The Long Midnight

I remember seeing Ed’s books in shops when I was younger, mysterious front covers that looked interesting but back covers that sounded just a bit, well, naff. You then look closer and read things like "Master of Dark Suspense", Koontz stating that, "Gorman’s writing is strong, fast and sleek as a bullet". Well, all I can say is that they must have been talking about a different book to this one, maybe even a different author, sorry guys.

The book held absolutely nothing for me and getting through it was a chore to say the least. At a little over 200 pages I should have had this wrapped up in a day, two at most, but over a week!? The story was slow, ponderous and to be honest pointless. There was nothing new to the writing, no originality at all. The characters were unbelievable almost to the point of being every cliché you have ever seen or read. I couldn't connect with anybody, not even Meredith who the story seemed to be about.

I say seemed to be because there were times I forgot who was who and had to flick back. There were still characters there who, by the end of the story I still wasn't sure of their relationship to the novel. I have never cared less about any characters as I have with this book. The story was badly written, a memorable point being Meredith’s sister asleep on the bed snoring, in the next sentence she is talking. No mention of waking up etc. Now I know a writer doesn't have to describe every little thing in detail but come on. I read this passage four times trying to work out why she goes from being asleep to engaging in conversation. Maybe if I didn't have to do that I would have read the book quicker after all.

The story is basically a very poor version of Stephen King’s Firestarter novel. Telling the tale of an institute where psychically gifted children are brought, put under observations and experimented upon in the hope that the institute leader one Candlemas can create a super being, at least that’s what I think he was trying to do, I gave up bothering to try and discover that bit out.

There was nothing in this book. For such a thin book I expected things to move quickly, but no. The ending was dire and although it started out with a bit of promise of a little action and maybe a little gore, that was exactly what you got. A little of each. Don’t even get me started on the title of the book. After completing it, it still makes no sense. The long midnight? Which one? There was no drawn out night that I expected, even the ending was over in about ten pages. Another title should have been, Avoid. If I had have seen that as a title I certainly would have.