Review ~ Ash by James Herbert

Ash (David Ash #3)

by

 James Herbert

Published by Macmillan
August 2012

Comraich Castle, a reclusive fortress on the west coast of Scotland provides the setting for this rather disturbing novel, featuring the enigmatic ghost hunter and parapsychologist, David Ash. When sinister paranormal events start to disturb the equilibrium of this unusual sanctuary, there is no one more suited to the task than this ghost hunter extraordinaire, but the dark forces which hang like a miasma over the inhabitants of the castle, soon start to take centre stage.

The book starts off a little slowly; there is a gradual introduction to the major characters and an opportunity to get to know the castle and its surroundings, before unrelenting horror is unleashed. As always, David Ash is an interesting protagonist, he’s as deeply flawed as ever, but no less brilliant because of it, and his ability to deal with terrible events, makes for compelling reading. The slow build up of terror is well done, and as you read, almost without realising, you start to look into shadows before you turn off the bedroom light!

I always want to read a JamesHerbert book with my eyes closed, which I know makes no sense, but as I turn the pages, sometimes I’m just a little too frightened to find out what’s happening. Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable, fascinating, and downright creepy story, probably best read in the cold light of day before the creeping shadows of night begin to fall.....

Ash comes in at a whopping 690 pages, but believe me once the story gets under way, you won’t want to put the book down...

My thanks to Katie James at Pan Macmillan for a review copy of this book.