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The Black Magic Series
"Should any of my readers incline to a serious study of the subject, and thus come into contact with a man or a woman of Power, I feel that it is only right to urge them, most strongly, to refrain from being drawn into the practise of the Secret Art in any way. My own observations have led me to an absolute conviction that to do so would bring them into dangers of a very real and concrete nature." Dennis WheatleyThe entire collection of Dennis Wheatley's Black Magic series in one digital volume.THE DEVIL RIDES OUTSTRANGE CONFLICTTHE HAUNTING OF TOBY JUGGTO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTERTHE KA OF GIFFORD HILLARYTHE SATANISTTHEY USED DARK FORCESUNHOLY CRUSADETHE WHITE WITCH OF THE SOUTH SEASGATEWAY TO HELLTHE IRISH WITCH
4901 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2014
38 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Wheatley
384 books248 followersDennis Yates Wheatley (8 January 1897 – 10 November 1977) [Born: Dennis Yeats Wheatley] was an English author. His prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling authors in the 1950s and 1960s.
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 24, 2016
These are stories of their time. Any reader will have to rise above issues such as xenophobia to enjoy the tales. Wheatley is an able storyteller. We have a series of books about upper class Satanists, Nazis, Communism, violence, black magicians, the supernatural, questions of what happens after death, etc. Good always triumphs over evil and the characterisation leaves a little to be desired. There is mystery, horror and adventure which I enjoyed and found humourous at times(I accept I am not to supposed to find much of it funny, but I do). All in all, stories others will find great, providing you accept the provisos mentioned. Thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC via netgalley.
December 24, 2023
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley
~
The Black Magic (Series Starter)
by Dennis Wheatley
★★★★☆
918 Pages
Themes: Paranormal, Magic, Romance
Genre: Historical, Supernatural, Thriller, PNR
Content Warning: mentions of black magic, the devil, satanism, cannibalism, nudity, possession, psychic influence, hypnotism, vampires, the Angel of Death, shape-shifting, necromancy, werewolves, orgies, Nazi's, the French Revolution, war, bombings, lynchings, torture and mutilation of a dead body, Voodoo, zombies, deaf-mute characters
Book 1: The Devil Rides Out
1-33%
★★★★☆
This is my first foray into Dennis Wheatley's books, though I've been meaning to read them for years. The Devil Rides Out is a great first book to delve into and has everything you could hope for from a paranormal horror/thriller story.
The book begins with an intriguing Introduction by Dennis Wheatley's grandson, and while this was extremely interesting I have to note that without it you wouldn't immediately know the timeline of the story that follows. It's never mentioned anywhere in the plot what the time frame is except for a few vague references to “recent” events being in the early 1910's, but the Introduction does mention that “the first de Richleau stories were set in the years between the [world] wars”. Personally, that's the only thing confusing or missing in the story, because the rest of it was fantastic.
The story features the main character of the series The Duke de Richleau, who is an older man, almost twice the age of the other characters, who has experience in war, travelling and white magic, enough to make him the best counter-agent to the black magic involved. His dear friend Simon has got himself caught up in black magic without realising or understanding how dangerous that is.
The cast is solid:
de Richleau is intriguing and knowledgeable, as well as being versed in war
Simon is young, kind and quite innocent but curious, which is why he's caught in this muddle
Rex Van Ryn is their mutual friend, strong and opinionated, a American with respect for de Richleau's knowledge and maturity
Tanith is a young woman caught up in black magic just as Simon is, though for her own reasons
Richard and Marie Lou Eaton are mutual friends of the three men and are brought into the story when they need a safe place to hide.
Mocata is the practitioner of black magic and the man who has roped Simon into his evil plans
We get POV's of everyone except Mocata, as well as a few minor characters, such as Max the Eaton's servant, and an inn owner Jeremiah Wilkes. The POV's are shown in omnipresent POV, so you'll often see all the POV's in one chapter, but because they only appear when absolutely necessary and sometimes only for a few lines at a time, it makes sense to be written this way.
Another brilliant deviation from the usual style of writing is during Chapter 14, when a car chase is shown in a timeline format. The time is given, with a brief sentence or two to detail what is happening in that moment, through whatever POV is important to that event. It's very quick, clinical and yet captivating at the same time, giving you all the facts without lingering over them too much.
The entire story is fast-paced and thrilling, from start to finish. Everything that happens is well written, placed with thought and consideration for what is and what isn't important, and dealt with in the appropriate amount of detail. When the psychological and thrilling magical aspects appear, they're written in a way that any layman will understand, even if reading magical or paranormal stories isn't what you're used to. Yet, they're not written in a play-by-play, but only in a clear, understandable way that is easy to follow.
While the book is listed as horror, I think the changing times are the reason that I probably wouldn't list it as “horror” anymore. There are so many paranormal books now, in comparison to then, that don't delve into horror but still have a thrilling or supernatural quality and they don't all qualify as horror. I think book falls into that intermediary category. It's supernaturally thrilling, but there isn't any gore or outright violence that I would consider horror.
Similarly, I think the changing times are why it read quite dated in terms of language use. There were certain words that I won't repeat – such as the N word – and views and opinions that were typical of the time the book was written but which are no longer appropriate. I did have to brave myself a few times and cringe inwardly at them, but I do accept that this was the language used at the time, rightly or wrongly, and tried to block out the outdated aspects to enjoy the story regardless.
The language use and timeline issues are part of the reason that I rated this a 4 instead of a 5. I also had a few places where I felt confused about what was going on, and where certain events were glossed over or contradicted what was happening. For that, I couldn't give it a 5* rating, but I really did enjoy the overall storyline and the characters. I'll definitely be continuing with the series.
~
Book 2: Strange Conflict
33-64%
★★★☆☆
Strange Conflict is the third book in the series, and in this compendium.
The story begins with the Duke meeting up with Sir Pellinor Gwaine-Cust to discuss a serious issue in the war. The story takes place during the 1940's on the cusp of the second world war, however it takes quite a while to find out that it's actually a few years after the events of Book 1.
The gang is all back together: Duke, Rex, Simon, Richard and Marie Lou. This time, their daughter is safely with relatives.
The plot itself was interesting. I liked the concept of astral projection, and how the Duke and others with great experience of the astral world could help the recently dead cross over and find peace. That was a really nice concept. But, for as fast as the plot moved, it felt like a lot of nothing happened. It was mostly the Duke's companions plans being foiled over and over again, with not much happening until the last 10%.
