The Going and the Rise

By: F. G. Cottam

Narrated by: David Rintoul

Length: 2 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the tale of a deadly conspiracy, an all-consuming obsession and an unlikely heroine.

Michael Aldridge, talented architect and devoted family man, has built his dream home on the Isle of Wight, but when strange coincidences take a sinister turn, he must uncover a long-forgotten secret before it's too late.

A wonderfully sinister new novella from the master of the chilling ghost story, The Going and the Rise questions how far you would go to realise your dream...and what you would risk to protect the one you love.

©2015 Francis Cottam (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Side Story to The Colony series

I had read The House of Lost Souls by Cottam and thought it was good but not great. But it wasn't enough to put me off of him forever. I found The Going and the Rise on Audible and decided to give it a go. In length it's more of a novella. It could be expanded to a fuller length book but it sounds like it's a short story featuring one of the characters from Cottam's Colony series.

The narrator is perfect for the book and is an excellent reader. I would definitely listen to him again if he narrates other horror novels. His voice fit the story perfectly.

I liked the book, overall. It's hard to say too much about the plot without giving a lot of it away given its brevity but I'll try. It's a very good supernatural mystery. The first couple of hours or so is more of a mystery with light supernatural touches. Then it plunges fully into the supernatural in the last hour or so.

I like Michael as a character. He's interesting and fully rounded. His wife and daughter are equally fleshed out. The illness with his daughter felt very real, not just a prop for the story to start with. It also isn't dropped or trotted out for cheap sentimentality. It plays a major role in the plot. I can also understand the wife's actions as well. I can see why she would want to turn a blind eye to what is happening with their daughter. I can't say I really liked the character of Ruthie who, I'm guessing, is the character from the Colony series. So her presence doesn't make me want to rush out and get the rest. I am interested in it but for other reasons. I'm guessing that she's supposed to be the "unlikely heroine" but she's a very minor character and the description seems shoved in to match a keyword search for "heroines" or "unlikely heroines". But that could just be me being cynical.

There is a sharp turn near the end that I didn't quite believe but it was set up well. It was surprising but I can see why he did it. It seems like it would backfire if she was that determined to stay at the house. The ending was good and fit the rest of the story.

All in all it's good supernatural mystery and well worth the three hours.

Not really a sequel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, to anyone who likes a good mystery. This is the 3rd book of his that I have read and all of them have kept me on the "edge of my seat". I found them hard to turn off because I wanted to know what would happen next.

What did you like best about this story?

Once again, F. G. Cottam writes great characters into his books, which is important to me in a story. I also love that the plots are not easy to figure out until the very end and his endings are always surprising. Also, I like that they are very atmospheric, humorous at times and totally riveting.

Which character – as performed by David Rintoul – was your favorite?

I like all of the characterizations by David Rintoul. He is a great narrator and can do any kind of voice perfectly. I enjoyed the return of the "goth" girl from the previous book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Miracles or Maladies?

Any additional comments?

Though this was listed as the 3rd book in the "Colony" series it isn't really connected. It is more a short story in which one of the characters from the previous books appears briefly. It is an enjoyable and mysterious stand alone book that doesn't require the reader to have read the two previous books (though I highly recommend them).. The plot is completely different from the two former novels, though on its own, very enjoyable.

Estimable and haunting

An excellent short work, and a great bridge from the 1st novel to the 2nd... Dark and insinuating w/ evocative imagery and setting... Skillfully drawn characters and superior narration...