'Cast A Cold Eye' by Alan Ryan is a ghost story set in rural Ireland, following an American writer named Jack Quinlan who travels to a small village to research the Irish Potato Famine for his book. Jack starts experiencing eerie encounters and apparitions, leading him to uncover the secrets and mysteries hidden within the town. The book is praised for its atmospheric descriptions of the Irish scenery, blending natural beauty with haunting elements, creating a sense of suspense and intrigue throughout the story.

Characters:

The characters, particularly Jack Quinlan, embody a mix of curiosity and cultural misunderstanding, while the supporting cast provides a window into traditional Irish life.

Writing/Prose:

The author's writing style is characterized by rich, atmospheric prose that vividly evokes the beauty of Ireland while weaving in themes of melancholy and horror.

Plot/Storyline:

The novel features two converging storylines: one centered around eerie funeral rites and the other focused on a writer's research into a historical tragedy, culminating in a suspenseful blend that unfolds gradually.

Setting:

The setting in a remote Irish village enhances the story's eerie atmosphere, with natural elements contributing to a sense of isolation and historical significance.

Pacing:

The novel features a gradually unfolding pace that emphasizes atmosphere and character development, although opinions on pacing vary among readers.

They sat there, four old men, as old as the dirt-floored cottage, a stone and thatch-roofed shebeen, and the rock-scattered hill it stood on, their shallow breath making thin white puffs before their ...

Notes:

The novel intertwines two main storylines that eventually converge.

It begins with a mysterious scene involving four men in a shabeen waiting for a funeral procession.

Jack Quinlan is an American writer researching the Irish Potato Famine in a remote village.

The setting includes eerie elements like fog, moors, and rocky coastlines.

Jack frequently visits local pubs for traditional music and encounters bizarre apparitions.

The local priest, Father Henning, is hesitant to discuss Jack's disturbing experiences.

The story blends themes of supernatural elements with Irish history and culture.

The writing is noted for its atmospheric and rich descriptions of Irish scenery.

The novel explores deep themes of kinship, blood, and community culture.

Many readers found the plot had loose ends but appreciated the haunting atmosphere.

The book mixes romance with the ghost story element, which some found distracting.

The cover of the book is described as creepy and inviting for horror fans.

It received praise for being a ghost story that focuses more on mood than fear.

Alan Ryan, the author, is regarded as a talented writer whose work is underappreciated.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of mental distress, ghostly apparitions, and references to historical tragedy.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance present, particularly involving the relationship between Jack Quinlan and Grainne.

From The Publisher:

Jack Quinlan, an American writer, travels to a small village in the remote western part of Ireland to research a book on the Irish Famine. The quiet, picturesque village seems just the place to spend a few months writing, but beneath its placid exterior lurk dark secrets. Why do the locals behave so strangely? What is Father Henning, the enigmatic parish priest, hiding? And what is the meaning of the strange ritual Jack observes in the cemetery? The search for answers will lead him to the terrifying discovery that the ghosts of the past linger on in the present, and they cry out for blood ...

An atmospheric, haunting ghost story, Cast a Cold Eye (1984) is a slow burn horror novel that will keep readers in suspense until its chilling conclusion.

"Alan Ryan is one of the brightest lights among the new generation of horror writers." - Peter Straub, author of Ghost Story

"The writing is beautiful, haunting, hypnotic ... The ghosts of Cast a Cold Eye have not left me." - William Peter Blatty, author of The Exorcist

" Ryan] is in the front ranks of today's horror writers." - Karl Edward Wagner, in Twilight Zone

Ratings (1)

Loved It (1)

Reader Stats (10):

Read It (1)
Want To Read (7)
Not Interested (2)

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Cast A Cold Eye

Alan Ryan