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David Ash #1
Haunted
Three nights of terror in a house called Edbrook. Three nights in which David Ash, there to investigate a haunting, will be the victim of horrifying and maleficent games. Three nights in which he will face the enigma of his own past. Three nights before Edbrook's dreadful secret will be revealed - and the true nightmare will begin.
228 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
209 people are currently reading
5553 people want to read
About the author
James Herbert
100 books2,376 followersJames Herbert was Britain's number one bestselling writer (a position he held ever since publication of his first novel) and one of the world's top writers of thriller/horror fiction.
He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide.
As an author he produced some of the most powerful horror fiction of the past decade. With a skillful blend of horror and thriller fiction, he explored the shaded territories of evil, evoking a sense of brooding menace and rising tension. He relentlessly draws the reader through the story's ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside. His bestsellers, THE MAGIC COTTAGE, HAUNTED, SEPULCHRE, and CREED, enhanced his reputation as a writer of depth and originality. His novels THE FOG, THE DARK, and THE SURVIVOR have been hailed as classics of the genre.
He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide.
As an author he produced some of the most powerful horror fiction of the past decade. With a skillful blend of horror and thriller fiction, he explored the shaded territories of evil, evoking a sense of brooding menace and rising tension. He relentlessly draws the reader through the story's ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside. His bestsellers, THE MAGIC COTTAGE, HAUNTED, SEPULCHRE, and CREED, enhanced his reputation as a writer of depth and originality. His novels THE FOG, THE DARK, and THE SURVIVOR have been hailed as classics of the genre.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 681 reviews
December 20, 2022
Haunted is simply my most favourite ghost story… The narration is hallucinatory and haunting…
If you are an investigator of the supernatural phenomena on a mission then beware of falling in love…
Estate is extensive and desolate… Christina, her two brothers and their aunt inhabit the antiquated mansion…
Everything is unusual… Everything is unexpected and unpredictable… And with every elapsed hour things turn more and more mysterious…
Ghosts are always enigmatic and captivating even if they exist only in our imagination.
If you are an investigator of the supernatural phenomena on a mission then beware of falling in love…
He stopped to appreciate the car in which Christina Mariell sat waiting. It was a model he hadn’t seen in many a year, and only then in magazine features on popular old cars. The Wolseley’s bodywork and wheels appeared to be in immaculate condition and its engine was running smoothly with only a mild escape of exhaust fumes from the rear. The girl leaned across and pushed open the passenger door, her smile the invitation.
Ash shoved the suitcase over onto the backseat and eased himself into the front, keeping the holdall on his lap. ‘Some car,’ he commented. ‘There can’t be many still around of this era.’
She gave no reply but engaged first gear and pulled out into what little traffic there was.
Estate is extensive and desolate… Christina, her two brothers and their aunt inhabit the antiquated mansion…
No lights, no glow from within. Edbrook was a vast black bulk that merged with the blackness of night clouds. A breeze stirred through the gardens, ruffling foliage, disturbing trees. In the woods, night creatures hunted, their skirmishes violent but brief. Honey fungus glowed blue-green on decaying tree trunks, beetles scuttled in the undergrowth. The moon was a pale ghost seen only behind slow-moving monoliths.
Everything is unusual… Everything is unexpected and unpredictable… And with every elapsed hour things turn more and more mysterious…
He whirled around to face whatever it was rushing towards him, but was struck by a powerful force so that he hurtled backwards, the wall catching his legs, sending him toppling.
Stagnant water closed over his head, its grip cold and slimy. Ash struggled in panic as weed tendrils clutched him. He twisted frantically, their grip tightening. Clouds of mud stirred and swelled sluggishly so that the moonlight ceiling above was smeared.
As he fought to free his arm of syrupy fronds he saw, sinking towards him through those eddying clouds, a silhouette, a shape whose arms were outstretched, as if crucified, whose flimsy robe billowed and swayed with the currents, whose black hair spread outwards in Gorgonian tresses.
Ghosts are always enigmatic and captivating even if they exist only in our imagination.
October 22, 2021
"Haunted" was my attempt at a horror book. This was about an investigator from the Psychical Research Institute in London (a real thing as far as I know) who travels to a run down secluded English estate to prove or disprove a haunting. Before going any further, I must mention that I was interrupted several times during the course of my reading of this story. So one will understand why I am saying that the story was confusing at times, which detracted from my enjoyment of it. Some books I can come back to later and pick up right where I left off, but I had trouble with this one, especially with time jumping.
In the beginning I admired the author's mastery of the written word. He could describe mundane things in such a way that they set the setting. I guess some would equate it to world building.
As for the story itself, even though it was supposed to be scary, I had no trouble reading this at night. Then again, I was seated next to my wife.
In the beginning I admired the author's mastery of the written word. He could describe mundane things in such a way that they set the setting. I guess some would equate it to world building.
As for the story itself, even though it was supposed to be scary, I had no trouble reading this at night. Then again, I was seated next to my wife.
