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Showing posts with label Paranormal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paranormal. Show all posts

Winter Moon Review

Dean Koontz, Aaron Wolfe, Alien Invasion, Crime, Family Life, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Paranormal, Rural, Small Town, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Zombie

Winter Moon

Published: 1975 (as Invasion) - 1994 (as Winter Moon)
Author: Dean Koontz (Written as Aaron Wolfe)
Genre: Alien Invasion, Crime, Family Life, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Paranormal, Rural, Small Town, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Zombie

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Dean Koontz's 1975 horror-thriller Invasion was initially published under the pen name Aaron Wolfe. Koontz reissued the book under the title Winter Moon in 1994, with additions and improvements. Winter Moon is the current title under which the book may be purchased.

The Winter Moon is broken into two halves. Chapters one through thirteen are included in Part One: The City of the Dying Day. Chapters fourteen through twenty-two form Part Two: The Land of the Winter Moon.

I honestly forgot I was reading Dean Koontz and thought it was a Stephen King novel because it reads nearly exactly as if King wrote it, and if someone discovers a copy without the cover and information that it was written by Koontz, that person will undoubtedly assume it was a King novel. That should be enough to convey what was going on in this work, as well as how fascinating and bizarre the story must be. A fantastic present for Dean Koontz and Stephen King followers.

Winter Moon was a fantastic book for me. I think it was a brilliant idea to alter the title from Invasion to Winter Moon because the story takes place in the winter. 

Koontz alternates between writing supernatural horror fiction and thrillers. This is unquestionably among the former. 

The writing is excellent, as always. The characters are nicely developed, and I didn't mind moving between scenes in Los Angeles and those in Montana in the first half of the novel. I knew the characters in both areas would ultimately interact because they weaved a fantastic plot. The second part of the novel combined the two storylines into a single engrossing conflict between good and monster evil.

One of the moments where one character opens the door and sees a familiar person standing in front can be a heart attack triggering moment for the character as well as the reader or audience if it was a movie. But I'm not going to say anything else about it except that I enjoyed it.

A metropolitan street in Los Angeles is transformed into a fiery Armageddon. A weird entity invades a woodland in a remote part of Montana. Neither the living nor the dead are safe when these events collide and spiral out of control.

The plot is compelling, and the dialogue and descriptions are as we've come to expect from this author, but it's tough to suspend disbelief in some of the creature's otherworldly features and skills. In several places, I also thought it was overly gruesome. For Koontz lovers, it's still an interesting narrative that's definitely worth reading.

I've heard some of my reader friends complain that it's a book with unbelievable things happening in it, and they didn't enjoy it because of that, and I've merely informed them by saying... Yes, it is difficult to believe what is occurring in many instances, but remember that this is a fantasy and fiction book, so if you got it without understanding what genre it is, it is your fault, so just have fun reading or gift it to someone who likes this type of material.

The primary characters, Jack and his family, are quite endearing. They are storing people, and I found myself reading their ideas and feeling the same way about things in life. 

Koontz is a fantastic writer whose words evoke the ultimate terror of the unknown. I admired the child's ingenuity yet lamented the loss of innocence.

Eduardo is an elderly guy who lives alone on Quatermass ranch, distant from any towns or people, and he discovers strange things. Animals acting strangely around him, dirt and odor in his home, terrifying pulsing, and noises that become stronger and stronger.

I think it can be difficult to read at night, especially if you are alone, as the old guy was, and I practically had to remind myself to breathe as he continued uncovering things. After all, it was a good read, another good novel from Koontz.

It can be frightening, as I indicated earlier about the lonely old guy and not reading the book at night, so keep the lights on if you dare to read such passages.

I wish the conclusion was a little longer and the book had a few dozen more pages, but at least the author gave some kind of hint that if he wants, he can write a sequel to it, but I'm still waiting after all these years.

I can make a connection between this book and another, but just in the backdrop of this narrative and not actually related. If you like Stephen King's The Tommyknockers, you will most likely enjoy this. The novel is quite entertaining. It was another of the King's works that I enjoyed, so I'm sure you'll enjoy this old classic as well. It was also about a form of invasion, so just try it and watch the movie, which was also not bad.


