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The Heirloom
An antique chair comes into a family's possession. But they soon discover that this is no ordinary heirloom. All manner of strange things begin to occur, including shifts in the fabric of time itself...
In the vein of The Wells of Hell and The Devils of D-Day, The Heirloom, is a fast-paced, entertaining horror.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1981
258 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Graham Masterton
421 books1,962 followersGraham Masterton was born in Edinburgh in 1946. His grandfather was Thomas Thorne Baker, the eminent scientist who invented DayGlo and was the first man to transmit news photographs by wireless. After training as a newspaper reporter, Graham went on to edit the new British men's magazine Mayfair, where he encouraged William Burroughs to develop a series of scientific and philosophical articles which eventually became Burroughs' novel The Wild Boys.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 19, 2018
This novel was initially published the same year (1981) as The Hell Candidate, my favorite Graham Masterton novel and one of my favorite horror novels, so I'm not surprised that I also liked this one. Masterton was at the peak of his creativity, coming up with unusual horror situations and writing about them with skill.
In this one, an antique dealer comes into possession of a strangely designed chair that brings misfortune, and he can't get rid of it. If he tries, it just comes back. The chair affects the seasons around his house, time, and what is portrayed in paintings, and it is part of a larger diabolical plot that the protagonist must figure out if he is to save his family.
I enjoyed this novel, and recommend it, but I have one criticism that I must mention. There is one point where Masterton needs the protagonist to find out more of what's going on, but the way he does it is a cop-out. Rick Dellatolla (the protagonist) is at the condo where another antique dealer is staying, the phone rings, and the person on the other end leaves a message with Rick that just happens to give him enough information to know what's going on. Lame. No one involved in such a plot would leave any sort of a message like that one with anyone other than the person he intended to reach. Masterton should have figured out some other way for Rick to get the information. (I suppose if the book were written today, he'd see an email pop up on the guy's computer and read it, but such a plot device would not have been available in 1981.)
In this one, an antique dealer comes into possession of a strangely designed chair that brings misfortune, and he can't get rid of it. If he tries, it just comes back. The chair affects the seasons around his house, time, and what is portrayed in paintings, and it is part of a larger diabolical plot that the protagonist must figure out if he is to save his family.
I enjoyed this novel, and recommend it, but I have one criticism that I must mention. There is one point where Masterton needs the protagonist to find out more of what's going on, but the way he does it is a cop-out. Rick Dellatolla (the protagonist) is at the condo where another antique dealer is staying, the phone rings, and the person on the other end leaves a message with Rick that just happens to give him enough information to know what's going on. Lame. No one involved in such a plot would leave any sort of a message like that one with anyone other than the person he intended to reach. Masterton should have figured out some other way for Rick to get the information. (I suppose if the book were written today, he'd see an email pop up on the guy's computer and read it, but such a plot device would not have been available in 1981.)
June 20, 2022
Ah, the good ol' days of the late 70s-early 80s when horror novels were written with abandon. When an author had an idea, he just ran with it, be it a demonic chair mysteriously brought to an antique dealer by a strange furniture broker and instantly said chair causes mayhem and destruction in the dealer's life for no discernible reason. This is how the book starts off, which was nonetheless enjoyable, even in a turn-off-your-brain for a cheesy horror story kind of way. Shockingly, however, as the book progresses the story and its background begin to solidify and in the end is not so cheesy and care-free as it seemed at first. The very end was a bit on the cheesy side, but overall the book was still a decent entry from early Masterton. 3.5/5
June 7, 2025
What Would You Do With a Haunted Chair?
Small backstory:
Ricky Delatolla is an antiques dealer. A man by the name of Mr. Grant stops at Ricky's house with a truck load of antiques wanting to sell them to Ricky but Ricky is hesitant about the antiques until he sees a chair that has unusual carvings on it. Mr. Grant is eager to give the chair away but Ricky has a weird feeling about it all but when Mr. Grant leaves the chair in the driveway along with some other antiques then Ricky wonders what is going on.
Ricky soon finds out that the chair is not just a normal chair but a chair that has evil tendencies and he soon wishes that he never laid eyes on it as whatever is haunting the chair is ready to turn Ricky's life upside down!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This story grabbed me right away as the author pulled me into the story quickly as I was curious about the chair and what could possibly be in store for the character Ricky. The chair is the focal point in this story and the whole book is pulsing with evil vibes as the characters have to deal with a portal to hell chair that they cannot get rid of!
