Lord ha’ mercy, he means business this time. Just look at it. 693 pages. Hold it up to your ear, if you can, and you will hear the low, distant roar of a thousand postmen putting their backs out as they try to squeeze ‘Ash’ through the nation’s letterboxes. Don’t worry though, this isn’t a great baggy monster in the Stephen King style, when he’s in one of his ‘Why don’t y’all just pull up a chair and let me tell the story my own sweet way’ moods. Herbert starts as he means to go on, with an alleged quote from HM about “dark forces at work in this country”, and then, bang! we’re off! Our old friend David Ash has been called in by the Psychical Research Institute to investigate certain rum occurrences at Comraich Castle. Which itself is a pretty rum place, a cross between The Priory and Doctor Terrible’s House of Horrible. Its inmates pay millions to disappear from the world, living in secluded luxury with the best medical facilities on the planet. Tycoons and tyrants, war criminals and bankers; they are all there. Yes, Herbert names them. Macmillan’s lawyers are in for a very nasty surprise if they really did fake their own deaths and decide to sue. There are secrets in Comraich Castle. Secrets that certain eminent persons are very keen should stay that way. Ash realises that whatever is making the fax machines spew out paper, dimming the lights, eviscerating one of the guests and then glueing him to the wall with his own blood, is probably located deep in the castle’s lowest level. Its dungeons. Its oubliettes. But the sinister organisation which runs Comraich seems equally determined that he shouldn’t go down there under any circumstances. He’s a persistent chap though. Do you think he’ll get to see what we’re all dying to see? Do you think he’ll work out who’s in the cell at the end of the corridor? This is gothic horror on an epic scale, recreated with skill and ingenuity for the modern age. If at times Ash’s progress through Comraich Castle seems inspired by ‘Jet Set Willy’ - room one has a scary thing, room two has a VERY scary thing, etc - this doesn’t detract from the sheer terror that succeeding chapters instil. Just when you think Herbert’s exhausted his supply of unpleasant shocks, he reaches into the hat and pulls out another one. I think it is his best yet.

We should demand Mr Herbert write a book every 2 months. What a book, would recommend to anybody - always find that after you read a great book like this the following 3/4 books are nondescript!!! If you haven't read any of his books before please try this one. (You will then read ALL of them). Marvellous writing, had to finish it in 2 days (nothing got done in the house!!) Highly, Highly recommended

This was actually the first James Herbert book I read meaning I ended the Ash stories before even starting them. With that being said it is possible to read the books in any order without needing any prior knowledge. The one point I would make is that if you start here and then go back there are references in this book which ruin some aspects of the past books (in which you know what will happen before it does). It is a wonderful piece in itself, keeping you interested from start until end. David Ash is a really loveable character (one of my favourites of all time, in fact) and out of his three stories this is by far my favourite. With your mind being filled with questions from the very start, curious to find out what the truth of the story is. There are those moments of heartbreak but overall it isn’t as heart-breaking as some of the books I have worked my way through, with those moments of lightness which brought a smile to my face. Once I started reading I found it next to impossible to put it down. A few people I suggested it to were put off by the length of it but it is very much worth it.

If I could give more than 5 stars I would as this is James Herbert at his greatest! The third in the David Ash series but equally the third that can be read as stand alone books. David Ash is a renowned Parapsychologist who is asked to investigate the seemingly supernatural murder of a guest in a remote castle in the farthest reaches of Scotland. The whole premise being pre-empted by signing a contract of utmost secrecy about all his findings. Something which is utterly unheard of in the society he works for. The castle is a retreat for the heads of society and those rich enough to afford any scandal. David soon realises the kind of patronage includes those members of society that have needed to escape the prying ever present media. Bringing back to life many cold conspiracy theories he had long since forgotten. This is not the only evil lingering in and around the castle grounds. A brooding and malicious event is conjuring strength from someone or something and it's David's job to stop it, if he can. An amazing piece of writing from the master of British horror, filled with macabre musings and un fettered humour. I honestly didn't want to finish this book but couldn't stop greedily turning the pages

I couldn't put this book down. It is great to have James Herbert back, I can't wait for his next book!!