What do you think?
Rate this book
Last Days
Last Days - winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel of the Year - is a Blair Witch-style novel in which a documentary film-maker undertakes the investigation of a dangerous cult—with creepy consequences...
When guerrilla documentary maker, Kyle Freeman, is asked to shoot a film on the notorious cult known as the Temple of the Last Days, it appears his prayers have been answered.
The cult became a worldwide phenomenon in 1975 when there was a massacre including the death of its infamous leader, Sister Katherine. Kyle's brief is to explore the paranormal myths surrounding an organization that became a testament to paranoia, murderous rage, and occult rituals.
The shoot's locations take him to the cult's first temple in London, an abandoned farm in France, and to a derelict copper mine in the Arizonan desert where The Temple of the Last Days met its bloody end.
But when he interviews those involved in the case, those who haven't broken silence in decades, a series of uncanny events plague the shoots. Troubling out-of-body experiences, nocturnal visitations, the sudden demise of their interviewees and the discovery of ghastly artifacts in their room make Kyle question what exactly the cult managed to awaken � and what is its interest in him?
When guerrilla documentary maker, Kyle Freeman, is asked to shoot a film on the notorious cult known as the Temple of the Last Days, it appears his prayers have been answered.
The cult became a worldwide phenomenon in 1975 when there was a massacre including the death of its infamous leader, Sister Katherine. Kyle's brief is to explore the paranormal myths surrounding an organization that became a testament to paranoia, murderous rage, and occult rituals.
The shoot's locations take him to the cult's first temple in London, an abandoned farm in France, and to a derelict copper mine in the Arizonan desert where The Temple of the Last Days met its bloody end.
But when he interviews those involved in the case, those who haven't broken silence in decades, a series of uncanny events plague the shoots. Troubling out-of-body experiences, nocturnal visitations, the sudden demise of their interviewees and the discovery of ghastly artifacts in their room make Kyle question what exactly the cult managed to awaken � and what is its interest in him?
542 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2012
1,767 people are currently reading
41.8k people want to read
About the author
Adam L.G. Nevill
73Ìýbooks5,116ÌýfollowersADAM L. G. NEVILL was born in Birmingham, England, in 1969 and grew up in England and New Zealand. He is an author of horror fiction. Of his novels, The Ritual, Last Days, No One Gets Out Alive and The Reddening were all winners of The August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel. He has also published three collections of short stories, with Some Will Not Sleep winning the British Fantasy Award for Best Collection, 2017.
Imaginarium adapted The Ritual and No One Gets Out Alive into feature films and more of his work is currently in development for the screen.
The author lives in Devon, England.
Imaginarium adapted The Ritual and No One Gets Out Alive into feature films and more of his work is currently in development for the screen.
The author lives in Devon, England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,816 reviews
October 22, 2015
I've been seeing Adam Nevill books pop up in my feed lately because my friend Sha has been reading the heck out of them.
Sha..you owe me some new drawers. Because I think I shat in mine while reading this book.
Kyle is a independent documentary filmmaker with a few titles to his name..such as his ground breaking work "Covens"
(Yes, I will use any excuse at all to use an Covens gif-get over it)
He is approached with "an offer he can't refuse". A rich weirdo named Max wants him to look into a cult that was massacred in 1975 in the desert. The cult was The Temple of the Last Days and the slaughter even included it's leader Sister Katherine.
Sister Katherine was not a good girl.
Once Kyle and his camera man Dan start the story they realize that there is more than Max was telling them.
On location they realize that something is there with them.
Then Kyle starts to have nightmares.
This crap scared me. I don't scare real easy. I could not read this book at night..just couldn't.
The only fault I had in the story was that it does move very, very slow...but you just can't stop reading the hot mess of it.
I think this one gif would pretty much sum up how I feel about this book but I'm going to spoiler it so I don't traumatize the 'not so jaded' people on my friends list.
*insert cackles after you look at that gif*
Booksource: Library
My friend Sha of course should be spotlighted here but she didn't write a review...I bet she is still hid in her covers after reading this one. She did do some awesome updates for this sucker though.
Sha..you owe me some new drawers. Because I think I shat in mine while reading this book.
Kyle is a independent documentary filmmaker with a few titles to his name..such as his ground breaking work "Covens"
(Yes, I will use any excuse at all to use an Covens gif-get over it)
He is approached with "an offer he can't refuse". A rich weirdo named Max wants him to look into a cult that was massacred in 1975 in the desert. The cult was The Temple of the Last Days and the slaughter even included it's leader Sister Katherine.
Sister Katherine was not a good girl.
Once Kyle and his camera man Dan start the story they realize that there is more than Max was telling them.
On location they realize that something is there with them.
Then Kyle starts to have nightmares.
This crap scared me. I don't scare real easy. I could not read this book at night..just couldn't.
The only fault I had in the story was that it does move very, very slow...but you just can't stop reading the hot mess of it.
I think this one gif would pretty much sum up how I feel about this book but I'm going to spoiler it so I don't traumatize the 'not so jaded' people on my friends list.
*insert cackles after you look at that gif*
Booksource: Library
My friend Sha of course should be spotlighted here but she didn't write a review...I bet she is still hid in her covers after reading this one. She did do some awesome updates for this sucker though.
July 2, 2015
Last days by Adam Nevill is easily one of the best modern day horror novels I've read this year. This story will suck you in, devour your feelings of safety and comfort as you sit reading and nonchalantly spit you out with a wry evil grin, leaving you begging for more.
Ìý
I haven't been gripped this tightly since the one occasion I was thrown out of a pub as a young man. Last Days will scare you shitless as Nevill pumps up the tension and terror in a clinical fashion that starts off shredding your nerves to confetti and never lets you recover.
Ìý
Kyle Freeman is an independent film maker, his films include a canny cross into another of his stories The Ritual, Kyle is beset with financial strife when a job offer lands rather neatly on his table. Wealthy businessman Max Solomon approaches him to make a documentary about Sister Katherine and her cult the Temple of the Last Days. The cult met an infamous and bloody end in the desert of Arizona. Kyle, with Dan the cameraman have a strict predetermined itinerary of interviews with former members of the cult and arranged visitation to the Temples of the Last Days.
Ìý
The emphasis of the film was to be on the paranormal aspect of the cult as dictated by the boss and the whole makeup of the Last Days was extremely sinister and riveting. Your average Cult usually has a charismatic leader, and ex-prostitute sister Katherine certainly fits the bill. She ran things through seven intermediaries, highly manipulative, she lived in comfort while everyone else lived in squalor. Using favouritism and attachment to keep everyone in line, even from afar, choosing which relationships could prosper, all for a reason of course.
Ìý
The two filmmakers have 3 sites to visit, 3 people to interview, the first is Clarendon Road, London and the cult’s birth. The whole process and setup of the film felt real and certainly intensified the paranormal element, the first site bought terror to not just Kyle and Dan but damn, you can feel it all, your pulse races it's that well described. That however pales in comparison to the farmhouse in France, traps still in the long grass, used to stop the cult members fleeing and bodily apparitions blended into the walls. The bed of the cult leader still in place and something else, not a soul has been here since the cult vanished all those years ago and what they bought into this world, the 'old friends'.
