Traumatised by his experiences in the war in the Middle East, Harry Ward has recovered from nearly losing his life and temporarily losing his mind. Whilst travelling across the region to take picture of historic sites for a pictorial book about the Bible, Harry chances upon O’Neil who, suggest that he take a temporary assignment at a nearby archaeological dig, before returning to London. Ward promises only to visit the site, but when he chances upon Clara, he stays. Physically and mentally scared by his experiences fighting the Turks in Mesopotamia, Ward's personal problems recede as he realises that the dig is uncovering something ancient, something evil...

The Devils Ark (404 Pages) is a new novel, from first time writer, Stephen Bywater.

Set just after the First World War, Bywater has produced a story which more than anything reminded me of an early Hammer film. There is the personal and institutional racism which existed at the time as well as the sexual politics, where women were portrayed as either virgins or whores.

Bywater uses this Edwardian fear of a woman’s sexuality, to good effect, in his central threat, that which is buried in the ziggurat. Revealing this is not technically a spoiler, between the books cover, its title and the copy on the back page; the three rather make it obvious that something nasty is lurking in there.

The book is told from the perspective of Ward, still recovering from his wartime experience, his introduction to the archaeological expedition seems fairly normal, just another bunch of Europeans travelling around the globe tomb robbing in the name of science. The leader, Tilden, is a man driven to find something special, partly because his nearest rival in the field is insanely successful at digging treasure from the sands. Where Bywater could have tripped up is with his descriptions of the women involved, Clara, Sasha and Mrs Jackson, but all three have their own distinct voices and collectively represent the dualities inherent in being a sexual woman in that time.

Whilst there are deaths, it is not in the gruesome detailing of these that represent the book's strengths. For a first time novelist, Bywater has produced a book which, once settled into itself, then starts cranking up the tension and the threat levels. It’s a good trick considering he mostly avoids any direct contact between the victims and the thing which lurks beneath the earth.

This is an accomplished first novel, which barely lets the pace drop, characterisations and character development is good as are the period details which help place you in this world. More psychological horror than straightforward slasher novel, it’s well worth a look.

7

Charles Packer