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WORK TITLE: The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.davidjohngriffin.com/
CITY: Kent, England
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY: British
https://www.amazon.com/David-John-Griffin/e/B00NQ1GUPY * https://urbanepublications.com/book_author/david-john-griffin/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
N/A
PERSONAL
Married; wife’s name Susan.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, graphic designer, and app designer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
A British writer of novels, novellas, and short stories, David John Griffin lives in a small town by the Thames in Kent with his wife Susan and two terriers, Bullseye and Jimbo. One of his short stories was shortlisted for the H.G. Wells Short Story competition in 2012 and published in an anthology. With genres covering mystery, gothic, and psychological thriller, his stories possess elements of magical realism. They also have a surprise twist at the end. On his home page, Griffin declares that his “mission as an author is to produce absorbing, page-turning stories with a literary depth.” In addition to being a writer, he is a graphic designer, creator of iDevice apps, and an occasional electronic music composer.
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb
In 2016 Griffin published The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb, a gothic horror tale of ghosts and hypnosis. At the turn of the twentieth century, in the fictional English town of Muchmarsh, widower Theodore Stubb is a wealthy entomologist who keeps his exotic collection of insects in the attic. Theodore’s daughter-in-law Eleanor gives birth to a stillborn baby and suffers a mental breakdown, believing herself a queen who can communicate telepathically with Theodore’s insects who will tell her when it is safe for her baby to return. She is put in a sanatorium for a year while she recovers. Meanwhile, her husband William, a coffin maker, loses his job and his home, and he is forced to move in with Theodore.
In addition to being an entomologist, Theodore is also a master hypnotist who uses a unique pocket watch to bring unsuspecting people under his control for his cruel amusement. When Eleanor moves in to Theodore’s mansion, he first hypnotizes and then rapes her. She becomes pregnant and delivers a boy. In her joy over baby Alastair, she believes her previously dead son has come back to her. Meanwhile, William, who learns of the rape, plots his revenge against Theodore. Unfortunately Alastair will pay the price. Thirteen years later, when William is an alcoholic, the frail teenage Alastair begins to suffer mental troubles and seems to be losing his own identity. He could be channeling the spirit of Theodore.
Admitting that the gothic story takes time to build and might put off readers, Lynnanne Pearson said in Booklist: “Those willing to invest in the Dickensian language will enjoy the creepy characters [and] the dreamlike plot.” Pearson revealed that the book has a horrific conclusion. Calling the book a “plummy pastiche of traditional gothic fiction,” a writer in Publishers Weekly said it was “chock-full of the set pieces that make such stories so delectably dark.”
A reviewer on the Haphazardous Hippo Web site commented: “I loved the vivid descriptions that turn everyday places and things into something much more dark and sinister. Even the characters themselves are duplicitous,” adding that the novel was beautiful and descriptive. According to Jackie Law, writing online at Never Imitate: “This is a book full of curiosities, written with artistry and imagination. … Alongside the Dickens-like names, the over-the-top personalities, and the supernatural elements of the second half of the book is a writing style [that] paints pictures in the mind. The plot is intriguing, the telling evocative, the imagery stunning.” Law added that each setting is written to make the ordinary appear dark, such as the sleepy village, run-down manor house, and abandoned canal.
Infinite Rooms and Two Dogs at the One Dog Inn and Other Stories
Griffin next wrote the 2016 Infinite Rooms, the story of a man’s descent into madness. Described as a cross between the works of Clive Barker and China Mieville, the story is a psychological thriller of fantastical dreams. Troubled by trauma from his past, Donald Clement contains his mad visions in many rooms in his mind. As he describes his inner fantasies to psychiatrist Dr. Liebkov, he explains that through them all, his muse Bernadette, in reality his ex-wife, is there to accompany him.
Clement reveals surreal fantasies like Neptune rising from the sea, a giant showing the wonders of the universe, and a stranger who promises to reveal the secrets of infinity. Clement must confront his hidden terrors or fall deeper into his delusions. According to a writer in Publishers Weekly, Griffin “assembles an enjoyably befuddling hall of mirrors that tantalizes with false and untrustworthy reflections of reality.” The writer added that Griffin sustains Donald’s wonderfully off-kilter vision for much longer than would seem possible.
