The Immaculate

by Mark Morris

Successful horror writer Jack Stone is no stranger to the fantasic. But when a death in the family causes him to return to his childhood home in the wilds of the British countryside, Jack finds things and events even he could not have created. And soon, old memories start to take on a physical manifestation.

Genres: Horror, Suspense, Fiction

411 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1991

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Mark Morris became a full-time writer in 1988 on the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, and a year later saw the release of his first novel, Toady. He has since published a further sixteen novels, among which are Stitch, The Immaculate, The Secret of Anatomy, Fiddleback, The Deluge and four books in the popular Doctor Who range.

His short stories, novellas, articles and reviews have appeared in a wide variety of anthologies and magazines, and he is editor of the highly-acclaimed Cinema Macabre, a book of fifty horror movie essays by genre luminaries, for which he won the 2007 British Fantasy Award.

His most recently published or forthcoming work includes a novella entitled It Sustains for Earthling Publications, a Torchwood novel entitled Bay of the Dead, several Doctor Who audios for Big Finish Productions, a follow-up volume to Cinema Macabre entitled Cinema Futura and a new short story collection, Long Shadows, Nightmare Light.

Reviews

[Kevin Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that, as you're reading, you're thinking it's pretty decent in a standard sort of way, until you come to the BIG REVEAL, and suddenly it's a lot more than pretty decent. Will definitely be looking for more Mark Morris in the future.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

See that synopsis up there? Yeah, that little summary is more deceiving than the latest ads for Brokeback Mountain. Want to know what’s even funnier? Deciding to use the “Writer goes back home and horror ensues” theme. Yeah, I bet 7 in every 10 consumers passed this book over because of it. Why? Because that hook has been used and abused more times than Chic’s, “Good Times”. Ahhh, sweet karma.

The plot of the book is actually schizophrenic. Constantly switching gears from ghost story to revengeful childhood bullies, you’re never really sure what the actual story is about. Is it about having to face your worst fears? Eh, not really, because he gets over the trauma of bad parenting skills rather quick. In fact, dare I say, at the speed of light. And all it took were a few good stories. Interesting. The bad kids all growed up storyline? Nah, not really that either, because you never saw it coming and you never even notice when the basis for it leaves. Hell, I don’t even think Morris was conscious of where he was going with that.

Moving from the present to the past, to the recent present, to the extreme past, to somewhere in the middle, back to the present, back to the past, etc., the pace and atmosphere were a complete mess. I had to constantly go back and check what time frame the characters were in and try to remember if there were any transitions I missed. So far, the score for that battle is Morris – 6, Bloody – 2.

And just to add to my as-yet-unyielding pain, the characters turned out to be the perfect examples of what not to do. Aside from creating a cast that has a combination of descriptions, dialog, and actions, you also need to infuse a little life in them. I felt nothing for the main character, Jack, and no matter how much I tried to empathize for him, I still couldn’t relate. I couldn’t even find a real sensitivity for his past, or humor for his actions. He was just…sad. His displayed defense mechanisms went completely against his character, his ability to forgive and accept were improbable, and his girlfriend…well, that was just ten shades of Ew. Oh, and I do mean ew.

My rating? I give it a 1. Rather than metaphorically release the Kraken on your ass, lets just agree to pretend we never even heard of The Immaculate.


-As posted on Horror-Web.com

[Kasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mainly enjoyed this ghost thriller like story for the writing. The author does a great job of breathing life into his characters, using their background as constant filler in his chapters, and he writes with natural ease making the reader feels as if he was roaming through their head. I have thoroughly enjoyed the book related aspect of this tale, the main hero is also a writer and Mark Morris does a great job shining some light on this mysterious profession.

