Moon

Title: Moon

Author: James Herbert

Published in: 1985

Date read: 25th July 2006

Score: 4/5

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Psychological

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Moon" by James Herbert, published in 1985, is a standalone supernatural thriller that delves into the terrifying world of psychic connections and the disturbing reality of a serial killer. It marks a return for Herbert to a more psychological and less overtly monstrous horror than some of his earlier works, though still infused with his signature intensity.

The story centres on Jonathan Childes, a man with an unwanted and deeply disturbing psychic ability. Several years prior to the events of the novel, Jonathan gained unwanted notoriety (and caused his marriage to fall apart) when he used his visions to help the police track down a child murderer. He could "see" through the killer's eyes, witnessing the horrific crimes as they happened. The experience was traumatic, and the resulting media frenzy led him to flee his life on the mainland, divorcing his wife and leaving his young daughter.

Jonathan has since sought refuge and anonymity on a quiet, remote Channel Island, working as a freelance IT teacher. He has built a new, seemingly peaceful life for himself, even beginning a new relationship with Aimee Sebire, a young French teacher. For a time, he believes he has escaped his past and his terrifying gift.

However, the "sightings" begin again. Jonathan starts experiencing fragmented, disturbing visions of grotesque acts of violence and desecration. At first, they are unclear, but they quickly become more vivid and horrifying. He witnesses a young boy's grave being torn open, the corpse exhumed and desecrated, and other unspeakable acts of mutilation and murder.

The most chilling aspect of these new visions is that this time, the killer seems to be aware of Jonathan's presence within their mind. The "monster" not only glorifies in its acts but also seems to relish the contact, actively trying to draw Jonathan deeper into its depraved world and even attempting to extract information from his memories. This creates a terrifying cat-and-mouse game where the observer becomes the observed, and Jonathan's mind is a battleground.

Reluctantly, Jonathan reaches out to Detective Inspector Ken Overoy, the officer who worked with him on the previous case and who has come to accept Jonathan's psychic abilities. Overoy is disturbed by Jonathan's new visions, especially when Jonathan reveals details of crimes that haven't been made public.

As the visions intensify, portraying acts of utter malice and cruelty, Jonathan cannot accept that the perpetrator is human. He believes he is connected to something truly inhuman, a malevolent entity that revels in horror. The stakes are raised when the killer's interest turns to those close to Jonathan, including his daughter, forcing him to confront the entity directly.

"Moon" explores themes of:
Psychic Connection and Its Burden: The horror of being unwillingly connected to a monstrous mind.

The Nature of Evil: Is the killer merely a depraved human, or something more ancient and supernatural?

Grief and Trauma: Jonathan's past trauma and his struggle to cope with a gift he never wanted.

Isolation and Escape: His attempt to find peace on a remote island, only for the terror to follow him.

The novel builds to a horrifying climax as Jonathan must face the entity that has invaded his mind and is now seeking him out physically on the island, culminating in a desperate confrontation where the true nature and motives of the "Moon" entity are revealed. "Moon" is a classic Herbert tale of dread, psychological terror, and the dark forces that lurk just beneath the surface of reality.

Comments:
I remember thoroughly enjoying this one, sadly, as it is 19 years since I read it, that is all that springs to mind.

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)