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Father of Lies #1
Father of Lies
Ruby is the most violently disturbed patient ever admitted to Drummersgate Asylum, high on the bleak moors of northern England. With no improvement after two years, Dr. Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk and hypnotizes her--with terrifying consequences. A horrific dark force is now unleashed on the entire medical team, as each in turn attempts to unlock Ruby's shocking and sinister past. Who is this girl? And how did she manage to survive such unimaginable evil? Set in a desolate ex-mining village, where secrets are tightly kept and intruders hounded out, their questions soon lead to a haunted mill, the heart of darkness, and the Father of Lies.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
November 19, 2015
It's my own book - of course I gave it 5*... lol .....
May 28, 2025
Creepy Book Alert!
Whoa! If you like your books on the dark side this is one for you. I am a seasoned dark fiction reader but some scenes in this one freaked even me out. Sarah England is an author to watch in my humble opinion and I hope she continues to write in this genre as she is on a winner here.
Satanism, sacrifices, evil spirits, possession, exorcisms, unnatural events, upside down crucifixes, unnamed gravestones, fear, evil, demons, madness. Yes - something light and fluffy for you dear reader! The book has it all weaved within a fantastic plot with some really interesting and disturbing concepts along the way.
Ruby is the most aggressively disturbed patient ever seen at Drummersgate High Security Forensic Unit. With little sign of improvement after almost two years, Dr. Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk - and hypnotises her with devastating effects.
A horrific, dark force is now unleashed on himself and his unsuspecting colleagues - as each in turn, attempts to unlock Ruby's shocking and sinister past. Who is this girl? And how did she manage to survive such evil when no one else can?
Set in a derelict northern mining village, where secrets remain secrets, intruders are hounded from their homes and no one is talking, all paths eventually lead to the heart of darkness...and The Father of Lies.
Is it psychiatric illness or something much, much darker? What has been unleashed can only be described as hell on earth, if you are afraid of the devil you don't want to read this book, if you don't believe he is real, you will after reading it. The story follows poor Ruby who is suffering horrendously in a psychiatric hospital, but with what? As the book swings between past and present until we meet in the middle to find out "why" you are on one hell of a journey!
This is one of those books you may not want to read in the dark, or alone, or if you get freaked out easily. Sarah has tackled some dark issues, mingled in some fantastic characters and created a book that would appeal to many who like horror and darker fiction. Like me. I liked it a lot.
The plot is quite complex but you are pulled in and taken into other worlds, some of the events and things the characters go through are just terrifying and it's one of those books that has the blood pumping and eyes widening as you read along. There were moments honesty when I had to just set it down for a moment. If you are at all triggered by satanic events/rituals/themes I would not want you to open this one, but everyone else? A bloody good read.
I read the original ending that Sarah had in the book and it was DISTURBING and hard to read, I then read her final version which does not take from the ending at all but it more easy to digest. I want more from Sarah England in this genre and my final rating is 4.0-4.5 stars for Father of Lies.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of the book to read in exchange for an honest and professional book review.
Thanks for reading my review! Join me as a follower or send me a friend request. I love to connect with other book lovers.
If you are an Author or Publisher and would like me to consider reviewing your book/s please just send me a message.
Whoa! If you like your books on the dark side this is one for you. I am a seasoned dark fiction reader but some scenes in this one freaked even me out. Sarah England is an author to watch in my humble opinion and I hope she continues to write in this genre as she is on a winner here.
Satanism, sacrifices, evil spirits, possession, exorcisms, unnatural events, upside down crucifixes, unnamed gravestones, fear, evil, demons, madness. Yes - something light and fluffy for you dear reader! The book has it all weaved within a fantastic plot with some really interesting and disturbing concepts along the way.
Ruby is the most aggressively disturbed patient ever seen at Drummersgate High Security Forensic Unit. With little sign of improvement after almost two years, Dr. Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk - and hypnotises her with devastating effects.
A horrific, dark force is now unleashed on himself and his unsuspecting colleagues - as each in turn, attempts to unlock Ruby's shocking and sinister past. Who is this girl? And how did she manage to survive such evil when no one else can?
Set in a derelict northern mining village, where secrets remain secrets, intruders are hounded from their homes and no one is talking, all paths eventually lead to the heart of darkness...and The Father of Lies.
Is it psychiatric illness or something much, much darker? What has been unleashed can only be described as hell on earth, if you are afraid of the devil you don't want to read this book, if you don't believe he is real, you will after reading it. The story follows poor Ruby who is suffering horrendously in a psychiatric hospital, but with what? As the book swings between past and present until we meet in the middle to find out "why" you are on one hell of a journey!
This is one of those books you may not want to read in the dark, or alone, or if you get freaked out easily. Sarah has tackled some dark issues, mingled in some fantastic characters and created a book that would appeal to many who like horror and darker fiction. Like me. I liked it a lot.