This book goes deep into the occult themes along with keeping me pinned in my seat as I read half the book in one sitting as I couldn't sleep one night and stayed up a few hours as the story went into overdrive with things happening to the characters because of the evil chair!
I am never disappointed with a Masterton book and this story not only sunk its teeth into me it tossed me into the throes of hell! Giving this book five "Haunted Hell" stars!
Small backstory:
Ricky Delatolla is an antiques dealer. A man by the name of Mr. Grant stops at Ricky's house with a truck load of antiques wanting to sell them to Ricky but Ricky is hesitant about the antiques until he sees a chair that has unusual carvings on it. Mr. Grant is eager to give the chair away but Ricky has a weird feeling about it all but when Mr. Grant leaves the chair in the driveway along with some other antiques then Ricky wonders what is going on.
Ricky soon finds out that the chair is not just a normal chair but a chair that has evil tendencies and he soon wishes that he never laid eyes on it as whatever is haunting the chair is ready to turn Ricky's life upside down!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This story grabbed me right away as the author pulled me into the story quickly as I was curious about the chair and what could possibly be in store for the character Ricky. The chair is the focal point in this story and the whole book is pulsing with evil vibes as the characters have to deal with a portal to hell chair that they cannot get rid of!
This book goes deep into the occult themes along with keeping me pinned in my seat as I read half the book in one sitting as I couldn't sleep one night and stayed up a few hours as the story went into overdrive with things happening to the characters because of the evil chair!
I am never disappointed with a Masterton book and this story not only sunk its teeth into me it tossed me into the throes of hell! Giving this book five "Haunted Hell" stars!
April 7, 2018
Entertaining 80's horror by Masterton (at the time writing as Thomas Luke and publishing this one same year, 1980, as the imho vastly superior The Hell Candidate). This one, while keeping to a very classic horror theme, does not terrify at the same level - possibly for being surprisingly non-visceral for the author. It is a good read, and I went through most of it with a smile on my face. The ending disappoints some, as the end game does not feel up to par and the final confrontation does have a bit too much hand-of-you-know-who in it for my tastes. Still, at $4 for the e-book, it's a great value aeroplane read! Do check out my friend Kinksrock's review as well!
September 25, 2024
Ghoulishly fun from beginning to end.
March 15, 2025
This is my first Graham Masterton read and I enjoyed it.
It is all about a chair. A chair?!?!?! Yes, but not your normal chair. A haunted, evil, possessed chair with a gateway to hell and the devil itself.
The story starts as an antique dealer comes into possession of the chair. Rick, his wife Sara and son Johnathan soon discover the chair is not just a chair and has a creepy side to it which gets worse and worse. The chair is a killer, and the family can not get rid of it.
I love to read 80’s horror.
It is all about a chair. A chair?!?!?! Yes, but not your normal chair. A haunted, evil, possessed chair with a gateway to hell and the devil itself.
The story starts as an antique dealer comes into possession of the chair. Rick, his wife Sara and son Johnathan soon discover the chair is not just a chair and has a creepy side to it which gets worse and worse. The chair is a killer, and the family can not get rid of it.
I love to read 80’s horror.
August 17, 2020
For lack of better words, I will call The Heirloom splatstick. Ricky Delatolla is an antiques dealer in Southern California and one day a truck and driver show up at his house to offer him a deal on some antiques he just cleared out of a near by home. Most of this stuff is not very valuable, but one strangely carved chair really stands out. While Ricky calls the family who gave up the antiques to check it out, the truck and driver depart, leaving all the stuff on the front yard.
Well, it turns out the chair is really bad news! The family dog sits on it and gets bitten by something; so thereafter, a huge nasty bug manifests itself inside the dog, killing it when it emerges from its mouth. The bug seems to disappear into the chair. Ricky throws the chair off a cliff and when he gets home, the chair is back inside. Flustered, he takes an axe to the chair, but when he hits it, his son suddenly gets what looks to be an axe cut to the face. While the kid is in a coma in a hospital, the chair starts talking to Ricky, telling him he will never be rid of the chair, now called the devil's chair.
This was a fun, quick and quirky read. The author used a lot of funny one liners and the situation itself was amusing. While there are some violent scenes and so forth, as one would expect with splatstick, the author obviously had the intention of humor. 3.5 demons rounding up to four.
