What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bookshop From Hell
Horror is what Dan Law enjoys.
He loves to read horror novels as a way to escape from his teaching job, from his loneliness, from the everyday dullness of life in Silver Lake. That’s what Dan lives for.
When a new bookstore opens in town, every visitor receives a free book of their own. A book that tells their own personal story…a story they have to follow to the brutal end.
As Silver Lake’s population descends into violent savagery, Dan finds he is no longer living for horror novels – he’s living inside one.
He loves to read horror novels as a way to escape from his teaching job, from his loneliness, from the everyday dullness of life in Silver Lake. That’s what Dan lives for.
When a new bookstore opens in town, every visitor receives a free book of their own. A book that tells their own personal story…a story they have to follow to the brutal end.
As Silver Lake’s population descends into violent savagery, Dan finds he is no longer living for horror novels – he’s living inside one.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2019
86 people are currently reading
780 people want to read
About the author
David Haynes
27 books214 followersWhen 12 year-old David Haynes picked up a battered copy of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, he never looked back.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
January 21, 2020
A mystyerious old man named Castavet opens up a special bookshop in a little town and from then on the town goes to hell. The book uses so many elements of Stephen King's Needful Things that you could think of an alternative version of it. But as I liked the idea of the cursed books and the demon distributing them I was also very fond of this story. Can the town be saved? What about Dan, his girfriend Lori (the librarian) and JJ? Is there a way to overcome Castavet. David Haynes gives much insight into the mechanisms of a smalltown and how an outsider like Castavet can unearth hidden conflicts. It was a fine read, a pageturner, with many eerie scenes (Castavet, murder, bloodshed) and compelling moments. But in the back of my mind there was always Stephen King's Needful Things. The Bookshop From Hell may be a kind of remake or may not have written without the original version of King but nevertheless I liked it and can thoroughly recommend it. It's entertaining and old school horror at its best!
November 14, 2024
Spooky Ride!
Small backstory:
What would you do if a book store opened up in your town? You would be running right over there to see what kind of books were available to you. This book store is different though as the minute the townspeople step into the store the owner doesn't let them wander around the shop, but he does offer them a free book telling them that they will "love, love, love it".
Dan Law, one of the teachers at the high school loves to read horror books so when he sees the new store he decides to go over there to see if the owner has horror books available. But what Dan doesn't know is once he steps inside the book store, his life will never be the same again as the free books that the owner hands out to all the townspeople are very unique. Each book does something different to each person and when it takes a hold of them the book will not let them go.
What are the free books? What does each book contain within its pages? How do the books change the townspeople? What happens to Dan Law and how does the book affect him? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
Thoughts:
This book was a grabber right from the beginning and it picked up speed the more I became involved in the story. Lots of twists and turns with fast paced suspense throughout the book gives me a main reason to put this book on my favorites shelf!
As always I am impressed with author David Haynes and the stories that he can weave around the reader!
This book was an intriguing read as it will take the reader on a twisted book adventure into the depths of hell! Giving this book five "Terror Ride Into Hell" stars!
Small backstory:
What would you do if a book store opened up in your town? You would be running right over there to see what kind of books were available to you. This book store is different though as the minute the townspeople step into the store the owner doesn't let them wander around the shop, but he does offer them a free book telling them that they will "love, love, love it".
Dan Law, one of the teachers at the high school loves to read horror books so when he sees the new store he decides to go over there to see if the owner has horror books available. But what Dan doesn't know is once he steps inside the book store, his life will never be the same again as the free books that the owner hands out to all the townspeople are very unique. Each book does something different to each person and when it takes a hold of them the book will not let them go.
What are the free books? What does each book contain within its pages? How do the books change the townspeople? What happens to Dan Law and how does the book affect him? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
Thoughts:
This book was a grabber right from the beginning and it picked up speed the more I became involved in the story. Lots of twists and turns with fast paced suspense throughout the book gives me a main reason to put this book on my favorites shelf!
As always I am impressed with author David Haynes and the stories that he can weave around the reader!
This book was an intriguing read as it will take the reader on a twisted book adventure into the depths of hell! Giving this book five "Terror Ride Into Hell" stars!
April 17, 2024
It was clear that the author was a fan of Stephen King‘s needful things. It was heavily influenced by it for this book.
This is the second book that I’ve heard recently that was heavily inspired by a student king book, both of them were great.
