I am a fan of JG Faherty, so when I saw his latest novel, Ragman, was on NetGalley, I automatically requested it. I am also a fan of mythology and creatures, so the fact that this book has a mummy makes it even better. If you like creatures and mythological horror, you should absolutely read this book. It is a fun quick read.

I wanted to like Ragman, I really did, but I just couldn't get into it. I read it, but it wasn't for me. The story was a little slow and the elements were convoluted. The premise was there, but the execution was not what I was hoping for. I hope this feedback doesn't deterr FlameTree Press from letting me have a crack at future reviews. Some of my favorite titles over the past year have been from them.

299 pages

4 stars (for editing only)

This is a great book. I truly enjoyed reading it. Mr. Faherty has a real talent for writing horror and creating great characters. His descriptions are so realistic that I felt I was there to witness all that happened first hand. The dialogue is sparse and to the point. I found little to criticize about this book - except… The editing is terrible. There are portions of paragraphs that are repeated word for word. There are paragraphs that end in mid-sentence. The next sentence begins a new topic or conversation. It was extremely frustrating. Either that, or the book did not translate to Kindle very well at all.

In 1888, soldiers robbed a tomb while in Egypt. They were confronted by the temple guard. The soldiers shot him, but before he died he vowed revenge.

This is the story of the revenge taken by the entity several years later on the grandsons and great-grandsons of those soldiers. It is a fast paced and action filled story. We have a retired police officer and his former partner who is still a police officer who team up to investigate the raging, unstoppable mummy and eventually face it in combat. There are several other colorful characters in the book who add to the tension and interest.

If you like stories about Egyptian curses or good old fashion horror, you will like this book. I am a little embarrassed to admit it, but I had fun with this book. It was great entertainment.

I want to thank NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

If you like classic Hammer films, then this title is for you. This is an edge of your seat story with elements of the supernatural. It was reminiscent of a Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston novel. An ushabti, a mummy, is wrecking havoc on Upper East side residents. They all seem to have one common denominator. Their distant relation had traveled to Egypt in the late 1800s. So, why is the Ragman attacking these people? Detective Dan Reese and his former partner, Tom Reardon, battle the supernatural and try to discover who is controlling this unstoppable killer.

In 1882, a group of men stumble upon a life altering Egyptian treasure. Only one man is held accountable - killed; the priest designated to guard the treasure dedicates his soul to revenge, his curse ringing as the boat sails away.
Present day - Retribution has come. An ancient being is called upon to bring their decedents to hell.
Dan - NYPD Detective, and his partner are assigned the case. Ancient wrappings are found at the scene - as well victim literally torn apart.
Tom, formerly Dan's partner, is tasked by the wealthy widow to work with the police to solve the case.
Legend. Horror. Sexual tension. Fast paced and well written.

This has everything you would want out of a Mummy Curse book: a mummy, egyptian gods and greedy thieves. Oh, and plus two good men trying to figure it all out, and the two good women behind them.

It is a fun ride, especially as it likes to take you on little tangents to what you expect to happen, and leaves you guessing what exactly will happen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had the right level of detailed gore, rich history and modern logic to it. A must read for all horror fans.

Have any of your ancestors wronged a high priest in service of the Eqyptian God Sokar? You had better hope not because they can hold a massive, centuries-long grudge—and they have unstoppable mummies at their disposal.

Book Information

Thanks to Flame Tree Press for providing me with an advance copy of Ragman by J.G. Faherty. The book is 256 pages and is scheduled for publication on January 10, 2023. Faherty is the author of nine novels, eleven novellas, and more than seventy-five short stories, and has been a finalist for both the Bram Stoker Award (The Cure, Ghosts of Coronado Bay) and ITW Thriller Award (The Burning Time). He is also a member of the Horror Writers Association—a member in good standing if this book is any indication.

Plot Summary

In the late 1800, eleven British soldiers discover and rob an Egyptian temple, in the process killing the high priest. Fast forward to current day, the eleven decedents of the soldiers are now wealthy and successful based on the plundered riches. But, the priest had vowed revenge and had the supernatural means to enact it and recover the stolen treasures. Horrible, gruesome, and unexplainable murders begin. The meager information available points toward a huge, inhumanly strong assailant wrapped in rags. It’s up to a pair of dysfunctional cops, and a talented but even more troubled former partner of one of the cops to solve the mystery and prevent further murders—including their own.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed Ragman. There aren’t many recent books with a mummy as a villain/monster and even fewer that are satisfying. JG Faherty’s well-written tome thrusts the mummy back into the forefront of monster lore and will no doubt reignite excitement for this horrific, mythical beast.

