The Scarlet Gospels

March 23, 2015
Harry D’Amour, the psychically sensitive detective from Barker’s Books of Blood, faces off with Pinhead, the sadistic Cenobite star of the Hellraiser series, in this gory battle royal that takes the reader literally to hell and back. Following a blood-spattered prologue that sets the tone for the rest of the novel, Pinhead—here portrayed as a demon residing in hell—lures D’Amour and his entourage of mortal sidekicks to the infernal realm to serve as “witness” to what the demon calls “my gospels”: a succession of gruesome atrocities whose purpose is revealed in the tale’s outrageous climax. Barker’s depiction of hell is Dantesque in scope and scale, and his descriptions of its architecture and denizens form an awesomely creative display of imagination. The visceral horrors that clot nearly every page of this novel are not for the squeamish, but the reader who stomachs them to the end will be impressed by the audacity of the author’s ambitions.

Master of horror Clive Barker strikes again with more stories of the battle between good and evil featuring detective Harry D'Amour and his nemesis, Pinhead, the priest of hell. John Lee's performance will chill listeners to their marrow as he narrates in emotionless tones. Lee's sonorous voice is perfect for the bloodcurdling magicians, demons, and supernatural creatures who hunt Harry and his friends. Lee breathes life into each character with different accents and varied interpretations. This collection of tales of the Hellraiser series is for listeners with strong hearts and a love of the horror story. Crude language is interspersed with graphic descriptions of torture and death. Listen with the lights on. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine