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The Brenda and Effie Mysteries #4
Hell's Belles!
Penny is running away from a life of domestic strife and into mysterious Whitby – where she hopes to find herself. But in her quest for self-discovery, Penny may have stumbled on something far more sinister: the gateway to hell. For Whitby is no ordinary seaside resort. The quaint façade of coffee shops and tea dances conceals a magnet for dark and dangerous forces, drawing in and spewing out all kinds of monsters. And all that keeps the evil at bay are Brenda and Effie – two very unusual old ladies.
When a film crew comes to town to remake the sixties schlock horror movie Get Thee Inside Me, Satan, Brenda and Effie suspect something strange is afoot. Female lead Karla Sorenson is reprising her role and she doesn’t look like she’s aged a day. Surely that’s not possible? Then there are the disturbing rumours surrounding the original movie – a cult classic that is, quite literally, spell-binding. As events spool out of control, Penny’s new boss Robert draws her deeper into the movie’s peculiar mystery. But can it be stopped before all hell breaks loose?
When a film crew comes to town to remake the sixties schlock horror movie Get Thee Inside Me, Satan, Brenda and Effie suspect something strange is afoot. Female lead Karla Sorenson is reprising her role and she doesn’t look like she’s aged a day. Surely that’s not possible? Then there are the disturbing rumours surrounding the original movie – a cult classic that is, quite literally, spell-binding. As events spool out of control, Penny’s new boss Robert draws her deeper into the movie’s peculiar mystery. But can it be stopped before all hell breaks loose?
422 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2009
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188 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 4, 2018
Great fun. A fine addition to the Brenda & Effie series.
July 26, 2015
Well, what can I say - absolutely fabulous! I read my first Brenda and Effie book by Paul Magrs last month and absolutely loved it. With Hell's Belles being the fourth book in the series I thought that it would loose some of the story's zest as so many sequels in series do, but this is better than the last. I just loved it!
Margs has such an amazing talent. His writing is so clever as although there are many plot twists and turns they all read smoothly and easily, there is no confusion as to what's going on. We are introduced to many characters throughout the book but each character has a unique voice and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them all. Two of the main characters, Brenda and Effie, are retired old ladies!
I honestly didn't think that reading about two old ladies would be my thing. I have to connect and be able to relate to the characters in some way to really enjoy a book and reading about two retired old ladies did initially make me a little apprehensive. But after reading Conjugal Rites, I absolutely fell in love with Brenda and Effie, and I had no problem connecting with them. It was the same with Hell's Belles. They are just so funny, quirky and warm. And don't think for a minute because they are old they can't fight their own battles - Brenda and Effie can kick-arse with the best of them - well, they have to, being the guardians of the hell mouth!
I also love Robert, Brenda's other best friend, who finds love in Hell's Belles with a guy called Michael. They meet each night to have moonlit rides on an enchanted settee, but as expected, nothing is as it first seems. Penny, a new resident of Whitby, is also falling for a guy called Michael, but he's seeing the evil Mrs Claus, who is thoroughly enjoying his attention. As always there a funny goings on in all the lives of the Whitby characters, which makes each one so interesting and intriguing.
A secret, that was alluded to in Conjugal Rites, is revealed in Hell's Belles and I'm excited to see where Magrs takes this part of the story. I also have a sneaking suspicion that the character of Penny will be back with her own revelations in book five!
Verdict:
This is a totally unique story with original characters. Deliciously written with enough action to keep you turning the pages. Magrs has you jumping back and forth between characters but instead of it being annoying and confusing it made it exciting and I was totally absorbed. This is a comedy too but with a dark edge. With vampires, monsters, zombies and demons. Wonderful story. Superbly executed.
I actually gave this 9/10 on my blog but Goodreads doesn't allow half stars!
Margs has such an amazing talent. His writing is so clever as although there are many plot twists and turns they all read smoothly and easily, there is no confusion as to what's going on. We are introduced to many characters throughout the book but each character has a unique voice and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them all. Two of the main characters, Brenda and Effie, are retired old ladies!
I honestly didn't think that reading about two old ladies would be my thing. I have to connect and be able to relate to the characters in some way to really enjoy a book and reading about two retired old ladies did initially make me a little apprehensive. But after reading Conjugal Rites, I absolutely fell in love with Brenda and Effie, and I had no problem connecting with them. It was the same with Hell's Belles. They are just so funny, quirky and warm. And don't think for a minute because they are old they can't fight their own battles - Brenda and Effie can kick-arse with the best of them - well, they have to, being the guardians of the hell mouth!
