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The Knowing
United by destiny, they must stand together to face an ancient evil.....
Ceri Edwards and two school friends lift the lid on an ancient book of recipes belonging to Betty Williams, a volunteer at the local hospital in Pontypridd, South Wales. Two Kansas City cops step off a flight at London Heathrow and one of them falls to the ground with a painful conviction that there's something evil in the air.
United in their destinies, Ceri and the police officers are drawn into a world where prophecies are pitted against invisible forces planning to raze London to the ground and bring down the Royal Family.
It all rests with Dai Williams, recently knighted MI5 agent and reluctant hero, to bring some order to the improbable events and to ensure that afternoon tea at The Ritz continues for another hundred years.
A great cross between Kim Newman and Ben Aaranovitch and a thrill for any fan of contemporary urban horror.
'Transatlantic horrors don't come much better than this one by David Graham.' - Nooks Books N Crooks
Ceri Edwards and two school friends lift the lid on an ancient book of recipes belonging to Betty Williams, a volunteer at the local hospital in Pontypridd, South Wales. Two Kansas City cops step off a flight at London Heathrow and one of them falls to the ground with a painful conviction that there's something evil in the air.
United in their destinies, Ceri and the police officers are drawn into a world where prophecies are pitted against invisible forces planning to raze London to the ground and bring down the Royal Family.
It all rests with Dai Williams, recently knighted MI5 agent and reluctant hero, to bring some order to the improbable events and to ensure that afternoon tea at The Ritz continues for another hundred years.
A great cross between Kim Newman and Ben Aaranovitch and a thrill for any fan of contemporary urban horror.
'Transatlantic horrors don't come much better than this one by David Graham.' - Nooks Books N Crooks
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2017
7 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
David Graham
1 bookDavid Graham was an English actor. He was best known for voicing the Daleks in Doctor Who, Gordon Tracy, Brains, Aloysius Parker and Kyrano in Thunderbirds and Grandpa Pig in Peppa Pig.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 21, 2017
"The Knowing" written by the very imaginative David Graham is a thrilling contemporary urban horror book published by Urbane Publications.
The story is set in London and focuses on evil forces invading London intent on destroying the human race.
At first I wasn't sure if this was my type of book, I'm not a major fan of horror books, but to be honest once you start reading it you realise that it's not a traditional horror book but more a fantasy/mystery book. "The Knowing" follows on from the author's previous book "The Screaming" - I personally haven't read this book but I don't feel you need to in order to enjoy "The Knowing", as there's enough information in it for you to catch up on and it could also quite easily be enjoyed as a standalone novel anyway.
I loved the involvement of the 'witchery business' - I do like stories about witches and I think this is what kept me intrigued throughout the book. I thought all the varied characters were interesting and detailed well and i particularly liked the Queen's very weird and unusual character!!
Although this book isn't something I would not normally pick up off a shelf, I acquired it through the monthly 'Urbane Book Club'. The great thing about this club is that you get a copy of every printed book they publish in the year that you join, and in doing so you get books that may/may not be your usual genre or liking. I'm pleased I received this book this way as I was therefore able to read something I may have missed out on and am now able to recommend to others.
There's probably quite a few genres this entertaining book could fit into, so if you enjoy urban horror/mystery/magic/dystopian etc then you will definitely enjoy this fast paced and intriguing book, and I will certainly be looking to read more by this author in the future.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
The story is set in London and focuses on evil forces invading London intent on destroying the human race.
At first I wasn't sure if this was my type of book, I'm not a major fan of horror books, but to be honest once you start reading it you realise that it's not a traditional horror book but more a fantasy/mystery book. "The Knowing" follows on from the author's previous book "The Screaming" - I personally haven't read this book but I don't feel you need to in order to enjoy "The Knowing", as there's enough information in it for you to catch up on and it could also quite easily be enjoyed as a standalone novel anyway.
I loved the involvement of the 'witchery business' - I do like stories about witches and I think this is what kept me intrigued throughout the book. I thought all the varied characters were interesting and detailed well and i particularly liked the Queen's very weird and unusual character!!
Although this book isn't something I would not normally pick up off a shelf, I acquired it through the monthly 'Urbane Book Club'. The great thing about this club is that you get a copy of every printed book they publish in the year that you join, and in doing so you get books that may/may not be your usual genre or liking. I'm pleased I received this book this way as I was therefore able to read something I may have missed out on and am now able to recommend to others.
There's probably quite a few genres this entertaining book could fit into, so if you enjoy urban horror/mystery/magic/dystopian etc then you will definitely enjoy this fast paced and intriguing book, and I will certainly be looking to read more by this author in the future.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
July 12, 2017
dnf at 26%
does the crippling guilt of dnf-ing books fade with time or is it eternal?
i really wanted to love this. mystery?? horror?? magic?? sign me up!!
sadly, though, the writing style wasn't grabbing me at all and i found my attention wandering off. it didn't help that the perspective kept switching all the time, and when i didn't have much interest in the first place, switching to a random character who is equally un-compelling is not going to help me become interested.
i think it just wasn't my kind of book, because the other reviewers seemed to really love it; probably a not-you-its-me situation. oh well c'est la vie.
does the crippling guilt of dnf-ing books fade with time or is it eternal?
i really wanted to love this. mystery?? horror?? magic?? sign me up!!
sadly, though, the writing style wasn't grabbing me at all and i found my attention wandering off. it didn't help that the perspective kept switching all the time, and when i didn't have much interest in the first place, switching to a random character who is equally un-compelling is not going to help me become interested.
i think it just wasn't my kind of book, because the other reviewers seemed to really love it; probably a not-you-its-me situation. oh well c'est la vie.