In this story, a bookshop opens up where upon your first visit you get a free book to tell “your story” to everyone other than the books owner the book is filled with blank pages. To its owner, it tells a story of what’s gonna happen in their lives and influences them to do what must be done to achieve it.
This book had a large cast characters that you get to spend a good chunk of time with each part where you really feel like you know them, so when they start becoming influenced by “their story” you can really see how mad they are becoming. The book a good mix between psychological elements and traditional horror elements.
This book was very well written and very hard to put down once I started. I read it once faster than I intended and I’m sure I will be reading it again some point.
This is the second book that I’ve heard recently that was heavily inspired by a student king book, both of them were great.
In this story, a bookshop opens up where upon your first visit you get a free book to tell “your story” to everyone other than the books owner the book is filled with blank pages. To its owner, it tells a story of what’s gonna happen in their lives and influences them to do what must be done to achieve it.
This book had a large cast characters that you get to spend a good chunk of time with each part where you really feel like you know them, so when they start becoming influenced by “their story” you can really see how mad they are becoming. The book a good mix between psychological elements and traditional horror elements.
This book was very well written and very hard to put down once I started. I read it once faster than I intended and I’m sure I will be reading it again some point.
May 26, 2024
I don’t write reviews.
I hated this. Is “hate” too strong a word… maybe. Haynes did the King thing, but very poorly. This was Needful Things meets In The Mouth of Madness, with repetitive dullness and stereotypical paper doll characters. I was thinking deeply as I read McCarthy so this time I wanted a no-brainer, but come on! I didn’t mean that literally.
Haynes had some problems remembering what he had written. For example, having Law say he’d never met the book store owner, but he had!! Or the repetition of phrases. I swear, in regards to one character, the line “he felt his cock stiffen in his pants” was used three times or more. Thanks for making me feel foolish writing that, Haynes.
The idea of the plot was ok, although derivative. It would have been better if all the characters were deeper people with some form of characterization. Without any connection to anyone, the whole exercise becomes entirely pointless.
I hated this. Is “hate” too strong a word… maybe. Haynes did the King thing, but very poorly. This was Needful Things meets In The Mouth of Madness, with repetitive dullness and stereotypical paper doll characters. I was thinking deeply as I read McCarthy so this time I wanted a no-brainer, but come on! I didn’t mean that literally.
Haynes had some problems remembering what he had written. For example, having Law say he’d never met the book store owner, but he had!! Or the repetition of phrases. I swear, in regards to one character, the line “he felt his cock stiffen in his pants” was used three times or more. Thanks for making me feel foolish writing that, Haynes.
The idea of the plot was ok, although derivative. It would have been better if all the characters were deeper people with some form of characterization. Without any connection to anyone, the whole exercise becomes entirely pointless.
July 10, 2021
(This is my second time to write a review; as it has been for so many of my reviews—this one disappeared. I just saw it a few days ago because one of my groups is preparing to read a novel by this same author and I wanted to go over what I had read by him. )
I have to say when I read of Castavet moving into town and opening his book shop, I did think of Steven King’s Needful Things, but I also feel that it was its own idea at the same time. There has always been the idea / archetype of the devil or a demon trying to trick us out of our souls or bring a hellish dimension bursting forth to wreak havoc on unsuspecting humans.
I also remember reading a very old story about the devil tricking ppl with food that was excellent. MR James maybe?
It goes back to the Bible with Adam and Eve only he was a serpent in a tree pedaling fruit. Tricking someone out of something.
Point being, yes it has been done— so what ?! This is an idea going back to ancient times and people writing their version of it and updating it isn’t repetitive any more than writing fifty versions of what Anne Boleyn was like. Yawn.
That being said🙂
I like Haynes version. This isn’t Needful Things at all. This is not a second hand shop, it’s a bookshop; and in it is the story- and I dare say a script for everyone in town. Alphabetized, inscribed… Personalized … just.. for… that person.
I read this quickly and found it to be hair raising. After this I decided I would read him again. Engaging writing.
There were a few typos, but not many.
I have to say when I read of Castavet moving into town and opening his book shop, I did think of Steven King’s Needful Things, but I also feel that it was its own idea at the same time. There has always been the idea / archetype of the devil or a demon trying to trick us out of our souls or bring a hellish dimension bursting forth to wreak havoc on unsuspecting humans.
I also remember reading a very old story about the devil tricking ppl with food that was excellent. MR James maybe?
