Advantages: Simply Fantastic read
Disadvantages: None

...The Secret of Crickley Hall. James Herbert. When writing a book review I sometimes put to much plot, so this time I am going to try and get the balance right with this review. I bought this book a while back, picked it up and put it down. I thought it would be a ghost story that I wouldnt like. Well I was right and I was wrong. Whilst it is a ghost story, it is in a class of its own. An extrodinary written ghost story which grips you from the first pages and doesn't let go until the last full stop. Oh, and I was wrong, I loved the book ! The book begins with Herberts usual fantastic discriptive talents, setting Crickley Hall clearly in the readers mind. The narrative between the characters is superbly written and Herbert gives various chapters to each character showing the story from their points of view. The pace... Read review

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Advantages: A great book and gripping storyline
Disadvantages: none

...I have read a couple of James Herberts books before and knew he was a great writer i bought this book for £3.75 at Asda after my mum said she would like the book and i thought it sounded a great book to read. The secret of Crickley hall is about the Caleigh family Gabe, the father, Loren, the eldest daughter, Cally (Catherine) the youngest daughter and Eve,the mother who move to Devon temporarily so Gabe can work and so that Eve can get over the loss of losing her son who went missing in the park a year ago. When Eve sees Crickley hall outside she doesnt like the place and when she enters the hall gets the feeling that the place is haunted and throughout the book strange things begin to happen. I would recommend this book to other readers and those who want to buy this book to read as when i heard the title i thought it would... Read review

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Advantages: You get to hear the original Supergroup reformed
Disadvantages: The album shows what good music some of us missed played live.

...Eric Clapton is my favourite guitarist not only for his longevity but for the skill in his guitar playing. He with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker reform in 2005 for a series of Concerts initially at the Royal Albert Hall but then going world wide for a tour. I saw Eric Clapton with Blind Faith at one of the early free concerts in Hyde Park in the late sixties, I think june 1969, as a teenager so was quite upset that I missed the Albert Hall Concerts especially as one fell on my birthday 5th May 2007. However I first recorded the concert from TV and then was bought the album and DVD the Christmas following it's release. The concert is magical. There are three 60 year old rockers who hadn't played all together in a band for forty years. Playing the songs as the did all those years ago. They play, in my own personal opinion, better than... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Gripping storyline, good characters
Disadvantages: May unnerve you slightly

...BACKGROUND I am a self confessed bookworm. I love nothing better than curling up with a good book. My favourite type of book has to be horror. I have read loads of horror books by many known and unknown authors, but my favourite author has to be James Herbert (with Stephen King coming in at a very close second). When I saw that James Herbert had a new book out, I dropped very heavy hints that I would like it for Christmas. Luckily Santa had taken heed of my hints and on Christmas this was one of my presents. THE PRODUCT The hardback version that I have is published by Macmillan and the recommended retail price comes in at a rather hefty £17.99. I have to say that as this was a present I am unsure how much they paid for it, but I have seen it on sale in Asda and Tesco for £9.99, certain bookstores selling it with £5... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent Return To Form for Herbert, Great Style
Disadvantages: Nothing New, a Reworking of earlier ideas

...James Herbert is Britain's best-selling horror author, with 21 fiction novels behind him and a plethora of non-fiction works published as well. The trouble, however, is that of late his pieces of fiction, for me, have fallen short of the mark. Recent novels delved deep into sexuality, fantasy and faeries and differed wildly from his mainstream novels. At least one piece of recent fiction seemed to be an excuse to write a soft-porn novel, masquerading as a fairy tale. And before you think of me as a prude, far-be-it for me to belittle the adult nature of people's fantasies; it's just that when I pick up a James Herbert novel I want intrigue and shock and gore and not some pixies going at it like hammer and chisel. So when 'The Secret of Crickley Hall' came out I was tempted to avoid it, worried that it might be more of the same... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Superb day out
Disadvantages: none

...Having been a big fan of the James Herriot books since childhood i made sure one of the places i visited while on holiday in Yorkshire was the World of James Herriot museum in Thirsk. Nostalgia kicks in when you see the front door of the house, exactly as it was described in the books. Our family ticket cost £13.60 which is extremly good value for money when you take in everything inside and outside the museum. They have managed to keep the interior of the house exactly as it was when "James, Sigfried & Tristan" lived and worked there. As you go from room to room you wouldnt be surprised at all if you saw either of them just walking past you! The ringing telephone in the hall that you can pick up and listen to a farmer calling for the vet is a really nice touch, one the kids loved. Also seeing the "set" was another really good point... Read review

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Advantages: Absorbing
Disadvantages: You have to stop reading to eat and sleep

...Reading is not on my normal agenda. But when on holiday 2 or 3 books for a 2 week holiday. On my recent holidays my reading has mainly been thrillers. So when walking down the book aisle in Asda, James Herbert's book jumped out at me. I'm an avid fan of Herbert having read all the books published by this author. In my opinion a much more consistent writer than Stephen King,( I can hear the moans from the King fan club ). Some of Kings stuff is good but some of it is also not so good. But when the James Herbert book comes along I know it will be of a very high standard. The price on the back was £6.99 but Asda were selling it for a bargain £3.35. The book has 633 pages and is a No1 best seller. The cover is black with lightening strikes on it. Also an old door knocker to add to the spooky theme. The Secret of Crickley Hall... Read review

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Advantages: Classic Herbert, great storyline with some nice twists
Disadvantages: 300 pages too long, some cheesy dialogue, not his best work

...INTRO I'm a big fan of James Herbert even since I read "Haunted" a few years ago and have been an avid reader of his many horror novels ever since. So I was extremely excited when I heard that he was releasing a brand new book. Finally, a Herbert novel that I could look forward to ("Nobody True" having come out under my nose without me noticing it's initial release). However, would it live up to its usual horror style and keep me turning the page? TECHNICAL INFO Release Date: October 2006 Publisher: Macmillan Pages: 600 approx. THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL = Moving into a new home is never easy. Especially for the Caleigh family who have just purchased Crickley Hall down in Devon. A large manor built in the countryside away from the hustle and bustle of city living... Read review

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Advantages: A fine read that builds the tension upto a horrifying climax
Disadvantages: Disturbing and graphic details of murders of children

...The Secret Of Crickley Hall is James Herberts latest horror thriller and should not disappoint but it should disturb you as it concerns the deaths of eleven young children and their teacher during a catastrophic flood in Hollow Bay during the 2nd world war.