The Midnight Man

By Simon Clark

Book Overview

1888. The Yellow House, Aries: Vincent Van Gogh paints works of transcendent genius, while in London a killer launches a reign of terror.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0727866370
• ISBN13: 9780727866370
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Severn House
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Vincent Van Gogh meets Jack the Ripper!

Simon Clark is the best thing working in horror/thriller fiction today and each of his novels (mostly stand-alones) are works of imaginative fiction that recall the earlier efforts of Clive Barker. In "The Midnight Man" we are given the account of Vincent Van Gogh and his mysterious friend, Pastor Hux. Van Gogh is living in Arles, France, and Hux in London, England. The tale is told from the perspective of two women - Ty and Nidabi - who are each living as companions who were saved by these two men. While we get a nicely defined picture of Van Gogh at the cusp of his creative height we are also shown the spiral into darkness of Pastor Hux that has caused him to slaughter many prostitutes and other unfortunates around the Whitechapel section of London. The two pairs eventually meet and the build-up to the stunning conclusion is well paced. In addition to a fine thriller novel we are also given perspective that may explain Van Gogh's madness, self-mutilation and fear of poison. I also like the fact that the name, Jack the Ripper, is never mentioned - yet the murders commited by Pastor Hux fit that persona. A must for fans of horror, thriller or historical fiction. Well done. Ray Palen (Simon Clark's #1 U.S. Fan)