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The Reaping
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When Tom Rigby is commissioned to paint a young woman’s portrait at Woolvercombe House, the offer is too lucrative to refuse. But from the moment of his arrival at the secluded country mansion strange and inexplicable events begin to transpire. Soon he is drawn into an impenetrable maze of horror, and by the time he discovers the role he is intended to play in a diabolical
...more
Mass Market Paperback, Paperbacks From Hell Edition
Published
June 2019
by Valancourt Books
(first published 1980)
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Start your review of The Reaping
Jun 24, 2019
Char
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
valancourt-books-reviews,
arc
4.5/5 STARS!
Bernard Taylor-I LOVE the guy! SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART is still my favorite from him, (and one of my favorite quiet horror tales of all time), but THE REAPING is another fine example of horror at its best!
An artist and father is invited out to a country manor to paint a portrait. Thomas is offered quite a bit of money to leave his family and business to come do this and his every need will be met while he is there. Upon his arrival, though, his surroundings, the family and the ...more
Bernard Taylor-I LOVE the guy! SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART is still my favorite from him, (and one of my favorite quiet horror tales of all time), but THE REAPING is another fine example of horror at its best!
An artist and father is invited out to a country manor to paint a portrait. Thomas is offered quite a bit of money to leave his family and business to come do this and his every need will be met while he is there. Upon his arrival, though, his surroundings, the family and the ...more
I received this book as part of Valancourt’s “Paperbacks From Hell” subscription plan and I also received it in for review consideration as an audio and I have NO regrets!
I am so thrilled Valancourt Books exists and that they are bringing these dusty old tomes back from the dead! Many of these books were first released in the 70’s and early 80’s and I have such gaps in my horror history because I missed so much. When I was kid I read Koontz and King and McCammon but didn’t branch out much ...more
I am so thrilled Valancourt Books exists and that they are bringing these dusty old tomes back from the dead! Many of these books were first released in the 70’s and early 80’s and I have such gaps in my horror history because I missed so much. When I was kid I read Koontz and King and McCammon but didn’t branch out much ...more
Jun 09, 2019
Alex (Hey Little Thrifter)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
horror-faves
4.5 stars
The Reaping is about artist turned shop-owner Thomas who is commissioned to paint a portrait. He travels from London to Woolvercombe House where he stays until the portrait has been completed. But he was brought to the house for more than just his painting skills...
This is another fantastic novel by Bernard Taylor. I'm three books into his back catalogue and I've loved each one so far. Once I finished reading The Reaping I gave my husband a quick rundown of the plot and I realised that ...more
The Reaping is about artist turned shop-owner Thomas who is commissioned to paint a portrait. He travels from London to Woolvercombe House where he stays until the portrait has been completed. But he was brought to the house for more than just his painting skills...
This is another fantastic novel by Bernard Taylor. I'm three books into his back catalogue and I've loved each one so far. Once I finished reading The Reaping I gave my husband a quick rundown of the plot and I realised that ...more
Jun 09, 2019
David
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
horror,
paperbacks-from-hell
Bernard Taylor is a tough one to beat. Review to come.
So I thought I'd read this little book as a break from all the bigger novels im tackling and boy was I glad I picked it. This story just had me going from the beginning. The pacing was great. Never a dull moment. It was an intricate puzzle that was strategically played. Even when I thought it was predictable and thought I knew what would happen, I would find my jaw dropping. No way! I love those moments. I'm in awe that I didn't see the connections or the subtle hints at how characters would
...more
what a book! Yeah Tom goes to Woolvercombe House to paint a portrait but oh he ends up doing so much more! some of this was just crazy then the ending was good. i enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on.
I listened to the audio book which was narrated by Hannibal Hills. I think this is the best one he's read so far (of the ones I've listened to).
i requested this audio book from Valancourt and left this review voluntarily.
