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bohemianharrison's review
Kept switching between things and didn’t make sense. I didn’t understand the John Lennon references.
mh_books's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
perfectlymisaligned's review against another edition
5.0
5++ stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*
On December 8 1980 a young band named The Philosopher's Stone gather inside the ruins of a 12th century Abbey, to record their debut album. But after one night, and a horrifying turn of events, the band members agree to never let the music they recorded there see the light of day...and to never see each other again.
13 years later, the story of that recording session has become the stuff of legend. And then those supposedly destroyed Abbey tapes...known as the Black Album...are discovered. Slowly, the scattered members of The Philosopher's Stone decide that they need to reunite for one more performance. Deciding to return to the Abbey and finish the album. But, the same sense of horror and dread that found them in 1980, is waiting for them.
This was the first book I ever read by Phil Rickman, and still (in my opinion) by far his best. The sense of dread and prickly fear that he creates in this book, is incredible. Having been a long time fan of horror novels, I can honestly say that I have never been so thoroughly unsettled and creeped out, as I was while reading this book.
I still can't understand why Phil Rickman is not more well known here in the states. He's definitely one of the best horror/thriller writers out there. Period. His great (but much more mainstream) Merrily Watkins mystery series is also worth checking out, but if you enjoy a good, old-fashioned scary story, you can't go wrong with this one.
*All Time Favorite Book List*
On December 8 1980 a young band named The Philosopher's Stone gather inside the ruins of a 12th century Abbey, to record their debut album. But after one night, and a horrifying turn of events, the band members agree to never let the music they recorded there see the light of day...and to never see each other again.
13 years later, the story of that recording session has become the stuff of legend. And then those supposedly destroyed Abbey tapes...known as the Black Album...are discovered. Slowly, the scattered members of The Philosopher's Stone decide that they need to reunite for one more performance. Deciding to return to the Abbey and finish the album. But, the same sense of horror and dread that found them in 1980, is waiting for them.
This was the first book I ever read by Phil Rickman, and still (in my opinion) by far his best. The sense of dread and prickly fear that he creates in this book, is incredible. Having been a long time fan of horror novels, I can honestly say that I have never been so thoroughly unsettled and creeped out, as I was while reading this book.
I still can't understand why Phil Rickman is not more well known here in the states. He's definitely one of the best horror/thriller writers out there. Period. His great (but much more mainstream) Merrily Watkins mystery series is also worth checking out, but if you enjoy a good, old-fashioned scary story, you can't go wrong with this one.
velvetsun's review against another edition
5.0
5++ stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*
On December 8 1980 a young band named The Philosopher's Stone gather inside the ruins of a 12th century Abbey, to record their debut album. But after one night, and a horrifying turn of events, the band members agree to never let the music they recorded there see the light of day...and to never see each other again.
13 years later, the story of that recording session has become the stuff of legend. And then those supposedly destroyed Abbey tapes...known as the Black Album...are discovered. Slowly, the scattered members of The Philosopher's Stone decide that they need to reunite for one more performance. Deciding to return to the Abbey and finish the album. But, the same sense of horror and dread that found them in 1980, is waiting for them.
This was the first book I ever read by Phil Rickman, and still (in my opinion) by far his best. The sense of dread and prickly fear that he creates in this book, is incredible. Having been a long time fan of horror novels, I can honestly say that I have never been so thoroughly unsettled and creeped out, as I was while reading this book.
I still can't understand why Phil Rickman is not more well known here in the states. He's definitely one of the best horror/thriller writers out there. Period. His great (but much more mainstream) Merrily Watkins mystery series is also worth checking out, but if you enjoy a good, old-fashioned scary story, you can't go wrong with this one.
*All Time Favorite Book List*
On December 8 1980 a young band named The Philosopher's Stone gather inside the ruins of a 12th century Abbey, to record their debut album. But after one night, and a horrifying turn of events, the band members agree to never let the music they recorded there see the light of day...and to never see each other again.
13 years later, the story of that recording session has become the stuff of legend. And then those supposedly destroyed Abbey tapes...known as the Black Album...are discovered. Slowly, the scattered members of The Philosopher's Stone decide that they need to reunite for one more performance. Deciding to return to the Abbey and finish the album. But, the same sense of horror and dread that found them in 1980, is waiting for them.