Well, it turns out the chair is really bad news! The family dog sits on it and gets bitten by something; so thereafter, a huge nasty bug manifests itself inside the dog, killing it when it emerges from its mouth. The bug seems to disappear into the chair. Ricky throws the chair off a cliff and when he gets home, the chair is back inside. Flustered, he takes an axe to the chair, but when he hits it, his son suddenly gets what looks to be an axe cut to the face. While the kid is in a coma in a hospital, the chair starts talking to Ricky, telling him he will never be rid of the chair, now called the devil's chair.
This was a fun, quick and quirky read. The author used a lot of funny one liners and the situation itself was amusing. While there are some violent scenes and so forth, as one would expect with splatstick, the author obviously had the intention of humor. 3.5 demons rounding up to four.
June 7, 2018
Quite a quick and thrilling read about a possessed mahogany chair. I liked the reference to Charles Dickens having owned the devil's chair too! I also liked the reference to the paintings like Vittore Carpaccio's Miracle of the true Cross or The Mystery Guest at the Funeral. The explanation of those paintings really adds some spice to the scary and fast paced story. Clear recommendation. Early 80s horror classic and must read!
December 17, 2014
Wow, what an amazing horror story, it had my on the edge of my seat chewing my nails, I highly recommend it :)
February 15, 2019
Just what i needed. A classic 80s horror novel by Graham Masterton. Cool main characters. The supporting cast not so much but good enough. Just enough of the gore and blood not to go overboard which is not a classic Masterton thing. He ussualy goes all out in this matter:)
Fast easy interesting read with some good scares.
3 stars from me for this one:)
Fast easy interesting read with some good scares.
3 stars from me for this one:)
September 19, 2018
Може би ви е малко странно, че след толкова прочетени книги от Стивън Кинг се връщам на Греъм Мастертън, но това не бива да ви учудва. Книгите на Краля са като тъмно, горчиво вино, омайни и въздействащи. Но понякога искаш нещо по-силно от вино. Понякога ти се пие водка.
Цялото ревю на "The Heirloom" на линка!
http://citadelata.com/the-heirloom/
Цялото ревю на "The Heirloom" на линка!
http://citadelata.com/the-heirloom/
January 20, 2022
Hard for me to finish. The plot was decent but the dialogue between the characters just seemed fake and wooden. Also the whole time I was reading this I felt like I was missing something. Best way I can describe it is, it was like watching a TV sh0w after missing the first 10 minutes
June 6, 2024
June 2024
Kindle edition
Why does the dog have to be sacrificed all the time? Not for me. The horror was out in the open and I'm surprised the whole thing went on without anyone knowing or trying to take the kid away. The initial sale was bizarre, the dog sacrifice was gross, and the chair itself I couldn't take seriously. Went the exorcism route followed by some strange possession from the other side. The name was what got me. Everytime the wife said his name I kept thinking of Eastenders. Random. It was alright, but I don't think it's for me.
Kindle edition
Why does the dog have to be sacrificed all the time? Not for me. The horror was out in the open and I'm surprised the whole thing went on without anyone knowing or trying to take the kid away. The initial sale was bizarre, the dog sacrifice was gross, and the chair itself I couldn't take seriously. Went the exorcism route followed by some strange possession from the other side. The name was what got me. Everytime the wife said his name I kept thinking of Eastenders. Random. It was alright, but I don't think it's for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2013
Again, not the kind of book I would normally read but somehow I acquired it so I thought I'd give it a go. I found it is so well written I really enjoyed it. It’s about an antique dealer who acquires a carved mahogany chair with serpents heads and people falling to hell on it, but little does he know it is a gateway for the devil to reach our world. Strange goings on begin happening and as he tries to get rid of the chair it keep returning and things get really strange and evil as the plot goes on. It’s all a bit far-fetched but if you can relax the mind for an evening it makes great escapist horror.
It even had a great philosophical quote in it - “You could say that it is an essential human characteristic to strive. And if you have nothing left to strive for, then, quite simply, all those positive energies within you turn around inside of you and build up as negative charge.”
It even had a great philosophical quote in it - “You could say that it is an essential human characteristic to strive. And if you have nothing left to strive for, then, quite simply, all those positive energies within you turn around inside of you and build up as negative charge.”
July 13, 2021
Creative idea; bad writing. The characters annoyed me. The male characters are misogynistic (the author airing his views, yawn), toxic and/or crusty.
Admittedly, there were some parts I liked. The backstory of the possessed antique chair that grants it's owners whatever they desire (at a cost, of course) and the personal histories of the owners themselves. The antique dealer Ricky quickly learns that he'll struggle to get rid of the sinister item of furniture.
