Jago by Kim Newman

Award-winning author Kim Newman’s Jago was published back in 1991, and now Titan Books has just re-release this classic horror story.  A hippie music festival takes place in the small English town of Adler.  Like any big rock music festival it divides the town into two camps, those who want the money it brings in and those who hate it, because of all the property damage and troubles it causes lead by Adler villager Danny Keough.  Many young people like Dolar and his caravan of friends attend the festival to party.  On vacation in the town of Adler, Paul is working on his “end of the world” thesis, while his girlfriend Hazel a potter, runs a pottery shop for a family on vacation.  And we find out that this rock festival is run by a religious cult the Agapemone and from within, Susan a British Secret Service agent is trying to find out who is the mysterious figure – Anthony William Jago.  As the music festival begins, urban legends, darkness, and evil is unleashed on the town of Alder.

Jago is not a quick read, but that’s a good thing, since Newman’s writing style brings these various characters to life.  You do have to remember who is what and who did that and so on, it’s like watching The Game of Thrones.  There’s Paul and his girlfriend Hazel, Dolar and friends, and the various members of the Brothers and Sisters of Agapemone.  I found myself wrap up in these characters like Paul and Hazel.  It’s a fun read at every page turn and when you’re thinking it’s about this or that, it’s something else entirely different.

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Paperback Novel:  Jago

Author:  Kim Newman

Publisher:  Titan Books

MSRP:  $15.95USD

Available:  Now