There's a lot of talk about WWII, with the bombings of London, Rex wounded as a pilot, but I think the thing that bothered me the most was the sort of White-Saviour complex that ran throughout the novel, with the Duke and other characters going on and on about how Britain were the saviours of the world and how they led other countries and peoples to better lives. It was all a little much and exhausting, considering hindsight and what we now know about British history.
There were also a few strange and out-dated opinions about Haiti, slaves and black people, with mentions of lynchings, Voodoo, and using seriously out-dated terms and phrases to describe people of colour. It made reading the book quite uncomfortable, which really took me out of the plot, especially when there were great swathes of passages about the savage and primitive way Haitians etc behaved.
Add onto that, there was almost an entire page talking about how suicide was the sign of a weak person and a coward, which really didn't sit well with me.
In the end, there were too many outlandish foiled plots, a predictable bad guy, a slow pace with an excess of action that went nowhere, and way too many out-dated concepts and terms to feel comfortable. While the story had potential, it went a bit too far with the Pro-Britain, White Saviour complex for my comfort.
~
I ended up not reading : Book 3: The Haunting of Toby Jugg
64-100 %
Te language is really out-dated and with the massive spider on the cover, and the fact that the stories don't flow between each other as connected storylines, I don't really feel the need to continue. While the first two books had their merits, I feel like the books aren't a great fit for me, as a reader and there's no point continuing to read something that I don't entirely enjoy.
Copy received through Netgalley
~
The Black Magic (Series Starter)
by Dennis Wheatley
★★★★☆
918 Pages
Themes: Paranormal, Magic, Romance
Genre: Historical, Supernatural, Thriller, PNR
Content Warning: mentions of black magic, the devil, satanism, cannibalism, nudity, possession, psychic influence, hypnotism, vampires, the Angel of Death, shape-shifting, necromancy, werewolves, orgies, Nazi's, the French Revolution, war, bombings, lynchings, torture and mutilation of a dead body, Voodoo, zombies, deaf-mute characters
Book 1: The Devil Rides Out
1-33%
★★★★☆
This is my first foray into Dennis Wheatley's books, though I've been meaning to read them for years. The Devil Rides Out is a great first book to delve into and has everything you could hope for from a paranormal horror/thriller story.
The book begins with an intriguing Introduction by Dennis Wheatley's grandson, and while this was extremely interesting I have to note that without it you wouldn't immediately know the timeline of the story that follows. It's never mentioned anywhere in the plot what the time frame is except for a few vague references to “recent” events being in the early 1910's, but the Introduction does mention that “the first de Richleau stories were set in the years between the [world] wars”. Personally, that's the only thing confusing or missing in the story, because the rest of it was fantastic.
The story features the main character of the series The Duke de Richleau, who is an older man, almost twice the age of the other characters, who has experience in war, travelling and white magic, enough to make him the best counter-agent to the black magic involved. His dear friend Simon has got himself caught up in black magic without realising or understanding how dangerous that is.
The cast is solid:
de Richleau is intriguing and knowledgeable, as well as being versed in war
Simon is young, kind and quite innocent but curious, which is why he's caught in this muddle
Rex Van Ryn is their mutual friend, strong and opinionated, a American with respect for de Richleau's knowledge and maturity
Tanith is a young woman caught up in black magic just as Simon is, though for her own reasons
Richard and Marie Lou Eaton are mutual friends of the three men and are brought into the story when they need a safe place to hide.
Mocata is the practitioner of black magic and the man who has roped Simon into his evil plans
We get POV's of everyone except Mocata, as well as a few minor characters, such as Max the Eaton's servant, and an inn owner Jeremiah Wilkes. The POV's are shown in omnipresent POV, so you'll often see all the POV's in one chapter, but because they only appear when absolutely necessary and sometimes only for a few lines at a time, it makes sense to be written this way.
Another brilliant deviation from the usual style of writing is during Chapter 14, when a car chase is shown in a timeline format. The time is given, with a brief sentence or two to detail what is happening in that moment, through whatever POV is important to that event. It's very quick, clinical and yet captivating at the same time, giving you all the facts without lingering over them too much.
The entire story is fast-paced and thrilling, from start to finish. Everything that happens is well written, placed with thought and consideration for what is and what isn't important, and dealt with in the appropriate amount of detail. When the psychological and thrilling magical aspects appear, they're written in a way that any layman will understand, even if reading magical or paranormal stories isn't what you're used to. Yet, they're not written in a play-by-play, but only in a clear, understandable way that is easy to follow.
While the book is listed as horror, I think the changing times are the reason that I probably wouldn't list it as “horror” anymore. There are so many paranormal books now, in comparison to then, that don't delve into horror but still have a thrilling or supernatural quality and they don't all qualify as horror. I think book falls into that intermediary category. It's supernaturally thrilling, but there isn't any gore or outright violence that I would consider horror.
Similarly, I think the changing times are why it read quite dated in terms of language use. There were certain words that I won't repeat – such as the N word – and views and opinions that were typical of the time the book was written but which are no longer appropriate. I did have to brave myself a few times and cringe inwardly at them, but I do accept that this was the language used at the time, rightly or wrongly, and tried to block out the outdated aspects to enjoy the story regardless.
The language use and timeline issues are part of the reason that I rated this a 4 instead of a 5. I also had a few places where I felt confused about what was going on, and where certain events were glossed over or contradicted what was happening. For that, I couldn't give it a 5* rating, but I really did enjoy the overall storyline and the characters. I'll definitely be continuing with the series.
~
Book 2: Strange Conflict
33-64%
★★★☆☆
Strange Conflict is the third book in the series, and in this compendium.
The story begins with the Duke meeting up with Sir Pellinor Gwaine-Cust to discuss a serious issue in the war. The story takes place during the 1940's on the cusp of the second world war, however it takes quite a while to find out that it's actually a few years after the events of Book 1.
The gang is all back together: Duke, Rex, Simon, Richard and Marie Lou. This time, their daughter is safely with relatives.
The plot itself was interesting. I liked the concept of astral projection, and how the Duke and others with great experience of the astral world could help the recently dead cross over and find peace. That was a really nice concept. But, for as fast as the plot moved, it felt like a lot of nothing happened. It was mostly the Duke's companions plans being foiled over and over again, with not much happening until the last 10%.