The book does an excellent job of blending history with religion, myth, and lore. Readers may recognize gods used in recent movies or mini-series (for example Anibus with his golden scale) which adds some familiarity. It’s not necessary to understand or enjoy the book but adds to the enjoyment if you are familiar. It allows for even more appreciation as Faherty’s story isn’t in any way repetitive of others, rather adding to what readers might already know.

I also enjoyed the interaction and relationships between the main characters. It’s a web of interlocking, strained at best, dysfunctional at worst, connections that work to resolve issues while trying to survive.

The book is well-paced and does a good job of revealing the strengths/powers and limitations of the Mummy. I found the descriptions and imagery of current-day, historical and mythical locations to be well done.

Recommendation

If you like horror, monsters, or crime-noir (with high, gruesome body counts) then this book is for you. You will finish with a renewed appreciation for the Mummy as a horror protagonist and a hope that you have no tomb raiders in your family tree. Great book.

Rating

Four strong mummified stars.

4 Stars!

Mummies are difficult monsters for me. While I am fascinated by the history and mythology that surrounds them, the thought of a mummy running amok in the modern world just is not frightening to me. I have always found mummy stories to be a mixed bag but I am always ready to give one a try. I jumped into Ragman by J.G. Faherty hoping for a fresh and scary take on this classic monster.



In 1882, a group of British soldiers discover an ancient Egyptian temple. Driven by greed, the men loot the temple and murder the priest that guards it. As he dies, the priest vows vengeance upon the men for their murder and theft. A century later, the priest is finally revived and ready to carry out his vow. He teams up with the great-grandson of the man who killed him to retrieve the stolen relics and kill the descendants of the other men. All of the artifacts must be retrieved for the priest to keep his vow and redeem his soul and he will stop at nothing to ensure the lost relics are retrieved and the family of those who took them are made to suffer.



When a millionaire turns up dead in New York, Detective Daniel Reese is assigned to the case. It is a bizarre mystery with a murderer that came out of nowhere, leaving behind nothing but a scrap of ancient cloth, and the victim's widow is not content to let the police work on solving the crime. She hires Tom Reardon, a former police officer, to investigate as well. Unfortunately, Dan and Tom have a complicated past that prevents them from working together peacefully or effectively. As the body count continues to rise and “The Ragman” continues to strike, the two must set aside their differences and solve the mystery that features a killer that should not exist. The duo finds themselves the target of the monster and the case becomes personal. They must not find the being that is killing the rich, they must do so quickly as their very lives rely on stopping The Ragman.



Ragman is a book about a mummy, but it is also not a book about a mummy. The monster of the story takes the form of a mummy but is not one in the traditional sense. The villain of the story is the priest that is hellbent on revenge and a couple of greedy humans looking to add to their wealth and power. They use the mummy, which is actually more of a demon from the Egyptian afterlife, as a tool to crush those who they wanted to punish. It is a curse, but it is a curse that can be focused by those who know how. This makes the monster much more effective than one wandering around looking for its victims. The monster can get to anyone, anywhere, without warning. It is sufficiently creepy and scary enough to keep the reader on the edge of the seat. Faherty is in full control of this story and knows how to amp up the action when appropriate while still taking the time to build the story.



Ragman is a throwback novel that is a whole lot of fun to read. The characters and even the monster seem to be pulled from a B-movie of years past while still feeling fresh. It was easy to get caught up in the story. Faherty keeps the story moving along at a brisk pace but takes plenty of time to flesh out the story and give it substance as well. The characters have a lot of quirks that make them interesting but never cross into the realm of the unbelievable. The horror is strong enough to satisfy any fan of the genre and there is plenty of action that keeps the novel from dragging. But most importantly, the story was quite simply fun to read. It is reminiscent of a classic monster movie with a modern twist that sometimes approached the more extreme. This book is recommended for anyone who is looking for an entertaining read full of thrills and chills in a story that the reader hopes will never end.



I would like to thank Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for this review copy. Ragman is scheduled to be released on January 10, 2023.

Imagine a book that’s a mix between the movie The Mummy and a police procedural. Sounds fun right? Well, it was! This was extremely fast paced and gory. The book opens with a group of men in Egypt raiding an Egyptian temple and taking artifacts. In the process, the kill the high priest. 200 years later, their great great grandchildren will pay the price as the priest gets revenge. This was a really fun one.

