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The Lucifer Chord
Ruthie Gillespie's efforts to find out the truth about a mysterious missing rock star lead her on a terrifying journey into the past.
Researcher Ruthie Gillespie has undertaken a commission to write an essay on Martin Mear, lead singer and guitarist with Ghost Legion, the biggest, most decadent rock band on the planet, before he disappeared without trace in 1975. Her mission is to separate man from myth - but it's proving difficult, as a series of increasingly disturbing and macabre incidents threatens to derail Ruthie's efforts to uncover the truth about the mysterious rock star.
Just what did happen to Martin Mear back in 1975? Is he really set to return from the dead, as the band's die-hard fans, the Legionaries, believe? It's when Ruthie's enquiries lead her to the derelict mansion on the Isle of Wight where Martin wrote the band's breakthrough album that events take a truly terrifying turn ...
Researcher Ruthie Gillespie has undertaken a commission to write an essay on Martin Mear, lead singer and guitarist with Ghost Legion, the biggest, most decadent rock band on the planet, before he disappeared without trace in 1975. Her mission is to separate man from myth - but it's proving difficult, as a series of increasingly disturbing and macabre incidents threatens to derail Ruthie's efforts to uncover the truth about the mysterious rock star.
Just what did happen to Martin Mear back in 1975? Is he really set to return from the dead, as the band's die-hard fans, the Legionaries, believe? It's when Ruthie's enquiries lead her to the derelict mansion on the Isle of Wight where Martin wrote the band's breakthrough album that events take a truly terrifying turn ...
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2018
15 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
F.G. Cottam
19 books479 followersReading is a cheap and totally effective way of being transported to another world. The same is true of writing. Mundane concerns only afflict your characters if you decide you want them to.
University was where I first thought seriously about fiction; hearing about Hemingway's iceberg theory and Eliot's objective correlative and having the luxury of time to ponder on the mechanics of the novel.
My first writing was journalism and pieces for I-D, Arena and The Face brought me to the attention of mainstream magazine publishers. In the '90's I edited FHM when it still majored on sport and fashion rather than Hollyoaks starlets and weather girls. Then I launch-edited the UK edition of Men's Health magazine and then came to the conclusion that if I didn't try to write some fiction it was never going to happen.
I read all kinds of fiction, but write stories with a paranormal element I think really because history fascinates me and ghosts allow the past to resonate shockingly, scarily and I hope convincingly, into the present.
I got off to an encouraging start but have suffered a few disappointments since then. I wouldn't in honesty want to do anything else, though. If I write a terrible novel it's my fault entirely. If I write a good novel, it's entirely my achievement.
University was where I first thought seriously about fiction; hearing about Hemingway's iceberg theory and Eliot's objective correlative and having the luxury of time to ponder on the mechanics of the novel.
My first writing was journalism and pieces for I-D, Arena and The Face brought me to the attention of mainstream magazine publishers. In the '90's I edited FHM when it still majored on sport and fashion rather than Hollyoaks starlets and weather girls. Then I launch-edited the UK edition of Men's Health magazine and then came to the conclusion that if I didn't try to write some fiction it was never going to happen.
I read all kinds of fiction, but write stories with a paranormal element I think really because history fascinates me and ghosts allow the past to resonate shockingly, scarily and I hope convincingly, into the present.
I got off to an encouraging start but have suffered a few disappointments since then. I wouldn't in honesty want to do anything else, though. If I write a terrible novel it's my fault entirely. If I write a good novel, it's entirely my achievement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 5, 2018
I am overjoyed to have discovered this wonderful author, FG Cottam, and his brand of supernatural horror, atmospherically chilling, with malignant spirits and ghosts, and so beautifully written. Writer and psychic investigator Ruthie Gillespie needed to escape the memories of home in the Isle of Wight and is currently living rent free with auctioneer friend, Veronica, in London. She accepts a lucrative research commission from rich American Carter Melville, a music mogul who is bringing out a new box set of the legendary 1970s band, Ghost Legion, whose lead singer and songwriter, the mythical and charismatic Martin Mears, died in Morocco in 1975. Ruthie is to look into the life of Mears, known to have tampered in the occult and he has a huge and fanatical following in the present. The end result is to be an essay on the band that will included in the box set. Carter has organised for Ruthie to meet famous psychic Frederica Daunt with regard to her assignment, which turns out to be a nightmare, leaving Daunt terrified and assaulted, desperate to leave the country, although she continues to help Ruthie.
Melville has set up the three closest people to Mears, his daughter, April, groupie and beauty empire owner, Paula Tort, and Sir Terry Maloney, Mears's fixer and general factotum, now a merchant bank chairman, pillar of London's powerful fiscal establishment, to be interviewed by Ruthie. All have refused to be interviewed before, but feel the time has now come to spill the beans about Martin Mears, a thrillingly glamorous figure. With rumours abounding of the second coming of Mears, secret codes, apparently referred to in the sixth album, sixth track, with the title supposedly using the word cease, the French for six, 666 the number of the beast, this has fed into The Clamouring, present day attempts by huge crowds of fans to resurrect Mears. Ruthie intuits facts from the information she has and unearths a connection to the Jericho Society, with whom she has disturbing dealings with before. She thinks its unlikely that this is a coincidence as harrowing deaths occur following her inquiries. Mears appears to have been as idealistic as he was corrupt, artistically gifted as he was morally and physically tainted, a contradictory man with an enduring legacy that is assured with every member of the band dead. Ruthie's research takes her back to a gothic derelict manor owned by the German Klaus Fischer, on the Isle of Wight, with a disturbing history, and the location where Mears wrote the songs for his breakout first album.
FG Cottam is inspired by the waters of folklore, history, supernatural horror, paganism and more, in the established tradition of British writers such as the brilliant Phil Rickman. This is a well plotted novel for those who enjoy eerie and dark spine chilling stories of evil, the macabre and deals made with the devil. The characterisation of Ruthie Gillespie with her ink and goth appearance, emotionally vulnerable, endeavouring to get over her heartbreak, making tentative steps to move on as she gets involved with architect Michael Aldridge, determined and unwavering in her search for the truth, makes her a hugely compelling and appealing central figure. This is brilliant storytelling, ideal particularly for those time of the year when horror, fear and scares are what is required. Highly Recommended! Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
Melville has set up the three closest people to Mears, his daughter, April, groupie and beauty empire owner, Paula Tort, and Sir Terry Maloney, Mears's fixer and general factotum, now a merchant bank chairman, pillar of London's powerful fiscal establishment, to be interviewed by Ruthie. All have refused to be interviewed before, but feel the time has now come to spill the beans about Martin Mears, a thrillingly glamorous figure. With rumours abounding of the second coming of Mears, secret codes, apparently referred to in the sixth album, sixth track, with the title supposedly using the word cease, the French for six, 666 the number of the beast, this has fed into The Clamouring, present day attempts by huge crowds of fans to resurrect Mears. Ruthie intuits facts from the information she has and unearths a connection to the Jericho Society, with whom she has disturbing dealings with before. She thinks its unlikely that this is a coincidence as harrowing deaths occur following her inquiries. Mears appears to have been as idealistic as he was corrupt, artistically gifted as he was morally and physically tainted, a contradictory man with an enduring legacy that is assured with every member of the band dead. Ruthie's research takes her back to a gothic derelict manor owned by the German Klaus Fischer, on the Isle of Wight, with a disturbing history, and the location where Mears wrote the songs for his breakout first album.
