‘The Abominable Book Club is a monthly subscription box for the macabre-minded reader.’
The Abominable Book Club is an exciting new UK based service that offers a ‘featured book, a locally sourced luxury snack, a handful of hot drinks and a bonus, mysterious, second-hand paperback!’
The premise of this box is really interesting and the execution overall has just about hit the mark. It appeals to both the horror/thriller fan looking for something new to read, and will appeal to the wave of collectors that have arisen due to the Paperbacks From Hell phenomena.
For me, the main hook is the second-hand book, picked by the mysterious Brother Immanus Usef, The Head Curator of The Accursed Library. You are encouraged to let everyone know what book you were sent by using the hashtag #RelicsOfImmanas. I like the idea that the people behind The Abominable Book Club are trying to generate a community with their use of Social Media and online forums.
“Brother Immanas, chief custodian of The Accursed Library, has kindly donated books to be included in our boxes this month! To be totally honest we don’t remember agreeing to this, and the packages seem to be stained with something worrying, but nonetheless we hope you enjoy! Brother Immanas was adamant that we include them, and assured us that the faint sound of whispering coming from the packages is TOTALLY NORMAL.”
So what was inside my box? (If you are still waiting for your box to arrive then please look away now.
The Featured Book
Gallery Of The Dead: Chris Carter
‘Thirty-seven years in the force, and if I was allowed to choose just one thing to erase from my mind, what’s inside that room would be it.’
That’s what a LAPD Lieutenant tells Detectives Hunter and Garcia of the Ultra Violent Crimes Unit as they arrive at one of the most shocking crime scenes they have ever attended.
In a completely unexpected turn of events, the detectives find themselves joining forces with the FBI to track down a serial killer whose hunting ground sees no borders; a psychopath who loves what he does because to him murder is much more than just killing – it’s an art form.
Welcome to The Gallery of the Dead.
This is Book 9 in an ongoing series! It appears that it’s not necessary to read the previous 8, with Gallery of the Dead working as a standalone. Personally, I would always endeavour to read the previous novels regardless, and I’m not in a position to include 8 additional novels into my already packed reading schedule. Personal preference, but for me this is a disappointment. I’m sure others will be delighted to have a new thriller from the talented Chris Carter.
The mysterious, second-hand paperback
Hear The Children Calling: Clare McNally
On a lonely desert road, a woman hears the voice of her dead child calling out to her, but no one is near.
Across the country, a psychic tells a bereaved mother that her child lives, though she believed him to be lost in the wreckage of a car crash many years ago. And one day on a playground, a ten-year-old girl glimpses the image of her deceased twin brother, beckoning to her.
As three grieving families find themselves haunted by the voices of their dead children, they come to learn that their children are not dead, as they believed, but have been taken and hidden away at a remote compound, to be used for a single, lethal purpose.
To find their children and discover the truth, the parents embark on treacherous journeys that will take them to the very heart of evil, where three frightened children are crying out for help. Can they save them before their innocence becomes a weapon for deadly psychic evil?
I was really pleased with this. I’d not read it before (an issue that can occur with these subscription boxes), it was obviously second-hand but in great condition, and best of all had that gorgeous old book smell. I’ll be reviewing this book for Kendall Reviews in the near future.
Locally sourced snacks and a selection of hot drinks
A nice touch. A selection of teas and a hot chocolate sat alongside a chocolate bar that could be described prior to tasting as unusual, I’m delighted to report that the White Chocolate, Lemon & Black Pepper from The Little Welsh Chocolate Company was beautiful.
Verdict
The Abominable Book Club is a fantastic idea that ‘just’ fell short for me. The main issue was the featured book, it seems a little odd to include a book that is so far into a series.
This is obviously a passion project and I love the idea of being sent old paperbacks and the potential for a Book Club community forming. The gift from Brother Immanus Usef was beautifully packaged with a wax seal and horrifying blood spatters. I hope they really push and develop this idea as I found the concept very exciting.
I wish The Abominable Book Club every success for the future. Taking into account everything in the box and the website then the £19.99 fee is just about right. with a little fine tuning and a killer featured title in Box 2 this could make moves to be the Horror/Thriller fans Subscription service of choice. I’ll be very interested to see where this project goes. It certainly deserves a chance.
The November Box is available for order NOW
To find out more about The Abominable Book Club visit their official website www.theabominablebookclub.com
You can follow the club on Twitter @abominablebook
Visit the club on Instagram here
I’ve done a few subscription boxes. Like this, they were okay and cleverly packaged. I just felt a wee bit let down.