I listened to the audio book which was narrated by Hannibal Hills. I think this is the best one he's read so far (of the ones I've listened to).
i requested this audio book from Valancourt and left this review voluntarily.
I didn’t love this, but I liked it.
The Reaping was originally written in 1980 and definitely hits those 80’s horror vintage notes. No spoilers here. I’ll just say that if you love 80’s horror or those awesome 1970’s movies that starred people like Ernest Borgnine – you know chill with a touch of cheese – you should enjoy this one. It gets surprisingly erotic, but that all makes sense in the end.
The buildup is slow. The author gives the readers so many clues that things are very wrong here. And ...more
The Reaping was originally written in 1980 and definitely hits those 80’s horror vintage notes. No spoilers here. I’ll just say that if you love 80’s horror or those awesome 1970’s movies that starred people like Ernest Borgnine – you know chill with a touch of cheese – you should enjoy this one. It gets surprisingly erotic, but that all makes sense in the end.
The buildup is slow. The author gives the readers so many clues that things are very wrong here. And ...more
The Reaping is a strange little book that requires the reader to reach its last twenty pages before they can consider it part of the horror genre. It is only then looking back that the reader is able to access all the little tells and hints that this story is pointed toward. Perhaps, I am too used to clique, as I felt that this story could have gone down several different avenues in its telling that have been done before based on its premise. The story being about a failed painter being given
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3 5/5 stars
Thomas Rigsby has been commissioned by Mrs. Weldon, to come to Woolvercombe House to paint a portrait of Catherine, the great niece of Miss Stewart. Weldon offers Thomas more than double his fee to paint the picture. Thomas said no at first, because he made plans with his lady friend, Ilona. At the last minute Ilona has to cancel their plans and now Thomas is available. Thomas could not turn down this huge amount of money, for about only ten days work. The first night that Thomas spent at
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Another deftly told slow burn from Taylor, The Reaping does not disappoint. This clocks in as a fairly quick read at around 175 pages, and I was swept along from the beginning. Doesn’t quite reach the heights of Sweetheart, Sweetheart, but still a master class and a must read for Bernard Taylor fans.
A wee slow to get going and a wee cheesy in parts, but filled with unsettling characters and plenty of creepy goings on. In other words, classic 80’s horror.
Tom Rigby is finally going to make a little dough from his art by painting the portrait of a young woman out at the old Woolvercombe House.
Should be easy money.
Well…should have been anyway.
It seems that there may have been some underlying ulterior motives for Tom’s trip out to Woolvercombe. Ulterior motives of a most sinister kind…
"I was ...more
Tom Rigby is finally going to make a little dough from his art by painting the portrait of a young woman out at the old Woolvercombe House.
Should be easy money.
Well…should have been anyway.
It seems that there may have been some underlying ulterior motives for Tom’s trip out to Woolvercombe. Ulterior motives of a most sinister kind…
"I was ...more
Totally in the classic late-70s/early-80s mold (which all makes sense). A well-meaning man who falls into an occult trap; a slow build towards a heart-pounding conclusion; the clues having been there all along. None of this can, or should, pass any 21st Century tests -- but I had a blast with it for the odd nostalgia thrill, which is exactly what the Paperbacks from Hell folks were hoping for, I think.
I did not see that ending coming! I love the way all of the little clues led to an unforgettable conclusion! 4 solid stars! I can’t wait to read more from this author.
I think I said this for the other Paperbacks From Hell book I read, but writing a review for this book is going to be hard. There's usually a reason for them going out of print and then being featured in PfH. Maybe it's the publisher going out of business or the book just being buried in the horror paperback bubble bursting. Or it could be they just aren't that good. I'd say that's the case with this one.
In the introduction we are told how Bernard Taylor is a great writer because he can create ...more
In the introduction we are told how Bernard Taylor is a great writer because he can create ...more
Taylor has such an easy, deliberate style to his writing. It's hard not to get caught up in the story, because he draws you in so smoothly and easily. He's been described as a writer of quiet horror, and The Reaping is a good example of why (though Sweetheart, Sweetheart is probably the place to start).
