Sepulchre

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Originally published in 1987, this novel was written in the middle of James Herbert’s career, an author who has been referred to as the British Stephen King. It features a professional bodyguard and hostage negotiator named Liam Halloran who works for a company named ‘Achilles Shield’. He is assigned to protect the most valuable asset of the Magma Corporation who turns out to be a man named Felix Kline. Why is Kline so valuable? Halloran is told the man is a psychic researcher whose paranormal abilities allow him to locate undiscovered mineral mines. Halloran is skeptical to say the least but as events unfold, he is soon convinced. There have already been several failed attempts on Kline’s life by rival companies but now, the psychic has had a premonition that he will soon be in even greater danger. Kelso, who's opening botch is the latest a long line of mysterious accidents during his cases, has been sent to a sleepy fishing village to investigate an unassuming family's who's been poisoned with a mass dose of LSD. I’m going to be honest and say this one disappointed me. It wasn’t the usual James Herbert read: instead of being a creepy story, it was more a detective story with a small amount of the paranormal thrown in. Usually I love such stories – detective stories are some of my favourites, and I never say no to the supernatural – but this one failed to hit the right spots for me. The Jonah’ is a well paced novel that draws the reader into the developing storyline with the mysterious events that are occurring. Kelso is written as a very human and easy to identify with character. The interlacing subplots that run parallel to the main thread of the storyline add a good depth to the novel as a whole, whilst fleshing out the characters and their respective pasts. On the verge of giving up the investigation he is joined by HM Customs investigator Ellie Sheppard. Despite his reservations about working with her, the pair soon begin to uncover the truth the lies beneath the surface of the small community. But for Kelso, it is the revelation of the secrets of his own past that bring the greatest danger.

The Vamp: Subverted; Cora visits Halloran's room for an impromptu liaison - but confesses Kline to have pressured the arrangement, seemingly as a malicious test. Cabell, Craig (2003). James Herbert: Devil in the Dark. United Kingdom: John Blake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84358-059-1.

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Biblical Motifs: The Book of Genesis is depicted to have adapted elements of Sumerian history. The Serpent in the Garden is traced to Bel-Marduk, an incarnate deity who advanced the Sumerians; demanded Human Sacrifice, and was eventually dismembered and left to die by the high priests - his limbless body earned the name Serpent. Meanwhile, Shield operative Dieter Stuhr is found murdered, the motive of Neath’s prospective invaders remains unclear, and the true nature of Kline’s powers heralds revelation to shake Halloran to the core...

Not Me This Time: While Dieter Stuhr initially appears to have been tortured and killed just for the fun of it by some of Kline's warped followers, the real culprit is IRA hitman Danny Shay, to find Halloran.There is a guardian of the house, and of the psychic, and of the secret. He is known as The Keeper. Together, in unholy union, they serve a force who existence threatens mankind itself. But now a terrible danger Dark and Troubled Past: Aged eight, Halloran saw his father, a British Army captain, shot dead in front of him by IRA terrorists. Forced to keep the murderous secret of her relatives, his mother eventually killed herself. Following distinguished service in the Battle of Mirbat, Halloran, further disillusioned by the death of his captain, worked for a while as an apathetically ruthless mercenary.