The Frighteners

by Stephen Laws

HOW MUCH DO YOU HATE? Eddie Brinkburn's doing time for a botched garage job that left Sheraton's brother very badly burned. HOW MUCH DO YOU HATE? When Sheraton's gang burn his wife and kids to death, Eddie soon learns the meaning of hate. HOW MUCH DO YOU HATE? And that's how the prison psycho transfers his awesome power to Eddie. A power that Eddie reckons he can control. A power that will enable Eddie to put the frighteners on Sheraton...

Genres: Horror, Fiction

436 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Stephen Laws is a full-time novelist, born in Newcastle upon Tyne. Married, with three children, he lives and works in his birthplace. The author of 11 novels, numerous short stories, (collected in THE MIDNIGHT MAN) columnist, reviewer, film-festival interviewer, pianist and recipient of a number of awards, Stephen Laws recently wrote and starred in the short horror movie THE SECRET.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, GR does not have my edition on file which has awesome cover art by Jon Blake but so be it. The Frighteners is divided into four sections, and while I loved the first three, the last was a bit of a let down. This features two characters-- Eddie and Rennie. Both are from the mean streets of London and now, in their late 20s, the have their own business; a small garage where they fix cars. Unfortunately, organized crime has reached them, and rather than have them pay 'protection' money, Eddie has agreed to do 'small jobs', like swiping plates on stolen cars and such. Eddie's wife has cancer or something and the waitlist at NHS is very long, so Eddie is hoping a few extra jobs for the mob will give him the cash for a private doctor. One of these 'extra' jobs goes bad, however, and Eddie and Rennie end up in the slammer. The first part is something of a hodgepodge as Laws starts with them in the joint, but many flashbacks serve to tell the tale of how they got there.

Things start to get very interesting when a retarded prisoner, who endlessly goes around asking the other cons "How much do you hate?" over and over saves Eddie and Rennie from a really bad scene in the showers and transforms Eddie in the process. Now Eddie has 'the power' of the frighteners at his beck and call and he wants some payback. While he was in the slammer, the mob torched his house, killing his wife and two kids.

What are the frighteners? This is Laws at his best. At first, Eddie can give people some really, really bad dreams on command, but then the dreams start to assume a real form. The rampaging Frighteners were spectacular! Once he has the reader all wound up, however, Laws inserts a kind of cosmic good/evil into the mix that just was not my cup of tea. Did publishers of this era mandate such cosmic good/evil clashes? This reminded me of King's The Stand, not so much in content, but how a great story went down the cosmic good/evil rabbit hole and left me flat. While I really liked the first 3/4s of this, the denouement not so much. 3 frightening stars!!

[ItzSmashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Stars
For a large portion of this book I was hooked, 350 pages flew by, Laws has a terrific way with words and his horror scenes were intense and graphic. The main character was fleshed out and I also felt a lot for his friend, the story arch for 75% was really engaging. Then we get to the ending.. the final fifth changes tone and character goals and I found it hard to enjoy, we lose the connection between the main characters and everything just gets a bit messy. Overall I would reccommend this, but I wish the author had stuck the landing.

Eddie brinkburn is a mechanic who agrees to do some shifty work for a gang leader to help pay for his wife's operation. But when a job goes south, he finds himself in prison and hears the brutal extent the leader has taken to get even. Seeking revenge attracts a malicious entity to enter Eddie's body and with this he escapes and sets on ruining the gang bit by bit. But the entity is starting to take control, and it his sights are set much broader than one man

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This started off slowly and I was beginning to think nothing would happen then suddenly it moves up a notch when The Frighteners make their appearance. Then I found it to be a real page turner that I could not wait to get back to. I'll definitely read more by this author

[Wayne Fenlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one for the most part. Great characters and I loved all the putting on the frighteners stuff. For me, though, it could have been condensed a little. Just felt a little stretched, but it reminds me that I do need to read CHASM by him soon. Been on my shelf for a hell of a long time.

3.5 stars but closer to 3 than 4.

