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Manitou #6
Plague of the Manitou
Virus expert Anna Grey is disturbed when a dying patient is wheeled past her lab vomiting fountains of blood and screaming like a banshee. To make matters worse, when she examines the man’s corpse, she could swear she hears him whisper: ‘Get it out of me.’ John Patrick Bridges is dead. He’s definitely dead. But if he’s dead – how is he talking?
Anna wonders if she’s going mad. But then a second man haemorrhages and dies; yet Anna hears him whisper, ‘Please help me.’
There is no such thing as demons, Anna tells herself. But cynical fortune-teller Harry Erskine knows otherwise and a series of extremely disturbing events are forcing him from his Miami home towards the bereaved Anna, who as yet has little idea of the evil she is facing . . .
Anna wonders if she’s going mad. But then a second man haemorrhages and dies; yet Anna hears him whisper, ‘Please help me.’
There is no such thing as demons, Anna tells herself. But cynical fortune-teller Harry Erskine knows otherwise and a series of extremely disturbing events are forcing him from his Miami home towards the bereaved Anna, who as yet has little idea of the evil she is facing . . .
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2014
31 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Graham Masterton
422 books1,971 followersGraham Masterton was born in Edinburgh in 1946. His grandfather was Thomas Thorne Baker, the eminent scientist who invented DayGlo and was the first man to transmit news photographs by wireless. After training as a newspaper reporter, Graham went on to edit the new British men's magazine Mayfair, where he encouraged William Burroughs to develop a series of scientific and philosophical articles which eventually became Burroughs' novel The Wild Boys.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 26, 2015
'You have to remember that every tree and every rock and every river from one side of the country to the other harbors a Native American manitou. This is still their land, spiritually, even if we took it away from them. It’s like a haunted house. You may own the deeds, but the house itself still belongs to the ghosts.'
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976. A harrowing story of the reincarnation of an Indian Medicine Man in modern day New York seeking retribution against the white man for what they did to his people. The book features the first appearance of the rogue fortune teller, Harry Erskine, who, with the help of medicine man, Singing Rock enters into battle against the shaman, Misquamacus. The Manitou became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg and Burgess Meredith.
The Plague of the Manitou is the seventh book in the Harry Erskine series and revisits the origins of the Manitou and the re-incarnation of an evil from centuries ago.
A man is wheeled past virus expert Anna Grey's lab violently convulsing as if wired to the mains, vomiting arterial blood and by the looks, in a seriously bad way. In death muscles relax but the sheer look of terror on his face after he'd passed was more than disturbing.
'He’s deceased, but to look at him, you’d think that he still has the Devil breathing down his neck.'
When she's alone examining the body, a voice whispers 'save me' and just like an ice cold fingertip traveling down her spine, her unease intensifies. Then another body, same MO and she is unwittingly thrust into a supernatural nightmare that will see her join forces with the now tarot card reader Harry Erskine.
Harry is just about to be kicked out of Miami after accepting a gift from an old lady that he really should have refused point blank. His tarot cards are changing of their own accord, death being the dominant theme and to top it off there's a scary looking nun in his bedroom. Things don't get much better from here on out for our friendly fortune teller, in fact they get decidedly worse in a life threatening fashion. As two supernatural entities combine to bring Hell to the people of America.
There's the usual enjoyably disturbing sexual encounters, a tag team of bad guys that have formed an unlikely partnership with the primary goal of revenge and death. The reincarnation of evil is where it all begins, magic rituals carried out to revisit future life and wreak havoc. To rid America of its people and reclaim it for those most deserved. How they do it, well it's horror all the way and two things are prevalent. One, you've probably never even considered the humble bed bug as a destructive malevolent force, well you will now and two, this reinforces the point that nuns are bloody creepy.
The Plague of the Manitou was my first read in the Harry Erskine series and while you can appreciate there's a lot of history I've missed out on, it's easily readable as a stand-alone. Well-paced, engaging characters a story that flows relentlessly toward an apocalypse of biblical proportions and I shall definitely go back to the origins of the Manitou. If I had any complaints it would be the ending, the old 'I'll distract him while you sneak up behind him' philosophy just doesn't work as well in writing compared to the screen and it felt like taking the quickest and cheapest way out. That said if you've invested in this series before then you'll enjoy this one.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976. A harrowing story of the reincarnation of an Indian Medicine Man in modern day New York seeking retribution against the white man for what they did to his people. The book features the first appearance of the rogue fortune teller, Harry Erskine, who, with the help of medicine man, Singing Rock enters into battle against the shaman, Misquamacus. The Manitou became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg and Burgess Meredith.
The Plague of the Manitou is the seventh book in the Harry Erskine series and revisits the origins of the Manitou and the re-incarnation of an evil from centuries ago.
