The Scarlet Gospels by Clive Barker - Book Review

“The Scarlet Gospels” has been what, 20 years in the making? This is a sequel to Barker’s infamous book, “The Hellbound Heart.” But it’s different, changed.

We follow Barker’s favorite spooky detective, Harry D’ Amour, as he fights against his arch-nemesis, the pop-culture phenomenon known as Pin Head, who is a Hell Priest.

But this book is nothing like “The Hellbound Heart”. We start with a resurrection and Pin Head’s arrival, then successive dismantling of all the warlocks (whatever they are supposed to be). Apparently,  Pin Head has plans to rule Hell.

He sets up a trap for Harry D’ Amour, who he sees as an obstacle, to try and get him out of the way, but naturally, Harry survives. He then travels to New York, with his pal, to get another friend (Norma).

Afterward, Norma is stolen by Pin Head, who reveals a boggling truth about what’s going on in Hell. Apparently, Satan has gone missing and Hell has become a thriving society. Harry ends up chasing Pin Head all the way to Hell.

I love Clive Barker, but this book was damn near nothing to do with “The Hellbound Heart”. It’s a lot of occult mumbo jumbo thrown into a world of rising Hell and a grizzled occult detective.

It’s gruesome and bloody, with chains, hooks and all kinds of nasty deaths.  However, Barker’s soul did not appear to be anywhere near him, while he wrote this book. The words are there, but they’re just not his.

It lacks the flair that could have made this book a true masterpiece of hellish horror. We’ve got the gore, the setting, the characters – but it’s empty. I give it a 6/10 because I love Barker and love the journey into Hell’s wasteland. But his normal flare was nowhere to be found.