March 22, 2017
Review of THE KNOWING by David Graham
A direct sequel to author Graham's terrifying thriller, THE SCREAMING, this novel can nevertheless stand on its own, as sufficient backstory is drawn in throughout so those who may not have read THE SCREAMING can still thrill to the chills and scares of THE KNOWING, as well as enjoying the author's subtle humour and tugging of heartstrings among the characters.
After EM radiation from cell phones and the Internet had been proven to cause adolescent psychosis, the UK banned mobile phones and Internet access, while the US shoveled all adolescents into protective care (read, asylums) under executive order. The silencing of electromagnetic radiation throughout the UK has allowed an influx of “other” energies, including witchcraft, which is on a steep rise. Kansas City, Missouri, police sergeants Dale Franklin and Steve Abrams, who had been instrumental in helping identify the causes of the adolescent psychosis crisis in the U.S., travel to London and discover a new conspiracy, one which reaches to MI5 and possibly to the Queen.
A direct sequel to author Graham's terrifying thriller, THE SCREAMING, this novel can nevertheless stand on its own, as sufficient backstory is drawn in throughout so those who may not have read THE SCREAMING can still thrill to the chills and scares of THE KNOWING, as well as enjoying the author's subtle humour and tugging of heartstrings among the characters.
After EM radiation from cell phones and the Internet had been proven to cause adolescent psychosis, the UK banned mobile phones and Internet access, while the US shoveled all adolescents into protective care (read, asylums) under executive order. The silencing of electromagnetic radiation throughout the UK has allowed an influx of “other” energies, including witchcraft, which is on a steep rise. Kansas City, Missouri, police sergeants Dale Franklin and Steve Abrams, who had been instrumental in helping identify the causes of the adolescent psychosis crisis in the U.S., travel to London and discover a new conspiracy, one which reaches to MI5 and possibly to the Queen.
May 19, 2017
I was excited to jump into this book. From the description it sounded very interesting and I expected it to be a quick read. Within a few chapters I was having a difficult time following the multiple story lines even though it was clear that they would tie up nicely further into the story.
I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and Dale’s constant testicle pain made it difficult for me to want to continue to read. After struggling for four days to make progress in the book, I gave up at 50%. This is my first DNF (did not finish) in years.
Read all of my reviews at my blog at the-pink-moose.com
I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and Dale’s constant testicle pain made it difficult for me to want to continue to read. After struggling for four days to make progress in the book, I gave up at 50%. This is my first DNF (did not finish) in years.
Read all of my reviews at my blog at the-pink-moose.com
May 4, 2017
This book was more than just horror, but a thrilling mystery as well. I love the setting taken place in London and how the events of this story come together to try to destroy a human race. I was on edge the whole time and I could not stop reading. This book was well written and the characters were thought through to make the storyline even better. This story focuses on evil forces that invade London and how there is much corruption everywhere in the city. I did not know there was a first book to this story because this would make a perfect stand alone to be honest. I was satisfied and would love to read more from this author.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCADH...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCADH...
June 19, 2017
In hindsight, I wonder why I chose to read this book, but then again it happens from time to time: you pick a book you find interesting, either because of the summary (original: yes) or the cover (mysterious: yes). You think this could be something different from the well-trodden path of horror and mystery you usually read, widen your horizon and all that stuff. What can I say? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This book is definitely a very strong case of 'doesn't' for me...
It started off well enough, with a slight sense of humor and big question mark in my mind. What was going on here? Did I miss something important because I did not read the previous book? I sure missed some kind of introductory retrospect to put me on track. As it was, I constantly felt left out, and that I just 'didn't get it'. So on I went - yeah, I'm still one of those rare creatures who are not able to DNF a book, no matter what...). Hoping for things to get better, for something to come that finally grabs my attention with a big WOW (or at least a small Aha!) effect. Sadly, that moment never came, and after finishing the book I felt disappointed, irritated and bewildered. And of course annoyed - not by the book but by my poor judgment that made me chose the book in the first place and wonder how I could miss the fine print telling warning me that the book is not compatible with my reading habits.
Regarding the story, I never felt anything but indifference towards the characters and an immunity to the certainly existing, but sadly not my kind of, humor. More often than not, I missed the smooth transition between chapters and events, they rather felt aligned and without some tighter connection to put them together into a well-rounded whole.
As my review is based on my very own personal taste and, in this case, dislike of the book, I do not feel in a position to either recommend or not recommend it - I'd rather suggest to find out on your own, maybe by dipping your toes into a sample chapter first...
(Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
It started off well enough, with a slight sense of humor and big question mark in my mind. What was going on here? Did I miss something important because I did not read the previous book? I sure missed some kind of introductory retrospect to put me on track. As it was, I constantly felt left out, and that I just 'didn't get it'. So on I went - yeah, I'm still one of those rare creatures who are not able to DNF a book, no matter what...). Hoping for things to get better, for something to come that finally grabs my attention with a big WOW (or at least a small Aha!) effect. Sadly, that moment never came, and after finishing the book I felt disappointed, irritated and bewildered. And of course annoyed - not by the book but by my poor judgment that made me chose the book in the first place and wonder how I could miss the fine print telling warning me that the book is not compatible with my reading habits.