Final Thoughts

I enjoy Dean Koontz's writings, and one of the themes in many of his novels is the interconnectedness of individuals, a sense of belonging to a larger picture. He draws strangers together to fight evil and defend what is good and true. This book's strongest feature is its sense of interconnectivity. 

In more than one way, the McGarvey family is linked to Eduardo Fernandez. Fernandez's son died in the line of duty but had enormous regard and affection for McGarvey, and Fernandez himself maintains the link. 

Eduardo's generosity allows the McGarveys to fight evil with Eduardo even though he is not physically present with them.

I really like this book and wanted to give it a perfect score, but I couldn't since it appears to take heavily from previous works, notably Phantoms, which may lead many of my readers to believe I'm prejudiced. 

As a result, it is rather formulaic. I still had a great time with it and couldn't put it down. Another thing that can be mentioned about this topic is that it is a book that can obtain full marks if you are not an ardent reader and have never read novels that are comparable to it, particularly Dean Koontz's own works and Stephen King's books. So have fun and marvel at this lovely gem.

This story begins with what could be described as a conventional police action thriller. The injuries, healing, and escape from the hazards of life in a large metropolis with numerous difficulties seemed reassuring. At first, I was skeptical about how well this novel would go.

The good fortune of being given a home in the woods of a distant state appeared ideal. Unfortunately, obtaining a windfall is not always as beneficial as it appears. Things might undoubtedly become much worse, but as the situation worsens, an unexpected avenue to escape the misery emerges.

This novel really lived up to my expectations, which was a good thing. I highly suggest this book.


Synopsis

“"Koontz is brilliant in the creation of his characters and in building tension."
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

In Los Angeles, a hot Hollywood director, high on PCP, turns a city street into a fiery apocalypse. Heroic LAPD officer Jac McGarvey is badly wounded and will not walk for months. His wife and his child are left to fend for themselves against both criminals that control an increasingly violent city and the dead director's cult of fanatic fans.

In a lonely corner of Montana, Eduardo Fernandez, the father of McGarvey's murdered partner, witnesses a strange nocturnal sight. The stand of pines outside his house suddenly glows with eerie amber light, and Fernandez senses a watcher in the winter woods. As the seasons change, the very creatures of the forest seem in league with a mysterious presence. Fernandez is caught up in a series of chilling incidents that escalate toward a confronation that could rob him of his sanity or his life--or both.

As events careen out of control, the McGarvey family is drawn to Fernandez's Montana ranch. In that isolated place they discover their destiny in a terrifying and fiercely suspenseful encounter with a hostile, utterly ruthless, and enigmatic enemy, from which neither the living nor the dead are safe.

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Dean Koontz's The City.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Good Read, Half Of The Book, Jack McGarvey, Keeps You Turning, Koontz Books, Los Angeles, Page Turner, Police Officer, Years Ago


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Mr. Murder (1998) (R)

Hideaway (1995) (R)

Phantoms (1998) (R)

The Servants Of Twilight (1991) (R)

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You Are Destined to Be Together Forever Review

Dean Koontz, Fantasy, Murder, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

You Are Destined to Be Together Forever

Published: 9, December 2014
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Fantasy, Murder, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
Book 6.1 of 7: Odd Thomas

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Odd Thomas: You Are Destined to Be Together Forever is the second novella and eighth text in Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series. Dean Koontz once again provides a suspenseful story that will keep you riveted to the page. In the conclusion, it's fast-paced and spellbinding. The regular Joe balances out the otherworldly evil. Even though it is only the size of a chapter of a normal-sized book, this one practically begs for a sequel.

You may argue that this modest contribution is unnecessary because Odd and Stormy readers have read about this unique incident in each of the Odd Thomas books, with varying amounts of detail but always the same depth of passion. 

However, being able to share it with them makes it much more special, as if Odd and Stormy intentionally requested us to accompany them as they cement this very important pact between the two of them. 

It's especially satisfying to be present when their destiny is disclosed for the first time since it will sustain us when we miss them, just as it will for Odd in the sequels to come.

I might be a little prejudiced. I've been a long-time admirer of Dean Koontz's stories since I first discovered them half a lifetime ago. 