A man is wheeled past virus expert Anna Grey's lab violently convulsing as if wired to the mains, vomiting arterial blood and by the looks, in a seriously bad way. In death muscles relax but the sheer look of terror on his face after he'd passed was more than disturbing.
'He’s deceased, but to look at him, you’d think that he still has the Devil breathing down his neck.'
When she's alone examining the body, a voice whispers 'save me' and just like an ice cold fingertip traveling down her spine, her unease intensifies. Then another body, same MO and she is unwittingly thrust into a supernatural nightmare that will see her join forces with the now tarot card reader Harry Erskine.
Harry is just about to be kicked out of Miami after accepting a gift from an old lady that he really should have refused point blank. His tarot cards are changing of their own accord, death being the dominant theme and to top it off there's a scary looking nun in his bedroom. Things don't get much better from here on out for our friendly fortune teller, in fact they get decidedly worse in a life threatening fashion. As two supernatural entities combine to bring Hell to the people of America.
There's the usual enjoyably disturbing sexual encounters, a tag team of bad guys that have formed an unlikely partnership with the primary goal of revenge and death. The reincarnation of evil is where it all begins, magic rituals carried out to revisit future life and wreak havoc. To rid America of its people and reclaim it for those most deserved. How they do it, well it's horror all the way and two things are prevalent. One, you've probably never even considered the humble bed bug as a destructive malevolent force, well you will now and two, this reinforces the point that nuns are bloody creepy.
The Plague of the Manitou was my first read in the Harry Erskine series and while you can appreciate there's a lot of history I've missed out on, it's easily readable as a stand-alone. Well-paced, engaging characters a story that flows relentlessly toward an apocalypse of biblical proportions and I shall definitely go back to the origins of the Manitou. If I had any complaints it would be the ending, the old 'I'll distract him while you sneak up behind him' philosophy just doesn't work as well in writing compared to the screen and it felt like taking the quickest and cheapest way out. That said if you've invested in this series before then you'll enjoy this one.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
July 10, 2018
I’m not sure where to start my review on this incredibly cheesy and illogical entry in the “Manitou” series - I don’t really know how I actually finished it. Oh, the second star is for Harry Erskine, who is a good character and should not be faulted for this.
The arch enemy ‘Manitou’ teams up with French 15th century nuns(!) for reasons unknown (or maybe just missed by me) and releases a deadly virus on the ‘palefaces’. Virology professor (and hot chick) Anna Grey has to try to save the day, using methods and logic no virologist ever has before.
Most horror situations in the book are unintentionally hilarious and every time the spirits speak, or Harry “licks his fingertip and gingerly dabs’ at a door handle that’s made red hot by the spirits to trap him in the room with them, there is “Plan 9 from Outer Space” playing in my head.
Harry gets run out of the state by police for another reason that eludes me and goes to play house with an old friend, his girlfriend and her sister, Mazey & Dazey (yes, really). Harry experiences some insta-BFF with one sister (after she tries to seduce him on account of him ‘smelling nice’) that would make a teenage first try author blush. (Oh, if you want a tip it was on account of spraying himself with Ralph Lauren Polo after his shower).
Throw in a little bit of misogyny; “[Anna] had seen men look at her like that before: men who thought that they could have her, in spite of her standing in the medical profession.” and a bunch of inexplicable actions and dialog, like the heroes being ticked off with not being able to order take out when all hell has basically broken out.
One or two good 80’s horror situation, 90 % eye rolls.
The arch enemy ‘Manitou’ teams up with French 15th century nuns(!) for reasons unknown (or maybe just missed by me) and releases a deadly virus on the ‘palefaces’. Virology professor (and hot chick) Anna Grey has to try to save the day, using methods and logic no virologist ever has before.
Most horror situations in the book are unintentionally hilarious and every time the spirits speak, or Harry “licks his fingertip and gingerly dabs’ at a door handle that’s made red hot by the spirits to trap him in the room with them, there is “Plan 9 from Outer Space” playing in my head.
Harry gets run out of the state by police for another reason that eludes me and goes to play house with an old friend, his girlfriend and her sister, Mazey & Dazey (yes, really). Harry experiences some insta-BFF with one sister (after she tries to seduce him on account of him ‘smelling nice’) that would make a teenage first try author blush. (Oh, if you want a tip it was on account of spraying himself with Ralph Lauren Polo after his shower).
Throw in a little bit of misogyny; “[Anna] had seen men look at her like that before: men who thought that they could have her, in spite of her standing in the medical profession.” and a bunch of inexplicable actions and dialog, like the heroes being ticked off with not being able to order take out when all hell has basically broken out.
One or two good 80’s horror situation, 90 % eye rolls.