Ragman is a horror story about a really creepy mummy that I could even argue is delving into the fantasy genre as well. Ancient Egyptian lore highlights the story as we go along with investigators on trying to solve a unique murder mystery. Fast paced read. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read the book for an honest review.

Mummies seem pretty underrepresented in horror, so I was excited for this when I got this book. II did really like the mummy’s actual parts, it was bloody and had some great sequences. Sadly much of the story is more about the dynamics of the people investigating the murders. I never really connected or cared too much about any of them to keep me super interested in the story. I wanted more mummy. While this wasn’t a bad book, it wasn’t what I was hoping for either.

Note: ebook provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
3.5 stars

CALLING ALL FANS OF THE CLASSIC MOVIE MONSTER - The Mummy. Ragman by JG Faherty takes the familiar linen wrapped monster of our ancient past and gives it a gruesome and terrifying update.

Ragman bursts on the scene in a slew of gruesome deaths. Some revenge is worth the hundred years of waiting - and two former police partners are forced to trust each other once again if they are going to defeat an ancient evil, keep each other alive, and maybe receive their own Egyptian blessings. If you come into this story with previous Ancient Egyptian knowledge (specifically mythology) or you come in blind, you will quickly find yourself swept away on a terrifying at times race to solve who might be picking off descendants of a 100 year old crime.


Weaving together the familiar feelings of Brendan Fraser's the Mummy and even the recent Marvel's MoonKnight, add a good dash of humor and you have Ragman! Check it out!

I was so disappointed in this book. For me it was a rip off of the film The Mummy. The Mummy goes on a bloody rampage destroying the relatives of those who have done him wrong. Nothing new and not scary. A very mediocre read I hope other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A horror/thriller with a difference where the criminal is an ancient Egyptian priest seeking revenge against the descendants of his murderers.
A novel full of action, with moments of tension and grisly murders, the narration is very quick, almost like watching a movie.
I certainly enjoyed it and I recommend it to lovers of the genre.

This book got off on the right foot for me because I've long been obsessed with Ancient Egypt, and especially with the concept of undead mummies, and I've been itching for more horror fiction to use them. Luckily for me then, not only has JG Faherty written a piece of mummy horror fiction, but that book, Ragman, is also a really great example of what this subgenre, this character, can look like in a contemporary piece of literature.

Combining its fantastical supernatural horrors with gritty detective crime fiction, the book delivers a unique narrative that explores the idea of anxieties from the past having visceral effects on the present. Providing a character focused story alongside the magical undead elements I picked up the book for is a bonus as well.

A gory, compelling, and frankly, cool monster horror fiction story that draws richly and authentically from the Egyptian mythology I've long been fascinated by, and providing an excellently enjoyable tale of an oft neglected horror creature, this book is exactly what I wanted it to be. Highly recommended to anyone else who's been waiting for the mummy to make its return to the genre.

[Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author]

This book was very similar to The Mummy movie in regards to the origin story. The mummy then acts as a hitman. It's not scary.

I love dark and disturbing spooky books, however I am often unable to find one featuring one of the most intereting monsters - the mummy and I loved this book instantly for that.
Creeppy, full of legend and mythology and completely riveting, I couldn't put it down

R.L. Stine's The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb remains one of the best Goosebumps books ever written. The unique setting coupled with an evil mummy on the loose made it an instant classic. Since then there have been a few books here and there depicting Egyptian history in horror format but none that have really stood out.

Well, J.G. Faherty's latest book, Ragman, is here to try and buck that trend. While an Egyptian Mummy is the main antagonist/monster of the piece, this book plays out much closer to a crime detective thriller with light wisps of horror rather than a tomb-sprawling, desert-choked horror like that aforementioned Goosebumps book.

Ragman's premise is pretty simple and early on, there are definitely echoes of the 1999 movie, The Mummy. The actual plot begins in 1882, with a group of British soldiers plundering an Egyptian temple. After killing the high priest and taking off with some invaluable treasures, the priest vows revenge, and sets out to do just that when he's eventually revived in the present day.

The priest sets out to exact revenge on the descendants of those soldiers, using an ancient demon which happens to be a monstrous mummy. As the bodies begin to stack up, two police officers Dan and Tom - both former partners and burdened by bad blood between them - are forced to team up and get to the bottom of this. But with time running out and the number of victims growing, it's a race against time.