The plot is quite complex but you are pulled in and taken into other worlds, some of the events and things the characters go through are just terrifying and it's one of those books that has the blood pumping and eyes widening as you read along. There were moments honesty when I had to just set it down for a moment. If you are at all triggered by satanic events/rituals/themes I would not want you to open this one, but everyone else? A bloody good read.
I read the original ending that Sarah had in the book and it was DISTURBING and hard to read, I then read her final version which does not take from the ending at all but it more easy to digest. I want more from Sarah England in this genre and my final rating is 4.0-4.5 stars for Father of Lies.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of the book to read in exchange for an honest and professional book review.
Thanks for reading my review! Join me as a follower or send me a friend request. I love to connect with other book lovers.
If you are an Author or Publisher and would like me to consider reviewing your book/s please just send me a message.
May 24, 2022
Father of Lies #1 is a kind of classic demon possession story. Most of the book takes place in an asylum which tends to be a favorite horror trope for a good reason. Its frightening and claustrophobic. There is lots of darkness, child sex rings, Satanism and filthy demon language.
The 'Christian god being the ultimate good and anyone who doesn't believe in him is screwed' devise is overly heavy-handed. However, this is often the case with a lot possession books so I looked past it.
My only problem was this is the first in a trilogy and it does not stand on its own. The end isn't really an end, so be prepared to invest in all three books.
The 'Christian god being the ultimate good and anyone who doesn't believe in him is screwed' devise is overly heavy-handed. However, this is often the case with a lot possession books so I looked past it.
My only problem was this is the first in a trilogy and it does not stand on its own. The end isn't really an end, so be prepared to invest in all three books.
January 6, 2023
3.5 stars really. England gives us a creepy tale for sure here, centered on a woman named Ruby; an inmate at a mental institution on the bleak moors of northern England. Ruby has spent two years there, and the doctors have not even been able to figure out what the problem is, but she seems hopeless. Catatonic one minute, dangerously manic the next, etc. Finally, the head shrink decides to try something new-- give Ruby a low dose of LSD and they try hypnosis. What could go wrong? Probably did not expect that this may release a demon or anything!
Father of Lies has many things going for it. England really plays up the atmosphere nicely-- bleak, almost always raining, foggy and/or windy, which sets the tone for the story itself. While we are first introduced to Ruby and the mental institution, England keeps going back in time to what at first seems to be very unrelated stories about a small town nearby; some truly horrible child abuse, a 'witch' (medium) and her trials and travails in the same town, a strange pagan circle in the woods, a creepy old cabin, some ruins and an old graveyard, nasty old men wandering around... At times it felt like England was just throwing horror tropes at a wall to see what would stick and the repeated flashbacks were a bit disjointed, but gradually it started to come together by the end. Obviously, however, this was just the first part of a longer story as there was no real denouement or anything.
While I will definitely continue with the trilogy, the horrible child abuse scenes and implicit pedophilia (England was not graphic here (thankfully!)) were a little hard to stomach and touched some definite triggers. Witches, demons, strange Satan cults and pagan rites, creepy abandoned mills and people dying in strange ways-- England packs a lot in this slim volume!
Father of Lies has many things going for it. England really plays up the atmosphere nicely-- bleak, almost always raining, foggy and/or windy, which sets the tone for the story itself. While we are first introduced to Ruby and the mental institution, England keeps going back in time to what at first seems to be very unrelated stories about a small town nearby; some truly horrible child abuse, a 'witch' (medium) and her trials and travails in the same town, a strange pagan circle in the woods, a creepy old cabin, some ruins and an old graveyard, nasty old men wandering around... At times it felt like England was just throwing horror tropes at a wall to see what would stick and the repeated flashbacks were a bit disjointed, but gradually it started to come together by the end. Obviously, however, this was just the first part of a longer story as there was no real denouement or anything.
While I will definitely continue with the trilogy, the horrible child abuse scenes and implicit pedophilia (England was not graphic here (thankfully!)) were a little hard to stomach and touched some definite triggers. Witches, demons, strange Satan cults and pagan rites, creepy abandoned mills and people dying in strange ways-- England packs a lot in this slim volume!
February 16, 2016
Lots for the horror fan to enjoy here!
Although there were a couple of tiny blips that I found a little irksome (refers to both 'Doncaster General Hospital' and 'Doncaster Royal Infirmary' - it's the latter; I know because I work there) and 'acrimonious smell, when I'm sure the author meant 'acrid', this didn't detract from the overall readability.
I love creepy stories centered around madness, asylums and the like so this was a perfect tale for me. I also liked the fact it was set in and around what seemed to be a fictionalised version of my home town and surrounding areas. (Also good to read a story like this that's not American; not that there's anything wrong with them but they are plentiful - we need more like this one!)