FG Cottam is inspired by the waters of folklore, history, supernatural horror, paganism and more, in the established tradition of British writers such as the brilliant Phil Rickman. This is a well plotted novel for those who enjoy eerie and dark spine chilling stories of evil, the macabre and deals made with the devil. The characterisation of Ruthie Gillespie with her ink and goth appearance, emotionally vulnerable, endeavouring to get over her heartbreak, making tentative steps to move on as she gets involved with architect Michael Aldridge, determined and unwavering in her search for the truth, makes her a hugely compelling and appealing central figure. This is brilliant storytelling, ideal particularly for those time of the year when horror, fear and scares are what is required. Highly Recommended! Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
May 19, 2018
Although this is a stand-alone novel, some characters have appeared in previous books. If you haven’t read anything by F.G. Cottam before then, not only are you really lucky, as there are lots of great titles to explore, but you might want to read the short novella, “The Going and the Rise,” (currently free on the author’s webpage) which helps introduce the main character in this novel; Ruthie Gillespie.
When we meet Ruthie, she is staying with a friend in London and looking for something to do to take her mind off her past troubles. An author, mainly of children’s books, she asks Michael Aldridge (who also appears in, “The Going and the Rise,”) for a job reference. She has been approached about a research job and is interested in doing something new, which might keep her in London.
Carter Melville is everything Ruthie expects a rock manager to be. He is organising a boxed set of the band he managed – the legendary, Ghost Legion . Despite the fact all the members of the band are gone and the lead singer, and songwriter, Martin Mear, has been dead for forty years, the band still have a fanatical following. Ruthie’s task is to write an essay on the band and, specifically, on Martin Mear. However, she soon discovers uncomfortable links to the Jericho Society, an organisation she has had dealings with in the past.
This is a creepy and unsettling read, with excellent characters and a good plot. It is interesting to mix the supernatural with the world of rock music, obsessive fans, and a harsh look at both the price of fame and the price someone might pay to achieve it… I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
When we meet Ruthie, she is staying with a friend in London and looking for something to do to take her mind off her past troubles. An author, mainly of children’s books, she asks Michael Aldridge (who also appears in, “The Going and the Rise,”) for a job reference. She has been approached about a research job and is interested in doing something new, which might keep her in London.
Carter Melville is everything Ruthie expects a rock manager to be. He is organising a boxed set of the band he managed – the legendary, Ghost Legion . Despite the fact all the members of the band are gone and the lead singer, and songwriter, Martin Mear, has been dead for forty years, the band still have a fanatical following. Ruthie’s task is to write an essay on the band and, specifically, on Martin Mear. However, she soon discovers uncomfortable links to the Jericho Society, an organisation she has had dealings with in the past.
This is a creepy and unsettling read, with excellent characters and a good plot. It is interesting to mix the supernatural with the world of rock music, obsessive fans, and a harsh look at both the price of fame and the price someone might pay to achieve it… I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
July 17, 2018
As authors mature they sometimes bring together the themes and characters from their earlier books and it is a pleasure that F. G. Cottam has chosen to do so with The Lucifer Chord, which combines elements from his first out-and-out supernatural novel The House of Lost Souls, featuring human sacrifices on the Isle of Wight staged by Klaus Fischer, with such infamous characters as Hermann Goering, Aleister Crowley and Dennis Wheatley (who wasn’t a villain in real life, just a poseur and snob without anything to be snobbish about who wrote enjoyable black-magic and witchcraft stories). There is also a reappearance by the insalubrious Jericho Society which first appeared in Dark Echo. Our principal character in The Lucifer Chord is Ruthie Gillespie, who herself first figured in the last volume of the Colony trilogy, Harvest of Scorn. As a preliminary to this novel, last year the author gave us his novella The Going and the Rise, which set us again on the IOW with Ruthie, the architect Michael Aldridge, and the Jericho Society’s demolished keep.
Again, Cottam uses a favourite device of the quest motif that he employed in The House of Lost Souls. A character is given a project that involves solving a mystery, that leads into a dark perilous journey into the past. In this case it is the disappearance of the rock musician Martin Mear. “He was believed to have been killed by electrocution while rehearsing for a concert in Morocco.” Observers at his concerts claimed they had witnessed him levitating. (Not far from where I live, in Fairfield, Iowa, this is an almost routine occurrence!) Ruthie, who is a professional nonfiction writer as well as an author of children’s fiction, is commissioned by a dubious American referred to as “Carter Fucking Melville” to write 20,000 words (at a quid a word) on Martin and his rock group The Ghost Legion, who after nearly half a century still have a fanatical following, somewhat like the Dead Heads. As the title of the book suggests, Cottam draws on folklore – the story of a guitar player so extraordinary that it was believed he had been taught to play by the Devil. Martin Mear is supposed to have invented a previously unknown guitar chord. (As did my idol Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders as well.) Legionnaire’s reunions feature some strangely spooky occurrences. In her quest Ruthie’s journey covers the entire length of Britain, from Ventnor IOW to the Scottish Highlands, and involves encounters with mediums, Ouija boards, and a ghost driving an ancient grey Morris Minor, as well as a ghostly milk bar. (How it would have depressed David Holbrook to know that these destroyers of traditional working class culture would enjoy future life in the spirit world!) Finally we discover what became of Martin Mear, as well as Ruthie’s relationship with the architect Michael Aldridge. The pseudo-history in the background to the Jericho Society was not completely convincing. Supposedly in the early 1920s “two powerful exorcists” from the Archdiocese of Boston deactivated the American headquarters of that diabolical organization which was subsequently demolished by the FBI (which did not add “Federal” to its name till 1935) and that their “chalice now rest[s] in the trophy room at Quantico” (where perhaps Agent Clarice Starling was allowed to drink from it before encountering Hannibal Lector :).
F. G. Cottam ranks alongside Andrew Taylor as the top current British authors of supernatural fiction. (Susan Hill is no longer at the top of her game.) In terms of the tradition of the classic English ghost story, I’d place Taylor in the line of M. R. James. Cottam reminds me more of Algernon Blackwood for inventiveness and range of settings. Cottam’s fans will definitely enjoy how The Lucifer Chord ties together the complex mythological system that began with The House of Lost Souls and Dark Echo, and continued through The Colony trilogy. If you are new to Cottam, I’d recommend you first read his novella The Going and the Rise, as well as Jan Olandese’s Infectious Ghosts: Contagious Magic in F. G. Cottam’s Dark Echo and The House of Lost Souls.
