Cabal
Review by Bindi Lavelle
Story by Clive Barker
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

True to form, Clive Barker expertly blends gore with dark fantasy in Cabal.

Boone is mentally unstable, but he’s getting help from psychiatrist Decker. Too bad his shrink is a serial killer setting Boone up. This leads to Boons death at the hands of pursing police.

But of course Boone is not really dead as such, rather he has become a member of the Nightbreed. The secrets of the Nightbreed are reviled as Boone’s girlfriend Lori, searches for him and for answers.

The pace of the book is what makes it: gentle and subtle while at the same time tightly building suspense and intrigue. Cabal explores themes common to Barker’s work, the idea of the sinister being equally sublime and seductive as it is repellent.

Cabal is a satisfying red for Clive Barker fans, it is an enchanting story written in his typical fashion. Those less familiar with his style will enjoy the combination of gothic and slasher technique. If you haven’t read Clive Barker, this is an excellent place to start.7/10.