Absolutely chilling.
Ìý
The characters are both believable and well fleshed out, not so much depth but to be honest I really didn't feel it was necessary. The story is sensational, horror at its most terrifying, we jump through repeated loops of disturbing incidents from the interviews to the site explorations and the overwhelming fear that something is there. Something unthinkable and it slowly bleeds into the filmmakers lives until there's practically no escape.
Ìý
The pacing is spot on, even the slight lull in proceedings as we explore the history of the paranormal aspect, the 'old friends', was absolutely fascinating. Intrigue and tension intensify almost immediately from the first interview, the history of the cult comes from both the old members and courtesy of the research already done as death starts to follow proceedings, and something it seems has awakened. I can honestly say that I hung on every word and would definitely put this down for a reread sometime in the future.
Ìý
Recommended
Also posted
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
I haven't been gripped this tightly since the one occasion I was thrown out of a pub as a young man. Last Days will scare you shitless as Nevill pumps up the tension and terror in a clinical fashion that starts off shredding your nerves to confetti and never lets you recover.
Ìý
Kyle Freeman is an independent film maker, his films include a canny cross into another of his stories The Ritual, Kyle is beset with financial strife when a job offer lands rather neatly on his table. Wealthy businessman Max Solomon approaches him to make a documentary about Sister Katherine and her cult the Temple of the Last Days. The cult met an infamous and bloody end in the desert of Arizona. Kyle, with Dan the cameraman have a strict predetermined itinerary of interviews with former members of the cult and arranged visitation to the Temples of the Last Days.
Ìý
The emphasis of the film was to be on the paranormal aspect of the cult as dictated by the boss and the whole makeup of the Last Days was extremely sinister and riveting. Your average Cult usually has a charismatic leader, and ex-prostitute sister Katherine certainly fits the bill. She ran things through seven intermediaries, highly manipulative, she lived in comfort while everyone else lived in squalor. Using favouritism and attachment to keep everyone in line, even from afar, choosing which relationships could prosper, all for a reason of course.
Ìý
The two filmmakers have 3 sites to visit, 3 people to interview, the first is Clarendon Road, London and the cult’s birth. The whole process and setup of the film felt real and certainly intensified the paranormal element, the first site bought terror to not just Kyle and Dan but damn, you can feel it all, your pulse races it's that well described. That however pales in comparison to the farmhouse in France, traps still in the long grass, used to stop the cult members fleeing and bodily apparitions blended into the walls. The bed of the cult leader still in place and something else, not a soul has been here since the cult vanished all those years ago and what they bought into this world, the 'old friends'.
Absolutely chilling.
Ìý
The characters are both believable and well fleshed out, not so much depth but to be honest I really didn't feel it was necessary. The story is sensational, horror at its most terrifying, we jump through repeated loops of disturbing incidents from the interviews to the site explorations and the overwhelming fear that something is there. Something unthinkable and it slowly bleeds into the filmmakers lives until there's practically no escape.
Ìý
The pacing is spot on, even the slight lull in proceedings as we explore the history of the paranormal aspect, the 'old friends', was absolutely fascinating. Intrigue and tension intensify almost immediately from the first interview, the history of the cult comes from both the old members and courtesy of the research already done as death starts to follow proceedings, and something it seems has awakened. I can honestly say that I hung on every word and would definitely put this down for a reread sometime in the future.
Ìý
Recommended
Also posted
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
March 14, 2024
Scared the ever loving shit out of me!
March 29, 2013
There is only one way to put this. This book sucked. It sucked to high heaven. It bored me nearly to death with every page. I honestly wondered if all of the good reviews were paid to say nice things about this crappy tome. Even as I write this, I think that might still be the case. With all that said, here are my issues with this crappy thing.
The author has zero sense of pacing. This book moved at a snail’s pace for chapter upon chapter and then suddenly all kinds of things started to happen in the last quarter of it. The idea of this book is a good one, a filmmaker is hired to do a documentary about a cult from the seventies that committed mass suicide/murder and manages to stumble into paranormal activity that targets him. That sounds like it should be good right? It’s not. In every single city or location the characters visit the exact same things happen. Every person the characters interviewed said exactly the same thing. Approximately 300 pages was a repeat of what happened in the first 100 pages. I was bored to tears.
The author’s descriptions were annoying and confusing. I didn’t understand what was going on most of the time. As an example, the author described the room in which the last scene takes place for 2 whole pages. The picture of it was fully formed in my head and it was a great description! But then all of a sudden he starts talking about a “large plastic tent� in the middle of the room that had never been mentioned before. Then just a few paragraphs later it’s described as a “plastic cube� that is solid enough that it requires beating it and shooting at it to dismantle it. But, I thought it was a tent? And why wasn’t this included in the initial room description if it’s so important? If it was a tent then why was it so hard to puncture? By the time I got to this question I had been pulled completely out of the story and just didn’t give a crap anymore. This happened so often that I was regularly confused and thought I had skipped over something accidentally. So I would go back and re-read that part and realize, no I hadn’t skipped over it, it was never addressed.
Most stereotypical American characters ever! Let’s see, there was the sheriff who was a complete hillbilly. Cowboy hat and boots, spoke with a drawl, kept saying things like “ya’ll� and “ain’t�, could have walked right out of a western…but he’s from Arizona. Yeah, it confused me too. Or Jed, the gun toting, muscle bound Jesus freak who thinks he’s on a mission for God, is unstable and keeps pointing guns at his own friends. I mean, really? All we needed was an overweight, outspoken black woman and the stereotypes would have been a complete collection! It was ridiculous.
Kyle was supremely unlikable. He spent most of the book mentally belittling and mocking the people he was interviewing for believing in this paranormal stuff. Then he went on to experience the paranormal stuff himself and freaked out, running around and screaming at everyone else to figure out a way to protect him. Shut up dirtbag! Nobody likes you! Just die already and quit your whining. I hated this guy so much.
I was very disappointed that I hated the book this much. I heard this author compared to my favorite author, Scott Sigler, and was excited to see if that comparison held true. It most certainly does not! This author has no sense of pacing, storytelling, or character building. I can’t, in good conscience recommend this book to anyone, it was awful.
This and other reviews at
The author has zero sense of pacing. This book moved at a snail’s pace for chapter upon chapter and then suddenly all kinds of things started to happen in the last quarter of it. The idea of this book is a good one, a filmmaker is hired to do a documentary about a cult from the seventies that committed mass suicide/murder and manages to stumble into paranormal activity that targets him. That sounds like it should be good right? It’s not. In every single city or location the characters visit the exact same things happen. Every person the characters interviewed said exactly the same thing. Approximately 300 pages was a repeat of what happened in the first 100 pages. I was bored to tears.
The author’s descriptions were annoying and confusing. I didn’t understand what was going on most of the time. As an example, the author described the room in which the last scene takes place for 2 whole pages. The picture of it was fully formed in my head and it was a great description! But then all of a sudden he starts talking about a “large plastic tent� in the middle of the room that had never been mentioned before. Then just a few paragraphs later it’s described as a “plastic cube� that is solid enough that it requires beating it and shooting at it to dismantle it. But, I thought it was a tent? And why wasn’t this included in the initial room description if it’s so important? If it was a tent then why was it so hard to puncture? By the time I got to this question I had been pulled completely out of the story and just didn’t give a crap anymore. This happened so often that I was regularly confused and thought I had skipped over something accidentally. So I would go back and re-read that part and realize, no I hadn’t skipped over it, it was never addressed.
