Ash

James Herbert is an odd one. I've devoured his books like his rats devoured humans. He's a good spinner of a yarn. But there are so many flaws. His plotting is sometimes sluggish and his characters one-dimensional. Ash is the third in the "David Ash" trilogy, following on from Haunted and The Ghosts Of Sleath. Ash is riddled with conspiracy theory. It's a nerd's dream. There's the obligatory "tousled-hair" hero (Ash) and of course the eye candy (Dr Delphine Wyatt, a psychiatrist, in this case) for him to bed. Authority figures are pretty much drawn lie panto villains, and they are a sentence away from twirling their moustaches and laughing in that evil manner panto villains laugh. Still, you read for the hell of it.

Good last novel from James Herbert, feels almost like greatest hits compilation as it has many themes of Herbert's previous novels ( Packs of ferocious animals, deranged maniacs, supernatural forces and of course the return of Ash, to name but a few. ). Blending fact with fiction, this was Herbert at his most playful ( even incorporating a Rats novel in joke )and his supporting cast of both fictional and real characters gives this novel a real sense of blockbuster scale. This isn't by any means one of his greatest works, the almost relentless action of the second half losses much of the tightly plotted tension of some of his previous books, though if you've read and enjoyed The Fog, The Dark, Domain or The Ghosts of Sleath then you'll be on familiar ground of Herbert working on a broad canvas. Worth a read if for no other reason than one last scene involving a hoard of rats, what more fitting subject for this great authors final book.

First let me start by saying the previous David Ash books were excellent, and without out James Herberts books I would have not been tempted to pick up a book as a teenager.The actual over all concept of the story is good, Alas I think it was trying to be too complex and became disjointed, imperfect and in the final chapters rushed and left too many loose ends and. lots of questions not answered. Fortunately he leaves behind him a fine body of work.

It helps if you have read the previous novels featuring the paranormal investigator Ash because of the references in the story ,but great read ,gripping and as ever a page turner that you'd expect from this brilliant author.Love this guys books .read some of his books when younger many moons ago but i've recently been binge reading all the James Herbert novels and enjoyed every one

I bought this in 2012 (one for my dad, one for me) but have only just got round to reading it, having been very busy, partly forgotten about it...and also putting off not having any more James Herbert to read.It’s a shame that the last work from James Herbert is so poor. Some of the plot ideas are too preposterous, even for a horror novel, but it would have been bearable if the actual writing had been better. A lot of the passages read like a first draft - there’s not the usual JH polish, but being the final novel before his death, I do wonder if this is down to ill -health.That said, my dad loved it. I think it’s one for completists only.

I purchased this for 99p on my Kindle and what a waste that was.I have liked many James Herbert books but this one is the worst.He has used many real characters in a fictional book which made it laughable. He used the Queen, Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Gaddaffi, Hess, Lord Lucan and Hitler to name a few; using the Royal family was certainly in poor taste.The first part of the long book was mainly taken up with a short flight, a drive to the castle and from the gates to the castle. Can a writer really spend well over a100 pages writing about that journey?There was a background history to the castle which was fine, a good 'build up' to the evil bit, but what happened to the malevolence? Did it get blown up with the castle?There were too many sub plots and I believe he actually didn't have a clue what he was writing about.Sadly, I don't rate this book at all,

Enjoyed this book both horror & thriller. I did guess a few of the surprises & one in particular I felt the author missed a trick! But I can't explain or it would spoil the book if you've not read it. Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Terrible writing from a horror legend. The central story held plenty of promise but although set over a couple of days this took me weeks to read as its certainly no page turner. I'd recommend you try Sepulchre or Rats but definitely stay away from this . The only horror here is in the hours this book drained from life while reading!!

On retrouve le détective Ash, chasseur de fantômes dans de nouvelles aventures Comme tous les romans d'Herbert ça commence bien sur tous les plans, style, descriptions (à la Balzac), Au départ... Il y a un fond "amusant" au 2d degré voire au 3e... car le lecteur suite aux 2 tomes a envie de savoir ce qui arrive à Ash alcoolo un peu repenti, tout décati de ses aventures précédentes et qui carbure maintenant à l'absinthe. On attend tout de même 100 pages pour atteindre ce château écossais après 3 ou 4 digressionsMais on est bien déçu car l'écrivain tire à la page. Son héros arrive à destination en descendant d'une Mercedes complaisamment citée et récitée par l'auteur dans un trajet d'une lenteur peu justifiée et devant tant d'insistance on pense à une pub subventionnée (idem avec la marque bien connue des lampes torches et quelques alcools) des produits "placés"comme dans certains films et téléfilms, ce ne serait pas étonnant. Il y a un manque d'originalité consternant, une facilité à ne rien faire en écrivant beaucoup de lignes. Beaucoup d'allusions et de clichés amenés sans finesse. Nous revoilà avec les Nazis chers à l'auteur, des dingos et des mutants, des phobies de chats, rats et araignées même pas dignes d'un Harry Potter. On se demanderait même si les pathologies et médications évoquées ne viendraient pas de l'ordonnance de l'auteur. Une théorie du complot avec une monarchie déviante... ces ragots des fameux tabloïds britanniques comme fond de conspiration... Des rappels d'actualités en matière d'espionnage, de religion (ah les vilains cathos... typiquement anglais). Les Irlandais et les Ecossais en prennent aussi pour leur grade... On est dans le stéréotype à fond. Le livre aurait gagné à être élagué de scènes répétitives, de psychologie au rabais, de personnages "à la mode" dans l'actualité littéraire et traités à la va-vite.Les épisodes précédents sont "Haunted" et "The Ghosts of Sleath". On est à fond dans le cliché britannique mais revisité en mode "thriller" sur le mode "horreur" mais même pas effrayant ou dégoûtant, dans le mode planplan du déjà vu et traité façon roman de gare de série Z. Ah les vilains fantômes écossais... Cette fois ci ils sont bien absents malgré quelques hantises et le rappel en 10 lignes des exactions de vilains lairds écossais. Bonne nouvelle le héros aux neurones un peu toqués, toujours fleur bleue finit par s'en sortir ... Pour le reste on peut se dispenser de cet achat. Les commentaires en anglais réimportés sur ce site sont un peu trop flagorneurs...