September 7, 2016
Stephen King gushes over James Herbert; I don't see why. Herbert is a decent writer and storyteller, to be sure; but, I found nothing fascinating about HAUNTED. For a haunted-house story, it was pretty clear from the beginning that Herbert never intended to do anything different from the already established sub-genre of horror fiction (how can a writer expect to top THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE?). With that said, it does have an interesting protagonist, an anti-hero named David who is battling his own personal demons while trying to debase the supernatural. But the supporting cast in this novel is laughable. Overall, this is a fast read that suits the Halloween atmosphere. Perhaps because it was written in the early 80s some of the pizzazz has been lost. Perhaps. You could do worse for a "fright" read. That being said, I am still going to read some of Herbert's other titles, they just won't be moving to the top of the TBR pile any time soon.
RECOMMENDED (with reservations)
RECOMMENDED (with reservations)
July 9, 2018
I really liked the movie better! The book was a bit tedious. Maybe I was a bit balanced because I've first seen the movie.
January 16, 2013
James Herbert continues to impress me. This book was so much better than an average haunted house fare, it was dark, well written, atmospheric and really kept the reader guessing as to what was going on. The characters were interesting and well developed and the pacing kept me turning the pages and finishing the book pretty quickly. Years ago (before I read any Herbert) I watched a movie this book was based on, I couldn't remeber much of the plot, but I remembered some of the cast and so while reading this book I kept picturing Ash as Aidan Quinn and Christina as Kate Beckinsale. Good casting, actually, although now I want to see the movie again. Very good book, highly recommended.
March 17, 2024
After reading ‘Ash,’ the last of the authors series of stories about the parapsychologist David Ash some time ago. I now finish ‘Haunted,’ the first in the series published in 1988. This book found in a book drop outside a local scout camp. Able to read quickly as woke in the early hours.
This was not as good as ‘Ash’ nor indeed some of his other works. But it paints the picture of a sceptical man wanting to debunk ghosts. But finding in this case that they appear to exist. Struggling with memories of the death of his sister when young. And struggling with the need to drink vodka at every opportunity.
A clever story. Not really scarey but still entertaining. At the end of ‘Ash’ I could comment that sadly there would be no sequel ( the author died). But with this book ending I can at least look for the second in the series.
This was not as good as ‘Ash’ nor indeed some of his other works. But it paints the picture of a sceptical man wanting to debunk ghosts. But finding in this case that they appear to exist. Struggling with memories of the death of his sister when young. And struggling with the need to drink vodka at every opportunity.
A clever story. Not really scarey but still entertaining. At the end of ‘Ash’ I could comment that sadly there would be no sequel ( the author died). But with this book ending I can at least look for the second in the series.
October 16, 2015
"Our complacency is shaken; we thought the universe was a tidy, locked room, but there seems to be a scratching outside the door. For a moment, we pretend to know everything and pridefully assert, 'There is no such thing!' Something out there seems to respond, 'Oh, really?'" --Lint Hatcher, "The Truth That Is Out There," Rutherford, 1995.
The above quote could well serve as an epigraph for this novel; for the author has very clearly set up a conflict here between two opposite views of the world. Hard-drinking, emotionally distant paranormal investigator David Ash is, above all else, an apostle of a hyper-rational, purely materialistic view of reality; natural causes, he believes, must explain all of the phenomena he investigates, and he's built a very successful career on debunking the supernatural. Now, however, when he's been summoned by the eccentric Mariell family to their isolated 16th-century country seat Edbrook to investigate a purported haunting, my shelving this book as supernatural fiction should be a dead giveaway that his worldview is going to undergo some revision. (And it won't be a particularly easy or comfortable experience.) Herbert's message here, IMO, isn't necessarily to be taken as a literal assertion that ghosts actually exist; but as supernatural elements in fiction often do, the haunting here serves as a metaphor for aspects of reality that aren't reducible to the neat, the mathematical, the rational, and the naturally explainable.
During his lifetime, James Herbert was the best-selling fiction author in the U.K. Often, best-seller status only testifies to the power of advertising and the ability of bookstore chains to manipulate the lists. But after reading this page-turner, I'd surmise that Herbert earned his status a different way: by providing serious readers with well-crafted, good-quality, extremely effective fiction, which is exactly what this is. His characterizations are round and life-like, and his prose style suited perfectly to his intention. The pacing is flawless, and the evocation of an increasingly scary atmosphere nicely done. Transitions from David to his Psychical Research Institute colleagues are ably positioned to build suspense; the prologue, set in David's childhood, and the flashbacks aren't just filler, but serve a very real purpose in the crafting of the whole edifice that is the novel. David's inner psychological baggage is as important here as the external goings-on at Edbrook; and as noted above, there is some real philosophical depth here, not just scares for scares sake.
This is definitely a dark novel, at many levels. Although there's no explicit sex, it has a franker treatment of sexuality than the classic ghost story tradition characteristically did; and while there's no obscenity, there's a certain amount of religious profanity that I found gratuitous (though, to be sure, some people do talk that way). But there's no splatter-punk; the horror here is mainly psychological (though that can be potentially lethal). One reviewer characterized the plot as "predictable." Personally, I beg to differ; I found it to be anything but, and in fact to involve more than one jaw-dropping surprise. But Herbert is a consummate master of literary surprises --he knows they have to grow organically from the story itself, not be dragged in from left field against logic, and he adeptly hides his clues in plain sight.
