Sweetheart, Sweetheart

I love that Valancourt Books have reprinted so many of the old classic horror novels, making what was once difficult to find in used condition brand new again for a new generation of horror readers.

Previously, the only book I had read by this author was Godsend, so many years ago that I can only remember that I enjoyed it, I will need to reread someday. I had no idea he was such a prolific horror and true crime writer. After reading this one I have made it a point to get hold of several of his other titles and a collection of his short stories.

Sweetheart Sweetheart begins innocently enough, with an underlying tension and a slowly building feeling of unease. David has not heard back from his twin brother recently and begins to feel uncomfortable with the silence. True that David is busy with his new life, and new wife but odd that he has not written in some time. David feels compelled to fly off to England to check on him. His girlfriend thinks he is overreacting but he can not ignore the feeling of dread that compels him to go.

Upon his arrival he is told very coldly and bluntly that his brother is dead and that his father could not be bothered to call him in time for the funeral. Between his father and the locals he is given bits and pieces of the story, laden with rumor and innuendo but little in the way of facts and details. As David settles in to the cottage that has been left to him, he considers making it his permanent home, but the more he learns, the more he wants to know, and the more he finds out the clearer it becomes that there is a danger to staying in the lovely cottage where so much death has occurred. The gradual build up of creeping fear makes the ending that much more shocking. This story was brilliant. It is expertly crafted and perfectly executed.