The story is about Tom Rigby, a part-time painter who is commissioned to paint a portrait of a young woman. Once he arrives at Woolvercombe House, he discovers an odd staff and even odder ...more
The story is about Tom Rigby, a part-time painter who is commissioned to paint a portrait of a young woman. Once he arrives at Woolvercombe House, he discovers an odd staff and even odder ...more
(3-1/2 stars) This reprint of a 70s-80s era paperback horror novel is about par for the course. What it has going for it is a good, mysterious atmosphere and a twisty plot. What it doesn't have, which many Goodreads reviewers have pointed out, is much in the way of actual horror or gore or intensity. But that's not unusual for that era. Instead it's more Gothic-inspired. When things get explained at the end, it's a little far-fetched and vaguely disappointing, but overall, this tale of an artist
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4.5
Like a really good Hammer Horror film or a brilliant episode of Tales of the Unexpected this 1980 horror is a fab read. Seemingly innocuous at first, the writer lets us get to know the characters well and lets the tension build until the very last page. It's not gory or particularly horrific - more a psychological thriller with horror elements but for readers like me who like quite 'tame' horror, verging on the cheesy (the massage scene, lol), it's a completely enjoyable read. ...more
Like a really good Hammer Horror film or a brilliant episode of Tales of the Unexpected this 1980 horror is a fab read. Seemingly innocuous at first, the writer lets us get to know the characters well and lets the tension build until the very last page. It's not gory or particularly horrific - more a psychological thriller with horror elements but for readers like me who like quite 'tame' horror, verging on the cheesy (the massage scene, lol), it's a completely enjoyable read. ...more
Very good read. Very well written, this is what English is supposed to be! Looking back at it, story was sort of lack luster, but keeps you interested by the way it is written. Seems like this could have been a great start to a story. I think it is a series though.
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that.
Taylor is a master of the Jamesian style of quiet, slow and atmospheric horror that layers on the weirdness until the reader and the protagonist find themselves in a complete nightmare. This was probably the one of the five Paperbacks From Hell re-issues I was most excited for, as I have enjoyed two of his other novels. Why this wasn't made into a film (like Sweetheart, Sweetheart) I have no idea.
Taylor is a master of the Jamesian style of quiet, slow and atmospheric horror that layers on the weirdness until the reader and the protagonist find themselves in a complete nightmare. This was probably the one of the five Paperbacks From Hell re-issues I was most excited for, as I have enjoyed two of his other novels. Why this wasn't made into a film (like Sweetheart, Sweetheart) I have no idea.
A clever but uneven novel which leads the reader to assume they’re plunging in to a retro-modern Gothic tale about an artist commissioned to paint a portrait of a frail young heiress in a mysterious mansion. But once all of the squares are covered on the Gothic bingo card, the author begins flinging twists at the reader with gleeful abandon. Although it serves the story well not to waste momentum on any occult theories or ponderous monologues, the change in tone, pace and the ending are rather
...more
Paperbacks from Hell Series #3
Proper English pseudo-Gothic mystery about a middle-aged artist who is too virile for his own good. Creepy and suspenseful here and there, but never scary. A short and enjoyable tale that would have made a great Hammer film.
Brief strong language, some relatively discreet sexual conduct, violence (fighting).
Proper English pseudo-Gothic mystery about a middle-aged artist who is too virile for his own good. Creepy and suspenseful here and there, but never scary. A short and enjoyable tale that would have made a great Hammer film.
Brief strong language, some relatively discreet sexual conduct, violence (fighting).
A readable but ultimately stupid book. Like many horror novels, the build-up is more scary than the reveal. The book is legitimately eerie in its middle section, but it becomes progressively more ridiculous as it goes on. The ending is predicated on a sheer coincidence ((view spoiler)) and reads like something straight out of a B movie.