The rest of the book wasn't that great. I don't feel like British author Masterton successfully wrote in an "American" voice despite the novel being told by a Californian antiques dealer. I know this is an 80s pulp horror title, but it took me out of it, all I could think about was how much he and other characters, aside from slimy upper-class English guy David, didn't sound American, but British! I was mostly indifferent as I read, it failed to suck me in. Some bits were so 80s like the description of the male orderlies in the hospital.
However, despite not caring for the characters or the writing, the unique idea did keep me turning the pages.
Would I recommend this book as a creepy or atmospheric read?
No, since I didn't enjoy the simplistic writing style or the characters. 150 pages could have been cut out and the story would have improved in pace; it felt a bit directionless to me as if Masterton was plucking ideas at random from his horror story brainstorm notes.
This idea was ok, but the author chose the comedic-horror approach which I didn't enjoy as much.
Admittedly, there were some parts I liked. The backstory of the possessed antique chair that grants it's owners whatever they desire (at a cost, of course) and the personal histories of the owners themselves. The antique dealer Ricky quickly learns that he'll struggle to get rid of the sinister item of furniture.
The rest of the book wasn't that great. I don't feel like British author Masterton successfully wrote in an "American" voice despite the novel being told by a Californian antiques dealer. I know this is an 80s pulp horror title, but it took me out of it, all I could think about was how much he and other characters, aside from slimy upper-class English guy David, didn't sound American, but British! I was mostly indifferent as I read, it failed to suck me in. Some bits were so 80s like the description of the male orderlies in the hospital.
However, despite not caring for the characters or the writing, the unique idea did keep me turning the pages.
Would I recommend this book as a creepy or atmospheric read?
No, since I didn't enjoy the simplistic writing style or the characters. 150 pages could have been cut out and the story would have improved in pace; it felt a bit directionless to me as if Masterton was plucking ideas at random from his horror story brainstorm notes.
This idea was ok, but the author chose the comedic-horror approach which I didn't enjoy as much.
August 4, 2018
Lubię tę historię. Po prostu lubię. Masterton jak zwykle szybko przechodzi do rzeczy, bohaterowie też do polubienia... Może niezbyt straszna jako horror, ale jednak ta książka coś w sobie ma. Chociaż sądzę, że była całkiem łagodna jak na możliwości autora.
Mam wątpliwości do tego, jak autor postanowił zakończyć tę przygodę. Towarzyszą mi po prostu mieszane uczucia. Nie twierdzę, że jest złe, ale nie twierdzę też, że jest świetne i że powaliło mnie na kolana.
Podobało mi się to niestandardowe podejście do nawiedzonych mebli. Jakkolwiek dziwnie to nie zabrzmi, ale... polubiłam to krzesło. Miało w sobie zadziwiająco dużo charakteru i interesujące oddziaływanie na otoczenie.
Myślę, że mimo wszystko, kiedyś będę chciała przeczytać tę książkę ponownie.
Mam wątpliwości do tego, jak autor postanowił zakończyć tę przygodę. Towarzyszą mi po prostu mieszane uczucia. Nie twierdzę, że jest złe, ale nie twierdzę też, że jest świetne i że powaliło mnie na kolana.
Podobało mi się to niestandardowe podejście do nawiedzonych mebli. Jakkolwiek dziwnie to nie zabrzmi, ale... polubiłam to krzesło. Miało w sobie zadziwiająco dużo charakteru i interesujące oddziaływanie na otoczenie.
Myślę, że mimo wszystko, kiedyś będę chciała przeczytać tę książkę ponownie.
July 10, 2024
Great premise I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book it then seriously lots its way. The concept is awesome, but like some of Masterton books, the delivery left much to be desired.
There was some great horror/body horror but the second half of this book was painfully slow. Too much unnecessary detail and a complete anti-climax ,terrible ending in my opinion.
There was some great horror/body horror but the second half of this book was painfully slow. Too much unnecessary detail and a complete anti-climax ,terrible ending in my opinion.
November 12, 2020
The Heirloom
This was a great horror! Mastering is a true horror artist. When this chair arrived in their lives Ricky and Sara never foresaw the the amount of misery it would bring to their world.
This was a great horror! Mastering is a true horror artist. When this chair arrived in their lives Ricky and Sara never foresaw the the amount of misery it would bring to their world.
August 19, 2017
Written as Thomas Luke back in the 80's. A pretty straight forward light horror tale. Not as intense and gory as his other works but worth a read especially for Masterton fans.
February 1, 2024
Loved it. Graham's mind is such an amazing place
May 31, 2025
Stupid fun, like a b-movie.
