at
once insightful, frightening and uplifting
Keith Gray,
Guardian
a
novelist of great seriousness and talent
New
York Times
delightfully
eccentric...a strangely moving portrait
of a marriage in which both partners are
compelled to deny their own instincts and
longings.
Financial
Times
effortlessly sleek and witty
Entertainment
Weekly
Just
when you thought Stephenie Meyer's bestselling
Twilight books had sucked the idea of 21st-century
vampires dry, along comes Matt Haig with
this witty and humane story about a family
of vampires living in respectable English
suburbia. Haig writes in addictive, bite-size
chapters that pump the action along. He
has fun with all the Vampyre lore (garlic
in the Thai Green Leaf Salad!) while keeping
his characters convincing, original and
likeable. All vampire fiction has a strong
sexual undercurrent; but in this book, the
passion's not just for the pale-faced teens.
Daily
Mail
funny,
scary and wickedly familiar...
Alfonso Cuaron
a sharp bloody tale of abstinence and indulgence
(and trying not to eat the neighbours)
Steven Hall,
author of The Raw Shark Texts
Haig's novel is great fun, with much enjoyment
derived from the placing of these ancient
bloodsuckers in dull English suburbia, "a
place for good and quiet people to live
good and quiet lives".
Vogue
in
Matt Haig’s The Radleys, we should
expect something different from the fare
provided by Stephenie Meyer and her numerous
imitators. And we will not be disappointed.
Irish
Times
The
genius of Matt Haig's book is that the vampirism
takes a back seat - a wet, bloody back seat,
but still - to the blackly comic family
turmoil that's at the centre of the story...Take
that, you Twilight mob. The trains of vampire
lit and actual lit just met, in a glorious
burst of sharp red.
The
Dallas Morning News
What
are you currently reading? 'The
Radleys' by Matt Haig. I like his work:
there's something that cheers you up about
it...The
Radleys is amusing and artful, an antidote
to the saccharine
Val McDermid,
The Independent
pointed,
clever and witty
Kim Newman,
The Independent
a
witty introduction to present-day vampire
lore...Highly recommended.
The
Observer
The
Radleys is yet another vampire novel. And
we'll almost certainly be hearing a lot
more about it; it's been optioned for a
film with Alfonso Cuarón as the producer.
But there's an obvious reason for the latter,
which makes the former less of a problem:
Haig has managed to coax something delightfully
new and, unusually, rather English from
a saturated genre...an enjoyably twisty
and self-aware tale. Haig combines strong
dialogue with a healthy sense of self-parody
in a novel that should appeal to all vampire
fans, whatever their age.
Metro (4 star
review)
Haig
draws plenty of delightful comic mileage
out of Rowan's blood-inspired transformation
from a shy weakling to a confident hunk.
He gradually ratchets up the pace and the
tension until the taut conclusion. Bloody
good fun.
Sfx
magazine (5 star review)
'Irresistable...Full
of clever turns, darkly hilarious spins...Even
if you're suffering from vampire fatigue,
you'll find The Radleys is a fine,
fresh contribution to the genre'
Associated
Press
freshly
weird and ultimately thirst-quenching
USA Today
head and
shoulders above Twilight
Newsday
an intoxicating chillfest that's sharper
than a vamp's incisors
Daily
Record
set
to be a crossover hit for the summer...
a refreshing alternative to much of the
paranormal fodder out there
The Bookseller
a
smart, snappy, quirky read, as much a satire
on self-denying suburban life as a straightforward
bloodthirsty tale
The Scotsman
Unlike
the Twilight novels, within the first 100
pages alone several gory murders take place.
This is a much more brutal, adult vision,
but no less suited to teenagers
The Sunday
Herald
Terrific,
droll, and touching.
Parade
steeped in pop culture ... Matt Haig delivers
an original and very British take on the
over-saturated genre. A bloody good read.
News of the
World
go
out and buy it before the film comes out
Patrick
Kielty, BBC Radio 2
Matt
Haig takes an original and witty approach
to the supernatural genre in this quirky
young adult novel...Cleverly balancing light
and dark notes, this coming-of -age story
with a difference is a refreshing alternative
to the vampire theme.
Booktrust
The
Radleys is a crossover work, pitched as
much at a young adult
readership as its adult counterparts, and
it switches deftly between a
classic Carrie-style narrative of teen difference,
in which the kids are
teased for their outsiderness, and a parental
tale of mid-life crisis.