Most stereotypical American characters ever! Let’s see, there was the sheriff who was a complete hillbilly. Cowboy hat and boots, spoke with a drawl, kept saying things like “ya’ll� and “ain’t�, could have walked right out of a western…but he’s from Arizona. Yeah, it confused me too. Or Jed, the gun toting, muscle bound Jesus freak who thinks he’s on a mission for God, is unstable and keeps pointing guns at his own friends. I mean, really? All we needed was an overweight, outspoken black woman and the stereotypes would have been a complete collection! It was ridiculous.
Kyle was supremely unlikable. He spent most of the book mentally belittling and mocking the people he was interviewing for believing in this paranormal stuff. Then he went on to experience the paranormal stuff himself and freaked out, running around and screaming at everyone else to figure out a way to protect him. Shut up dirtbag! Nobody likes you! Just die already and quit your whining. I hated this guy so much.
I was very disappointed that I hated the book this much. I heard this author compared to my favorite author, Scott Sigler, and was excited to see if that comparison held true. It most certainly does not! This author has no sense of pacing, storytelling, or character building. I can’t, in good conscience recommend this book to anyone, it was awful.
This and other reviews at
March 15, 2024
Without a doubt, Last Days is just as (if not more) terrifying than Nevill's The Ritual. There is not slow burn ghost story to be had here. The storyline is on fire starting on page one and doesn't relent until the very last word five hundred plus pages later.
The characters are developed with incredible authenticity and it was impossible not to become invested in, and fascinated by all of their individual agendas - the good, bad and the ugly.
And I thought the The Blair Witch Project was scary... This is definitely one of the most riveting and terrifying books I have had the pleasure of reading. Can't wait to dive into more of Mr. Nevill's work.
The characters are developed with incredible authenticity and it was impossible not to become invested in, and fascinated by all of their individual agendas - the good, bad and the ugly.
And I thought the The Blair Witch Project was scary... This is definitely one of the most riveting and terrifying books I have had the pleasure of reading. Can't wait to dive into more of Mr. Nevill's work.
Read
July 3, 2022In my opinion, Nevill writes the scariest horror on the market today. If people are looking for an author that drives home the most fear-based horror book for book, Nevill is your guy.
..
LAST DAYS terrified me. It's the story of an indie filmmaker making a documentary on The Temple of the Last Days, a cult responsible for the ritualistic massacre of its members back in the 70s.
..
Of course, Kyle Freeman and his production team realize (too late) that the mystical, fucked up secrets the cult was willing to defend at all costs, are not exactly done fighting. The filmmakers get in way over their heads.
There were times, reading about 'The Old Friends' where I was like, I gotta stop reading this at night.
Despite the book's size (it's a chunky one), the chapters do go by quickly with very few lulls (although there are some and a few chapters are pretty lengthy).
The characters are very life-like and it's easy to invest in their plight to finish the doc in order to FINALLY make some money doing something that takes up so much of their time for very little reward. The stakes are high enough for them that it's not unrealistic they would endure all this fucked-up stuff in order to just finish. This is quintessential cult horror at its best. A must-read for horror fans looking for genuine scares in this sub-genre. Nobody does it like Nevill.
..
LAST DAYS terrified me. It's the story of an indie filmmaker making a documentary on The Temple of the Last Days, a cult responsible for the ritualistic massacre of its members back in the 70s.
..
Of course, Kyle Freeman and his production team realize (too late) that the mystical, fucked up secrets the cult was willing to defend at all costs, are not exactly done fighting. The filmmakers get in way over their heads.
There were times, reading about 'The Old Friends' where I was like, I gotta stop reading this at night.
Despite the book's size (it's a chunky one), the chapters do go by quickly with very few lulls (although there are some and a few chapters are pretty lengthy).
The characters are very life-like and it's easy to invest in their plight to finish the doc in order to FINALLY make some money doing something that takes up so much of their time for very little reward. The stakes are high enough for them that it's not unrealistic they would endure all this fucked-up stuff in order to just finish. This is quintessential cult horror at its best. A must-read for horror fans looking for genuine scares in this sub-genre. Nobody does it like Nevill.
October 28, 2015
Find all of my reviews at:
“What happened was inevitable. Cops in LA saw it before with old Charlie Manson. Cops someplace else will see it again. You don’t need no FBI or profiler to tell you different. They left the road, son, and they got chewed up.�
Well, shit.
Do you like a real slow burner of a book on cold days (kind of like the equivalent of a savory crockpot meal)? Yeah, apparently everyone else but me does too. What can I say? I have a short attention span and demand instant gratification.
Documentary filmmaker Kyle Freeman is down on his luck. He’s robbed Peter to pay Paul on his last couple of films and is in serious debt when a billionaire producer comes waving hundreds of thousands in his face. His assignment? Document the history of the Temple of the Last Days and obtain evidence on film that the paranormal activity rumored to surround the group is more than just a myth.
So what exactly is the Temple of the Last Days? Shelby said it made her think of a coven. My good Catholic upbringing made me think of the lovely nuns who taught kids like me so selflessly . . .
In reality? The Temple of the Last Days was a cult ran by a twisted psycho. Kind of like this guy . . .
and this guy . . .
No, the other Jim Jones. You know, the guy whose followers all drank his Kool-Aid � kinda like what Shelby makes all of us loyal followers do here on GR ; )
Last Days started out being all about free love and damning the man and wild trips hippie style. But when Sister Katherine reached Thetan Level 7 things got a little f’d up. Like what will happen when Tom Cruise rules the world. All hail Xenu . . .
Kyle takes the project thinking it will be the easiest hundo thou he’s ever made � but it doesn’t take long before things start getting more than a bit sketchy. Unexplained deaths, possible apparitions, out-of-body experiences, and dog/squealing pig sounds? Y’all KNOW ain’t nothing good comes out of some squealing pig sounds . . .
EVERYONE loved this book. We’re talking Shelby and Sha and Eleven and Kimberly and Bill and Paul and a different Paul. I mean these are people who DIG horror stories and are experienced with reading things of the terrifying variety. When they said this was scary, I was expecting S.C.A.R.Y. . . .
(SIDENOTE: Amajority teeny little part of me wishes my kids were little enough I could traumatize them for life with this snapchat app. Best cause for therapy ever.)
I don’t know what happened. Well, yeah I do. I read it wrong. Duh. But I refuse to take any accountability so I’m going to blame it on the timeframe � “six locations in three countries in eleven days.� This book should have been like taking a spin in an Indy car. Instead, it was like taking a spin with Ricky Bobby after his little breakdown . . .
However, with that begin said Last Days was pretty much what I hoped Night Film would be � just a titch spookier. No pointers on how to wrap your brain around my logic � just know that I didn’t like Night Film and I liked this one just aiiiiight compared to everyone else. *shrug*
“What happened was inevitable. Cops in LA saw it before with old Charlie Manson. Cops someplace else will see it again. You don’t need no FBI or profiler to tell you different. They left the road, son, and they got chewed up.�
Well, shit.