February 26, 2010
This is an early Masterton horror. I have to say that this book didn't pull me in as much as many of his others have done. Not a bad book but not one of his best.
Back Cover Blurb:
Antique specialist, Rick Dellatolla, knew a good deal when he saw one. And the mahogany chair, thickly carved in a cascade of intertwined human bodies, seemed a genuine stroke of luck. Then weird things started happening to Rick and his family. The foliage died in their garden. They lost track of time once inside their house. And their pet dog died a horrifying and pathetic bloody death. That was when Rick decided to destroy the chair - before it destroyed everything he'd ever cared for. But by then it was too late to stop the Evil that seemed determined to remain with Rick as a gift for the rest of his entire, hell-filled life....
Back Cover Blurb:
Antique specialist, Rick Dellatolla, knew a good deal when he saw one. And the mahogany chair, thickly carved in a cascade of intertwined human bodies, seemed a genuine stroke of luck. Then weird things started happening to Rick and his family. The foliage died in their garden. They lost track of time once inside their house. And their pet dog died a horrifying and pathetic bloody death. That was when Rick decided to destroy the chair - before it destroyed everything he'd ever cared for. But by then it was too late to stop the Evil that seemed determined to remain with Rick as a gift for the rest of his entire, hell-filled life....
February 22, 2019
An enjoyable but, totally unbelievable, tale.
This was a non frightening horror story but, very enjoyable, all the same. The story moved along at a rapid pace, it held my attention and kept me enthralled until the very end. I don't think I will have any nightmares after reading this book, just the satisfaction of having read a good tale, well told.
This was a non frightening horror story but, very enjoyable, all the same. The story moved along at a rapid pace, it held my attention and kept me enthralled until the very end. I don't think I will have any nightmares after reading this book, just the satisfaction of having read a good tale, well told.
April 28, 2021
A very interesting horror read, based on a chair possessed by the devil himself.
Kept me entertained but felt like it was pieced together. Almost like the author had so many ideas (especially about the ending), and not all of these went together, but he forced it anyways.
Still a creepy read!
Kept me entertained but felt like it was pieced together. Almost like the author had so many ideas (especially about the ending), and not all of these went together, but he forced it anyways.
Still a creepy read!
July 8, 2021
In Graham Masterton’s horror story Heirloom, an antiques dealer comes into possession of a huge throne-like chair that seems to have hypnotic effects. When it seems to move on its own from the garage to the library, it doesn’t take long for Rick, his wife Sara, and their son Jonathan (6) to realize that they aren’t imagining things. Time dilates in odd ways, all of the living things on their property start to die off as if summer has turned to fall, and after their dog sits on the chair he becomes very ill. Rick tries to get rid of the chair, but it always returns–and when he starts hearing its voice in his head, it threatens his family. Finally he meets David, who wants the chair and knows a few things about it. Now they just have to figure out how to get it to stop returning to Rick!
The story behind the chair is actually pretty interesting, as is what it’s up to right now. Rick’s inability to get rid of the chair, coupled with its threats toward his family (most particularly six-year-old Jonathan), keep things quite tense.
One thing I didn’t like is that as far as I could tell, pretty much every worker in a service job was Mexican or something else similar, while everyone not in a service job was white. It was so matter of fact that it felt like the author just assumed that this was naturally the proper place and context for non-whites. There were one or two other little details that left me feeling there was a tinge of xenophobia to the book.
Rick apparently met Sara in college. Instead of simply walking up to her and asking her out, he deliberately rear-ended her car. That’s seriously some stalker-level crud, and risked injuring her because it doesn’t take a high-velocity crash to potentially cause whiplash. Yet it isn’t treated as though his actions were in any way bad.
There’s an odd moment where in the midst of all the building horror, Rick and Sara take a break to argue about whether he shaved. I realize this was to indicate that time had, in fact, jumped forward for them, but it was incredibly out of place and wasn’t even necessary. I’m also pretty impressed that a person could get flung back and forth all around a room in a house and yet it was easily cleaned up afterward. There should have been blood all over the walls and furniture, and that doesn’t come out so easily.
This starts out as a somewhat personal and claustrophobic horror, but becomes broader and more widely impactful later on. The switch is slightly jarring, but also very interesting. Over all, the horror is great, but the details tended to be problematic. If you don’t care about the details as much, you’ll almost certainly like this book more than I did.
Content note for explicit sex, animal death, and gore. Also, the characters are a bit on the religious side (Christian)–that might make you either more or less interested.