It goes back to the Bible with Adam and Eve only he was a serpent in a tree pedaling fruit. Tricking someone out of something.
Point being, yes it has been done— so what ?! This is an idea going back to ancient times and people writing their version of it and updating it isn’t repetitive any more than writing fifty versions of what Anne Boleyn was like. Yawn.
That being said🙂
I like Haynes version. This isn’t Needful Things at all. This is not a second hand shop, it’s a bookshop; and in it is the story- and I dare say a script for everyone in town. Alphabetized, inscribed… Personalized … just.. for… that person.
I read this quickly and found it to be hair raising. After this I decided I would read him again. Engaging writing.
There were a few typos, but not many.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2020
This book started out well for me, but within a very short amount of time it became very repetitive. The overall idea has been compared to King's NEEDFUL THINGS, and I completely agree with that. However, the characters here felt stereotyped to me, and I found it easy to predict how each would react.
May 27, 2019
Again, this is a masterful read from the author David Haynes.
A bookshop appears in a small town in America. It never seems to be open or even sells any books, but if you are given a freebie, your life is never the same again. In fact your life is never really yours again.
I found this to be quite a chilling read.
A bookshop appears in a small town in America. It never seems to be open or even sells any books, but if you are given a freebie, your life is never the same again. In fact your life is never really yours again.
I found this to be quite a chilling read.
September 27, 2022
I was pretty excited about this one too but it was way too close to Needful Things by Stephen King in my opinion. Not only the story is pretty close to it but I feel like the writing was too, in my opinion at least. I liked the concept and even though it's different - it didn't feel different enough. I liked it overall but did get a little bored at some parts. It does get weird and gorey for sure so it does make for a good halloween read!
This is my 13th book for spooky season reads!
This is my 13th book for spooky season reads!
February 19, 2025
“ truth was Emily had made some pretty overt comments to him, it was clear the option was on the table..but he didn’t want to screw Emily…he didn’t really want to screw Megan either, not in a way she would understand anyway, he wanted to do other things to her. He had somehow risen above the need for simple sex..a good word, a word used in his book was TRANSCENDED.”
September 28, 2022
Ugh this was so repetitive.
I was enjoying this for the most part for the first half but this book just won't end, there's no plot progress. There is also a lot of cringy scenarios. I dunno 😭
I was enjoying this for the most part for the first half but this book just won't end, there's no plot progress. There is also a lot of cringy scenarios. I dunno 😭
August 25, 2024
As others have said, this is heavily influenced by Stephen King's Needful Things but it's about a bookstore and it's a bloodier more brutal book.
Needful Things is one of my favorite King novels and I absolutely loved this homage to that premise. In this case, a man opens a bookstore in a small town and feeds on the horrifying violence and bloodshed which ensues.
Every customer gets a "free gift" from the creepy but well spoken owner. A book with blank pages, almost like a diary. Except the person it's meant for sees something else in the pages. Their personal story with instructions on how to handle certain problems in their life. This generally involves some sadistic twisted things. But once they read their book, they're trapped and under an evil influence.
With a great cast of characters and a high body count, this novel zings right along at a good pace, making it easy to read and keep reading.
It's a more extreme version of Needful Things and the scenes of brutality will certainly leave their mark on you. It also has the vibe of a throwback horror novel, with unexpected deaths and a narrative which is unrelenting from the very first chapter.
I highly recommend it.
Needful Things is one of my favorite King novels and I absolutely loved this homage to that premise. In this case, a man opens a bookstore in a small town and feeds on the horrifying violence and bloodshed which ensues.
Every customer gets a "free gift" from the creepy but well spoken owner. A book with blank pages, almost like a diary. Except the person it's meant for sees something else in the pages. Their personal story with instructions on how to handle certain problems in their life. This generally involves some sadistic twisted things. But once they read their book, they're trapped and under an evil influence.
With a great cast of characters and a high body count, this novel zings right along at a good pace, making it easy to read and keep reading.
It's a more extreme version of Needful Things and the scenes of brutality will certainly leave their mark on you. It also has the vibe of a throwback horror novel, with unexpected deaths and a narrative which is unrelenting from the very first chapter.
I highly recommend it.
June 8, 2025
The Bookshop from Hell by David Haynes
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “Needful Splatter”
Once upon a time in a sleepy town, where the biggest scandal was probably an overdue library book, a mysterious man named Castavet opens a bookstore… and then all hell breaks loose. Literally. Welcome to The Bookshop from Hell—where the only thing more dangerous than reading a book is accepting it for free.