[William Bitner Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Frighteners: 25th Anniversary Edition
By Stephen Laws

Genre - Horror
Pages - 438
Publication Date - December 17, 2016/Bloodshot Books
Format - Kindle
Stars - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

First I would like to thank Pete Kahle, owner/publisher of Bloodshot Books and an author in his own right for gifting me a digital copy of this book.

“The Frighteners” by Stephen Laws is a re-release of a 1991 publication. How did we miss this one? This gem reads as if it was written yesterday and has a very contemporary feel to it. In depth story with multi dimensional characters. The story starts out slow but builds and grows as you move forward. And what you end up with is an original, imaginative, well written and entertaining as all get out piece of horror with paranormal and occult elements and plenty of blood and gore along with some nasty, evil characters. This will not be my last read by this author.

Stephen Laws is a British author of numerous novels and short stories.

From the back cover: How much do you hate?

Eddie Brinkburn's doing time for a botched garage job that left Sheraton's brother very badly burned.

How Much Do you Hate?

When Sheraton's gang burn his wife and kids to death, Eddie soon learns the meaning of hate.

How much do you hate?

And that's how the prison psycho transfers his awesome power to Eddie. A power that Eddie reckons he can control. A power that will enable Eddie to put the frighteners on Sheraton...

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good supernatural horror with an original twist on the nature of good and evil. Compelling central characters, but does wane a little towards the end.

[William Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literally a fly's todger off being 4 star, I really enjoyed this story but it had a change of direction in the latter end of the book which (for me anyway) just lost my interest a little. All in all a good book which I would happily recommend, it's well paced and written well and deserves a look.

[Laura Newsholme · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating exploration of all things macabre! Peter Laws takes the reader on a journey through popular horror tropes, such as zombies, ghosts, vampires and werewolves, all while providing his own background experiences watching horror films as a child and melting the faces off Star Wars figures (yes really). Laws has a really light tone that draws you in as the reader, but the information is clearly very thoroughly researched, which lends gravity to the book. I really enjoyed the choices he made in terms of topic (although I do feel a chapter on witches would have been welcome) and the way in which he aligned his faith (Laws is a Christian minister) with his love of all things spooky. He sets out to show us how important the connection to the macabre is through films, books and video games in this sterilised world in which we have very few encounters with actual death. For me, as a life long lover of being scared, I found this book a delight and would recommend it to anyone who likes the ghost train more than the waltzers!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Celia Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow start, but then again you really do need to set up all the details for a good story. This title was easy to read and very well written, like i said slow at the start but within a blink of an eye the story pumped up and kept me glued to the pages. It was a nice supernatural horror, filled with some interesting twist's, I enjoyed this title and the ending was very unexpected with the good vs. evil twist. The author has written a great story that was easy to follow, I would recommend this book.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was very cleverly written, and contained a different twist compared to other horror novels. In the middle it does seem to wane, however he uses this to create suspense of what is to come. I enjoyed this book particulalry the ending of the fight of good and evil, and the unexpected outcome.

[Angela Crawford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just couldn't get into it.

[Jakurt Guthorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das Buch ist beinahe nahtlos spannend, schneidet dabei Klischees aus dem Horrorgenre lediglich an, denn die Umsetzung und das Einfallsreichtum sorgen für eine völlige Neuinterpretation von dem Einheitsbrei aus Besessenheit, Dämonen und verfluchten Häusern, die den Rezipienten von Horrorfilmen und Büchern sonst oft langweilt. Teilweise wird das Buch recht surreal und skurril, was mir ebenfalls gefiel.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how insane this one was. Laws definitely has a thing for the inanimate turned animate. I felt the parts drag a bit for me but I also read this during the second worst food poisoning I've ever had.
Fuck you noodle box

[KidPaulienBot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third Laws book, and he hasn't disappointed me yet. This book was a total shocker, I had no idea it was going where it went and I dont want to spoil it for that reason...but read it. It wont be what you think

[Stephen Corbett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping tale from Stephen Laws.
Good vs Evil and the evil that men do.
Fabulous build up and an epic ending.
Brill stuff...and a much enjoyed reread after many years.

[Anthony Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The small, minor beginnings sure hide the apocalyptic horror that deals with crime, murder, revenge and the supernatural and ends with saints, demons and the doubtful future of mankind. Another masterpiece by this master of horror