At first I though the story would revolve around psychiatrist Jack, and his attempts to help the severely disturbed Ruby, but before long a whole host of interesting characters appear as the plot develops. As others have mentioned, it did seem to come to an end quite abruptly, but this did at least ensure that I will definitely be reading the upcoming sequel!
It's hard to go into more detail without spoilers, but I think it's safe to say anyone who likes this particular flavour of horror won't be disappointed.
Although there were a couple of tiny blips that I found a little irksome (refers to both 'Doncaster General Hospital' and 'Doncaster Royal Infirmary' - it's the latter; I know because I work there) and 'acrimonious smell, when I'm sure the author meant 'acrid', this didn't detract from the overall readability.
I love creepy stories centered around madness, asylums and the like so this was a perfect tale for me. I also liked the fact it was set in and around what seemed to be a fictionalised version of my home town and surrounding areas. (Also good to read a story like this that's not American; not that there's anything wrong with them but they are plentiful - we need more like this one!)
At first I though the story would revolve around psychiatrist Jack, and his attempts to help the severely disturbed Ruby, but before long a whole host of interesting characters appear as the plot develops. As others have mentioned, it did seem to come to an end quite abruptly, but this did at least ensure that I will definitely be reading the upcoming sequel!
It's hard to go into more detail without spoilers, but I think it's safe to say anyone who likes this particular flavour of horror won't be disappointed.
October 3, 2015
Wow! What a ride this book it is! It is officially the first book I have ever had to stop reading at night - yep, it's that scary. 'Designed to scare the pants off Stephen King' - well, it did the same to me, nonetheless I could hardly put it down. It's compelling, it's shocking and it's insightful. In a word - it's brilliant - one of the best 'horrors' I've read in ages. Ruby is in Drummersgate Forensic Psychiatric Unit for Women - she's the most disturbed (dare I say 'haunted') patient they've ever had, yet no one knows why, where she's come from or what her background is. Those who are treating her begin to try and unravel the mystery surrounding her, a mystery that will lead them all into the heart of darkness. According to the authors bio, she's a nurse who trained in mental health and that background really shows here. As does her interest in the arcane. There are no shocks and in-your-face horrors, there's no cheapness about this book, instead the tension is built at a steady pace and it's whats left to the imagination that's most horrifying. A real lesson in less is more... so much more. In fact, England is a master at scene-setting, set in a derelict northern mining town, there's atmosphere by the bucketful, beautiful imagery too, just to balance everything out. It's a triumph and I'm waiting eagerly to read her next paranormal offering, during the day of course!
December 13, 2018
Damn BookBubs for making this sound interesting. I'm DNFing this at 56%. This book should properly be titled: Pedophilia, Gang Rape, & Possession. It creeps me out thinking how much it might sell with an honest title.
December 30, 2016
I’ve heard lots of great things about this authors books but never seemed to find the time to get round to reading them. Well now that I have I certainly won’t be leaving reading the next one for as long.
The fact that a lot of the story is set in an asylum certainly piqued my interest. I don’t think you can get a much better setting as well as the small and eerie ex mining village which seems to be connected to the girl.
Ruby’s character frightened the hell out of me. There is no way I would want to be in a room alone with her. It is quite obvious there is something seriously wrong with her and I wanted to scream at the staff in the asylum to keep well away. Obviously if they had then where would be the fun in that!
As the staff try their best to help unlock the horrors that are in Ruby’s mind, weird and strange things start to happen to them.
I think The Exorcist is actually mentioned in this book and I couldn’t think of a better film to liken this book to. It is very dark and disturbing and just totally perfect for fans of horror.
Father of Lies is a dark and compelling read. I devoured it in one afternoon as I literally could not put it down. Even as the horrors unfolded, I couldn’t race through the pages quick enough for more and as to what secrets lurked in Ruby’s head as well as the ex mining village.
An absolute must read for horror fans!
The fact that a lot of the story is set in an asylum certainly piqued my interest. I don’t think you can get a much better setting as well as the small and eerie ex mining village which seems to be connected to the girl.
Ruby’s character frightened the hell out of me. There is no way I would want to be in a room alone with her. It is quite obvious there is something seriously wrong with her and I wanted to scream at the staff in the asylum to keep well away. Obviously if they had then where would be the fun in that!
As the staff try their best to help unlock the horrors that are in Ruby’s mind, weird and strange things start to happen to them.
I think The Exorcist is actually mentioned in this book and I couldn’t think of a better film to liken this book to. It is very dark and disturbing and just totally perfect for fans of horror.
Father of Lies is a dark and compelling read. I devoured it in one afternoon as I literally could not put it down. Even as the horrors unfolded, I couldn’t race through the pages quick enough for more and as to what secrets lurked in Ruby’s head as well as the ex mining village.
An absolute must read for horror fans!
June 17, 2020
Occult book of demonic possession.