Again, Cottam uses a favourite device of the quest motif that he employed in The House of Lost Souls. A character is given a project that involves solving a mystery, that leads into a dark perilous journey into the past. In this case it is the disappearance of the rock musician Martin Mear. “He was believed to have been killed by electrocution while rehearsing for a concert in Morocco.” Observers at his concerts claimed they had witnessed him levitating. (Not far from where I live, in Fairfield, Iowa, this is an almost routine occurrence!) Ruthie, who is a professional nonfiction writer as well as an author of children’s fiction, is commissioned by a dubious American referred to as “Carter Fucking Melville” to write 20,000 words (at a quid a word) on Martin and his rock group The Ghost Legion, who after nearly half a century still have a fanatical following, somewhat like the Dead Heads. As the title of the book suggests, Cottam draws on folklore – the story of a guitar player so extraordinary that it was believed he had been taught to play by the Devil. Martin Mear is supposed to have invented a previously unknown guitar chord. (As did my idol Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders as well.) Legionnaire’s reunions feature some strangely spooky occurrences. In her quest Ruthie’s journey covers the entire length of Britain, from Ventnor IOW to the Scottish Highlands, and involves encounters with mediums, Ouija boards, and a ghost driving an ancient grey Morris Minor, as well as a ghostly milk bar. (How it would have depressed David Holbrook to know that these destroyers of traditional working class culture would enjoy future life in the spirit world!) Finally we discover what became of Martin Mear, as well as Ruthie’s relationship with the architect Michael Aldridge. The pseudo-history in the background to the Jericho Society was not completely convincing. Supposedly in the early 1920s “two powerful exorcists” from the Archdiocese of Boston deactivated the American headquarters of that diabolical organization which was subsequently demolished by the FBI (which did not add “Federal” to its name till 1935) and that their “chalice now rest[s] in the trophy room at Quantico” (where perhaps Agent Clarice Starling was allowed to drink from it before encountering Hannibal Lector :).
F. G. Cottam ranks alongside Andrew Taylor as the top current British authors of supernatural fiction. (Susan Hill is no longer at the top of her game.) In terms of the tradition of the classic English ghost story, I’d place Taylor in the line of M. R. James. Cottam reminds me more of Algernon Blackwood for inventiveness and range of settings. Cottam’s fans will definitely enjoy how The Lucifer Chord ties together the complex mythological system that began with The House of Lost Souls and Dark Echo, and continued through The Colony trilogy. If you are new to Cottam, I’d recommend you first read his novella The Going and the Rise, as well as Jan Olandese’s Infectious Ghosts: Contagious Magic in F. G. Cottam’s Dark Echo and The House of Lost Souls.
May 7, 2018
Finally, a bonafide genre find, an atmospheric eerie thriller that genuinely thrills. Awesomely incorporating so many things I like reading about…cults, mysteries, research projects, occult, magic, this was surprisingly good. I actually didn’t expect all that much, convinced I’ve read the author once and wasn’t blown away, but this one changed my mind and made me interested. And I’m not even a musical person, at all, but something about that scene makes for a good story. This wasn’t the first one I’ve read and enjoyed on the subject and, while silence will steadfastly remain my preferred sound, this book was just the right sort of whispery quiet slow building terror ride I’ve been looking for to read for quite a while. The basic plot involves a Goth looking (at odds with her kewpie doll moniker Ruthie Gillespie) writer (YA and such) who gets hired to put together an essay for a commemorative project for a 70s music star extraordinaire Martin Mear. The star burned brightly and burned itself out much too soon, presumably leaving behind a proverbially good looking corpse and its own mythos, but there’s of course more to the story. And so Ruthie sets out to uncover her very own version of Behind the Music, while navigating all manner of dangers, real and otherworldly. The author does a terrific job of balancing the natural with supernatural, so that you can’t be quite sure of what’s going on and as such this can be read as either a mystery or a suspense thriller or an occult story. But, of course, it’s a mix and it works really well on every level. The characters are interesting and well developed, the story unfolds at a nice pace and the general plot is pretty awesome, but then again it was pretty catered to my interests. The narrative stayed dark without veering into bleakness, which is no small feat, and it threw in several surprises along the way to the grand reveal. The few questions there were, such as why wait so long to do the project and why not delegate murder when one can be compromised and was Ruthie’s solution in the end too quaint and easy, but that’s probably just a brain overthinking things, because by all accounts this really was a very enjoyable entertaining engaging read. Lovely to revisit a genre that’s an old favorite in such a fun way. Thanks Netgalley.
August 3, 2018
I have been reading F.G. Cottam for some time now and have recommended his work to others who enjoy this genre: paranormal fiction sometimes with an historical fiction bent. The Lucifer Chord continues in that form, involving Ruthie Gillespie, met in prior Cottam work, in the investigation into the life of a 1970s rock legend, one Martin Mears, and his band. The hitch...Mears died in 1975 and all other band members have long since died also. A retrospective is planned and Ruthie will be paid handsomely for a 20,000 word essay to accompany a new boxed set of albums.
As is true in all of Cottam’s novels, there is a gradual scene building, development of characters and situations with slow introduction of tensions and events of questionable authorship. Eventually, it becomes clear that nothing human has produced some of the things Ruthie experiences.
And the tension continues to build as she moves in different directions with her search for information. How far will she go? Is she safe in what she is doing? Thankfully she has good friends to offset the evil that seems to lurk behind this project. There are links to earlier novels both in Ruthie ‘s character and in an organization that is discussed frequently in the novel, one with a dark past.
I once again recommend Cottam to those who enjoy this genre. He provides excellent writing without unnecessary gore, a fact I appreciate in this area. A sense of fear and unease can rise in a reader without a lot of blood and violence. Subtlety is appreciated. This book has the added plus of throwback memories to the 1970s for those of us who enjoyed the rock of the time.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
As is true in all of Cottam’s novels, there is a gradual scene building, development of characters and situations with slow introduction of tensions and events of questionable authorship. Eventually, it becomes clear that nothing human has produced some of the things Ruthie experiences.
And the tension continues to build as she moves in different directions with her search for information. How far will she go? Is she safe in what she is doing? Thankfully she has good friends to offset the evil that seems to lurk behind this project. There are links to earlier novels both in Ruthie ‘s character and in an organization that is discussed frequently in the novel, one with a dark past.
I once again recommend Cottam to those who enjoy this genre. He provides excellent writing without unnecessary gore, a fact I appreciate in this area. A sense of fear and unease can rise in a reader without a lot of blood and violence. Subtlety is appreciated. This book has the added plus of throwback memories to the 1970s for those of us who enjoyed the rock of the time.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
December 13, 2018
Like several of Cottam's recent works, The Lucifer Chord centres on researcher and author Ruthie Gillespie. Having endured recent, and still raw, heartbreak, Ruthie is looking for something to occupy her time and serve as a distraction; it arrives in the form of a lucrative contract to write an investigative essay about rock star Martin Mear. Mear, frontman of Ghost Legion, has been assumed dead for decades, during which time he's attained the status of an icon. Legend has it he was into black magic. Indeed, his most hardcore fans believe he can be brought back from the dead through a ritual known as 'the Clamouring'...
The Lucifer Chord is an impressively subtle and restrained horror story, and all the more effectively creepy for it. Ruth's research takes her all over the country, even across Europe, and she meets a wealth of intriguing characters – a medium who claims to have been in contact with Mear, the rock star's daughter and ex-girlfriend, and his lascivious ex-manager, to name a few. I was delighted to find this book has many small connections with events and people from the author's previous novels, among them The House of Lost Souls (2007), Dark Echo (2008) and the Colony trilogy (2012–2016). (Just to be clear, you don't need to have ready any of those to enjoy this one – although you should read them anyway, especially Dark Echo.)
This was just what I needed; it got me out of a fairly miserable reading slump. I loved every minute – the horror elements, of course, but also the smaller details, the carefully embroidered history of the band, as well as the sensitive handling of Ruthie's heartache and how she – slowly, and not without reservations – moves on. It turned out to be my favourite Cottam since 2014's The Lazarus Prophecy. Like that book, it is a perfect blend of compelling horror and meticulously constructed mystery, with strong, nuanced characters you can really root for.
(If stories about potentially demonic/haunted rock stars appeal, I would also recommend Elizabeth Hand's Wylding Hall and Cottam's earlier novel The Waiting Room.)