Regarding the story, I never felt anything but indifference towards the characters and an immunity to the certainly existing, but sadly not my kind of, humor. More often than not, I missed the smooth transition between chapters and events, they rather felt aligned and without some tighter connection to put them together into a well-rounded whole.
As my review is based on my very own personal taste and, in this case, dislike of the book, I do not feel in a position to either recommend or not recommend it - I'd rather suggest to find out on your own, maybe by dipping your toes into a sample chapter first...
(Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
March 30, 2017
"To know, is to know you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge." - a wonderful quote by Socrates starts off this book, and couldn't be more apt. With a heady prologue that gets off to a ponderous beginning, what with a toxic technological soup that is inherently evil and dangerous, this novel begins with a bang. The Knowing: A thrilling horror fantasy by David Graham is the perfect amalgamation of horror and inexplicable events, conspiring together to destroy humanity. This is a gripping book, with well thought out characterization and a skillful plot that doesn't disappoint. Be prepared to be immersed into a shocking world filled with corruption, danger, and difficulties everywhere. As a successful sequel to Graham's The Screaming, this new novel certainly can stand on it's own terrifying merits, while subtly evoking touches of humor here and there, along with the requisite chills and thrills that make this genre so tempting.
March 27, 2017
A beautiful mix of horror and fantasy, The Knowing by David Graham features great characters, an ancient evil that could destroy the city of London and the Royal family, all beginning with a musty recipe book. Readers will read about broken destinies and characters whose paths cross in the battle against something the city has never known before. But can the new knight Dai Williams, a once-upon-a-time MI5 agent succeed to defeat the chaos and bring back order to this city with a lot of promise?
I am not a fan of horror novels, but it's gripping, created with a great plot and memorable characters, I can't complain and this one met and exceeded my expectations. The reader gets into a world that is difficult, cursed, where danger seems to be at the next corner. The author makes the reader read with their hearts in their hands; they can feel the pulse rising as they read on. It's a book that comes with a spell. You won't put it down.
I am not a fan of horror novels, but it's gripping, created with a great plot and memorable characters, I can't complain and this one met and exceeded my expectations. The reader gets into a world that is difficult, cursed, where danger seems to be at the next corner. The author makes the reader read with their hearts in their hands; they can feel the pulse rising as they read on. It's a book that comes with a spell. You won't put it down.
done-with
May 16, 2017I really wanted to like this one, but I just couldn't get into it. The premise was great - as was the promise: mystery, supernatural elements, a book of secrets, MI5, a plot against the Royals... I liked the sample text well enough, but when I tried to dig into the larger book, I just found myself floundering. The teenage girls babble on rather inanely - I know that is the wont of teenage girls everywhere, but in a book I need a little guidance, maybe a roadmap or at least a street sign... I found myself so far beyond caring what happened to them that I could barely even turn another page to try to get into what was supposed to be the actual mystery (as opposed to merely the mystery of how the three of them had managed to survive this long)... Unfortunately, page after page is what it took - and after countless numbers of them, I couldn't gin up enough enthusiasm to keep turning them until things picked up. Even the introduction of the detectives wasn't enough to save this one (Harrison Ford comparisons aside)... They also struck me as rather blah and their interactions as rather randomly uninteresting and inane.
Honestly, the only thing I liked - and I liked it quite a lot - was the evil-cell-phones bit. Talk about promise in a premise - technology as evil seems to offer so many intriguing possibilities... And maybe they were fleshed out in full technicolor glory at some point, but I just couldn't get past the characterization issues to find out. Very rarely, I stumble on a book where the characters just cannot step out of their own way long enough to let the story tell itself. This was most definitely one of those. It's a shame, but I just couldn't stick it out...
Honestly, the only thing I liked - and I liked it quite a lot - was the evil-cell-phones bit. Talk about promise in a premise - technology as evil seems to offer so many intriguing possibilities... And maybe they were fleshed out in full technicolor glory at some point, but I just couldn't get past the characterization issues to find out. Very rarely, I stumble on a book where the characters just cannot step out of their own way long enough to let the story tell itself. This was most definitely one of those. It's a shame, but I just couldn't stick it out...
May 6, 2017
This book was very good and different as well it brought me into the zone. This book is about silencing of electromagnetic radiation throughout the UK has allowed an evil energies but can the new knight Dai Williams, a once upon a time agent succeed to defeat the chaos and bring back order to this city? You get into a world that is cursed and you will read about broken destinies whose paths cross in the battle against something the city has never known before. If you like to read horror then you will really enjoy this book and it will definitely be at the edge of your seat till the end. I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
May 9, 2017
The Knowing: A Thrilling horror fantasy by David Graham is a story about a variety of different characters - a young teenage girl who is a witch, a police officer from America and his partner/boyfriend and an MI5 agent from England. In this story we are first introduced to some young girls who are witches (in England) and they are working on producing a hex to put on Dai Williams who has recently been knighted by the Queen for helping to save her life from what many believe was a stroke. The hex back fires on the girls and instead ends up sending them to the hospital. The Queen is keen to what they were up to and attempting to do and so she has a talk with the girl's mother. Dai (David) is living in England with his pregnant girlfriend/fiancée. He goes up to visit with the Queen per her request and ends up having a few drinks and then ends up disappearing for 24 hours leaving many to wonder what really happened to him. The two American police officers - Steve and Dale are visiting England for their vacation and one of them is quickly afflicted by a severe pain in his nether regions that soon begins to show him things that are going to happen. He under goes many examinations to see what is causing this but can find no solid reason. There is a threat to many of the people and it's up to them to figure it out and save everyone.