When Jack Stone finds out that his father has passed away, he feels a rush of relief and a sense of dread at the thought of going back to his childhood birthplace for the funeral. The scabs his memories left on his soul of neglect and child abuse have made him weak with fear but relentlessly he felt that going back would be healing. With the support and a gentle push from his girlfriend Gail, he ventures out to the country side, four hours away from London to burry the past behind once and for all. Little did he know, but his father has his own secrets and the deed of finding them would be forever changing on Jack. The visit back would have been positive if it wasn't for dark shapes creeping around the woods and strange encounters with ghost like apparitions that resemble his father. Worse yet, the local bully who had it for Jack is still heated and ready to strike, using whatever means necessary to wreck havoc on Jacks life and sanity.

I loved the buildup, the creepiness of the house and reading about Jack's time there but I also felt all his work was not getting to a high enough climax. The ending was interesting but I felt a bit angry at how it turned out. The fantasy aspect seemed to have swept my off my feet and delivered me in from of an answer that I simply had to take.

For those who enjoy subtlety in action but like imaginative and descriptive writing, this is not a ride of their lives but will be a pleasant experience never the less.

- Kasia S.

[Stephen McQuiggan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot to admire in this tale of smalltown horror, particularly in the flashbacks to childhood bullying and abuse, but I have to admit I groaned aloud at the cliched use of the 'Twin' - a trope as demoralizing as the dreaded phrase 'It was all a dream'. A shame, as I was enjoying it a lot until the ropy denouement. Tracey Bates was a great character though, as twisted as her psychotic dad; I've known such girls in my life unfortunately.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember finding this one clever and creative. Jack was an easy character to latch on to. The pacing isn't lightning fast, it's more of a slower seeping horror. Rich in atmospheric dread, the ending was pretty good also.

[Gaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly good read with moments of genuine unease. Surprisingly, the most horrific moments didn't centre around the ghostly but the loathsome acts of (or lack of) humanity. If you think your own experiences of being bullied as a child were awful, then you need to read this. The name Patty Bates might just redefine the word horrible for you. Ignore the reviewers who label it boring. I felt every scenario presented here, whether back story or present day, were compellingly written. The characters are solid, interesting and completely credible. Alas, some of the banter between the main character Jack and his girlfriend can be a little slushy, but I feel this is necessary and expected what with jack having grown up in such an unloving environment. It works for me, especially in light of the books final revelation. Also, the 'slushy' moments are quite tongue in cheek. It's obvious the couple are making fun of themselves and I find that quite refreshing. I consider this book a triumph and I highly recommended it to anyone after a good yarn.

[victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

very compelling halfway through the book, interesting characters and a sick plot twist

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

i can't remember a book that i've been more frustrated with. i mean, i'm sure there have been some, i'm just not thinking of them. and i know that there are even books out there that i've liked LESS than this, but those really just instilled me with a vague "that-wasn't-very-good" feeling. this book.....ooooh, THIS book....i'm in a tizzy about.

it starts off slow. incredibly slow. nothing really even remotely scary or supernatural happens for roughly the first third of the book. at first, this was a complaint, but then when the ghostly goings-on actually started, i was almost okay with it. the time spent on the main character, jack stone, and the time spent fleshing him out, made the spooky stuff that much spookier. there are a couple of passages around this point that were downright chilling. i got excited about the book and curious as to where it was going to go.

then, cut to about 20 pages later, and the scary stuff is gone. completely gone. instead, we're treated to a lurid, frustrating tale of revenge that's being re-enacted on our protagonist, and, much like i'm sure was intended, the reader is forced to just about shout out loud with the frustration of the character making decisions that we know are bad for him.

the thing is, where i'm sure that the author intended one thing with that, my reaction was, and generally is, that i get so frustrated at such situations that i lose any sense of enjoyment. therein lies the first of a series of disappointments that ruin whatever goodwill the book had built-up with its (in hindsight, painfully brief) ghost-tale interludes.

and then comes the twist. oh, dear lord, the twist. the book even says, on the front cover, in a quote from the Times of London, that there is "a mind-boggling twist." however, never, in my wildest dreams, could i have imaginged the twist that author mark morris actually takes. it is only "mind-boggling" in the sense that you find your mind being boggled at the prospect of anyone actually thinking that it was a good idea. had it not been there, had the book gone in a different direction, it would have almost made the other missteps of the book forgivable. not entirely, but i don't think i'd be quite as angry at the book.

as it is, the end effectively killed the book for me. the only reason this is getting a 2 out of 5 is an extra point for those one or two scenes that worked, and because of how well they worked.
maybe, like has been done to certain movies online, someone should take the 30 or so good pages from this book and condense them into a short story that's actually good.

