Ravens Gathering by Graeme Cumming

I am delighted to be on the blog tour today for Ravens Gathering by Graeme Cumming organised by Love Books Group Tours.

Ravens Gathering is definitely a thinker. It is absolutely not what I expected, and whilst it isn’t the type of book I would normally pick up, I’m so pleased that I did as I really enjoyed it!

The story centres around the return of Martin Gates who has returned to his home village after fifteen years away, much to the horror of his family. His return coincides with a tragic accident and a strange gathering of ravens. As tensions rise and reach breaking point, villagers both new and old are drawn in to the mysterious happenings.

Ravens Gathering defies classification in terms of genre, it’s a bit of a thriller/crime/horror/sci fi hybrid. The premise of the story is what attracted me to the novel, and it is very well executed by the author. Initially I found myself a little frustrated as I wanted more to happen, but I never once considered not reading on, as I was so entranced by the story.  Little hints were drip fed enticingly throughout the narrative which compelled me to read on and before long I found that even when I wasn’t reading I was trying to figure out what the heck was going on!

I do wish that I had been reading from a paperback instead of an eBook, as I would have appreciated the ease of flipping back to fact check in a book! The author is a slippery customer and likes to play with the reader. Just when you think that you know something about a character, or you attribute a certain chapter to a particular character, all of a sudden everything you thought you knew is on it’s head and you have to completely re-assess! It’s all part of the fun of the novel though and it’s a great device for keeping the reader both interested and on their toes.

I can’t review this book without mentioning the ending. It was……..crazy. It was beyond anything I could have dreamt up, and it was horrifyingly disturbing. I actually had nightmares after reading. It was however very fitting with the themes and the overall feel of the book and it served to show the sheer level of evil at play versus humanity.

Ravens Gathering feels so much more than just a stand alone novel, it feels like a gateway. Having read the novel, I feel as if I’ve just entered another realm and I’m standing on the threshold where there is so much more to discover. The story is tied up enough for it to have a satisfying end, but I am fascinated by how much further the author could go with his idea. Certain elements are explained enough to explain the novel, but I have so many more unanswered questions. I will definitely be looking out for more by Graeme Cumming and I’ll be fervently hoping that there will be a continuation of the story started in Ravens Gathering. It is very deserving of a prequel at the very least, if not further installments!

Synopsis

As she let her gaze drift around her, she saw that there were more birds.  Perhaps a dozen or so, perched among the trees that stood on the edge of the clearing.  And yet more were arriving, swooping down through the gap overhead and landing on branches that overlooked them.  The birds weren’t threatening, yet the sight of them all coming together in this dark and isolated spot was unnerving.  Tanya reached a hand out towards Martin, and was relieved to feel him take it.  She felt him move in behind her.  After the uncertainty she’d experienced with him in a similar position only a few moments ago, she recognised the irony of her reaction.  His closeness offered security. 

 “You know what they are, don’t you?” 

A stranger’s arrival in a small village coincides with a tragic accident.  For the Gates family in particular it’s more than a coincidence, but unease increases following a brutal attack.  As tensions rise, a dark past returns to haunt them and others, while newcomers to the village are drawn into a mystery with terrifying consequences.

And only a select few know why the ravens are gathering.

About the Author

Graeme Cumming lives in Robin Hood country.  He has wide and varied tastes when it comes to fiction so he’s conscious that his thrillers can cross into territories including horror, fantasy and science fiction as well as more traditional arenas. 

When not writing, Graeme is an enthusiastic sailor (and, by default, swimmer), and enjoys off-road cycling and walking.  He is currently Education Director at Sheffield Speakers Club.  Oh yes, and he reads (a lot) and loves the cinema.

*I received an ebook of Ravens Gathering in exchange for my honest review