When I first read the synopsis for this story I was really excited and hopeful concerning it because I am a huge fan of horror and I figured with the fantasy/magic element that it would really take things up a notch and make it something truly impressive. Well, I hate to say it but for me this book was more of a comedy than anything. When I read about the teenagers being made to be locked away in institutions because of the radiation from cellphones making them go crazy and commit homicides and other brutal attacks or just go crazy my immediate thought was this is going to be super cool to read about. But while the author takes the time to point this out and make it a focal point of your mind they really don't touch too much on it and it has no real role for me in the story. The story takes place on both sides of the pond and it's very enjoyable to read but when someone says horror....this is story isn't what I would even classify it as.
What I honestly don't like is how the story jumps from one character to the next and at random like it does. There isn't any way to really predict or know who is going to be the one the story focuses on next. One minute you are following Steve and Dale and then you've jumped to Dai with his psychic abilities and then you're back with the girls or the girl's mother. Some of the characters are more interesting than the rest. The author at times isn't totally clear about what is going on with each character. For example...I didn't know for a good while that Dai's (David) fiancée couldn't talk. I figured that out later on in the story. Also, some of the dialogue and words used were a bit confusing and I felt the author could have taken the time to at least have told us once what some of the abbreviations were and stood for.
While this is not a story that I would classify as horror or even scary it is an enjoyable read. It is engaging from the very beginning and keeps you wanting to know what happens next with the characters you really come to gravitate towards. For me this is more of a mystery with comedy expertly written in the right places to give you a giggle at the right moments concerning the situations and circumstances that some of the characters deal with. It's interesting and fun for sure.
All in all I'd rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's very well written and edited so that there are no editorial errors to speak of. I just would not classify this book as horror in the sense of what the average person calls horror or scary. If anything...if I had to call it horror I'd say it's a light horror and something that is a passing scare at best for those who spook easily. But the characters are engaging and interesting, even the minor characters. So if you're looking for a unique read that has some twists and a few surprises but leans more toward comedy/mystery then this is the book to pick up. But if you are looking for something that is steeped in horror and has a true fantasy edge...you may want to pass on this one unless you just want a good read.
When I first read the synopsis for this story I was really excited and hopeful concerning it because I am a huge fan of horror and I figured with the fantasy/magic element that it would really take things up a notch and make it something truly impressive. Well, I hate to say it but for me this book was more of a comedy than anything. When I read about the teenagers being made to be locked away in institutions because of the radiation from cellphones making them go crazy and commit homicides and other brutal attacks or just go crazy my immediate thought was this is going to be super cool to read about. But while the author takes the time to point this out and make it a focal point of your mind they really don't touch too much on it and it has no real role for me in the story. The story takes place on both sides of the pond and it's very enjoyable to read but when someone says horror....this is story isn't what I would even classify it as.
What I honestly don't like is how the story jumps from one character to the next and at random like it does. There isn't any way to really predict or know who is going to be the one the story focuses on next. One minute you are following Steve and Dale and then you've jumped to Dai with his psychic abilities and then you're back with the girls or the girl's mother. Some of the characters are more interesting than the rest. The author at times isn't totally clear about what is going on with each character. For example...I didn't know for a good while that Dai's (David) fiancée couldn't talk. I figured that out later on in the story. Also, some of the dialogue and words used were a bit confusing and I felt the author could have taken the time to at least have told us once what some of the abbreviations were and stood for.
While this is not a story that I would classify as horror or even scary it is an enjoyable read. It is engaging from the very beginning and keeps you wanting to know what happens next with the characters you really come to gravitate towards. For me this is more of a mystery with comedy expertly written in the right places to give you a giggle at the right moments concerning the situations and circumstances that some of the characters deal with. It's interesting and fun for sure.
All in all I'd rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's very well written and edited so that there are no editorial errors to speak of. I just would not classify this book as horror in the sense of what the average person calls horror or scary. If anything...if I had to call it horror I'd say it's a light horror and something that is a passing scare at best for those who spook easily. But the characters are engaging and interesting, even the minor characters. So if you're looking for a unique read that has some twists and a few surprises but leans more toward comedy/mystery then this is the book to pick up. But if you are looking for something that is steeped in horror and has a true fantasy edge...you may want to pass on this one unless you just want a good read.
November 26, 2017
This book had no idea what it was and I had no idea what I was reading.
Just to break down the blurb, the teens and the Kansas City police officers are completely unrelated and don’t even meet until the very end of the book. Dai Williams is rather useless and has nothing resting with him. I don’t know who Kim Newman or Ben Aaranovitch are but I can tell you this is not urban horror. I don’t know what this was other than ridiculous.
The only way I can really describe the book is it’s like following a stumbling drunk home. You’ll eventually get to your destination but not before you lurch around, wander down some side streets, go backward, forward, side to side, fall face down into a puddle and get back up again. The author was way more concerned about being quippy and dropping as many “intelligent” references as possible than just telling the story. Development didn’t just happen. It happened with a reference to a show or with a snide comment or a paragraph of meandering thought. It was so all over the place it made keeping the actual story straight exceedingly difficult.