I also love Robert, Brenda's other best friend, who finds love in Hell's Belles with a guy called Michael. They meet each night to have moonlit rides on an enchanted settee, but as expected, nothing is as it first seems. Penny, a new resident of Whitby, is also falling for a guy called Michael, but he's seeing the evil Mrs Claus, who is thoroughly enjoying his attention. As always there a funny goings on in all the lives of the Whitby characters, which makes each one so interesting and intriguing.
A secret, that was alluded to in Conjugal Rites, is revealed in Hell's Belles and I'm excited to see where Magrs takes this part of the story. I also have a sneaking suspicion that the character of Penny will be back with her own revelations in book five!
Verdict:
This is a totally unique story with original characters. Deliciously written with enough action to keep you turning the pages. Magrs has you jumping back and forth between characters but instead of it being annoying and confusing it made it exciting and I was totally absorbed. This is a comedy too but with a dark edge. With vampires, monsters, zombies and demons. Wonderful story. Superbly executed.
I actually gave this 9/10 on my blog but Goodreads doesn't allow half stars!
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December 24, 2022 Synopsis
Whitby attracts some very interesting characters some make it their homes and some stay in one of the many hotels. For Effie and Brenda it is their home. For some like Penny they turn up, find their place and don’t leave. And some turn up and bring trouble with them, which is what happens when a cult movie star, remaking Get Thee Inside Me, Satan, arrives at the Christmas Hotel.
Comments/Thoughts/Analysis
If you haven’t read the other three books in the series don’t worry you can read Hell’s Belles as a jumping on point. Though as with most series if you can start with Never the Bride do as there is a background history that enhances quite a few little moments in Hell’s Belles, partly as Magrs has a great sense of continuity and partly because Magrs likes the characters to face consequences to their actions.
If you’ve read the series so far or just curious and want to start here Hell’s Belles is a strong edition to the Effie & Brenda Mysteries. This time though Magrs shakes up the status quo by introducing Penny, the new receptionist at the hotel that Robert runs. As Robert is getting more and more involved in Brenda and Effie’s adventures Penny gets dragging along with this one.
What’s special about Brenda and Effie is that on the outside they are two near retirement old ladies in a seaside town passing the time and should be having a quiet life in the process.
But they don’t and it can only be down to their pasts. Brenda’s being bit more mysterious than Effie’s considering that until now Brenda hasn’t been able to settle. Though if you were being chased by a husband called Frank and didn’t seem to age (think about it) you’d have trouble settling too.
Brenda was at first filming of Get Thee Inside Me, Satan and things didn’t go well then, you could even describe the feeling as cursed.
I was a bit reluctant at the introduction of Penny into the little trio but I needn’t have worried. Penny provides an outside skeptical perspective to events and a challenge to Robert’s easy acceptance. She’s also a good partner, in the detective sense, to Robert. Not that they upstage Effie and Brenda they just add something extra and allow Magrs to come at things from different angle.
There is a lot going on with the mythology in Hell’s Belles. The actress is staying in the the Christmas Hotel with Mrs Clause but they aren’t as close as you’d expect. Mrs Clause does get close to someone and through their connection we get to see a completely different side to her.
And that’s the thing about Magrs’ writing when you look closer and see the world from each of the characters perspectives they aren’t really evil or good they are just trying to do the best they can, mostly. Though I must admit to seeing some things you can describe as pure evil going on here.
Magrs’ is very clever at connecting things together without you noticing and has a fabulous and twisted imagination. It’s an enjoyable read for all the little things he puts in place that are unexpected and enjoyable.
There isn’t anything extreme here – it’s gentle and comforting reading. Though that doesn’t make it safe. There are lots of dangers to Effie and Brenda both physically and personally.
And it’s the personal where Magrs’ excels. I feel like I’ve seen inside each of the main and most of the minor characters. That has to down to the strength of characterisation through his writing.
There are little asides that don’t seem to quite lead places. And plenty of places that could be nice little points to explore more but that’s more from the fact that Magrs’ has made Whitby and interesting place.
Summary
Again Magrs manages to captivate and play with his own conventions. This is a series that continues to have plenty of ideas pored into it though he doesn’t just drop characters or ideas after they’ve been introduced by resetting events after each book. Everything has a consequence. And they underlie the story that takes place here.
I’ve failed in this review to mention the impact on the cast of the actress’s arrival to Whibty. It’s safe to say she causes quite a stir as she films on the streets which leads up to her climactic big scene.
As soon as I finished it I needed to know what happens next. I’ve been lucky so far as I’ve read the last two really close to this one. Now I’m going to have to wait.
I hope you get the same feeling at at end.
Whitby attracts some very interesting characters some make it their homes and some stay in one of the many hotels. For Effie and Brenda it is their home. For some like Penny they turn up, find their place and don’t leave. And some turn up and bring trouble with them, which is what happens when a cult movie star, remaking Get Thee Inside Me, Satan, arrives at the Christmas Hotel.