Ruby is the most violently disturbed patient ever admitted to Drummersgate Asylum, high on the bleak moors of northern England. With no improvement after two years, Dr. Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk and hypnotises her. With terrifying consequences. A horrific dark force is now unleashed on the entire medical team, as each in turn attempts to unlock Ruby's shocking and sinister past. Set in a desolate ex-mining village, where secrets are tightly kept and intruders hounded out, their questions soon lead to occult activity.
Ruby is the most violently disturbed patient ever admitted to Drummersgate Asylum, high on the bleak moors of northern England. With no improvement after two years, Dr. Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk and hypnotises her. With terrifying consequences. A horrific dark force is now unleashed on the entire medical team, as each in turn attempts to unlock Ruby's shocking and sinister past. Set in a desolate ex-mining village, where secrets are tightly kept and intruders hounded out, their questions soon lead to occult activity.
July 30, 2024
Seriously creepy and makes you wonder, if you believe in possession, how many people are treated by mental health professionals who may actually need a priest or pastor. Cant wait to continue the series and find out what happens next.
June 14, 2017
I’ve been looking forward to reading this dark supernatural tale for ages and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint. This turned out to be a gripping, intelligently written novel that was at times claustrophobic, but always, always menacing; unnervingly so. The subject matter seemed highly researched, giving it an authentic feel and it was relatively easy to skip through. Dipping in and out of the past gave it even more mystery, and the last few chapters were incredibly intense. Overall this was a book that I really enjoyed and look forward to the next instalment. My favourite scenes involved Jack, Ruby and Kirsty and I loved the style of descriptive writing which took me to eerily haunted places such as the woods, the cottage, and the mill; not forgetting the graveyard. An easy 4.5 stars from me.
December 20, 2015
I received this as an arc from the book club (tbc) in exchange for an honest review.
Ruby is the most disturbed psychiatric patient ever admitted to Drummersgate hospital, on the bleak Derbyshire moors in england. With no improvement after almost 2 years, Dr Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk and hypnotises her with devastating effects.
OMG. Wow. Absolutely fantastic read.
I loved the story and the characters.
CNPID.
But don't read alone.
Seriously hauntingly fantastic read.
I cannot wait for book 2.
This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. Definitely worth more than 5 *.
Ruby is the most disturbed psychiatric patient ever admitted to Drummersgate hospital, on the bleak Derbyshire moors in england. With no improvement after almost 2 years, Dr Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk and hypnotises her with devastating effects.
OMG. Wow. Absolutely fantastic read.
I loved the story and the characters.
CNPID.
But don't read alone.
Seriously hauntingly fantastic read.
I cannot wait for book 2.
This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. Definitely worth more than 5 *.
October 11, 2022
Ever feel you've read a different book to the one with glowing reviews? Repetitive, and largely mundane. Each character seemingly going to the next and recapping everything that's already happened at every opportunity. Not sure what the scares were that others found, as most of this was telegraphed and had little shock factor. Having recently read The Exorcist the difference between the two couldn't be wider. Whereas that gave some profound thoughts on religion and beliefs, this was horror trope by numbers. I really disliked this book and it took me an age to get through it.
November 10, 2018
Disturbing
Great book! The most unsettling thing about this story, is that it could happen. Psychiatric disorders and the supernatural have always went hand in hand. This book throws in both in a very creepy story. Multiple characters are fleshed out well, leaving you to care, and worry about them. Will be reading Tanner's Dell now!
Great book! The most unsettling thing about this story, is that it could happen. Psychiatric disorders and the supernatural have always went hand in hand. This book throws in both in a very creepy story. Multiple characters are fleshed out well, leaving you to care, and worry about them. Will be reading Tanner's Dell now!
March 23, 2017
Outstanding Story
Wow! What a story, I cannot wait to read books 2 & 3. I couldn't put it down. This was a real page turner of a book - brilliant!
Wow! What a story, I cannot wait to read books 2 & 3. I couldn't put it down. This was a real page turner of a book - brilliant!
February 2, 2017
In my current genre hopping mode I came across this occult horror trilogy. I purchased the three books written by Sarah England and set off on a journey. A journey into the Secret Art, the practise of Black Magic, a genre I had left behind in the 70s having read all that Dennis Wheatley had to offer. His warning of the dangers of a very real and concrete nature of Satanism rang in my ears as I set out to read Father of Lies. Not since The Exorcist or The Shining have I read anything so diabolical. This is a terrifying read, a helter-skelter ride into the world of the possessed as we enter the horrors of Drummersgate Asylum on the bleak moors of northern England where Ruby is incarcerated. Ruby. A deeply disturbed patient who psychiatric staff cannot accept is haunted by demons, more likely suffering with Dissociative Identity Disorder. After two years of making no remedial progress Dr. Jack McGowan decides to take a risk and hypnotises her. The horrifying consequences are evil beyond anything I have encountered; disturbing and really scary. I did not read much of this in bed!