The story behind the chair is actually pretty interesting, as is what it’s up to right now. Rick’s inability to get rid of the chair, coupled with its threats toward his family (most particularly six-year-old Jonathan), keep things quite tense.
One thing I didn’t like is that as far as I could tell, pretty much every worker in a service job was Mexican or something else similar, while everyone not in a service job was white. It was so matter of fact that it felt like the author just assumed that this was naturally the proper place and context for non-whites. There were one or two other little details that left me feeling there was a tinge of xenophobia to the book.
Rick apparently met Sara in college. Instead of simply walking up to her and asking her out, he deliberately rear-ended her car. That’s seriously some stalker-level crud, and risked injuring her because it doesn’t take a high-velocity crash to potentially cause whiplash. Yet it isn’t treated as though his actions were in any way bad.
There’s an odd moment where in the midst of all the building horror, Rick and Sara take a break to argue about whether he shaved. I realize this was to indicate that time had, in fact, jumped forward for them, but it was incredibly out of place and wasn’t even necessary. I’m also pretty impressed that a person could get flung back and forth all around a room in a house and yet it was easily cleaned up afterward. There should have been blood all over the walls and furniture, and that doesn’t come out so easily.
This starts out as a somewhat personal and claustrophobic horror, but becomes broader and more widely impactful later on. The switch is slightly jarring, but also very interesting. Over all, the horror is great, but the details tended to be problematic. If you don’t care about the details as much, you’ll almost certainly like this book more than I did.
Content note for explicit sex, animal death, and gore. Also, the characters are a bit on the religious side (Christian)–that might make you either more or less interested.
October 17, 2025
This captivating novel, hailing from the enigmatic era of the 80s or 90s, immerses readers in a chilling world crafted by the master of horror, Graham Masterton. My experience with this literary gem took an intriguing twist as I opted for the audiobook format, with a narrator who skillfully breathed life into the characters, making them vivid and real.
At the heart of this story lies an object of dark fascination, a chair with an ominous reputation that pushes readers to stretch the boundaries of their belief. This sinister piece of furniture is imbued with malevolent power or, if the receiver is willing to welcome it to the family, the promise of unimaginable success forms the enigmatic core of the narrative. The cost of embracing such power remains a cryptic enigma, never explicitly revealed.
Masterton’s writing shines with precision and economy, driving the narrative forward with unrelenting momentum. It’s a tale firmly rooted in plot-driven storytelling, a hallmark of the era it hails from, the 80s. It’s crucial to approach this narrative with an understanding of its historical context and to suspend modern sensibilities, setting aside any inclination for liberal condemnation of the characters’ actions. By doing so, readers can fully immerse themselves in the rollercoaster of suspense, tension, and terror that this gripping tale offers.
This horror narrative is firmly rooted in the Christian faith, a recurring motif that echoes throughout Masterton’s body of work. It’s a testament to his skill as a storyteller that he can draw upon such themes to evoke the darkest corners of human fear and fascination. This book is a captivating relic of its time, and it’s intriguing to see the evolution in the author’s genre, transitioning from horror to thrillers in later years.
This book from the bygone decades, bearing the signature of Graham Masterton’s chilling imagination, proves itself a timeless masterpiece. Through the eyes and ears of the audiobook, the narrative becomes a haunting journey filled with suspense and inexplicable phenomena, beckoning readers to dare to believe in the unsettling unknown. The narrative may belong to a different era, but it retains its power to captivate and terrify, making it a must-read for fans of the horror genre and those interested in the evolution of storytelling over the years.
At the heart of this story lies an object of dark fascination, a chair with an ominous reputation that pushes readers to stretch the boundaries of their belief. This sinister piece of furniture is imbued with malevolent power or, if the receiver is willing to welcome it to the family, the promise of unimaginable success forms the enigmatic core of the narrative. The cost of embracing such power remains a cryptic enigma, never explicitly revealed.
Masterton’s writing shines with precision and economy, driving the narrative forward with unrelenting momentum. It’s a tale firmly rooted in plot-driven storytelling, a hallmark of the era it hails from, the 80s. It’s crucial to approach this narrative with an understanding of its historical context and to suspend modern sensibilities, setting aside any inclination for liberal condemnation of the characters’ actions. By doing so, readers can fully immerse themselves in the rollercoaster of suspense, tension, and terror that this gripping tale offers.