Do you like a real slow burner of a book on cold days (kind of like the equivalent of a savory crockpot meal)? Yeah, apparently everyone else but me does too. What can I say? I have a short attention span and demand instant gratification.
Documentary filmmaker Kyle Freeman is down on his luck. He’s robbed Peter to pay Paul on his last couple of films and is in serious debt when a billionaire producer comes waving hundreds of thousands in his face. His assignment? Document the history of the Temple of the Last Days and obtain evidence on film that the paranormal activity rumored to surround the group is more than just a myth.
So what exactly is the Temple of the Last Days? Shelby said it made her think of a coven. My good Catholic upbringing made me think of the lovely nuns who taught kids like me so selflessly . . .
In reality? The Temple of the Last Days was a cult ran by a twisted psycho. Kind of like this guy . . .
and this guy . . .
No, the other Jim Jones. You know, the guy whose followers all drank his Kool-Aid � kinda like what Shelby makes all of us loyal followers do here on GR ; )
Last Days started out being all about free love and damning the man and wild trips hippie style. But when Sister Katherine reached Thetan Level 7 things got a little f’d up. Like what will happen when Tom Cruise rules the world. All hail Xenu . . .
Kyle takes the project thinking it will be the easiest hundo thou he’s ever made � but it doesn’t take long before things start getting more than a bit sketchy. Unexplained deaths, possible apparitions, out-of-body experiences, and dog/squealing pig sounds? Y’all KNOW ain’t nothing good comes out of some squealing pig sounds . . .
EVERYONE loved this book. We’re talking Shelby and Sha and Eleven and Kimberly and Bill and Paul and a different Paul. I mean these are people who DIG horror stories and are experienced with reading things of the terrifying variety. When they said this was scary, I was expecting S.C.A.R.Y. . . .
(SIDENOTE: A
I don’t know what happened. Well, yeah I do. I read it wrong. Duh. But I refuse to take any accountability so I’m going to blame it on the timeframe � “six locations in three countries in eleven days.� This book should have been like taking a spin in an Indy car. Instead, it was like taking a spin with Ricky Bobby after his little breakdown . . .
However, with that begin said Last Days was pretty much what I hoped Night Film would be � just a titch spookier. No pointers on how to wrap your brain around my logic � just know that I didn’t like Night Film and I liked this one just aiiiiight compared to everyone else. *shrug*
December 29, 2015
You know how Stephen King has trouble wrapping up the endings of his books? Adam Nevill has a similar issue, only it's the entire second half that gives him trouble. Almost every damn time.
Last Days starts out promising. A documentary maker and his cameraman head off to research a mysterious cult that ended in a mass murder-suicide. It's a slow burn horror with a lot of genuinely terrifying moments, though I'll admit it's nowhere near as scary as . There's a nice balance between dialogue/exposition (the interviews) and the creepy, supernatural happenings that surround the cult's previous living spaces. The characters are pretty one-note, especially the lead Kyle who gets pretty insufferable, but early on the mystery and tension really carry the book.
Then, a little over halfway through, the tone switches dramatically. Like in The Ritual, it's practically a totally different book. The last documentary interview wraps up about 55% of the way through and the remainder of the book is basically dead weight. We get dozens upon dozens of pages of info dumping about the cult, HUGE chunks of information that weren't even foreshadowed in the beginning half. It's incredibly tedious, because it's basically one dude telling our protagonist massive amounts of information. For 200+ pages. Nothing really scary happens here, the ~spooky~ factor is just supposed to be what the cult was really up to. Which is only mildly hinted at, so once you get to the real twist it's not really the "oh my god!" Nevill was aiming for but more "wut that is kind of stupid." There's a ton of telling, not showing.
If the cult info-dump wasn't enough, we get tons of totally unrelated exposition too. This book really should have been at least 150 pages shorter. At one point, we learn that a house is guarded by all kinds of animals (tigers, snakes, etc). About 50 pages later we find out that the tiger went to a sanctuary and the snakes are gone. What? What is the point of even HAVING that in the book? There's literally none. Then we get weird asides about architecture, history, and Stalin. That once again have nothing to do with the plot. And about 20 pages of a description of a painting. Yaaaawn.
A main character is also introduced 85% of the way in, and he is SO annoying. That just seems like a weird writing choice, there were plenty of places he could have snuck this guy in a scene early on. I have a million small issues like this, but if I listed them all the review would be as long as the damn book.
My biggest issue, though, was the end. Suddenly this slow-burn horror is an action flick? There's way too much exposure to the supernatural element, and it becomes goofy rather than scary. I skimmed the last 50+ pages because I desperately wanted it to be over. This was so, so disappointing: I have yet to read a Nevill book where he carries the mood through the entire thing ( suffered similarly, though on a much smaller scale). Adam Nevill has a lot of potential, but so far nothing has even come close to The Ritual for me (and that was flawed as hell as well).
Last Days starts out promising. A documentary maker and his cameraman head off to research a mysterious cult that ended in a mass murder-suicide. It's a slow burn horror with a lot of genuinely terrifying moments, though I'll admit it's nowhere near as scary as . There's a nice balance between dialogue/exposition (the interviews) and the creepy, supernatural happenings that surround the cult's previous living spaces. The characters are pretty one-note, especially the lead Kyle who gets pretty insufferable, but early on the mystery and tension really carry the book.
Then, a little over halfway through, the tone switches dramatically. Like in The Ritual, it's practically a totally different book. The last documentary interview wraps up about 55% of the way through and the remainder of the book is basically dead weight. We get dozens upon dozens of pages of info dumping about the cult, HUGE chunks of information that weren't even foreshadowed in the beginning half. It's incredibly tedious, because it's basically one dude telling our protagonist massive amounts of information. For 200+ pages. Nothing really scary happens here, the ~spooky~ factor is just supposed to be what the cult was really up to. Which is only mildly hinted at, so once you get to the real twist it's not really the "oh my god!" Nevill was aiming for but more "wut that is kind of stupid." There's a ton of telling, not showing.
If the cult info-dump wasn't enough, we get tons of totally unrelated exposition too. This book really should have been at least 150 pages shorter. At one point, we learn that a house is guarded by all kinds of animals (tigers, snakes, etc). About 50 pages later we find out that the tiger went to a sanctuary and the snakes are gone. What? What is the point of even HAVING that in the book? There's literally none. Then we get weird asides about architecture, history, and Stalin. That once again have nothing to do with the plot. And about 20 pages of a description of a painting. Yaaaawn.
A main character is also introduced 85% of the way in, and he is SO annoying. That just seems like a weird writing choice, there were plenty of places he could have snuck this guy in a scene early on. I have a million small issues like this, but if I listed them all the review would be as long as the damn book.
My biggest issue, though, was the end. Suddenly this slow-burn horror is an action flick? There's way too much exposure to the supernatural element, and it becomes goofy rather than scary. I skimmed the last 50+ pages because I desperately wanted it to be over. This was so, so disappointing: I have yet to read a Nevill book where he carries the mood through the entire thing ( suffered similarly, though on a much smaller scale). Adam Nevill has a lot of potential, but so far nothing has even come close to The Ritual for me (and that was flawed as hell as well).
