Prey

Title: Prey

Author: Graham Masterton

Published in: 1992

Date read: 30th October 2000

Score: 5/5

Genre: Horror

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Prey" by Graham Masterton, published in 1992, is a supernatural horror novel that delves into themes of ancient evil, the devastating consequences of greed, and a primal struggle for survival.

The story centers on Jim and Sarah Rook, a young American couple who, like many, are struggling financially. Their desperate situation leads them to a rather unusual opportunity: they are offered a chance to inherit a vast fortune from a distant relative in England, provided they spend a designated period living in a remote, ancient family estate called Chapel Croft in Cornwall.

Upon arriving at Chapel Croft, the Rooks find the place deeply unsettling. The house feels ancient and oppressive, and the surrounding Cornish landscape is wild and desolate. They quickly discover that the inheritance comes with a terrifying catch. Chapel Croft sits on land imbued with an ancient, malevolent force, a primal evil that predates recorded history.

This entity, an ancient deity or demonic presence, demands a terrible price from those who claim the inheritance: human sacrifice. The previous occupants of the estate, including the distant relative who left them the fortune, were driven to madness and murder by this entity, forced to commit horrific acts to appease it.

As Jim and Sarah attempt to settle in, they begin to experience unsettling phenomena. Objects move, chilling whispers fill the air, and grotesque visions haunt them. The house itself seems to come alive, acting as a conduit for the malevolent entity. The very land and its ancient stones seem to exert a hypnotic, corrupting influence.

The "prey" of the title refers not just to the victims of this evil, but also to the Rooks themselves, who are slowly being ensnared by the dark power. The entity begins to manipulate their minds, playing on their fears and insecurities, pushing them towards violence and madness, just as it did with those before them.

Jim and Sarah must fight not only against the tangible manifestations of the evil but also against the insidious corruption of their own sanity. They uncover the gruesome history of Chapel Croft and the terrible sacrifices made there over centuries. The climax involves a desperate struggle against an ancient, hungry force that seeks to claim them as its next victims, forcing them to confront the true horror of their inheritance and the devastating power of the entity that demands its gruesome tribute. "Prey" is a classic Masterton novel, known for its visceral horror, intense atmosphere, and exploration of primal, ancient evils.

Comments:
This review is being written over 20 years after reading the book. I picked this book up at Preston outdoor market and I have never looked back. I read it very quickly and passed it onto my mother who read it with equal speed. I had never heard of this Graham Masterton before but this made me return to that market and pick up more of his books each week. Later research (on very slow internet in those days, that Graham Masterton had written The Manitou which had traumatised me as a child when I used to go to bed then sneak back downstairs to watch TV through the open door.

Books that we've read by Graham Masterton (9):
Charnel House (1978), Walkers (1989), Prey (1992), Fortnight of Fear (1994), Tooth And Claw (Jim Rook, #2) (1997), Snowman (Jim Rook, #4) (1999), The Devil in Gray (2004), The Doorkeepers (2012), Forest Ghost (2014)