Great Isolation horror: The Ritual by Adam Nevill

[@krisprepolec5616]

My husband is an editor of short story anthologies, so we happen to be friends with a number of writers. One year at the World Horror Convention in Brighton we were going out for a curry with a number of friends (Mark Morris, Tim Lebbon, Stephen Volk, and Robert Shearman), and they invited Adam and his Dad along. Absolutely lovely, the both of them. Now that was some great dinner conversation :-) I definitely need to read more of his stuff as well.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That sounds like great company for a meal!

[@joelincoln6560]

Hell yeah, Adam is the best British horror writer working today. The ritual slaps.

[@authenticpoppy]

Great book. The first I read from his catalog. I'm jealous that you get to read the rest for the first time. I binged his books after reading The Ritual. It kick-started the return of my love for horror. The Reddening has a wonderful creep. And a couple of bloodbaths to keep things interesting. It's still wordy, but it's nowhere near, say, Henry James. ;)

[@patricia_ps]

I LOVE Adam Nevill (as a person and as a writer). My favorite so far is No One Gets Out Alive, but I'm currently reading The Reddening and it's great!!

[@SheilaTheGrate]

I love love love the movie. I have a giant tattoo of the creature having tea in the forest on my right calf. This story gets into your head. I call it, with great affection and respect, "The Male Version of the Descent". And, indeed, this and the Descent are always in my top horror faves.

[@heatherdennison7781]

Couldn't agree more, about it getting into your head. Calling it the male version of The Descent is spot on!

[@kellyshaw7271]

Just finished this after your recommendation. God it was gripping. It was also insightful for a horror. Evaluating life and what matters most in it. I thought it was excellent. Cheers Olly

[@Mattblaster0]

The first half of this book is my favorite horror novel I’ve ever read. I wasn’t as impressed with the second half, but I still enjoyed it, and overall this is one of my favorite horror novels.

[@rongarrander5317]

I loved this book and you articulated perfectly everything that makes this such a compelling horror read.

[@mmcclymont02]

One of my faves. Last Days by Nevill is a terrifying read if you're planning on reading more of his work.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I definitely am!

[@dalbiza1]

I read Cunning Folk because of your review. It was CREEPY! It really got into my head. I have to read more of his stuff. I loved the movie for The Ritual - will definitely add this to my

[@allgirlreview433]

Thank you for the recommendation. Just borrowed from the library.

[@benjackson1077]

Brilliant! I use my library too 😊

[@GentleReader01]

@@benjackson1077The library and Libby app make it possible for me to keep doing the 500-book read what you own challenge. 👍🏼

[@abbysweat9202]

Late addition here and I'm not really saying anything you didn't say but I also really appreciated the two halves of the story, almost like a two for one. The first story was a character study, examining our perceptions of others and circumstances and how sometimes we can be so wrong about each other. But there are some great scares in there too that both reveal character AND move the story along. Then of course the other half being more about looking inside, rather than looking around. Like you said, he really is a masterful writer, to almost put two books together and have it not only make sense but be even better for it.

[@tonycarel1785]

Great review. I'll pick this book up. Thanks for the suggestion

[@Jager71]

This is the first book I read of his, and honestly have never read a bad one. Banquet for the Damned and No One Gets Out Alive are really good.

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

The Ritual is great book. It had a flavour of King for me. Decent film too.

[@susanjohnson5824]

I liked the book the Ritual. I also saw the movie after reading the book. I liked both of them.

[@sheriffflynn]

I've never heard of Adam Nevill before, but I'm intrigued. I love character work, so I will check him out.

[@LiteraryLife]

And…..now this book is on its way to my TBR stack! Sounds really good.

[@ItsComfort]

Evening, Olly! This has definitely gone on my TBR. I saw the trailer for what I guess is the movie adaption recently and thought that looked cool - so glad I can read this before I watch that. On another note I was wondering if you had read either of the follow-ups to Stephen Graham Jones’ ‘My Heart is a Chainsaw’? I really enjoyed ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ and I’m currently reading the third and final instalment ‘The Angel of Indian Lake’ which is shaping up to be another fun read. Thanks for the videos!

[@NovelFindsByKassi]

Hey Olly. The way you've described this book is so intriguing! I'm deffo going to check it out. I also think I'm going to go ahead and join your book club for your next read. I haven't read any Adam Nevill books but I don't know if that's saying much since I haven't historically read a lot of horror. Thanks for another great review!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Kassi! Hope you enjoy our next book!

[@TheMike28212]

Great review! I read The Ritual a few years ago and loved it. I also read The Vessel last year and enjoyed it as well. I have a few other books on my shelves by Adam Nevill that I want to read.

[@TheHammy1987]

I LOVED The Vessel, still need to read The Ritual, but I hope knowing (and loving) the movie won't take away from my enjoyment...

[@Dmoon1234]

The Ritual is in Kindle Unlimited so I’ll give it a chance. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@jennystout8600]

LOVE this book...I kept looking over my shoulder while I was reading it. Last Days by Nevill is also great.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah it was super unsettling!

[@kirstyfairly4371]

So glad you enjoyed The Ritual, i loved that book. I read The Ritual when it first came out, & i've been a fan of Adam Nevill ever since (he's an incredible writer). I'm looking forward to eventually hearing your thoughts on No One Gets Out Alive. I found that novel truly terrifying. It's my favourite of the four books that i've read by Adam Nevill so far, & both No One Gets Out Alive & The Ritual are two of my favourite horror novels.

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

I read it around the time it was published and loved it. Liked it better than Last Days.

[@jennifersimpson7200]

Hi Olly, just subscribed to your channel 😀 I want to get back into reading and discovered you while searching for some inspiration on what to read. I love crime, mystery, ghost/supernatural stories. I’ve read a lot of Val McDermid, Ian Rankin that kind of thing ( sorry couldn’t help it 😂) also Dracula, The Exorcist both way better the films. The subject of this video reminded me of a book I’ve had for years but never read, it’s called Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. It’s about a guy who goes on an arctic expedition with a group of people but ends up on his own - or so he thinks. It’s a story of isolation, being in darkness and the tricks it plays on the mind. I’ll have to dust it off and give it a read 📖

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hello! Thanks so much for subscribing! 😊 Dark Matter is great! Thin Air by Paver is similar and also really good

[@FlowerPower69123]

One of my favourites, not read all his books yet. Still to read cunning folk

[@MovieHeretic]

Saw the movie (Netflix) and have added the book to my wish list, we are currently doing Xmas lists for each other, have three Nevill novels on my mine. Will see if you have covered No One Gets Out Alive

[@troytradup]

Sounds intriguing. I will check it out next time I'm "not buying, just looking, no really" at the bookstore.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ha ha you should

[@alex_unabridged]

Nevill has been on my radar for ages but I'm yet to try one of his - I think I need to change that soon! This sounds right up my street. Great review, Olly 🙂

[@markmorris2514]

Hi Olly. Adam's a great mate of mine, and it's interesting what you say about his writing style. Knowing him as I do, I can tell you that he's incredibly meticulous when it comes to word choice, and works extremely hard not only to achieve exactly the right effect and atmosphere he's aiming for, but also to push that effect/atmosphere as far as it can possibly go. He's also steeped in the history of the genre, and is a huge admirer of Ramsey Campbell, Robert Aickman, and many classic writers such as M.R. James, Algernon Blackwood etc, all of whose influences, I think, are evident in his work. Incidentally, if you're wondering which of Adam's books to read next, I would highly recommend either Last Days or No One Gets Out Alive. The former is one of the creepiest, most unsettling books I've ever read, and the latter is one of the most gruelling.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Cheers Mark. He definitely manages that with the atmosphere! His writing feels very precise to me, and definitely very effective, I think it’s just that my personal taste in prose leans more towards simplicity. I have No One Gets Out Alive on my kindle so might try that one next!

[@beckymcdonald9529]

I just finished reading this too 🖤

[@benjackson1077]

Read The Vessel by him. I'm thoroughly enjoying it

[@stephennootens916]

He is one of the authors I was hoping to read some from this year and it sounds.like I might put him higher on my list.

[@adriennelee26]

Adam Nevill also writes excellent and very creepy short stories.

[@GentleReader01]

Including the amazing collection Wyrd And Other Derelictions, stories without characters. Each one describes the aftermath in a place where something horrible happened, using different styles of presentation.

[@morticiaaddams9777]

I love this book. The film is also fantastic and one of my favorites.

[@CheveeDodd]

I've got this on my Kindle ready and waiting for me to finish this new Koontz book. Excited for it!

[@pickyourpopculturepoison]

I’ve only seen the movie but loved it!

[@davlang3783]

I saw the film a few years ago and enjoyed it but didn't realise it was an adaptation. You've sold me on giving the book a go..

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@mbarollo]

adding this to my list right now!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Enjoy!

[@christophergibbons7729]

Great video as always. Intrigued to know if you’ve seen the movie. If not, I can highly recommend it

[@heathen6165]

Never read the book, but I will. But the film was absolutely outstanding.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I still need to watch the movie

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

This is on my physical TBR! 😅

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@paulaj7860]

Great book!

[@abbysweat9202]

Just finished it, loved it. I agree with something you said in another video, he overuses "mate" but that's a small criticism. Since I listened to the audiobook, I could've done without the yelling but I have PTSD so that's my problem, not the narrator's. And besides, I LOVED his voice acting in the second half, accent was great. Not accurate, but awesome nonetheless.

[@BookMaven9]

I loved the movie. Based on your review I’ll give the book a go.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you enjoy it. I haven’t seen the movie but hear it’s quite different

[@Joaquim.Oliveira]

Watch the movie , the “villain” is soooo great

[@Adeodatus100]

I've read two books by Neville - loved Cunning Folk, really didn't like The Reddening. On my Kindle wishlist there's an omnibus edition of The Ritual, Apartment 16, and Last Days. We'll see....

[@chrisnichols9936]

Oh man, All the Fiends of Hell is a real treat. If you liked the isolation of The Ritual, the bleak loneliness of AtFoH is fully as good. Also good from Nevill are Wyrd and Other Derelictions, The Reddening, Cunning Folk, and No One Gets Out Alive. Have you tried Laird Barron or Stephen Graham Jones? Also good choices if you like pulp, crime, horror, and that kind of thing ;)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I need to get to Fiends soon! I’ve read and really like SGJ. Laird Barron I haven’t tried yet, but I do have one by him on the shelf.

[@patlockwood6207]

Another question Dark Matter. Blake Crouch or Michelle Paver? Sorry I forgot which author. Rainy season here. Ordering books.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Paver. Although the Crouch one is pretty good too

[@sisterhoney61]

I really enjoyed this novel. However, I didn't like movie, since the two are so different. I also enjoyed his novel Cunning Folk. I need to find more of his books.

[@myneighbourjohnturturro]

You sold me :)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Enjoy!

[@danhamilton7990]

This is a movie on Netflix

[@patlockwood6207]

Is this the same Adam Nevill that wrote Cunning Folk? It was a very boring book. Hope this one is good. I am ordering it on your recommendation.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It is the same guy! Hope you like this one more

[@nunyabidness4220]

The only Nevill book I haven't liked is The Reddening (and I *really* hated that one). Everything else I've read by him I've either LOVED (like in my best-horror-books-ever list) or liked a whole lot. The Ritual and The Last Days are on my best-horror-novels-ever short list. Some of his more recent stuff is burdened by a bit too much description that slows them down, but they're still grade-A books. The Reddening, though, just didn't work for me at all... just over-described tedium with little payoff, in my perception. But, I believe it won an award, so that may have just been me or my mood at the time. You should definitely read it for yourself, but read Last Days and House of Small Shadows, etc. first. Hold off on The Reddening until you're firmly cemented that you like him.

[@ginabeena6757]

Agreed! No one gets out alive really affected me, I would have sworn it was written by a woman given the way he describes anxieties that are unique to females.

[@nunyabidness4220]

@@ginabeena6757 Yep, that was another really good one!

[@Sammyspack]

I read this six months ago. Heard he was like Stephen king. Was disappointed.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I think he’s very different to King

[@buff_mermaid]

I read Last Days and had the opposite experience with it. It was boring, not scary at all, and very disappointing in every way imaginable. :( It put me off Adam Nevil.

[@DDB168]

Hmmm ok, you just lost me at ornate. He writes for writers, not readers. Pet hate of mine.

[@GentleReader01]

No, he writes for readers who like the style. You don’t have to be one of them, but we’re not an imaginary group.