I received an advance review copy of The Lucifer Chord from the publisher through NetGalley.
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The Lucifer Chord is an impressively subtle and restrained horror story, and all the more effectively creepy for it. Ruth's research takes her all over the country, even across Europe, and she meets a wealth of intriguing characters – a medium who claims to have been in contact with Mear, the rock star's daughter and ex-girlfriend, and his lascivious ex-manager, to name a few. I was delighted to find this book has many small connections with events and people from the author's previous novels, among them The House of Lost Souls (2007), Dark Echo (2008) and the Colony trilogy (2012–2016). (Just to be clear, you don't need to have ready any of those to enjoy this one – although you should read them anyway, especially Dark Echo.)
This was just what I needed; it got me out of a fairly miserable reading slump. I loved every minute – the horror elements, of course, but also the smaller details, the carefully embroidered history of the band, as well as the sensitive handling of Ruthie's heartache and how she – slowly, and not without reservations – moves on. It turned out to be my favourite Cottam since 2014's The Lazarus Prophecy. Like that book, it is a perfect blend of compelling horror and meticulously constructed mystery, with strong, nuanced characters you can really root for.
(If stories about potentially demonic/haunted rock stars appeal, I would also recommend Elizabeth Hand's Wylding Hall and Cottam's earlier novel The Waiting Room.)
I received an advance review copy of The Lucifer Chord from the publisher through NetGalley.
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August 3, 2020
So, while this was not marked as a book in a series, it turns out the reason I had trouble following some of the narrative is because, guess what...it's about a bunch of characters from a couple of his previous series books who have dealt with this this kind of thing before and continuously referred to other characters and antagonists in said books but never actually explained what happened in the previous series books. Took me about 60% to finally figure this out. :(
Irrespective of that, I was sadly disappointed by this book. As a proud bogan and metal head from way back, with a title like The Lucifer Chord, and a sub title about cults and ancient evil, I was expecting some of this....
and maybe a bit of this...
but with more naked men.... but alas my expectations were left unfulfilled.
If you're looking for some cult-y horror, go read Adam Nevill, and for a great hard-core rock book with cults, We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix will scratch that itch for you.
2 stars for a great idea and a couple of almost creepy moments, but this is not the scary rock cult book it's been marketed as.
Irrespective of that, I was sadly disappointed by this book. As a proud bogan and metal head from way back, with a title like The Lucifer Chord, and a sub title about cults and ancient evil, I was expecting some of this....
and maybe a bit of this...
but with more naked men.... but alas my expectations were left unfulfilled.
If you're looking for some cult-y horror, go read Adam Nevill, and for a great hard-core rock book with cults, We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix will scratch that itch for you.
2 stars for a great idea and a couple of almost creepy moments, but this is not the scary rock cult book it's been marketed as.
November 20, 2018
Did not finish at 80%.
The book had an interesting blurb, which was why I wanted to read it. Unfortunately too many factors prevented me from enjoying and finishing it.
1. The author frequently uses sentences which are not properly formed. Incorrect phrasing is common and it looks like the editor or proofreader didn't do their job well at all.
2. There is far too much time spent describing the main character's smoking habit, drinking preferences and her love life, which becomes utterly tedious after a few chapters. Nobody cares what wine she was drinking or how much she drank or how many cigarettes she smoked. It's just useless filler. Also the endless mentions of her beauty and attractiveness to men is daft and annoying. She's constantly whining about being objectified while acting the martyr with this "oh, I'm just a humble female trying to get by" shit. As a woman myself, it's offensive and irrelevant to any plot anyway.
3. References to previous events in the main character's life are annoyingly frequent and also devoid of details. So why include them at all?! Anyone who read the other books with this character in them will already know what happened, and those who didn't do not care anyway. Instead there are umpteen vague mentions of stuff that is not relevant to THIS story.
4. For me, none of the characters are likeable or even memorable. Not the main character, not the supporting ones, not even the character of the man the story is meant to centre around. That makes it very hard to give a story your full attention.
In short, an interesting idea for a story... just not well executed in any way.
The book had an interesting blurb, which was why I wanted to read it. Unfortunately too many factors prevented me from enjoying and finishing it.
1. The author frequently uses sentences which are not properly formed. Incorrect phrasing is common and it looks like the editor or proofreader didn't do their job well at all.
2. There is far too much time spent describing the main character's smoking habit, drinking preferences and her love life, which becomes utterly tedious after a few chapters. Nobody cares what wine she was drinking or how much she drank or how many cigarettes she smoked. It's just useless filler. Also the endless mentions of her beauty and attractiveness to men is daft and annoying. She's constantly whining about being objectified while acting the martyr with this "oh, I'm just a humble female trying to get by" shit. As a woman myself, it's offensive and irrelevant to any plot anyway.
3. References to previous events in the main character's life are annoyingly frequent and also devoid of details. So why include them at all?! Anyone who read the other books with this character in them will already know what happened, and those who didn't do not care anyway. Instead there are umpteen vague mentions of stuff that is not relevant to THIS story.
4. For me, none of the characters are likeable or even memorable. Not the main character, not the supporting ones, not even the character of the man the story is meant to centre around. That makes it very hard to give a story your full attention.
In short, an interesting idea for a story... just not well executed in any way.
December 31, 2018
I've long admired the exceptional British horror fiction of author F. G. Cottam. This man knows his history as well as knowing how to craft a fine story and to make readers empathise with his characters. In THE LUCIFER CHORD, he fully strums the suspense riff as he keeps the tension boiling, while protagonist Ruthie Graham, author and researcher, "stumbles on" to a research job involving the Rock Music environment of the 1970's (and oh, does Mr. Cottam illustrate that culture superbly!). Ruthie is driven more by a quest for the truth than the substantial promised payment, and she determines to persevere despite a number of sudden suspicious deaths, what seems to be only dead ends with no hope of recourse, and a secret society ("They never forget. They never forgive.") THE LUCIFER CHORD is a non-stop read for any lover of horror, history, Britain, or conspiracy.
February 17, 2021
A good supernatural mystery. The reader is unnerved from the first page forward. Very eerie and atmospheric. I wondered about some characters until the very end if they were good or evil. It felt quite plausible. If you like the idea of a cursed misunderstood musician and how he impacted his world with the help of some supernatural elements, then you will enjoy this story.
March 3, 2023
Judged it by its cover - the standing stones are close to where I grew up, but not the ones briefly featuring in the book itself.
Story itself was ok but not thrilling.
Story itself was ok but not thrilling.
May 5, 2018
4 stars
I read the Kindle edition.
Ruthie Gillespie, a children’s and young adult novelist who has just ventured into writing fiction for adults, obtains a position from Carter Melville to research the life and times of Martin Mear. Martin was a rock god and lead guitarist/singer/writer for the fabulously popular group named Ghost Legion who went missing in 1975 when he was just twenty-seven. Carter was the manager/producer for Ghost Legion. He doesn’t write the essay on his own because he claims he has holes in his memory.
Ruthie is also a tattooed Goth. She has been given the names of three people who are willing to talk about Martin: Paula Tort was a girlfriend of two years when Martin went missing. She is now a fashion designer. Terry Maloney who was the principal roadie for the group is now Sir Terrance. April Mear is Martin’s daughter. She was born when Martin was just sixteen. Her mother died when April was just twelve. Martin took her in after that and April has very fond memories of him.