In 2017 Griffin published Two Dogs at the One Dog Inn and Other Stories, an anthology of twelve unusual and macabre short stories featuring dogs. The stories center around science-fiction writer Audrey Ackerman, who visits dogs at a seventh-century coach house where she sees paranormal apparitions, and Stella Bridgeport, manager at an animal shelter. Stella and Audrey communicate by e-mail; however, the messages Stella receives from Audrey contain strange descriptions of bizarre events. The book’s short stories feature Audrey’s e-mails, which describe giant swans, a bizarre android receptionist, and a ghost dog. How can any of what Audrey says be true?
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, August 1, 2016, Lynnanne Pearson, review of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb, p. 51.
Publishers Weekly, July 4, 2016, review of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb, p. 47; October 31, 2016, review of Infinite Rooms.
ONLINE
Book Magnet, http://thebookmagnet.blogspot.com/ (February 9, 2016), MIchelle Ryles, review of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb.
David John Griffin, https://www.davidjohngriffin.com (April 28, 2017), author home page.
Haphazardous Hippo, http://thehaphazardoushippo.blogspot.com/ (November 22, 2015), review of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb.
Kendra Olson, https://kendraolson.wordpress.com/ (November 2, 2016), Kendra Olson, review of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb.
Little Bookness Lane, https://littlebooknesslane.wordpress.com/ (October 19, 2015), review of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb.
Never Imitate, https://neverimitate.wordpress.com/ (September 18, 2015), Jackie Law, review of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb.
Owl on the Bookshelf, https://theowlonthebookshelf.wordpress.com/ (January 19, 2016), review of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb.
David John Griffin lives in a small town by the Thames in Kent, UK with his wife Susan, and two terriers called Bullseye & Jimbo.
As well as an author, he is a graphic designer, creator of iDevice apps -
Alpha Ghost Apps -
and an occasional electronic
music composer
(David Griffin on the iTunes store).
David John Griffin | author
"Creative writing is a passion and a lifelong learning experience" David John Griffin
• David’s on-going mission as an author is to produce absorbing, page-turning stories with a literary depth. His novels, with genres covering mystery, gothic, psychological, fabulist and more, always have elements of magical realism within.
• David also writes short stories and at the end of each, aims for that surprising “twist in the tail”.
David John Griffin lives in a small town by the Thames in Kent, UK. As well as a writer, he is a graphic designer, creator of iDevice apps, and an occasional electronic music composer. His writing website is: http://www.davidjohngriffin.com
David's on-going mission as an author is to produce absorbing, page-turning stories with a literary depth. His novels, with genres covering mystery, gothic and psychological, always have elements of magical realism within. He also writes short stories and at the end of each, aims for that surprising "twist in the tail".
His first novel is called The Extraordinary Possession of Alastair Stubb and the second called Infinite Rooms (both scheduled for publication in 2015). He is currently working on a third novel having recently finished a novella entitled Two Dogs At The One Dog Inn.
David John Griffin is a writer, graphic designer and app designer, and lives in a small town by the Thames in Kent, UK with his wife Susan and two dogs called Bullseye and Jimbo. He is currently working on the first draft of a third novel as well as writing short stories for a novel-length collection. His first novel published by Urbane Publications in October 2015 is called The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb. The second is a literary/psychological novel, entitled Infinite Rooms. He has independently-published a magical realism/paranormal novella called Two Dogs At The One Dog Inn. One of his short stories was shortlisted for The HG Wells Short Story competition 2012 and published in an anthology.
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb
Publishers Weekly.
263.27 (July 4, 2016): p47.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb
David John Griffin. Urbane, $14.95 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-910692-34-9
This plummy pastiche of traditional gothic fiction is chock-full of the set pieces that make such stories so delectably dark: a poisoning, a
parricide, a coveted inheritance, a whispering phantom, a raving woman in an attic, hypnotism, hallucinatory dreams, and murderous intentions.
