This book is an original graphic novel from Vertigo comics and was written by the veteran horror novelist Peter Straub with Michael Easton who is the writer of the Soul Stealer trilogy. The painted art is from illustrator JohnBolton whose work I know from other Vertigo books such as The Furies, God Save the Queen and Menz Insana.

Fielding Bandolier is a man who has had many identities but who has always walked with Death but is now tired and haunted by his victims. Bob Steele is a cop tormented by a string of serial killings across the country. His quest will lead him to a final confrontation with Bandolier by way of the relics from a cursed ship – the timbers of which have found their way into two pubs – one in Ireland, The Black Galleon, and one in the USA, The Green Woman.

This book features characters from Straub’s Blue Rose trilogy of books – Koko, Mystery and The Throat. I have to admit that I have come to this book without any previous knowledge of these books, or of any of Straub’s previous books as I have not read any. The story was OK but I was left wondering if I would have gotten more out of it if I had read the novels first – it definitely benefits from an immediate re-read and reading in one sitting. The main reason that I bought this book was for the fantastic painted artwork by John Bolton and this did not disappoint in the slightest. The book features some trademark Bolton gorgeous ladies as well as the likeness of Scottish actor Peter Capaldi as Fielding Bandolier.