The Secret of Crickley Hall is a new take on the classic ghost story in the same way that his bestseller Once was a new take on the classic fairy t...
read full description
reviews
Oct 09, 2008
Bill
rated it: 
I have read most if nota all of James Herbert's books and I think he has written some excellent novels (Fluke, Portent, '48) and some that I wasn't so keen on (notably The Spear)
However with The Secret Of Crickley Hall I think he has done a fantastic job. I would say this just edges Portent from my top 3 Herbert books
The characterisations are wonderful the plot is superb and the build up is one of his best.
I really used to enjoy reading Denis Wheatley books wh More...
However with The Secret Of Crickley Hall I think he has done a fantastic job. I would say this just edges Portent from my top 3 Herbert books
The characterisations are wonderful the plot is superb and the build up is one of his best.
I really used to enjoy reading Denis Wheatley books wh More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jun 23, 2011
I abandoned this book after 80 pages. There was a lot I liked about it, but some of the characters' actions seemed really contrived. I'm going to wtite some details about what I didn't like. I don't think they constitute plot spoilers, since I only got to page 80 of a 600 page book, but anyone who hasn't read the book might want to stop reading now.
The first problem was with Crickley Hall. Why did Gabe rent it? He didn't seem to like it much and it was much bigger than they nee More...
The first problem was with Crickley Hall. Why did Gabe rent it? He didn't seem to like it much and it was much bigger than they nee More...
Aug 31, 2010
Mari
rated it: 
The Secret of Crickley Hall does what it says on the cover: there’s a creepy old house, it has a nasty secret, and during the course of the novel some luckless people are going to find out exactly what it is. Enter the Caleighs, a family who’ve temporarily relocated to Devon and have rented said house for the duration of their stay. As soon becomes clear, however, the Caleighs are a family in crisis. Their young son, Cameron, has gone missing, and as a consequence they’re wrestling with potent f
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 26, 2010
Shawn
rated it:
Well, listened actually - I must have downloaded this during a flurry of downloading "audio horror" last year. Running out of thing to listen to, I started it up but only got about a quarter of the way through it. As much as I love horror writing, as much as it defines my life in fact, I do not seem to be much of a fan of horror at novel length, and more specifically modern horror at novel length. I like short fiction and it's been years since I've read any "newish" horror
More...
Oct 26, 2011
Deb
rated it: 
What's wrong with Crickley Hall? The cellar door won't stay shut. There are strange noises coming from the closet. The dog hates the place. Be very afraid, run away now - from this novel.
Oy, what a stinker. It has the bones of a good story - plotty enough that I had to severely edit the synopsis to be accepted by my book database - but the story is badly told and very badly edited. There is no real character development, although there are character back stories that take up valuable p More...
Oy, what a stinker. It has the bones of a good story - plotty enough that I had to severely edit the synopsis to be accepted by my book database - but the story is badly told and very badly edited. There is no real character development, although there are character back stories that take up valuable p More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 04, 2011
Teresa
rated it: 
Living in Devon I very much recognised the descriptions of the countryside. Narrow lanes with high hedges are typical of the county and I have experienced rain so hard that streams overflowed and cars were swept away. Knowing these things to be real made it much easier to accept the fantasy/horror elements of the story but at no point did the story really grip me. There were moments when I wondered why certain characters were important, for example the vicar's wife knocking at the door didn't re
More...
Oct 09, 2009
Lance Greenfield
rated it:
Too long!
When I was a teenager, a feature film was 90-100 minutes long and an epic novel was about 300-400 pages long. Crickley Hall is a really great story and has the right level of spookiness and tension. The end of each chapter contains a snippet that wants you to read on and find out what happens next. Reading this book during the torrential rain and floods that were suffered by most of Britain in the Summer of 2007, made the story even more poignant. However, this book is at le More...
When I was a teenager, a feature film was 90-100 minutes long and an epic novel was about 300-400 pages long. Crickley Hall is a really great story and has the right level of spookiness and tension. The end of each chapter contains a snippet that wants you to read on and find out what happens next. Reading this book during the torrential rain and floods that were suffered by most of Britain in the Summer of 2007, made the story even more poignant. However, this book is at le More...
Dec 28, 2011
Jeremy
rated it: 
This is one of James Herbert's best novels of recent years. It's a traditional spooky house ghost story that takes place over the course of a week in Devon as a family move to a rented house to recuperate from a tragedy that overwhelmed them. The first sign that something is wrong is when the dog keeps running away. It's truly scary at points and doesn't have some of the gore and violence which marked Herbert's earlier horror fiction, which probably would make it appeal to a broader readership.
Mar 27, 2011
Kurt
rated it:
It's been a long since I've read anything by James Herbert; it was either The Fog or The Spear back in the early '80's for me. I remember those two books for how they didn't pull any punches in the violence and gore, in addition to being really well written. Same goes for this one, except the gore factor has been toned down a bit compared to early Herbert. It's a good ghost story about a young family recovering from a recent tragedy, who temporarily move into a mansion that once served as a scho
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 13, 2012
David
rated it:
This should really be a 3.5 stars but we can't do fractions here. It's a very good example of a traditional ghost story that morphs into a more psychological horror mode as we get to the "secret". The end is milked just a little too much which is why it lost half a star.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/01/1...
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/01/1...