I really shut down when “the knowing” turned into a prophetic nutsack. That’s not a euphemism. A dude’s balls give him “the sight.” I don’t even know what to do with this book. It looks vaguely put-together. Nice cover. Interesting, if a little quirky, story going on. But the actual book is a mess. I’m motion sick at the end of it for all the lurching it does. I know what the author is trying to do but I think it falls flat. The exceedingly heavy-handed “humor” coupled with a lot of English-specific colloquialisms made context nearly impossible and the book feels like it wasn’t plotted. It just zigzags all over the place with very little cohesion.
THE KNOWING just didn’t work in any respect. It’s tonally off from the blurb, it can’t stick to its own story, and the author has shoved himself so deeply into the never-ending quips that it became too difficult to even see the characters anymore. The world is lost too. It doesn’t seem at all developed, but instead seemed like a good concept that just coasted on the surface without any digging. And it provided great support for telepathic testicles. So there’s that.
1
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Just to break down the blurb, the teens and the Kansas City police officers are completely unrelated and don’t even meet until the very end of the book. Dai Williams is rather useless and has nothing resting with him. I don’t know who Kim Newman or Ben Aaranovitch are but I can tell you this is not urban horror. I don’t know what this was other than ridiculous.
The only way I can really describe the book is it’s like following a stumbling drunk home. You’ll eventually get to your destination but not before you lurch around, wander down some side streets, go backward, forward, side to side, fall face down into a puddle and get back up again. The author was way more concerned about being quippy and dropping as many “intelligent” references as possible than just telling the story. Development didn’t just happen. It happened with a reference to a show or with a snide comment or a paragraph of meandering thought. It was so all over the place it made keeping the actual story straight exceedingly difficult.
I really shut down when “the knowing” turned into a prophetic nutsack. That’s not a euphemism. A dude’s balls give him “the sight.” I don’t even know what to do with this book. It looks vaguely put-together. Nice cover. Interesting, if a little quirky, story going on. But the actual book is a mess. I’m motion sick at the end of it for all the lurching it does. I know what the author is trying to do but I think it falls flat. The exceedingly heavy-handed “humor” coupled with a lot of English-specific colloquialisms made context nearly impossible and the book feels like it wasn’t plotted. It just zigzags all over the place with very little cohesion.
THE KNOWING just didn’t work in any respect. It’s tonally off from the blurb, it can’t stick to its own story, and the author has shoved himself so deeply into the never-ending quips that it became too difficult to even see the characters anymore. The world is lost too. It doesn’t seem at all developed, but instead seemed like a good concept that just coasted on the surface without any digging. And it provided great support for telepathic testicles. So there’s that.
1
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2017
Let me start off with what I liked about the book; I loved the idea of the plot. I felt it had great potential to be something more. I also enjoyed the character and their interactions between one and other. I also love the fact that the setting was a dystopian futuristic England, London to be exact. I'm a big horror fan, whether it be on pages or on a screen. with that being said, it can be hard to make a horror story jump out at you on pages in my personal opinion. 'The Knowing' tried, but to me, it didn't read like a horror story, instead, more like a suspense, action, thriller with Sci-fi Dystopian elements to it.
What I didn't like was that i felt this was another shot at trying to make M.Night Shyamalan, 'The Happening', a thing. Although, I actually didn't mind the movie, I wouldn't pan it as bad as the critics did, but it wasn't a masterpiece, either and had some holes - just as this book, 'The Knowing' did.
I felt this book was pretty slow in some areas and tended to drag in places as well. I struggled to get through the middle of this book, but when I was able to, I felt a lot was fluff and unnecessary. With that being said, the ending was a bit predictable, but I felt, for the most part, things did add up.
For me, like "the Happening", "The Knowing" isn't garbage, it's not horrible, but it's not a masterpiece. I liked the, 'Ah Ha! moments!' and I did think it came together smoothly in the end. I just can't give it 5 stars based on the fact that i felt it wasn't horror and it turned out to be predictable. Predictability can be forgiving, as I'm normally very good at figuring out plots before the end of the book, but some are just blatant, I felt this had that blatant predictability factor, that I could not over look. Again, not a bad book, just not the best, I felt it could also do with some reworking. Overall, I'd recommend, only for people to make up their own mind, as these things are subjective.
What I didn't like was that i felt this was another shot at trying to make M.Night Shyamalan, 'The Happening', a thing. Although, I actually didn't mind the movie, I wouldn't pan it as bad as the critics did, but it wasn't a masterpiece, either and had some holes - just as this book, 'The Knowing' did.
I felt this book was pretty slow in some areas and tended to drag in places as well. I struggled to get through the middle of this book, but when I was able to, I felt a lot was fluff and unnecessary. With that being said, the ending was a bit predictable, but I felt, for the most part, things did add up.
For me, like "the Happening", "The Knowing" isn't garbage, it's not horrible, but it's not a masterpiece. I liked the, 'Ah Ha! moments!' and I did think it came together smoothly in the end. I just can't give it 5 stars based on the fact that i felt it wasn't horror and it turned out to be predictable. Predictability can be forgiving, as I'm normally very good at figuring out plots before the end of the book, but some are just blatant, I felt this had that blatant predictability factor, that I could not over look. Again, not a bad book, just not the best, I felt it could also do with some reworking. Overall, I'd recommend, only for people to make up their own mind, as these things are subjective.
May 13, 2017
The Knowing is a fabulous urban, horror thriller, that defies its genre. I actually thought that this book was more of a mystery/supernatural/science fiction type of a read... it is most certainly a genre busting book, and I loved it! I also didn't realise that this book follows on from The Screaming, but this book worked for me as a stand alone novel. I will, however, be reading The Screaming in the near future.
