Craig (United Kingdom) (2009/09/22): It's a very different story to that of the musical show, but I found that the bits I wasn't familiar with from that made it all the more compelling a read. Music has a central part in the novel, and the Phantom is, if anything, more sinister for the fact that you don't hear him sing. It has a factual, historical account feel to it, which at times can make it hard going, but overall a good read and well worth persevering through the descriptive passages.
