Nobody True (Hardcover)

by James Herbert (Author) "I wasn't there when I died..." (more)
Key Phrases: James True, Sydney Presswell, Oliver Guinane (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
James True is dead - well, almost. Actually, he's a 'transient spirit' trying to find out the truth about his own murder. His death is almost - but not quite - a duplicate of three other brutal killings. But is James just another victim of the serial killer who mutilates the bodies of those he kills? Or is there something more sinister about his particular death? As he searches for the truth, James learns some unpleasant facts about those people he had considered friends and loved ones. A web of deceit and betrayal unfolds, starting on the day of his own funeral at which James is the unseen, ghostly guest. And when he finds himself drawn into the presence of the depraved serial killer, and is exposed to the killer's unspeakable acts, an additional challenge confronts James. Can he, in his present state, stop the murderer slaughtering his wife and young daughter? This is a supernatural thriller written by an expert in the genre. The narrative flows effortlessly, drawing the reader deeper and deeper into a maelstrom of horror and degradation which, at times, is almost stomach-churning. (Kirkus UK) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Displaying his usual talent for spine-chilling plots, this new thriller is a work of genius."
--Worldbooks on Nobody True

"Nobody True is the kind of horror story when you think things can't get any more grim--they do. . . . It's a ghoulishly compelling page-turner."--Daily Mirror on Nobody True

"Nobody True has one of the most unusual plotlines of the year . . . suspense, drama, and romance all wrapped up in a blanket of black humor."--Evening Press

"This is one of those books you can't read quick enough because you desperately want to know the ending. Its brilliant, fast-moving storyline is as good as you would expect from a Herbert novel, full of twists and turns. Exceptional stuff from the master."--Burton Mail on Nobody True

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (August 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765312123
• ISBN-13: 978-0765312129
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #785,289 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #19 in

  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( H ) > Herbert, James

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE..., February 7, 2008

By	Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Nobody True (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an intriguing chiller thriller by Great Britain's master of horror and the supernatural. Written as a first person narrative by the protagonist, James True, a successful graphic artist with his own business, the reader discovers that for years James has been capable of having out-of-body experiences. He is able to project his essence, leaving his body behind, as he wanders around totally unfettered by physical constraints. Unfortunately, on his last such foray, he returns to his body only to discover that he had been brutally murdered and mutilated while he was out-of-body.

At first, the police believe his murder to be the work of a serial killer, and, despite his obvious limitations, James sets out hell-bent to find his murderer. What he finds, however, is betrayal, heartbreak, and fear, as he discovers things about his wife, his beloved daughter, and his business partner that he never knew. He also meets the serial killer, a decidedly creepy character that will have some surprises in store for the reader. Just when the reader has it all figured out, the author pulls a rabbit out of the hat.

Peppered with wry, macabre humor, the plot is so inventive that the reader cannot help but keep turning the pages of this book, despite its falling somewhat short in terms of character development. It is an entertaining, quick read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very, very, very, very S..L...O...W, October 17, 2006

By	T. Ireland "loki218" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Nobody True (Paperback)

I lost interest in this book about 100+ pages into it. The pace in this story is very slow, which would have been fine if there was some important detail being introduced. However, James Herbert beats us to death with repetitiveness. How many times do we need to be reminded of how it feels like to travel while he experiences his OBE?? Many times he refers to it as a "Star Treky" trasporter experience. The narrator keeps harping the sadness he feels looking in on his daughter and putting his arm around his wife as she is sleeping (he's touching her, but not really touching her). It's as though James Herbert is trying to fill up space by constantly repeating his main character's thoughts that it makes you feel as though you're reading what was on page 33 again on page 82. I'm a big fan of keeping books around if I lose interest, in case I get another spark to go back and give it another chance. I actually threw this book away. Even a story like this one, which follows the thought process of a man who's been robbed of his body and life, needs to have momentum. I will give the author another chance, but this book (as the British would say) is "bloody boring".

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TRUE TERROR, October 8, 2006

By	Michael Butts (Martinsburg, WV USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Nobody True (Mass Market Paperback)

NOBODY TRUE is James Herbert's best work in years, arguably his best yet. It is also one of the most original and compelling "horror" books in the past decade. Herbert takes what could have been a preposterous plot, and through brilliant narrative and several twists and turns, makes it a must read for genre fans.
The hero, James True, is capable of OBEs---out of body experiences which enable him to leave his physical self behind and wander around. Unfortunately, during one of these OBEs, he is brutally murdered and mutilated apparently by a vicious serial killer who has claimed four other victims. So when James returns from his OBE, he has no body to go back to.
Herbert skillfully approaches the many aspects of his story: the business partners/friends who he finds he may not have really known; his wife Andrea (kind of funny, if you remember the Andrea True Connection and MORE MORE MORE?), who also has dark secrets; his little girl, Primrose; the horrifying serial killer, horribly disfigured and vicious; his somewhat looney mother and his estranged father. All are interwoven into the exquisite plot, and the reader will find by the time the book is over, he may be a little sad at its inevitable tragic but fulfilling conclusion.
NOBODY TRUE is good writing and good reading; let's hope Herbert continues to show a resurgence in his writing skills.