Prime Evil: A Novel

by Judith Kelman

Pregnant and unwed, Erica Phillips came to Bramble Farm to sort out her life and the papers of Theresa Bricklin. A stroke had left the legendary author a disfigured recluse totally dependent on her eccentric husband, who caters to her every need. He is determined to restore the crumbling estate to its former glory and his invalid wife to her former international brilliance.

But Bramble Farm hides a dark secret somewhere in its maze of odd rooms and shadowy passageways. Behind its facade of heartbreak and shattered dreams lurks a malevolent influence that has claimed more than one innocent life in the past. Now it is Erica Phillips and her unborn child who are the unwitting targets -- victims of an irresistible force drawing them ever closer to a shattering climax that has its roots buried in...

Genres: Horror

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1986

Reviews

[ItzSmashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this one, but a little slow paced for my taste. The mystery was compelling, but information was drip fed and lot of scenarios were duplicated and felt like padding. Which for a short book like this is a bad thing. I stretched to 3 stars though because of the satisfying payoff. The final 30 pages were compelling and had a nice twist that I didn't consider. I would just about reccommend this one.

Erica is an expecting mother working for a publishing company. When she is offered the opportunity to move in with an accomplished writer to help edit her newest work she jumps at the chance. But the writer has suffered a stroke, and her husband seems to have a sinister agenda when it comes to hiding the writer from Erica. What is really going on? And will Erica survive to tell the tale?

[Joe Xtarr · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a real slow burn, and the predictable ending wasn't good enough to make it satisfying. It could have been a lot deeper to make the suspense more tangible. Instead, it felt flat and uneventful throughout 99% of the story.

[Velvetink · Rating 2 out of 5]

Giving to Giving to si cotic

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Erica Phillips never stands up for herself and is weak-willed and pathetic.

[Nik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith Kelman is an author I'd not heard of and knew little about but after finding this book in a charity shop and liking the briefing I gave it a go... It's actually very good, I highly recommend it and I am now looking out for more of her novels.

[Katrine Engelhardt Thomsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent 90s trashy horror.
The slowest of slow burns though.

[Barbara Penaloza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book reading it again now