The Epicure

By H.R. Howland

A connoisseur of death believes consuming human flesh will renew his soul--and he's after a young girl who dreams of his depravities night after night in this new work of terror by the author of Ashes. Original.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 042520717X
• ISBN13: 9780425207178
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
• Length: 262 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Delicious

Suspenseful and really rather upbeat by the end. Takes the time to get the audience involved with all the characters, good or bad, rather than rushing to the scenes of killing and dismemberment. My only complaint would be that it strains credulity how the six main characters keep bumping into each other in downtown Philly. It almost seems at times that they are the only people inhabiting that area.

feeling a wee bit unsettled...

R. H. Howland's second offering, "The Epicure" is good. Poe like in its slow metamorphosis of the main characters from normal to fearful, Howland is able to make the transition with grace and believability. He also makes reference to his first book, in that a young police officer, Mike, mentions inspection of a Ghost Ship filled with little piles of ashes. I applaud the author that can link his stories but at the same time make each story complete without the other. And, being a registered nurse myself, any book that has doctors, nurses or other hospital personnel in it bears extra scrutiny from me. I found Howland's use of hospital terms, slang and settings to be precise, correct and believable. His "villain" is all the more creepy, because he is in so many ways, completely normal, and not a monster. But when his careful civilized mask slips, he is reveled in a very vivid and descriptive way. I have read many books, that use the premise of cannibalism to horrify the reader. Most with very little sucess. But in this book, the author's approch is so matter of fact and reverant that even I, a jaded horror buff, was horrified by what was happening. Each bit of preperation gave me more goose bumps. Fast reading, good to the very end. Read it from cover to cover in one sitting, couldn't put it down! Looking forward to his next book! 4+ stars