Charles L. Grant – The Hour of the Oxrun Dead

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Charles L. Grant – The Hour of the Oxrun Dead (Tor 1987, Original Doubleday 1977, 284 p.)

Welcome to Oxrun Station

Oxrun Station could be a spooky place, especially out be the Windsor', right next to the graveyard. At night Natalie heard eerie sounds out in the fog, among the tombstones, unnatural sounds made by unearthly things.

Natalie's husband had been born in Oxrun Station. He loved the town and served it well – and in return it killed him. Ben's death had left Natalie isolated in a strange town she could not call her own.

How strange and deadly Oxrun Station could be, Natalie Windsor was about to learn. Once a year an ancient ritual was recreated, an ancient pact reinvoked – and Natalie Windsor was this year's sacrifice.



This is Grant's fourth novel, the first of the Oxrun books. It must have sold or or he had a good agent, because Tor was the fourth publisher who did this, along his other novels. Doubleday and later Popular put Gothic covers on this, Doubleday even wrote "An occult novel of Romantic suspense". Best of both worlds? Tor surely had the best cover. And a blurb by King couldn't hurt either. Even if I am bit sceptic if this is true.