Ragman's premise is pretty good and the book is stylized just like a film too. The perspective shifts between various characters, including the revived priest, Tom and Dan. There's also a couple of other players whose perspective we see but I won't spoil that here. Each chapter is pretty pacey and easy to read, with around 10/15 minutes maximum. This really helps to keep things feeling brisk and pacey, with the final 25% of the book or so actually increasing the pace and becoming a moreish page-turner.

Ragman is certainly enjoyable and there's a decent amount of characterisation here too. The central trio of characters - Dan, Tom and Joanna - have a lot of baggage between them and that's soon unpacked around the midway point of the show.

It's a pretty formulaic bit of drama in truth, but it works well in Ragman, as the focus is squarely on the murders and stopping the cursed creature.

With around 260 pages, this is a very simple, easy read but at times there's a bit too much "catch-up" police work. The tricky part with doing a story from the antagonist's perspective is that we know what's happening before our main characters. This does become a bit of a repetitive trend in the story, as Dan and Tom show up at crime scenes and try to figure out what happened... and play catch-up with us, the reader, who already know.

Compared to something like Se7en, where each crime scene was unique and you felt like you were part of the mystery every time you entered the scene, Ragman doesn't have much in the way of mystery because of the way it's written. As I said though, it's not a deal breaker but I can't help but feel the book could have been a lot more powerful and endearing had those segments been cut altogether.

Despite those gripes, Ragman is an enjoyable read. This is more of a crime thriller than an outright horror, and it's certainly not without its problems, but given the book is less than 300 pages long it's a good way to spend an evening or two.

7/10

[Blurb goes here]

In 1888, a group of 11 British soldiers stationed in Egypt, steal uncounted riches from a temple, not before shooting the priest guarding them. The priest last words, a vow of revenge. Still the robbers know someone has to take the blame, so they betray one of their own.

In present day New York a mummy is stolen from a museum, later a millionaire is killed. His dead a gruesome sight. The mayor wants the murderer caught, this is now a top priority for the police. Two detectives are on the case, one (Dan) a dedicated man, the other, a lazy big-mouthed guy.

Unfortunately for Dan, his ex-partner, Tom, now working as a security guard for the dead guy's wife, is hired to catch the killer before he gets to her, she knows he's an ex-cop, and was a good one.

Dan and Tom had been out of touch since an "incident" involving both men and their special others, a year back. Dan hates Tom with a passion. Still "What would Tom do?" is a question that Dan asks himself more often than not, and he hates himself for doing so. Tom quit the force soon after the incident, but stills holds Dan in high regard.

As Tom is thrown into the investigation, and has to work with Dan, the problems between the two complicate things.

More rich people get killed, will they be able to put their personal differences aside and solve the case?

It has been quite a while since I read a horror story about mummies. It seems to me that mummies as a whole, are a difficult subject, one that Mr. Faherty approaches in an unique way, it all makes sense! In a horror-fantasy kind of way, but still.

This high octane adventure will have you wondering, "Will these guys be able to defeat the supernatural foe?" Is not like bullets work against the towering creature.

While I enjoyed the story from start to finish, at times, the "incident" between the two main characters, gets in the way of the action packed thrill ride.

The characters are all interesting individuals, even the antagonists have their own backgrounds and nuances.

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that a lot of research went into the writing of this novel. Ancient Egypt's lore, gods, the underworld...otherwise the premise could have easily crumbled. I loved reading about all of it, it help me get immersed in the story, it obviously turned what could have been a run of the mill horror novel, into a believable adventure.

So here are my two cents: first, kudos to the author for bringing mummies back from the fantasy/horror graveyard, and doing so in a masterful way! Second: this is one book you shouldn't miss!

Thank you for the advanced copy!

Finally, a gory truly frightening story about a mummy! I think mummies have been under appreciated in horror. This book will change that.

Between trying to figure out how to stop this seemingly unstoppable creature and dealing with their own personal issues, Tom and Dan are frazzled and attacked as someone has used a curse to control this monster and do their bidding.

Bodies pile up and the blood stains these pages with its gruesome depictions of body parts ripped away with ease that is sure to delight fans of splatter. This is a slasher in mummy form.

There's also a good amount of Egyptian mythology involved which was fantastic to read.

Nothing can stop it, but if they don't find a way, their lives and those they love will be next. Definitely recommend this book!