So, what now? Well, I am about to embark on Book #2 - Tanners Dell. It sounds just as scary!
So, what now? Well, I am about to embark on Book #2 - Tanners Dell. It sounds just as scary!
August 14, 2016
I actually read the second in this series (Tanners Dell) a couple of months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought I'd see how the series started and what led to the events in book 2.
A complex plot, engaging characters and a whole host of dark, evil and terrifying events are contained within these pages. Sarah's ability to draw you into the story, grab your attention and keep you hooked through some, quite frankly, disturbing scenes is brilliant.
And there are some very dark and disturbing parts to this novel, but they are well written, needed for the plot and not gratuitous. There has obviously been a lot of research done (into topics many people would steer well clear of) by Sarah to ensure her fiction is based on fact. Psychiatric care, hypnotism and satanism are major parts of the series and their inclusion are what Ruby's case hinges on.
It didn't matter to me that I'd read the second book before this one. Both are great books and I've enjoyed going back to the beginning and seeing how things went from bad to worse for Ruby and the people who are caring for her. If you like dark, disturbing, chilling horror, then this series, not just this book, is for you.
A complex plot, engaging characters and a whole host of dark, evil and terrifying events are contained within these pages. Sarah's ability to draw you into the story, grab your attention and keep you hooked through some, quite frankly, disturbing scenes is brilliant.
And there are some very dark and disturbing parts to this novel, but they are well written, needed for the plot and not gratuitous. There has obviously been a lot of research done (into topics many people would steer well clear of) by Sarah to ensure her fiction is based on fact. Psychiatric care, hypnotism and satanism are major parts of the series and their inclusion are what Ruby's case hinges on.
It didn't matter to me that I'd read the second book before this one. Both are great books and I've enjoyed going back to the beginning and seeing how things went from bad to worse for Ruby and the people who are caring for her. If you like dark, disturbing, chilling horror, then this series, not just this book, is for you.
November 13, 2016
It's nice to read a British horror story for a change. And boy does England make it dark and chaotic. It's set in Yorkshire, with the author creating a dark canvas of hospitals, derelict Mills, and dank villages. It is a really atmospheric read. The story centres around Ruby, a young woman with a dark past. A woman who had been totally off the grid. As the pages turn, you are transported back in time, letting the story unfold from many different angles.
The characters are well crafted, most of them not exactly what you'd call hero's. It's not that kind of book. It's dark and gritty, truly chilling in places.
I'm aware that there are more books in the series. I need to carry on this dark journey.
Well done to the author for grabbing my attention so effortlessly.
The characters are well crafted, most of them not exactly what you'd call hero's. It's not that kind of book. It's dark and gritty, truly chilling in places.
I'm aware that there are more books in the series. I need to carry on this dark journey.
Well done to the author for grabbing my attention so effortlessly.
October 5, 2015
Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed, 3am & Wide Awake and Expected by Sarah England I was in no doubt I would enjoy Father Of Lies. I must admit I was hooked by the blurb, and as soon as I tasted a teaser sample I had to read—no devour—this book. I’m really interested in the themes covered and the tale was all I hoped it would be, and more. The story is captivating, well-paced, and creepy. At times I even had goose-bumps! I liked all of the characters, even the bad ones, and the time I spent reading just flew by. This will be a book which will stay with me long after the close of the Kindle page, and one I will want to read again, so I need this in paperback to have on my shelves!
September 6, 2023
Father of Lies by Sarah England
The book starts of with psychologists & mental health, police involved, visiting a problem family.
Then it gets deeper, demonic possession, death, murder, psychological team get literally dragged in at the deep end!
Becky being in the middle is an interesting character, she doesn't follow blindly until evidence starts to show. Really good DID cover, believable & well written.
I loved this book, it kept me gripped from start to finish.
Definitely looking for more!
The book starts of with psychologists & mental health, police involved, visiting a problem family.
Then it gets deeper, demonic possession, death, murder, psychological team get literally dragged in at the deep end!
Becky being in the middle is an interesting character, she doesn't follow blindly until evidence starts to show. Really good DID cover, believable & well written.
I loved this book, it kept me gripped from start to finish.
Definitely looking for more!
December 14, 2015
This is one of the best horror stories I have read. Very descriptive, very spooky and very scary. Ruby was taken in to psychiatric care after she had tried to murder a man who she apparently didn't know. She was very unpredictable sometimes quiet and unresponsive but other times she seemed to have multiple personalities. The staff tried to help her but unbelievable things started happening to them. There is so much more to this book so read it if you dare !!!
March 3, 2016
This book did 2 things that really get under my skin. First, the author used words inappropriately (transgress and digress have *very* different meanings), and secondly, there was no real resolution to the story so you invest hours of time and interest in these characters only to really get absolutely nowhere. The fowl language and crudity didn't lead anywhere and the whole work seemed to play at being a horror/religious morality story but couldn't quite pull any of it off.
