The Reaping

A recent comment on another review of this book asked the reviewer, who had posted his or her feedback several years ago, to revise the review to tell potential readers of The Reaping what the book is about. Since that reviewer is unlikely to revise a review written that long ago, I'll take up the task here. Overall, this book was excellent. Unlike the one-star reviewer here, I didn't find the book boring in the least. It does start off slow, to be sure, and there is sometimes a lot of explanation for things that really doesn't need to be there, but those are hallmarks of Taylor's style. I've also read The Godsend and Evil Intent, and both of those books start off exactly the same way but are intriguing pieces of work. One must also keep in mind that this is British horror, which tends to be far more psychological and less "in your face" than most American horror, outside of the novels of Charles L. Grant. So, what's this book about? An artist, Tom Rigby, lost his wife several years prior to the opening of the story to cancer, and he is raising four children with the help of his older sister while also running a successful art and framing shop in London. Rigby is a talented painter, and the personal secretary of a rich woman named Miss Stewart notices his work at a neighborhood art showing. The secretary commissions Rigby to paint the portrait of Miss Stewart's great-niece, Catherine. Rigby travels to the countryside outside Bath to paint the portrait, but all is not what it seems. Strange goings-on, including a seemingly abusive chauffeur and a group of odd nuns on the grounds of Miss Stewart's manor house, are perplexing, and Miss Stewart herself is an enigma. Toward the end of his stay, Rigby is so disturbed by events in and around the manor that he can't wait to get away from the property. I won't go into more detail here, as I would spoil the second half of the novel and give away the nice twist of an ending. I will say, however, that one flaw in the book is keeping me from giving it five stars. The book ends far too abruptly with not enough explanation as to why the things that happen at the end of the book work the way they do. Things just happen, and one is truly left wondering.

Super suspenseful story written by a great but sadly overlooked author who is just as good as Stephen King or Koontz, personally I think he's better. Read; The Godsend, Sweetheart Sweetheart, Madeline, Mother's Boys they are all 5 star books ...