This horror narrative is firmly rooted in the Christian faith, a recurring motif that echoes throughout Masterton’s body of work. It’s a testament to his skill as a storyteller that he can draw upon such themes to evoke the darkest corners of human fear and fascination. This book is a captivating relic of its time, and it’s intriguing to see the evolution in the author’s genre, transitioning from horror to thrillers in later years.
This book from the bygone decades, bearing the signature of Graham Masterton’s chilling imagination, proves itself a timeless masterpiece. Through the eyes and ears of the audiobook, the narrative becomes a haunting journey filled with suspense and inexplicable phenomena, beckoning readers to dare to believe in the unsettling unknown. The narrative may belong to a different era, but it retains its power to captivate and terrify, making it a must-read for fans of the horror genre and those interested in the evolution of storytelling over the years.
July 27, 2024
❗TW: brutalne śmierci (ludzi i zwierzęcia), sceny erotyczne
Krzesło, które sprowadza na swojego właściciela nieszczęścia i to często brutalne, a do tego w żaden sposób (no może nie do końca) nie da się go pozbyć, to z pewnością orginalny motyw. A ja lubię oryginalne rzeczy. Więc do samego przebiegu książki i pomysłu przyczepić się nie mogę, ale niestety - jak widać po ocenie - zawiodło mnie w niej kilka rzeczy.
Po pierwsze brak emocji. Wiadomo, że w horrorach (szczególnie tego autora) bohaterowie odbierają dziwne rzeczy, które się dzieją jako coś normalnego i nie są zbyt przerażeni. Ale tutaj poziom braku emocji doszedł do tego, że po brutalnej scenie z psem, JEGO psem, bohater przeszedł do normalnego funkcjonowania. Nie sądzę, żeby takie coś wydarzyło się w prawdziwym życiu.
Apropos rzeczy, które nie wydarzyłyby się w prawdziwym życiu - scena erotyczna (nie pamiętam czy było więcej). Dla mnie było to trochę randomowe.
Drugi problem to ciągłe picie alkoholu przez WSZYSTKICH bohaterów. Dosłownie nie pili nic innego, niezależnie od dnia, godziny i tego, że główni bohaterowie mieli małe dziecko. I to nie tak, że byli uzależnieni, bo nic takiego nie było wspomniane. O dziwo ilość spożytego alkoholu w żaden sposób na nich nie wpływała.
I największy mój zarzut, czyli zakończenie. Znowu nawiązanie do boga i szatana, jak w ,,Studniach piekieł". No nie podobało mi się to i tylko tyle powiem.
❗ SPOJLER do zakończenia❗
Po przeczytaniu, że syn Rickyego jest dzieckiem bożym i musi usiąść na krześle, które jest diabłem, żeby go "zniszczyć", a następnie zyskując bożą moc, siłą woli zatrzymuje rakietę, która miała wysadzić jakiś kościół z ludźmi... Nie wiedziałam, czy mam się śmiać czy płakać, bo to było tak abstrakcyjne, a jednocześnie tak głupie, że bez przeczytania nie da się tego pojąć.
Krzesło, które sprowadza na swojego właściciela nieszczęścia i to często brutalne, a do tego w żaden sposób (no może nie do końca) nie da się go pozbyć, to z pewnością orginalny motyw. A ja lubię oryginalne rzeczy. Więc do samego przebiegu książki i pomysłu przyczepić się nie mogę, ale niestety - jak widać po ocenie - zawiodło mnie w niej kilka rzeczy.
Po pierwsze brak emocji. Wiadomo, że w horrorach (szczególnie tego autora) bohaterowie odbierają dziwne rzeczy, które się dzieją jako coś normalnego i nie są zbyt przerażeni. Ale tutaj poziom braku emocji doszedł do tego, że po brutalnej scenie z psem, JEGO psem, bohater przeszedł do normalnego funkcjonowania. Nie sądzę, żeby takie coś wydarzyło się w prawdziwym życiu.
Apropos rzeczy, które nie wydarzyłyby się w prawdziwym życiu - scena erotyczna (nie pamiętam czy było więcej). Dla mnie było to trochę randomowe.
Drugi problem to ciągłe picie alkoholu przez WSZYSTKICH bohaterów. Dosłownie nie pili nic innego, niezależnie od dnia, godziny i tego, że główni bohaterowie mieli małe dziecko. I to nie tak, że byli uzależnieni, bo nic takiego nie było wspomniane. O dziwo ilość spożytego alkoholu w żaden sposób na nich nie wpływała.
I największy mój zarzut, czyli zakończenie. Znowu nawiązanie do boga i szatana, jak w ,,Studniach piekieł". No nie podobało mi się to i tylko tyle powiem.
