Author: Shaun Hutson
Title: Epitaph
Genre: Horror
ISBN: 9781841497631
‘Your next words could be your last…’

I saw this book on my shelves and found myself really confused. I didn’t recognise the cover, the blurb or the opening line. Then I realised, with stunned horror, that I owned a Shaun Hutson book and hadn’t managed to read it! What the hell?! This give is my favourite author ever and I’ve forgotten one of his books?!

So, in true Illy-Style, I picked it up, put it in my bag and spend the next two days reading about Paul Crane, the recently redundant copy writer who wakes up in a coffin; kidnapped by the bereaved couple who believe he has murdered their daughter.

Now… were this not one of Shaun’s books, I might have lost patience early on. The beginning was a bit fragmented for my tastes: jumps in time, parallel, seemingly unrelated storyline that had no mesh point and a protagonist I didn’t even like all that much. I don’t think I’ve encountered Shaun writing like this before, but his plan all became clear like a slap in the face not too far into the novel. And boy was it worth it!

There is a special skill in being able to grab and hold a reader’s attention with just one character trapped in a tiny space. Its a skill Shaun obviously has by the bucket load and Epitaph is another example of his ability to grab readers by the throat and hold them down.

I couldn’t stop reading. I didn’t want to, and, as ever, I found myself speed reading because I was just so desperate to know what came next. Even when it all sent chills down my spine and made bile bubble in my gut.

Awesome read. Totally fantastic; would recommend over and over (and over!).