Much later, the author wrote two more novels with David as the central character, so that they form a trilogy. But this one stands on its own perfectly well, with no cliff-hangers and a basic resolution.
The above quote could well serve as an epigraph for this novel; for the author has very clearly set up a conflict here between two opposite views of the world. Hard-drinking, emotionally distant paranormal investigator David Ash is, above all else, an apostle of a hyper-rational, purely materialistic view of reality; natural causes, he believes, must explain all of the phenomena he investigates, and he's built a very successful career on debunking the supernatural. Now, however, when he's been summoned by the eccentric Mariell family to their isolated 16th-century country seat Edbrook to investigate a purported haunting, my shelving this book as supernatural fiction should be a dead giveaway that his worldview is going to undergo some revision. (And it won't be a particularly easy or comfortable experience.) Herbert's message here, IMO, isn't necessarily to be taken as a literal assertion that ghosts actually exist; but as supernatural elements in fiction often do, the haunting here serves as a metaphor for aspects of reality that aren't reducible to the neat, the mathematical, the rational, and the naturally explainable.
During his lifetime, James Herbert was the best-selling fiction author in the U.K. Often, best-seller status only testifies to the power of advertising and the ability of bookstore chains to manipulate the lists. But after reading this page-turner, I'd surmise that Herbert earned his status a different way: by providing serious readers with well-crafted, good-quality, extremely effective fiction, which is exactly what this is. His characterizations are round and life-like, and his prose style suited perfectly to his intention. The pacing is flawless, and the evocation of an increasingly scary atmosphere nicely done. Transitions from David to his Psychical Research Institute colleagues are ably positioned to build suspense; the prologue, set in David's childhood, and the flashbacks aren't just filler, but serve a very real purpose in the crafting of the whole edifice that is the novel. David's inner psychological baggage is as important here as the external goings-on at Edbrook; and as noted above, there is some real philosophical depth here, not just scares for scares sake.
This is definitely a dark novel, at many levels. Although there's no explicit sex, it has a franker treatment of sexuality than the classic ghost story tradition characteristically did; and while there's no obscenity, there's a certain amount of religious profanity that I found gratuitous (though, to be sure, some people do talk that way). But there's no splatter-punk; the horror here is mainly psychological (though that can be potentially lethal). One reviewer characterized the plot as "predictable." Personally, I beg to differ; I found it to be anything but, and in fact to involve more than one jaw-dropping surprise. But Herbert is a consummate master of literary surprises --he knows they have to grow organically from the story itself, not be dragged in from left field against logic, and he adeptly hides his clues in plain sight.
Much later, the author wrote two more novels with David as the central character, so that they form a trilogy. But this one stands on its own perfectly well, with no cliff-hangers and a basic resolution.
December 19, 2014
David Ash is sent to a remote village to investigate a haunting at the Edbrook house. Ash is renowned for debunking supernatural phenomenon, and he dives into this assignment ready to do just that.
Too bad the place is really haunted.
Well executed, but fairly predictable ghost story with some genuinely hair raising scenes.
I will certainly read the rest of the series.
Too bad the place is really haunted.
Well executed, but fairly predictable ghost story with some genuinely hair raising scenes.
I will certainly read the rest of the series.
April 21, 2025
This is a really fun gothic haunting! Herbert embodies almost every gothic trope, but adds to them the 1988 equivalent of Ghost Hunters, a Paranormal Research Institute complete with fancy cameras and thermometers and recording equipment. The atmosphere and setting are all done really well, without anything too outrageous but a strong sense of place. The character is pretty much the stereotypes you would expect, intelligent, stubborn, cynical, using alcohol to hide the parts of himself he isn’t willing to acknowledge. That said, he does feel genuine, and even his tormented past feels authentic and works for this story. The writing is actually better than I expected, not poetic but certainly not slapdash or cheesy, embodying the gothic sensibility way more than I anticipated. The plotting works well, starting slow but building tension with a number of unexpected bursts of violence or fright to keep the reader excited.
The story is a little thin. I mean, many contemporary readers can guess at the final outcome/reveal pretty early on, but that in itself isn’t bad, and that is more due to modern familiarity than any flaw in the writing. However, the reason for our main character, David, to be out at this mansion, and really the work he does with the Paranormal Research Institute, and, for that matter, what that institute actually does… that all feels a little tenuous. I mean, not entirely beyond belief, but definitely eyebrow-raising. That said, if you’re just willing to go with it, accept the characters running up the stairs when they should be going out the front door, so to speak, then this quick novel is a lot of fun. It gets in and out, doesn’t waste time, has a few flashbacks to add depth to the character but otherwise mostly charges full steam ahead, balancing moments of calm inquiry with the staccato shocks of terrible discovery. The writing, in terms of style and tone, is better than it has to be, and while the story doesn’t feel like it is dripping with originality it is still a fun ride.
