Jonah

Title: Jonah

Author: James Herbert

Published in: 1981

Date read: 17th January 2006

Score: 3/5

Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Detective

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Jonah" (sometimes titled "The Jonah") by James Herbert is a suspenseful and often unsettling novel that blends elements of crime thriller with supernatural horror. Published in 1981, it marks a slight departure from Herbert's earlier, more visceral horror, leaning more into psychological dread and a pervasive sense of ill fortune.

The protagonist is Detective Jim Kelso, a police officer who has gained an unenviable reputation as a "Jonah" – someone who brings bad luck to those around him. Whenever he's involved in an operation, things tend to go wrong, often with disastrous consequences for his colleagues, while he himself frequently emerges unscathed. This makes him an outcast among his peers, despite his undeniable competence as a detective.

Following a particularly botched drug bust that results in the death of a fellow officer, Kelso is effectively exiled from London's City of London Police's Robbery Squad. He is transferred to the Drugs Squad and sent on an undercover assignment to a remote, seemingly quiet coastal fishing town in Suffolk (often implied to be Aldeburgh or a similar locale). His mission is to investigate the mysterious source of a hallucinogenic drug, LSD, that has somehow contaminated the local water supply, leading to a local family experiencing extreme and terrifying hallucinations.

Upon arriving in the isolated town, Kelso assumes the guise of an ornithologist. He soon discovers that the tranquil façade of the community hides a sinister secret. He teams up with Ellie Shepherd, a sharp Customs & Excise officer who is also investigating the illicit drug activity. Their joint investigation leads them to suspect a prominent local businessman and war hero, Sir Anthony Slauden, who chairs a pharmaceutical company and has unusually large water requirements for his secluded estate.

As Kelso and Shepherd delve deeper, they uncover a massive and highly lucrative drug manufacturing operation. However, the closer Kelso gets to the truth, the more his "Jonah" curse seems to manifest, leading to a series of escalating accidents, near-fatal incidents, and betrayals that threaten both his life and Ellie's. The novel features bursts of violence, intense action, and a pervasive atmosphere of menace.

Throughout the narrative, Kelso is haunted by unsettling flashbacks and fragments of memories from his own mysterious past, particularly concerning his childhood and his mother. These fragmented recollections hint at the origin of his "Jonah" phenomenon, revealing a dark secret that has overshadowed his entire life. The novel effectively weaves this personal mystery with the unfolding criminal investigation.

The climax of "Jonah" sees Kelso confronting Sir Anthony Slauden and the forces behind the drug operation. The truth behind the "Jonah" effect is revealed in a terrifying and often grotesque manner, connecting Kelso's personal history to the strange occurrences and the insidious evil he is fighting. The book culminates in a spectacular and high-energy sequence where Kelso must not only battle the criminals but also come to terms with the horrifying revelation of his own nature and the entity that has followed him all his life. "Jonah" is a gripping blend of a police procedural and a supernatural thriller, showcasing Herbert's ability to create a sense of brooding dread and shocking violence.

Comments:
I can't really add much to the comments here as I can't remember reading it. I recognise the plot summary but have nothing else.

Books that we've read by James Herbert (20):
The Rats (Rats, #1) (1974), The Fog (1975), The Survivor (1976), Fluke (1977), The Spear (1978), Lair (Rats, #2) (1979), The Dark (1980), Jonah (1981), Shrine (1983), Domain (Rats, #3) (1983), Moon (1985), Magic Cottage (1986), Sepulchre (1987), Haunted (David Ash, #1) (1988), The Ghosts Of Sleath (David Ash, #2) (1994), Others (1999), Once... (2001), Nobody True (2003), The Secret of Crickley Hall (2006), Ash (David Ash, #3) (2012)