There are so many ways a person can die. Sooner or later, everyone's number is up, and no one comes back ... or do they?
On a cold November night, a grieving father picks up his hunting rifle and shoots his only daughter in the head. The police are mystified. Why was the girl even at the house? Why wasn't she at the mortuary ... awaiting her burial? After all, Mary Winston had been declared dead two days before. The incident is only the first in a series of mysterious attacks in the small Scottish town of Middlesbury. Dead bodies go missing. A cemetery caretaker is devoured alive. An ancient curse is about to be unleashed ... Detective Chief Inspector John Sinclair works for Scotland Yard's Special Division, an elite unit that deals with extraordinary cases. DCI Sinclair is a battle-hardened veteran of Afghanistan, a man haunted by the past. But nothing could have prepared him for the horrors he's about to face. He goes to Scotland to investigate the gruesome murders but what he finds is a town in the grip of fear. The people of Middlesbury are harboring a secret. A secret that is about to explode...
"John Sinclair" is a reboot of Europe's longest running horror series. Originally conceived in 1973 and still running strong, the "John Sinclair" novellas are firmly rooted in the finest pulp traditions, true page turners with spine-tingling suspense, exquisite gore and a dash of adventure. "John Sinclair" combines the dark visions of Stephen King, Clive Barker and the "X-Files" with the fast-paced action and globe-trotting excitement of James Bond.
Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I always start these review with an honest moment, so here it comes: I had no idea what I was getting into with this book, I just read that it was a reboot of a 'classic' paranormal novella series and I was too curious to pass it up.
I must admit that, although I wasn't blown away by the whole book, the story was incredibly fast paced and within the first few pages I was hooked. There was something about the characters and the setting that unsettled me and and made me keep reading, and because of that it was a very quick read.
Throughout the book we get closer and closer to a climax that could be the best kind of predictable there is. We knew the direction the story was going, but we couldn't even beggin to prepare for when it actually hit us.
By far the best aspect of this story is its setting, the environment the author creates in that town, where strange things are happening. The event itself, zombie-related, was a bit of a disappointment, although it wasn't cheesy or overdone, like I was expecting. The truth is that it's hard to come up with an original zombie plotline these days, and it's even harder for us readers to be excited by one, when it's such an overused theme in entertainment right now, but if we are able to put this aside, this novella can become an exceptionally entertaining read. Even though I would have loved to love it, I can't say it was a particularly special or remarkable book and I can't describe as something more than what I already said: entertaining. I would be lying if I said I didn't think this was a thrilling, gripping story when we are right in the middle of it, but I didn't find it to be outstanding or unique.
Despite that, I would definitely like to continue reading the following instalments, as this was only the beginning and there is a lot of room for improvement, especially when this is based on a well loved series. I would recommend it to those who loved the series when they were younger, or those who are curious to know what paranormal dangers John Sinclair will face next.
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