There's a lot of talk about WWII, with the bombings of London, Rex wounded as a pilot, but I think the thing that bothered me the most was the sort of White-Saviour complex that ran throughout the novel, with the Duke and other characters going on and on about how Britain were the saviours of the world and how they led other countries and peoples to better lives. It was all a little much and exhausting, considering hindsight and what we now know about British history.
There were also a few strange and out-dated opinions about Haiti, slaves and black people, with mentions of lynchings, Voodoo, and using seriously out-dated terms and phrases to describe people of colour. It made reading the book quite uncomfortable, which really took me out of the plot, especially when there were great swathes of passages about the savage and primitive way Haitians etc behaved.
Add onto that, there was almost an entire page talking about how suicide was the sign of a weak person and a coward, which really didn't sit well with me.
In the end, there were too many outlandish foiled plots, a predictable bad guy, a slow pace with an excess of action that went nowhere, and way too many out-dated concepts and terms to feel comfortable. While the story had potential, it went a bit too far with the Pro-Britain, White Saviour complex for my comfort.
~
I ended up not reading : Book 3: The Haunting of Toby Jugg
64-100 %
Te language is really out-dated and with the massive spider on the cover, and the fact that the stories don't flow between each other as connected storylines, I don't really feel the need to continue. While the first two books had their merits, I feel like the books aren't a great fit for me, as a reader and there's no point continuing to read something that I don't entirely enjoy.
June 11, 2016
Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
(However, I own these in old, yellowing paperbacks!)
Although these stories are dated somewhat, they are still very enjoyable. Takes me back to watching horror movies in my room when I should of been sleeping as a kid in the early 80's! The wonderfully weird world of Wheatleys Black Magic is portrayed in a dark, often bizarre way, but there's so much intrigue. The writing style is fluid and a joy to read. I read these years ago, and again recently. I enjoyed them more the second time around, perhaps because I'm now that bit older. These are like the more grittier side of those Hammer Horrors of yesteryear. Recommended for lovers of vintage style Satanism
(However, I own these in old, yellowing paperbacks!)
Although these stories are dated somewhat, they are still very enjoyable. Takes me back to watching horror movies in my room when I should of been sleeping as a kid in the early 80's! The wonderfully weird world of Wheatleys Black Magic is portrayed in a dark, often bizarre way, but there's so much intrigue. The writing style is fluid and a joy to read. I read these years ago, and again recently. I enjoyed them more the second time around, perhaps because I'm now that bit older. These are like the more grittier side of those Hammer Horrors of yesteryear. Recommended for lovers of vintage style Satanism
May 17, 2016
An eARC omnibus that encompasses the first, second, and third of the Black Magic paranormally horrifying series (the first two are a spin-off from Wheatley's Duke de Richleau series (numbers 6 and 9, respectively)) was provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
Individually, I rated the stories at a "4", "3", and "2", which averages out to a "3".
The Devil Rides Out takes place around the end of April and the start of May in 1935 while Strange Conflict begins after the Germans began bombing England at the start of World War II and after the French government collapsed. Both stories revolve around best friends: the Duke de Richleau, Simon Aron, the Princess Marie Lou and Richard Eaton, and Rex Van Wyn.
The Haunting of Toby Jugg does not include de Richleau and friends and takes place during April, May, and June of 1945.
MY TAKE
The men — the Duke de Richleau, Simon Aron, Richard Eaton, and Rex Van Wyn — first met up in Three Inquisitive People , 4; the princess joined the team in The Forbidden Territory , 5.
The first two stories are blatantly religious, borrowing from several world religions with an emphasis along the lines of Light versus Dark, Good versus Evil, and the Powers of Good with even more of an emphasis on magic, reincarnation, and dreams while the third explores whether one needs religion in one's life. They're also quite action-oriented with chase scenes, drama, and plenty of tension what with the evil magician magicking his victim back, the rioting townsfolk, arson, sharks, battling off the vulnerability of sleep, and zombification…eek!…
The analogies the duke uses to explain magic are thought-provoking, and his explanation of reincarnation does make a lot of sense as does his explanation for why our dreams are so odd. He uses Jesus Christ as an example of choosing how one will live and/or die in one's last incarnations. And the Admiral's civilian dreaming is quite explicit, oh là là! The captain's dreams are, ahem, also quite interesting. It seems he prefers the feminine form.
The slang of the 1930s was interesting to read, and Wheatley has a very noir atmosphere with all the drama of the times in referring to "magic". Also typical of the times is the condescending attitude towards people of other races. It's embarrassing to think people could actually believe such drivel, and a relief that we've come as far as we have. We do still have a ways to go, but at least we are making progress. Wheatley certainly has some "interesting" beliefs in why the white man has done as well as he has.
I knew the swastika was an ancient symbol adopted by the Nazis, but I don't think I've ever heard this explanation for it. De Richleau's explanation of baptism is encompassing, on both sides. Even more interesting is Wheatley's take on the Albigensians, the Templars, and the Rosicrucians. More history involves La Voisin, Prince Borghese's taking back his palazzo, the magic of Nicolas Flamel, Rasputin's real identity, the real reason why World War I broke out, Tanith's use of numerology, and the tale of Osiris' murder of Set (very clever if totally wicked).
People of my generation and older were taught to be polite to everyone. It's a definite handicap when encountering the bad guys, and examples of when being rude is the better choice should be taught. That's not to say that being rude is the best choice, but that there are times when it is merited…phone solicitors, for example.
One of the pluses of reading an author writing contemporaneously in the 1930s means we have a primary source for the time's culture, manners, and modes of communication and travel for that time. It does make me appreciate cellphones all the more, and our current ease of air travel, despite all the security problems we have. Although it still doesn't explain why they couldn't simply fly to Haiti from Bermuda. Why did they have to go up to New York City??
In The Devil Rides Out, the conflict revolves around Simon's poor choices, and I should think Simon has an "inkling" that he's dabbling in evil when he tries so hard to keep de Richleau out of it all. I also suspect that de Richleau would do better to ensure Max was better informed about black magic.