The book wasn’t it the greatest brand new condition (some damage to the spine) but overall it was ok and I was glad that it was available

Outside my usual genre, this book was recommended to me. Usually I can forgive bad writing if there is at least a rollicking narrative. This book had neither. It was bad, bad, bad. Have not read any other books by this author and am extremely unlikely to in the future.

Troppo prolisso e inutilmente dettagliato nelle descrizioni più orripilanti. Avrebbe potuto essere più conciso e quindi più avvincente. Nel complesso, deludente.

todo perfecto, un 10*, rapido y sencillo, genial, buena co mu ni ca ci on y efi ca cia, gracias

I like James Herbert, but have read better ones than this last one. Shrine, The Magic Cottage and the incredible Creed were far better.

Wie immer James Herbert schreibt einfach Genial.Packende ghost Thriller vom feinsten ,wenn Ihr auf Steven King stehen, dann kann ich James Herbert nur empfehlen.......

loved it couldn't put it down, kept you thinking what will happen next, really good writer- my favourite in horror

Not as engaging as Herbert's previous work. overall a little disappointing.

David Ash aus "Haunted" und "The Ghosts of Sleath" ist wieder da und nachdem er sich von seinen Besschädigungen im letzten Fall erholt zu haben scheint ist sein neuester Auftrag doch scheinbar eine Nummer zu groß für ihn. In einem schottischen Schloss werden Menschen verwahrt, die sich dort vor der Welt verstecken - und nicht gerade schlecht dafür bezahlen. Eine Geheimorganisation betreibt diese Einrichtung und dies schon seit etlichen Jahrzehnten. Doch nun treten in dem alten Gemäuer ungewöhnliche und auch lebensgefährliche Phänomene auf.Ash beginnt zu ermitteln - und verliebt sich mal wieder dabei unsterblich - und wird sich mehr und mehr bewusst, dass seine Arbeitgeber ihn nicht so ohne Weiteres wieder gehen lassen werden.Interessant bis zum letzten Drittel, doch dann werden Pathos und Wiederholungen von vergleichsweise banalen Dialoginhalten doch ein wenig sehr störend. Insgesamt also wirklich ein durchwachsenes Lesevergnügen.

Well written and could not put if down. A real thought provoking book. Made all the more thought provoking by the death of. James Hebert not long after the publication of this book. RIP.

惜しくも２０１３年この世を去った英国最強・最凶のホラー作家ジェームス・ハーバートの遺作！「悪夢」（あるいは「月下の恋」）、「Ghost of Sleath」に続く、アッシュ（「死霊のはらわた」とは関係ないです）三部作の完結編。ゴースト・ハンターである主人公デビッド・アッシュが今回赴くのは世界史をも背後で操っているという秘密結社が運営する、血生臭い伝説に覆われた古城コムラート。現在ではその秘密結社により世界中の訳あり人物を隔離収容しており、絶対秘密裡にそこで怒り出した怪異を調査するのがアッシュの任務。古城の巨大さ、陰謀の奥深さだけでなく、読者の度肝を抜く収容人物の正体や、前任者の霊媒は丘から古城を見ただけで恐怖のあまりショック死してしまったという、なにからなにまで超弩級で、「鼠」「霧」などのパニック映画スケールのモダン・ホラーの礎を築いたジェームス・ハーバートの最後を飾るにふさわしいオカルトホラーに仕上がってます。完結編とは書きましたが、「悪夢」に始まる死んだ姉との確執は本作でも決着をつけておらず、ルーズエンドのまま作者が亡くなってしまったのは残念・・・。

good ash hope there are more david ash books in the wind just could not put it down just like a book should be

I discovered James Herbert back in the 1980s when I read "Domain" and I have ever since anxiously awaited each new novel by the so-called "British Stephen King." This book is the third of the David Ash novels about an investigator of paranormal activity. I loved "Haunted" and "The Ghosts of Sleath," so I was so excited to find out that James Herbert was publishing a new David Ash novel. "Ash" does not disappoint. This time around Ash investigates the paranormal happenings at the old and mysterious Comraich Castle in Scotland, a place where very rich, very troubled people go to "disappear." As other reviewers have noted, the book could have been edited a bit, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am deeply saddened that James Herbert passed away in March 2013. He will be missed.

I've read a few James Herbert books and this sounded an interesting sequel to The Ghosts of Sleath. Suitably creepy reading for a dark winter's night or three. My only quibble would be that occasionally Herbert insists on graphically describing every brand and detail of clothing and occasionally he's gone overboard on his research and insists on putting everything in the book - for example an rather exhaustive list of pharmaceuticals of differing types. As someone who lived in Scotland, not far from the house of the Mitford family off the Isle of Mull, I loved the setting and concept.