Furnace

Muriel Gray

Average Rating 7/10 (3 Reviews)

Something is being born. The darkness is its delight, deep and black and hot. Its growth is unstoppable. It knows who has summoned it. It knows that its carrier is aware and afraid. Its time is drawing near...

When long-distance truck driver Josh Spiller pulls into the small backwater town of Furnace, Virginia, he has a lot on his mind. He's been driving for thirty-six hours straight after breaking up with his pregnant girlfriend; he's tired and hungry, and all he wants to do is to get some breakfast and rest.

But Furnace has something special in store for Josh. Among the surprisingly affluent houses, the neat streets and smartly dressed townsfolk lurks the stuff of living nightmare. A sequence of events is about to be unleashed that will test Josh to the edge of his endurance. A world of sorcery and malice is waiting to gather him in. For behind the prosperity of Furnace lie terrible secrets... and a terrifying fate in store for those who take an unwarranted interest.

Even now, as Josh searches for a place to stop, his electric-blue Peterbilt roaring through the gears, the eyes of the town are upon him.

Review by Chrissi (010702) Rating (8/10)
Review by Nigel (010602) Rating (9/10)
Review by Kevin (011001) Rating (5/10)

Review by Chrissi
Rating 8/10
The beginning of this is reminiscent of a Stephen King, and it is all a bit surreal. From then on it starts to make a tad more sense and will keep you guessing right up until the end. Reading this book was like watching a horror movie, you know what will happen when they turn off a road (Jeepers Creepers, anyone?) and you cannot help but yell at them to tell them how dim they are being, or is that just because I am the most annoying person in the cinema? Maybe. But anyway, it is frustrating because in a similar situation, I would never be so dumb, and it almost makes you squirm. But there is a hell of a twist at the end. Squirm away...
Chrissi (1st July 2002)

Review by Nigel
Rating 9/10
This is the second book by Muriel Gray I have read and I have to say it is quite brilliant. It tells the story of Josh Spiller, a long distance lorry driver who stops at a little town in Virginia to take a well earned rest. Things don't work out however and after a rather unpleasant incident he leaves the town hoping never to look back. However, all is not what it seems.

The plot revolves around an object Josh has unwittingly been given. He must return it or die when a certain time passes. The trouble is the people who have given it to him also realise that the current owner of the object, whoever that may be, will suffer the same fate and it can only be taken willingly.

Josh doesn't know this at first and when he finds out it all becomes a bit of a problem. You read along knowing there is no way anyone will be stupid enough to accept the item so how will Josh survive? And that is the question… does he?

The answer is the brilliant bit... as well as the writing... and the plot... and the characters… ah go on, ignore what Kevin says and read it.
Nigel ( 1st June 2002)

Review by Kevin
Rating 5/10
I didn't know what to expect with this book; it was recommended by Nigel, in fact he bought it for me, but only because I promised to do a review! (This is true... but only because Nigel, like the disciple of any religion, wishes to spread the good word. Ed.) Actually, it has taken so long to write this, he has promised to fix my Internet connection when it's finished!

I'm not a Stephen King fan and Muriel Gray is supposed to be his rival.

The story starts slowly, and like a truck running down hill, gathers pace all the way to its furious climax. Not really my cup of tea, but ok.
Kevin (1st October 2001)