Tanith was a pain. She comes across as an intelligent woman, but her reasoning for following the Left Hand Path is so immature. I don't get the impression that she's a wicked woman, but she is a nasty-minded person with her desire to have power over people. Doesn't she realize that this is an evil desire? What's wrong with helping people? As for the Malagasy and the Goat, I do wish Wheatley hadn't been so cryptic. Did the Malagasy give himself over to the demon, was he the demon, or what?
The good guys did make some stupid moves: Rex drove me mad with his stupid decisions about Tanith at the inn. Duh. At the very least consult with the duke instead of falling asleep in the woods! Leaving Fleur unprotected makes me question their intelligence as well. Simon choosing to go against his friends despite the logic of their decision. And poor Richard, having to go a whole day without his drinks and meat…*eye roll*…
In Strange Conflict, the accepting nonchalance of the duke and Sir Pellinore interrupting their dinner to deal with the incendiary bombs cracked me up. Then there's the duke's spying. I wonder if the CIA knows how much easier it is if one can travel in the astral?
It does make sense, even if it does make me laugh, that the Haitians should appropriate the images of Catholic saints to represent their Voodoo gods. Saturday provides a synopsis of the slave rebellions on Haiti as well as why Haiti has not been able to prosper since she achieved independence.
After all the excitement in The Devil Rides Out about Rex being in love with Tanith, where is she? Rex is on his own in Strange Conflict, and there is absolutely no mention of her.
As for The Haunting of Toby Jugg, it was so annoying. "I" keeps going on and on about how crazy he thinks he might be, and I know that I'm going crazy reading as he drones on and on. Eventually, we're led to believe that Toby is intelligent, and he does take some practical measures via his journal to keep track of what's going on, but he falls down when he's planning his many escapes. He doesn't think past getting out of his room. Sure, he's paying lip service to the idea (and I can't blame him for feeling desperate), but in truth he's self-sabotaging like mad!
Wheatley does do a good job of ratcheting up the tension. But once Toby figures out the basics of what's going on, why does he still allow it to bother him so much? He speculates about who gains and how, what happens if he dies or is certified as insane, and as he speculates, he provides us with his background and how he got to where he is today.
It is quite the nefarious plot, and Toby's reasoning makes perfect sense, but I don't feel that Wheatley made this realistic, especially when Toby knows he only has to last until he reaches his majority on the 20th of June. That the fright only shows up around the time of the full moon. And then when he has the opportunity to get help, he backs down. WTF? Which AGAIN makes me question why Toby keeps terrifying himself!? He also does a really good job of helping prove Helmuth's point, the idiot. It's hard to feel any sympathy towards Toby with how stupid he's being.
I did enjoy Toby's comments about how different the mentality of modern man is from that of a man 100 years or more previously. Toby reckons it's the changes in what we value. Of being looked up to for money than for a person's real worth, and how the pursuit of money causes so much stress, the time-occupying distractions our grandfathers never knew, the games, cheap travel, the masses of radio programmes, crossword puzzles, books, magazines, [politics], and war.
I'm not sure how much I agree with Toby about the average person, these days, being more involved in war, as opposed to armies of the Napoleonic era (for instance) when it was more common to utilize professional armies and navies. I seem to recall those armies and navies conscripting anyone they could get their hands on. And I can't imagine the villages and towns through which war waged were all that uninvolved.
Anyway, the point Toby is making is that previously, people had more "time for ample reflection … and thought more about the mystery of creation". Toby makes another point about perspective when he explores the different takes on a man of 45 making love to a woman of 22. I had to laugh as it was so true.
Until we learn more, I wasn't liking Helmuth at all. He's so judgmental and unfeeling. Once I get to know him better, I hated him and wanted to wring his neck. Slowly. Nor was I impressed with Helmuth's reasoning about what the government would do to Toby's millions. Why is it that those millions would still be around if Toby hands 'em all over to the Brotherhood, but they would be lost if Toby doesn't hand 'em over?
I like the concept of Weylands as a school, in allowing the students to pursue the topics in which they're interested while also requiring the basics. And as Toby (and the story) goes on, I began to see how awful it really was. Toby running away from school really was the best thing for him.
Wheatley is definitely NOT a socialist or communist, lol. And regrettably, his world of the 1940s sounds a lot like our world (and economy) of 2016. The government then was just as bad as our government today, taxing people up the yin-yang and gypping servicemen who are injured during war. Albert Jugg was a farsighted businessman who was lucky enough to be born before there was so much government interference. I'm not impressed with his idea of a library, though.
I suspect that Wheatley's Black Magic series is mostly a propaganda piece against Hitler and the Nazis — they do lend themselves to a believable portrait as the bad guys. Rex's dad does his own bit of propagandizing to "shame" America into entering the war when he notes the value of Rex's war injury. And Simon pulls Phillipa in to do her part.
THE STORIES
The Devil Rides Out
It must be truly important for Simon to miss the reunion dinner with the Duke and Rex. And the duke is even more worried as Rex discovers. Since the friends are too important, both men repair to Simon's new house where they discover the depths to which he has sunk.
For Simon is the key to an evil ritual, and Mocata will never let him go while the duke must convince his friends that magic is real.
It'll be crazy chase scenes, mad escapes, kidnappings, stopping a Black Mass, and traveling through the fourth dimension.
Strange Conflict
Sir Pellinore is shocked at the duke's statement as to how the Nazis are likely to be discovering the route that ship convoys are taking. But the loss of supplies is wreaking havoc in vital commodities, and Pellinore is desperate enough to try anything.
Anything will include a hurried flight to Haiti in pursuit of the Thing. Luckily, Team de Richleau is rescued by Dr. Saturday and given aid for their injuries and respite for their bodies.
The Haunting of Toby Jugg
It was the 10th of July 1941 when Toby crashed, and it is now April with Toby at Llanferdrack in Wales to wait out the war, to recover, to hope he can walk again. Before he goes mad.
THE CORE CHARACTERS in The Devil Rides Out and Strange Conflict INCLUDE…
The Monseigneur le Duke de Richleau, Knight of the Most Exalted Order of the Golden Fleece, a.k.a., Greyeyes, is an elderly French exile (due to his involvement in the 1890s Royalist rising), art connoisseur, and dilettante one can count on in all things. He has studied the Right Hand Path, White Magic, but realizes he has some doubts. Max is the duke's man.
