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High Cross
High cross has laid empty since World War Two. Deserted, abandoned.
Until now.
Property developer Mark Grange had renovated the old village into a community fit for the twenty first century.
As the first residents move in, an evil which has lain dormant stirs.
Lady Grey has woken. As human as sin but as eternal as the devil, Lady Grey enslaves the hearts and minds of these new
villagers using their sins, secrets, fears and desires. And these new residents harbor some very dark secrets indeed.
Unless Mark can stop her, Britain’s Newest Village will become a hell on Earth.
Until now.
Property developer Mark Grange had renovated the old village into a community fit for the twenty first century.
As the first residents move in, an evil which has lain dormant stirs.
Lady Grey has woken. As human as sin but as eternal as the devil, Lady Grey enslaves the hearts and minds of these new
villagers using their sins, secrets, fears and desires. And these new residents harbor some very dark secrets indeed.
Unless Mark can stop her, Britain’s Newest Village will become a hell on Earth.
598 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2018
6 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Paul Melhuish
17 books10 followersPaul’s publishing history includes a short story in Dark Horizons, (The British Fantasy Society’s fiction magazine) about a farm that bred humans for meat. More recently a story of his was featured in issue 13 of Murky Depths magazine. This joyful piece was a satire on euthanasia entitled Do Not Resuscitate. In October 2010 one of his stories was included in the anthology Shoes, Ships and Cadavers: Tales from Northlondonshire. Edited by Ian Whates and Ian Watson with an introduction by Alan Moore (a Kindle version of this anthology is being considered by NewCon Press for release during 2011).
During spring 2011, Greyhart Press released a couple of Paul’s short stories as e-books (Fearworld and Necroforms), and followed this up in July with Babel, a short story that introduces the #Skyfire space opera/ horror universe.
In the Skyfire Saga, Paul deploys his unique blend of darkly cynical humor, and shambolic anti-heroes that somehow manage (sometimes) to triumph against the odds. Underneath the hellish set pieces, the page-turning plots, and the filthy Skyfirean vernacular, there lies a rich spiritual vein that underpins Paul’s writing. Any similarities between Paul’s anti-heroes and himself are purely coincidental.
The first Skyfirean novel, Terminus, will be released by Greyhart Press in fall 2011.
During spring 2011, Greyhart Press released a couple of Paul’s short stories as e-books (Fearworld and Necroforms), and followed this up in July with Babel, a short story that introduces the #Skyfire space opera/ horror universe.
In the Skyfire Saga, Paul deploys his unique blend of darkly cynical humor, and shambolic anti-heroes that somehow manage (sometimes) to triumph against the odds. Underneath the hellish set pieces, the page-turning plots, and the filthy Skyfirean vernacular, there lies a rich spiritual vein that underpins Paul’s writing. Any similarities between Paul’s anti-heroes and himself are purely coincidental.
The first Skyfirean novel, Terminus, will be released by Greyhart Press in fall 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 3, 2020
Really really epic and really really excellent. Take Ghost Story, stir in Needful Things, and you have High Cross. I wish I could give it more stars.
November 14, 2018
What a great read! This book is ridiculously entertaining from the get go. It's fast paced, twisted yet extremely readable. Melhuish creates a very believable reality, even as the horror mounts. Lady Grey is an outstanding creation and what she puts the inhabitants of High Cross through will live on much longer than the final page. Katie's story, in particular, is extremely grim but you'll have to read it yourself to see why. The only criticism I can level is that the ending is a bit too neat, but the journey was so much fun I'm not going to hold that against it.
A word of warning for the easily offended:this is published by Horrific Tales and it certainly is that.
A word of warning for the easily offended:this is published by Horrific Tales and it certainly is that.
March 10, 2019
A smidge under 600 pages, it had epic written all over it; an imaginative tour-de-force, a tale of horror and gore and dark humour.
Paul Melhuish's High Cross (although annoyingly within the text it was called 'Highcross') is a quaint English village, but it has a secret and that is the enigmatic Lady Grey, a mysterious and beautiful woman whom lives within High Cross Manor.
With an army of characters, the villagers, the story is pure melodrama, given a modern twist by Melhuish's twisted imagination.
If you like your horror bold and expansive, then read this, but if you find anything over 300 pages a slog then this is not for you; it is a very hefty tome.
Paul Melhuish's High Cross (although annoyingly within the text it was called 'Highcross') is a quaint English village, but it has a secret and that is the enigmatic Lady Grey, a mysterious and beautiful woman whom lives within High Cross Manor.
With an army of characters, the villagers, the story is pure melodrama, given a modern twist by Melhuish's twisted imagination.
If you like your horror bold and expansive, then read this, but if you find anything over 300 pages a slog then this is not for you; it is a very hefty tome.
April 27, 2020
HIGH CROSS caught my attention immediately and what's more, maintained it throughout. Never a "ho-hum" moment here. Really intrigued by the premise [without spoiling: I refer to the medieval historical background] and the working out of that premise. Always left with that "what is she really?" question, but that never detracted from the story, for me. I must caution: there's tons of extreme violence included, and forbidden taboos are violated, so take heed, readers with high sensitivity or touchy stomach. Good bit of obscenity too. For those who don't mind these aspects, or will not be fazed by same, go for it. Definitely worth reading.
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June 26, 2022DNF
April 14, 2019
Disturbing, horrific and violent. A great read!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews