A review by rgoth
The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert

dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I came to this author a bit later than most, having first discovered their work through the captivating Rats series, which I absolutely adored. Therefore, I approached this new book with high hopes and eager anticipation.

Regrettably, it fell short of my expectations. The premise had great potential, filled with intriguing concepts that initially drew me in. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I found the suspense to be lacking—something I was particularly looking forward to. 

I didn't really care for the main characters either. I didn't jel with their story, and although I can't even begin to imagine how they felt losing a son, they just didn't seem fully rounded as characters. 

Additionally, I couldn't help but be put off by the term used for Golly dolls; it's not that they aren't P.C. as the book said. It's that the word itself is a racist term.