When I was at the Headline Blogger’s Meet-Up back in May, this was one of the books I was most excited about reading. I did start it back then, but ended up having to put it to one side. When R.I.P VI came around, I eagerly picked it up again.

Meet Jud Lester: Star agent with C.R.Y.P.T, the Covert Response Youth Paranormal Team. When a crime is committed and the police are at a loss, C.R.Y.P.T is called in to figure out whether something paranormal is at work.

Jud is their star agent. Jud, unwillingly paired with new recruit Bex, has just landed his biggest case yet …people have been disappearing in mysterious circumstances while others are viciously attacked – yet there are no suspects and a complete lack of hard evidence. The only thing that links each attack is the fact that survivors all claim that the culprits were 17th century highwaymen.

Can Jud and Bex work out what has caused the spirits of these dangerous men to return to the streets of London before they wreak more death and destruction?

– Publisher’s Blurb

The book certainly starts as it means to go on, with a wonderfully, creepy and extremely gory attack on a tube train, by a ghostly highwayman. (Probably not one therefore for the younger crowd, but boys 14+ will love it!) When the police draw a blank in their investigations, they call in the Covert Response Youth Paranormal Team or CRYPT for short. (I’ll be honest, I do find this acronym a little forced, but it’s really only for the cover and they’re just referred to as CRYPT for the most park in the novel, so, it’s something I can live with).

Early on, we also get to see the mysterious past of our hero Jud Lester and the events that led to the formation of the organisation. While interesting, (and partly because Jud takes a little bit to warm to), I found the book a slow one to get into. However, once Bex comes on to the scene forcing Jud to open up a little bit more (yes there is the potential of a romance, but it’s more to with him having to interact with someone, a friendship, than anything else) and the investigation kicks into big gear, I was gripped!

The gore, doesn’t let up either, as the attacks become more frequent, and Hammond does a great job in describing them in all their gruesome glory.

Whilst a little predictable (the hero making friends with the unwanted partner) the partnership between Jud and Bex does feel genuine, and they’re easy to root for professionally, as friends (and maybe more).

The creeps, gore and tension, build towards a cracking showdown, as Jud, Bex and the rest of the CRYPT team, solve the mystery and come together to win (or maybe just survive) the day.

Buy: C.R.Y.P.T: The Gallows Curse by Andrew Hammond from The Book Depository