November 16, 2023
"Whatever you have read about the murders, this book will still shock you."
4.5🌟'²õ
Initial Thoughts
So far, my experience with contemporary horror author Adam Nevill has been pretty mixed. I absolutely loved The Ritual, which I consider up there with the best modern horror novels. So much so I sent him a message on good old Facebook and got a fantastic response.
But I was then left feeling pretty flat after tackling his folk horror, Cunning Folk. It just didn't have the same atmosphere, tension and characterisation that I loved in the previous book. It certainly didn't grip hold of me in quite the same way. But I wasn't deterred from reading more of this author's work. Far from it. It takes more than one miss to put me off, so you've got another chance to impress Mr Nevill. But you're skating on very thin ice my friend.
So for Halloween 2023 I selected his second most popular novel according to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ...Last Days. Apparently a found footage story with shades of the Blair Witch Project. Although I wasn't a fan of the movie I'm intrigued in a big way to see if this can be delivered in the written format. With the quality of Nevill's prose he might just be able to pull it off. So why not join me in finding out?
The Story
The story begins in London and follows Kyle Freeman. A pretty well respected documentary film producer who is down on his luck and has a fair wedge of debt that he needs to clear. Either that or face the real possibility of financial ruin. So when an enigmatic but wealthy sponsor makes him an offer he can't refuse to make a historical account of the notorious Temple of the Last Days cult, he literally can't say "yes" quick enough.
But there's a reason for the cults notoriety that should have Kyle and his able cameraman, Dan, thinking twice. A penchant for sexual depravity and violence while they were headed by the infamous Sister Katherine means these guys make the Manson family look like the Brady Bunch. That was until they suffered an extremely violent demise in 1975 out in the Arizona desert. Or so we thought.
"I guess I'm sayin' that no one ever leaves the Last Days. Once you is in, you is in for life. And maybe after that too."
Working to a tight schedule the boys visit a number of locations to interview surviving cult members and some key figures in the investigation of that final bloodbath. Through this they start to uncover that there's more behind this cult than meets the eye and things are about to get very weird before this one's finished.
The Writing
Nevill's prose are, aside from the odd sentence, crisp and sharp. He has a talent for creating those landscapes in your minds eye and he pays equal attention to all the senses when setting a scene. This is an author who relies on tension and atmosphere to create the horror instead of relying on extreme gore.
"He didn't know what to scream at first, because there were so many things to scream at. And he found himself reduced to a strength less thing that remained still and mute and gaping."
I was really impressed with the attention to detail as the author must have put a hell of a lot of effort into his research. First off, the detail and accuracy with the techniques of film production made this all the more believable. Feels like you're getting on the job experience but not in a boring way.
Then there's the history behind the cult, that draws parallels with the real world equivalents. The exposition is skillfully woven into the narrative through interviews and it feels very natural without information overload. You're getting a very authentic feel with all this. Plus some of these scenes provide the best horror.
And while we're on the subject of horror, I'm a big fan of the way Nevill injects this into the narrative. He slowly builds the tension to unsettle the reader before hitting you with some chilling set pieces. There's this creeping sense of dread throughout Last Days that builds expertly right up to an explosive finale.
The Characters
I really enjoyed the characters in The Ritual, while not being impressed with those in Cunning Folk. Well I'm pleased to report that Mr Nevill is back Jack. Each one is three dimensional. Far from perfect, but who wants that? It means you can actually relate to them as individuals that you could actually bump into in the real world. And each one acts in a pretty rational way that's convincing. You certainly get a sense of the psychological impact that fear has on them as it gets ramped up.
Just like in the Ritual the lead character was one I could identify with. At least in certain aspects. Although not always likeable, Kyle was believable. Expertly painted by Nevill, I couldn't help but get invested and needed to know what was going to him.
The dialogue between him and his friend Dan was really well done. The humour was realistic as was their reaction to some of the horrific things they witnessed. It elements like that you really need to keep things interesting and make you care about the characters.
Perhaps the most interesting character was the eccentric millionaire Max Solomon. Charming and difficult to figure out, he was at times strangely endearing. He brought an extra element to the story for me as I tried to work out his motivations and what his game plan was.
Then there were the villains, "the Old Friends." Im not going to say too much, as the less you know the better. But they are fantastic! Very unique and truly terrifying. The author takes great pleasure in describing the brutal and horrific details surrounding these guys. Trust me, you're in for a treat.
Final Thoughts
So Adam Nevill is back with a bang for me with this true tour-de-force of horror. It's got everything you need in terms of atmosphere, tension and some great characters. Of the three books I've read from this author it certainly the most ambitious in terms of scale and what he's going for.
I'm trying to think of something critical to say but I really can't. It might be a little bit wordy for some and for those who like nonstop, fast paced action it might not hit the mark. But I prefer that if I'm being honest so can't fault it.
The found footage genre has been done to death when it comes to movies but I really enjoyed seeing how this could be done as a novel. And in such an effective manner. There were some really freaky moments as Kyle and Dan move through a building with only the light from the camera to guide them. A sudden noise and then a half glimpse of something moving in the darkness. Hopefully that's given you a teaser of what's in store.
So a big thanks to Adam Nevill and a big thanks to you for reading and...cheers!
Adam Nevill - back on top!
October 22, 2024
Creepy Book Alert! One of my picks for you as a total winner with Halloween on way.
This earned a British Horror Fantasy Book Award in 2013.
Adam Nevill writes complex and deep horror. I have been a huge fan of him for years and years. His books are often in my Top 20 Reads of the Year near the top. It's nice to have some British horror authors with talent as part of the horror genre.
When indie filmmaker, Kyle Freeman is offered a deal to make a documentary about a notorious cult, an opportunity to avoid both bankruptcy and obscurity is finally on the Table.
Led by the infamous Sister Katherine, the Temple of The Last Days reached it's bloody endgame in the Arizona desert in 1975. Ever since, rumour and speculation about the group's mystical secrets and paranormal experiences have lain half-concealed behind a legacy of murder, sexual deviancy and imprisonment.
The book kicked off really well with Kyle Freeman starting to make his documentary on the cult "The Temple of The Last Days" after being approached with a too-good-to-be-true job offer to make it alongside his trusty cameraman Dan. Kyle is drowning in debt and is offered a huge sum of money to make it so why not? It was a decision he would come to regret.
The book has some super creepy moments in it as Kyle and Dan visit the homes that the cult lived in over the years they were operating. There are some bone-chilling and edge of your seat scary tense moments that were just fantastic. Especially the scene where Kyle & Dan return to the first house that the cult lived in after dark to get some extra footage at night after interviewing one of the former cult members there earlier in the day.
Things that go bump in the night? Yep, and things that scratch their long nails on the floor and weird skeletal images burnt into the walls. This is Nevill's great skill, that slow build up of tension until you find yourself holding your breath.
The darkness they are investigating begins to seep into the home and head of Kyle, at first he brushes it off as in his imagination but before long, Dan and himself realise that there is more to this story than just some old cult who have now disbanded.