Aug 21, 2011
Ben
rated it:
weakest of Herberts offerings ,done much better in sleath with david ash
its over padded and holds no believability to it why there in such a mansion of a home for a start the situation and even the characters were dull and predictable its so heavy in padding i gave up and picked up again then skipped pages skimmed others , ghosts of sleath is a much better choice
its over padded and holds no believability to it why there in such a mansion of a home for a start the situation and even the characters were dull and predictable its so heavy in padding i gave up and picked up again then skipped pages skimmed others , ghosts of sleath is a much better choice
Apr 05, 2011
Sian
rated it:
The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert
This was the first James Herbert book I read and it's fair to say, it scared the life out of me! It was a great read that kept me intrigued in the story and the building. It covered two periods of time and revealed a part of each bit by bit. This was the book that made me want to read more James Herbert.
This was the first James Herbert book I read and it's fair to say, it scared the life out of me! It was a great read that kept me intrigued in the story and the building. It covered two periods of time and revealed a part of each bit by bit. This was the book that made me want to read more James Herbert.
Feb 05, 2012
Staciarose20
rated it:
I think it has a decent story, but the book itself is over 600 pages and far too long and drawn out. I thought I would never finish this book because of all the filler stories within the story. The pages are very thin, and looking at the book unopened it looks like a normal novel. Just know what you're in for with this one.
Jul 27, 2011
Maria
rated it:
I really liked this book. It was really well-written and I liked the characters in it. James Herbert is a very good writer and he is very good at adding suspense to his books. This book had moments of horror, sadness and the ending was worth waiting for. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good ghost story.
Jan 05, 2012
Maggie
rated it:
Two and a half stars which I've upgraded to a three. This was a book I read for a challenge under the Suspense category, and comes from the Horror genre. Whilst it held my attention I would not class it as being particularly suspenseful, spooky or chilling. It tells the story of evacuated orphans during WW2 and their terrible ordeal at the hands of their minders. As a result their spirits inhabit an old house (as per usual with horror stories), and it is up to the current day residents to free t
More...
Jun 20, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Wow, this book had a huge impact on me while I was reading it. Herbert certainly knows how to write a good ghost story!
The sad history behind the haunting was horrific and it was difficult to remember that I was reading about fictional characters, so real did they seem.
Unputdownable. Moving. A good read.
The sad history behind the haunting was horrific and it was difficult to remember that I was reading about fictional characters, so real did they seem.
Unputdownable. Moving. A good read.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 15, 2008
Sleepybear
rated it:
Life is too short to read this large book! Why write one word when 30 will do! Found myself skimming pages as I got bored. Could have been good but too much meaningless description....why do we need to know every item sold in the corner shop for example...we do have some imagination!
Oct 20, 2010
Bettie
rated it:
workaday mp3
Now this is what I call the epitome of a supernatural story. I love it when there is the :Haunted Gothic Institutional Building: and no matter how hard the wind is blowing, the thunder and lightening :Is Always Above The Roof:
Dec 27, 2011
Frank
rated it:
I enjoyed this gothic in atmosphere haunted house story. Mr. Herbert writes in detail, which I enjoy; it allows me to picture everything. A well thought out storyline, in my opinion. And, yes, even though we may anticipate what's coming, getting there is a good ride.
Apr 30, 2011
S.A.
rated it:
This book trotted such outrageous cliches I wondered if Herbert was pulling the readers leg, like he had the Horror Cliche Checklist and needed to hit every one. Compared to other great Herbert books this novel provided a real WTF experience.
Jan 24, 2009
Paul
rated it:
I couldn't wait to finish this book. Same old supernatural rubbish which becomes even more annoying due to the authors feeble attempts to suggest that some parts of the story may well be based on actual facts. Lame.
Nov 21, 2010
Mechelle
rated it:
This is a neat ghost story! Imagine Albert Fish caring for several orphans. The orphan/ghost drama has been done way too much; however, Herbert works his charm and comes up with some genuinely creepy moments.
Sep 26, 2011
Sally
rated it:
The cover describes the book as a chilling classic ghost story which it was, but I would have been long gone after the first swish-thwack and knocking noise, but these people lived in the house for weeks.
Dec 05, 2011
Bethany
rated it:
eh 2.5. i skimmed through alot of it and got annoyed by the author thinking he had to show you how words were said. It's still English I think we get it. Only bits and pieces were really worth reading.
Aug 06, 2011
Shirley
rated it:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book....could not put it down! Very spooky but definitely not enough to deter me from reading James Herbert's other books. A lovely ending for the Caleigh family.
Aug 20, 2010
Chris
rated it:
One of Herbert's best. A traditional haunted house / ghost story. Well told, tense, and quite scary. A very believable setting based in North Devon. Excellent quality horror tale.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 02, 2011
Margee
rated it:
Disturbing horror tale concerning a young London couple renting a country house for a change of perspective in order to assuage the grief of losing their 5-year-old son, literally, as he disappeared while playing in a park a year previously. The couple, their two daughters, and dog take up residence in infamous (unbeknownst to them) Crickley Hall, the site of the mysterious deaths of a group of World War II orphans overseen by an abusive brother/sister team of guardians, in 1943. Both terrifyi
More...
Aug 04, 2011
Selene
rated it:
This book takes something to get into it! It is extremely well written but you have to keep at it, because the story is woven very carefully. Towards the end I could hardly put it down. Worth the long haul!
Sep 23, 2011
Danielle
rated it:
This book was creepy and dark and wonderful!!! Some of it was a little darker than I normally enjoy reading, but the book was still great!
Apr 16, 2009
Mellie
rated it:
Another great book... Full of suspense, and quite horrific at times, I couldn't put it down. Cant wait to read some more of his books
