Neil Spring is an elegant author of what I would term as
classic horror. In his writing just like an artist he paints a picture and
relies on the reader to look at that picture and use his imagination to
envisage the story. In The Lost Village he again teams two of his favourite
ghost hunters Harry Price and his assistant Sarah Grey. They have travelled to
the former village of Imber on Salisbury Plain to help understand strange and
ghostly sightings including the tragic disfigurement of Sgt Gregory Edwards. I
love Spring's writing style and his simple but effective use of language which
is a joy to read yet somewhat disturbing and creepy...."The winter sun was
sinking beneath the spires of Westminster and casting a pink hue across the
London skyline".... "I froze. Around me, the trees seemed to shimmer,
as if I were seeing them through a haze. At first, there was absolute silence.
The air had become chillingly cold, freezing, and then I thought I heard,
faintly.....low whispering"......"Price was standing in the centre of
the wrecked mill, next to the battered table and chairs. A length of rope
dangled from his right hand. Wearing his black frock coat that fell to his
knees, he exuded the sinister presence of a Victorian Executioner".....
The Lost Village is really the story of displaced inhabitants
attempting to reclaim what the army has stolen. Once a year they are invited
back but this will be no ordinary visit as a chain of events sets in motion a
terrible reckoning, and a sickening revelation ensuring that Imber will be
remembered for all the wrong reasons. I particularly liked the cover of this
novel with its dark angry skies and the picture of a man approaching wearing
his trademark black coat, all which really adds to the atmospheric, macabre
tale. Many thanks to the good people at Quercus publishing for a gratis copy in
exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
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