The Herald
Dripping
in blood, this is a story of family secrets
so terrible that they shouldn’t be
uncovered...Rowan and Clara think they are
ordinary teenagers. They live quietly with
their ordinary Mum and Dad doing all the
things that their friends do. But, the Radley
parents are hiding a secret; they are abstaining
vampires and, one day, their abstinence
will fail. Rowan’s teenage anxieties
and sense of being an outsider take on a
whole new dimension in this insightful story
of adolescence with a difference.
The
Guardian
This
witty vampire novel from British author
Haig provides what jaded fans of the Twilight
series need, notTrue Blood exactly, but
some fresh blood in the form of a true blue
family.
Publishers
Weekly (starred review)
The
Radleys have secrets like other families,
and one in particular that will rip your
throat out. Matt Haig puts a wicked British
twist on suburban family drama. Wry and
racy, with the right fire in the blood to
keep you turning pages late into the night,
The Radleys is a story about a family tearing
things apart. Come closer, there's something
you need to see here!
Geoffrey Jennings,
Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS
Matt Haig's new novel about a family of
secret vampires living in
Bishopthorpe is taking the book world by
storm...This is an author who doesn't do
run-of-the-mill. The result is a blackly
humorous novel that shimmers with secrets
and shadows and unspoken longings.
The York Press
Matt
Haig writes a wickedly clever and completely
addictive vampire novel, delicious from
beginning to end. Teens and adults alike
will be absolute gluttons for The Radleys.
Lisa McMann,
author of the New York Times bestselling
Wake trilogy
Just
when you decide to switch off True Blood
and swear off anything remotely associated
with the vampire genre, along comes The
UK’s (L)it boy Matt Haig. The latest
offering from the man behind The Dead Fathers
Club and The Possession of Mr Cave (both
currently being made into films) is The
Radleys, a captivating tale of what happens
when we suppress our darkest desires.
Yen
Magazine (Australia)
...his novel resembles the Harry Potter
novels – more precisely, those scenes
from JK Rowling's series set in ordinary
"Muggle" society, where Harry's
aunt and uncle do their utmost to stifle
their nephew's magical tendencies. Little
surprise, then, that the Mexican film-maker
Alfonso Cuaron – director of Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban –
plans to produce a film version of Haig's
novel
Independent
on Sunday
Haig
twists undead lore for his purposes to explore
coming of age and family dynamics as well
as asking us to consider what our appetites
convince us to do and force us to do without.
As shades of grey and the twilight wrap
around our own dark undergrowth, Haig turns
on a light. The Radleys is a thoughtful
and adult take on an all-the-rage theme
yet seems secondary to the deeper meanings
being dug up.
The
West Australian
bags
of fun. I predict a summer hit
Scott Pack
Dark
humor pervades Haig's entertaining vampire
family soap opera...a refreshing take on
an oversaturated genre.
Library Journal
Move over, Cullens! The Radleys are an average
family living in the suburbs - they just
happen to be vampires. As funny as it is
scary!
Bliss
The Radleys is a refreshing and original
take on a vampire genre that has arguably
become rather overworked of late, and the
book’s main theme of abstinence is
perfect for these debt-ridden times. Using
short, sharp paragraphs and sprinkled with
delightful asides from the fictional Abstainer’s
Handbook, The Radleys is a coming of age
story that will appeal to adults, both young
and old.
Fantasy
Book Review, Book of the Month
You know when you read a book that is so
insanely good you just do not want it to
end? Well The Radleys is one of these books!
Right from the start it's engaging, hugely
entertaining. With some bits that make you
roar with laughter (well I did anyway!)
and bits where you have to stifle and gasp
and read faster. ...it
is very very different to other vampire
novels... I don't want to give too much
away if I am honest, because I think that
everyone needs to enjoy this book as much
as they can. It is so fun, so refreshing.
Definitely one of the best books I have
read this year.
Empire
of Books
Whether
you are a vamp-fan or not, The Radleys is
a dark, thrilling and laugh-out-loud funny
portrait of a modern family that strikes
at the
unbeating heart of what lies beneath.
Readings.com
(Australia)
Haig
has found something original to do with
his subject: much of his
novel's humour comes from the ridiculousness
of vampires as people who refuse to grow
up and take on life's responsibilities...The
pleasure of The Radleys is really in the
details. Its author has a clear love of
linguistic play, and while the novel rarely
approaches the category of literary fiction
(which itself cops a spray at several points)
it does offer a language more sophisticated
than pulp.
The Sunday
Age (Australia)
The
Radleys is a wonderfully written book. It's
a fun, original concept I haven't seen anywhere
else. The ending wraps things up nicely,
but for me I would love a sequel - now the
secret is out and all the family is "in-the-know",
I can just see the Radleys getting into
all sorts of trouble! I really enjoyed this
book and I loved the authors writing style,
I will definitely be checking out Haig's
backlist.
