it was published.

[Arthur B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meandering plotlines and an abrupt, hasty ending combine to make this one of Campbell's less successful novels. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/201...

[Jessica Webb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to assume this is a low point in RC's portfolio as it's the first of his I've read.
Less than a third of the way in I was ready to give up, but I hate leaving things unfinished.
The story is a mess of boring tangents about characters I couldn't care less for. Every conversation seems to consist of stunted dialogue between acquaintances we're supposed to believe actually like each other.
I felt as though the author had a vague idea for a story, got lost part way through the writing, and ended up rambling through the rest rather than quitting. Perhaps he realised it needed wrapping up so put a vague explanation in the final couple of chapters. It isn't poorly written, just mundane to the point I was irritated throughout much of it.
I would like to read something else from him, but hopefully with at least some element of horror.

[Thomas Burchfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Long Lost, a novel from 1991, features many of Campbell’s greatest strengths, and some of his weaknesses. It tells the story of an English couple, David and Joelle Owain, on holiday in David’s native Wales. While exploring a deserted island near David’s ancestral village, just offshore in the Irish Sea, they find a very old woman, Gwendolyn Owain, living alone. She miraculously produces an old photo of herself standing companionably alongside David’s family.

Read the rest of my review at: http://tbdeluxe.blogspot.com/2015/06/ramsey-campbell-not-quite-long-lost.html

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Married couple befriend older woman, possibly witch, who brings tragedy and releases dark inhibitions in their friends. This book is unusual horror, subtle and beneath surface, as couple realize their newfound friend is inimical. She has no plan, brings out bad in people and tragic situations because she can.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

That's really 2.5 stars. As always, Campbell focuses on the dread and the menace present in everyday things, with psychologically believable characters. This one is sort of a soap opera laced with some truly horrifying scenes and Ancient Evil, presented via complex but elegant prose. He's not to everyone's taste, but you might want to trust Stephen King, who is a big fan.

[Darren Phasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a strange one this.