Anyway, back to Odd Thomas and this fantastic fast read... I absolutely adore this entire series. Koontz didn't write a lot of serial work before this, but these are highly worth reading. But keep in mind that he has a couple more series that I will be reviewing in the near future.

It serves as a recap and prequel to the first Odd Thomas novel. It is a very brief novella intended as a filler to remind readers who may have forgotten how it all began, in preparation for the great conclusion to the series, Saint Odd, which arrived just a few months later. 

Actually, I found it and read it halfway through Saint Odd in an attempt to postpone the inevitable. It has some intriguing nuggets about Odd and Stormy when they were both 16 and went to the carnival where they received the fatal "You are meant to be together forever" fortune, but don't anticipate any huge discoveries or fresh insights.

If you're alright with a Star Wars-style chronology in which you get to the meat and potatoes of a series first, then travel back to learn how it all started, then you won't mind reading this short narrative. 

However, if you like to do things in chronological order from the character's point of view, read this first. Then, Odd Thomas, Forever Odd, Brother Odd, Odd Hours, Odd Interlude, Odd Apocalypse, Deeply Odd, and Saint Odd will follow. There are also several graphic novels that precede Odd Thomas.

These volumes are written in the first person as a memoir of this imaginary character, which is unusual for Koontz and makes for a quick, delightful read. 

Odd is the series' crown gem, but some of his companions along the journey are charming, unexpected, and bizarrely entertaining. They are consistently engaging and difficult to put down. 

Even though this is the beginning of the story for these people, and it is all but the final book in the series with foresight, it was still a gripping read that you should read for yourself.

I read this short story right before reading Saint Odd but stopped and started reading Saint Odd but in the middle I started reading it again. It's heartbreaking to think that I'll be turning the final page of that final book very soon.

Unlike one friend who argued that this short tale was nothing more than an advertisement for the Odd series, I am quite certain that the short appeared before the novels. 

I am also confident that the series does not require any extra promotion beyond Mr. Koontz's reputation and the enjoyment the series has offered to so many people. 

I truly like his thoughts woven together as if they were an expensive and precious tapestry made from the rarest strands and the richest hues.

Mr. Koontz and his books are highly recommended to anybody who can read. The joy of reading surpasses the annoyance of daily life.

This short novella has everything that has made Odd Thomas one of the most beloved fictional heroes since the publication of the first book in the series. 

The fortuneteller's card that guaranteed Odd and Stormy will always be together remained a constant throughout the entire series. Now, Koontz provides Odd lovers with a beautiful narrative that is precisely what it says it is: the happenings of that tragic night.

Odd and Stormy are traveling to the carnival with Elvis Presley's lingering ghost in the backseat when a second lingering spirit disrupts their plans and leads them on an unexpected and perilous detour. 

Odd and Stormy are only teens, but his "quirks" and her harsh upbringing have taught them that "real evil roamed the earth" — Which makes them worry if they can securely sail this treacherous voyage known as life together. This short tale is expertly used by Koontz to build up the events of the last novel Saint Odd in this series.


Final Thoughts

Dean Koontz's short stories are usually entertaining. This is especially true as he's going to deliver the Odd Thomas conclusion and tell us about a narrative that has been hinted at in all the other novels. 

This is a fantastic short for any Odd Thomas fan and should not be missed! It starts with Odd and Stormy on their way to the Pico Mundo carnival. 

Odd, of course, lives up to his name, and they become involved in supernatural happenings that allow Odd and Stormy to join up and remind us delightfully and cruelly of their amazing connection and the depth of its loss.

Dean Koontz is a terrific five-star author, as you undoubtedly already know. This brief prequel about Odd and his girlfriend Stormy will finish before it really begins, at least that's how it appeared to me when I read it. 

In some ways, this short narrative didn't contribute much to what had already been discussed in the majority of the Odd Thomas pieces about the two. 

That's why I only gave this tale ninety points, as if it matter, but it was still a fun new story. However, right at the start of "You Are Destined to Be Together Forever," Koontz throws in a new little adventure that I don't recall seeing in the series previously. 

It's truly exclusively for fans, of which I am one. It was a buck well spent, but I suggest you get Saint Odd as soon as possible. It's fantastic.