April 14, 2015
Harry Erskine is back in this, the latest installment of the Manitou series. One of the most engaging protagonists in horror, Harry has his hands full when Misquamacus subcontracts out his mission of vengence to his sons, wonder workers in their own right, and a Christian plague demon, to unleash bio-terror upon the descendants of those who wiped out the Native American nation.
Masterton's signature blend of sex, horror and humor are in fine form here, along with a solid foundation in the nastier moments in human history, raising this series above the standard of the sub-genre.
Although Misquamacus's sons lack dear old dad's bloody singlemindedness and personality, and the tale lacks some of the edge of the earlier books, this is still a fast, fun read.
Highly recommended.
Masterton's signature blend of sex, horror and humor are in fine form here, along with a solid foundation in the nastier moments in human history, raising this series above the standard of the sub-genre.
Although Misquamacus's sons lack dear old dad's bloody singlemindedness and personality, and the tale lacks some of the edge of the earlier books, this is still a fast, fun read.
Highly recommended.
June 24, 2015
Another silly entry in the Manitou series. Not as bad as Blind Panic and Burial, but suffers from some of the usual problems with Masterton's novels. No continuity from prior entries. Anyone remember that Harry Erskine has a daughter and once acquired vampire powers? Too much use of ethnic stereotypes. Does every Jewish character have to constantly use Yiddish? Of course there is a graphic scene of genital mutilation. And there have to be multiple disembowelings featuring intestines. Finally, the plot makes no sense but is not boring. Now can this be the last Manitou book?
November 16, 2024
3.25/5
This was a very pulpy yet fun read. As with the last few books in this series, the weakest thing about it were the shoehorned in Manitou parts, it is very similar to what happened with the Hellraiser series.
This was a very pulpy yet fun read. As with the last few books in this series, the weakest thing about it were the shoehorned in Manitou parts, it is very similar to what happened with the Hellraiser series.
August 13, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
You are here: Home / Reviews / Dark Fiction / Book Review: Plague of the Manitou by Graham Masterton
Book Review: Plague of the Manitou by Graham Masterton
August 1, 2015 Leave a Comment
23875138Title: Plague of the Manitou
Author: Graham Masterton
Genre: Horror, Supernatural Horror
Age Group: Adult (18+)
Rating: 3,5 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Virus expert Anna Grey is disturbed when a dying patient is wheeled past her lab vomiting fountains of blood and screaming like a banshee. To make matters worse, when she examines the man s corpse, she could swear she hears him whisper: Get it out of me. John Patrick Bridges is dead. He s definitely dead. But if he s dead how is he talking?
Anna wonders if she s going mad. But then a second man haemorrhages and dies; yet Anna hears him whisper, Please help me.
There is no such thing as demons, Anna tells herself. But cynical fortune-teller Harry Erskine knows otherwise and a series of extremely disturbing events are forcing him from his Miami home towards the bereaved Anna, who as yet has little idea of the evil she is facing . ..
Plague of the Manitou, while not have a series number and appearing, at least from the description, to be a stand-alone, is in fact part of a larger series of books focusing on Harry Erskine, a man who faced evil before and somehow always got away. Despite it being part of a larger series, the book works quite well as a stand-alone.
Harry Erskine is a con-artist of sorts: he pretends to predict the future and read the tarot for old, rich ladies and gentlemen who have no other ways to spend their time and money. He happens to be right on almost all occassions, but he’s a bit skeptic when it comes to predicting the future, despite having been through some serious supernatural, twisted stuff before. These things are hinted at in the book but aren’t necessary to understand the book.
The book consists of two parts thrown together, and they don’t always mesh well. On the one hand, we have the story of Anna Grey, a virus expert who is charged to defeat a virus that made a whole school ill. Then a man is wheeled past her lab vomiting fountains of blood, and dying within seconds. This makes Anna curious, as it’s unlike everything she’s ever seen, so she decides to investigates the man’s corpse, when he suddenly whispers to her. Anna blames it on being overstressed first, but when a second victim whispers to her post-mortem too, she realizes she’s not going mad, but something sinister is going on.
Meanwhile, Harry starts getting messages from an evil entity he defeated years ago, and nuns start showing up in his apartment. Not the friendly kind, but the dark, threatening, randomly-appearing-specters-wearing-nun-habits type. As he’s about to be kicked out of Miami for a crime he didn’t commit, his tarot cards have been changing on their own accord, and the nuns don’t exactly send him a confidence boost either, Harry decides to get the heck out of Miami.
There’s a lot of build-up, but ultimately it all falls a little flat. The ending was a bit predictable, and it didn’t really seem to match all the big build-up toward it. Both Anna and Harry felt a little bland, and not that easy to connect to.
I did enjoy the connection to viruses, Native American lore and Christian lore thrown together, and in general, the pacing was good too, right until the end, which felt rushed. My only complaint would be the two parts took too long to meet up, and even then it seemed to happen by accident mostly.
You are here: Home / Reviews / Dark Fiction / Book Review: Plague of the Manitou by Graham Masterton
Book Review: Plague of the Manitou by Graham Masterton
August 1, 2015 Leave a Comment
23875138Title: Plague of the Manitou
Author: Graham Masterton
Genre: Horror, Supernatural Horror
Age Group: Adult (18+)
Rating: 3,5 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Virus expert Anna Grey is disturbed when a dying patient is wheeled past her lab vomiting fountains of blood and screaming like a banshee. To make matters worse, when she examines the man s corpse, she could swear she hears him whisper: Get it out of me. John Patrick Bridges is dead. He s definitely dead. But if he s dead how is he talking?
Anna wonders if she s going mad. But then a second man haemorrhages and dies; yet Anna hears him whisper, Please help me.
There is no such thing as demons, Anna tells herself. But cynical fortune-teller Harry Erskine knows otherwise and a series of extremely disturbing events are forcing him from his Miami home towards the bereaved Anna, who as yet has little idea of the evil she is facing . ..
Plague of the Manitou, while not have a series number and appearing, at least from the description, to be a stand-alone, is in fact part of a larger series of books focusing on Harry Erskine, a man who faced evil before and somehow always got away. Despite it being part of a larger series, the book works quite well as a stand-alone.
Harry Erskine is a con-artist of sorts: he pretends to predict the future and read the tarot for old, rich ladies and gentlemen who have no other ways to spend their time and money. He happens to be right on almost all occassions, but he’s a bit skeptic when it comes to predicting the future, despite having been through some serious supernatural, twisted stuff before. These things are hinted at in the book but aren’t necessary to understand the book.
The book consists of two parts thrown together, and they don’t always mesh well. On the one hand, we have the story of Anna Grey, a virus expert who is charged to defeat a virus that made a whole school ill. Then a man is wheeled past her lab vomiting fountains of blood, and dying within seconds. This makes Anna curious, as it’s unlike everything she’s ever seen, so she decides to investigates the man’s corpse, when he suddenly whispers to her. Anna blames it on being overstressed first, but when a second victim whispers to her post-mortem too, she realizes she’s not going mad, but something sinister is going on.
Meanwhile, Harry starts getting messages from an evil entity he defeated years ago, and nuns start showing up in his apartment. Not the friendly kind, but the dark, threatening, randomly-appearing-specters-wearing-nun-habits type. As he’s about to be kicked out of Miami for a crime he didn’t commit, his tarot cards have been changing on their own accord, and the nuns don’t exactly send him a confidence boost either, Harry decides to get the heck out of Miami.
There’s a lot of build-up, but ultimately it all falls a little flat. The ending was a bit predictable, and it didn’t really seem to match all the big build-up toward it. Both Anna and Harry felt a little bland, and not that easy to connect to.
I did enjoy the connection to viruses, Native American lore and Christian lore thrown together, and in general, the pacing was good too, right until the end, which felt rushed. My only complaint would be the two parts took too long to meet up, and even then it seemed to happen by accident mostly.
August 5, 2025
Plague of the Manitou is the fifth (and let's hope final) entry in Graham Masterton’s long-running series about Native American revenge spirits, spiritual possession, cosmic weirdness, and... this time, bedbugs. Yep. We’ve gone from ancient curses and hospitals to pest control horror, and honestly? That kinda says everything.
This one has all the Masterton hallmarks: gore-drenched violence, absolutely bonkers plot twists, random sex scenes that show up like uninvited guests, and enough weirdness to make Lovecraft feel underdressed. It’s got the classic antagonist Misquamacus back again for another round of cultural chaos meets body horror, and somehow it also finds time to stir in religious horror, folk mysticism, and yes—killer insects. It’s like Masterton took every horror subgenre he hadn’t hit yet, tossed them in a blender, hit purée, and poured it over 300 pages of WTF.
The result? A book that technically functions as a story. Occasionally it even works. There are glimpses of real tension, some inventive gore, and the kind of "so-crazy-it-just-might-work" energy that powered the best entries in the series. But let’s be honest, Revenge of the Manitou was peak Manitou. That one was leaner, meaner, and far more cohesive. Plague feels like a horror mixtape made at 3AM after a few drinks. Ideas fly everywhere, but few of them stick.
Still, it's not completely terrible. There are far worse horror novels cluttering the shelves, and even at his messiest, Masterton remains incapable of writing a boring sentence. His stories may be unhinged, but they’re never dull. And if you’ve made it through four Manitou books already, you’re clearly not here for subtlety or narrative elegance.
In the end, Plague of the Manitou is the horror equivalent of one of those late-stage franchise sequels where you’re just here for the spectacle. And bugs. So many bugs.
Three stars. One for the gore, one for the madness, and one because honestly, I admire the commitment.
This one has all the Masterton hallmarks: gore-drenched violence, absolutely bonkers plot twists, random sex scenes that show up like uninvited guests, and enough weirdness to make Lovecraft feel underdressed. It’s got the classic antagonist Misquamacus back again for another round of cultural chaos meets body horror, and somehow it also finds time to stir in religious horror, folk mysticism, and yes—killer insects. It’s like Masterton took every horror subgenre he hadn’t hit yet, tossed them in a blender, hit purée, and poured it over 300 pages of WTF.
The result? A book that technically functions as a story. Occasionally it even works. There are glimpses of real tension, some inventive gore, and the kind of "so-crazy-it-just-might-work" energy that powered the best entries in the series. But let’s be honest, Revenge of the Manitou was peak Manitou. That one was leaner, meaner, and far more cohesive. Plague feels like a horror mixtape made at 3AM after a few drinks. Ideas fly everywhere, but few of them stick.
Still, it's not completely terrible. There are far worse horror novels cluttering the shelves, and even at his messiest, Masterton remains incapable of writing a boring sentence. His stories may be unhinged, but they’re never dull. And if you’ve made it through four Manitou books already, you’re clearly not here for subtlety or narrative elegance.
In the end, Plague of the Manitou is the horror equivalent of one of those late-stage franchise sequels where you’re just here for the spectacle. And bugs. So many bugs.
Three stars. One for the gore, one for the madness, and one because honestly, I admire the commitment.
July 30, 2015
Wow I absolutely love anything to do with this character that Graham Masterton writes about and he certainly didn't disappoint in this book what a fantastic horror book with a few funny one liners, highly recommended :)
June 13, 2015
Another thrilling chapter in the Manitou series. You've done it again.
May 2, 2022
This is my first Graham Masterton novel and I now see why hes greatly respected within the horror genre. His writing is descriptive yet simple, it isnt mind-bogglingly complex. The book overall kept me on my toes. Some scenes I didnt expect at all either - like at all. There were two scenes, two incidents in particular that were shocking and graphic. One which happens to Anna, and the other to Father Zapata. The ending scene was also graphic and dark and disturbing. The tension built was intense and the way it finished was also nicely done and written.
The plot also for this book came as a shock to me and was crazy..to say the least. Definately a creative plot. The main foundations for it are understandable and I respect that this was included and think it's an important reflection historically (wont spoil), but then the plot just went so many different ways it was interesting to read how everything interconnected. Never would've guessed by the cover of this book any of what was written within it.
I will say I believe this is the last book in the Harry Erskine series so I have had no previous readings of Harry and his experiences or how all of this came about. Despite this , this a book you can pick up and read without having to start from book one (in my opinion).
The reason why this is not a full five star read is the chapter on Harry reading his cards for Mrs Ratzenberger I found to be boring and relatively unnecessary. It could've been shortened for sure. It was a chore to power through it.
~ P.S. I was a bit shocked to read how Rick takes his coffee : I mean wow haha~
The plot also for this book came as a shock to me and was crazy..to say the least. Definately a creative plot. The main foundations for it are understandable and I respect that this was included and think it's an important reflection historically (wont spoil), but then the plot just went so many different ways it was interesting to read how everything interconnected. Never would've guessed by the cover of this book any of what was written within it.
I will say I believe this is the last book in the Harry Erskine series so I have had no previous readings of Harry and his experiences or how all of this came about. Despite this , this a book you can pick up and read without having to start from book one (in my opinion).
The reason why this is not a full five star read is the chapter on Harry reading his cards for Mrs Ratzenberger I found to be boring and relatively unnecessary. It could've been shortened for sure. It was a chore to power through it.
~ P.S. I was a bit shocked to read how Rick takes his coffee : I mean wow haha~
December 2, 2021
La sexta -y por el momento última- aventura de Harry Erskine es un poco mejor que la anterior pero tampoco es para tirar cohetes. Toda la novela suelta un poco de tufo a vagancia; los antagonistas son ahora los espíritus de los hijos de Misquamacus, aliados con un demonio medieval francés revivido con un ritual semenjante al del brujo nativo americano. Los tres espíritus se disponen a usar un virus ancestral para borrar al hombre blanco de los Estados Unidos pero una viróloga, Anna Grey, se huele la tostada sobrenatural después de que su novio muera por culpa del virus y vuelva a la vida en plan zombi vengativo. Mientras, Harry sigue timando a viejas en Florida, aunque su camino se cruzará con el de Anna en los últimos capítulos en un clímax atropelladísimo. Aún con la desgana, Masterton deja imágenes molonas como una autofelación-posesión que acaba muy mal o una monja corrupta cuyos genitales escupen cientos de chinches satánicas. Tampoco pasa nada por dejar las cosas así, aunque una novela final estaría bien.