This was the first book I ever read by Phil Rickman, and still (in my opinion) by far his best. The sense of dread and prickly fear that he creates in this book, is incredible. Having been a long time fan of horror novels, I can honestly say that I have never been so thoroughly unsettled and creeped out, as I was while reading this book.
I still can't understand why Phil Rickman is not more well known here in the states. He's definitely one of the best horror/thriller writers out there. Period. His great (but much more mainstream) Merrily Watkins mystery series is also worth checking out, but if you enjoy a good, old-fashioned scary story, you can't go wrong with this one.
diannel_04's review against another edition
5.0
On the night John Lennon is murdered a group of rock musicians, each with a different psychic power, are recording an album at a ruined Welsh abbey. Something goes terribly wrong and they separate, not having any contact with each other for 14 years. They believe they have destroyed the taps from that session of what is dubbed The Black Album.
Fourteen years after that night the tapes are found and restored. This makes the record company push to have the album completed.
The bad return to the Abbey but this time they know that it was never a holy place but a place of pure, unadulterated evil. They also know that on Dec. 8, every 7 years, someone dies at the Abbey and has ever since 1175.
This was an amazing book. It can't be called horror, it isn't mystery and it isn't fantasy. I don't know what category it falls into but I loved it and can't wait to read more. If Phil Rickman's next book is as good I will have found a new author to add to my favourites list.
Fourteen years after that night the tapes are found and restored. This makes the record company push to have the album completed.
The bad return to the Abbey but this time they know that it was never a holy place but a place of pure, unadulterated evil. They also know that on Dec. 8, every 7 years, someone dies at the Abbey and has ever since 1175.
This was an amazing book. It can't be called horror, it isn't mystery and it isn't fantasy. I don't know what category it falls into but I loved it and can't wait to read more. If Phil Rickman's next book is as good I will have found a new author to add to my favourites list.
janeger's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this. Great characters, really gritty and absorbing story line. Does make you blush a bit about the attitudes/language used towards gay and disabled people in the 90s! (Not that Phil Rickman comes across as prejudiced, just that it reflects attitudes of the time).
velvetsun's review
5.0
5++ stars
*All Time Favorite Book List*
On December 8 1980 a young band named The Philosopher's Stone gather inside the ruins of a 12th century Abbey, to record their debut album. But after one night, and a horrifying turn of events, the band members agree to never let the music they recorded there see the light of day...and to never see each other again.
13 years later, the story of that recording session has become the stuff of legend. And then those supposedly destroyed Abbey tapes...known as the Black Album...are discovered. Slowly, the scattered members of The Philosopher's Stone decide that they need to reunite for one more performance. Deciding to return to the Abbey and finish the album. But, the same sense of horror and dread that found them in 1980, is waiting for them.
This was the first book I ever read by Phil Rickman, and still (in my opinion) by far his best. The sense of dread and prickly fear that he creates in this book, is incredible. Having been a long time fan of horror novels, I can honestly say that I have never been so thoroughly unsettled and creeped out, as I was while reading this book.
I still can't understand why Phil Rickman is not more well known here in the states. He's definitely one of the best horror/thriller writers out there. Period. His great (but much more mainstream) Merrily Watkins mystery series is also worth checking out, but if you enjoy a good, old-fashioned scary story, you can't go wrong with this one.
*All Time Favorite Book List*
On December 8 1980 a young band named The Philosopher's Stone gather inside the ruins of a 12th century Abbey, to record their debut album. But after one night, and a horrifying turn of events, the band members agree to never let the music they recorded there see the light of day...and to never see each other again.
13 years later, the story of that recording session has become the stuff of legend. And then those supposedly destroyed Abbey tapes...known as the Black Album...are discovered. Slowly, the scattered members of The Philosopher's Stone decide that they need to reunite for one more performance. Deciding to return to the Abbey and finish the album. But, the same sense of horror and dread that found them in 1980, is waiting for them.
This was the first book I ever read by Phil Rickman, and still (in my opinion) by far his best. The sense of dread and prickly fear that he creates in this book, is incredible. Having been a long time fan of horror novels, I can honestly say that I have never been so thoroughly unsettled and creeped out, as I was while reading this book.
I still can't understand why Phil Rickman is not more well known here in the states. He's definitely one of the best horror/thriller writers out there. Period. His great (but much more mainstream) Merrily Watkins mystery series is also worth checking out, but if you enjoy a good, old-fashioned scary story, you can't go wrong with this one.