At the center of the story that they ornament is the title character, an emotionally frail young boy living in the imaginary English town of
Muchmarsh early in the 20th century. His increasingly eccentric behavior suggests that he may be channeling the spirit of his (presumed dead)
grandfather--who may also be his father. Griffin (Two Dogs at the One Dog Inn) pulls out all the stops, providing his grotesque characters with
names such as Pump, Nuckle, Brood, Snippet, and Brittle and larding his narrative with richly overstuffed sentences that evoke the sensibility of
the classic penny dreadful. Readers with a taste for old-fashioned thrills will find this sensational story to their liking. (Aug.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb." Publishers Weekly, 4 July 2016, p. 47. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA457302888&it=r&asid=d37441eea8a20d8291b1b50f158b2845. Accessed 14 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A457302888
---
3/14/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1489517726510 2/2
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb
Lynnanne Pearson
Booklist.
112.22 (Aug. 1, 2016): p51.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb. By David John Griffin. Aug. 2016. 320p. IPGIUrbane, paper, $14.95 (9781910692349); e-book
(9781910692356).
After losing her son, Eleanor Stubb suffers a mental breakdown and is institutionalized. While she is in the sanatorium, her husband, William,
loses his job and their home. The couple is forced to move in with William's father, Theodore. Theodore is an entomologist who fills the attic with
preserved specimens. He also possesses a unique pocket watch that he uses to hypnotize people. While hypnotism may seem like a fun pursuit,
Theodore is an odious man, who rapes Eleanor once she is in a hypnotic state. When Eleanor becomes pregnant, she is overjoyed, for she thinks
her dead son is coming back to her. William is enraged and plots his revenge against his father. The story flashes forward 13 years, when young
Alastair deals with the repercussions of that revenge and starts to experience strange, disturbing happenings. This slow-building gothic tale may
frustrate horror readers looking for an action-packed, quick read. But those willing to invest in the Dickensian language will enjoy the creepy
characters, the dreamlike plot, and the horrific conclusion.--Lynnanne Pearson
Pearson, Lynnanne
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Pearson, Lynnanne. "The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb." Booklist, 1 Aug. 2016, p. 51. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA460761759&it=r&asid=e77ac782cddc9889b0569d66fcc2ec5b. Accessed 14 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A460761759
Sunday, 22 November 2015
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb - David John Griffin
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb is a dark and atmospheric novel of two halves unlike anything I've ever read before.
We first meet the Stubbs as William is going to The Grinding Sanatorium for the Delusional to collect his wife Eleanor, who has spent the last twelve months there recovering from the death of her beloved son Alastair. Eleanor is delusional and believes herself to be a queen who communicates with insects who will inform her when her baby son returns to the land of the living. Having recently lost his job as a coffin maker William decides they should move in with his widowed father, Theodore, who is an avid collector of insects as well as being a hypnotist who takes great delight in throwing parties so that he can take advantage of women with the aid of his trusty pocket watch.
William's relationship with his father is a strained one, partly due to the fact that he has always felt overlooked because of his father's fascination with his insects. So when he finds out that Theodore has another interest which involves his wife and his dependable pocket watch, plans are soon being hatched which culminate on one fateful evening which ends with the Stubbs having to leave.
We pick up the second part of the story thirteen years later when Eleanor's second child Alastair is living with his alcoholic father, unaware of the family secrets which have been kept from him. When he starts to show signs of mental instability everyone just assumes that because his mother spent time in an institution madness must be in his genes, but just what is going on in the young boys mind?
I loved the vivid descriptions that turn everyday places and things into something much more dark and sinister. Even the characters themselves are duplicitous.
It's been a long time since I've indulged myself in a gothic novel and after reading this beautiful, descriptive novel, I've got the bug to search out another one.
With kind thanks to Urbane Publishers for the review copy.
Book Review: The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb Sep
18
by Jackie Law
alastair stubb
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb, by David John Griffin, is a surreal mix of love, madness and gothic horror. On finishing I set it down and wondered at what I had just read. The book has been recommended for fans of Mervyn Peake, an author I am unfamiliar with. I was put in mind of how Dickens may write with a dose of the psychedelic.