The Knowing is set in futuristic London, where Ceri Edwards from Pontypridd, South Wales and police officers from the States, have to fight against invisible forces who are wanting to destroy the country. The prologue sets the scene beautifully for the action to follow, and from that moment on the pace really doesn't let up. Mr Graham writes is such an easy and engaging way, with both humour and wit. Although set in a futuristic dystopian world, I understood completely the world in which these characters lived, as the author had constructed such an elaborate and detailed environment. The world in which they inhabit felt as real to me, as the world in which we live today.
The plot is a complicated and enjoyable one. I don't want to go into it in detail, as it will obviously give the game away, but all I will say is that the plot was well constructed and executed. Just imagine London as a corrupted city, with no mobile phones or internet, as this type of technology has been banned. It's a completely different world.
This book also worked for me because of the rich array of characters who each had their own unique story to tell. I enjoyed all of the characters in this novel, all had their own point of view and I felt like I got to know them. My favourite character had to be Ceri, a young teenage witch, a quirky and likeable girl, who unleashes much mischief when she opens the book of ancient curses. I found the way in which she spoke and acted incredibly authentic, just like that of a teenager learning about the world and how to fit into it. She really does have a rite of passage in this novel.
On paper, I really shouldn't have enjoyed this book, as I am not a big horror, urban fantasy reader... but this book, as I have already mentioned, defies being labelled, so if you are not a huge horror fan, do not be put off. This really is a gripping and enjoyable read. I couldn't put it down.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
The Knowing is set in futuristic London, where Ceri Edwards from Pontypridd, South Wales and police officers from the States, have to fight against invisible forces who are wanting to destroy the country. The prologue sets the scene beautifully for the action to follow, and from that moment on the pace really doesn't let up. Mr Graham writes is such an easy and engaging way, with both humour and wit. Although set in a futuristic dystopian world, I understood completely the world in which these characters lived, as the author had constructed such an elaborate and detailed environment. The world in which they inhabit felt as real to me, as the world in which we live today.
The plot is a complicated and enjoyable one. I don't want to go into it in detail, as it will obviously give the game away, but all I will say is that the plot was well constructed and executed. Just imagine London as a corrupted city, with no mobile phones or internet, as this type of technology has been banned. It's a completely different world.
This book also worked for me because of the rich array of characters who each had their own unique story to tell. I enjoyed all of the characters in this novel, all had their own point of view and I felt like I got to know them. My favourite character had to be Ceri, a young teenage witch, a quirky and likeable girl, who unleashes much mischief when she opens the book of ancient curses. I found the way in which she spoke and acted incredibly authentic, just like that of a teenager learning about the world and how to fit into it. She really does have a rite of passage in this novel.
On paper, I really shouldn't have enjoyed this book, as I am not a big horror, urban fantasy reader... but this book, as I have already mentioned, defies being labelled, so if you are not a huge horror fan, do not be put off. This really is a gripping and enjoyable read. I couldn't put it down.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
May 9, 2017
In this world, radiation from cell phones and the Internet causes teenagers to go psycho. America has decided to lock all of the teenagers up while the UK has decided to block all cell phone and internet use. With the cell phones and Internet stopped, people are learning that they have magical abilities that have been disguised. But with anything, you may have those that want to use these abilities to help others or just help themselves with little things. But then there are those that have big, evil plans. Plans that will awaken an ancient evil that will destroy the royal family and London.
I did not realize that this is the sequel to The Screaming where everyone learns about the radiation from cell phone and the Internet. But you could easily read The Knowing as a stand-alone book.
Ceri, Dilys, and Bronwen are three teenagers that are curious about magic after their teacher gives them a project for their GCSE class. But when their curse backfires, this just encourages Ceri to try harder. Unfortunately an untrained witch can cause a lot of trouble with a book of ancient curses.
I thought this was a good story, very original. There were a couple parts and some things about the characters that I was slightly confused at but if I had read The Screaming I’m sure it would have flowed better for me. Over all I enjoyed this book and I’m very interested in reading The Screaming to see what I have missed.
I received The Knowing from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
I did not realize that this is the sequel to The Screaming where everyone learns about the radiation from cell phone and the Internet. But you could easily read The Knowing as a stand-alone book.
Ceri, Dilys, and Bronwen are three teenagers that are curious about magic after their teacher gives them a project for their GCSE class. But when their curse backfires, this just encourages Ceri to try harder. Unfortunately an untrained witch can cause a lot of trouble with a book of ancient curses.
I thought this was a good story, very original. There were a couple parts and some things about the characters that I was slightly confused at but if I had read The Screaming I’m sure it would have flowed better for me. Over all I enjoyed this book and I’m very interested in reading The Screaming to see what I have missed.
I received The Knowing from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
May 8, 2017
Ok I am to be honest, that's what you want with a review right? I felt totally and completely lost throughout this whole book! First I didn't realise it was a sequel - once I found that out it made sense to my feeling of being complete and utter lost but it didn't help my any.
This was also not a horror in the slightest, mystery thriller perhaps but definitely not horror - or at least not my definition of horror - this wasn't scary can't read in the dark material.
I didn't connect with any character at all, and I was ready to give up but trudged on. I really wanted to love this book, and based on the blurb I thought I would but it wasn't what I thought.
Britain and the world I guess has gone through some pretty major events of some description in the first book that has banned all use of technology. This has brought about powers in people that have otherwise been suppressed with all the WiFi radiation etc. So now have witches and people with psychic abilities - the knowing.