Team de Richleau includes…
…Simon Aron, a stoop-shouldered Jewish man who starts with a sudden interest in astronomy and gardening and veers to a position as director of a financial house in London. Rex Van Wyn is a wealthy young man who enjoys sports of all kinds and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in Strange Conflict. He is an ace airman who was shot down six months ago, winning the D.F.C. for gallantry. His father, Channock Van Ryn, is a banker and runs The Chesapeake Banking and Trust Corporation. Richard Eaton has married the Princess Marie Louise Aphrodite Blankfort De Cantezane de Schulemoff (Marie Lou has had previous experience with the supernatural and magic), and they have a daughter, Fleur. In Strange Conflict, Richard was rejected as a fighter pilot, so he's gone in for intensive farming at Cardinals Folly, their place in Worcestershire. Jim is a gardener while MacPherson is the head gardener; Malin is their butler who serves as Richard's valet; and, they have a nurse for Fleur.
Characters in The Haunting of Toby Jugg include…
Flight-Lieutenant Sir Albert Abel "Toby" Jugg, Bart., D.F.C., R.A.F.V.R. (Ret.), a.k.a., "the Viking", is the heir to his grandfather's millions, but is still under a Guardianship with a board of trustees. His grandfather, Albert Jugg, and father were killed in an accident in October 1929; his mother died when he was born. Julia is married to Toby's Uncle Paul (the black sheep of the family and weak in character), and they live at Queensclere in Kent.
Llanferdrack Castle is…
…the estate Grandfather bought for his sister, Toby's Great-aunt Sarah, when her fiancé, Lord "Lancelot" Llanferdrack, drowned the day before the wedding. Miss Nettlefold is her companion who does the housekeeping. Its estate manager, Dr. Helmuth Lisický, a Czech, worked at Weylands, a progressive school, as the German master. He later became Toby's private tutor when Toby was 13. Konrad is Helmuth's cruel Ruthenian manservant. The Great Spider is Helmuth's totem.
Sister Deborah Kain, a Russian Jewess born in Germany who fled to England in 1933, is the private nurse and skilled masseuse engaged to care for Toby. Taffy Morgan is the head gardener's son and engaged to serve as body-servant to Toby, helping to bathe and dress him. David is Taffy's brother. Sally Cardew is the new nurse. Johnny is her brother; he was shot down a year ago.
The trustees include…
…Harry Iswick had been Grandfather's confidential secretary; Lord Embledon; Sir Stanley Wellard (died in 1939, and Helmuth was elected to replace him); Brigadier Guy Rootham (he succeeded his father, C.J.); Claud Bartorship (replaced his uncle Alec) and Charles Roberts, two partners from Bartorship, Brown, and Roberts (accountants); Angus Smith, a partner from Smith & Co. (solicitors); and later, Uncle Paul.
Nanny Trotter was Toby's nurse; Miss Stiggins is a spinster who gave Toby lessons until he went away to school. The Willows was Uncle Paul and Aunt Julia's house in Kew. Florrie Meddows was the housemaid. Juggernauts is Jugg's biggest aircraft plant where Flight-Lieutenant Roper had worked as a test pilot.
Squadron Leader Cooper was the RAF doctor at Nether Wallop. Dr. Bramwell wrote a book on hypnotism. Owen Gruffydd is the village schoolmaster on whom Deb has her eye. Owen is Labour and wants to stand for Parliament. Miss Smith runs the nursing agency in London. Dr. Arling is the medical man Uncle Paul and Julia bring with them. On the grounds of Weylands Abbey was a Lodge of the Grand Orient, a Continental Masonry group.
There are seven planes or levels of consciousness: Earth is the lowest, then the normal sleep plane on up. The Left Hand Path is another phrase for black magic. Different levels of magic mastery include Ipsissimus, Magus, and Magister Templi. A poltergeist is an elemental, which is why they can perform physical acts as opposed to those doing astral travel.
For a complete list of ALL the characters, see my review at KD Did It (on June 3, 2016).
THE COVER and TITLE
The cover is four bands of color: black and three shades of red. The top band showcases the author's name in white with the title of each of the three stories in each of the other bands in shades of beige. The graphics are scary with a silhouetted representation of the evil in each story: the demon, the snake, and the spider.
The title is an uninspired informational, The Black Magic Series Starter.
Individually, I rated the stories at a "4", "3", and "2", which averages out to a "3".
The Devil Rides Out takes place around the end of April and the start of May in 1935 while Strange Conflict begins after the Germans began bombing England at the start of World War II and after the French government collapsed. Both stories revolve around best friends: the Duke de Richleau, Simon Aron, the Princess Marie Lou and Richard Eaton, and Rex Van Wyn.
The Haunting of Toby Jugg does not include de Richleau and friends and takes place during April, May, and June of 1945.
MY TAKE
The men — the Duke de Richleau, Simon Aron, Richard Eaton, and Rex Van Wyn — first met up in Three Inquisitive People , 4; the princess joined the team in The Forbidden Territory , 5.
The first two stories are blatantly religious, borrowing from several world religions with an emphasis along the lines of Light versus Dark, Good versus Evil, and the Powers of Good with even more of an emphasis on magic, reincarnation, and dreams while the third explores whether one needs religion in one's life. They're also quite action-oriented with chase scenes, drama, and plenty of tension what with the evil magician magicking his victim back, the rioting townsfolk, arson, sharks, battling off the vulnerability of sleep, and zombification…eek!…
The analogies the duke uses to explain magic are thought-provoking, and his explanation of reincarnation does make a lot of sense as does his explanation for why our dreams are so odd. He uses Jesus Christ as an example of choosing how one will live and/or die in one's last incarnations. And the Admiral's civilian dreaming is quite explicit, oh là là! The captain's dreams are, ahem, also quite interesting. It seems he prefers the feminine form.
The slang of the 1930s was interesting to read, and Wheatley has a very noir atmosphere with all the drama of the times in referring to "magic". Also typical of the times is the condescending attitude towards people of other races. It's embarrassing to think people could actually believe such drivel, and a relief that we've come as far as we have. We do still have a ways to go, but at least we are making progress. Wheatley certainly has some "interesting" beliefs in why the white man has done as well as he has.
I knew the swastika was an ancient symbol adopted by the Nazis, but I don't think I've ever heard this explanation for it. De Richleau's explanation of baptism is encompassing, on both sides. Even more interesting is Wheatley's take on the Albigensians, the Templars, and the Rosicrucians. More history involves La Voisin, Prince Borghese's taking back his palazzo, the magic of Nicolas Flamel, Rasputin's real identity, the real reason why World War I broke out, Tanith's use of numerology, and the tale of Osiris' murder of Set (very clever if totally wicked).