The story revolves around the Stubb family who live in Muchmarsh village near the towns of Grinding and Smudge. The patriarch, a widower named Theodore, is a former actor who possesses the power to hypnotise. He uses this skill for his own cruel amusement, and to have his wicked way with attractive young women. Theodore lives in a run down manor house, served by a motley crew of staff who each have an important role to play in the unfolding drama.
The book opens with Theodore’s son, William, a recently unemployed coffin maker, collecting his wife from The Grinding Sanatorium for the Delusional. She has spent the past twelve months here, recovering from the death of her baby son, Alastair. Eleanor is beautiful and mentally deranged. She considers herself a queen and others to be mere vapour shadows. She communes telepathically with insects who will alert her to the return of her baby. She believes Alastair is being kept safe in the darkness. In order to escape the sanatorium she tells the vapour shadows whatever they wish to hear and thus seems cured.
William and Eleanor move into the manor house with Theodore. Eleanor spends her days in an abandoned church, bringing Theodore unusual insects which she finds there. Collecting insects has been his life’s work. William hates his father’s collection, believing that Theodore has paid more attention to it than to him.
The first half of the story introduces us to the cast of characters and plays out to a climactic night: a birth, a fire, a death, a disappearance. There is blackmail, coercion and the Stubb family must leave their home. There is drama aplenty but the more perplexing aspects are subdued.
The second half of the book is set thirteen years later. Alastair is living in the village with his father, an unhappy drunk who tries to keep the family secrets from his son. Alastair longs for a mother’s love. He helps out his neighbours, doing jobs to earn a few pennies, but lacks friends.
When the teenage boy starts to act strangely there are those who are not surprised,
“Alastair has lost his brains, though what with his mum round the twist, it must run in the family.”
What they do not realise is that his actions are beyond the boy’s control, and that he is to be the conduit for a series of dreadful acts of revenge.
Alongside the Dickens like names, the over the top personalities, and the supernatural elements of the second half of the book; is a writing style which paints pictures in the mind. The plot is intriguing, the telling evocative, the imagery stunning.
“A pious hush still pervaded the countryside. Alastair felt that somehow it would have been wrong to make any sound; for worry perhaps of a disturbance to the praying bushes that huddled together along the verge. The moisture and frost had rendered them flexible and drooping and they hung their heads in worship.”
Each setting is depicted to make the ordinary appear dark: the sleepy village with its shadows and flawed characters, dirt pervading, secrets oozing; the run down manor house with its creaking staircases, creeping shadows, dust and insects; the abandoned canal with its black glass surface, all around rotting and disintegrating.
The denouement in the catacombs pulled together many of the plot threads although much was left open for interpretation. The red balloon floats by, the insects remain.
This is a book full of curiosities, written with artistry and imagination. I am still not sure how I should define such a creation, but am glad to have read it and would recommend.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Urbane Publications.
My review of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb by David John Griffin
11/02/2016 / KENDRAOLSON
Firstly, I’d like to thank Sonya Alford and David John Griffin for this book, which I won in a competition on Sonya’s blog https://aloverofbooks.wordpress.com . The book design is beautiful, and one of the nicest I’ve seen in a while (you can’t really tell from the photo but the letters are all embossed and the insects appear nearly holographic).
FullSizeRender Alastair Stubb
The shuttered windows became blinkered, sorrowful eyes, the main canopy over its entrance a wet nose and the outer door that gaped open acquired two rows of fine, pointed teeth.
Ever since Eleanor and William lost their first child, who was to be named Alastair, Eleanor has longed for him. She calls his name, pretending he exists, and sees things which aren’t real. Or are they?
She becomes so disturbed by her visions that she ends up in a sanatorium, only being allowed out once she recants them. However, just because she’s recanted them doesn’t mean she doesn’t still see them. While Eleanor’s been away, William’s business has failed. He’s had to sell their house and move in with his aging, manipulative, insect-collecting father. Now that Eleanor’s returned, everyone must do their best to adapt to their changed family circumstances. The big question is, how they’ll manage to do so.