NOTE: The book tackles the cult's participation in some pretty dark stuff rape, sodomy, control, supernatural, paranormal, manipulation and murder.
The plot is really well paced in the first half of the book but by then I found it kind of stalled and was dragging on with too much detail. That’s THE only reason this didn’t get 5 stars. I’ve read every Adam Nevill book he has written and this is the only one not 5 stars. However, it’s so minor I still highly recommend this one.
The more they film, the more they uncover that this cult was no ordinary cult and the dramatic demise and mass suicide of them at the end of their tenure had more meaning than first realised. What on earth have Kyle and Dan stumbled upon?
The creep factor comes back towards the end of the book but does not hold a light to the first half of the first half of the book. I did enjoy the ending of the book as the evil begins to really make its presence known and Kyle realises he can't run from it anymore. He has to do something about it.
Adam Nevill is a VERY good writer, he writes complex novels that don't skip a beat. The plot could of been a tad bit tighter in the second half of this book but don’t let that tiny observation steer you away. .
The dark imagination of Adam Nevill entertained me yet again. I am his No.1 fan until further notice. Thank you Adam for my paperback copy that sits on my bookshelf along with all your books.
This earned a British Horror Fantasy Book Award in 2013.
Adam Nevill writes complex and deep horror. I have been a huge fan of him for years and years. His books are often in my Top 20 Reads of the Year near the top. It's nice to have some British horror authors with talent as part of the horror genre.
When indie filmmaker, Kyle Freeman is offered a deal to make a documentary about a notorious cult, an opportunity to avoid both bankruptcy and obscurity is finally on the Table.
Led by the infamous Sister Katherine, the Temple of The Last Days reached it's bloody endgame in the Arizona desert in 1975. Ever since, rumour and speculation about the group's mystical secrets and paranormal experiences have lain half-concealed behind a legacy of murder, sexual deviancy and imprisonment.
The book kicked off really well with Kyle Freeman starting to make his documentary on the cult "The Temple of The Last Days" after being approached with a too-good-to-be-true job offer to make it alongside his trusty cameraman Dan. Kyle is drowning in debt and is offered a huge sum of money to make it so why not? It was a decision he would come to regret.
The book has some super creepy moments in it as Kyle and Dan visit the homes that the cult lived in over the years they were operating. There are some bone-chilling and edge of your seat scary tense moments that were just fantastic. Especially the scene where Kyle & Dan return to the first house that the cult lived in after dark to get some extra footage at night after interviewing one of the former cult members there earlier in the day.
Things that go bump in the night? Yep, and things that scratch their long nails on the floor and weird skeletal images burnt into the walls. This is Nevill's great skill, that slow build up of tension until you find yourself holding your breath.
The darkness they are investigating begins to seep into the home and head of Kyle, at first he brushes it off as in his imagination but before long, Dan and himself realise that there is more to this story than just some old cult who have now disbanded.
NOTE: The book tackles the cult's participation in some pretty dark stuff rape, sodomy, control, supernatural, paranormal, manipulation and murder.
The plot is really well paced in the first half of the book but by then I found it kind of stalled and was dragging on with too much detail. That’s THE only reason this didn’t get 5 stars. I’ve read every Adam Nevill book he has written and this is the only one not 5 stars. However, it’s so minor I still highly recommend this one.
The more they film, the more they uncover that this cult was no ordinary cult and the dramatic demise and mass suicide of them at the end of their tenure had more meaning than first realised. What on earth have Kyle and Dan stumbled upon?
The creep factor comes back towards the end of the book but does not hold a light to the first half of the first half of the book. I did enjoy the ending of the book as the evil begins to really make its presence known and Kyle realises he can't run from it anymore. He has to do something about it.
Adam Nevill is a VERY good writer, he writes complex novels that don't skip a beat. The plot could of been a tad bit tighter in the second half of this book but don’t let that tiny observation steer you away. .
The dark imagination of Adam Nevill entertained me yet again. I am his No.1 fan until further notice. Thank you Adam for my paperback copy that sits on my bookshelf along with all your books.
May 4, 2021
2.5 Stars
This was a long, underwhelming horror novel. I was excited by the premise, but I found myself bored by the actual story. I'm starting to think that is author is just not for me.
This was a long, underwhelming horror novel. I was excited by the premise, but I found myself bored by the actual story. I'm starting to think that is author is just not for me.
June 19, 2015
I’m pretty sure this is the best horror novel that I’ve read so far this year out of about 99 and counting. The ending slipped a little - It went from ALIEN to ALIENS in that last chapter, a little too action heavy. That dampened the ambience a bit. It didn’t match the cadence of the rest of the book. I think less would have been more when it comes to the details of the conclusion but that was really the only thing I didn’t like and I don’t want to be a dick about it so it still gets five stars.
Bottom line: It scared the everliving shit out of me more than once. I love it when a book can do that. Treat yourselves. Get scared.
Neville writes the way I would want to write if I could be a writer - intelligent but simple. He knows how to keep you turning the pages and he knows when to shitcan appropriate but unwieldy words in favor other words that work just as well but come streamlined, ready to serve the common man and not force us all to go running for the dictionary.. He has the wisdom to catch himself before he writes something damn near poetic and morph it into everyday dialogue, sparing us all from having to think too hard and risk aneurysms. Books like that tend to be faster reads. We still get the deeper shit he’s trying to say but he doesn’t bludgeon us with it. I respect that. I’m a fan of using small, simple words any time they can be used, particularly in this type of fiction.
Nevill’s prose is brilliant. Highly recommended to anyone who is even marginally interested in the horror genre, or in excellent writing in general. Easily one of the top genre writers out there today whom I’ve had the opportunity to read.
His entire catalogue is now on my tbr list. Between this and The Ritual, he’s cemented himself firmly in favorite author territory.
I’ll stop praising for now. Go read it. Off with you!
Bottom line: It scared the everliving shit out of me more than once. I love it when a book can do that. Treat yourselves. Get scared.
Neville writes the way I would want to write if I could be a writer - intelligent but simple. He knows how to keep you turning the pages and he knows when to shitcan appropriate but unwieldy words in favor other words that work just as well but come streamlined, ready to serve the common man and not force us all to go running for the dictionary.. He has the wisdom to catch himself before he writes something damn near poetic and morph it into everyday dialogue, sparing us all from having to think too hard and risk aneurysms. Books like that tend to be faster reads. We still get the deeper shit he’s trying to say but he doesn’t bludgeon us with it. I respect that. I’m a fan of using small, simple words any time they can be used, particularly in this type of fiction.
Nevill’s prose is brilliant. Highly recommended to anyone who is even marginally interested in the horror genre, or in excellent writing in general. Easily one of the top genre writers out there today whom I’ve had the opportunity to read.
His entire catalogue is now on my tbr list. Between this and The Ritual, he’s cemented himself firmly in favorite author territory.
I’ll stop praising for now. Go read it. Off with you!
November 27, 2015
'Blair Witch this, brothers and sisters. It ain't a hoax.'
The ultimate false messiah tale, macabre to the bone . . . to the very blackened bones. Bits of a nightmare shuddering awake, a dirty yellow mist in wavy air, dogs in the sky, porcine squeals and scrabbling trotters, a reek that permeates everything.