People of my generation and older were taught to be polite to everyone. It's a definite handicap when encountering the bad guys, and examples of when being rude is the better choice should be taught. That's not to say that being rude is the best choice, but that there are times when it is merited…phone solicitors, for example.
One of the pluses of reading an author writing contemporaneously in the 1930s means we have a primary source for the time's culture, manners, and modes of communication and travel for that time. It does make me appreciate cellphones all the more, and our current ease of air travel, despite all the security problems we have. Although it still doesn't explain why they couldn't simply fly to Haiti from Bermuda. Why did they have to go up to New York City??
In The Devil Rides Out, the conflict revolves around Simon's poor choices, and I should think Simon has an "inkling" that he's dabbling in evil when he tries so hard to keep de Richleau out of it all. I also suspect that de Richleau would do better to ensure Max was better informed about black magic.
Tanith was a pain. She comes across as an intelligent woman, but her reasoning for following the Left Hand Path is so immature. I don't get the impression that she's a wicked woman, but she is a nasty-minded person with her desire to have power over people. Doesn't she realize that this is an evil desire? What's wrong with helping people? As for the Malagasy and the Goat, I do wish Wheatley hadn't been so cryptic. Did the Malagasy give himself over to the demon, was he the demon, or what?
The good guys did make some stupid moves: Rex drove me mad with his stupid decisions about Tanith at the inn. Duh. At the very least consult with the duke instead of falling asleep in the woods! Leaving Fleur unprotected makes me question their intelligence as well. Simon choosing to go against his friends despite the logic of their decision. And poor Richard, having to go a whole day without his drinks and meat…*eye roll*…
In Strange Conflict, the accepting nonchalance of the duke and Sir Pellinore interrupting their dinner to deal with the incendiary bombs cracked me up. Then there's the duke's spying. I wonder if the CIA knows how much easier it is if one can travel in the astral?
It does make sense, even if it does make me laugh, that the Haitians should appropriate the images of Catholic saints to represent their Voodoo gods. Saturday provides a synopsis of the slave rebellions on Haiti as well as why Haiti has not been able to prosper since she achieved independence.
After all the excitement in The Devil Rides Out about Rex being in love with Tanith, where is she? Rex is on his own in Strange Conflict, and there is absolutely no mention of her.
Hmm, it appears that de Richleau, Rex, Richard, and Simon have been up to all sorts of mischief (through the Duke de Richleau series) since The Devil Rides Out, 1 (6). Events in this first story do make it easier for the rest of Team de Richleau to buy in and help out in the second story.Strange Conflict is an "adventure" that forces de Richleau to consider his life, his dabbling with Magic and that he is not quite White. I haven't been that impressed with de Richleau's thinking in this story. He doesn't know about Voodoo? He doesn't consider sealing all of his friends' nine orifices as well as his own? The bargain de Richleau made with Pan was terrifying. Which way to go?? Then there's the reveal from the Witch Doctor…and it made such sense…!
As for The Haunting of Toby Jugg, it was so annoying. "I" keeps going on and on about how crazy he thinks he might be, and I know that I'm going crazy reading as he drones on and on. Eventually, we're led to believe that Toby is intelligent, and he does take some practical measures via his journal to keep track of what's going on, but he falls down when he's planning his many escapes. He doesn't think past getting out of his room. Sure, he's paying lip service to the idea (and I can't blame him for feeling desperate), but in truth he's self-sabotaging like mad!
Wheatley does do a good job of ratcheting up the tension. But once Toby figures out the basics of what's going on, why does he still allow it to bother him so much? He speculates about who gains and how, what happens if he dies or is certified as insane, and as he speculates, he provides us with his background and how he got to where he is today.
It is quite the nefarious plot, and Toby's reasoning makes perfect sense, but I don't feel that Wheatley made this realistic, especially when Toby knows he only has to last until he reaches his majority on the 20th of June. That the fright only shows up around the time of the full moon. And then when he has the opportunity to get help, he backs down. WTF? Which AGAIN makes me question why Toby keeps terrifying himself!? He also does a really good job of helping prove Helmuth's point, the idiot. It's hard to feel any sympathy towards Toby with how stupid he's being.
I did enjoy Toby's comments about how different the mentality of modern man is from that of a man 100 years or more previously. Toby reckons it's the changes in what we value. Of being looked up to for money than for a person's real worth, and how the pursuit of money causes so much stress, the time-occupying distractions our grandfathers never knew, the games, cheap travel, the masses of radio programmes, crossword puzzles, books, magazines, [politics], and war.
I'm not sure how much I agree with Toby about the average person, these days, being more involved in war, as opposed to armies of the Napoleonic era (for instance) when it was more common to utilize professional armies and navies. I seem to recall those armies and navies conscripting anyone they could get their hands on. And I can't imagine the villages and towns through which war waged were all that uninvolved.
Anyway, the point Toby is making is that previously, people had more "time for ample reflection … and thought more about the mystery of creation". Toby makes another point about perspective when he explores the different takes on a man of 45 making love to a woman of 22. I had to laugh as it was so true.
Until we learn more, I wasn't liking Helmuth at all. He's so judgmental and unfeeling. Once I get to know him better, I hated him and wanted to wring his neck. Slowly. Nor was I impressed with Helmuth's reasoning about what the government would do to Toby's millions. Why is it that those millions would still be around if Toby hands 'em all over to the Brotherhood, but they would be lost if Toby doesn't hand 'em over?
I like the concept of Weylands as a school, in allowing the students to pursue the topics in which they're interested while also requiring the basics. And as Toby (and the story) goes on, I began to see how awful it really was. Toby running away from school really was the best thing for him.
Wheatley is definitely NOT a socialist or communist, lol. And regrettably, his world of the 1940s sounds a lot like our world (and economy) of 2016. The government then was just as bad as our government today, taxing people up the yin-yang and gypping servicemen who are injured during war. Albert Jugg was a farsighted businessman who was lucky enough to be born before there was so much government interference. I'm not impressed with his idea of a library, though.