Comments/Thoughts/Analysis
If you haven’t read the other three books in the series don’t worry you can read Hell’s Belles as a jumping on point. Though as with most series if you can start with Never the Bride do as there is a background history that enhances quite a few little moments in Hell’s Belles, partly as Magrs has a great sense of continuity and partly because Magrs likes the characters to face consequences to their actions.
If you’ve read the series so far or just curious and want to start here Hell’s Belles is a strong edition to the Effie & Brenda Mysteries. This time though Magrs shakes up the status quo by introducing Penny, the new receptionist at the hotel that Robert runs. As Robert is getting more and more involved in Brenda and Effie’s adventures Penny gets dragging along with this one.
What’s special about Brenda and Effie is that on the outside they are two near retirement old ladies in a seaside town passing the time and should be having a quiet life in the process.
But they don’t and it can only be down to their pasts. Brenda’s being bit more mysterious than Effie’s considering that until now Brenda hasn’t been able to settle. Though if you were being chased by a husband called Frank and didn’t seem to age (think about it) you’d have trouble settling too.
Brenda was at first filming of Get Thee Inside Me, Satan and things didn’t go well then, you could even describe the feeling as cursed.
I was a bit reluctant at the introduction of Penny into the little trio but I needn’t have worried. Penny provides an outside skeptical perspective to events and a challenge to Robert’s easy acceptance. She’s also a good partner, in the detective sense, to Robert. Not that they upstage Effie and Brenda they just add something extra and allow Magrs to come at things from different angle.
There is a lot going on with the mythology in Hell’s Belles. The actress is staying in the the Christmas Hotel with Mrs Clause but they aren’t as close as you’d expect. Mrs Clause does get close to someone and through their connection we get to see a completely different side to her.
And that’s the thing about Magrs’ writing when you look closer and see the world from each of the characters perspectives they aren’t really evil or good they are just trying to do the best they can, mostly. Though I must admit to seeing some things you can describe as pure evil going on here.
Magrs’ is very clever at connecting things together without you noticing and has a fabulous and twisted imagination. It’s an enjoyable read for all the little things he puts in place that are unexpected and enjoyable.
There isn’t anything extreme here – it’s gentle and comforting reading. Though that doesn’t make it safe. There are lots of dangers to Effie and Brenda both physically and personally.
And it’s the personal where Magrs’ excels. I feel like I’ve seen inside each of the main and most of the minor characters. That has to down to the strength of characterisation through his writing.
There are little asides that don’t seem to quite lead places. And plenty of places that could be nice little points to explore more but that’s more from the fact that Magrs’ has made Whitby and interesting place.
Summary
Again Magrs manages to captivate and play with his own conventions. This is a series that continues to have plenty of ideas pored into it though he doesn’t just drop characters or ideas after they’ve been introduced by resetting events after each book. Everything has a consequence. And they underlie the story that takes place here.
I’ve failed in this review to mention the impact on the cast of the actress’s arrival to Whibty. It’s safe to say she causes quite a stir as she films on the streets which leads up to her climactic big scene.
As soon as I finished it I needed to know what happens next. I’ve been lucky so far as I’ve read the last two really close to this one. Now I’m going to have to wait.
I hope you get the same feeling at at end.
September 24, 2022
Once again, Brenda and Effie find themselves coming face to face with the bitch's maw and its diabolical inhabitants. But this time, the dynamic is different as Effie tries to adjust to sharing her best friend with Frank, Brenda's not-so-new husband.
And, once again, Whitby plays host to some unexpected guests. When a film crew descends on the sleepy little town there is a lot of excitement. There is something very glamorous and slightly mysterious about movies, especially when the cast includes the legendary Karla Sorenson, a femme fatale reprising a role she played 40 years previously. Strange how she doesn't look a day older...
As filming gets underway, things begin to unfold that are strange, even for Whitby. With the town full of Goths for their annual gathering, it is clear that this Halloween is going to be "special" in a way no one could have anticipated.
As you would expect, all is not as it seems and it is up to Brenda and Effie to sort it all out. But it is not just demonic forces that our intrepid pair have to overcome.
Hell's Belles is the usual mix of humour, mystery and cakes, but it also has our heroes and their friends confronting their pasts. There are some revelations and a few hints about the background of others in this growing ensemble. Mrs Caluse, for instance, opens up about her mysterious past, opening the door for further revelations in the future.
And then there is the unexpected return of Effie's former beau, Count Alucard. In a book full of twists and surprises, it is his return that brings the biggest twist of all, leading to an ending that would not be out of place in a soap. You call almost hear the "dum dum dum" as the credits begin to roll, a la Eastenders.
