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A review by velvetsun
December by Phil Rickman
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.