[Mika Lietzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack's mother dies at childbirth and on that cue his father succumbs to drink and hatred, beating and berating Jack for simply existing. With all the emotional baggage it's no wonder Jack years later becomes Jack the successful horror author (with such novels as Bleeding Hearts and Splinter Kiss), living a life of luxury in London with his new girlfriend Gail. Having run away from his childhood the minute he was old enough, he returns to the village to sort out his late father's estate, only to run into ghosts of the past.

There's very little anything overtly supernatural in Mark Morris' third novel. Jack's late father appears like Hamlet's dad's ghost, having unfinished business with his son who he so badly mistreated. Footsteps are heard from upstairs, a voice on the phone whispers Jack's name. These lost souls aren't there to exact revenge, they're there because they are sad for the opportunities they missed when they were alive.

The horror comes from the living, as it often does. When he wasn't out killing cats, Patty Bates used to beat up Jack mercilessly, and he hasn't changed much in the intervening years. Now a pub landlord with a similarly unhinged teenage daughter, Patty is out to get Jack, with Tracy the daughter and a biker gang providing assistance. A car chase with Jack in a Mini with bikers on his heels in the narrow village lanes is probably an overload of Britishness.

The Immaculate isn't out and out horror, it's subtle and quiet, with just a hint of the supernatural as a pleasant seasoning. Instead of death, the novel is about life. Jack slowly begins to understand his father and as a result forgives him, giving both of them peace. The storyline with Patty, however, doesn't have any sort of payoff, leaving things as-is, a disctinctly odd choice considering how much of an incurable asshole Patty is for the whole novel. And there's a twist ending, which somehow feels very dodgy if you stop to consider it, so don't.

[John Bruni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very simple story. I should not have liked it as much as I did. It's good, not great, but it is fun. I think it comes down to how likeable the protagonist and his partner are. As soon as I saw the lead was a horror writer, I groaned. We have enough stories about horror writers, and I think most of the blame for that belongs to Stephen King. But Morris does pretty well with this guy. It's interesting how his attitude toward his abusive father changes over the course of this book. The villain, Patty Bates, is the jerk of all jerks, as McCartney probably would have said. His daughter is pretty crazy, too. There is a scene late in the book where she has . . . no. I'd better err on this side of spoilers. I'm not a big fan of the ending, but it all makes sense. There is a reveal about one of the main characters that's kind of gross when you think about it, but Morris barely acknowledges this. I would have liked further thought on this. One more thing: I have no idea why this is called The Immaculate. This is not the first Dorchester book to do this. I'm certain that 90% of the books they published do not bear the author's preferred title. Ah well.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title and blurbs on the book set me up to expect something a bit different than was delivered, but the setting and characters were entertaining enough to keep me engaged with the story. Not really a gothic horror novel, though, and I have no idea what's going on with that dude on the cover.

[Cnelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing ever happened in this book, just a lot of build up and a lame climax.

[Dennis Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly Moving.

I thought this would be scary and in parts it was. However I found it also surprisingly moving especially the latter part of novel.

[Jez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to engage with this book, and I don’t really know why. The story is ok, writing is ok, and the characters are good. The problem is, it’s just not memorable. I’d pick it up not remembering what happened in the last chapter. I also found myself several pages on and having to go back to reread them as it didn’t hold my attention.
Very basically speaking, it’s about a guy, Jack, who has to return home to his small town in Yorkshire, where he had a very unhappy childhood both at home and at school. There is a lot of reminiscing about the past, punctuating the main story in the present day.
There were about 3 maybe 4 really good chapters, that really grasped my interest - The rest of it was just a bit too bland and slow. If you’re expecting a good haunting, then don’t blink - there’s not much of it about.
The motives from the past influencing present day events aren’t very elaborate, and feel a bit tenuous, but they do the job. The ending is too abrupt and corny, and honestly it felt like a rush job. It didn’t quite make sense - I mean how on earth was Jack OK and not freak out with what he found out at the end.
Didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it either, and overall was disappointed it didn’t deliver a much better story.

