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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Okay so: my opinion’s kind of divided on this. It started okay, but then there’s some aspects that kind of tripped me up.
The first thing was the romantic subplot. I have nothing against romantic plots in any of the stories I read, but the execution has execution has to be done well, and in this case, it was not. I’d be more willing to buy into it if it had been allowed to develop slowly, across the rest of the series, but that’s not the case here. As a result, the romantic connection feels very under-developed: a pity, because given more development, I might have been willing to buy into it.
The second thing was the way the plot developed. While I understand wanting to keep certain information from the reader to give the big reveal at the climax more impact, the necessary foreshadowing to lead up to that big reveal just didn’t feel very well-executed in this novel. In fact, there was a certain disjointedness about the the plot was developed and the foreshadowing delivered, so that while there was SOME impact at the big reveal in the novel’s climax, that reveal didn’t feel very earned. Instead, it felt like something that was dropped in there just to bring everything together and provide a plausible-seeming explanation for everything that had gone before.
The third thing was the characterization. The characters are fine, for the most part, nothing that’s utterly terrible about them - even though quite a few of them could stand to have their sense of humor aggressively adjusted with a wrench, given the egregious racism and misogyny on display, though I also understand that it’s a reflection of the real world. But even if I put that aside, I think the characters are just FINE: functional and mildly interesting, but nothing more than that. They’re middle-of-the-road: good enough to keep the story chugging along, but without any standout moments that helps them stick out in the reader’s mind after one has finished the novel. I think this affects the romantic subplot too, because if the characters are “meh”, then there’s hardly any urge to be invested in whatever romance they’re involved in, is there?
The one thing I did find good about this book, though, was the concept. I thoroughly enjoyed the concept used for the antagonist, and I will freely admit that I enjoy urban fantasy stories involving regular folks suddenly being forced to deal with supernatural entities - especially given how GRUESOME this one is. However, this is where the plotting and the characterization pull things down, because if this concept had been employed in a story with a better narrative and stronger characters, it would have been a standout read.
Overall, this was an okay read: sufficiently entertaining, but could clearly have been a whole lot more fun if it had been polished more. If the romance had been better-paced; the plot better-developed; and the characters better-written, I think this could have been comparable to Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London or Paul Cornell’s Shadow Police series, but it would have stood out compared to the other two because of its much darker and more horror-heavy tone. Sadly, that’s not the case, and the reader is left to contemplate what might have been had this story’s issues been addressed.
Ghost virus is truly a unique book, its concept stands out from anything I've read before. I liked the blend between horror and crime in it.
I'm definitely giving the side to all my clothes in case they turn out to be possed!
While the book does contain numerous gory scenes, they integrate well into the narrative. And the writing style of the book is very good and kept my attention.
I'm definitely giving the side to all my clothes in case they turn out to be possed!
While the book does contain numerous gory scenes, they integrate well into the narrative. And the writing style of the book is very good and kept my attention.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I hadn't previously read anything by Graham Masterton, but had heard his name pop up in horror circles often enough that I knew I'd have to give him a go. That said, I'm not entirely convinced Ghost Virus is the best place to start, given its odd balance as a work that is both flat-out silly and a serious procedural with a whole lot of deliciously descriptive violence and carnage betwixt it all.
The fact is, the central premise behind Ghost Story is absolutely ludicrous. That premise? Killer clothes. And I don't mean in the sense of keen fashion and sharp ensembles, but literally clothes that murder - jackets that slaughter, sweaters hungry for blood, windbreakers that would snap your neck and dismember you in the street. Killer. Clothes. It's the sort of schlocky mass-market 80s pulp, or straight to SyFy Channel by way of The Asylum films, that is deliriously, eye-rollingly bad...but also perversely entertaining in its own charmingly idiotic way. It helps, some, that Masterton's own characters cannot believe the threat terrorizing their London suburb of Tooting Bec either, oftentimes rolling their own eyes right alongside readers. One almost has to wonder just how much expert-level trolling Masterton is conducting upon readers with this one. The police, at regular intervals, speak the reader's mind as they confusedly stammer, "None of this makes any sense."
Granted, Masterton makes a basic attempt at trying to square this ultimately nonsensical work against the rough framework of Tooting's diverse neighborhood, drawing on Pakistani and Lithuanian lore, with talk of djinns and ghosts and various other regional folklore. No matter what kind of hodgepodge justifications Masterton knits together to explain the inexplicable, the threat at the core of Ghost Virus is still utterly preposterous.
