Book Review: The Devil in Gray

Book review time!

The Devil in Gray by Graham Masterton

If you're not a fan of gore or ghosts, pass this one up. And gore there is. Buckets of it. The Devil in Gray is a well-written, easily read book that follows the murders of several people who seem to be killed by nothing, or no one, and detective Decker who's trying to figure out what the heck is happening. For example, a man is just hanging wallpaper when a deep gash suddenly appears on his arm. Before he can utter: "what the...?" he's been cut so many times he ends up in the hospital and his wife is decapitated. Then there's this guy that gets boiled to death in his own bathtub... but I don't want to give too much away. Honestly, the reasoning behind these killings is slightly silly but intriguing anyway.

This book reminded me of final desination in a way, except instead of death being after everyone, it's a pissed off civil war ghost. And how to get rid of the pesky critter? Well it's obvious isn't it? Voodoo. Santeria. A girl with down's syndrome who has freaky visions. Hmm yes. Pssh. You know nothing. Not kidding about the girl either.

I think that Decker is too accepting of the supernatural and doesn't really react in the way that most of us would (usually ending in ruining a good pair of pants). In the end, it's a good horror novel if you can get past all the wierd Voodoo stuff. There are scenes that made me gag and cringe and really, what more can you ask of a good horror novel? My rating: B+