Carter recommends that Ruthie talk also to Frederica Daunt. Her father designed the cover for the King Lud album cover. She is a spiritualist/medium who is said to be able to contact Martin Mear. (This is assuming he is dead, of course.) When Ruthie visits her, they have a very strange encounter. The room feels as though there is someone else there. Frederica gets a nose bleed and perhaps passes out. She doesn’t talk to Ruthie that night, but agrees to meet her later. When they meet, Frederica tells Ruthie that she is not a fraud and that the encounter scared her. Ruthie, who went into the encounter with severe doubts now, agrees that Frederica does not seem like a fraud.
Frederica begins to experience strange occurrences; sounds, visions and physical symptoms. It appears to be Martin Mear. Is he out to torment her? Why will he not leave her alone?
Meanwhile, Ruthie uncovers a connection to Max Askew, Martin’s maternal uncle. Martin must have spent a lot of time with Max as a young man. Max worked for a company with connections to the Jericho Society. They have a very unsavory history, with connections to the occult. She then gets a call from Frederica begging her to drop the investigation, Frederica says she saw Martin in her garden and is about to catch a plane to leave England.
Ruthie goes to view Max’s old apartment (before he passed away in 1978), and has some very strange experiences. She learns that it has been on the market “forever.” As Ruthie continues to follow the trail of Martin Mear, the story gets more unbelievable. Is Martin really alive as some of his followers believe?
Ruthie follows the trail, faces danger and finally finds out the truth.
This book is well written and plotted. It is a little difficult to read, as it does not follow in some places. They story seems to add words that don’t belong, or leave words out that should be there. I like Ruthie; the fact that she is a Goth, is a creative thinker and is very brave. (Much more so than I would be in her situation.) F.G. Cottam weaves a great tale of adventure, mystery and searching for the truth. I really liked the story. It had just enough of the supernatural, but was well-grounded in reality. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes a touch of mystery and the supernatural. This is my first F.G. Cottam book and I immediately went to Amazon to look for other works by this author.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read, enjoy and review.
I read the Kindle edition.
Ruthie Gillespie, a children’s and young adult novelist who has just ventured into writing fiction for adults, obtains a position from Carter Melville to research the life and times of Martin Mear. Martin was a rock god and lead guitarist/singer/writer for the fabulously popular group named Ghost Legion who went missing in 1975 when he was just twenty-seven. Carter was the manager/producer for Ghost Legion. He doesn’t write the essay on his own because he claims he has holes in his memory.
Ruthie is also a tattooed Goth. She has been given the names of three people who are willing to talk about Martin: Paula Tort was a girlfriend of two years when Martin went missing. She is now a fashion designer. Terry Maloney who was the principal roadie for the group is now Sir Terrance. April Mear is Martin’s daughter. She was born when Martin was just sixteen. Her mother died when April was just twelve. Martin took her in after that and April has very fond memories of him.
Carter recommends that Ruthie talk also to Frederica Daunt. Her father designed the cover for the King Lud album cover. She is a spiritualist/medium who is said to be able to contact Martin Mear. (This is assuming he is dead, of course.) When Ruthie visits her, they have a very strange encounter. The room feels as though there is someone else there. Frederica gets a nose bleed and perhaps passes out. She doesn’t talk to Ruthie that night, but agrees to meet her later. When they meet, Frederica tells Ruthie that she is not a fraud and that the encounter scared her. Ruthie, who went into the encounter with severe doubts now, agrees that Frederica does not seem like a fraud.
Frederica begins to experience strange occurrences; sounds, visions and physical symptoms. It appears to be Martin Mear. Is he out to torment her? Why will he not leave her alone?
Meanwhile, Ruthie uncovers a connection to Max Askew, Martin’s maternal uncle. Martin must have spent a lot of time with Max as a young man. Max worked for a company with connections to the Jericho Society. They have a very unsavory history, with connections to the occult. She then gets a call from Frederica begging her to drop the investigation, Frederica says she saw Martin in her garden and is about to catch a plane to leave England.
Ruthie goes to view Max’s old apartment (before he passed away in 1978), and has some very strange experiences. She learns that it has been on the market “forever.” As Ruthie continues to follow the trail of Martin Mear, the story gets more unbelievable. Is Martin really alive as some of his followers believe?
Ruthie follows the trail, faces danger and finally finds out the truth.
This book is well written and plotted. It is a little difficult to read, as it does not follow in some places. They story seems to add words that don’t belong, or leave words out that should be there. I like Ruthie; the fact that she is a Goth, is a creative thinker and is very brave. (Much more so than I would be in her situation.) F.G. Cottam weaves a great tale of adventure, mystery and searching for the truth. I really liked the story. It had just enough of the supernatural, but was well-grounded in reality. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes a touch of mystery and the supernatural. This is my first F.G. Cottam book and I immediately went to Amazon to look for other works by this author.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read, enjoy and review.
July 21, 2019
Page 197 and I get it now. The author has been inspired by The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Not sure how he thinks a woman who smokes and drinks loads (functioning alcoholic) with European skin can still look good by her mid-30s but Ruthie's captivating looks are a constant mention. I don't know if I'm reading a horror book or one of those thriller-romances written by countless american romance-turned-crime authors.
the characters and dialogue (trying too hard to be atmospheric) have got to be the worst. A shame as the book had so much promise and the author really researched his material
****update****
On page 169 now and the writing style hasn't improved and the storyline is becoming a little ridiculous. However the biggest offence are the characters, a huge assault to the senses
The speed at which they become "trusted" friends is bad enough. But the description of these totally cliche cutouts from the 90s is my biggest gripe.
A few more chapters and I'm done with this book.
It would have been awesome if they authors had focused on the plot without adding a tedious superfluous romance and ridiculous dialogue
****update****
So far on page 65 and this book reads like a Jackie Collins novel but for horror.
The writing style and dialogue is also very 1990s wannabe-edgy with short comebacks that are totally out of context and a little naff. Reminds me of those silly crime/thriller books written by female romance-turned-crime authors.
The characters are also very 1990s. No healthy yoga, vegan hipsters in sight. Paula Tort is a 1990s cliche being recalled.
Other than that the storyline is ok. But the protagonist has found out way too much information far too easily that it just seems too convenient.
Also a major annoyance- there are loads of paragraphs that don't make much sense. As though this book has been any translated on Google Translate or something.
Not sure how he thinks a woman who smokes and drinks loads (functioning alcoholic) with European skin can still look good by her mid-30s but Ruthie's captivating looks are a constant mention. I don't know if I'm reading a horror book or one of those thriller-romances written by countless american romance-turned-crime authors.
the characters and dialogue (trying too hard to be atmospheric) have got to be the worst. A shame as the book had so much promise and the author really researched his material
****update****
On page 169 now and the writing style hasn't improved and the storyline is becoming a little ridiculous. However the biggest offence are the characters, a huge assault to the senses
The speed at which they become "trusted" friends is bad enough. But the description of these totally cliche cutouts from the 90s is my biggest gripe.
A few more chapters and I'm done with this book.
It would have been awesome if they authors had focused on the plot without adding a tedious superfluous romance and ridiculous dialogue
****update****
So far on page 65 and this book reads like a Jackie Collins novel but for horror.
The writing style and dialogue is also very 1990s wannabe-edgy with short comebacks that are totally out of context and a little naff. Reminds me of those silly crime/thriller books written by female romance-turned-crime authors.