In Brenda and Effie, Paul Magrs has created the most unlikely heroes in modern literature. They may look like a pair of grannies out for a quiet evening of Bingo and cake - which they sometimes are - but they have been pledged to protect mankind from the demonic forces using Whitby as a gateway into our world. Long may their adventures continue.
And, once again, Whitby plays host to some unexpected guests. When a film crew descends on the sleepy little town there is a lot of excitement. There is something very glamorous and slightly mysterious about movies, especially when the cast includes the legendary Karla Sorenson, a femme fatale reprising a role she played 40 years previously. Strange how she doesn't look a day older...
As filming gets underway, things begin to unfold that are strange, even for Whitby. With the town full of Goths for their annual gathering, it is clear that this Halloween is going to be "special" in a way no one could have anticipated.
As you would expect, all is not as it seems and it is up to Brenda and Effie to sort it all out. But it is not just demonic forces that our intrepid pair have to overcome.
Hell's Belles is the usual mix of humour, mystery and cakes, but it also has our heroes and their friends confronting their pasts. There are some revelations and a few hints about the background of others in this growing ensemble. Mrs Caluse, for instance, opens up about her mysterious past, opening the door for further revelations in the future.
And then there is the unexpected return of Effie's former beau, Count Alucard. In a book full of twists and surprises, it is his return that brings the biggest twist of all, leading to an ending that would not be out of place in a soap. You call almost hear the "dum dum dum" as the credits begin to roll, a la Eastenders.
In Brenda and Effie, Paul Magrs has created the most unlikely heroes in modern literature. They may look like a pair of grannies out for a quiet evening of Bingo and cake - which they sometimes are - but they have been pledged to protect mankind from the demonic forces using Whitby as a gateway into our world. Long may their adventures continue.
June 27, 2019
“You may think the story of the Bride of Frankenstein in a B&B in Whitby isn’t for you..” screams the tag line for the fourth instalment in Paul Magrs ongoing adventures of Brenda and Effie, “..You would be wrong.”
The secret world of Whitby as presented here is full of mystery, mayhem and delicious black comedy. Magrs has a love not just for the classic monster movies, Baron Frankenstein, his creation, and the Bride are all present here, alongside Count Dracula in his Alucard persona who makes a return from the depths of hell, but also the trashier end of the horror movie spectrum. The novel revolves around the remaking of an obscure 1960’s occult film called “Get Thee Inside Me, Satan,” a movie unseen since its release, and seemingly cursed, it has unimaginable powers over anybody who watches it, and is literally from the bowels of Hell. Setting the whole thing at Goth Weekend in Whitby is also a stroke of genius, adding to the brilliant absurdity of the whole crazy scenario.
Magrs must also be applauded for the depth he is bringing to his characters, an odd but unforgettable bunch who will charm the life out of you. The introduction of a new character called Penny, the potential parentage of Effie revealed, and a cliffhanger of an ending boast well for further instalments.
The secret world of Whitby as presented here is full of mystery, mayhem and delicious black comedy. Magrs has a love not just for the classic monster movies, Baron Frankenstein, his creation, and the Bride are all present here, alongside Count Dracula in his Alucard persona who makes a return from the depths of hell, but also the trashier end of the horror movie spectrum. The novel revolves around the remaking of an obscure 1960’s occult film called “Get Thee Inside Me, Satan,” a movie unseen since its release, and seemingly cursed, it has unimaginable powers over anybody who watches it, and is literally from the bowels of Hell. Setting the whole thing at Goth Weekend in Whitby is also a stroke of genius, adding to the brilliant absurdity of the whole crazy scenario.
Magrs must also be applauded for the depth he is bringing to his characters, an odd but unforgettable bunch who will charm the life out of you. The introduction of a new character called Penny, the potential parentage of Effie revealed, and a cliffhanger of an ending boast well for further instalments.
August 21, 2017
It started off a bit of a slow burner but like most books it picks up in the middle and has a decent end section. Many thoughts are shared in this book and secrets uncovered... What's the relation to Mrs Claus and Effie I hear you ask? Well read and see... Maybe you'll work it all out for yourself. Makes you see Mrs Claus in a different light.
October 27, 2021
This was definitely an exciting and interesting chapter in the story of Brenda and Effie. What could be a better story than trying to stop a cursed film to be made?! Good stuff. Looking forward to the next installation.
July 12, 2020
A gothic gathering around an ill-fated film provides the backdrop for the fourth Brenda & Effie adventure
February 2, 2017
This is one of the books that had a very positive impact on my life. Love Brenda and Effie books.