May 31, 2016
Amazing, scary and scarring
Wow I picked this book up before I read the 2nd book Tanners Dell and I can report I'm disturbed, scared and gripped all at once.
I'm going to start Tanners Dell tomorrow thank you Sarah England
Wow I picked this book up before I read the 2nd book Tanners Dell and I can report I'm disturbed, scared and gripped all at once.
I'm going to start Tanners Dell tomorrow thank you Sarah England
October 27, 2015
Nice and creepy... Cuts off a little abruptly in the end
November 6, 2021
4*
There's a sh*t load of swearing in this one. I kid not. Be warned.
The prologue sets the tone for the book. My expectations for a solid horror book this past October was very high for Father of Lies. I had heard good things about Sarah England and the prologue did justice to setting the eerie atmosphere and what to expect. Its also my first time reading something by her. Right off the bat, the writing, the atmosphere and the imagery England uses to introduce her readers to is impressive and exciting. Done excellently. HOWEVER....
I found it difficult to feel any empathy or emotional connection with any of the characters during the first half of the book. There's a lot of focus on the atmosphere and strange occurrences rather than any proper introduction to the main characters. I kept wanting to know more about the main characters more - their history, their personality...but what I got was very little. I'm just a reader who likes characters that are well articulated from the beginning. I need to connect with whom I'm reading about for me to better appreciate and understand their story.
The book is structured in a flashback style between Ruby, the girl believed to possess multiple personalities and Celeste, the clairvoyant/psychic who first met her. At present, Ruby is admitted in Drummersgate Asylum under the supervision and care of Dr Jack McGowan. For the last two years, he has failed to diagnose Ruby's "condition" and decides to now take a risk with hypnosis and LSD. The result prove disastrous and strange things start to happen in his own personal life - nightmares, his children start seeing things and hallucinating...in fact, the entire medical team experiences strange things after Ruby's hypnosis procedure....At this point, I would be giving out spoilers so...
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Skeptical at first but I genuinely found it hard to put down. Its gets very very interesting and I have a mind to finish the entire series. There are some negative things about this book - there are times I found England trying a bit too hard to push the story forward by making the characters do the silliest thing like waking up at 3am and taking a walk in the woods by themselves, after a bloody nightmare and hearing voices in their bedrooms *facepalm*. Yes, the book isn't perfect but there were so many positives including the pacing and how the flashbacks, past and present and the separate characters finally come together is something I truly enjoyed.
There's a sh*t load of swearing in this one. I kid not. Be warned.
The prologue sets the tone for the book. My expectations for a solid horror book this past October was very high for Father of Lies. I had heard good things about Sarah England and the prologue did justice to setting the eerie atmosphere and what to expect. Its also my first time reading something by her. Right off the bat, the writing, the atmosphere and the imagery England uses to introduce her readers to is impressive and exciting. Done excellently. HOWEVER....
I found it difficult to feel any empathy or emotional connection with any of the characters during the first half of the book. There's a lot of focus on the atmosphere and strange occurrences rather than any proper introduction to the main characters. I kept wanting to know more about the main characters more - their history, their personality...but what I got was very little. I'm just a reader who likes characters that are well articulated from the beginning. I need to connect with whom I'm reading about for me to better appreciate and understand their story.
The book is structured in a flashback style between Ruby, the girl believed to possess multiple personalities and Celeste, the clairvoyant/psychic who first met her. At present, Ruby is admitted in Drummersgate Asylum under the supervision and care of Dr Jack McGowan. For the last two years, he has failed to diagnose Ruby's "condition" and decides to now take a risk with hypnosis and LSD. The result prove disastrous and strange things start to happen in his own personal life - nightmares, his children start seeing things and hallucinating...in fact, the entire medical team experiences strange things after Ruby's hypnosis procedure....At this point, I would be giving out spoilers so...
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Skeptical at first but I genuinely found it hard to put down. Its gets very very interesting and I have a mind to finish the entire series. There are some negative things about this book - there are times I found England trying a bit too hard to push the story forward by making the characters do the silliest thing like waking up at 3am and taking a walk in the woods by themselves, after a bloody nightmare and hearing voices in their bedrooms *facepalm*. Yes, the book isn't perfect but there were so many positives including the pacing and how the flashbacks, past and present and the separate characters finally come together is something I truly enjoyed.
July 4, 2019
Father of Lies: A Darkly Disturbing Occult Horror Trilogy
In hopes to get my best friend to read more I let him pick a read for us to read. I finished it and my thoughts are below. He however has about three chapters left. Such a shame he has been so busy this is a great disturbing read.
A tale of madness and horror combined with social problems such as drug abuse, homelessness, poverty and minorities (travelers), as well as crimes such as child abuse, pedophilia and satanic rituals. It’s disturbing because the spine-chilling events are believable and horrific.
