The Pariah

[ Please note that some sources will show this edition in Paperback as "Out of print" however, Random House UK, together with Hammer productions have reprinted 3 of Masterton's masterworks, and some industrious people have brought copies over here, and some are selling direct from the UK.]

I read PARIAH originally more than 20 years ago.Masterton has a way of making certain thing stick in your mind, despite some incorrect recollections and some "additions" ( shall we say) to what was in the actual book. I don't have my original copy, but I know what might have happened to that item. Anyway, finding out that a copy of a book that I have brilliant long term memories of has been re-published for a reasonable price is pretty exciting, and also nice when it is in a very good quality paperback.Needless to say I ordered it as soon as I found out.
Masterton's skill in his tales is the first person narrative, and that is the foremost comment I give for people who ask me about Masterton ( apart from Classic Masterton being enthralling, enjoyable, and not the sort of book that someone should tap you on the shoulder when you are reading the very scarey bits).Above all, Masterton throws you in feet first after some key events have happened, and then does a great recap through his key characters, which can generate empathy, Sympathy, enmity, or whatever is needed to get the fires going.
As is the case with any popular writer, Masterton has his critics, and sometimes I just feel that they read another book, or basically, I like this, don't rain the hell on my parade.Characters are there for a reason, so whilst the key people in PARIAH are in my view fleshed out, some are 2 dimensional since to develop some plots it takes the use of 2 dimensional characters to forward the action. So, like his preceding books ( at the time PARIAH
originally came out) he brings you in, makes you feel like you are there, and gives you a place to exist in the admittedly surreal space, and then takes you on a wild ride. Sometimes there are pauses to develops side issues, but they still relate back to the main thread.
In every Masterton book in the Horror genre, a tone, like a whistle or music pitch just out of hearing is there, and he keeps that sustained, so whilst he digresses at times, he keeps you on the story, so that like the old time story writers you can hear in the spooky radio theatre, or in short stories of various kinds, your gut instinct is kept buzzing so that you expect SOMETHING, but something does not always happen. This is the skill of the British Horror/ghost story writer who keep that intangible creepiness humming.
Of course, he develops it, and as more and more happens, you discover more about what is behind the happenings in the city and where they date to in the history of the New England countryside. Duglass Evelith is the key third act pivot, and is mentioned by the peabody museum staff earlier, but it takes John ( the Widowed husband) to open up the key to this third act. And, as they say, all hell breaks loose.
Basic note, PARIAH is in the mode of what I call his Uber-Horror. The people I explain this to generally get the idea, except that the sexual element is *not* gratuitous , since it serves a purpose in forwarding the central story along. Masterton gives you a full blast rush in his fire-rides, and its all an exciting read.
PARIAH is one wild ride that any Masterton fan will love. It is one I really hope gets made into film or a TV series ( it would kill FADES to hell and back). I am hard pressed to say which is a "better" Masterton book, except that PARIAH is more like THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, THE WELLS OF HELL, THE DEVILS OF D DAY, and some classic items like these, which I do hope Hammer reprint ( especially in Hard Back ).
As I note: I have been reading Masterton since Charnel House ( either 1976 or 1978).

The Pariah is a bit of a ghost story with some American folklore and mythology mixed into it. In the novel, John Trenton is living his life in a fog after his wife and unborn child die in a car accident. Still grieving, he begins to see the apparition of his wife. He finds that he is not alone. His Cape Cod town of Granitehead turns out to be a hub of supernatural activity where the dead come back to stalk the living for the past few centuries. The origin goes back to the Salem witch trials and the remains of a demon that were transported to the town. Now John must find a way to put the ghost of his wife and the rest of the dead to eternal rest as people in the town fall prey to these spirits.

The writing is professional and well done, which I come to expect from a proficient writer like Graham Masterton. The plot is more interesting than I find with typical ghost stories, which tend to be similar to each other to the point where I can hardly remember any that stick out. That’s the result of the history and folklore injected into the story. There are strong horror elements in this novel and for the most part it was enjoyable. There were a few shortcomings. The novel could have been edited better, which isn’t a reflection on the author but on the publisher. Also, I thought the novel was overly long. It would have been more effective if about a quarter or a third of it were trimmed off. As it is, there are spots in the novel that drag. The other is that although John Trenton is a likeable character, he makes really dumb decisions that make it hard to root for him at times. Those are minor quibbles. Overall, this was a strong novel that readers of horror fiction will enjoy reading.

Carl Alves - author of Conjesero

Great product

I'm going to have to go against the grain here, and say of the four Masterton novels I have read, this is my least favorite. It is a fairly straightforward New England maritime ghost story with a twist. Good but not great. Entertaining, but not riveting. Apart from the twist, which I will leave unmentioned, there is nothing new going on here. It felt like I was reading a made for televison horror mini series. Set in and around Salem Mass., you already know all the cliches.

A minor problem was the length. More than a few times I felt I was trudging along, and I just wanted to be done already. Not a good sign when what you want is an engrossing horror novel. And believe me, Masterton can write a gripping novel. I guess this stems from my impression that some of the scenes, and one or two characters, prove irrelevant. Not to mention scene after scene in a haunted cottage. We get it already Masterton, it's haunted!

My main problem is with the protagonist, who zig zagged from a sad individual concerned with the horrifying events taking place, into something of a cowardly, self absorbed slug. He's self absorbed the entire novel, don't get me wrong, but let us just say he takes it to new heights towards the book's end. For the sake of the entire plot, someone had to do what he did, but frankly he was such a take it or leave it character, the vessel which takes the reader through the plot, I wish he had some type of redemption. I don't know, it hard for me to stick with a novel who's main character leaves me cold. I just didn't like him. I will say it does reflect Masterton's talents at writing if it can evoke an emotional response in me, but I have a knawing feeling Masterton was trying to create the protagonist as relatable and likable.

This is one of the better ghost stories I've read in the past several years. It wasn't as scary as I was expecting, but the imagery was quite memorable. Highly recommended for horror/suspense fans.