August 15, 2012
Whitby is abuzz. The approach to Halloween usually means the town is deep in preparations for the annual Goth Weekend. But this year brings even more excitement. Whitby is to be the location for the remake of Get Thee Inside Me, Satan, which will film it's climax at the ruined abbey on Halloween night. The movie that was filmed in the sixties and has been wiped off the face of the earth because of the curse that lives within the film. Death and destruction have followed in this films wake. Yet one day at the local thrift store, Penny, Robert's new assistant up at the Hotel Mirramar, finds a copy of the film on DVD. How is this possible? This film should not exist in any form. Penny can't help herself. The coincidence is too much and she buys the film. She needs to see the original, see if it's true that the film holds pure evil, see if it's true that the star, Karla Sorenson, hasn't aged a day as she readies to film the remake, see if she, Penny, can survive watching it with her sanity intact.
Meanwhile, Brenda has been off gallivanting with her husband Frank, but she is returning for Goth Weekend. Her B and B will be filled to the rafters. Though she knows in her water that the filming in Whitby is bad news when she confirms that Karla Sorenson is there. Brenda was there, in the creepy quarry in Wales, all those years ago when the original film released evil into the world. And Karla remembers her. With mysterious arrivals in town and evil afoot, the film's curse looks as if it could bring all of Whitby to hell. Unless Brenda and Effie with their posse can bring a stop to Karla and her enrapturing ways as well as the mysterious Brethren.
Their is something primal about horror films. Everyone remembers their first real horror film that brought nightmares for years to come. That might still give you nightmares! The mere mention of the film brings chills to this day. For me it was The Legend of Hell House. Britain dominated the making of low budget B grade horror films in the sixties and seventies, Hammer Films being the most prolific and well known. While The Legend of Hell House wasn't a Hammer production, it had all the hallmarks of British cinema at the height of horror; a few "name" stars with Roddy McDowell and Michael Gough, a house steeped in evil where no one makes it out alive, and implied psychological horror versus too much on-screen gore.
I can still remember the morning I first watched the film. It was August the second, 1996 or 1997. Our house had just been tpeed, with over 167 rolls of toilet paper. It was a grey day, where it feels like it's constantly twilight or dawn out, you just can't tell; wet and humid, where your clothes stick to you no matter what you do. We spent hours and hours cleaning. When we cleaned up as much as we could, I was so exhausted I just came in the house and sat on the couch and turned on AMC. The Legend of Hell House was just starting. I have never been the biggest fan of scary movies, but that day I stayed my hand on the remote. I was a fan of Roddy McDowell and Gayle Hunnicutt, who I loved on Dallas was also in it. I don't know if it was just the exhaustion or the subject matter, but this movie freaked me out beyond belief. Weird possessions, mysterious deaths, nothing really scary, just the feeling of the whole. The movie come through my mental barriers and has forever haunted me.
Therefore, a film, albeit imaginary, but of the same school, thought to be actually possessed by the devil doesn't seem that far fetched to me as I think back to that fateful day in August. Paul was able to use his story to tap into my preexisting fears to create a delicious and scary read. While I was curled up in a comfy chair on a hot August day, I was also on that lumpy couch with my clothes plastered to me watching The Legend of Hell House for the first time. While I've enjoyed and loved Paul's writing in the previous Brenda and Effie books, I had never felt so connected with his writing as I was with Hells Belles. You could feel his love of this tacky genre and it made the book shine. He created something magical and luckily I was just drawn into the pages of a book, not into a quarry in Wales in the sixties.
Everything else was just icing on the cake. The introduction of new characters, from Penny Danby (that last name is so going to be important), the run away housewife Goth, to Michael, the mysterious Irish lad, to Karla the unaging vamp and the thrift store ladies who have other things in mind than "saving the kiddies." The final reveal of Mrs. Claus's secret, which has been building up and hinted at for quite some time, to the return of someone instrumental to Brenda's past. All of this is just extra wonderfulness on top of this horror movie framework. Next please!
Meanwhile, Brenda has been off gallivanting with her husband Frank, but she is returning for Goth Weekend. Her B and B will be filled to the rafters. Though she knows in her water that the filming in Whitby is bad news when she confirms that Karla Sorenson is there. Brenda was there, in the creepy quarry in Wales, all those years ago when the original film released evil into the world. And Karla remembers her. With mysterious arrivals in town and evil afoot, the film's curse looks as if it could bring all of Whitby to hell. Unless Brenda and Effie with their posse can bring a stop to Karla and her enrapturing ways as well as the mysterious Brethren.