However, if you can either accept, or better still, look past the harebrained idea of demonic second-hand clothes, Ghost Virus is actually a pretty fun, pulpy romp that fans of the crazier 80s horror paperbacks should enjoy. The central premise is outlandish, but it's at least entertaining and Masterton's writing is smooth enough to keep the pages turning. And the violence. Dear lord, the violence! Masterton doesn't shy away from details, and there's a number of well-done, graphically depicted shock scenes as the owners of these possessed clothes wreak havoc on themselves, their lovers, and neighbors. There's moments of awful violence throughout, and if you revel in gore, Masterton will blanket you in buckets of blood and piles of innards.
My advice? Ignore the goofy premise, and read this one for the shock scenes. If you're a fan of silly horror, you ought to eat this one right up.
[Note: I received an advance copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.]
The fact is, the central premise behind Ghost Story is absolutely ludicrous. That premise? Killer clothes. And I don't mean in the sense of keen fashion and sharp ensembles, but literally clothes that murder - jackets that slaughter, sweaters hungry for blood, windbreakers that would snap your neck and dismember you in the street. Killer. Clothes. It's the sort of schlocky mass-market 80s pulp, or straight to SyFy Channel by way of The Asylum films, that is deliriously, eye-rollingly bad...but also perversely entertaining in its own charmingly idiotic way. It helps, some, that Masterton's own characters cannot believe the threat terrorizing their London suburb of Tooting Bec either, oftentimes rolling their own eyes right alongside readers. One almost has to wonder just how much expert-level trolling Masterton is conducting upon readers with this one. The police, at regular intervals, speak the reader's mind as they confusedly stammer, "None of this makes any sense."
Granted, Masterton makes a basic attempt at trying to square this ultimately nonsensical work against the rough framework of Tooting's diverse neighborhood, drawing on Pakistani and Lithuanian lore, with talk of djinns and ghosts and various other regional folklore. No matter what kind of hodgepodge justifications Masterton knits together to explain the inexplicable, the threat at the core of Ghost Virus is still utterly preposterous.
However, if you can either accept, or better still, look past the harebrained idea of demonic second-hand clothes, Ghost Virus is actually a pretty fun, pulpy romp that fans of the crazier 80s horror paperbacks should enjoy. The central premise is outlandish, but it's at least entertaining and Masterton's writing is smooth enough to keep the pages turning. And the violence. Dear lord, the violence! Masterton doesn't shy away from details, and there's a number of well-done, graphically depicted shock scenes as the owners of these possessed clothes wreak havoc on themselves, their lovers, and neighbors. There's moments of awful violence throughout, and if you revel in gore, Masterton will blanket you in buckets of blood and piles of innards.
My advice? Ignore the goofy premise, and read this one for the shock scenes. If you're a fan of silly horror, you ought to eat this one right up.
[Note: I received an advance copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.]
When I think of Graham Masterton I think horror, gruesome, violent horror surrounded by a well written book. I'm not saying this isn't well written, it is, it's just different.
It's violent, gory, has a good main cast, it's a quick read and it involves evil clothes. Yes, evil clothes. That's not a spoiler as it's mentioned in the synopsis but you just want to know what the fuck is this guy on to actually write a book with that as a plot point?
It is a fun read for people who want a weird ass horror book and wants to spend a couple of days side-eyeing their clothes hitting them with a stick every time they hear a strange noise. Ah, good times.
The humour gives it some levity in the face of all the violence and I love that, the mixture of both helped me fly through it even though it is a bit silly and that's why it's a 3 from me.
*Huge thanks to Graham Masterton, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
It's violent, gory, has a good main cast, it's a quick read and it involves evil clothes. Yes, evil clothes. That's not a spoiler as it's mentioned in the synopsis but you just want to know what the fuck is this guy on to actually write a book with that as a plot point?
It is a fun read for people who want a weird ass horror book and wants to spend a couple of days side-eyeing their clothes hitting them with a stick every time they hear a strange noise. Ah, good times.
The humour gives it some levity in the face of all the violence and I love that, the mixture of both helped me fly through it even though it is a bit silly and that's why it's a 3 from me.
*Huge thanks to Graham Masterton, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
Random and (seemingly) unnecessary racism and sexism....it’s a no from me.
I am loving books by this author! Can't wait to read more
even though the beginning was very slow, (the first 15% really) the rest of the book makes up for it to such immense levels. There are some racist stereotype jokes, which to be honest is disheartening but the story was so good, I am conflicted. Although I'm only rating it 4 stars instead of 5 because of it. The ending got me. How the author played us, ah! I am immediately going this start reading the next book. Side note: This should have the trigger warning for gore and violence just in case someone does not have the stomach for it.