Feast is the best horror novel I’ve ever read in my entire life. I’m not too confident my review can do right by this book. It features the creepiest, most disgusting, stomach-turning stuff.
Feast also goes by the name of Ritual, especially in the UK. I read this book in 2006, and I’ve thought about it off and on for the last 20 years or so.
In Feast, a restaurant critic named Charlie travels with his young son Martin to a sleepy Connecticut town called Allen’s Corners for business. Shortly after Charlie’s arrival, he starts noticing that the locals behave rather strangely, and that many are missing various limbs and body parts. Hmmm…is it something in the water?
Soon enough, Charlie’s son Martin goes missing, and he has no doubt the creepy townsfolk have something to do with it. He decides to do whatever it takes to find and save his son, which means walking straight into the most unimaginable nightmare. And I when I say unimaginable, I really do mean UNIMAGINABLE.
Anything else I say about the plot will indeed be a spoiler, and I can’t do that.
The only other book that comes close in terms of horror is Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk—particularly the chapter called “Guts.” While reading Feast, I had to put it down several times because I was legitimately gagging and feeling sick. My friends and family wouldn’t even let me talk about the book because it was so gross. But that’s exactly what made it awesome, and truly horrifying, and thrilling.
Feast was written in 1988, but its timeless from a horror standpoint. If you can get your hands on a copy, DO IT, you won’t regret it. It’s a real treasure and a keeper.
Graham Masterton has written a countless number of horror novels—he’s so prolific. Some of my other favorites by him are Master of Lies (1991), Death Mask (2007), and a bunch of other ones I read before starting this website.
I also mentioned Feast and Graham Masterton in this post called Vintage Horror Novels You Should Read Next.
Some of his more recent titles include:
- The Soul Stealer (2022)
- The House at Phantom Park (2022)
- What Hides in the Cellar (2023)
- House of Flies (2025)
What are the nastiest horror novels you’ve ever read? What books have truly made you sick to your stomach? I’m genuinely curious.
Last Updated on February 27, 2026 by Sarah Ann
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