The Caleighs have had a terrible year...They need time and space, while they await the news they dread. Gabe has brought his wife, Eve, and daughters, Loren and Cally, down to Devon, to the peaceful seaside village of Hollow Bay. He can work and Eve and the kids can have some peace and quiet and perhaps they can try, as a family, to come to terms with what's happened to them...Crickley Hall is an unusually large house on the outskirts of the village at the bottom of Devil's Cleave, a massive tree-lined gorge - the stuff of local legend. A river flows past the front garden. It's perfect for them...if it a bit gloomy. And Chester, their dog, seems really spooked at being away from home. And old houses do make sounds. And it's constantly cold. And even though they shut the cellar door every night, it's always open again in morning The Secret of Crickley Hall is James Herbert's finest novel to date. It explores the darker, more obtuse territories of evil and the supernatural. With brooding menace and rising tension, he masterfully and relentlessly draws the reader through to the ultimate revelation one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside.

James Herbert (born 8 April 1943, London) is an English novelist known for his work in the horror genre. He has been widely recognised as a writer of simple yet compelling sensationalist novels, which are notable for their use of horrific set pieces. His heroes are usually young, rather cynical men, whose fight against the horror is abetted by the growth of a strong sexual relationship.

Born in London, James Herbert has worked as a singer and the art director of an advertising agency. Today, he lives near Brighton with his wife and daughters, and is a full-time writer. He also designs his own book covers and publicity.