The characters are also very 1990s. No healthy yoga, vegan hipsters in sight. Paula Tort is a 1990s cliche being recalled.
Other than that the storyline is ok. But the protagonist has found out way too much information far too easily that it just seems too convenient.
Also a major annoyance- there are loads of paragraphs that don't make much sense. As though this book has been any translated on Google Translate or something.
June 23, 2019
Props to the author for making a female alcoholic the hero of a horror story, that's not something we get everyday, and though the word alcoholic isn't ever actually used in the story I think it's safe to say had the protagonist been a male cop or detective or writer or journalist downing that much that often the story would have had to include at least one intervention and/or two AA meetings.
Then again maybe the author/publisher is sponsored by the wine industry targeting lonely middle aged women, using a heavy metal backdrop for exotic flavour, because this isn't really a horror story for us male readers methinks, the action scenes mandatory for such are just not there, but there are at least ten instances of the heroine sitting alone with a bottle thinking the plot forward, and as many where she's sitting with a bottle or two talking it out with some other female, or her submissive male love interest, or an interview object, in the story.
Anyway, the first 2-3 chapters and the last 2-3 chapters of this book are pretty good, the skeleton of a five stars decent Heavy Metal Da Vinci Code story is there, but there's no tasty meat on the inbetweens as they clip along in such an uninterresting manner that by page 160 I found myself rooting for the bad guys to start whacking off more collateral characters and for the hounted house ghost toilet (yes, really) to flush the whole lot down the drain. The Force Awakens type inspired ending and the final bunch of twists saves it, but not fully.
Maybe I'm too negative, the author sure knows how to string a sentence, but with this book has conjured up what is more of an atmospheric world sallad than an otherwordly feast serving.
Then again maybe the author/publisher is sponsored by the wine industry targeting lonely middle aged women, using a heavy metal backdrop for exotic flavour, because this isn't really a horror story for us male readers methinks, the action scenes mandatory for such are just not there, but there are at least ten instances of the heroine sitting alone with a bottle thinking the plot forward, and as many where she's sitting with a bottle or two talking it out with some other female, or her submissive male love interest, or an interview object, in the story.
Anyway, the first 2-3 chapters and the last 2-3 chapters of this book are pretty good, the skeleton of a five stars decent Heavy Metal Da Vinci Code story is there, but there's no tasty meat on the inbetweens as they clip along in such an uninterresting manner that by page 160 I found myself rooting for the bad guys to start whacking off more collateral characters and for the hounted house ghost toilet (yes, really) to flush the whole lot down the drain. The Force Awakens type inspired ending and the final bunch of twists saves it, but not fully.
Maybe I'm too negative, the author sure knows how to string a sentence, but with this book has conjured up what is more of an atmospheric world sallad than an otherwordly feast serving.
June 13, 2020
This unfortunately didn't work for me as much as I would have liked it to. It is shelved as horror but the horror element is really minor, it is more of a crime book. I haven't read anything else by Cottam and had the feeling that I should have had in order to better understand the connection with the cult that the main character has had an encounter with in her past. There is one very spooky scene in the last chapter and I really wish there were more of those...
February 28, 2022
I found this dragged. I wasn’t wild about the lead character but it was interesting to read a character who drank and smoked so much, where alcoholism never enters the story. Like it seemed pointed that Ruthie is guzzling Chablis in every scene, but nothing is ever made of it. Some good scenes and it’s well written but somehow it didn’t engage me.
May 27, 2019
Not his best.
I just got an overall impression that the book was rushed and half arsed somehow.
Ive found that his previous books are more atmospheric and creepy spooky.
This one read like an incomplete draft not a final copy unfortunately.
I just got an overall impression that the book was rushed and half arsed somehow.
Ive found that his previous books are more atmospheric and creepy spooky.
This one read like an incomplete draft not a final copy unfortunately.
August 23, 2018
4.5 stars.
The Lucifer Chord by F.G. Cottam is an incredibly atmospheric and enthralling mystery with subtle yet eerie supernatural elements. Although characters from previous novels make guest appearances, this latest release can be read as a standalone.
Children's book author Ruthie Gillespie is staying with good friend Veronica Slade in hopes of mending her broken heart. When offered a research job by Carter Melville to write an essay on much celebrated singer/songwriter/guitarist Martin Mear whose band Ghost Legion still has a cult following, she harbors a few qualms about accepting the assignment. Reassured by her friend (and possible love interest) Michael Aldridge, Ruthie cautiously begins her research into the life and death of the iconic rock star.
Rumor and speculation swirl around the death of Martin Mear in 1975. Not everyone is convinced he is in fact dead so Ruthie's first order of business to try to authenticate his death. Hoping to glean a few psychic clues, her first interview is with medium Frederica Daunt, who has a family connection to Mear. Although she is not exactly a skeptic, Ruthie approaches her upcoming meeting with Frederica with an open mind. In the aftermath of their chilling encounter with a menacing spirit, Frederica flees to Portugal and warns Ruthie to tread lightly.
Ruthie's next meetings with Mear's girlfriend Paula Tort and his daughter April are certainly less ominous and provide her with important insight into the charismatic singer. However, the band's roadie and Martin' s friend, Sir Terence Maloney proves to be much more elusive. As she traces Mear's meteoric rise to stardom, Ruthie discovers Martin's uncle Max Askew has an unexpected connection to Martens and Degrue which is really a front for the Jericho Society. Ruthie has reason to be a bit worried about this link since her dealings with the Jericho Society in the past have been rather frightening. The deeper she digs into Mear's past, the more Ruthie begins to speculate about exactly how Martin's success originated.
With some very bone-chilling encounters and all too real deaths in the present, The Lucifer Chord is a spellbinding mystery with understated paranormal phenomena. Ruthie is a multi-faceted protagonist that is well-developed with realistic strengths and weaknesses. F.G. Cottam deftly incorporates slight supernatural elements that greatly enhance the fast-paced and engaging storyline. The novel comes to a clever conclusion that completely wraps up the various story arcs. I highly recommend this suspenseful mystery to readers of the genre.
The Lucifer Chord by F.G. Cottam is an incredibly atmospheric and enthralling mystery with subtle yet eerie supernatural elements. Although characters from previous novels make guest appearances, this latest release can be read as a standalone.
Children's book author Ruthie Gillespie is staying with good friend Veronica Slade in hopes of mending her broken heart. When offered a research job by Carter Melville to write an essay on much celebrated singer/songwriter/guitarist Martin Mear whose band Ghost Legion still has a cult following, she harbors a few qualms about accepting the assignment. Reassured by her friend (and possible love interest) Michael Aldridge, Ruthie cautiously begins her research into the life and death of the iconic rock star.
Rumor and speculation swirl around the death of Martin Mear in 1975. Not everyone is convinced he is in fact dead so Ruthie's first order of business to try to authenticate his death. Hoping to glean a few psychic clues, her first interview is with medium Frederica Daunt, who has a family connection to Mear. Although she is not exactly a skeptic, Ruthie approaches her upcoming meeting with Frederica with an open mind. In the aftermath of their chilling encounter with a menacing spirit, Frederica flees to Portugal and warns Ruthie to tread lightly.
Ruthie's next meetings with Mear's girlfriend Paula Tort and his daughter April are certainly less ominous and provide her with important insight into the charismatic singer. However, the band's roadie and Martin' s friend, Sir Terence Maloney proves to be much more elusive. As she traces Mear's meteoric rise to stardom, Ruthie discovers Martin's uncle Max Askew has an unexpected connection to Martens and Degrue which is really a front for the Jericho Society. Ruthie has reason to be a bit worried about this link since her dealings with the Jericho Society in the past have been rather frightening. The deeper she digs into Mear's past, the more Ruthie begins to speculate about exactly how Martin's success originated.
With some very bone-chilling encounters and all too real deaths in the present, The Lucifer Chord is a spellbinding mystery with understated paranormal phenomena. Ruthie is a multi-faceted protagonist that is well-developed with realistic strengths and weaknesses. F.G. Cottam deftly incorporates slight supernatural elements that greatly enhance the fast-paced and engaging storyline. The novel comes to a clever conclusion that completely wraps up the various story arcs. I highly recommend this suspenseful mystery to readers of the genre.
September 7, 2018
I have read all of the authors books and I was eagerly awaiting the Lucifer Chord as I was aware one of the central characters was Ruthie, and that it drew on themes also from previous books. That said this book could be read without having read the previous novels.
The book for me was one of those rare beasts that I struggled to put down. This is one of FG’s better if not his best novel so far. I was able to identify with the locations and I found the characters and plot had real depth. What I also like is that the author does not overload the reader with descriptive information. He offers just enough to paint the scene or character on the page whilst allowing the readers imagination to finish the scene. This allows the book to flow at a reasonable pace. For me this really makes a book and is indicative of a talented writer. There has been mention in another review of the authors writing style. For me it works, its fresh, has pace, is well researched and allows the readers imagination to participate in the story.
The book is a supernatural thriller but again it is measured, not gratuitous or fantastic - just enough to make you think…..
If you are in any doubt, buy it and I don't think you will be disappointed.
The book for me was one of those rare beasts that I struggled to put down. This is one of FG’s better if not his best novel so far. I was able to identify with the locations and I found the characters and plot had real depth. What I also like is that the author does not overload the reader with descriptive information. He offers just enough to paint the scene or character on the page whilst allowing the readers imagination to finish the scene. This allows the book to flow at a reasonable pace. For me this really makes a book and is indicative of a talented writer. There has been mention in another review of the authors writing style. For me it works, its fresh, has pace, is well researched and allows the readers imagination to participate in the story.
The book is a supernatural thriller but again it is measured, not gratuitous or fantastic - just enough to make you think…..
If you are in any doubt, buy it and I don't think you will be disappointed.
May 5, 2018
It is so nice to have Ruthie and company back for a visit. Ruthie has been commissioned to do an essay on Martin Mear and his band, Ghost Legion, as part of a new boxed set and a tour of his music and memorabilia. But something isn't right about any of this, she discovers as supernatural events force a medium to run for her life and more me she knows to end up dead.
Ruthie is no stranger to the supernatural or the occult forces in the world. She has come up against them before and lived to tell the tale, but will the third time be her last?
Ruthie is one of my favorite characters and I hope we will see more of her! Cottam's writing draws you into the story and the characters and before you know it you are almost finished, so you slow down to make it last and still end up hurtling towards the end to find out what happens! As a great coincidence I had a text from a friend who is at this minute on the Isle of Wight so this seemed a sign of sorts, but by then I had devoured the entire book!
If you like secret societies, the occult, fact with fiction mixed in and a spooky setting,then you should read the books before this one as well.
Netgalley/SevernHouse September 01, 2018
Ruthie is no stranger to the supernatural or the occult forces in the world. She has come up against them before and lived to tell the tale, but will the third time be her last?
Ruthie is one of my favorite characters and I hope we will see more of her! Cottam's writing draws you into the story and the characters and before you know it you are almost finished, so you slow down to make it last and still end up hurtling towards the end to find out what happens! As a great coincidence I had a text from a friend who is at this minute on the Isle of Wight so this seemed a sign of sorts, but by then I had devoured the entire book!
If you like secret societies, the occult, fact with fiction mixed in and a spooky setting,then you should read the books before this one as well.
Netgalley/SevernHouse September 01, 2018
September 17, 2018
Francis Cottam is one of my all time favorite authors, and he certainly did not disappoint this time. He has a way of creating a frightening atmosphere that gives the reader the creeps, but without being actually certain of what you are scared of. The kind of story that makes for nightmares. Ruthie Gillespie, an author and researcher, is hired to investigate and write a book about the charismatic lead singer and guitarist for Ghost Legion, a legendary rock band from the 1970s. The singer, Martin Mear supposedly died mysteriously in 1975. Mear, who is rumored to still be alive, will be coming back from the dead, has ties to satanic cults, and to have been associated with the Jericho Society. The Jericho Society is said to be a powerful but secret and evil cult. Ruthie is assigned to find out the truth regarding Mear. Unlike many of the authors books, which could be classified as horror/paranormal stories, this is a real mystery horror story. The characters are terrific, and the twists and turns are great.
July 27, 2021
... The Lucifer Chord is a novel that seems interesting, but turns out to be quite the letdown. Though the concept upon which the novel is founded will likely draw readers in, the rest of it just doesn’t function as it ought. The protagonist reads like a cardboard cutout of a person; the romantic subplot reads like something written by that “white cishet man in your creative writing class” type of person one sees so many memes made about; and while there’s a plot arc, the rest of the story itself just goes all over the place and makes one wonder if an editor looked this manuscript over before sending it to print. I also wonder if there is any other author who’s written a story around a similar concept as this one, and I find myself wishing that is the case, as well as hoping they’ve done much better than this – though I suppose, given how this novel has turned out, doing better won’t be very difficult, given how low this novel set the bar.
Full review here: wp.me/p21txV-L2
May 6, 2024
Listened to April 2024
I do enjoy a good ghost story & a dead rockstar rising from his grave had so much potential...yet this disappointed to be honest. The story centres round Ruthie delving into the past of rockstar Martin Mear who might... or might not... be about to return from the dead - or maybe his spirit already has?
My interest in this story peaked & troughed. Both me & hubby were a bit confused by all the references to past events. We thought this was a standalone but the story seemed to imply that it's part of a series. There's certainly plenty about Ruthie's previous dealings with the Jericho Society but I'm not inclined to discover more. To add to the confusion, I also found it a bit hard to tell which female character was speaking. As to Ruthie, well not only did I get sick of her smoking, swilling Chablis & hearing how drop dead gorgeous she was but hearing the name "Ruthie" "Ruthie" "Ruthie" over & over really irritated me for some reason.
Overall, I guess you could say I wasn't impressed.
I do enjoy a good ghost story & a dead rockstar rising from his grave had so much potential...yet this disappointed to be honest. The story centres round Ruthie delving into the past of rockstar Martin Mear who might... or might not... be about to return from the dead - or maybe his spirit already has?
My interest in this story peaked & troughed. Both me & hubby were a bit confused by all the references to past events. We thought this was a standalone but the story seemed to imply that it's part of a series. There's certainly plenty about Ruthie's previous dealings with the Jericho Society but I'm not inclined to discover more. To add to the confusion, I also found it a bit hard to tell which female character was speaking. As to Ruthie, well not only did I get sick of her smoking, swilling Chablis & hearing how drop dead gorgeous she was but hearing the name "Ruthie" "Ruthie" "Ruthie" over & over really irritated me for some reason.
Overall, I guess you could say I wasn't impressed.
August 31, 2021
Rock, ocultismo y asesinatos en un thriller sobrenatural y sobresaliente 😻
.