If I read the screaming then perhaps rereading this one will be better… certainly won't make me feel so lost I bet!
This was also not a horror in the slightest, mystery thriller perhaps but definitely not horror - or at least not my definition of horror - this wasn't scary can't read in the dark material.
I didn't connect with any character at all, and I was ready to give up but trudged on. I really wanted to love this book, and based on the blurb I thought I would but it wasn't what I thought.
Britain and the world I guess has gone through some pretty major events of some description in the first book that has banned all use of technology. This has brought about powers in people that have otherwise been suppressed with all the WiFi radiation etc. So now have witches and people with psychic abilities - the knowing.
If I read the screaming then perhaps rereading this one will be better… certainly won't make me feel so lost I bet!
March 20, 2024
Book Review:
The Knowing by David Graham
Published by Urbane Publications, 2017
This genre-defying book covers a lot of bases, touching on horror, thriller, sci-fi and fantasy, and is set in a futuristic, dystopian London where technology such as mobile phones and the internet have been outlawed.
Young witch Ceri Edwards is our protagonist, and the author makes her a likeable, quirky character. The plot is outlandish, and to get the best out of The Knowing, you need to leave any hold on reality at the door! It's a bizarre slow burner that binds humour with horror. You'd probably do well to read the author's The Screaming prior to this book for the full effect.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Urbane Publications for the ARC provided via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review
The Knowing by David Graham
Published by Urbane Publications, 2017
This genre-defying book covers a lot of bases, touching on horror, thriller, sci-fi and fantasy, and is set in a futuristic, dystopian London where technology such as mobile phones and the internet have been outlawed.
Young witch Ceri Edwards is our protagonist, and the author makes her a likeable, quirky character. The plot is outlandish, and to get the best out of The Knowing, you need to leave any hold on reality at the door! It's a bizarre slow burner that binds humour with horror. You'd probably do well to read the author's The Screaming prior to this book for the full effect.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Urbane Publications for the ARC provided via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review
May 8, 2017
Review:
A groups of schoolgirls attempt a magic spell which goes wrong, while Dai Williams is dealing with his new found fame after he saves the Queen's life. I did not realize that this was the second book in the series and I will be reading the first one. Full of strange and curious events, it was certainly entertaining. I liked the mix of telepathy along with the mystery of what happened with the mobile phones. I'm sure more is explained in book one, but there was enough here to keep me reading. I would definitely recommend it.
A groups of schoolgirls attempt a magic spell which goes wrong, while Dai Williams is dealing with his new found fame after he saves the Queen's life. I did not realize that this was the second book in the series and I will be reading the first one. Full of strange and curious events, it was certainly entertaining. I liked the mix of telepathy along with the mystery of what happened with the mobile phones. I'm sure more is explained in book one, but there was enough here to keep me reading. I would definitely recommend it.
April 9, 2017
I am not big on horrors, the movies or books, but I like exciting, fast and entertaining novels that keep me on the edge of my seat. I heard good things about this so I took the leap and read it, and I am glad I did.
I would not call it strictly a horror, it certainly has many tropes of that genre, but it also has some thriller in it, lots of action, emotion and a bit of humor too. The story is nothing groundbreaking or original, there is an ancient evil from a very old book, a hero that is not particularly keen on dealing with it but is very good at it and so on. I like the setting of London that is under attack by evil forces and I really, really love Dai Williams, knight and former MI5 who is our main character. He was instantly likeable to me, entertaining and charismatic, great to root for.
I read that this is a second book in the series, but I honestly didn't notice that while reading, it stand on its own without any problem. If the first book is anything like this one, I will check it out, this is scary, exciting, thrilling read, not just for those who love horror.
I would not call it strictly a horror, it certainly has many tropes of that genre, but it also has some thriller in it, lots of action, emotion and a bit of humor too. The story is nothing groundbreaking or original, there is an ancient evil from a very old book, a hero that is not particularly keen on dealing with it but is very good at it and so on. I like the setting of London that is under attack by evil forces and I really, really love Dai Williams, knight and former MI5 who is our main character. He was instantly likeable to me, entertaining and charismatic, great to root for.
I read that this is a second book in the series, but I honestly didn't notice that while reading, it stand on its own without any problem. If the first book is anything like this one, I will check it out, this is scary, exciting, thrilling read, not just for those who love horror.
Read
April 25, 2017I will keep this short as I do not feel it's fair to give a full review on a book that I was unable to finish.
It's not very often that I give up on a book. I have tortured myself for months, determined to finish a book in the past with mixed results, all the while staring longingly at my bookshelves for any kind of reprieve. Every now and then, you get lucky and a book will pick up speed and turn into every thing you could hope for. Sometimes, you aren't so lucky.
I made it about half way through this book before deciding to give up. Unfortunately, I could just not "click" with this book and found the pace was not matching the excitement I had when first reading the summary. I had built this up in my head as being a horror story, but found it to be more mystery/thriller and while the summary discusses Ceri and her friends and being "drawn into a world where prophecies are pitted against invisible forces", there is hardly any focus on this in the first half of the book.
I am not saying that this is not a good book, it currently has a 4.78 star rating on Goodreads, this book was just not for me. With the bulk of the plot taking place in the UK, I spent a lot of time researching places, stores, words, etc to understand them in the context that they were being used and could just not justify spending this much time and energy on a book that was just not keeping me enthralled.
