THE SERVANTS

written by Michael Marshall Smith

published by Earthling Publications

ISBN-10: 006149416X

ISBN-13: 978-0061494161

review by Adam Armstrong

11.19.2008

It’s strange how some people used to live.

Mark has got it rough. He has been forced to move out of London to the small sleepy town of Brighton. His mother is sick. And he has a new step dad that is a bit of a wanker, he is even buying less and less Diet Coke for Mark every time he goes to the market. His stepfather’s house has a tenant in the basement that Mark soon befriends. She is an ungodly old woman who shares a secret with Mark. The basement used to be the servants’ quarters. Mark soon finds out that the servant’s quarters are far from empty. But what’s worse, something is haunting the ghosts. Mark doesn’t know what to do about his unwelcome guests but his mother is getting worse and his stepfather is holding out on him.

What a wonderful use of metaphor. Smith is a writer that after reading you wonder why he isn’t a household name. Smith taps into teenage angst perfectly. The only complaint that I have about the book is its short length. Don’t get me wrong. The story is wrapped up perfectly but I jut wanted more and more. This is one of the books that you dread it to end.

Pick up a copy: 5 out of 5