Their is something primal about horror films. Everyone remembers their first real horror film that brought nightmares for years to come. That might still give you nightmares! The mere mention of the film brings chills to this day. For me it was The Legend of Hell House. Britain dominated the making of low budget B grade horror films in the sixties and seventies, Hammer Films being the most prolific and well known. While The Legend of Hell House wasn't a Hammer production, it had all the hallmarks of British cinema at the height of horror; a few "name" stars with Roddy McDowell and Michael Gough, a house steeped in evil where no one makes it out alive, and implied psychological horror versus too much on-screen gore.
I can still remember the morning I first watched the film. It was August the second, 1996 or 1997. Our house had just been tpeed, with over 167 rolls of toilet paper. It was a grey day, where it feels like it's constantly twilight or dawn out, you just can't tell; wet and humid, where your clothes stick to you no matter what you do. We spent hours and hours cleaning. When we cleaned up as much as we could, I was so exhausted I just came in the house and sat on the couch and turned on AMC. The Legend of Hell House was just starting. I have never been the biggest fan of scary movies, but that day I stayed my hand on the remote. I was a fan of Roddy McDowell and Gayle Hunnicutt, who I loved on Dallas was also in it. I don't know if it was just the exhaustion or the subject matter, but this movie freaked me out beyond belief. Weird possessions, mysterious deaths, nothing really scary, just the feeling of the whole. The movie come through my mental barriers and has forever haunted me.
Therefore, a film, albeit imaginary, but of the same school, thought to be actually possessed by the devil doesn't seem that far fetched to me as I think back to that fateful day in August. Paul was able to use his story to tap into my preexisting fears to create a delicious and scary read. While I was curled up in a comfy chair on a hot August day, I was also on that lumpy couch with my clothes plastered to me watching The Legend of Hell House for the first time. While I've enjoyed and loved Paul's writing in the previous Brenda and Effie books, I had never felt so connected with his writing as I was with Hells Belles. You could feel his love of this tacky genre and it made the book shine. He created something magical and luckily I was just drawn into the pages of a book, not into a quarry in Wales in the sixties.
Everything else was just icing on the cake. The introduction of new characters, from Penny Danby (that last name is so going to be important), the run away housewife Goth, to Michael, the mysterious Irish lad, to Karla the unaging vamp and the thrift store ladies who have other things in mind than "saving the kiddies." The final reveal of Mrs. Claus's secret, which has been building up and hinted at for quite some time, to the return of someone instrumental to Brenda's past. All of this is just extra wonderfulness on top of this horror movie framework. Next please!
September 24, 2020
Brilliant in places, fully fleshed and formed, but skeletal towards the denouement.
As always, brilliant characterization! Hell's Belles has a beginning, a middle but, instead of a properly constructed ending, a series of author's notes.
As always, brilliant characterization! Hell's Belles has a beginning, a middle but, instead of a properly constructed ending, a series of author's notes.
May 6, 2010
Brenda is on her honeymoon – she is now the Bride of Frankenstein (or at least his monster) in fact as well as name – and in her absence dark things begin to stir around the Whitby hellmouth. A cursed film, one whose every copy has supposedly been destroyed, is to be remade with its original star, the devastatingly attractive scream queen, Karla Sorenson. In Brenda's absence best friend Effryggia tries to hold the fort, but Robert is being kept up all night by a mysterious gentleman and new girl Penny is thrown into a temporary coma after finding a DVD of the original film in a charity shop.
After the brainspasms brought on by Magrs' brilliant Doctor Who novels like The Scarlet Empress, The Blue Angel and Mad Dogs and Englishmen, this was disappointingly lightweight and conventional, but not a bad book for all that. The short chapters made for an easy, unchallenging read, and it's clearly written as a commercial piece; from the cover one aimed squarely at the chick lit market. Its many revelations and reunions would have more impact on readers of the first three books; new to the series, I was left largely unmoved. It left me wanting to watch the Universal horror movies again, but ambivalent about reading another in this series.
After the brainspasms brought on by Magrs' brilliant Doctor Who novels like The Scarlet Empress, The Blue Angel and Mad Dogs and Englishmen, this was disappointingly lightweight and conventional, but not a bad book for all that. The short chapters made for an easy, unchallenging read, and it's clearly written as a commercial piece; from the cover one aimed squarely at the chick lit market. Its many revelations and reunions would have more impact on readers of the first three books; new to the series, I was left largely unmoved. It left me wanting to watch the Universal horror movies again, but ambivalent about reading another in this series.
August 2, 2010
Brenda, Effie and their posse are at it again; this time they have to deal with a film crew who are remaking a horror movie from the sixties in Whitby, including the original main actress, aged but still gorgeous vamp Karla Sorensen. The original movie was cursed and cost many people their lives and it was said that the devil himself had something to do with it. Every copy of the movie was destroyed and it was hoped to have ended the curse. But with the arrival of the film crew a DVD of the movie that should't exist also turns up and sends everyone who watches it into a temporary coma. Brenda and Effie with the help of their old and some new friends have to get to work again and save Whitby (and the world) yet again from evil influences.