❗ SPOJLER do zakończenia❗
Po przeczytaniu, że syn Rickyego jest dzieckiem bożym i musi usiąść na krześle, które jest diabłem, żeby go "zniszczyć", a następnie zyskując bożą moc, siłą woli zatrzymuje rakietę, która miała wysadzić jakiś kościół z ludźmi... Nie wiedziałam, czy mam się śmiać czy płakać, bo to było tak abstrakcyjne, a jednocześnie tak głupie, że bez przeczytania nie da się tego pojąć.
October 20, 2025
Ricky Delatolla jest handlarzem antyków. Kiedy pewnej niedzieli pod jego domem zjawia się inny handlarz, oferując odkupione z bogatej rezydencji używane meble, Ricky nie ma pojęcia, że właśnie rozpoczyna się jego najgorszy koszmar. Wśród mebli jest bowiem eksponat szczególny – bardzo ozdobne, dziwnie rzeźbione, intrygujące mahoniowe krzesło. Sprzęt wygląda na bardzo drogi, ale handlarz sprawia wrażenie, że chce się go pozbyć za wszelką cenę, nawet oddając to krzesło za grosze, a kiedy Ricky nie może się ostatecznie zdecydować, facet po prostu porzuca wszystko i znika. Od tego momentu w życiu Delatolli zaczynają się dziać okropne rzeczy. Tylko kto uwierzy, że to wszystko wina mebla?
Nawiedzone krzesło? Właściwie dlaczego nie :) Pierwsza połowa książki była niezła, ale im bliżej byliśmy wyjaśnienia i zakończenia sprawy, tym robiło się nudniej. A samo zakończenie, no cóż, jest najsłabszym elementem tej książki.
5/10
Nawiedzone krzesło? Właściwie dlaczego nie :) Pierwsza połowa książki była niezła, ale im bliżej byliśmy wyjaśnienia i zakończenia sprawy, tym robiło się nudniej. A samo zakończenie, no cóż, jest najsłabszym elementem tej książki.
5/10
August 8, 2024
I have thoroughly enjoyed every Graham Masterton book I've read, despite some of them having subpar ratings. I can only attribute the latter to the unusually high amount of typos in many of his novels. I've never had any issue with them because the storylines of them have always made up for anything grammatical and then some.
The first book I read was Black Angel which I almost didn't bother with because its synopsis sounded pretty bland and it was over 500 pages long. No that's not long at all - if the book is good - but after forcing myself to suffer through 500 page long atrocities in the past, I'm sure other readers here can also attest to the fact that a bad book can make 500 pages feel like 5,000.
Anyways, as I suspected, I really enjoyed The Heirloom. Very interesting plot and the ending was very satisfying. It's a short read so it's easy to read in one sitting, too.
What I like about Masterton's novels - particularly those that deal with the occult and supernatural - is they never contain any tryhard creativity when it comes to the entity(ies) involved. They are always savage and depicted physically pretty spot on in what apocrypha and deuterocanonical texts describe.
Fun read, albeit also quite unsettling.
The first book I read was Black Angel which I almost didn't bother with because its synopsis sounded pretty bland and it was over 500 pages long. No that's not long at all - if the book is good - but after forcing myself to suffer through 500 page long atrocities in the past, I'm sure other readers here can also attest to the fact that a bad book can make 500 pages feel like 5,000.
Anyways, as I suspected, I really enjoyed The Heirloom. Very interesting plot and the ending was very satisfying. It's a short read so it's easy to read in one sitting, too.
What I like about Masterton's novels - particularly those that deal with the occult and supernatural - is they never contain any tryhard creativity when it comes to the entity(ies) involved. They are always savage and depicted physically pretty spot on in what apocrypha and deuterocanonical texts describe.
Fun read, albeit also quite unsettling.
September 27, 2024
Like with Masterton's "The Hell Candidate", any horror story that features the literal Christian devil is dumb as dirt. I hate to sound like a Reddit atheist, but the devil as is depicted in pop culture has no bearing on anything in the actual bible and more importantly, the devil isn't scary. Abstract evil can be scary, sure, but not the goat-guy (or in this case, a Minotaur) devil. This goes an extra step further by revealing that the Christian god and angels are real, which at that point feels like I'm reading Christian fiction. I'm not sure who this was meant for because I doubt any Christians devout enough to be scared by the devil would even bother reading this, and the average less-religious reader wouldn't find it scary.
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