Mx3 Review: Haunted by James Herbert

• Paperback:240 pages
• Publisher:Pan Macmillan (May 4, 2007)
• ISBN-10: 033045157X
• Source: Personal Copy

David Ash is called to Edbrook, an isolated English house, to investigate an alleged haunting. An investigator from Psychical Research Institute, Ash is a psychic…and also a skeptic. Upon arriving at Edbrook, Ash is introduced to the Mariell family: Christina, her brothers, Robert and Simon and their Nanny Tess. Now adults, the Mariell’s have been under the care of their Aunt Tess since their parents passed away when they were children. Although adults, they still have child-like behavior, often playing pranks on Tess and one another. There is something off about this family and Ash diligently strives to find out exactly what that is.

Tess seems to be terrified about the activities that have been transpiring in the Mariell home. Christina and her brothers seem to be placating her feelings, only recently admitting something is amiss.

Ash has his own tainted past. Haunted by the death of his sister, Ash strives to disprove hauntings. An interesting combination: a psychic paranormal investigator who believes he is haunted by his sister, yet fails to believe that the majority of other hauntings are valid. He’s adamant about proving the reports of a haunting in the Mariell home are fake.

It’s only a short period of time before strange things start taking place around Edbrook, specifically involving it’s deadly past. Despite Ash’s mission to prove the house is not haunted, all signs point in another direction.  When the truth is revealed, no one is more shocked and devastated than Ash himself.

A truly rich atmospheric novel, Haunted pulls in readers from the first few pages, immersing them in a dark and gothic world. Herbert’s suspense-building is truly phenomenal, guaranteeing an intense and heart-pounding read. Haunted is the first novel to feature Ash, a truly flawed character that readers can’t help to both love and hate. While completely chilling, this novel is the perfect jumping off point for readers looking for a classic gothic ghost story.  Herbert has been one of my favorite horror authors for some time; there are few of his novels that haven’t completely terrified me. Highly recommended.