Christopher Henderson’s The Horror at Lavender Edge is a tale of cosmic and supernatural forces inhabiting a house in 1970s London. On its surface, this is a classic, and perhaps overused, haunted house story. But as the book progresses, Henderson’s story takes twists and turns and ends up as something completely different.Lavender Edge follows the members of a supernatural research team working for an organization vaguely referred to as The Corsi Institute. During a routine patrol, a strange old man begs policewoman Jo Cross to visit an old house called Lavender Edge and help the woman living there. When she agrees, she learns that supernatural events have been occuring in the house, and seeks the help of the subject matter experts of the Institute.In a refreshing take, the Institute’s researchers aren’t Moulder-esque “I want to believe” types; having much more in common with the scientific and sceptical minded Scully. They approach the supernatural with a scientific and inquisitive mind, and attempt to clarify, classify and logically explain. Leading the research efforts is Professor Archie James, accompanied by fellow scientist “Sunny” Ray Buckley and Harry Undine. Undine is a rough-around-the-edges noir type antihero. In the opening scenes, we learn that Undine has some sort of psychic ability which makes him sensitive to places where extreme emotion occured. For personal reasons, Undine refuses to let his fellow investigators in on his secret. Initially, Undine’s blatant lies to his friends make him a very unlikable character. Archie and Ray are struggling to find proof of certain phenomenons, and all the while Undine has the answers they seek. As the story progresses and we learn more about Undine’s past, this initial dislike fades and he becomes a much more appreciable character.The thing that sets Lavender Edge apart from other haunted house stories is the root cause of the ‘haunting’. I’m a firm believer that reviews should never spoil books, so I won’t get too specific. Suffice it to say that Henderson presents a wildly imaginative, terrifying antagonistic force of massive cosmic scope. The final, climactic chapters take the story in an absolutely unexpected direction. Henderson truly hits his stride in the final showdown. Here, he displays an amazing ability to visualize abstract concepts and psychic ideas. Henderson’s creatively visual metaphors for psychic attacks and defenses, and the reality-bending effects of the battle really bring the narrative to an incredible head. It seems to me that the core creative root of Henderson’s narrative is in these final chapters, and the passion he poured into them truly shows. That final showdown was by far my favorite act of the story.The Horror at Lavender Edge is a terrific and imaginative read. Henderson’s gritty, realistic characters and interesting background and lore weave together to create an immersive narrative. There isn’t much gore or violence; the horror is much more psychological. Fans of the classic haunted house story will find a fresh take on the genre, which you’ll especially appreciate if you’re tired of the common tropes. If cosmic horror is more your speed, you’ll love it as well, though it isn’t cosmic in the classic sense either. Henderson manages to pull from a variety of genres without falling victim to the same overused plot devices so often seen. The Horror At Lavender Edge is fresh, original, and certainly worth a look.