Bookchickcity
Matt Haig’s The Radleys will always
be special to me for the reason that reading
about suburban vampires battling irksome
relations was never more intense than when
experiencing contractions at three-minute
intervals...
Vulpes
Libris
5
stars... a wonderful wonderful read... I
LOVED this book
Legacy Books
What combines with this seriousness of tone
to make the book such a success is that
Haig roots his story so firmly in everyday
life, and, by doing so, he is able to move
beyond it...It's so well crafted, that it's
a great pleasure to read.
davidhblog.wordpress
...the
best vampire book EVER... this book is now
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME...This
book is funny, daring, and not afraid to
push boundaries of normal vampire canon.
And it´s written so well, it´d
make you wish you had a vial of blood to
gorge on every once in a while. Yep, I said
it...Go forth, my loyal readers, and read
this book! You won´t be disappointed.
Musings
of an Undiscovered Genius (blog)
If
you like vampire stories but want a change
from the recent Twilight
copycats then this book is definitely the
thing for you; it is the sort of
book could defy all your preconceptions
regarding the vampire genre.
Bookzone
...a
good story, told well and simply. Lovely
to read... This is a book
about hope, and people getting a second
chance in their lives. The Radleys is a
charming novel about something very odd
happening somewhere very normal. There's
a quiet, gentle humour throughout the book,
and a strong understanding of human nature.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and think most people
would too.
readandfindout.com
The Radleys is, first and foremost, the
remarkable story of a family, born of denial
and deceit, learning to tell the truth.
That the family in
question happens to be Undead is secondary,
because in Matt Haig's masterly hands vampirism
is much more than blood lust. It is a yearning
for love, truth, passion, and authentic
connection.
Allison Burnett,
author of Undiscovered Gyrl
I
know what people are thinking. Vampires.
Boring. But trust me. This
knocks that pile of junk Twilight into oblivion.
www.torak.info
From
one of Britain's finest young novelists
comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood
and family life. In this moving, thrilling
and extraordinary portrait of one unusual
family, The Radleys asks what we grow into
when we grow up, and explores what we gain
- and lose - when we deny our appetites.
http://readingteenagefiction.blogspot.com
This
is really great storytelling. Books always
work best when they work on more than one
level and this is successful not only as
a tale of vampires but also as a study of
suburban Britain - albeit one with its tongue
stuck very firmly in its cheek...Deliciously
dark, horribly humorous and an interesting
addition to the vampire canon, The Radleys
is definitely worth a look (to be honest,
any book that has a chapter heading of CSI:Transylvania
was always going feature on my hit list).
It's not what you might expect, in fact
it is downright strange in places but as
a fable on the trials of growing up and
the dangers of forgetting said trials, it
is an absolute winner so add it to your
wish list and prepare to be blooded...
The
Mountains of Instead
I
was surprised and impressed with The Radleys.
It's an original and funny book which also
pushes boundaries and explores how people
deal with difficult situations - things
that I think are important in fiction...A
book with bite!
Novel
Insights
His
latest publication is The Radleys, the story
of a family of abstaining vampires living
in a Yorkshire village. Published last month,
it reached the top five bestsellers' list
and has already attracted the attentions
of a film producer
Yorkshire
Evening Post
The Radleys manages to take the almost tired
vampire myth as a tasty metaphor for repression
and moves it into the suburbs.
Start
Narrative Here
A
great read.
SurreyLibraries.org
This
family sucked me in and got a hold on me
that didn't give. This vampire story will
be unlike anything you have read before
and one that you should give a chance, even
if you aren't into vampires. Forget Forks.
Bishopthorpe is the new town for vegetarians!
Heaven, Hell
and Purgatory
...intelligently written with well fleshed
out characters, and there is
nothing insipid about these abstaining vampires,
rather it is an absorbing look into the
life of a likeably dysfunctional family
with a dark (and bloody) secret.
Silverfish
blog
Matt Haig’s
brilliantly British vampire novel The Radleys
has restored my faith in the genre, hurrah!...there’s
really not much to dislike about this book.
It’s got everything really. Love,
laughter, tears, lots of blood and a quick
rundown of which celebrities are actually
vampires (note: Jimi Hendrix is one). Great
stuff.
Writing from the Tub
It's dark,
it's funny, it's wildly original . . . If
you've been suffering from vampire fatigue,
this could be the antidote . . .
gaskella
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