I suspect that Wheatley's Black Magic series is mostly a propaganda piece against Hitler and the Nazis — they do lend themselves to a believable portrait as the bad guys. Rex's dad does his own bit of propagandizing to "shame" America into entering the war when he notes the value of Rex's war injury. And Simon pulls Phillipa in to do her part.
THE STORIES
The Devil Rides Out
It must be truly important for Simon to miss the reunion dinner with the Duke and Rex. And the duke is even more worried as Rex discovers. Since the friends are too important, both men repair to Simon's new house where they discover the depths to which he has sunk.
For Simon is the key to an evil ritual, and Mocata will never let him go while the duke must convince his friends that magic is real.
It'll be crazy chase scenes, mad escapes, kidnappings, stopping a Black Mass, and traveling through the fourth dimension.
Strange Conflict
Sir Pellinore is shocked at the duke's statement as to how the Nazis are likely to be discovering the route that ship convoys are taking. But the loss of supplies is wreaking havoc in vital commodities, and Pellinore is desperate enough to try anything.
Anything will include a hurried flight to Haiti in pursuit of the Thing. Luckily, Team de Richleau is rescued by Dr. Saturday and given aid for their injuries and respite for their bodies.
The Haunting of Toby Jugg
It was the 10th of July 1941 when Toby crashed, and it is now April with Toby at Llanferdrack in Wales to wait out the war, to recover, to hope he can walk again. Before he goes mad.
THE CORE CHARACTERS in The Devil Rides Out and Strange Conflict INCLUDE…
The Monseigneur le Duke de Richleau, Knight of the Most Exalted Order of the Golden Fleece, a.k.a., Greyeyes, is an elderly French exile (due to his involvement in the 1890s Royalist rising), art connoisseur, and dilettante one can count on in all things. He has studied the Right Hand Path, White Magic, but realizes he has some doubts. Max is the duke's man.
Team de Richleau includes…
…Simon Aron, a stoop-shouldered Jewish man who starts with a sudden interest in astronomy and gardening and veers to a position as director of a financial house in London. Rex Van Wyn is a wealthy young man who enjoys sports of all kinds and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in Strange Conflict. He is an ace airman who was shot down six months ago, winning the D.F.C. for gallantry. His father, Channock Van Ryn, is a banker and runs The Chesapeake Banking and Trust Corporation. Richard Eaton has married the Princess Marie Louise Aphrodite Blankfort De Cantezane de Schulemoff (Marie Lou has had previous experience with the supernatural and magic), and they have a daughter, Fleur. In Strange Conflict, Richard was rejected as a fighter pilot, so he's gone in for intensive farming at Cardinals Folly, their place in Worcestershire. Jim is a gardener while MacPherson is the head gardener; Malin is their butler who serves as Richard's valet; and, they have a nurse for Fleur.
Characters in The Haunting of Toby Jugg include…
Flight-Lieutenant Sir Albert Abel "Toby" Jugg, Bart., D.F.C., R.A.F.V.R. (Ret.), a.k.a., "the Viking", is the heir to his grandfather's millions, but is still under a Guardianship with a board of trustees. His grandfather, Albert Jugg, and father were killed in an accident in October 1929; his mother died when he was born. Julia is married to Toby's Uncle Paul (the black sheep of the family and weak in character), and they live at Queensclere in Kent.
Llanferdrack Castle is…
…the estate Grandfather bought for his sister, Toby's Great-aunt Sarah, when her fiancé, Lord "Lancelot" Llanferdrack, drowned the day before the wedding. Miss Nettlefold is her companion who does the housekeeping. Its estate manager, Dr. Helmuth Lisický, a Czech, worked at Weylands, a progressive school, as the German master. He later became Toby's private tutor when Toby was 13. Konrad is Helmuth's cruel Ruthenian manservant. The Great Spider is Helmuth's totem.
Sister Deborah Kain, a Russian Jewess born in Germany who fled to England in 1933, is the private nurse and skilled masseuse engaged to care for Toby. Taffy Morgan is the head gardener's son and engaged to serve as body-servant to Toby, helping to bathe and dress him. David is Taffy's brother. Sally Cardew is the new nurse. Johnny is her brother; he was shot down a year ago.
The trustees include…
…Harry Iswick had been Grandfather's confidential secretary; Lord Embledon; Sir Stanley Wellard (died in 1939, and Helmuth was elected to replace him); Brigadier Guy Rootham (he succeeded his father, C.J.); Claud Bartorship (replaced his uncle Alec) and Charles Roberts, two partners from Bartorship, Brown, and Roberts (accountants); Angus Smith, a partner from Smith & Co. (solicitors); and later, Uncle Paul.
Nanny Trotter was Toby's nurse; Miss Stiggins is a spinster who gave Toby lessons until he went away to school. The Willows was Uncle Paul and Aunt Julia's house in Kew. Florrie Meddows was the housemaid. Juggernauts is Jugg's biggest aircraft plant where Flight-Lieutenant Roper had worked as a test pilot.
Squadron Leader Cooper was the RAF doctor at Nether Wallop. Dr. Bramwell wrote a book on hypnotism. Owen Gruffydd is the village schoolmaster on whom Deb has her eye. Owen is Labour and wants to stand for Parliament. Miss Smith runs the nursing agency in London. Dr. Arling is the medical man Uncle Paul and Julia bring with them. On the grounds of Weylands Abbey was a Lodge of the Grand Orient, a Continental Masonry group.
There are seven planes or levels of consciousness: Earth is the lowest, then the normal sleep plane on up. The Left Hand Path is another phrase for black magic. Different levels of magic mastery include Ipsissimus, Magus, and Magister Templi. A poltergeist is an elemental, which is why they can perform physical acts as opposed to those doing astral travel.
For a complete list of ALL the characters, see my review at KD Did It (on June 3, 2016).
THE COVER and TITLE
The cover is four bands of color: black and three shades of red. The top band showcases the author's name in white with the title of each of the three stories in each of the other bands in shades of beige. The graphics are scary with a silhouetted representation of the evil in each story: the demon, the snake, and the spider.
The title is an uninspired informational, The Black Magic Series Starter.
March 8, 2017
I really struggled with The Black Magic Series Starter. I downloaded it from Netgalley on April 23rd. Ultimately it took more over a month to finish the three books and frankly, it was painful. I rarely have to force myself to read something but The Black Magic Starter Series achieved that distinction.
