Peering into Naomi's Room

In 1991, a short novel of ghostly horror first hit books shelves across the UK... and the book? Naomi’s Room. This well received and deeply admired book was 207 pages of blood-chilling horror from a man who would become a true master of ghostly horror over the next few years. But the author was not really used to this sort of genre at the time. He had previously written thrillers under the name of Daniel Easterman, and it was his wife Beth’s fascination with ghost stories that encouraged him to write this book.

Taken from the blurb: “Charles and Laura are a young, happily married couple inhabiting the privileged world of Cambridge academia. Brimming with excitement, Charles sets off with his daughter Naomi on a Christmas Eve shopping trip to London. But, by the end of the day, all Charles and his wife have left are cups of tea and police sympathy. For Naomi, their beautiful, angelic only child, has disappeared. Days later her murdered body is discovered. But is she dead? In a howling, bumping story of past and present day hell, Jonathan Aycliffe's haunting psychological masterpiece is guaranteed to make you sink to untold depths of teeth-shaking terror.”

Aycliffe write things that some daren’t, he delves into situations and probes and probes, while you are screaming, ‘No! No!’ But at the same time, you cannot stop looking, just as you might look at a car accident on a motorway as you speed past. His stories can leave a nasty taste in your mouth and this is no exception, but it is a taste you cannot stop yourself from swallowing again... and again.

(Paul McAvoy 2014)

Me & My Shadow (on the Wall)

Review of Shadow on the Wall by Jonathan Aycliffe - (2001)

Being an expert in the field of all things mysterious, albeit an enigma in many ways to the reader, Professor Asquith is called upon by Edward Atherton, who is worried about his brother, the rector of Thornham St Stephen. Having tried to restore parts of his old church, the rector has disturbed the tomb of Abbot of Thornham, and has unleashed something into this world.

Edward begs Asquith to take a trip with him to Thornham and help in any way he can, and save his brother as he fears for his safety. Upon arrival at the church, they find that the rector is dead, and that there is something not right about the church. Things are hidden in the shadows… Things that are malevolent and want to do harm… And Asquith soon realises that not only is Edward in danger, but so is he and his new wife. Written in 2000 and set in the nineteenth century, this is a good gothic horror.

The unseen forces which are at work, mingled with the ghostly shadowy figures. The author gives very little away and it is a joy to see the story unravel. I have read most of his other books and had been after this one for a while. Now out of print, I ended up buying it on Ebay for eight pounds (second hand). I actually found this a hard to read book, though, and it took me longer than I should have to finish it. Other factors (courses I have been taking etc) might be at work here, but it was an anti climax after searching for the book for so long.

 Review was printed on Ciao first by me... Paul McAvoy