Guest blog - David Magowan

I'm offering a bonus blog this week and have asked my friend and fellow author, David Magowan to write a little guest piece. David has a passion for the darker side of literature and has compiled a list of his top five horror novels. Do you agree with his choices?

Once - James Herbert

This book is an absolute masterwork from a writer at the top of his game. The ‘Once’ in the title refers to ‘once upon a time’ but this is a fairy tale strictly for adults. A young carpenter returns to the country cottage of his childhood and reawakens all manner of magic both good and evil in the fairy-infested woods. In turns, enchanting, chilling, and erotic, it is written with a lovely vein of dark humour, this was Herbert at his very best. He was a wonderful talent who will be sorely missed.

The Haunting of James Hastings - Christopher Ransome

A thoroughly gripping, chilling and devilishly satirical modern ghost story from one of the most exciting young horror writers around just now. A self-centred body double for a world famous rap star (Eminen look way now!) learns the meaning of dual personality when it appears his new girlfriend is taking on attributes of his recently deceased previous one. Some great scares and laughs in a highly new and refreshing approach to the genre.

The Pariah - Graham Masterton

A true tour de force from the masterly Mr Masterton. A bed-hopping New England antiques dealer makes a pact with an ancient and terrifying force to bring back his girlfriend who was killed in a car accident. Little does he know the powers that he is meddling with or what he has unleashed. Packed with great chilling moments, big shocks and like a lot of Masterton's work it has his trade mark eroticism. This is the best book of his great canon of work.

The Taking - Dean Koontz

The great American thriller/ horror favourite has never been better here than his virtuoso venture into sci-fi apocalypse territory. On a stormy night in a Californian town a young couple are certain that other worldly beings are on their way and they are not coming in peace! But what is the real motivation of these 'aliens'? There are two absolute crackerjack scare scenes - one with a TV reporter and one with a doll. Read it and find out why I think this is simply magnificent horror writing.

Desperation - Stephen King

 Out of many candidates by the undisputed king of horror fiction, this is the pick of the bunch in my humble opinion. Absolutely brilliant characterisation, one scary scene after another and a rip roaring climax. A veteran writer and an ensemble of everyday American characters are captured by a mysterious highway patrolman and taken to the desert ghost town of desperation. Little do they know it is their destiny to band together and stop an unspeakable evil that has been recently awakened in the old town's mine. A sheer masterpiece of action and horror with characters you will love and will certainly experience all the terrors they witness first hand. It is crying out for a big budget Hollywood film version, (Are you listening Mr Darabont?) in short, the best from the very best.


David is a graduate of Indie Authors Scotland's 'How To Self Publish' courses and has now published three novels on Kindle. 'Dream Girl' is a dark, erotic fantasy with a large helping of black humour. His second book 'Nature's Children' is a story of ancient evil and modern terror in the favelas of Brazil. His most recent book was actually the first novel he completed. 'Gerrity's Law' is the at times harrowing tale of the redemption of a very amoral man.


If you would like to get in touch with David he is on Twitter @davidmagowan.