The Spirit Box

by Stephen Gallagher

Book by Gallagher, Stephen

Genres: Mystery

276 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Stoker and World Fantasy Award nominee, winner of British Fantasy and International Horror Guild Awards for his short fiction, Stephen Gallagher has a career both as a novelist and as a creator of primetime miniseries and episodic television. His fifteen novels include Chimera, Oktober, Valley of Lights and Nightmare, with Angel. He's the creator of Sebastian Becker, Special Investigator to the Lord Chancellor's Visitor in Lunacy, in a series of novels that includes The Kingdom of Bones, The Bedlam Detective, and The Authentic William James. In his native England he's adapted and created hour-long and feature-length thrillers and crime dramas. In the US he was lead writer on NBC's Crusoe, creator of CBS Television's Eleventh Hour, and Co-Executive Producer on ABC's The Forgotten. Recent screen credits include an award-winning Silent Witness and Stan Lee's Lucky Man.

He began his TV career as a writer on two seasons of Doctor Who, and wrote two novelizations of his stories under the pseudonym John Lydecker.

** Photo by Lisa Bowerman **

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially, I didn't think I would finish the story, it seemed to move too quickly in its plotting; I usually prefer a bit more explanation of character and motivation. However, I stuck with it, ultimately finding I was actually enjoying the action and encounters all described beautifully in a cinematic way, with some magical realism overtones and finally appreciated the author's work in building tension.

[Tony Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to remind myself what a good, taut thriller felt like, after the disappointing Past Caring. I knew Stephen Gallagher wouldn't disappoint.

This was a cracking, gripping page-turner from start to finish, with several big sit-up-in-your-chair surprises along the way. It doesn't hit the heights of his best work, so it's three stars from me instead of four, but a rock-solid recommendation.