​GHOST VIRUS BY GRAHAM MASTERTON

by Tony Jones 

“After Reading ‘Ghost Virus’ you’re never going to feel the
same about your favourite jumper again!

 
I’ve read plenty of crazy books in my time, many so ridiculous I’ve almost lost the will to live. And let’s say right from the start: Graham Masterton’s latest novel “Ghost Virus” is more ridiculous than almost all of them. It’s bat-shit crazy. However, within the insanity the book was a weird internal logic that makes perfect sense. It’s stupid, violent, crazily over the top, but it also flows incredibly well into a narrative which is the perfect blend of horror, crime and a mysterious ingredient concocted by the author which makes it all hang together. I read it over three nights and found it very difficult to put down and that’s high praise. In various parts I could barely believe what I was reading, and even though the levels of brutality were extreme, I could not tear my eyes away from this most bonkers of horror novels.

Graham Masterton has been writing this sort of horror pot-boiler for years, and I thought this was an incredibly fine return to form after a few years where he has very successfully concentrated upon writing crime fiction. The fact that Masterton has been working in another genre really shines through in this work. The two central characters are detectives Pardow and Patel who begin to investigate a seemingly random collection of murders in south London, initially with what looks like a straight forward honour killing. Patel is British Pakistani and an expert in this type of crime. However, as the investigation continues the pair realise something much more unpleasant is at foot, a supernatural plague. Prepare for some very nasty goings on.

As their investigation continues you might think you have strayed straight into a detective, or police procedural, novel. Masterton plays this with a very straight bat, which works very well as the two detectives begin to link the clues. The police force simply cannot believe (and why would they?) something supernatural is at work, even as the bodies begin to pile up.

Along the way we are introduced to various characters who encounter the ‘Ghost Virus’ of the title and this allows the author to throw in some terrifically gruesome and shocking kill scenes. Masterton probably had a lot of fun writing some of these executions. Many are particularly nasty due to the everyday life situations in which many of them occur. For example, a primary school teacher starts throwing kids out an upper floor window, a guy gets nails hammered into his eyes (and then disembowelled) for snoring, a little girl eats her dog and a guy gets his arms and legs twisted off whilst walking home after a night on the town. It’s explicit stuff, but balances particularly well with the police investigation and some very dark humour.

The book is set very close to where I live in south London. If you read our accompanying interview Graham Masterton answers some questions about this. There is something particularly entertaining about reading a novel set on the streets you know very well, especially in the closing sequences which are wildly creative and over the top and right on the door step of some of my favourite curry houses Tooting is famous for.       

“Ghost Virus” is loaded with a full tank of horrors, ranging from the insidious paranoia when the virus begins to creep upon various characters, to the full-blown adrenalin fear rush, such as when the entities try to break into one of the police officer’s car to get at his little girl. I was probably more terrified than his daughter and was willing them on to fight another day.

And the ending…. Again, I ask Graham about this in the interview. The level of carnage, destruction, death and violence is so far over the top of the mountain it is half-way down the other side. I could visualise the mass destruction of the local area very easily as the ‘big bad’ tightened its grip on the unsuspecting London suburb. Yes, it was dumb beyond belief, but this author is the master of making a plot which could be laughed out of town by many, into a tale which was a terrific read.

Ginger Nuts of Horror does not grade book reviews, but if we did “Ghost Virus” would get 6/5. This was the first of Graham’s book I’ve read in a while, so I’m soon going to dip back into his extensive back-catalogue for another treat. But first I’m going to throw out my favourite suede jacket, if you ever read this novel you’ll know why. And I’m not sure where I left my green cardigan…. Blast… Should I be worried Graham????

Tony Jones  

GHOST VIRUS: HORROR LEGEND GRAHAM MASTERTON DISCUSSES HIS NEW NOVEL
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