Under the Pyramids

I’ll be honest: I didn’t expect much from *Under the Pyramids*. It’s a lesser-known Lovecraft, originally a ghostwriting gig, and it shows in the occasionally clunky prose. But damn if this audiobook doesn’t *work*—like a B-movie horror flick elevated by a masterful lead performance. Peter Coates’ narration is the glue holding it together. He doesn’t just *read* the story; he *endures* it, his voice cracking with exhaustion during the protagonist’s desperate crawls through the pyramid’s guts, then dropping to a whisper when the horror peaks. The production is clean, but the real star is Coates’ pacing: he lingers on the sensory details (the *scratch* of stone, the *stale* air) just long enough to make your skin prickle. That said, this isn’t Lovecraft at his most cerebral. The plot is straightforward—almost *too* straightforward for his usual labyrinthine style—and the ending feels abrupt, like the story was cut off mid-scream. The lack of cosmic horror might disappoint mythos purists, but the trade-off is a tighter, more immediate terror. I also wished Coates had leaned harder into the Houdini connection; a few vocal flourishes to mimic the escapist’s showmanship could’ve added another layer. Still, for a 70-minute listen, it’s a masterclass in atmospheric dread. If you’ve ever been claustrophobic in a small room, this’ll haunt you. Just don’t listen in a basement.