Whatever you make of Laymon's earlier books, this is one you should try' News International Lineone The prose here is rich and inventive, the atmosphere and scene-setting handled with real aplomb. 'This gloriously inventive piece is probably Laymon's best book yet: dipping into the poetic vein of Ray Bradbury was clearly a vitalising exercise for him, and this is sheerly enjoyable. This is an enticing tale of three youngsters in a small American town' Manchester Evening News

'If you are not already well acquainted with Richard Laymon, get to know him now. They had better watch out, Laymon is already staking a claim' Northern Echo 'Dean Koontz and Stephen King normally dominate this territory. A gripping, and at times genuinely shocking, read' SFX Magazine 'This is an author that does not pull his punches. 'A terrifying collection of short stories that showcases the dark genius of a true master of the macabre' Books Magazine Gets my vote as the best of 2000 by a long chalk' Shivers a breath of fresh air in the stale UK Horror climate. 'DREADFUL TALES knocks all other offerings for six and presents a consistent collection of tales, almost every one of which manages to shock, delight and horrify through numerous ideas, characters and situations. Near the far end of its reach, it dimly illuminated a low, squatting circle of men. That is certainly the case here, and the attention paid to his central character is just as rewarding as the horror set pieces: I swept the beam a small distance to the left. In all the best horror tales, the hero is not just menaced by nameless evil, but becomes inextricably involved with it. The fashion in which Laymon insinuates these otherworldly elements into the otherwise normal world of his hero is brilliantly done, with Ed's distraught emotional state seeming to act as a catalyst. Needless to say, Ed becomes involved with these sinister figures, particularly a mystery girl who will change his life. Leaving his apartment one night for a walk, he finds that he has moved into what might almost be a different world: there are others out on the streets-are they human, these figures who hide in the shadows? Certainly, the prey they seek is marked for a grisly end. Virtually destroyed by the news, Ed struggles to study and even to sleep. He receives a letter which destroys his hopes-she has fallen in love with another man, and won't be coming back. But when Ed returns to campus, Holly doesn't. He's been missing Holly, who he fell in love with the previous year. Laymon's hero Ed Logan is brimming with anticipation for his second year at Willmington University. Night in the Lonesome October is the first book published since the death of author Richard Laymon, and it is ironic that this is among his richest and most atmospheric pieces.

Night in the lonesome october laymon