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb is a magical realist story set in an alternate reality, nineteenth century English village. It’s told in two parts, with alternating third person viewpoints. As is usual with the genre, at times it’s hard to tell what’s really happening and what’s only in the minds of the characters. Griffin manages to separate them out nicely, thereby clarifying events for the reader, without becoming mired down in the details or losing the magical elements of the story.
Griffin’s prose is lucid and striking in this atmospheric, creepy and ultimately gothic tale dealing with issues of identity, disassociation, schizophrenia and ghosts. But although his novel’s themes may be heavy, Griffin underlies them with a sense of humour. One of my favourite things about this novel were the names of his characters. For example there is Dr. Snippet, the Reverend and Mrs. Musty, Mr. Fishcake and Mrs. Goodwithin, amongst others. His place names were equally clever and amusing, with The Bulldog Fish Tavern being easily my favourite.
If you enjoy gothic tales, psychology and/or magical realism I’d recommend this novel.
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb is published by Urbane Publications and is available from Amazon and all good bookshops.
Book Review: The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb, by David John Griffin
posted in 2015, Reviews by Little Bookness Lane
Publisher: Urbane Publications | Publication date: 1st November 2015 | Edition: Paperback (Review Copy)
Alastair Stubb My Review
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb COVERThe wondrous prose of ‘The Unusual Possession’ is laced with some exceptionally unhinged moments. This eerie tale dares to venture into the unnerving descent of madness, where eccentricities run feverishly high.
Theodore Stubb of Muchmarsh believes people cannot fail to fall for his hypnotic charms and weaves his wicked way in the world without conscience. Little could anyone know that wielding such power will have consequences beyond their wildest imagination.
Following the tragedy surrounding her first born, Alastair, Theodore’s daughter-in-law has returned from The Grinding Sanatorium for the Delusional. During her illness, after falling on hard times, she and Theodore’s son, William, come to reside in this rather sprawling house. With its shadowy corners, cellar-dwelling-wine-o’clock butler and ample glass cases of invertebrates (their bodies skewered to boards so they can never leave again), the couple try to settle in as best they can.
There’s nothing worse than having to fall back on your father’s goodwill, particularly as it appears that Theodore doesn’t only like to peer at his special collections while he’s rattling around the big house…
With the aid of his enigmatic pocket watch, Theodore succeeds in taking full advantage of these new living arrangements. When his son learns of what occurred he launches a revenge-fuelled campaign of hate and the couple conspire to rid themselves of a monster who humiliates his family and his staff in the most deplorable manner.
Pregnant again, and still unstable, Eleanor is secretly resolute she is The Queen and can communicate with all the creepy-crawlies, so you can gather that things don’t go exactly to plan. Although she’s elated to have been given the gift of another child, the apparitions she witnesses threaten to break her already fragile mind.
At the age of thirteen, Eleanor’s second child begins to develop disturbing habits that mimic the old boar, Theodore. It’s stealthily done until the gap between our world and another is bridged, creating a puppet for a tortured soul to torment those who had the audacity to challenge him.
So there you have it. Here’s a virtual round of applause for the author, who has created an amazingly surreal world where devilry thrives – it’s a hauntingly good read.
Rating: 5/5
(My thanks to Urbane Publications for providing a paperback copy of this book for review – a great read, as always.)
Alastair Stubb Book Summary
(Courtesy of Amazon UK)
The turn of the last century and Theodore Stubbs’ manor house resides in the quirky village of Muchmarsh. A renowned entomologist, he is often within the attic adding another exotic specimen to his extensive collection of insects. But Theodore is also a master hypnotist, holding the household in thrall to his every whim.
Theodore’s daughter-in-law Eleanor returned from the sanatorium two months before is a haunted figure, believing that her stillborn child Alastair lives and hides in the shadows. Then she falls pregnant again, but this time by the hypnotic coercion and wicked ravishment of Theodore.
A dreadful act begets terrible secrets, and thirteen years later the boy Alastair Stubb begins to lose his identity. It is not long before mystery, intrigue and murder follow gleefully in his wake. The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb is a gothic terror of the highest order, delivering a dream-like and hallucinatory reading experience that promises to reveal secrets both disturbing and astonishing. Do you dare meet the Stubbs?
BOOK REVIEWS
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb by David John Griffin
January 19, 2016nat@theowlonthebookshelf
theunusualpossessionofalastairstubb
Published in November last year by independent publisher Urbane Publications, The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb is a weird and wonderful gothic tale.
‘Only insects inhabiting dark places were real, all other living creatures seen as dream imaginings, coloured shadows cast onto an equally shadowy world.’
My interest was piqued from the beginning of the novel as we are introduced to Eleanor Stubb, a woman who has been incarcerated in The Grinding Sanatorium for the Delusional. Eleanor had found herself there following the loss of her son Alastair, who was stillborn. Haunted by the memory of her son and convinced he is still alive and waiting for her, Eleanor is locked away. However, having managed to convince her jailers she was cured and released of her demons, her husband William arrives to be reunited with her, to take her home. But on their arrival at the Manor House in the village of Muchmarsh, this creepy tale had only just begun.
‘Stubb nipped the legs from a furred spider, one by one.’
Awaiting his daughter-in-laws arrival is Theodore Stubb, a renowned entomologist who is often found in his attic filled with insects. This in itself is quite a chilling prospect but there is even more to Theodore that is unnerving, something which threatens William and Eleanor’s future. So begins a series of odd events amongst a collection of strange characters which make for a disturbing, chilling tale. The outcome of these events concerns a second Alastair, another boy’s story, and another mystery…
“With insects, doctor; squashed, dead insects”
The events of the second part of the novel take place thirteen years after the first. Living with his father, the terrible secrets of Alastair’s past soon start to unravel as the curious teenager enquires as to the whereabouts of his mother. He begins to lose control of his life and his identity. As Alastair’s behaviour gets stranger the neighbours point to his mother, convinced that his mental state is hereditary. However, all is not what it seems and Alastair’s behaviours are out of his control, and beyond most people’s comprehension. This second part of the novel is particularly curious and has a definite gothic feel. It is a very atmospheric story; I enjoyed the imagery and sinister setting of Muchmarsh – a seemingly quiet village that contains mysterious people. The cast of characters were flawed and interesting and had almost Dickensian names.
‘A scarlet balloon was floating gracefully away…’
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb is an enjoyable read. It is a strange gothic tale filled with strange goings on and even stranger characters. A great read for those who are fans of books that are a little bit different. I certainly won’t be forgetting the Stubb family for a while!
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb - David John Griffin
The turn of the last century and Theodore Stubbs' manor house resides in the quirky village of Muchmarsh. A renowned entomologist, he is often within the attic adding another exotic specimen to his extensive collection of insects. But Theodore is also a master hypnotist, holding the household in thrall to his every whim. Theodore's daughter-in-law Eleanor returned from the sanatorium two months before is a haunted figure, believing that her stillborn child Alastair lives and hides in the shadows. Then she falls pregnant again, but this time by the hypnotic coercion and wicked ravishment of Theodore. A dreadful act begets terrible secrets, and thirteen years later the boy Alastair Stubb begins to lose his identity. It is not long before mystery, intrigue and murder follow gleefully in his wake. The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb is a gothic terror of the highest order, delivering a dream-like and hallucinatory reading experience that promises to reveal secrets both disturbing and astonishing. Do you dare meet the Stubbs?
What did I think?
I was drawn to this book by the amazing gothic cover of butterflies, moths and bugs and the amazing font inside further enhances the gothic atmosphere. The Stubbs are indeed a very strange family – when I say strange, I mean stark raving bonkers. I wasn’t sure what was going on or who was who for most of the book, but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed the second part of the book more when Alastair appeared.
There’s a murder, or is there? Where is the body? There’s a pregnancy – but who is the father? I loved the play on words of the title as Alastair’s possession is two-fold - he is given a most unusual possession by a crazy lady but is also possessed by the spirit of Theodore. There are also some splendidly named characters in the book that added to the craziness, my favourite being Mr Fishcake.
This book really reminded me of a Tim Burton film; it’s dark and wacky but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. Unusual, quirky and a little bit wacky, it’s a book to read beside the fire on a cold winter’s night with a little glass of port and then let your imagination run away with the Stubbs.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Urbane Publications, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.