In addition, the suspense is let out of the balloon the instant ...more
In addition, the suspense is let out of the balloon the instant ...more
Having been in a slump over the past couple of months for finding a decent horror novel, I became intrigued when stumbling upon this novel bearing the Paperbacks from Hell tag. One of the better horror novels I have read in quite some time. Very intriguing plot, once the ball gets rolling. Definitely has the English horror late 70's-early 80's feel. Some may argue the book gets a little plodding in the pace, but it fills in for the narrative in effective form. Very atmospheric, subtle horror
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This is a surprisingly well written gothic occult story. The story builds slowly, but there was enough going on to keep me interested and wonder what was happening. There is a definite feeling of foreboding running throughout. Although it was written and is set in 1980 it had an older feel to it. If it hadn't been for the odd 70s/80s reference I might have thought it was set many years earlier. The first half of the book is a sort of gothic romance, but then in the second half it becomes more of
...more
May 26, 2019
Jason Bergman
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
paperbacks-from-hell
An enjoyable, breezy little book that takes its time getting to the supernatural bits. The first half pretty much reads like a gothic romance, and then it suddenly takes a turn towards thriller. It never quite reaches full-on horror, which was a surprise (given that it's part of the Paperbacks from Hell series) but I thought it was good airplane reading. Definitely makes a nice contrast to the gross-out horror of The Nest and the holy-crap-wtf-just-happened horror of When Darkness Loves Us. This
...more
The Reaping was my first Paperbacks from Hell read and I'm pretty disappointed. I was intrigued by the premise, but the writing seriously lacks style or flavour, and moments of suspense are few and far between. The first half of the book is a slow-burn build up, with some good breadcrumbs to keep the reader following along, but it falls apart in the last third. During that final stretch, there's little sense that the naïve protagonist is in any danger. He regards the mystery that he's caught up
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First of all: "This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."
I found this storyline to be quite intriguing. It was the kind of thing that pulled you in right from the start. I found the actions of the protagonists to be fairly logical and believable throughout. The ending had perhaps a little more intrigue and twisting than was necessary, but it was still pretty good. Perhaps the extra twists were to thwart the predictability that had started to creep in. ...more
I found this storyline to be quite intriguing. It was the kind of thing that pulled you in right from the start. I found the actions of the protagonists to be fairly logical and believable throughout. The ending had perhaps a little more intrigue and twisting than was necessary, but it was still pretty good. Perhaps the extra twists were to thwart the predictability that had started to creep in. ...more
I love old-school horror and sci-fi and this book was right up my alley.
There is a general menace present throughout the book and never a dull moment. Great character build ups and although quite a slow burner of a book pacing wise, this is such a fun read. There are hints throughout about what is going on and the ending is genuinely creepy and utterly weird. Although not horrific or gory like most modern horror books, this is more of a slow build up which I find more effective rather than ...more
There is a general menace present throughout the book and never a dull moment. Great character build ups and although quite a slow burner of a book pacing wise, this is such a fun read. There are hints throughout about what is going on and the ending is genuinely creepy and utterly weird. Although not horrific or gory like most modern horror books, this is more of a slow build up which I find more effective rather than ...more
This was a nice, well paced little chiller. Reminded me of the English folk horror trend from the 70s. You really get to care for the main character throughout the story as he tries to figure out the weirdness of Woolvercombe House. Taylor plays it fair with the mystery aspects and the ending feels very organic. Love it for the mysterious nuns, housekeepers who are so polite...to a point, and dotty old dowagers. A great addition to the Paperbacks from Hell series
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Bernard Taylor was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, and now lives in London. Following active service in Egypt in the Royal Air Force, he studied Fine Arts in Swindon, then at Chelsea School of Art and Birmingham University. On graduation he worked as a teacher, painter and book illustrator before going as a teacher to the United States. While there, he took up acting and writing and continued with
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