(Rounded down from 3.5)
The story is a little thin. I mean, many contemporary readers can guess at the final outcome/reveal pretty early on, but that in itself isn’t bad, and that is more due to modern familiarity than any flaw in the writing. However, the reason for our main character, David, to be out at this mansion, and really the work he does with the Paranormal Research Institute, and, for that matter, what that institute actually does… that all feels a little tenuous. I mean, not entirely beyond belief, but definitely eyebrow-raising. That said, if you’re just willing to go with it, accept the characters running up the stairs when they should be going out the front door, so to speak, then this quick novel is a lot of fun. It gets in and out, doesn’t waste time, has a few flashbacks to add depth to the character but otherwise mostly charges full steam ahead, balancing moments of calm inquiry with the staccato shocks of terrible discovery. The writing, in terms of style and tone, is better than it has to be, and while the story doesn’t feel like it is dripping with originality it is still a fun ride.
(Rounded down from 3.5)
April 26, 2024
I aren’t usually a massive haunted house fan but James Herbert seems to be changing my mind. I read The Secret of Crickley Hall this year and I really enjoyed it, so I began this series and I wasn’t disappointed. Crickley Hall still plays in my mind now and then and I have such a good memory of this, I don't feel like this book will last as long in my mind, but it will stay a while I feel.
It is quite simplistic in its writing but very effective. The very first chapter was captivating, petrifying and fabulous. I think the only thing wrong with this book was the pacing at times, it seemed to bounce around the timeline a little too often for me personally.
David Ash as a main character was really interesting too, a cynical ghost hunter, lovely! The whole book takes place in one manor/village so it really gives the reader the sensation of being trapped, vulnerable and alone. The atmosphere created throughout this book is astounding.
The horror descriptions in this book were indeed horrifying, they were creepy, disturbing and unforgettable. It’s a slow burn for sure but the last 50-60 pages were a lesson in writing and a joy to read.
I am really looking forward to the rest of the series because David Ash had some insane character growth and I can’t wait to read what he does next.
It is quite simplistic in its writing but very effective. The very first chapter was captivating, petrifying and fabulous. I think the only thing wrong with this book was the pacing at times, it seemed to bounce around the timeline a little too often for me personally.
David Ash as a main character was really interesting too, a cynical ghost hunter, lovely! The whole book takes place in one manor/village so it really gives the reader the sensation of being trapped, vulnerable and alone. The atmosphere created throughout this book is astounding.
The horror descriptions in this book were indeed horrifying, they were creepy, disturbing and unforgettable. It’s a slow burn for sure but the last 50-60 pages were a lesson in writing and a joy to read.
I am really looking forward to the rest of the series because David Ash had some insane character growth and I can’t wait to read what he does next.
October 5, 2024
Another Herbert reread for me after ‘Moon’ last month. Unlike ‘Moon’, I could remember bits of this story and had a lot of ‘oh yeah, that’s right’ moments whilst reading.
‘Haunted’ is the perfect Halloween read, another great story from the British Master of Macabre, his conclusions always get my heart thumping hard, so many revelations! I do love a proper ghost story and Herbert told them with clout.
Up next - ‘The Ghosts of Sleath’ Book 2 of 3 featuring the Vodka-swigging Psychic Investigator David Ash as the main (deeply troubled) character.
4 ⭐️- Very good. I liked it a LOT.
‘Haunted’ is the perfect Halloween read, another great story from the British Master of Macabre, his conclusions always get my heart thumping hard, so many revelations! I do love a proper ghost story and Herbert told them with clout.
Up next - ‘The Ghosts of Sleath’ Book 2 of 3 featuring the Vodka-swigging Psychic Investigator David Ash as the main (deeply troubled) character.
4 ⭐️- Very good. I liked it a LOT.
September 20, 2024
I really liked this one. I enjoyed the development of David Ash’s character and the way the story progressed all the way through. I could kind of tell what was likely to happen at certain points but then again there were times when was surprised. I am definitely a James Herbert fan and have loved most of his books and will continue this series.
July 9, 2023
I don’t write reviews.
Oh dear this was dull. I was excited at the start, not even perturbed by the “investigator is a die-hard skeptic” trope. Then nothing really happened. The house and set-up were reminiscent of a Carnacki story, but there was no pay-off, no thrills, no chills. A cast of characters like paper dolls, a main character I just didn’t care about and no story. I really enjoyed The Dark and The Fog, so I believe Herbert can do much better.
Oh dear this was dull. I was excited at the start, not even perturbed by the “investigator is a die-hard skeptic” trope. Then nothing really happened. The house and set-up were reminiscent of a Carnacki story, but there was no pay-off, no thrills, no chills. A cast of characters like paper dolls, a main character I just didn’t care about and no story. I really enjoyed The Dark and The Fog, so I believe Herbert can do much better.
June 15, 2024
Supernatural, paranormal or whatever you (or Ash) want to call it mystery with a number of genuine shivers and an intriguing lead. David Ash, the ultimate pragmatist. Driven by skepticism, investigating a house that raises questions. And the hair on your arms. Not the only character that attracts the attention. The Mariells. Fishy family. Sneaky. Something's wrong here. Something even a bottle of vodka can't fix. The human mind is a mysterious place, David! Strong finish. But I would also like to mention the Elsa Brotski chapter. Damn..
