Through the Dark Curtain

The Guardians #3

by Peter Saxon (Pseudonym), Ross Richards

Zenith, British mass market paperback Originally published in 1968, this is an undated paperback reprint (about 1980). "Peter Saxon" was a house name used by publishers for a line of horror novels, including the cult-classic series, The Guardians. This novel is one of six Guardians books, and the actual author of this one is reported to be Ross Richards. The series consists of two unnumbered novels, this one (A) and "The Curse of Rathlaw" (B). Later, Berkley released four numbered 1) The Killing Bone, 2) Dark Ways to Death, 3) The Haunting of Alan Mais, and 4) The Vampires of Vinistere. The books center around a team dedicated to fighting supernatural evil - and the evil is truly supernatural. The Guardians are headquartered in "swinging London with its miniskirts, sports cars, exhaust fumes and discotheques." The building they occupy, however, is tucked back along some quaint (but still dark) alley called "Start Passage." It is haunted, often deceptive, and frighteningly mysterious even to some of the Guardians themselves.

Genres: Horror, Occult Detective, Fiction, Literature

190 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1969

About the author

Peter Saxon was a house pseudonym used by various authors of British pulp fiction, among them W Howard Baker (Danger Ahead 1958, The Killing Bone 1968 and Vampire's Moon 1972); Rex Dolphin (The Vampires of Finistère 1968); Stephen D Frances (The Disorientated Man aka Scream and Scream Again 1966, Black Honey 1968, and Corruption 1968); Wilfred McNeilly (The Darkest Night 1966, Dark Ways to Death 1966, Satan's Child 1967, The Torturer 1967, and The Haunting of Alan Mais 1969); Ross Richards (Through the Dark Curtain 1968); and Martin Thomas (The Curse of Rathlaw 1968).

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Supernatural mystery written around 50 years ago. This was wonderfully trashy in parts, very much of an era with the description of women, but a decent distraction for my breaks at work.

[Veronica-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great supernatural horror story that was gripping and intense to read. Torn between modern London and an extremely black history into a forgotten past and time, the Guardians must risk everything to protect the innocent. They must prevent the dark forces of evil before it is too late and they all succumb to madness, losing not only their minds but their souls as well. Recommended.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly well written, I will pick up the others if I see them. Cover bears no relation to the story though.