David Case (1) (1937–2018)

This diminutive lycanthropy tale is far too unknown - there are no reviews on LibraryThing and only a couple conversations about it, probably conversations where some of my LT pals recommended the book to me. It's well written, very Dickensian in structure with multiple perspectives from different characters that are extremely well drawn. It's an interesting take on lycanthropy, very psychologically based, while still leaving the resolution ambiguous enough to include the sceptic and the show more true believer. And from a story-telling perspective, it's quick and rich. As I recently learned from a search, there are far fewer werewolf tales than vampires ones, and this one is absolutely required reading for lycanphiles.

5 human bones and 10 wolf bones!!!!!
Highly Recommended!!!!! show less

My second Case this year, and this one was as good as [Wolf Tracks]. This one is so different in tone and voice as to doubt whether the same author wrote both - a testament to Case's abilities. While the other reviewers rightly characterize it was a zombie/mummy book, there is a slight element of lycanthropy about the narrative, too - that changing into 'the Other' that makes these kinds of books.

A self-styled mystic believes he's found an ancient Egyptian formula for immortality and show more enlists the services of a scholar to translate some hieroglyphics and runes etched into a mummy's tomb. Impatient to begin the work, the mystic experiments on a person to disastrous effects.

Arkham originally published this one and Valancourt resurrected it in a new edition, like [Wolf Tracks]. Case is under appreciated.

5 bones!!!!!
Highly recommended show less

After listening to David Case's The Third Grave, I was a little surprised to find that it was written in 1981; Case writes and creates an atmosphere that feels as if the story were written much earlier in the century, which is a good thing. There is a definite feel of antiquity to the story that lends itself perfectly to what at first feels like a typical mummy-themed adventure but what quickly turns into something more akin to Frankenstein and the accompanying horrors that can be done to a show more human body.

Thomas Ashley, an archaeologist, is invited to the home of a passing acquaintance he met in the dessert once, Lucian Mallory. Mallory claims to have discovered some ancient Egyptian scrolls and needs Ashely's expertise to translate them. Unable to resist the chance to work on this new discover, Ashley travels to Mallory's home where he is immediately and inadvertently thrust into a bizarre case of murder; someone, or something, has committed grisly murders in the quiet little town and some think that newcomer Mallory may have something to do with it. What follows is a fast-paced exploration of what it means for the characters to be human and what it means for them to have a soul, while simultaneously trying solve the mystery of the murders going on in town.

Guy Bethell's narration is really quite good, even if his voice is a little bit on the gravely side sometimes and hard to follow. He captures the essence of the characters and really keeps the story moving along thru his narration.

Overall, if you are a fan of a good mummy story, or a fan of Frankenstein, or just enjoy a good tale of the classic supernatural with a modern flair, David Case's The Third Grave is for you.

I'd like to thank Valancourt Books for providing an Audible download of The Third Grave for review. show less

Better than I expected from this slim novel. I thought it would be a run-of-the-mill mummy story but it turned out that mummies were almost incidental to the story. There were zombies too. And creepy houses with locked doors. However, the author kept the plot fresh enough that despite all these tropes the story was pretty engaging. Plenty of suspense and eerie menace.

The writing was good and the vocabulary wasn't insulting and the author had me wanting to turn the next page so I gave it four show more stars.

For those that care, it has some quirky illustrations and some clever typographical embellishments. show less