What do you think?
Rate this book
The Universal Library #2
The Werewolf of Priory Grange
The Werewolf of Priory Grange is part of the Universal Library series of horror/comedy books inspired by classic films of the 1930s and 40s. The stories are set in the present day but with a classic feel, tongue in cheek delivery and many references to the original films and other horror movies for film fans to spot. Though it's probably better to read the books in order, this is a stand-alone story and you don't have to have read Book 1 (The Mummy's Quest) to enjoy it On an isolated moor in the north of England stands the Prior Grange School, perhaps the most remote boarding school in Britain. From her arrival, along with her brother Oliver, Lisa Hobson (an average A-Level student with a love of gothic literature) finds the school a chilling and unfriendly place, made worse by a pack of bullies, led by the odious Larry Glendon. But there’s more to this place, and more to the bullies, than meets the eye. When Lisa takes it upon herself to investigate the series of bloody deaths that have been occurring in the area, the truth proves more monstrous than she could have imagined, and more dangerous, as she falls foul of the White Wolf. Lisa is helped by a vengeful gypsy, a rakish member of the local gentry, and by a caretaker named Boris, who turns out to be the agent of the shadowy Universal organisation. Also by a dog called Moose. It turns out that the white wolf is only the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface is a plan far more devious than anything any of them could have imagined, one that may yet claim Oliver’s life. And Lisa’s. And that of anyone else who gets in the way.
- GenresHorror
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2018
8 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Robin Bailes
16 books27 followersRobin Bailes is the writer and presenter of the web-series Dark Corners, based around comic reviews of old B movies and serious retrospectives of cult classics. Robin's love of old movies, and particularly the Universal horror cycle, was established by an old collection of Famous Monsters of Filmland (the seminal fanzine created by Forrest J. Ackerman), nourished by a film buff family, and is now inspiring a series of comedy/horror novels beginning with The Mummy's Quest and now running to 4 titles. The books are informed by classic horror, and are peppered with references to old movies and cult literature. The books are also a reaction to Universal Studios' baffling and uninspired efforts to turn their legacy into a comic book franchise. The latest title is The Immortal Dracula.
Outside of Dark Corners, Robin has written and directed the comedy/drama web-series Coping (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5XG...), among many other intriguing and diverse projects, as he attempts to make a living from writing. He also volunteers at the Cinema Museum at Elephant and Castle in London, and can be found behind the cafe for most silent film screenings. You can learn more about Robin (if you really want to) on his website, robinbailes.com.
Twitter: @DarkCorners3, @robinbailes
Facebook: Dark Corners of This Sick World
Outside of Dark Corners, Robin has written and directed the comedy/drama web-series Coping (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5XG...), among many other intriguing and diverse projects, as he attempts to make a living from writing. He also volunteers at the Cinema Museum at Elephant and Castle in London, and can be found behind the cafe for most silent film screenings. You can learn more about Robin (if you really want to) on his website, robinbailes.com.
Twitter: @DarkCorners3, @robinbailes
Facebook: Dark Corners of This Sick World
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 11, 2023
Lisa and her brother, Oliver, are sent to a boarding school, Priory Grange, overlooking Naughton Mire. The treacherous grounds of the area are forbidden to the students after dark, especially after a number of sheep have been found mutilated. As with many schools, filled with children of wealth and privilege, bullying is not unexpected and Lisa soon finds herself the target of the worst of the groups. Soon she begins to witness some mysterious events, including both teachers and students sneaking out after dark. One night a teacher apparently went out and is never seen again, leading to a search that only uncovers more slaughtered sheep.
We learn that the missing teacher was actually an agent of the Universal agency, introduced in the first novel of the series. His disappearance leads the agency to send in Boris, the mysterious agent who was also featured in the previous book, undercover as a custodian and groundskeeper. It appears that the agency suspected that there might be a werewolf in the region and the original agent might have been silenced as he learned too much.
The story is mostly told from the perspective of Lisa, including entries in the journal she begins to keep. Other sections are from the viewpoint of Boris as he begins his own investigation. Eventually, the suspicions of both characters draw them together as events grow more intense.
Nice follow-up to the first book, as we catch up with Boris, now recovered from the actions in the first novel in the series. We also learn a bit more about the agency and the types of investigations they have been doing for generations. Considering the events that take place in the final chapters, I'm hoping that we will be seeing Lisa, if not her brother, in future installments.
It should be remembered that these stories are taking place in current times, but much of the 'lore' we learn is based on the classic Universal films which are the inspiration for Bailes' series. Looking forward to the next installment where we learn of the possible existence of an invisible man.
We learn that the missing teacher was actually an agent of the Universal agency, introduced in the first novel of the series. His disappearance leads the agency to send in Boris, the mysterious agent who was also featured in the previous book, undercover as a custodian and groundskeeper. It appears that the agency suspected that there might be a werewolf in the region and the original agent might have been silenced as he learned too much.