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October 23, 2017can't think of a star rating I'm happy with right off the top of my head right now.
Back when I initially read Haunted (which was probably in the 90s), for some reason I thought it was one of the best haunted house stories I'd ever read; now rereading it, I think that it had its moments, it was fun, but in the end, it's really only the ending that saved this story from being just another ho-hum haunted house story. Before anyone who is a huge James Herbert fan starts mentally pelting me with rotten tomatoes, consider the fact that eons and a growing taste for more sophisticated haunted house stories now stand between this reading and my first time with it. What I did notice most prominently about it this time around, and what I really enjoy about it in the long run is that it's really quite twisted in a hugely-ironic way, and what the author's done here turns his story into something wholly unexpected.
plot (if you want it) without spoilers can be found here; if not, just keep reading.
The sad thing is that up to the last few pages, and I'm really sorry major Herbert fans, what happens along the way may have been earth shattering in the 80s but well, kind of old hat by now. That's not saying I didn't like it, but it really is a book that depends on its final few pages for the major shock value.
On the flip side, it was fun revisiting this novel even if I no longer think it's the greatest haunted house story ever told.
Back when I initially read Haunted (which was probably in the 90s), for some reason I thought it was one of the best haunted house stories I'd ever read; now rereading it, I think that it had its moments, it was fun, but in the end, it's really only the ending that saved this story from being just another ho-hum haunted house story. Before anyone who is a huge James Herbert fan starts mentally pelting me with rotten tomatoes, consider the fact that eons and a growing taste for more sophisticated haunted house stories now stand between this reading and my first time with it. What I did notice most prominently about it this time around, and what I really enjoy about it in the long run is that it's really quite twisted in a hugely-ironic way, and what the author's done here turns his story into something wholly unexpected.
plot (if you want it) without spoilers can be found here; if not, just keep reading.
The sad thing is that up to the last few pages, and I'm really sorry major Herbert fans, what happens along the way may have been earth shattering in the 80s but well, kind of old hat by now. That's not saying I didn't like it, but it really is a book that depends on its final few pages for the major shock value.
On the flip side, it was fun revisiting this novel even if I no longer think it's the greatest haunted house story ever told.
January 6, 2021
David Ash, il nostro protagonista, è un investigatore di eventi paranormali. Dal passato oscuro e misterioso, David, si trova ora a risolvere situazioni che alla maggior parte della gente farebbe rizzare i capelli. Un giorno capiterà in una casa desolata ad Edbrook, dove...
Il romanzo ha una scrittura molto scorrevole ed emana una forza evocativa tale da rendere il lettore parte integrante della storia, si è lì al fianco di Ash e si cerca di districarsi tra gli innumerevoli colpi di scena e il ritmo incalzante poi rendono tutta la narrazione al cardiopalma.
Sarebbe da leggerlo tutto d'un fiato, di notte col silenzio assoluto, inframezzato soltanto dal continuo gocciolare della pioggia sul vetro della finestra e con un leggera luce, proveniente dell'abatjour intermittente, data dal filo di tungsteno, della lampadina di tempi che furono, ormai quasi corroso dal tempo e lì nella semioscurità, sfogliare le pagine una dietro l'altra con il mistero ed il terrore che aleggiano sopra di esse e che si fanno beffe di noi!
Ghost story consigliata!
Il romanzo ha una scrittura molto scorrevole ed emana una forza evocativa tale da rendere il lettore parte integrante della storia, si è lì al fianco di Ash e si cerca di districarsi tra gli innumerevoli colpi di scena e il ritmo incalzante poi rendono tutta la narrazione al cardiopalma.
Sarebbe da leggerlo tutto d'un fiato, di notte col silenzio assoluto, inframezzato soltanto dal continuo gocciolare della pioggia sul vetro della finestra e con un leggera luce, proveniente dell'abatjour intermittente, data dal filo di tungsteno, della lampadina di tempi che furono, ormai quasi corroso dal tempo e lì nella semioscurità, sfogliare le pagine una dietro l'altra con il mistero ed il terrore che aleggiano sopra di esse e che si fanno beffe di noi!
Ghost story consigliata!
February 7, 2020
This was James Herbert's first novel of his David Ash trilogy.
.
The book website blurb was - 'Three nights of terror at the house called Edbrook. Three nights in which investigator David Ash will be victim of horrifying and maleficent games. Three nights in which he will face his own past. Three nights before Edbrook's dreadful secret will be revealed, and the true nightmare will begin'
.
And that blurb is as good as it gets. It feels like the more famous and money-making Herbert got, the less risk taken with his work. Seriously from The Fog and The Rats... to a haunted house investigation? 4 out of 12.
.
.
The book website blurb was - 'Three nights of terror at the house called Edbrook. Three nights in which investigator David Ash will be victim of horrifying and maleficent games. Three nights in which he will face his own past. Three nights before Edbrook's dreadful secret will be revealed, and the true nightmare will begin'
.