If you read this book, I hope you have better luck than I did! If you enjoyed David Graham's other book The Screaming then you should also enjoy this book and I encourage you to give it a try as this is a sequel to that book. If you have not read The Screaming, do not fret as this book can also be read independently as it provides enough back story that you can follow along. One of the other reviews I saw said this book is a mix of The Conjuring, Constantine and Broadchurch, so if you are fans of any of these, then give it a try!
It's not very often that I give up on a book. I have tortured myself for months, determined to finish a book in the past with mixed results, all the while staring longingly at my bookshelves for any kind of reprieve. Every now and then, you get lucky and a book will pick up speed and turn into every thing you could hope for. Sometimes, you aren't so lucky.
I made it about half way through this book before deciding to give up. Unfortunately, I could just not "click" with this book and found the pace was not matching the excitement I had when first reading the summary. I had built this up in my head as being a horror story, but found it to be more mystery/thriller and while the summary discusses Ceri and her friends and being "drawn into a world where prophecies are pitted against invisible forces", there is hardly any focus on this in the first half of the book.
I am not saying that this is not a good book, it currently has a 4.78 star rating on Goodreads, this book was just not for me. With the bulk of the plot taking place in the UK, I spent a lot of time researching places, stores, words, etc to understand them in the context that they were being used and could just not justify spending this much time and energy on a book that was just not keeping me enthralled.
If you read this book, I hope you have better luck than I did! If you enjoyed David Graham's other book The Screaming then you should also enjoy this book and I encourage you to give it a try as this is a sequel to that book. If you have not read The Screaming, do not fret as this book can also be read independently as it provides enough back story that you can follow along. One of the other reviews I saw said this book is a mix of The Conjuring, Constantine and Broadchurch, so if you are fans of any of these, then give it a try!
April 27, 2017
I have never considered myself a fan of Science Fiction & Fantasy genre but when I stumbled on The Knowing, that changed for me very quickly. I am so glad I read this book. I finished "The Knowing" in just one seating, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
David Graham painstakingly and intellectually creates the perfect balance of adventure, suspense, mystery and edge-of-your-seat anticipation in this genre-defying story of how Ceri Edwards and two of his school friends unveiled the lid on an ancient book of recipes. This led to the invasion of some invisible forces trying to destroy the city of London and the entire human race. The author did a good job of unfolding how they were able to put an end to this evil. Quite a scary and spine-chilling story.
The story is weird, fast paced, thrilling, and full of twists and turns ... with mix of mystery and horror.
The writer does an excellent job of pulling me in from the very beginning. The plot builds up with much intensity and is captivating. The characters are very realistic and you feel you begin to know them. I had a wonderful ride to the very last page!
David is such an amazing author. His writing style is so present, so engaging, you will love the unique warmth he brought to this book. I intend to read more from this author in the future.
David Graham painstakingly and intellectually creates the perfect balance of adventure, suspense, mystery and edge-of-your-seat anticipation in this genre-defying story of how Ceri Edwards and two of his school friends unveiled the lid on an ancient book of recipes. This led to the invasion of some invisible forces trying to destroy the city of London and the entire human race. The author did a good job of unfolding how they were able to put an end to this evil. Quite a scary and spine-chilling story.
The story is weird, fast paced, thrilling, and full of twists and turns ... with mix of mystery and horror.
The writer does an excellent job of pulling me in from the very beginning. The plot builds up with much intensity and is captivating. The characters are very realistic and you feel you begin to know them. I had a wonderful ride to the very last page!
David is such an amazing author. His writing style is so present, so engaging, you will love the unique warmth he brought to this book. I intend to read more from this author in the future.
May 3, 2017
Great read... enjoyed it!
I am not huge fan of science fiction or horror, I do enjoy fantasy and I love anything with a bit of mysticism! However, once we move into the realms of witchcraft and folklore then I guarantee the author gets my attention.
Graham opens The Knowing with a teasing prologue and then sets of the first chapter at a good pace, it is very easy to slip into his writing stride and I found that I was drawn in during the early pages.
I was initially critical of the author’s choice of character names. Ceri, Dilys, Bronwen and Dai all seemed a bit too stereotypical but it actually worked out really well as combining the names with Graham writing style I did feel I was reading with a Welsh accent which made some of the comical scenes even funnier and provided a great atmosphere and backdrop to the story itself.
Graham is a proficient storyteller; the book is well edited and very enjoyable. It’s a meaty read, there is a lot going on and I love that he mixed in ancient history and folklore with insecurities and paranoia that we have today.
I actually picked it up not realising that it was a sequel so I am now going to work backwards and download The Screaming!
I am not huge fan of science fiction or horror, I do enjoy fantasy and I love anything with a bit of mysticism! However, once we move into the realms of witchcraft and folklore then I guarantee the author gets my attention.
Graham opens The Knowing with a teasing prologue and then sets of the first chapter at a good pace, it is very easy to slip into his writing stride and I found that I was drawn in during the early pages.
I was initially critical of the author’s choice of character names. Ceri, Dilys, Bronwen and Dai all seemed a bit too stereotypical but it actually worked out really well as combining the names with Graham writing style I did feel I was reading with a Welsh accent which made some of the comical scenes even funnier and provided a great atmosphere and backdrop to the story itself.
Graham is a proficient storyteller; the book is well edited and very enjoyable. It’s a meaty read, there is a lot going on and I love that he mixed in ancient history and folklore with insecurities and paranoia that we have today.
I actually picked it up not realising that it was a sequel so I am now going to work backwards and download The Screaming!
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