Vintage 1960s pagan mystery thriller

If you could sum up Ritual in three words, what would they be?

Classic Folk Horror

What about Ric Jerrom’s performance did you like?

Ric Jerrom's patient delivery is on the mark - it allows the listener time to digest Pinner's flowery literary flourishes.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Intrigue.

Any additional comments?

See amazon for reviews of this Wicker Man ancestor novel. I wish to compliment Ric Jerrom's performance. I read the novel a couple of years before hearing this audio book and am impressed with his patient delivery. There is a lot of rural, pagan descriptive imagery that could so easily flood the listener. Listening to this was an enjoyable, thrilling companion during long dog walks around rural England.

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its NOT the Wickerman

it's what Wickerman is based on but it's very different though the basic set up is the same. the ending totally different.

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The Source of a Dynasty of Horror

Ritual (1967) is the original novel upon which the films The Wicker Man (1973 and 2006) and The Wicker Tree (2011) are based. Of the films, arguably the 1973 version starring Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt and Diane Cilento is the best and well worth watching. I found Ritual, the original book, to be an excellent read the detail of which added different perspectives to the story. The book is set in Cornwall rather than the Scottish Highlands but aside from the added remoteness of Scotland that is really neither here nor there. The book and the film run parallel until about two thirds through but the endings are markedly different. The ending of the film is 'a spectacular' and by and large what it is remembered for but the ending of the book is far more complex and a very well written examination of the police inspector's mental state. Despite the age of the book I am not going to engage in spoilers as I suspect that despite the success of the 1973 film relatively few below a certain age will have read it. I urge you to do this and/or listen to the Audible version as the narration of Ric Jerrom is excellent!!

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An Engaging Inspiration for The Wicker Man

I came to know of Ritual through the film that came to be based on it, the cult classic The Wicker Man. I was intrigued by just how different the two could be, and after listening to the audiobook of Ritual, I was left very much surprised and enjoyed the experience.
While the film loosely retained the book's premise - a policeman investigating what happened to a girl in a village whose religion clashes with his Christianity - the specifics are very different right off the bat. It's in Cornwall rather than the isolated Scottish island of Summerisle, for one. The atmosphere is dark yet with a sense of humour, and candidates are laid out nice and distinctively as the protagonist David Hanlin investigates.
Hanlin isn't like his counterpart Sgt. Howie in The Wicker Man; he's less composed and more expressive in his frustrations, possessing weaknesses that make him interesting and vulnerable. The plot does feel disjointed at times, but at the same time it does add to Hanlin's growing desire to solve the case.
Ric Jerrom does a fantastic service in his narration, providing the energy and flavour that helps bring the fleshed-out characters to life, from the cruel Fat Billy to the flamboyant hammy Cready. His performance makes the story all the more engaging, perfectly fitting the book's tone and atmosphere right to the end.
As for the ending itself, the only thing I'll say is that it's definitely unlike The Wicker Man; it wraps up the mystery and the hints throughout make sense, but it's its own unique shocking entity.
Overall, as a fan of The Wicker Man, I greatly enjoyed Ritual, and I definitely recommend it to fellow fans and lovers of crime/mystery thrillers.

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You can see how this inspired the Wickerman

As a horror novel it stands up well, and yes certainly was a great inspiration for the Wickerman. However it is dated with some uncomfortable language and attitudes that may distract some from enjoying the story and the end is incredibly disappointing.

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Awful

This book is truly awful. I was so disappointed. Do t waste your money on it.

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So bad I could not finish it

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A total re-write. Story is superficial, full of cliches and writing smug, constantly drawing attention to how clever the writer believed himself. It's all yarn and no substance.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Narrated to slowly which made it even more painful to listen to. Had to play it double speed before giving up after hearing the first third of the tale

Any additional comments?

The Wicker Man is a great film, supposedly in part based on The Ritual. Thankfully Anthony Shaffer's screenplay didn't take too much notice of this book.

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