Memory of Trees

Billionaire Saul Abercrombie owns a vast tract of land on the Pembrokeshire coast. By restoring the original forest that covered the area before medieval times, he believes he will rekindle the spirits of ancient folklore. But the re-planting of the forest will revive an altogether darker and more dangerous entity - and young arboreal expert Tom Curtis will find himself engaging in an epic, ancient battle between good and evil. A battle in which there can be only one survivor.

From Publishers Weekly

A massive reforestation project invites malignant supernatural visitations in this enjoyable but unsatisfying tale. Arboreal specialist Tom Curtis, desperate for money, agrees to help dying businessman Saul Abercrombie replant his Welsh estate with the types of trees that thrived there in the Dark Ages. Despite unsettling encounters with a vindictive thorn bush, a laughing cairn, and his doppelganger in a church window, Curtis finds rewards in the friendship of Aber-crombie's daughter, and in his hefty pay. Through selective disclosure of information and quick scene changes, Cottam (The Colony) slowly uncovers hidden connections. As Abercrombie's true motivation emerges and workers disappear, pagan professor Andrew Carrington arrives from London, hoping to prevent the return of an ancient demonic presence. Cottam infuses his story with a convincing sense of eeriness and a well-handled shift from normality to dread, but his aggressively telegraphed (What could possibly go wrong?) and increasingly far-fetched supernatural manifestations degrade the otherworldly to the ludicrous. Readers unshaken by the implausible will enjoy Cottam's imaginative exploration of the power of discredited myths. (Nov.)

From Booklist

Saul Abercrombie, a troubled billionaire (his wife killed herself, he’s recovering from cocaine addiction, and, oh yes, he’s dying of cancer), owns some land on the coast of Wales. Wanting to replant an ancient forest that used to grow on the land, he hires Tom Curtis, an arboreal specialist, to oversee the massive project. Abercrombie is hoping that bringing the forest back to life will also bring back to life certain ancient spirits, enabling him to achieve some sort of peace before he dies, but he hasn’t counted on the emergence of an altogether darker, more malevolent force. Now poor Tom is caught in the middle of a war between good and evil, light and dark. This is the sort of story that horror master Graham Masterton might have tackled; Cottam isn’t quite the storyteller that Masterton is, but he delivers the requisite atmosphere and chills. A solid horror tale. --David Pitt

Booklist

A solid horror tale.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Cottam reads like Graham Masterton, with more of an interest in his characters and their relationships but with the same eye toward the supernatural"

Publishers Weekly

“Readers will enjoy Cottam’s imaginative exploration of the power of discredited myths”

Library Journal

“Cottam creates an atmosphere of eerie, otherworldly suspense.”

Publishers Weekly

“A riveting supernatural thriller” on The House of Lost Souls

Booklist

“A shivery and entertaining read for firelit evenings” on Dark Echo

Booklist

“Cottam skilfully manipulates conventions of both thriller and horror genres into a compelling debut” on The House of Lost Souls

Publishers Weekly

“Cottam does an excellent job of seamlessly meshing real-world and supernatural thrills” on The Magdalena Curse

Publishers Weekly

“A vivid and chilling horror story” on The Waiting Room

About the Author

Former journalist F G Cottam is the author of several highly-acclaimed supernatural thrillers. He lives in Surrey, England.

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