| 1 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/slade_ghoul.png]] |
| 2 | ''Ghoul'' is a horror-crime novel by Creator/MichaelSlade, released in 1987. Inspector Zinc Chandler of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is closing in on a serial killer; across the pond, Hilary Rand of Scotland Yard is working on a similar case. A fast-paced horror classic. |
| 3 | ---- |
| 4 | !!Some tropes appearing in the novel include: |
| 5 | |
| 6 | * AbusiveParents: Several, but Saxon's mother and stepfather are particularly vile. |
| 7 | * AllBikersAreHellsAngels: The Headhunters, although with a twist: they're all [[ManlyGay gay]]. |
| 8 | * AuthorTract: While more mild than some, the conversation between Zinc and Caradon during their stakeout. They discuss the psychology of horror fans and the possibility that someone with violent tendencies might take the fantasy too far. Also a form of {{Foreshadowing}}. |
| 9 | * BaitAndSwitch: Since it's a twisty-mystery-thriller, the book does this frequently. |
| 10 | * BigBad: Played with. For most of the story, it seems to be Raymond Hengler, mob boss and backer of a mysterious SnuffFilm. Then the game changes. |
| 11 | * BoomHeadshot: Frequently, particularly Mohawk. |
| 12 | * BuriedAlive: Saxon. |
| 13 | * BuryYourGays : Jack Ohm's MO, stemming from extreme homophobia. He bombs an HIV support group and a gay bath house. |
| 14 | * BrotherSisterIncest : Rika and Saxon Hyde. Also, allegedly, [[spoiler: Elena and Enoch, Saxon and Rika's mentally ill parents.]] |
| 15 | * ChekhovsGun: [[DistractedByTheSexy Cleavage]], of all things. |
| 16 | * DarkAndTroubledPast: Most of the characters, but particularly Deborah and Zinc. |
| 17 | * DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Roland Fletcher]]. Elena, although she had good reason. |
| 18 | * EldritchAbomination: Both The Ghoul and the creatures that are trying to "break through." |
| 19 | * FreudianExcuse: Saxon. And how. Also Deborah and, to an extent, Zinc. |
| 20 | * OurVampiresAreDifferent: Elaine Teeze. [[spoiler: She's one of Saxon's personalities, representing [[ItMakesSenseInContext the disease]] he thinks he has.]] |
| 21 | * PoliceProcedural: A mix of this and SerialKiller mystery/thriller. |
| 22 | * PrisonRape: Happens to Hengler. |
| 23 | * SerialKiller: Several. Subverted, however in that [[spoiler: all of the killers are the same person, suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder]]. |
| 24 | * SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll: Lots of each. |
| 25 | * ShoutOut: To Music/AliceCooper, Creator/AlfredHitchcock, Creator/HPLovecraft, ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'', and many horror films and books. |
| 26 | * StageName: Erika Zann (Rika) and Axel Crypt (Saxon). |
| 27 | * SunglassesAtNight: Sid Jinks, at the club. |
| 28 | * TheInformant: Jennie Copp. It ends badly. |
| 29 | * TheVamp: Rika Hyde, Rosanna Keate, and Deborah's romance-author alter-ego, Corinne Grey. |
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