I didn't enjoy this fourth book in the series as much as the previous ones. The twists and turns in the story, the easy writing and the short chapters should have made for another fun and fast read but for me it just seemed to drag along and it took me days to get through.
I didn't enjoy this fourth book in the series as much as the previous ones. The twists and turns in the story, the easy writing and the short chapters should have made for another fun and fast read but for me it just seemed to drag along and it took me days to get through.
November 29, 2011
This is just bonkers with a capital "B". It's as if someone decided that the "Carry On" farce films needed a Hammer Horror pastiche...by way of sitcoms, "Fawlty Towers" and bloody "Torchwood"! Pensioners, campy B&B operators, goth children, gay men, divas, devilish brethren...and Frankenstein's monsters?!? It sounds beyond the pale...but it's actually quite wonderful.
What's even more impressive is that it's a book well into the run of its own series, yet it was easy enough to follow a newcomer character and pick up all the necessary information to fill in the blanks. If you come to it with half-a-brain, and a modicum of wit...then it will reward you in spades! Reading this explains a great deal regarding the sensibilities behind Mr. Magrs' "Doctor Who" stories. Iris Wildthyme would easily fit into this over-the-top version of Whitby.
What's even more impressive is that it's a book well into the run of its own series, yet it was easy enough to follow a newcomer character and pick up all the necessary information to fill in the blanks. If you come to it with half-a-brain, and a modicum of wit...then it will reward you in spades! Reading this explains a great deal regarding the sensibilities behind Mr. Magrs' "Doctor Who" stories. Iris Wildthyme would easily fit into this over-the-top version of Whitby.
March 15, 2011
Another excellent installment in the on-going saga of Whitby's detecting duo of Brenda & Effie. This time: it's a Hammer Horror Films-like company re-shooting a 1967 film rumoured to have been responsible for several deaths when shooting the original in Wales, plus several cases of madness in audience members. The VHS version was recalled and destroyed, and the DVD was never released... or was it?
Excellent mixture of black humour, mystery, horror, and intriguing characters both based on real people and fictional identities. As the cover states: "Trust me. You may think that the story of the Bride of Frankenstein in a B&B in Whitby isn't for you. You would be wrong." Spot on, strap-line writer: this is for anyone, including your Great Aunt Edith.
Excellent mixture of black humour, mystery, horror, and intriguing characters both based on real people and fictional identities. As the cover states: "Trust me. You may think that the story of the Bride of Frankenstein in a B&B in Whitby isn't for you. You would be wrong." Spot on, strap-line writer: this is for anyone, including your Great Aunt Edith.
July 13, 2014
New author to me. It was a book which was offered to me to read by a friend who had enjoyed it - so you have to give it a try don't you?
The book is obviously part of a series and the author does reflect on past tales, with snippets of information a lot. Brilliant if you've read the whole series from the start (this is the fourth book)really irritating if you have not. Lost stars on that count.
The story besides is actually not a bad one, slow to get going but funny all the way through. There are really cheesy moments and some of the names of the characters - well they are blinding in their reference but that adds to the fun. Not in the least bit scary but I do feel that's how it's intended, light hearted and not to be taken seriously.... there's not a chance once you start reading!
The book is obviously part of a series and the author does reflect on past tales, with snippets of information a lot. Brilliant if you've read the whole series from the start (this is the fourth book)really irritating if you have not. Lost stars on that count.
The story besides is actually not a bad one, slow to get going but funny all the way through. There are really cheesy moments and some of the names of the characters - well they are blinding in their reference but that adds to the fun. Not in the least bit scary but I do feel that's how it's intended, light hearted and not to be taken seriously.... there's not a chance once you start reading!
January 8, 2015
This is the fourth in the Brenda series of books, and is back up to the standard of the first Brenda adventure, but with more of a sustained major plot running through the whole story. This was an enjoyable novel, despite the fact that for a lot of the story, we were completely outside of Brenda's thoughts and experiences. The secondary characters are developed enough that the sections without Brenda are still entertaining. Returning in this installment are Robert, Effie, Frank and Mrs Claus, amongst others, and we also meet Penny, who is a new Whitby resident. As always after reading a book in this series, I'm curious to know what's next for Penny, Robert, Effie, Frank, and of course, Brenda.
February 4, 2017
I'm not sure what it is about this books. They're not amazingly written and fairly often the storyline is random and obscure but there's something about the tales that makes me want to read more. The characters are kinda cool and seen as it's fantasy you can never predict what will happen next which is nice. In this book I also realised that things that occurred in past stories were leading up to what I'm now assuming is a huge ongoing story. This surprised me as to be honest I didn't think the books were that well thought out but now I find myself slightly intrigued.
To sum up...this was a fun read and although I don't feel desperate to know what happens next I will eventually check out the next part as I kinda like these childish yet macabre novels
To sum up...this was a fun read and although I don't feel desperate to know what happens next I will eventually check out the next part as I kinda like these childish yet macabre novels
April 27, 2013
3 1/2 stars. I was loaned this book by a friend whose mystery book chose this book. I have not read books 1-3 in the series, which I'm sure would have added to my enjoyment of the story. I liked the book, but it's really wacky--a very lighthearted adventure with the Bride of Frankenstein, witches, faeries, the mouth of hell, vampires, time travel, zombies, etc. all thrown in together. Somehow it works better than it sounds, yet I can't say that it's not over the top. That being said, I could see picking up another in the series, having developed a fondness for the characters and crazy setting.
October 21, 2013
I have read Hemingway & Henry Miller, Balzac & Proust in Paris, Lawrence Durrell in Alexandria, Nagib Mahfouz in Cairo... and now Paul Magrs in Whitby ! Wonderfully inventive, oddly atmospheric, Gothic Hammer-horror comic romp through the narrow streets, ginnels & eccentric nooks and crannies of this unique North Yorkshire town, featuring, inter alia, Dr Frankenstein, his monster, its Bride, a shadowy Satanic cult, at least one witch, the Erlkoenig and... Oh, you get the picture. Great fun. I can see I'm going to have to read all the other Brenda & Effie books now...
July 5, 2014
I adore these books. They are ridiculous, absurd, and completely entertaining. Whitby is just a small seaside village in England, where Brenda just wants to live a normal life. Unfortunately, due to her being the bride of Frankenstein, she does anything but.
I find that I now appreciate that the author went from first person to third. It allows the opportunity to get more of the story, as he can now focus on what other people are doing. Everything twists together somehow, and I can't wait to find it all out!
I find that I now appreciate that the author went from first person to third. It allows the opportunity to get more of the story, as he can now focus on what other people are doing. Everything twists together somehow, and I can't wait to find it all out!
September 18, 2010
After quite a slow start for the first third of the book, Magrs eventually snaps back to his pacey habits, much to my comfort. There was a point where I thought that this might probably be the last Brenda & Effie book that I would buy and read, however, Magrs gives you just enough to enjoy yet another volume in the series. Again, not a very deep novel to get lost in but still enjoyable enough with it's much loved characters and plot twists.
October 4, 2010
The fourth in the series about Brenda and Effie and their investigations into the mysterious. This time there's a film crew in Whitby remaking an old film from the 1960s that's supposed to be cursed. Which it is of course. Lots of spooky goings on and plenty of ridiculous events that are par for the course with these novels. Although I wouldn't say it's great literature, it's a fun read and nothing is too silly.
October 31, 2010
I am getting better at seeing the homage to other books now - having had some pointed out to me by other reviewers. I found this a little more gory than I usually like my books, but the story was a good page turner again with a lot of twists and turns. I wonder does Whitby really have goth festival at Halloween? An appropriate read for me to finish today.
October 11, 2014
This was the worst book I've ever Read!
So much so that I couldn't even bring myself to finish it.
Normally I will force myself to finish a book even if I find it ridiculous or haven't liked it. This one? I just couldn't.
maybe it was the genre ( just not my thing?) maybe it was the fact that I hadn't read the previous books? either way it was bad.
So much so that I couldn't even bring myself to finish it.
Normally I will force myself to finish a book even if I find it ridiculous or haven't liked it. This one? I just couldn't.
maybe it was the genre ( just not my thing?) maybe it was the fact that I hadn't read the previous books? either way it was bad.
August 11, 2011
This gets stranger and stranger the more you read it but then I should it is about the Bride Of Frankenstein! Still, it's a fun, light hearted book set within the craziness Whitby so it's got a lot going for it!
February 12, 2013
This was ok, kind of slow to start with but I got into it towards the middle half, however I still didn't enjoy it that much, didn't like the characters, story was ok, but for me it was kind of average
January 5, 2015
I just LOVE these two ladies, I love the location of Whitby, the name of the chip shop "cod almighty" and the authors use of the word flibbertigibbit. Love love love. I'm literally reading all 6 back to back.
December 29, 2010
This was very light and fluffy stuff with no real suspense and no real comedy. It almost felt like a joke... I won't bother reading anything else in the series.
November 23, 2011
I love Brenda and Effie, and I love to visit Whitby so all in one book hit the spot. Good read!
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