THE NEW HORROR NOVEL FROM THE MILLION-COPY-SELLING GRAHAM MASTERTON. A RASH OF MURDERS A young woman pours acid over her body. A loving husband kills his wife. A headteacher throws her pupils out of a window. Who or what has made ordinary Londoners commit such horrific acts? A DEADLY VIRUS DC Jerry Pardoe and DS Jamila Patel of Tooting police are at a loss. With no obvious connection between the … a loss. With no obvious connection between the killings, they fear a virus.
THE INFECTION IS SPREADING
Something evil is stirring in the city. A supernatural force that infects its victims with a lust to murder. And Jerry and Jamila are powerless to stop it…
‘One of the most original and frighteningstorytellers of our time’ PETER JAMES.
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This is one of the most bizarre books I have ever read. Extremely violent and very graphic. But I could not put it down. The premise was silly but original.
The story opens with a young woman pouring acid on her own face. Another young woman gruesomely kills her boyfriend. A young girl kills her parents. Each one exhibits signs of being possessed by someone else. DS Jamila Patel and DC Jerry Pardoe have no idea what is going on. If they tell what they saw their superiors will think they are crazy or they are hallucinating. There seems to be an infection spreading throughout the city, an infection associated with ….second-hand clothing. That’s right – used clothing. Clothes are “infected” with the essence of their former owners. Now the clothes “become one” with their new wearers and force them to commit horrific murders.
Far-fetched, bizarre, totally unbelievable, horribly gory… but impossible to quit reading. I enjoy a good horror story – Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Saul. Neither of these masters of horror get as graphic as Masterton’s book. Don’t think I will be reading another of his horror books anytime soon.
Ok, well-written, but a little beyond belief…
Sorry, but I rolled my eyes reading this book . Actually, stupid.
One of the worst books I have ever read. A plot that makes no sense at all and characters who act dumb. A waste of time.
Just finished it and would read it again. First short story lingers a bit, but the second story blew my mind. Every plot is good. CharCters are interesting. While some stories seem bare bones, it just means they read more quickly. I highly recommend it.
Very graffic, tragic,twisted. This being said, couldn’t put it down. A good page turner.
5 stars
DC Jeremy “Jerry” Pardoe and DS Jamila Patel of Tooting Police Force respond to the call of a young woman who has been burned with acid. At first they suspect an honor killing, for the seventeen-year old was originally from Pakistan. She was just engaged to be married. But something bothers Jerry about the scene. A grey coat is missing and the pathologist finds strange fibers embedded in her skin.
Meanwhile another woman viciously murders her boyfriend after trying on a jacket that came into her thrift shop. Another man tries on a sweater that his father never wore and he begins to have strange thoughts. Violence is taking place all over London with no apparent motive.
Jerry gets an idea and follows it along with Jamila. Another report comes in from the hospital about a strange occurrence between a woman and her jacket. A man kills his wife and begins to eat her. A junkie hears a woman’s voice. A school teacher throws two children out of a window. More people apparently go crazy and claim they didn’t do the heinous crime of which they are accused. They claim that they can’t take the article of clothing off. If they finally rip the piece of clothing off, the clothing moves of its own accord.
The events are getting more and more vicious and odd; the frequency of attacks is increasing. Soon, the city will be overtaken if the police cannot stop them. DI Saunders, Jamila and Jerry are overwhelmed and unable to tell the public what is really going on. Who would believe them?
The tension and speed of the story ratchet up when all hell breaks loose on the streets. London is under siege and no one seems to know how to stop it.
DI Saunders is a curmudgeonly character, but he seems to support his officers and has an open mind about what is really going on in his city. His nickname (not to his face), is “Smiley.” Jerry is a curious and intelligent police officer. He takes the initiative to pursue his ideas and Jamila gets along well with him. Jamila has another talent. She can tell when people are lying. They make a great pair for sorting out this truly odd and terrifying series of events.
This book is very well written and plotted. Each event follows another logically and linearly.
The tension in the story begins immediately and continues throughout the story at a breakneck speed. This reader had trouble with the creepy crawlies. I had brief moments when I wondered if my clothes were going to go rogue on me. It was a little funny, but very creepy at the same time. I thought about the book even when I wasn’t reading it. While violent, it is nothing that shouldn’t be expected when reading a horror novel. I like Jamila and Jerry, and even DI Saunders. I appreciated his ability to be open-minded. I am not sure how he got the reputation of being hard-nosed and difficult to get along with. As with all of Graham Masterton’s novels, both the Katie MacGuire and his horror, I really liked this one. I wouldn’t mind seeing the protagonists Jerry and Jamila in another novel. (Hint, hint Mr. Masterton…)
This novel is very well done, sir and keep writing! I love your books!
I want to thank NetGalley and Head of Zeus for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely great book to read, enjoy and review.