And that blurb is as good as it gets. It feels like the more famous and money-making Herbert got, the less risk taken with his work. Seriously from The Fog and The Rats... to a haunted house investigation? 4 out of 12.
.
October 20, 2022
I would give this book seven stars if i could,gripping ,blood chilling,everything you would want from a ghost story found within this short but also brilliant work of art. Hats off for James Herbert🥰🥰🥰
October 17, 2022
4.5 stars
December 9, 2024
2024 Review
It was fun to re-read this as a buddy read: some scenes are more enjoyable when one knows what's behind all of this.
I had a bit more sympathy for Ash this time, although, honestly, I imagine I would have had a hard time being in the company of somebody who must smell of booze and tobacco that much. I still find the ending somewhat disappointing.
I enjoyed the creepy autumnal atmosphere a lot! This is a very quick and mostly enjoyable read.
2022 Review
'To be haunted is to glimpse a truth that might best be hidden.'
This has been a super quick read, partly because the story is shortish, and partly because it's a page-turner. It's a ghost story with atmospheric depictions of an old house, an overgrown garden and a scary forest. The main character is a paranormal investigator and a couple of chapters deal with his previous cases, - they produced the effect of embedded stories and gave more depth to the main plot.
This protagonist, I must say, is constantly swishing vodka and smoking, - I suppose the smell of him would be unbearable to me in real life. But the treatment he got over these pages was such that I felt sorry for him in the end ;)
I enjoyed the ending, except this: . But it didn't send me googling 'ending explained', as sometimes happens with paranormal fiction, and it had some nice touches of black humour which I appreciated.
It's not really horrifying, but spooky and very autumnal, - a perfect start for a season of scary reading :)
It was fun to re-read this as a buddy read: some scenes are more enjoyable when one knows what's behind all of this.
I had a bit more sympathy for Ash this time, although, honestly, I imagine I would have had a hard time being in the company of somebody who must smell of booze and tobacco that much. I still find the ending somewhat disappointing.
I enjoyed the creepy autumnal atmosphere a lot! This is a very quick and mostly enjoyable read.
2022 Review
'To be haunted is to glimpse a truth that might best be hidden.'
This has been a super quick read, partly because the story is shortish, and partly because it's a page-turner. It's a ghost story with atmospheric depictions of an old house, an overgrown garden and a scary forest. The main character is a paranormal investigator and a couple of chapters deal with his previous cases, - they produced the effect of embedded stories and gave more depth to the main plot.
This protagonist, I must say, is constantly swishing vodka and smoking, - I suppose the smell of him would be unbearable to me in real life. But the treatment he got over these pages was such that I felt sorry for him in the end ;)
I enjoyed the ending, except this: . But it didn't send me googling 'ending explained', as sometimes happens with paranormal fiction, and it had some nice touches of black humour which I appreciated.
It's not really horrifying, but spooky and very autumnal, - a perfect start for a season of scary reading :)
July 1, 2017
I've already read Ghosts of Sleath - the sequel to this, didn't know it existed - and The Shrine, and it's very clear I need to read more of James Herbert's work.
April 4, 2020
My thoughts:
At the beginning - I love me a Ghostbuster tries to debunk the haunted house story with lots of cliches.
1/3 the way through - That is the wrong use of the word Szchiophrenic - I am really not liking this story.
2/3 of the way through - I know exactly where this is going - I love this particular twist when done well.
85% through - the protagonist is only beginning to suspect the twist ? He should read more ghost stories and see more movies.- wait this was written in the 1980's - some of them hadn't happened yet? Maybe some Shirley Jackson would have helped though.
100% Well Mr - How come it took you soooo long to see all of this?
Now? - Must read the next in the series.
At the beginning - I love me a Ghostbuster tries to debunk the haunted house story with lots of cliches.
1/3 the way through - That is the wrong use of the word Szchiophrenic - I am really not liking this story.
2/3 of the way through - I know exactly where this is going - I love this particular twist when done well.
85% through - the protagonist is only beginning to suspect the twist ? He should read more ghost stories and see more movies.- wait this was written in the 1980's - some of them hadn't happened yet? Maybe some Shirley Jackson would have helped though.
100% Well Mr - How come it took you soooo long to see all of this?
Now? - Must read the next in the series.
August 31, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up
May 28, 2021
“To be haunted is to glimpse a truth that might best be hidden.”
RTC
RTC
July 8, 2020
Took another dip into 80s horror with Herbert's Haunted and found a good one. 80s horror can be a rather mixed lot, but a few authors rise above the rest, and Herbert is definitely one of them. David Ash, a professional investigator/debunker of paranormal activities, gets a call to investigate the Edbrook estate for a suspected haunting. Herbert does a good job providing backstory with a series of flashbacks and builds Ash's character up well. As soon as Ash arrives at Edbrook, things quickly become amiss. The ending was somewhat of a surprise, so I will not go into details.
Herbert's rather terse prose works well here, building a creepy vibe without a lot of wasted words. Thankfully, this novel has less lurid sex scenes than his normal (although of course there has to be a least a couple) and while quite short, it packs a good punch. 3.5 stars.
