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The Ghosts of Sleath

David Ash Series, Book 2

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The Ghosts of Sleath

By: James Herbert
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
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Menace awaits. Sleath. Quiet, peaceful. A small village hidden away in the Chiltern Hills, almost forgotten by the modern world. Nothing much seems to happen here; little disturbs the centuries-old tranquillity. Until the ghosts begin to appear and frighteningly bizarre events start to occur.

Psychic investigator David Ash, a man burdened by the dark secret of his own past, is sent to Sleath to investigate the phenomena and his discoveries there drive him to the very edge of his own sanity. The incidents grow worse until, in the final night of horror, awesome and malign forces are unleashed in a supernatural storm that threatens to consume the village itself. For Sleath is not what it seems. And the dead have returned for a reason.

James Herbert was one of Britain’s greatest popular novelists and our #1 best-selling writer of chiller fiction. Widely imitated and hugely influential, he wrote 23 novels which have collectively sold over 54 million copies worldwide and been translated into 34 languages. Born in London in the forties, James Herbert was art director of an advertising agency before turning to writing fiction in 1975.

His first novel, The Rats, was an instant bestseller and is now recognised as a classic of popular contemporary fiction. Herbert went on to publish a new top ten best-seller every year until 1988. He wrote six more bestselling novels in the 1990s and three more since: Once, Nobody True and The Secret of Crickley Hall. Herbert died in March 2013 at the age of 69.

©1994 James Herbert (P)2013 Audible Ltd Fantasy Genre Fiction Ghosts Horror Small Town & Rural Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Haunted Scary Paranormal Fiction Village Exciting
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Editor reviews

British horror maven James Herbert reprises his psychic investigator David Ash, a man continually haunted by the ghosts of his past - literally. Ash senses evil in the rural English hamlet of Sleath, and before long he joins the local villagers as a plaything in the hands of sinister and mysterious specters. In the lofty strains of performer Steven Pacey (Blake’s 7, M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team), The Ghosts of Sleath is accorded a voice that is pastoral, brimming with the stuffy and proud traditions of provincial England, but at the same time eerie, menacing and chillingly convincing in its portrayal of a town burdened by the centuries-old ghosts of its gruesome past.

Continue the series
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Ash By: James Herbert

Critic reviews

"Herbert was by no means literary, but his work had a raw urgency. His best novels, The Rats and The Fog, had the effect of Mike Tyson in his championship days: no finesse, all crude power. Those books were best sellers because many readers (including me) were too horrified to put them down." (Stephen King)
"There are few things I would like to do less than lie under a cloudy night sky while someone read aloud the more vivid passages of Moon. In the thriller genre, do recommendations come any higher?" (Andrew Postman, The New York Times Book Review)
"Herbert goes out in a blaze of glory." ( Daily Mail)
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Most relevant

Would you consider the audio edition of The Ghosts of Sleath to be better than the print version?

Having read the printed version before listening to the audible version (albeit quite a while ago), I can honestly say that the audio version is much much more effective at delivering a truly chilling experience!!

What did you like best about this story?

Thrilling plot with unexpected thrills and chills. James Herbert is truly a master of the macabre. I felt like I knew the main character Ash, so well that he was almost like family by the end (and not only because this is not the first book he's starred in!) And I really cared about what happened to him.

What about Steven Pacey’s performance did you like?

The accent!! Being a 'cockney' meself, incorrect pronunciations and fake accents can really distract and even ruin a story for me.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Life in a quiet village . . . where all of your worst nightmares come true!!

Any additional comments?

Excellent storytelling! Make sure you've got a spare pair of underwear!

This is the stuff of freaking nightmares!!

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, its amazing and the details described make you feel like you was there.

What did you like best about this story?

the way he describes everything it gave me goose bumps

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

it made me laugh a lot and i also felt sad for ash

Loved it

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It seems that most, if not all, of James Herbert's books are now included in the Audible Plus catalague (free for members) so I decided to continue reading the David Ash series.

This is a 'proper' horror story and is a great sequel to the first book, Haunted. David Ash travels to the quaint, picturesque village of Sleath, where nothing is as it seems. Mr Herbert is skilled at building the tension with a real feeling of dread, and there are some genuinely scary moments with plenty of gore especially in the fantastically gruesome climax. And I have to say that Ash really doesn't have much luck with the women he meets!

Excellent narration by Steven Pacey which is perfect for this book.

A 'proper' horror story

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big fan as always brill book but all are gripping books. read and listen to all of them but the rats are still at the top of my list

total outstanding

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Love James Herbert books and this one didn't disappoint. Can't wait to read the next one. Very gripping .

Fantastic read

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