July 17, 2025
Do szpitala w St Louis trafiają chorzy z dziwnymi objawami – konwulsjami połączonymi z krwawymi wymiotami. Choroba ma piorunujący przebieg, a chory w krótkim czasie umiera. W tym samym czasie profesor Anna Grey pracuje nad znalezieniem szczepionki na chorobę wirusową przypominającą grypę, która zaatakowała nagle dzieci z Meramac Elementary School. Kiedy jednak na oczach Anny umiera w męczarniach jej narzeczony, kobieta za wszelką cenę chce dowiedzieć się, co spowodowało jego chorobę. Tylko czy będzie w stanie zaakceptować wyniki swoich badań?
Połączenie indiańskich wierzeń z chrześcijańskimi demonami? Właściwie czemu nie. Nawet się Mastertonowi udał ten crossover, chociaż bardziej mi się podobały medyczne i parazytologiczne tematy, ale to już pewnie zboczenie zawodowe. No i nie było Amelii, nad czym trochę ubolewam. Dobre zakończenie serii, niezobowiązująca rozrywka.
6/10
Połączenie indiańskich wierzeń z chrześcijańskimi demonami? Właściwie czemu nie. Nawet się Mastertonowi udał ten crossover, chociaż bardziej mi się podobały medyczne i parazytologiczne tematy, ale to już pewnie zboczenie zawodowe. No i nie było Amelii, nad czym trochę ubolewam. Dobre zakończenie serii, niezobowiązująca rozrywka.
6/10
December 18, 2024
I'd say the closest to a true spiritual sequel to the original as you could get.
August 11, 2015
The Pariah by Graham Masterton was the first adult book I read. I was about 14 years old and I loved it. I then went on to read more by this author and then migrated to a few other horror authors. I have recently also read and loved Mr Masterton's Katie Maguire series but I have to admit to not having read one of his new horrors for a fair while (I have recently re-read The Pariah and Family Portrait) so I was excited to see this on my new release radar! I have read a few of the Harry Erskine books (albeit a few years ago) so I kinda knew what I was letting myself in for when I started this.
And to say I wasn't disappointed would be an understatement. As well as exactly what I know and love, it also took me back to my youth when I read The Manitou and The Djinn amongst others. Having to hide the books from my mum cos "they are not suitable reading for young ladies"!!
In this book, we follow the story from two threads. One from renown virologist Anna Grey's perspective. She is currently battling a rather nasty bug affecting some school kids when she is embroiled into another all the more horrid disease which is made all the more personal when it affects someone close to her. The other thread follows the ups/downs and otherwise of Harry Erskine as he gets caught up in it all from a different angle.
The two voices are very distinct and are easy to follow. The characters as always are very well defined and come across as very real. As well as the two main characters, there are a whole host of secondary and bit-part players and each one is distinct with their own voice, personality and part in the story.
The demons are evil, the plague is horrid, the torture and suffering is right up there! This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted. I am now going to seek out more of Mr Masterton's work as I can't believe I have missed so much. It will definitely take me a fair while to catch up!
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And to say I wasn't disappointed would be an understatement. As well as exactly what I know and love, it also took me back to my youth when I read The Manitou and The Djinn amongst others. Having to hide the books from my mum cos "they are not suitable reading for young ladies"!!
In this book, we follow the story from two threads. One from renown virologist Anna Grey's perspective. She is currently battling a rather nasty bug affecting some school kids when she is embroiled into another all the more horrid disease which is made all the more personal when it affects someone close to her. The other thread follows the ups/downs and otherwise of Harry Erskine as he gets caught up in it all from a different angle.
The two voices are very distinct and are easy to follow. The characters as always are very well defined and come across as very real. As well as the two main characters, there are a whole host of secondary and bit-part players and each one is distinct with their own voice, personality and part in the story.
The demons are evil, the plague is horrid, the torture and suffering is right up there! This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted. I am now going to seek out more of Mr Masterton's work as I can't believe I have missed so much. It will definitely take me a fair while to catch up!
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2018
I'm am a HUGE fan of Masterton & particularly love the Harry Erskine/Misquamacus series & while yes, as expected, I enjoyed this, it's not one of my favourites in the series - after all there's NO Misquamacus in it (oops...sorry if that was a spoiler) However, there's still a couple of Native American demons for Harry to battle in the shape of Matchitehew & Megedagik, who just so happen to be sons of the great Algonquin Wonderworker. Unluckily for Harry they've teamed up with a demon of European origin, meaning he also has to contend with some rather nasty nuns & some very, very big bed bugs! While this alliance worked well for the purpose of the story I'd've personally preferred it to have more of the Native American influence in it.
And guess what? I did feel a little let down by the end, as I do in sooooo many horror tales (though not usually Masterton's!) About 40 pages from the end I thought things were going to have to get resolved pretty sharpish & it did all seem a little rushed as it headed to the final page. Suddenly *wham* - all demons were vanquished - game over. Well to be fair, there are only really two ways that these demonic battles can end (good defeats evil....or not, in case you're wondering) & the good news is that Harry lives to fight another day. Hope this wasn't his last battle, after all, ol' Misqua-wotsisface must have more offspring who could come & have a bash at reclaiming their land & wreaking revenge.....
And guess what? I did feel a little let down by the end, as I do in sooooo many horror tales (though not usually Masterton's!) About 40 pages from the end I thought things were going to have to get resolved pretty sharpish & it did all seem a little rushed as it headed to the final page. Suddenly *wham* - all demons were vanquished - game over. Well to be fair, there are only really two ways that these demonic battles can end (good defeats evil....or not, in case you're wondering) & the good news is that Harry lives to fight another day. Hope this wasn't his last battle, after all, ol' Misqua-wotsisface must have more offspring who could come & have a bash at reclaiming their land & wreaking revenge.....
July 7, 2016
Nothing to get too excited about, I did enjoy the return of Harry Erskine. But how can you have a Manitou book without Misquaquamus... Not happy about that.
May 3, 2020
Reading Stuff 'n' Things
I have been a fan of Mr Masterton for many, many years and I remember reading the first Manitou novel and absolutely loving it ... alas, it appears this is the 6th outing and although I haven't read the intervening 5 books, get the feeling that it's becoming a little tired as this one wasn't the read I was hoping for.
The main two characters - Harry and Anna - are interesting and well developed, the story is ok but it just didn't do it for me. I found it tedious and didn't particularly flow. I felt things happened in the book that just weren't explained very well and maybe that's my fault for not having read all of the previous books but there wasn't really much backstory to give you even a hint.
I am really quite sad that I didn't enjoy this outing but recognise that many have so it might just be me! Despite this, I am and will remain a Graham Masterton fan and this certainly won't put me off reading more of his in the future.
Many thanks to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I have been a fan of Mr Masterton for many, many years and I remember reading the first Manitou novel and absolutely loving it ... alas, it appears this is the 6th outing and although I haven't read the intervening 5 books, get the feeling that it's becoming a little tired as this one wasn't the read I was hoping for.
The main two characters - Harry and Anna - are interesting and well developed, the story is ok but it just didn't do it for me. I found it tedious and didn't particularly flow. I felt things happened in the book that just weren't explained very well and maybe that's my fault for not having read all of the previous books but there wasn't really much backstory to give you even a hint.
I am really quite sad that I didn't enjoy this outing but recognise that many have so it might just be me! Despite this, I am and will remain a Graham Masterton fan and this certainly won't put me off reading more of his in the future.
Many thanks to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
March 24, 2025
Thankfully the last of the Erskine series as I definitely think it's run it's course. This time we find that Misquamacus has been properly banished by Harry but his two sons have now entered the fight. They have realised that Misquamacus was unsuccessful in his previous attempts because he has been working with outdated ideas. This time his sons 'join forces' with western sprits and demons and set loose a new virus that causes seizures and massive haemorrhages and is so fat proving 100% fatal. Harry becomes aware that the spirits are restless and Professor Anna Grey is working to discover a cure but is struggling to come to terms with her partners death at the hands of virus. When the two meet they realise that their visions of nuns and a man in grey are the same and Harry's research gives some idea of what's happening. A confrontation takes place and the man in grey (the demon of sickness) gets injected with the newer virus that Grey has been unable to cure. This manages to 'kill' the demon and low and behold his disease vanishes, any remaining infected are cured and no one knows why.
All in all a fun read but more a medial forensic story relating to tracking down a cure to a disease than out and out horror.
All in all a fun read but more a medial forensic story relating to tracking down a cure to a disease than out and out horror.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2019
Fragment recenzji:
"Po „Infekcję” możecie sięgnąć nawet wówczas, gdy nie czytaliście poprzednich tomów cyklu „Manitou”. Powieść ta jest bowiem napisana w taki sposób, iż na dobrą sprawę stanowić może osobny twór. A to wszystko dzięki temu, iż najważniejsze informacje związane z przeszłością Harry’ego Erskine’a oraz jego walki z największym indiańskim szamanem przywoływane są w odpowiednich miejscach, uzupełniając wszelkie luki tak, że nie ma się poczucia, iż czegoś się nie wie, że coś gdzieś nam tam umyka i trzeba by było przeczytać poprzednie części, by mieć lepszy obraz całości. Oczywiście lepiej mieć za sobą wcześniej wydane tomy, ale jeśli nie było nam dotąd dane po nie sięgnąć, to nie odczujemy braku ich znajomości podczas lektury „Infekcji”. I to jest naprawdę fajne 🙂"
Całość na moim blogu, zapraszam :)
http://magicznyswiatksiazki.pl/infekc...