Herbert's rather terse prose works well here, building a creepy vibe without a lot of wasted words. Thankfully, this novel has less lurid sex scenes than his normal (although of course there has to be a least a couple) and while quite short, it packs a good punch. 3.5 stars.
January 4, 2024
Just wow! This book guys, this book is bloody brilliant.
It scared me (chapter twenty-three) - this has got to be one of the best possession scenes I’ve ever read.
It thrilled me - not a dull moment at all.
It made me ache, it made me get short of breath, it has a surprise or two in there and well… it’s just fabulous, if you wanna get scared, get this book - perfect for those who love the tropes of haunted houses, possession and ghost stories!
I’m going to go hug my kids!
It scared me (chapter twenty-three) - this has got to be one of the best possession scenes I’ve ever read.
It thrilled me - not a dull moment at all.
It made me ache, it made me get short of breath, it has a surprise or two in there and well… it’s just fabulous, if you wanna get scared, get this book - perfect for those who love the tropes of haunted houses, possession and ghost stories!
I’m going to go hug my kids!
February 10, 2020
Add one over-enthusiastic GCSE English student to a generous helping of equally over-enthusiastic grammar teacher and arrive at a grade 2 result.
Total fucking drivel, possibly the worst thing I’ve ever read.
So it goes.
Total fucking drivel, possibly the worst thing I’ve ever read.
So it goes.
February 15, 2025
TW/CW: Alcoholism, language, cheating, smoking, death of parent, death of sibling, death by suicide
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Three nights of terror in a house called Edbrook. Three nights in which David Ash, there to investigate a haunting, will be the victim of horrifying and maleficent games. Three nights in which he will face the enigma of his own past. Three nights before Edbrook's dreadful secret will be revealed - and the true nightmare will begin.
Release Date: 1988
Genre: Horror
Pages: 228
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Very atmospheric
2. Creepy scenes
3. Short chapters
What I Didn't Like:
1. Dislike the writing style
2. All the dreams
3. Chapters went no where/added nothing to story
4. Stupid ending
5. Plot holes
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
I'm sorry but right off the bat I am not enjoying how the book is written. I'm hoping once I get into the groove of reading I won't notice as much. For now I'm going to assume the writing style and being in different countries and an almost 40 year old book is what separating I enjoyment from this.
The image of Christina playing in the yard and David seeing her her knocking on the door behind him was creepy.
Love that David is being objective and not wanting to know about the house so that he doesn't get anything in his mind about what's happening. I wish a lot of shows were like that instead of everybody already knowing what the haunting is about. Once you know something in your mind then that's what you'll believe you're seeing.
God two dream sequences already in this book. I hate dream sequences. They add nothing to the book. Sorry to say it unless it pushes the narrative in a book is about dreams it's pointless.
So many dreams in this book!
Ash is all about the semantics. He doesn't believe in the Supernatural but believes in the Paranormal. But he's over here talking about Christina's twin somehow being manifest into a spirit-esque kind of entity but it's not a ghost. He's very adamant but it's not a ghost.
I know it was the '80s but I don't like when people use Mental Health in a negative way to say that because Christina's sister had schizophrenia now she would come back as this sadistic spirit seeking revenge on everyone.
Nanny tells Ash the story about what happened with Christina's twin but then adds that he should leave before something more happens, but weren't they the ones who reached out to him? That's the thing I don't understand about this book. This family was the one who asked him to come to the house to solve what happened and now she's telling him to leave but now that I'm thinking about it I think Nanny was the only one who had apprehension about him being there. I think it was the rest of the family who wanted him to come.
David Ash must be the hottest man in the world because it seems like every woman wants him. This book is not even 300 pages and so far I've read about at least three women wanting him. Pretty annoying and not sure what that has to do with the Haunted House story. And now he's had sex with Christina which again adds nothing to the story but luckily we get to hear about how moist she is so I guess that's something.
Trying to understand how Christina, Simon, and Richard were able to get a hold of Ash is confusing. Nanny says that they had an another Spirit maybe that reached out to them to disprove Ash. Doesn't explain how they were able to call Ash to come to the house if they were never real and could never physically touch anything. Nanny says that everything that Ash thought was happening really didn't happen aka the sex scene aka driving him in the car. It's all his imagination. Like I said ending just doesn't make sense. Also Nanny was against this whole thing but why would she be the one to call him to the house? It says that they spoke on the phone and by correspondence via mail.
Even in the beginning when Christina picks him up from the bar none of that makes sense. He wasn't overwhelmed by the house draining his energy he was right off the train. Also who really picked him up? If Christina is not real then how did he get to the house without an address? I don't get it.
Final Thoughts:
So, I will not be continuing on this David Ash Journey. There's a lot wrong about this book but that ending really beat me upset. I did enjoy all the gruesome descriptions of what the ghosts were doing or their physical features. That was entertaining. And maybe it's not the book's fault but I tend to judge ghost stories more harshly because they are my favorite kind of books.
