Others

Title: Others

Author: James Herbert

Published in: 1999

Date read: 9th June 2009

Score: 5/5

Genre: Supernatural, Thriller, Horror

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Others" by James Herbert, published in 1999, is a dark and intricate supernatural thriller featuring a unique protagonist and a horrifying mystery.

The story introduces Nicholas Dismas, a private investigator unlike any other. Physically deformed with a prominent hunchback and other malformations, Dismas carries a deep personal secret and a past he cannot fully remember. He's often judged by his appearance, yet possesses a sharp mind and a strong moral compass.

Dismas is hired by Shelly Ripstone, a recently widowed woman, to find her son who was supposedly stillborn 18 years ago. Shelly now believes her son is alive, guided by a clairvoyant. Despite his skepticism, Dismas takes the case for the high fee.

His investigation quickly leads him to "Perfect Rest," a mysteriously located, luxurious nursing home where Shelly's former midwife now resides. The facility seems idyllic, but Dismas soon uncovers a chilling conspiracy orchestrated by the nursing home's owner, Dr. Wisbeech. This secret involves grotesque genetic experimentation and a dark trade in stolen infants.

As Dismas delves deeper, he discovers the horrifying truth about "The Others" – the products of Wisbeech's twisted research, hidden within the nursing home's secret passages. These beings are disturbingly abnormal and part of a larger, more sinister plan.

The novel becomes a relentless pursuit as Dismas, with the help of a clairvoyant and other unlikely allies, unearths the shocking reality of Perfect Rest. He faces brutal resistance from those determined to keep their secrets buried, including murder. The themes explored include genetic engineering, human monstrosity, redemption, and the nature of identity.

In a spectacular and astonishing finale, Dismas not only uncovers the full extent of the horrors but also confronts the enigma of his own existence and answers the disturbing question of who and what "The Others" truly are, revealing a profound and personal connection to the chilling events. "Others" is a gripping, disturbing, and ultimately redemptive tale from the master of horror.

Comments:
This book has just come flooding back to me. I remember this as a parent's worst nightmare. A uniquely James Herbert book.

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)