Not traditional horror fair, but nonetheless tapped from the horror-comedy vein, the first novel in Robert Rankin’s eight-book-long Ealing Trilogy (yes, you read that correct) is packed to the brim with the supernatural, as a malignant evil force in the form of a resurrected Borgia Pope vies to take over the world.

And where else for such a spirit to begin such evil acts, than in the West London suburb of Brentford. A pair of unusual miscreants in the form of beer-loving duo Jim Pooley and John Omally are quick to square up to the no-good goings on in their fair by-water, and they’re assisted by an even more chaotic and rag-tag bunch of fellow citizens.

There’s the semi-respectable Professor Slocombe, sought for his academic expertise, and high-quality contents of his liquor decanters; Neville is the part-time (read only) barman at the Flying Swan pub, which is the pair’s Shangri-La; then there’s Archibald, but maybe the less said about him the better. Click here to read more.. »