Long Lost (Hardcover)

I like that idea about "quiet horror." That's precisely what I felt from this story. No flash and dazzle. No otherworldly monsters. Basically, no bull. Just skillfully delivered almost real-life horror.

Throughout the central story line of a couple and a mysterious old woman who has entered their lives, Campbell has woven together several gripping vignettes, including the Owains and their circle of friends, which are utterly horrific because we've all read of similar events happening in real life.

Each character has a distinct, believable personality. The author appears to have an incredible knack for picking up on the nuances of human psyches. The players in this story (primary, secondary and incidental alike) are fleshed out in such a masterful way that I could virtually see each of them before me as I read. That's not to say that he rattles off litanies of physical descriptions. Not Campbell. He gives you the physical stuff slowly and only situationally, when it seems appropriate for one character to notice something about another. It's really quite beautiful how he uses this skill to paint his picture with delicately honed layers.

But, as I was saying, I could almost see each character as I read about them. I suppose it's probably more accurate to say I could really feel them. Know them. Their quirks, their kinks, their movements and expressions. Just as we've all read about the terrible, sad things that humans do to one another every day in the world around us, we've also all known these men and women who are just your ordinary citizen until something horrible happens inside them and they snap.

I raced through THE LONG LOST because this story of sin and guilt born from internalized fears filled me with increasing doses of dread almost from the very first page. As they say, the suspense was killing me. There was no way I could walk away from a chapter halfway through. And even then, Campbell was able to keep me hanging for another chapter or two because he was juggling three or four storylines at one time! I couldn't find out what happened until I was terrified even further by the gut-wrenching things that were happening to other characters. I don't recall the last time I read a story that was so relentless in giving me the chills.

While I'm on that point, I fume when I hear readers criticize authors for giving them too many characters to follow. That's not the author's failing, it's the reader's. It takes a lot of nerve to blame a brilliant writer for your laughably short attention span.

I don't want to tell a lot about the story itself because it would be far too easy to give too much away. The only way to enjoy this story is too let it unfold and hang on. Besides, too many folks around here think a review is a book report, just ask Harriet Klausner. I'd much rather read someone's opinion and recommendation, so here's mine.

READ THIS BOOK!!! Read it if you love Clive Barker. Ramsey Campbell is the only other writer besides Barker who knows how to write about real evil. Read it if you enjoy Stephen King. Personally, I can't stand most of King's books because he fumbles his endings time and time again, but Campbell can show you how it should be done. He carries the ball right to the end zone and spikes it!