🧨 Plot Summary:
Dan, a horror-loving high school teacher, enjoys a quiet life teaching English and running a reading group for some of his students. He also has a slight crush on the librarian, Lori (because, of course, the horror guy is dating the librarian—it's practically a rule). But when Castavet’s suspiciously well-curated bookshop materializes in town, things go from cozy to demonic paperback purge in record time.
As townsfolk walk away with custom-tailored books that push them into madness, addiction, rage, and general moral collapse. Soon enough, Dan's student, JJ, is pulled into the fray after his best mate, Alex, goes full Jack Torrance on his parents. Lori, Dan, and JJ dive headfirst into unraveling why their town has become the paperback version of The Purge.
🧠 Themes and Tone:
This is Needful Things by way of Splatterpunk. Think Richard Laymon levels of depravity—but with less nudity and more bibliophilia.
The book gets dark. Real dark. But it's never just gore for gore’s sake. Haynes uses horror tropes to explore temptation, guilt, and the psychological fallout of facing your worst self… all handed to you by a smirking bookseller in a crisp blazer.
🧛 Comparisons:
Stephen King’s Needful Things: the clearest influence. Replace the antique trinkets with cursed books, and voilà.
Richard Laymon & early Splatterpunk: quick pacing, nasty deaths, grimy tension. You’ll find echoes of Laymon's small-town decay and “everyone has a secret” philosophy.
The Twilight Zone, but messier: Each character’s descent into chaos plays like a horror anthology episode gone rogue.
🪓 Characters to Know:
Dan: High school teacher, horror buff, one of the few rational minds left.
Lori: Librarian. Voice of reason. Most likely to survive in any horror film.
JJ: Teenage student, dragged into this mess by proximity to carnage and a heart of gold.
Castavet: Bookshop owner. Smug. Stylish. Almost definitely has a punch card for “buy 9 books, damn your soul free.”
😈 What Works:
Wild concept: Books as personal Pandora’s boxes? We love a cursed literary moment.
Fast pace: This book doesn’t meander. It sprints through sin, screams, and spine-cracking violence.
Gleeful chaos: The town goes off the rails in glorious fashion. It's like Needful Things went to a keg party and forgot to lock the demon cabinet.
😬 What Could Be Better:
Familiar formula: If you’ve read King or seen any 90s horror, you'll probably guess where this is going.
Some character depth missing: A few townsfolk feel more like cannon fodder than fully fleshed-out victims. Still, we salute their service.
🔥 Final Thoughts:
David Haynes doesn't shy away from getting weird and getting bloody, and if you’ve got a taste for horror that’s less subtle suggestion and more full-tilt descent into book-based madness, this will hit the spot. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but it’s burning it to the ground and handing you the ashes in a dog-eared mass-market paperback.
Just maybe don’t accept strange books from charming strangers. Or do. What’s the worst that could happen?
Recommended for: Readers who miss early Stephen King, Laymon enthusiasts, horror fans who laugh at jump scares, and anyone who’s ever wished their book club was just a bit more demonic.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – “Needful Splatter”
Once upon a time in a sleepy town, where the biggest scandal was probably an overdue library book, a mysterious man named Castavet opens a bookstore… and then all hell breaks loose. Literally. Welcome to The Bookshop from Hell—where the only thing more dangerous than reading a book is accepting it for free.
🧨 Plot Summary:
Dan, a horror-loving high school teacher, enjoys a quiet life teaching English and running a reading group for some of his students. He also has a slight crush on the librarian, Lori (because, of course, the horror guy is dating the librarian—it's practically a rule). But when Castavet’s suspiciously well-curated bookshop materializes in town, things go from cozy to demonic paperback purge in record time.
As townsfolk walk away with custom-tailored books that push them into madness, addiction, rage, and general moral collapse. Soon enough, Dan's student, JJ, is pulled into the fray after his best mate, Alex, goes full Jack Torrance on his parents. Lori, Dan, and JJ dive headfirst into unraveling why their town has become the paperback version of The Purge.
🧠 Themes and Tone:
This is Needful Things by way of Splatterpunk. Think Richard Laymon levels of depravity—but with less nudity and more bibliophilia.