Almost the whole team of doctors and staff looking after Ruby, an unidentified and complex patient, who seems to have a multiple personality disorder, suffer unexplained accidents, disappearances, death or mental breakdowns, in a rural English setting. In the lonely and atmospheric moors of northern England.
At first the explanation seems to lie in the field of medicine, but in the second half of the novel, especially the final third, the plot becomes more complex, with constant flashbacks, new characters and events which turn the story towards to a more Satanical and supernatural focus. Being a fan of Stephen King and loving a good creepy story this was right up my alley,
It is book one in a trilogy, so the end is not final. On the other hand, it is mostly satisfactory, but distressing due to the people involved in the crimes and their nature. There are however plenty of unanswered questions and threads to be continued in book two...
The action takes place in winter and the final scenes occur at Christmas time, so it's a chilling seasonal read, too.
The shocking crimes and rituals are not gorily or explicitly described, but they’re still disquieting.
It is well written and I'm interested in reading the rest of the trilogy. I hope to have a friend to read them with if not I will continue alone.
In hopes to get my best friend to read more I let him pick a read for us to read. I finished it and my thoughts are below. He however has about three chapters left. Such a shame he has been so busy this is a great disturbing read.
A tale of madness and horror combined with social problems such as drug abuse, homelessness, poverty and minorities (travelers), as well as crimes such as child abuse, pedophilia and satanic rituals. It’s disturbing because the spine-chilling events are believable and horrific.
Almost the whole team of doctors and staff looking after Ruby, an unidentified and complex patient, who seems to have a multiple personality disorder, suffer unexplained accidents, disappearances, death or mental breakdowns, in a rural English setting. In the lonely and atmospheric moors of northern England.
At first the explanation seems to lie in the field of medicine, but in the second half of the novel, especially the final third, the plot becomes more complex, with constant flashbacks, new characters and events which turn the story towards to a more Satanical and supernatural focus. Being a fan of Stephen King and loving a good creepy story this was right up my alley,
It is book one in a trilogy, so the end is not final. On the other hand, it is mostly satisfactory, but distressing due to the people involved in the crimes and their nature. There are however plenty of unanswered questions and threads to be continued in book two...
The action takes place in winter and the final scenes occur at Christmas time, so it's a chilling seasonal read, too.
The shocking crimes and rituals are not gorily or explicitly described, but they’re still disquieting.
It is well written and I'm interested in reading the rest of the trilogy. I hope to have a friend to read them with if not I will continue alone.
May 8, 2019
Oh my God!! I have spent the last week, reading this book at night, and then listening to every little sound the house has made!
Father of Lies is terrifying, and also so good, you just have to keep reading.
Ruby a disturbed, and violent, patient, has been an inmate at Drummersgate Asylum, situated deep on the bleak and foreboding Yorkshire Moors.
Two years have passed since Ruby first stepped foot inside, and in that time, has shown no Improvement, just getting increasingly violent.
Dr Jack McGowan decides, that maybe the only way to help Ruby is to hypnotise her, to unlock her past. Unfortunately that is not the only thing to be unlocked.
An evil , dark force is let lose, and now the entire medical team, is in its sight.
Sarah England's. book will have the reader thinking "The Exorcist" but really, this is just as dark and terrifying , and yes I've seen the film, read the book etc, so if you like to a really good dark story..this is for you, Me? I'm off to start the sequel.
Father of Lies is terrifying, and also so good, you just have to keep reading.
Ruby a disturbed, and violent, patient, has been an inmate at Drummersgate Asylum, situated deep on the bleak and foreboding Yorkshire Moors.
Two years have passed since Ruby first stepped foot inside, and in that time, has shown no Improvement, just getting increasingly violent.
Dr Jack McGowan decides, that maybe the only way to help Ruby is to hypnotise her, to unlock her past. Unfortunately that is not the only thing to be unlocked.
An evil , dark force is let lose, and now the entire medical team, is in its sight.
Sarah England's. book will have the reader thinking "The Exorcist" but really, this is just as dark and terrifying , and yes I've seen the film, read the book etc, so if you like to a really good dark story..this is for you, Me? I'm off to start the sequel.
May 17, 2018
It's been awhile since something - book, movie, tv show - kept me awake like this. Not only in the sense that it was spooky and I expected shadows and dark figures to populate my house at night, but the story was so engaging that I finished it within a day.
I have favourite authors in different genres, but hadn't yet found a favourite horror author. I think Sarah England might just be my favourite horror writer. Can't wait to get into her other stories!
Added to the great writing, the narration by Henrietta Meire was spot on - different voices and subtly different accents, and suuuper creeepy when necessary. Her demon voice had me on edge.
I have favourite authors in different genres, but hadn't yet found a favourite horror author. I think Sarah England might just be my favourite horror writer. Can't wait to get into her other stories!