"Po „Infekcję” możecie sięgnąć nawet wówczas, gdy nie czytaliście poprzednich tomów cyklu „Manitou”. Powieść ta jest bowiem napisana w taki sposób, iż na dobrą sprawę stanowić może osobny twór. A to wszystko dzięki temu, iż najważniejsze informacje związane z przeszłością Harry’ego Erskine’a oraz jego walki z największym indiańskim szamanem przywoływane są w odpowiednich miejscach, uzupełniając wszelkie luki tak, że nie ma się poczucia, iż czegoś się nie wie, że coś gdzieś nam tam umyka i trzeba by było przeczytać poprzednie części, by mieć lepszy obraz całości. Oczywiście lepiej mieć za sobą wcześniej wydane tomy, ale jeśli nie było nam dotąd dane po nie sięgnąć, to nie odczujemy braku ich znajomości podczas lektury „Infekcji”. I to jest naprawdę fajne 🙂"
Całość na moim blogu, zapraszam :)
http://magicznyswiatksiazki.pl/infekc...
June 14, 2023
Harry is yet again tasked with saving hundreds of thousand lives in the US, people are vomiting up most of their blood during violent convulsions before dying. This time it's not Misquamacus but the spirits of his sons Matchitchew and Megedagik who have joined forces with the spirits of Father Urbain Grandier and hundreds of nuns both having a score to settle with Christianity. Harry and his friend Rick team up with epidemiologist Anna and her assistant Epiphany to stop this virus caused by bedbugs. Can Harry with his team save the day or is this the end? I highly recommend this book and the Manitou series.
August 12, 2021
The first half of this book crackled with energy as Harry faced the slowly unfolding events that heralded the next supernatural attempt to right the wrongs done to Native Americans. The Tarot Cards, the nuns, the dead voices, and the horrific fellatio all left the reader with chills. But as the various plot strands were all woven together, things became more absurd (Giant bed bug murders? A dog being infected with BV-1 when it was supposed to target certain people?), and less frightening. Overall, it would have been nicer to have read a stronger conclusion to the Manitou series.
May 29, 2018
I finished it because the plot was decent, which is probably the only reason to read it. The outrageous number of spelling and grammatical errors were nearly impossible to ignore and became distracting. The characters weren’t convincing and some of the descriptions were racially charged. The reading level of this book didn’t match the story content. As others have warned, the story content goes beyond graphic detailing. Best read on an empty stomach.
October 20, 2017
This is one of the dumbest books I've ever only gotten 1/3 of the way through.
I guess this guy has a whole slew of books all based on the 'genocide against the American Indian" is the worst thing in the world to ever happen and must be addressed, but it's old and guilt ridden and doesn't speak to me. It doesn't deserve one star.
I guess this guy has a whole slew of books all based on the 'genocide against the American Indian" is the worst thing in the world to ever happen and must be addressed, but it's old and guilt ridden and doesn't speak to me. It doesn't deserve one star.
June 2, 2025
Another in the series of Manitou sequels from Masterton. Not his worst or best, but does return to his early horror style largely successful. Low on horror scares until almost halfway where it lays down some extremely bizarre shocks as Masterton is known for if you know his early horror. Seemed slightly padded out past halfway. Recommend for fans of James Herbert.
August 4, 2018
Another installment into the Manitou series that I have been reading and enjoying for some time now. Masterton is amazing, and this installment does not disappoint. Combining horror, and medical horror he weaves together an all to real tale of terror. Harry Erskine is the man.
December 8, 2024
Czytało mi się to lekko jak zawsze, jednak tym razem czułam słabszy poziom w porównaniu do poprzednich poziomów. Całość nie była już tak dopracowana i przemyślana, ale dalej mieliśmy kolejny, ciekawy sposób na zemstę.
Cieszę się, że poznałam całą serię.
Cieszę się, że poznałam całą serię.
October 25, 2018
Thank God that's the last episode of the series. But you know what... I'll read the next one if it'll appear :)
June 12, 2019
Jestem rozczarowany tą pozycją. Pisana marnym językiem, rozwiązania fabularne od czapy, dialogi leżą, fabuła nie trzyma się kupy.
Na pewno przez dłuższy czas nie sięgnę po twórczość Mastertona.
Na pewno przez dłuższy czas nie sięgnę po twórczość Mastertona.
July 7, 2019
Gruesome and gory. 5/5
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