La leyenda de Martin Mear, estrella del rock de los 70 fallecido a los 27 --y su no menos legendaria banda Ghost Legion--, no decae, así que para el próximo lanzamiento de la edición definitiva sobre su vida y obra, encargan a a escritora Ruthie Gillespie una investigación para preparar un ensayo que se incluirá en el pack.
.
Con esta premisa nos vemos inmersos en una historia de música y decadencia, extrañas muertes del pasado y nuevos asesinatos, conexiones con un oscuro culto, apariciones perturbadoras y el empeño de algunos por traer de nuevo a Martin a la vida.
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Todo muy extraño, pero con el sabor del thriller de siempre y múltiples referencias a las bandas de la época y a un tiempo en que todo era más difícil, pero también más auténtico. Un libro que te tiene intrigado de principio a fin.
.
No sé si me gustó tanto por la temática (es probable que sí), pero he de hacerme con algo más del autor.
.
La leyenda de Martin Mear, estrella del rock de los 70 fallecido a los 27 --y su no menos legendaria banda Ghost Legion--, no decae, así que para el próximo lanzamiento de la edición definitiva sobre su vida y obra, encargan a a escritora Ruthie Gillespie una investigación para preparar un ensayo que se incluirá en el pack.
.
Con esta premisa nos vemos inmersos en una historia de música y decadencia, extrañas muertes del pasado y nuevos asesinatos, conexiones con un oscuro culto, apariciones perturbadoras y el empeño de algunos por traer de nuevo a Martin a la vida.
.
Todo muy extraño, pero con el sabor del thriller de siempre y múltiples referencias a las bandas de la época y a un tiempo en que todo era más difícil, pero también más auténtico. Un libro que te tiene intrigado de principio a fin.
.
No sé si me gustó tanto por la temática (es probable que sí), pero he de hacerme con algo más del autor.
September 6, 2020
The Lucifer Chord was an outstanding supernatural rock and roll icky bug story. This is the first book I’ve read by this British author and it was a great read.
Written in solid third-person limited and past-tense, the narrative was a bit dense at times, but the pace still moved. The action wasn’t particularly fast, this was due to the fact that the story kind of crept up on me. While clues came a little bit at a time, the creep factor also did as well. The mystery stacked up with each scene. The entire time, I wasn’t sure how much of the story was supernatural versus just a plain old whodunit.
In the end, I was happy with the outcome, and there were a few twists along the way. The creepy English atmosphere significantly added to that. Overall, I had a great time, and it was an addictive read. Highly recommended.
Written in solid third-person limited and past-tense, the narrative was a bit dense at times, but the pace still moved. The action wasn’t particularly fast, this was due to the fact that the story kind of crept up on me. While clues came a little bit at a time, the creep factor also did as well. The mystery stacked up with each scene. The entire time, I wasn’t sure how much of the story was supernatural versus just a plain old whodunit.
In the end, I was happy with the outcome, and there were a few twists along the way. The creepy English atmosphere significantly added to that. Overall, I had a great time, and it was an addictive read. Highly recommended.
October 2, 2018
Another winner from F.G. Cottam.
Ruthie Gillespie makes a welcome return in this beautifully written, intricately plotted novel.
The Lucifer Chord is structured like a detective novel with writer/researcher Ruthie taking a job to research the life & death of Martin Mear, frontman, lead singer, songwriter and founder of 70's rock group Ghost Legion, and write a book to be included in an upcoming box set.
As one would expect, it doesn't take long for insidiousness to come creeping into the story. Tying in various plot lines: historical elements of the Jericho Society - an ancient evil cabal, fantastic bits on the music industry, flushing out Ruthie's character and wrapping everything up in a great conclusion, Cottam delivers another brilliant and scary read.
Ruthie Gillespie makes a welcome return in this beautifully written, intricately plotted novel.
The Lucifer Chord is structured like a detective novel with writer/researcher Ruthie taking a job to research the life & death of Martin Mear, frontman, lead singer, songwriter and founder of 70's rock group Ghost Legion, and write a book to be included in an upcoming box set.
As one would expect, it doesn't take long for insidiousness to come creeping into the story. Tying in various plot lines: historical elements of the Jericho Society - an ancient evil cabal, fantastic bits on the music industry, flushing out Ruthie's character and wrapping everything up in a great conclusion, Cottam delivers another brilliant and scary read.
Read
September 17, 2019I love that once again I get to read about Ruthie as she takes on a new task researching a rock star believed to be long dead & in doing so, finds herself once again dealing with the Jericho Society. Deals with the devil, a cult like rock following still going strong decades after the death of the rock group, ghosts, and of course drugs & rock & roll. This book has everything as it builds up to a crescendo that will leave you wanting an encore. Even if you're new to Cottam's work & have never 'met' Ruthie before, this book stands on its own & will definitely keep you on your toes trying to guess what is going to happen next. With Halloween coming up, I definitely recommend it & even better is that it is available now on audible as well with one of my favorite narrators.
May 8, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley for providing free digital access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
I could tell from the synopsis that this title was going to revisit themes from a couple of Cottam's previous novels, but I was very pleasantly surprised upon reading the book that Cottam was actually bringing in threads from Dark Echo and The House of Lost Souls into a conspiracy of evil that makes me wonder if he is going to continue to follow this up with more titles in the future. As with his other work, The Lucifer Chord features strong female characters who get things done and an uber-creepy atmosphere, which are things that appeal to me. Would recommend for any horror reader.
I could tell from the synopsis that this title was going to revisit themes from a couple of Cottam's previous novels, but I was very pleasantly surprised upon reading the book that Cottam was actually bringing in threads from Dark Echo and The House of Lost Souls into a conspiracy of evil that makes me wonder if he is going to continue to follow this up with more titles in the future. As with his other work, The Lucifer Chord features strong female characters who get things done and an uber-creepy atmosphere, which are things that appeal to me. Would recommend for any horror reader.
April 29, 2020
Couldn't Put it Down
A few years ago I came across The Waiting Room by F G Cottam in my local library. I absolutely loved it. A couple of books later, I downloaded The Lucifer Chord onto my Kindle as it sounded great. I wasn't disappointed. Chilling, thrilling and creepy. A very good read. The only reason I've given it four stars instead of five, is because for me the ending was a bit rushed. For example, what happened to Carter Melville? We can assume, but we are not told for definite. Anyway, that's all I'm going to say, because if I talk anymore about the ending they'll be spoiler alerts. Give it a go. You won't regret it.
A few years ago I came across The Waiting Room by F G Cottam in my local library. I absolutely loved it. A couple of books later, I downloaded The Lucifer Chord onto my Kindle as it sounded great. I wasn't disappointed. Chilling, thrilling and creepy. A very good read. The only reason I've given it four stars instead of five, is because for me the ending was a bit rushed. For example, what happened to Carter Melville? We can assume, but we are not told for definite. Anyway, that's all I'm going to say, because if I talk anymore about the ending they'll be spoiler alerts. Give it a go. You won't regret it.
June 14, 2018
Another wonderful eerie read from Mr Cottam. Here Ruthie Gillespie, who has a bit part in some of his other books, takes center stage. She is asked to write an essay on iconic rock legend Martin Mear who died in 1975. But strange and unexplainable things start to happen, 2 people who help her die and Mear fans believe he is still alive. When Ruthie learns that the group 'The Jericho Society' are involved she fears for her life but realises she will continue to live until she has led them to Mear. It is a fabulous atmospheric and eerie read.
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