The Black Magic Series Starter includes three novels: The Devil Rides Out, Strange Conflict and The Haunting of Toby Jugg. The two books, The Devil Rides Out and Strange Conflict, revolve around the Duke de Richleau. He is an elegant, mature, wealthy gentlemen who has hidden knowledge of all things occult and magical. The Haunting of Toby Jugg is about an airman who returns injured from World War II. While convalescing, he is stalked by an evil entity.
The major problem I had with the books was the amount of tell not show. Pages of dialogue about esoteric occult rituals or the basis behind all world religions. It was very hard to follow. There seemed to be some type of Light God of Goodness and a Dark God of Evil (my paraphrasing). As I progressed through each discussion of evil or good, I cared less and less for the characters. They never really connected with me. I doubt I will try a Dennis Wheatley again. I know he has his fans but his writing is not for everyone. It was not for me.
I received a copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
The Black Magic Series Starter includes three novels: The Devil Rides Out, Strange Conflict and The Haunting of Toby Jugg. The two books, The Devil Rides Out and Strange Conflict, revolve around the Duke de Richleau. He is an elegant, mature, wealthy gentlemen who has hidden knowledge of all things occult and magical. The Haunting of Toby Jugg is about an airman who returns injured from World War II. While convalescing, he is stalked by an evil entity.
The major problem I had with the books was the amount of tell not show. Pages of dialogue about esoteric occult rituals or the basis behind all world religions. It was very hard to follow. There seemed to be some type of Light God of Goodness and a Dark God of Evil (my paraphrasing). As I progressed through each discussion of evil or good, I cared less and less for the characters. They never really connected with me. I doubt I will try a Dennis Wheatley again. I know he has his fans but his writing is not for everyone. It was not for me.
I received a copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
April 17, 2016
Review: THE BLACK MAGIC SERIES STARTER by Dennis Wheatley
Sorry, this is not a treatise on performing the Dark Arts. Instead, this volume collects the first three novels in the Black Magic series by Dennis Wheatley, a prolific British author of the 20th century, who penned more than 70 suspense and thriller titles. I had known of this author since childhood, but these are the first of his books I've read.
Surprisingly easy to read, these stories are literate, literary, simultaneously horrifying in their range. Mr. Wheatley is very opposed to practice of the Left Hand Path, and the paradigm of good vs. evil is the foundation throughout. Like near-contemporary H. P. Lovecraft, Wheatley is rather insular in his ethnic bigotry: the "dark races" are presented as of lower vibration than Caucasians, although more spiritually oriented (whereas Europeans are focused toward materialism and so conquered the world. Nevertheless these are exciting stories, perhaps in the vein of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Sax Rohmer [a personal favorite], or Robert E. Howard.
Sorry, this is not a treatise on performing the Dark Arts. Instead, this volume collects the first three novels in the Black Magic series by Dennis Wheatley, a prolific British author of the 20th century, who penned more than 70 suspense and thriller titles. I had known of this author since childhood, but these are the first of his books I've read.
Surprisingly easy to read, these stories are literate, literary, simultaneously horrifying in their range. Mr. Wheatley is very opposed to practice of the Left Hand Path, and the paradigm of good vs. evil is the foundation throughout. Like near-contemporary H. P. Lovecraft, Wheatley is rather insular in his ethnic bigotry: the "dark races" are presented as of lower vibration than Caucasians, although more spiritually oriented (whereas Europeans are focused toward materialism and so conquered the world. Nevertheless these are exciting stories, perhaps in the vein of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Sax Rohmer [a personal favorite], or Robert E. Howard.
November 6, 2016
Read the first three novels in Dennis Wheatley's thrilling Black Magic series including The Devil Rides Out, Strange Conflict and The Haunting of Toby Jugg. If you've not yet read Dennis Wheatley, or wish to revisit three of his best known books, this series starter provides the perfect introduction to the complete Black Magic Series of eleven titles. The Black Magic series features one of Dennis Wheatley's best known characters, the Duke de Richleau, and deals with themes for which Wheatley is arguably most renowned, Satanism and the occult.
I read these books originally many years ago and I have to say I enjoyed them hugely once again. For anyone new to Wheatley’s work, this is an ideal starting place. Thrills and chills abound.
I received a copy of this novel via Netgalley.
I read these books originally many years ago and I have to say I enjoyed them hugely once again. For anyone new to Wheatley’s work, this is an ideal starting place. Thrills and chills abound.
I received a copy of this novel via Netgalley.
November 27, 2016
I reviewed this collection of three novels for NetGalley.
This is a nice and brief introductions to Dennis Wheatley's large body of work. A very popular early and mid-20th century novelist, Mr. Wheatley's novels dealt with the occult, as well as espionage and thrillers.
This was a nice retro trip into the horror world of the mid-20th century, before Lovecroftian type horror began to dominate modern horror. These novels deal with the occult, black magic and the paranormal, but all of this planet, unlike Lovecroftian horror.
I enjoyed the books and recommend them to anyone interested in horror/thriller novels, especially occult/paranormal. A very fun read!
This is a nice and brief introductions to Dennis Wheatley's large body of work. A very popular early and mid-20th century novelist, Mr. Wheatley's novels dealt with the occult, as well as espionage and thrillers.
This was a nice retro trip into the horror world of the mid-20th century, before Lovecroftian type horror began to dominate modern horror. These novels deal with the occult, black magic and the paranormal, but all of this planet, unlike Lovecroftian horror.
I enjoyed the books and recommend them to anyone interested in horror/thriller novels, especially occult/paranormal. A very fun read!
May 21, 2016
It's been many year's since I've read any of Dennis Wheatley books! The first book being ''The Devil Rides Out', which I read when I was in my teens. Despite it being many year's ago since reading these stories, I was surprised at how much I had recalled. A very enjoyable read. Recommended.
I received via Netgalley in exchange and this is my honest review.
I received via Netgalley in exchange and this is my honest review.
May 19, 2016
A wonderful collection of the master of the genre's novels.
Great to re read time after time.
Very highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Bloomsbury via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
Great to re read time after time.
Very highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Bloomsbury via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
September 18, 2016
I saw this book on Netgalley, but was not able to download before the archive date. However, years ago when I lived in England, I read every single book by Dennis Wheatley. He wrote about satanism and the occult and everything he wrote was magnificent.
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