The story is mostly told from the perspective of Lisa, including entries in the journal she begins to keep. Other sections are from the viewpoint of Boris as he begins his own investigation. Eventually, the suspicions of both characters draw them together as events grow more intense.
Nice follow-up to the first book, as we catch up with Boris, now recovered from the actions in the first novel in the series. We also learn a bit more about the agency and the types of investigations they have been doing for generations. Considering the events that take place in the final chapters, I'm hoping that we will be seeing Lisa, if not her brother, in future installments.
It should be remembered that these stories are taking place in current times, but much of the 'lore' we learn is based on the classic Universal films which are the inspiration for Bailes' series. Looking forward to the next installment where we learn of the possible existence of an invisible man.
June 11, 2022
A fine continuation of the Universal series has more humour and more horror than it's very good predecessor. The main character - Lisa - is a good one, and following her through her trials in a new school until the strange twist at the end made for a fun read. And with the lack of gore and gentle language, this is recommended for more people than many horror books out there at the moment.
August 16, 2021
Robin weaves an interesting story from a stroll to a sprint.
Perspective is everything. From the farting, oozing mud from the small town pub and stories shared over ale, and the modern teen experience. Robin breathes a fresh storyline into the Werewolf of Prior Grange.
Perspective is everything. From the farting, oozing mud from the small town pub and stories shared over ale, and the modern teen experience. Robin breathes a fresh storyline into the Werewolf of Prior Grange.
February 6, 2020
Robin Bailes continues to blow me away with the second in his Universal Library book series. I think that it is just a fantastic bit of storytelling. This book is a wonderful marriage between a mystery-thriller, Gothic Romance, and a good old-fashioned werewolf movie (with some unique lycanthropic elements). I thought Lisa was a wonderful protagonist who I easily identified with, and became attached to immediately. I am also glad that we get a little more Boris in this story. The little winks and nods to Universal Studios classic monster movies and other werewolf films was once again an absolute delight. I am pretty sure I caught them all. This one was genuinely thrilling and sometimes scary. Robin is not afraid to put his characters in real danger and kill people off. I thought the moor and the mire were a fascinating backdrop and were the perfect perilous setting for this story. All in all, it was thrilling, fun, hilarious, and just extremely satisfying.
July 29, 2020
Robin Bailes
I salute you.
This is a very, very good story.
Was able to follow one of the characters
from the first book through this one.
Only one more in this series, but hope you do MANY more.
And this should ABSOLUTELY be a movie.
Maybe on Netflix, or maybe the three as a
miniseries.
NOTE:
I was caught in a downpour with this in my backpack.
Completely soaked. So, after getting over the shock of my
poor BOUGHT NEW book dripping water.
I lovingly put it in my dehydrator (yes, for drying food)
and worried about it for three hours. Had to finish it.
It dried and now my water wounded baby will go on the shelf.
And I will contemplate buying a second copy.
Because YES
I want to read it again.
I salute you.
This is a very, very good story.
Was able to follow one of the characters
from the first book through this one.
Only one more in this series, but hope you do MANY more.
And this should ABSOLUTELY be a movie.
Maybe on Netflix, or maybe the three as a
miniseries.
NOTE:
I was caught in a downpour with this in my backpack.
Completely soaked. So, after getting over the shock of my
poor BOUGHT NEW book dripping water.
I lovingly put it in my dehydrator (yes, for drying food)
and worried about it for three hours. Had to finish it.
It dried and now my water wounded baby will go on the shelf.
And I will contemplate buying a second copy.
Because YES
I want to read it again.
February 14, 2024
Great Gothic setting, used well. A bit of epistolary novel also used to great effect (there's a lot of down time when your monster only appears 2.7% of the year). The characters have compelling motivations which drive the plot. In short, all the pieces come together leading to a satisfying conclusion. Best of all, for this reviewer, we get a rich, internally consistent interpretation of the classic Wolf-Man style werewolf folklore. Will read again!
August 28, 2025
The second book in the Universal Library series continues the fun mix of classic horror and wry humor found in The Mummy's Quest. This time the story concerns the secret operatives of the Universal Library as they investigate lycanthropic activities in a small rural village. Said village is complete with a creepy old boarding school, abandoned mill, and a marshy mire waiting patiently for victims to wander into it. The main character, Lisa Hobson, is a bookish, romantic teen who is of course unprepared for the weirdness she's about to experience but, is nonetheless able to handle it. Her habit of comparing her current predicament to various gothic novels (complete with title and author citation) is a cute character quirk. Like The Mummy's Quest, the story is inspired by Universal horror films of the past, with more than a touch of Wilkie Collins, the Brontës, and Sherlock Holmes thrown in for good measure. Character names are freely drawn from the actors and characters of those Universal films, especially 1941's The Wolfman and 1935's Werewolf of London. While the story takes itself seriously and has some genuinely horrific moments, it is also extremely funny. Robin Bailes has a real talent for turning a phrase that perfectly fits the situations and the characters, but also winks knowingly at the reader. This was another enjoyable read and I really look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews