The F is for FEAR Plan - Book Tempting Extreme

Thank you for joining us – wow I never expected to see you back after science day.  No - we don’t do refunds!!  Perhaps we need to wait until the next full moon.  Next up on the FEAR programme Dr R Womble Esq will now explain today’s programme and hand out your syllabus reading material.

Day 7 – The Devil Made Me Do It

Humans love to blame things on anyone but themselves. Be it who left the milk out or major geopolitical decisions we voted on. In some ways our love of the idea of demons and devils is down to our belief that outside forces are trying to influence us when often the hastier truth may be it was in us all along.

In Michelle Paver’s Wakenhyrst (out this week) we see a family torn apart possibly through the influence of the ancient spirits people find behind a church but possibly the monster is closer to home.

I have two interesting detective series that regularly cross the boundaries of demons and outside influences and the crimes we commit. Phil Rickman’s Merrily Watkins series has a female exorcist/vicar dealing with life on the weird border between Wales and England.  One tale the Lamp of the Wicked is the only book that has ever gave me a nightmare. In John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series, the lone PI often found in Maine has over many books been pulled into a world of conspiracies; ghosts and demons with possibly a recurring theme of fallen angels.  These books are beautifully haunting.  I am a huge fan of both series and love the fact the characters are both gaining in time and events have consequences for the future.

The final piece of coursework for the day is the amazing A Headful of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay. A family discover their eldest daughter claiming she is possessed and in a time of financial hardship the best solution appears to be inviting a reality tv show inside the home.  It sounds like it should be fun but it’s played straight and you never get a nice compostable answer as to what is going on.  Read that and feel shivers.

Now today I just need you to stand under the pentagram hold this cup and we will wait…