For those of us who dote on horror, Adam Nevill is the real deal. Period.
The ultimate false messiah tale, macabre to the bone . . . to the very blackened bones. Bits of a nightmare shuddering awake, a dirty yellow mist in wavy air, dogs in the sky, porcine squeals and scrabbling trotters, a reek that permeates everything.
For those of us who dote on horror, Adam Nevill is the real deal. Period.
February 15, 2016
This book is really good and actually scary. If you read it at night, please have a night light ready.
February 27, 2016
I rated this two stars before, but I feel that's kind of harsh. Upping it by one.
I loved the beginning 2/3 of the book. The first third, especially, creeped the living fuck out of me. The bit in France...
But the ending was like a big blender with everything thrown in. Too over the top. Too many 'things'. It took the horror right out.
I loved the beginning 2/3 of the book. The first third, especially, creeped the living fuck out of me. The bit in France...
But the ending was like a big blender with everything thrown in. Too over the top. Too many 'things'. It took the horror right out.
April 26, 2018
Gotta think.
edit
If you are all about creepy cults and building tension, then this book might be for you. Just keep in mind, if you have ever read any of this author’s other works just how tightly he likes to wind you and then let you go.
A guy and his partner are asked to film some former cult members in interviews. This cult was long ago. There are only a few of them still alive because it was a while ago. The other part of the reason for that is not many were smart enough to get out early or did, in time. These interviews and the film seem like a Golden project to two guys looking for that project to launch their documentary career. But is their wealthy benefactor telling them everything they should know or is he setting them up for disaster ?
edit
If you are all about creepy cults and building tension, then this book might be for you. Just keep in mind, if you have ever read any of this author’s other works just how tightly he likes to wind you and then let you go.
A guy and his partner are asked to film some former cult members in interviews. This cult was long ago. There are only a few of them still alive because it was a while ago. The other part of the reason for that is not many were smart enough to get out early or did, in time. These interviews and the film seem like a Golden project to two guys looking for that project to launch their documentary career. But is their wealthy benefactor telling them everything they should know or is he setting them up for disaster ?
September 25, 2020
Un buen libro de terror tan largo debe ser muy bueno y mantener el interés también en la segunda mitad del libro, no es el caso.
October 21, 2024
Warning- if you don’t like horror this one is not for you.
Kyle is a struggling filmmaker and he is approached by Max - an old, eccentric and mega-rich producer to make a documentary about a cult from the late 1960’s/early 1970’s
Max will find the whole thing and even has his first interviews already scheduled. Travel from London to France and the US are all worked out so that Kyle and Dan (his camera man) can get to all of the locations that the cult lived.
Things get creepy at their very first shoot and they begin to realize that this crazy cult wasn’t just people who were duped by a sadistic leader. There are non-human powers involved and they are still hungry! Who will survive?
Adam Nevill can describe a scene that you’ll see in full clarity and these scenes are not for the faint of heart. Read this one if you dare.
Kyle is a struggling filmmaker and he is approached by Max - an old, eccentric and mega-rich producer to make a documentary about a cult from the late 1960’s/early 1970’s
Max will find the whole thing and even has his first interviews already scheduled. Travel from London to France and the US are all worked out so that Kyle and Dan (his camera man) can get to all of the locations that the cult lived.
Things get creepy at their very first shoot and they begin to realize that this crazy cult wasn’t just people who were duped by a sadistic leader. There are non-human powers involved and they are still hungry! Who will survive?
Adam Nevill can describe a scene that you’ll see in full clarity and these scenes are not for the faint of heart. Read this one if you dare.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 12, 2023DNF at 55% 😠It feels like I've been reading this forever. So drawn out and continuing this doesn't feel worth it.
November 19, 2021
This book had me absolutely mesmerized right from page one. I took a course on religious cults and sects in college and ever since then I've been fascinated by stories, fiction or not, that involve cults. And I always get extra giddy when it’s a horror novel involving cults and the supernatural. I really love the way this story was presented, more of a look back at what happened rather than being in the midst of it. I think it worked really well here, that documentary feel had me hooked and really worked for me. I loved the supernatural spin too and how it all came back around as the cults secrets were uncovered, it gave me shivers at some points. I’m always there for some creepy black magic devil shit! My only complaint is that I wasn’t invested in the two main characters, I didn’t really care for them and their fate. They were just vehicles for what I really wanted, more cult goodness. Despite that my enjoyment of the story itself WAY overpowered my dislike of the main characters. This was a really great horror read and I highly recommend if you’re as obsessed with cults as me!
March 23, 2022
I try not to be the toughest crowd for horror, I swear, but I feel like so much of what I read just doesn't live up to any of its promise. Documentary about a haunted cult is an intriguing premise, and Nevill comes up with some satisfyingly creepy smells and sounds and scenarios with his Blood Friends in the first half, but this is at least 100 pages too long; everything unsettling built to a crescendo that I ended up skimming because I was so tired after yet another plane ride for Kyle leading to yet another long exposition about the cult's atrocities. Finishing this gave me the pleasant feeling of being able to get on with my life, which is never a good sign.
April 30, 2023
I never did get around to reviewing this one....
Of all of Nevill's books--and I try to read every release he has--this one rates as my favorite still. Without spoilers, there are certain scenes that are so well written that they actually had me looking around for them in MY home! The overall story was fantastic, in my humble opinion, but it was the "lesser" hauntings that really took over my mind. Books rarely affect me in this way, which is why this one is so memorable. (I've read it twice now, and it was just as good the second time).
*Review added 4/29/23*
Of all of Nevill's books--and I try to read every release he has--this one rates as my favorite still. Without spoilers, there are certain scenes that are so well written that they actually had me looking around for them in MY home! The overall story was fantastic, in my humble opinion, but it was the "lesser" hauntings that really took over my mind. Books rarely affect me in this way, which is why this one is so memorable. (I've read it twice now, and it was just as good the second time).
*Review added 4/29/23*
April 25, 2023
"Todo el mundo estaba asustado. Asà nos controlaban. El miedo."
Me ha gustado, si, aunque ya en las últimas 150 páginas aprox. me perdió, pero de igual manera tiene muchos elementos que me mantuvieron interesada y en su mayorÃa entretenida.
El tema de sectas y todo lo que ello conlleva me encanta e interesa enormemente y este libro aborda varios factores y caracterÃsticas dentro de la historia que atrapan desde el inicio.
Me ha gustado, si, aunque ya en las últimas 150 páginas aprox. me perdió, pero de igual manera tiene muchos elementos que me mantuvieron interesada y en su mayorÃa entretenida.
El tema de sectas y todo lo que ello conlleva me encanta e interesa enormemente y este libro aborda varios factores y caracterÃsticas dentro de la historia que atrapan desde el inicio.
April 20, 2020
Move over Charles Manson!
There's a new cult leader in town! This book follows the story of a sadistic cult leader going by the name of Sister Katherine as it is unravelled piece by piece to the reader through the eyes of Kyle, an ameture documentary film maker, who has been hired to make a film on Sister Katherine and her cult.