[Mariè · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing alone is an absolute meal for my brain, the author does such an incredible job of setting every scene.
I could see the psychosis all over those pages from the beginning and it was such a blast to detect. The usage of violence was mesmerising, i found myself repeatedly stopping to analyse the ways violence and empathy were highlighted here and the duality of it all.
Violence from trauma and violence from hatred
Even in more literal ways, stillness and rapid movement such as the scene of our MC in his childhood home vs the havoc of his childhood bully that we knew was coming. It all created such a vibe and reading experience i highly enjoyed

[Helen Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book. It's not as scary as the other books I read by Mark Morris (it does have some scary scenes, some that are violent and others that are paranormal) but it's incredibly sad and still disturbing. This book is proof Mark Morris never avoids writing about any subject, regardless of how taboo it is.

The plot twist at the end flips the story right on it's feet.

[Steve Knowles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mweh. I remember reading another book by him, Toady, in my early teens and absolutely loving it.
This wasn’t so good.
It was ok.
I’m sure I would have loved it when I was 13 or so.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book very well written

[Angie McCann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring, long drawn out and uneventful until the end.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and engaging. Takes a few unexpected turns.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I generally dislike books that involve "someone returning home where Something Bad has been waiting" plotlines, but this has been on my bookshelf since it's release in 2006 when I bought it brand new, so I thought it deserved to be read.

Two stars. Competently written if slow moving, the plot stops and starts like Morris had a good idea of when the reader would start getting interested and then just changed gears. Interesting characters and plot developments pop in and out and are hardly developed, while humdrum descriptions of every day life take center stage. And the end feels like one morning the author watched the Sixth Sense and said, "Wow, what if..." and then just made it happen, even though it makes not one sense and contradicts (at least in my opinion) everything that happens in the rest of the book. So that, like the film Birdman, you're left with the unpleasant feeling that you don't know what you've just experienced, but it feels like a colossal waste of time.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need more scares! I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the cover of a book is the very thing that grabs my attention, which gets me to turn the book over to the blurb on the back. I liked the blurb on the back, but the story itself disappointed me. There were chilling parts that I DID like, but there weren't enough of them for me, and some of the character's actions were downright wimpy (for lack of a better word.) Then there's another character who's so mean and vile, but I don't think it's ever revealed WHY? Then there's the ending. It's a twist I didn't see coming, but once revealed, it left a bad taste in my mouth.

[David Veith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 - Well written, and lots of English words/phrases so that was fun, but the main character is an author, which is always odd to me. Very slow moving book though, and in the end it basically is about an author who had a hard youth, left home, became an author, his dad died so he goes home. Where he is haunted (only slightly though) by his dad and his sister (who died at birth) whom it turns out he was dating for the last year. Bit of an odd twist there. Then childhood bully still wants to get him and does. Kind of lackluster overall.

[Barrymore Tebbs · Rating 1 out of 5]

What is with contemporary horror writers? I picked up six used paperbacks published by Leisure Horror a few weeks ago. This is the third one I have read that has bored me to tears, pages filled with characters whose talk and interaction does nothing tom advance the plot. Plot? I read 2/3 of this book and the plot still hadn't kicked in yet.

[Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a spoiler.......
Well, it was am interesting book, but the major uneasy parts were in the character development. the end rushed the story together, but not in a way that left me enjoying the book. In the end...a decent book, pick up if you like the genre and want a well written book!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting ghost sotry surprising twist

[Sharon Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book years ago when it was first published.I'm giving it 4 stars because I loved it back then. I probably should re-read it and see if it's still as good as I remember.

[Brett]

Horror