The book gets dark. Real dark. But it's never just gore for gore’s sake. Haynes uses horror tropes to explore temptation, guilt, and the psychological fallout of facing your worst self… all handed to you by a smirking bookseller in a crisp blazer.
🧛 Comparisons:
Stephen King’s Needful Things: the clearest influence. Replace the antique trinkets with cursed books, and voilà.
Richard Laymon & early Splatterpunk: quick pacing, nasty deaths, grimy tension. You’ll find echoes of Laymon's small-town decay and “everyone has a secret” philosophy.
The Twilight Zone, but messier: Each character’s descent into chaos plays like a horror anthology episode gone rogue.
🪓 Characters to Know:
Dan: High school teacher, horror buff, one of the few rational minds left.
Lori: Librarian. Voice of reason. Most likely to survive in any horror film.
JJ: Teenage student, dragged into this mess by proximity to carnage and a heart of gold.
Castavet: Bookshop owner. Smug. Stylish. Almost definitely has a punch card for “buy 9 books, damn your soul free.”
😈 What Works:
Wild concept: Books as personal Pandora’s boxes? We love a cursed literary moment.
Fast pace: This book doesn’t meander. It sprints through sin, screams, and spine-cracking violence.
Gleeful chaos: The town goes off the rails in glorious fashion. It's like Needful Things went to a keg party and forgot to lock the demon cabinet.
😬 What Could Be Better:
Familiar formula: If you’ve read King or seen any 90s horror, you'll probably guess where this is going.
Some character depth missing: A few townsfolk feel more like cannon fodder than fully fleshed-out victims. Still, we salute their service.
🔥 Final Thoughts:
David Haynes doesn't shy away from getting weird and getting bloody, and if you’ve got a taste for horror that’s less subtle suggestion and more full-tilt descent into book-based madness, this will hit the spot. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but it’s burning it to the ground and handing you the ashes in a dog-eared mass-market paperback.
Just maybe don’t accept strange books from charming strangers. Or do. What’s the worst that could happen?
Recommended for: Readers who miss early Stephen King, Laymon enthusiasts, horror fans who laugh at jump scares, and anyone who’s ever wished their book club was just a bit more demonic.
October 13, 2022
A gory read for spooky season about a demonic book seller who ruins a small town by spreading evil books!
January 29, 2024
TL;DR It's a fun, but negatively trope-filled read. 2.5 stars rounded up.
Summary One day, a bookshop opens up run by an old man in fancy closing. The bookshop owner only allows select customers to enter and gives a "free gift" to all new customers. This free gift appears completely blank to all but those it was intended for. For the customers whom the book was intended, it appears to contain text of their "story" which drives them to madness.
What I liked is that it felt like turning on a B horror from the 80s. You know what's going to happen, it's predictable but comforting. The bookshop and madness were interesting concepts.
What I didn't like was the use of negative tropes that are tropes are outdated, overdone, and predictable such as the Battered Woman (the main female lead is physically abused by her boyfriend) or Bury Your Gays (the only gay character kills themselves thanks to the anxiety of people finding out). The latter character was a real letdown because they were introduced like a main character only for them to be the first to fall victim to the madness.
I was not a fan of any of the characters as even before the madness, they weren't great people. The few genuinely kind characters the reader spends time with are not developed enough for the audience to develop strong attachments to.
I also struggled with the switch of different characters with nothing to break up the switches. This may just be an issue with the audio though.
Summary One day, a bookshop opens up run by an old man in fancy closing. The bookshop owner only allows select customers to enter and gives a "free gift" to all new customers. This free gift appears completely blank to all but those it was intended for. For the customers whom the book was intended, it appears to contain text of their "story" which drives them to madness.
What I liked is that it felt like turning on a B horror from the 80s. You know what's going to happen, it's predictable but comforting. The bookshop and madness were interesting concepts.
What I didn't like was the use of negative tropes that are tropes are outdated, overdone, and predictable such as the Battered Woman (the main female lead is physically abused by her boyfriend) or Bury Your Gays (the only gay character kills themselves thanks to the anxiety of people finding out). The latter character was a real letdown because they were introduced like a main character only for them to be the first to fall victim to the madness.
I was not a fan of any of the characters as even before the madness, they weren't great people. The few genuinely kind characters the reader spends time with are not developed enough for the audience to develop strong attachments to.