This book has a REALLY good beginning! It starts off super creepy. Like it was giving me "funny" dreams, creepy. It was really freaking me out! 😱 And the only other book I recall ever giving me dreams before this was the infamous Stephen King's IT. The story REALLY had me going and I was engrossed in it.
But then I don't know what happened. The last section of the book was not creepy or scary almost at all. Gory yes, but not scary as it had been. In fact it took on a rather militant tone with the introduction of one of the final characters in the cast. Let's just say the ending could have been a lot better.
However, besides the ending (which didn't suck but I feel fell short of the mark) this was a great read. The author did EXTREMELY well in character and world building and you really got a feel for not only the character's thoughts and emotions but also the layouts of the world(s) they moved around in. You were able to see clearly through their eyes which is a sign of great story telling.
I would definitely recommend this book to seasoned paranormal horror readers who enjoy checking the dark corners of their houses twice as they walk past. 😉
There's a new cult leader in town! This book follows the story of a sadistic cult leader going by the name of Sister Katherine as it is unravelled piece by piece to the reader through the eyes of Kyle, an ameture documentary film maker, who has been hired to make a film on Sister Katherine and her cult.
This book has a REALLY good beginning! It starts off super creepy. Like it was giving me "funny" dreams, creepy. It was really freaking me out! 😱 And the only other book I recall ever giving me dreams before this was the infamous Stephen King's IT. The story REALLY had me going and I was engrossed in it.
But then I don't know what happened. The last section of the book was not creepy or scary almost at all. Gory yes, but not scary as it had been. In fact it took on a rather militant tone with the introduction of one of the final characters in the cast. Let's just say the ending could have been a lot better.
However, besides the ending (which didn't suck but I feel fell short of the mark) this was a great read. The author did EXTREMELY well in character and world building and you really got a feel for not only the character's thoughts and emotions but also the layouts of the world(s) they moved around in. You were able to see clearly through their eyes which is a sign of great story telling.
I would definitely recommend this book to seasoned paranormal horror readers who enjoy checking the dark corners of their houses twice as they walk past. 😉
January 31, 2025
This is one of the best horror novels I’ve ever read. It’s been 5 months since I’ve read this and I’m STILL thinking about it. This book actually scared me and left me with a sense of dread. This book is pretty long but worth it. Perfect for lovers of cults, found footage, and folk horror.
January 8, 2025
Cults. Can't get enough of them. Real life horror, right? And Last Days goes beyond that. There's more to Sister Katherine than just being a manipulative sociopath, malignant narcissist, ludicrous messiah, absurd prophet or whatever you want to call that hippie queen of the hive. A lot more, in fact. Unworldly horror!Ìý
Two types that work very well together here. Also because of the structure of the book. No unnecessary intricacies, just straightforward storytelling and all the more effective because of it. I was down with Kyle. Thinks he's making a documentary, but it's more like he's part of it. Palpable, his increasing despair and disbelief.Ìý
Never lost interest in what The Temple of the Last Days was all about either. There is quite a lot of explaining going on, though. Bothered me a bit just before the endgame, where I just wanted it to get on with it. Other than that; gripping, creepy and, when all is revealed, pretty messed-up too. More Nevill for me.
Two types that work very well together here. Also because of the structure of the book. No unnecessary intricacies, just straightforward storytelling and all the more effective because of it. I was down with Kyle. Thinks he's making a documentary, but it's more like he's part of it. Palpable, his increasing despair and disbelief.Ìý
Never lost interest in what The Temple of the Last Days was all about either. There is quite a lot of explaining going on, though. Bothered me a bit just before the endgame, where I just wanted it to get on with it. Other than that; gripping, creepy and, when all is revealed, pretty messed-up too. More Nevill for me.
December 27, 2020
I read and enjoyed two other Nevill books ( and ) but LD was the one I liked the best. Nevill's prose is visceral; full of sensory input (sights, smells, sounds, etc.) that help create a satisfyingly eerie stories such as LD. This is a difficult book to review without spoilers (and oh, that ending!), but it basically follows our main protagonist Kyle and his shooting a documentary on the fly.
Kyle has produced/directed a few documentaries (one seems to be based on Nevill's Ritual!) but is currently hard up for cash and in deep debt. One day he receives an invitation from Max, who has build an (somewhat stale) empire of self help products. Max wants Kyle to film a documentary about the 'last days' cult that ended in mass death and mayhem in Arizona in 1975. Turns out the cult started in London, then moved to France before making it to the States. Max has lined up an itinerary with several people to interview in London, France, Arizona and Seattle regarding the cult and offers some really good money as well. While Kyle is skeptical at first, the needed cash and Max's promise to not micromanage the project win him over.
Kyle runs a crew consisting of himself, Dan the camera man, and Finger Mouse the editor (who never leaves his mother's basement or something like that). Kyle and Dan start the shoot in just a few days after Kyle's meeting with Max in London at an old house that housed the first incarnation of the cult. Due to Max's funds and prodding, they meet one of the original cult members at the house for an extending interview, but then things start to happen...
This could have been really cheesy, like a Blair Witch project (which was referenced in the book), but Nevill manages to pull it off with aplomb. We are treated to the documentary team going deeper and deeper in the cult and its practices as they evolved over time and Nevill manages to keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time. While I really loved the visceral language for the most part, I felt is was a little overdone with Kyle at times, which keeps me from rounding 4.5 stars to 5. Nonetheless, I felt it was his best book to date.
Kyle has produced/directed a few documentaries (one seems to be based on Nevill's Ritual!) but is currently hard up for cash and in deep debt. One day he receives an invitation from Max, who has build an (somewhat stale) empire of self help products. Max wants Kyle to film a documentary about the 'last days' cult that ended in mass death and mayhem in Arizona in 1975. Turns out the cult started in London, then moved to France before making it to the States. Max has lined up an itinerary with several people to interview in London, France, Arizona and Seattle regarding the cult and offers some really good money as well. While Kyle is skeptical at first, the needed cash and Max's promise to not micromanage the project win him over.
Kyle runs a crew consisting of himself, Dan the camera man, and Finger Mouse the editor (who never leaves his mother's basement or something like that). Kyle and Dan start the shoot in just a few days after Kyle's meeting with Max in London at an old house that housed the first incarnation of the cult. Due to Max's funds and prodding, they meet one of the original cult members at the house for an extending interview, but then things start to happen...
This could have been really cheesy, like a Blair Witch project (which was referenced in the book), but Nevill manages to pull it off with aplomb. We are treated to the documentary team going deeper and deeper in the cult and its practices as they evolved over time and Nevill manages to keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time. While I really loved the visceral language for the most part, I felt is was a little overdone with Kyle at times, which keeps me from rounding 4.5 stars to 5. Nonetheless, I felt it was his best book to date.
November 5, 2018
A very solid read. Three books in and I'm digging this Nevill guy. I liked the Ritual and loved Under a Watchful Eye, it remains my favorite by him, and this one starts off strong but kind of slows down in the final third and becomes somewhat repetitive until a crazy and bloody finish. I've grown to like his tell and don't show approach and how he leaves it up to the readers imagination to fill in a lot if the finer details.
February 28, 2021
This book was utterly terrifying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,816 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.