Still Life

by Joe Donnelly

Caitlin Brook came to Linnvale village after the shooting that left her paralysed. Here, surrounded by the ancient Caledonia forest, she finds peace—during the hours of daylight. But when darkness falls, she is consumed by vivid dreams, dreams that she is running with the wind, dreams that take her ever closer to the gnarled, grotesque tree at the forest's heart.

Two strangers break into her life: Martin Thornton, a reporter who moves closer to her than the quest for his story requires; and Shelia Garvie, a healer and wise old woman, whose ancestors fill Linnvale's graves and who gives nourishment to Caitlin's disturbing dreams. Caitlin needs these two strangers—but their own need is more powerful.

As Caitlin loses control of her destiny, the forces of civilisation are ranked against the guardians of the ancient forest, moving unstoppably towards a savage confrontation. Nature and the old gods are demanding fresh blood, new life, human sacrifice...

Genres: Horror, Horror Thriller, Fiction

554 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is classic 90s horror. Slow burn, atmospheric, and more about mood and character than outright scares. Still Life follows Caitlin Brook, a former cop recovering from a traumatic injury, who retreats to her childhood village hoping to find peace. What she finds instead is something much older and darker lurking in the nearby woods.

I really liked how the horror builds gradually here. It’s not overly gruesome (though it probably felt more intense when it was first released), and it leans heavily on a strong sense of place, folklore, and character development. Caitlin’s storyline in particular is well told. Watching her emotionally recover, slowly regain happiness, and become blind to the consequences of what’s happening around her felt believable and haunting.

The setting works well too. The author captures that small, closed-in village vibe. The isolation, the suspicion of outsiders, the way secrets fester in a tight-knit community. It adds a lot to the tension.

That said, it’s not perfect. There are a few tangents that feel unnecessary and slow the pacing down, and some moments veer into that slightly corny, over-dramatic territory that you sometimes find in older horror. But if you already enjoy that 90s style, it’s easy to roll with it.

I wouldn’t put this quite on the same level as Shrike, but Still Life is still a solid, well-written read. It’s a great pick for anyone into folk horror, slower-paced narratives, or just looking to explore horror from the 90s.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, written by Scotsman Joe Donnelly,feels more than anything like a watered down version of something James Herbert might write. Although having said that, I did quite enjoy this book for it was certainly well written - sometimes wonderfully written - and at times it was also scary. The best thing about this book, however, is its originality. The story of an evil enchanted forest sounds quite cliche but then I can't think of many stories that ever utilize it. And regardless of that, Donnelly uses a lot of imagination to make these particular woods very interesting and sinister. This book isn't amazing by any means, but I would certainly be keen on reading another book by Mr. Donnelly if I ever happened across another...

[Horror Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent nature-attacks tome that spends a bit too much time spinning its wheels rather than building tension or plot between kills. Still worth reading if you find it cheap for some fantastic imagery and neat ideas.

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read by this author. It’s about a girl who is paralysed and dreams of running. It is about an ancient forest and a healer who says she can heal her paralysis. It is a horror story

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best horror books I have ever read.

[David Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm...So something wicked and ancient stirs deep in the heart of Fasach Wood...And it falls to main protagonist Newspaper reporter Martin Thornton to discover exactly what. The plot centres around a young, beautiful flame haired woman called Caitlin Brook who has been left paralysed after a nasty shoot out with a madman at the start of the story. She's a policewoman but she retires after her injury to a seemingly quit,tranquil, quaint lil Scottish village called Linnvale..but Linnvale ain't even half as quit or peaceful as it appears...

For it is actually an epi centre of sinsister pagan power ,something to do with converging ancient laylines or summat, and the local batshit crazy witches coven led by a sinister grey haired glamazon called Shelia Garvie , reckon that Caitlyn Brook is prime sacrificial material and that their dark, twisted, bloodthirsty woodland Gods just MUST have her darling. What follows is a relatively entertaining horror romp which is infused with interesting aspects of ancient Celtic religious practices. Put it this way Cerunnos is one scary bloodthirsty bloke and you DEFINITELY would NOT want to meet him in a dark alley alone at night! And after reading this romp you are never going to look at the woods and forests in quite the same way again...yikes. You'll be looking over your shoulder EVERY time you find yourself in among trees lol.

[Kathleen Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this well-written horror tale. I thought it started quite slowly and for a while I was wondering where the horror element was. The main protagonist is a journalist, Martin, who is sent to cover a hostage situation in a Glasgow block of flats and experiences a premonition that a nurse working with the police is going to be shot - he races to save her but can't prevent what occurs. The nurse, Caitlin, is badly injured in the attack and has to use a wheelchair. Some time later, Martin visits her in the small village where she now lives and they begin a friendship. Meanwhile, strange things are happening in Fasach Woods on the edge of the village and people are disappearing. A pressure group of local women is trying to protect the woods from development and all of them have recently been on journeys of self-improvement, with seemingly miraculous results. Much of this activity centres on Sheila Garvie, an elder of the village who uses herbs and plants to cure their ills. A strange event brings Caitlin to her cottage and she provides pungent concoctions for Caitlin to drink. But, all the while, the woods are more than capable of defending themselves.....

[Plum-crazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure if I had read this book before & I had...though I didn't remember enough of it to spoil the story. In brief, Caitlin, paralysed in an accident, seems to have some sort of psychic bond with reporter Martin who "witnessed" her accident. Doctors have told Caitlin she'll never walk again, but Sheila Garvie (a druid) gives her fresh hope but at what price?

The story weaves in tales of Celtic mythology & ley lines which I find fascinating. I enjoyed the fact that in this book the trees of Fasach Wood are the "baddies"! You certainly don't want to go down to these woods where if the trees don't get you, huge mushrooms or strangling creepers will! Not really the book to be reading while you're travelling through the leafy glens of Scotland...you start to look at trees in a whole new light ;o)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite of his but still worth a read, pretty gruesome in places but nicely plotted and as always well written.