Rating: 
Summary: Bargain with the Devil!
Review: Simon Clark has created a truly monstrous haunted cemetery novel. A true crime writer begins recieving strange notes which request that he leave items (a red ball, a pint of beer) in a giant rundown cemetery next door. At first he resists but bad things start to happen, accidents, coincidences, and he finally gives in. But when you bargain with the Devil you always pay a price. This thriller is true to the classic formula of a small town which hides an ancient evil. The supernatural forces are glimpsed but never fully explained. I strongly recommend this novel for fans of Stephen King or John Saul.
Rating: 
Summary: Demand creepy chills in a ghost story?
Review: Then look no farther than this book, it's a winner. True crime author John Newton is struggling with what appears to an albatross of a follow up to his bestselling breakout hit when a strange letter is left on his doorstep demanding he leave a pound of chocolate on the grave stone of one Jess Bowen or he'll be sorry. Thinking nothing of it, he tosses the letter aside. Then a bad thing happens. Simon Clark's tale of the demands of an evil force living in a local cemetary delivers plenty suspense and chills, highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Clark Keeps Getting Better
Review: This is the forth novel I have read by Simon Clark and is my favorite of the four. Clark shows complete confidence in his work, dropping clues along the way to the horror that has invaded the town. His characters are believable and likable. The story is original and well thought out. Many thanks to Don D'Auria (editor) for bringing this incredible talent to the states. Simon Clark is not the next Stephen King, he's the improved Stephen King. I rank him now in the top 10 horror authors working today... Clark, Laymon, Wright, Clegg, Little, Ketchum, Hautala, Lee, Piccirilli, and Lumley.
Rating:
Summary: Clark Keeps Getting Better
Review: This is the forth novel I have read by Simon Clark and is my favorite of the four. Clark shows complete confidence in his work, dropping clues along the way to the horror that has invaded the town. His characters are believable and likable. The story is original and well thought out. Many thanks to Don D'Auria (editor) for bringing this incredible talent to the states. Simon Clark is not the next Stephen King, he's the improved Stephen King. I rank him now in the top 10 horror authors working today... Clark, Laymon, Wright, Clegg, Little, Ketchum, Hautala, Lee, Piccirilli, and Lumley.
Rating:
Summary: Trick or Treat
Review: You know the drill: A knock at your door for a treat and, if you don't comply, it is implied that something unpleasant will happen to you. Well, Simon Clark introduces us to what might be a possible beginning of that most unique of Halloween traditions. John Newton, a British writer of true crimes, finds a letter at his door asking that a "pound of chock latt" be delivered to the "grief stowne" of one Jess Bowen by "Sabbath night". If John does not comply, "Yew will be sorry if yew do not". Well, John doesn't and an accident does befall his young daughter. The "requests" continue - nothing major, mind you - a "pinte of porter", a red ball, etc. John delivers on these occasions and he is rewarded with a couple of new book contracts. But, as you can imagine, things aren't always what they seem. For John and his family are being indoctrinated into a horror that resides in the Necropolis Cemetery next door that has been around since the Norman invasion.Clark starts out slow but then warms us to the game. John talks to some folks who had relatives the last time these letters started to appear around town some 70 years ago. Specifially, a lady doctor and a old gentleman who is entering the dark tunnel of dementia, but snaps out every now and then, to leave John some clues and to fend off his son-in-law, who is trying to do him in for his money. John realizes the extent of what could happen when he hears of one of his neighbors who suffers a stroke and his scalded by a red hot shower nozzle in a cheap motel. Clark weaves a tale that, at times, appears to be collected off of the drawing room floor of Stephen King. I mean, a writer is the main character and a child, John's daughter Elizabeth, and the old gentleman ( Stan Price) are, at times, the books most appealing characters. Others, such as John's hot-to-trot wife, Val, are less appealing. And John's 17-year-old son, Paul, is involved with a girl named Miranda, who's sole interest appears to be keeping the condom industry going. In the last quarter of the book, we see what their relationship has to do with the rest of the story. For, you see, it is easy to adhere to the original requests - candy, a pint of lager, a toy - but when the request addresses something much more dear, much more precious, there's the rub. Trick or treat!
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