I enjoyed that the ghosts were real in this book but a lot just didn't make sense to what was happening.
Also I hate the stigma of books that use mental health as an excuse for someone being violent. Saying that Christina had schizophrenia and that's why she came back as an evil ghost is so toxic. Like I said though this book is guilty of its time so back in '88 this was acceptable behavior. I didn't enjoy it but I won't fault the book for it nor the author.
IG | Blog
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Three nights of terror in a house called Edbrook. Three nights in which David Ash, there to investigate a haunting, will be the victim of horrifying and maleficent games. Three nights in which he will face the enigma of his own past. Three nights before Edbrook's dreadful secret will be revealed - and the true nightmare will begin.
Release Date: 1988
Genre: Horror
Pages: 228
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Very atmospheric
2. Creepy scenes
3. Short chapters
What I Didn't Like:
1. Dislike the writing style
2. All the dreams
3. Chapters went no where/added nothing to story
4. Stupid ending
5. Plot holes
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
I'm sorry but right off the bat I am not enjoying how the book is written. I'm hoping once I get into the groove of reading I won't notice as much. For now I'm going to assume the writing style and being in different countries and an almost 40 year old book is what separating I enjoyment from this.
The image of Christina playing in the yard and David seeing her her knocking on the door behind him was creepy.
Love that David is being objective and not wanting to know about the house so that he doesn't get anything in his mind about what's happening. I wish a lot of shows were like that instead of everybody already knowing what the haunting is about. Once you know something in your mind then that's what you'll believe you're seeing.
God two dream sequences already in this book. I hate dream sequences. They add nothing to the book. Sorry to say it unless it pushes the narrative in a book is about dreams it's pointless.
So many dreams in this book!
Ash is all about the semantics. He doesn't believe in the Supernatural but believes in the Paranormal. But he's over here talking about Christina's twin somehow being manifest into a spirit-esque kind of entity but it's not a ghost. He's very adamant but it's not a ghost.
I know it was the '80s but I don't like when people use Mental Health in a negative way to say that because Christina's sister had schizophrenia now she would come back as this sadistic spirit seeking revenge on everyone.
Nanny tells Ash the story about what happened with Christina's twin but then adds that he should leave before something more happens, but weren't they the ones who reached out to him? That's the thing I don't understand about this book. This family was the one who asked him to come to the house to solve what happened and now she's telling him to leave but now that I'm thinking about it I think Nanny was the only one who had apprehension about him being there. I think it was the rest of the family who wanted him to come.
David Ash must be the hottest man in the world because it seems like every woman wants him. This book is not even 300 pages and so far I've read about at least three women wanting him. Pretty annoying and not sure what that has to do with the Haunted House story. And now he's had sex with Christina which again adds nothing to the story but luckily we get to hear about how moist she is so I guess that's something.
Trying to understand how Christina, Simon, and Richard were able to get a hold of Ash is confusing. Nanny says that they had an another Spirit maybe that reached out to them to disprove Ash. Doesn't explain how they were able to call Ash to come to the house if they were never real and could never physically touch anything. Nanny says that everything that Ash thought was happening really didn't happen aka the sex scene aka driving him in the car. It's all his imagination. Like I said ending just doesn't make sense. Also Nanny was against this whole thing but why would she be the one to call him to the house? It says that they spoke on the phone and by correspondence via mail.
Even in the beginning when Christina picks him up from the bar none of that makes sense. He wasn't overwhelmed by the house draining his energy he was right off the train. Also who really picked him up? If Christina is not real then how did he get to the house without an address? I don't get it.
Final Thoughts:
So, I will not be continuing on this David Ash Journey. There's a lot wrong about this book but that ending really beat me upset. I did enjoy all the gruesome descriptions of what the ghosts were doing or their physical features. That was entertaining. And maybe it's not the book's fault but I tend to judge ghost stories more harshly because they are my favorite kind of books.
I enjoyed that the ghosts were real in this book but a lot just didn't make sense to what was happening.
Also I hate the stigma of books that use mental health as an excuse for someone being violent. Saying that Christina had schizophrenia and that's why she came back as an evil ghost is so toxic. Like I said though this book is guilty of its time so back in '88 this was acceptable behavior. I didn't enjoy it but I won't fault the book for it nor the author.
IG | Blog
January 3, 2022
David Ash is a paranormal investigator/debunker who finds himself drawn back to the events surrounding the untimely death of his child sister years earlier when he’s commissioned to investigate a haunting at a rural estate. Whilst these events are largely unrelated, there’s cause for linking them as the story progresses.
Haunted doesn’t bring anything new to the haunted house sub genre and reads more as a gothic horror but it does maintain a heightened level of tension throughout. The ending is pretty easy to guess which dampers the experience somewhat but overall Haunted is a quick two-sitting horror read with some subtle (and some not so subtle) horror elements.
Haunted doesn’t bring anything new to the haunted house sub genre and reads more as a gothic horror but it does maintain a heightened level of tension throughout. The ending is pretty easy to guess which dampers the experience somewhat but overall Haunted is a quick two-sitting horror read with some subtle (and some not so subtle) horror elements.
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