I also struggled with the switch of different characters with nothing to break up the switches. This may just be an issue with the audio though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2019
Old school 80s style horror at its very best. Has reminded me why I love the genre so much. So few authors can pull off the traditional horror story these days. If you are a horror fan and like the libraries of James Herbert, Richard Laymon and Bentley Little, you owe it to yourself to read this beauty of a story. David Haynes is on my list of authors to check out their other books.
May 1, 2024
I love love loved this book!
I wasn't expecting much from it and wondered if it would be a bit 'needful things' like. But it was so much better.
Loved the characters, hated some of them, and their storied kept me entertained.
Narration was spot on too.
I wasn't expecting much from it and wondered if it would be a bit 'needful things' like. But it was so much better.
Loved the characters, hated some of them, and their storied kept me entertained.
Narration was spot on too.
June 15, 2024
I know this an overdone trope (King did similar), but I still loved this.
September 11, 2019
A good easy read
A good easy read, not too complex, just great characters and a fun plot. Read this on holiday and loved it.
A good easy read, not too complex, just great characters and a fun plot. Read this on holiday and loved it.
February 29, 2024
This book was okay it really had a feel of Stephen King’s needful things. I do like the plot of people reading their own stories and being the creator of their own book. I did not like the ending at all.
May 20, 2019
An empty shop unit in Silver Lake is fitted out as a bookshop. The elderly owner gives visitors a free gift, a little volume which they become very attached to. They can read ‘their story’ in it, but to other people the book is blank. This is a classic horror story and I found it very enjoyable, but also food for thought. When people’s sense of entitlement is fed and stoked, their inner spitefulness can rise to the surface. I fear we are seeing this in modern day politics. There’s more than that here, though. The worst side of human nature comes to the fore. The disintegration of societal norms is a car crash and gruesome to watch. This isn’t for the faint-hearted but if you enjoy old-fashioned horror there’s a lot in this to make you think. Brilliant!
July 31, 2019
You read a book, your book, a book that talks about your life, that inspires you to liberate yourself...And then you become wild and let your desires for violence and retaliation run free.
The idea of the plot is superb, it feels a lot like "The purge" movie, when everybody is allowed an entire night to satiate their hunger for blood and death (obviously of someone else).
I really enjoy reading The bookshop from hell. I liked the old-fashioned bookseller coming straight from Hell, the different characters, each with their own view of themselves and the world.
The substance of this novel being "a whole village gone crazy reading books" makes it a very worth reading.
The idea of the plot is superb, it feels a lot like "The purge" movie, when everybody is allowed an entire night to satiate their hunger for blood and death (obviously of someone else).
I really enjoy reading The bookshop from hell. I liked the old-fashioned bookseller coming straight from Hell, the different characters, each with their own view of themselves and the world.
The substance of this novel being "a whole village gone crazy reading books" makes it a very worth reading.
June 6, 2020
A watery copy of Needful Things, and throwing a Stephen King reference every other page did not help much.
July 20, 2019
Loved this captivating little horror. Feel 100% certain that I watched, and enjoyed a film with a very similar storyline quite some time ago. Can't for the world remember the films name, but if it jogs someone else's memory shall check back on reviews and comments. This is a book that's hard to put down. Well worth the read, HIGHLY recommend. Jim👍.
October 7, 2020
That was gory!
unfinished
September 21, 2024Meh. And the narrator was awful.
October 22, 2024
Love love loved the plot of this book. Every character and their motives and moves are very well thought out and really insane! Lol. Most interesting book I’ve read in a while. Just hated the ending
November 16, 2019
A gory but engrossing horror thriller which continually riffs on the Horror genre, almost in a tongue-in-cheek way. I was subtly reminded of Stephen King's NEEDFUL THINGS, and im fact the bookshop proprietor tosses the mention of Castle Rock at our feckless hero-protagonist, high school English teacher Daniel Law, a man much admirable for his integrity, dedication, and love of reading (and horror). He is a strong hero, a true "John Wayne" type, and the fact that he is not 100% successful renders him realistic.
December 24, 2019
A proper old fashioned horror with obvious nods to Stephen King. Really enjoyed it.
July 24, 2024
Nice horror story for a cosy night with a favourite cup of tea.
December 2, 2019
Great premise
Really enjoyed this one. Had been disappointed with Undertaker but this much more sustained and absorbing. Great characters with entertaining digs at celebrities and authors.
Really enjoyed this one. Had been disappointed with Undertaker but this much more sustained and absorbing. Great characters with entertaining digs at celebrities and authors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews