The Widow of Ratchets

Brookes, Owen (pseud Dean R. Koontz?)

ISBN 10: 0030402964 / ISBN 13: 9780030402968

Published by Holt, Rinwhart and Winston, New York, 1979

About this Item

First USA edition, first impression with full number line. Some edge wear to top and bottom of jacket and spine, some small 'scraped' patches to front jacket (removal of old sticky label?), corners slightly rubbed, not price clipped ($10.00), no inscriptions, internally clean tight and almost square, overall a vg+ copy for its age. 318pp. The slightly supernatural and highly ominous story of American Lyndsay Kramer Dolben, an attractive newlywed who arrives in England to rejoin her husband only to be immediately informed of his recent death. Overcome with grief, the young widow travels to Ratchets, the remote village where Michael's family has lived for centuries. But even before the funeral arrangements are completed, Lyndsay begins to suspect that the traditions of the town and its inhabitants, especially their unorthodox reverence for the Land, are frightening and peculiar. The unravelling of these ancient and bloody fertility rituals and incestuous primitive taboos keeps her intellectually and emotionally occupied for the remainder of this gripping story. Through Lyndsay's eyes and actions we come to understand the formidable powers of the earth. Owen Brookes (a possible pseudonym of American fantasy and horror writer Dean R. Koontz), has written a masterful tour de force, an occult novel at once seductive and authentic, in character and plot. Quite a scarce book.

Seller Inventory # 011035

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Widow of Ratchets
• Publisher: Holt, Rinwhart and Winston, New York
• Publication Date: 1979
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0030402964
• ISBN 13: 9780030402968
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Jacket and illustrations by Amy Hill
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

The Widow of Ratchets tells the slightly supernatural and highly ominous story of American Lyndsay Kramer Dolben, an attractive newly wed who arrives in England to rejoin her husband only to be immediately informed of his recent death. Overcome with grief, the young widow travels to Ratchets, the remote village where Michael's family has lived for centuries. But even before the funeral arrangements are completed, Lyndsay begins to suspect that the traditions of the town and its inhabitants, especially their unorthodox reverence for the Land, are frighteningly peculiar. The unraveling of these ancient and bloody fertility rituals and incestuous primitive taboos keeps her intellectually and emotionally occupied for the remainder of this awesome and gripping story.