Added to the great writing, the narration by Henrietta Meire was spot on - different voices and subtly different accents, and suuuper creeepy when necessary. Her demon voice had me on edge.
December 10, 2019
Sarah England became known to me through a group page on social media. Her books were being raved about and described as being dark, intensely scary and some of the best occult horrors out there. Now that I have read Father of Lies, I have to whole heartedly agree. Sarah England is an author to look out for, she knows the occult, has researched it well and this shows in her book. This story scared the hell out of me and literally gave me nightmares. I am a true believer in the occult and dark forces so, for me personally, this book rang true and gave me chills. The story itself centres around a deeply disturbed, mentally ill patient named Ruby and after no improvement for 2 years, her doctor decides to try hypnotherapy. The doctor had no idea what he was dealing with and unfortunately what results is truly terrifying. The timeline went back and forth which gave necessary insight into the characters' past and events leading to the present time and was very easy to follow. I thoroughly enjoyed this 1st book in the trilogy and didn't wait to finish before ordering the 2nd and 3rd book. I can't wait to read further into this story! It is without doubt one of the best occult horrors I have ever read!
February 14, 2023
Thoroughly uninteresting, and cannot see at all where some other reviewers are coming from.
As a self-advertised "Darkly Disturbing Occult Horror Trilogy", I think it missed the mark on all fronts (bar that it is a trilogy, but I won't be reading the rest of them). Essentially everything disturbing that happens in the book happens between chapters — a character enters the spooky room at the end of one chapter, and then at the beginning of the next after exiting tells the reader that it was indeed a spooky room.
At times the dialogue feels like it's written as a parody or farce — our detective character remarking to themselves "He was totally alone. And spooked - he had to admit - just bloody spooked!". I don't know how someone can read that and have anything resembling tension still in their mind. Similarly the "scares" are normally just an offhand end of the chapter remark saying how someone saw a flash of a young girl or something in the dark.
Occult in England's mind appears to have started and ended with The Satanic Panic — not that they seem to have noticed that the Panic there was unjustified. Everything here seems straight out of some The Sun article or crazed forum post — Gypsies practising dark magic with babies and upsidedown crosses. It's particularly strange to hear that England apparently wrote this after interviewing someone who claimed to be a victim of Satanic Abuse.
There is a strange undercurrent of Christianity throughout the novel, and I could believe it if this is a mainstay of "out-there horror, but for Catholics" or something. For some reason every character is petrified of Satanism, despite almost all of them being Atheists. I was half expecting visions of The Holy Mother to come and save the day by the end. I love religion in books, particularly horror, but this just feels trite and silly.
Obviously I don't read horror for the realism — I don't complain reading Anne Rice that it's silly to pretend that vampires exist, and I didn't complain reading The Exorcist that demons don't exist. But reading The Father of Lies did make me feel this. I can only liken it to watching a dated sci-fi film, where they roll out the aliens and you can clearly see it's a bunch of extras in bad costumes on a poorly decorated set — and it reminds you that you are just watching a film, and not a very good one at that. This is how the background of Satanism, cults and possession feels here.
As a self-advertised "Darkly Disturbing Occult Horror Trilogy", I think it missed the mark on all fronts (bar that it is a trilogy, but I won't be reading the rest of them). Essentially everything disturbing that happens in the book happens between chapters — a character enters the spooky room at the end of one chapter, and then at the beginning of the next after exiting tells the reader that it was indeed a spooky room.
At times the dialogue feels like it's written as a parody or farce — our detective character remarking to themselves "He was totally alone. And spooked - he had to admit - just bloody spooked!". I don't know how someone can read that and have anything resembling tension still in their mind. Similarly the "scares" are normally just an offhand end of the chapter remark saying how someone saw a flash of a young girl or something in the dark.
Occult in England's mind appears to have started and ended with The Satanic Panic — not that they seem to have noticed that the Panic there was unjustified. Everything here seems straight out of some The Sun article or crazed forum post — Gypsies practising dark magic with babies and upsidedown crosses. It's particularly strange to hear that England apparently wrote this after interviewing someone who claimed to be a victim of Satanic Abuse.
There is a strange undercurrent of Christianity throughout the novel, and I could believe it if this is a mainstay of "out-there horror, but for Catholics" or something. For some reason every character is petrified of Satanism, despite almost all of them being Atheists. I was half expecting visions of The Holy Mother to come and save the day by the end. I love religion in books, particularly horror, but this just feels trite and silly.
Obviously I don't read horror for the realism — I don't complain reading Anne Rice that it's silly to pretend that vampires exist, and I didn't complain reading The Exorcist that demons don't exist. But reading The Father of Lies did make me feel this. I can only liken it to watching a dated sci-fi film, where they roll out the aliens and you can clearly see it's a bunch of extras in bad costumes on a poorly decorated set — and it reminds you that you are just watching a film, and not a very good one at that. This is how the background of Satanism, cults and possession feels here.
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