Synopsis

The following synopsis is taken from the Audiobook version of this story.
“This exclusive audiobook short story looks back - way back - to where it all began for Odd Thomas and Stormy Llewellyn, two souls who are destined to be together forever.

Amid the dizzying rides, tantalizing games of chance, and fanciful attractions of a state fair, two teenage sweethearts on the cusp of life and love's pleasures find their way to a shadowy carnival tent brimming with curiosities. There, from the bizarre and enthralling Gypsy Mummy, a mechanized merchant of dreams and prognosticator of tomorrows, the young couple learns what fate promises for them. But fate, for Odd Thomas and Stormy Llewellyn, is something altogether different: full of dark corners, sharp edges, and things no seer or soothsayer could ever anticipate.

And for Odd Thomas, a gallant fry cook from a sleepy California desert town, the future beckons - to listen to unquiet spirits, pursue unsettling mysteries, and learn shocking truths...for a purpose far greater than himself.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Destined To Be Together, Final Book, Gypsy Mummy, Last Book, Looking Forward, Odd And Stormy, Quick Read, Short Story, Thomas Series, Together Forever


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

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Saint Odd Review

Dean Koontz, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Literary, Mystery, Paranormal, Psychic, Romance, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Urban

Saint Odd

Published: 13, January 2015
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Literary, Mystery, Paranormal, Psychic, Romance, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Urban
Book 7 of 7: Odd Thomas

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Dean Koontz's Saint Odd is the seventh and final suspense novel in his Odd Thomas series. Bantam Books first published the book on January 13, 2015. In 2015, Saint Odd received the Goodreads Choice Award for Horror. Odd Thomas is without a doubt one of the most charming and enduring characters in the modern horror/thriller/paranormal genre—and Dean Koontz has handled Odd's story as wonderfully in this book as he has in previous novels in the series. I did notice fewer "treasures" in this one—those unexpected tidbits and twists of language that take you off guard when you reach them. There are fewer gems in this book, but those that are there shine even brighter because of their rarity.

This is the seventh book in the Odd Thomas series (eighth if you include Odd interlude as a separate part), and it addresses the same issues that have been discussed throughout the majority of the series: the fight between Good and Evil. Odd Thomas, a former fry cook, is tasked with preventing a satanic sect from carrying out a sinister scheme and must race against time and the forces of evil to do it.

I listed eight books, but it becomes a little more confusing when you include "Odd Thomas: You Are Destined to Be Together Forever," but it's only a 38-page novella, so I'm not considering it among the main novels; nonetheless, I'll review it in a few days.

Then there are three graphic novels that might be added to this list that are all prequels to the main Odd Thomas story, but I'll go into each one separately later.

The novel has a lot of positive things going for it, the primary one being that it eliminates all of the more sophisticated features of the recent books: there is no dimension jumping, no parallel worlds, no horrific monsters, and no alternative demonic Odd Thomas doppelgangers. 

This book's evil is certainly human, which is a nice return to what made this series so fantastic in the first place. 

Odd is also as lovely, humble, and valiant as ever, and it's always a pleasure to read about his exploits. 

Finally, this novel feels like a sort of reunion, with Odd returning to Pico Mundo, Chief Porter, and Ozzie Boone. This adds a nice fullness to the plot.

The next few lines may include a few minor spoilers for people who have never read the preceding book in the series, so only read if you are currently on the sixth book. And yes, some of the little details from this book are included as well, so if you don't want to know anything from this volume, simply skip to Final Thoughts.

I believe the book contains certain irritating peculiarities that a frequent reader may notice, although they are not as awful as they sound:

The first one that comes to me is that one of the main draws of the book series is Odd's ability to see the lingering dead, but that component of his character is completely absent from the novel. 

Ghosts emerge, although their appearance is fleeting and irrelevant to the plot, and they may have just gone unnoticed. 

In reality, there is a misuse of psychic magnetism, which serves as a deus ex machina to move the tale along and get Odd where he needs to go, but it is a power he possesses and employs. And I believe it is what he should do whenever he needs it.

The second is that it appears Dean Koontz was unsure what to do with Annamaria, one of the important supporting characters in the previous books, thus she was essentially disregarded for the duration of the book. 

There's no conclusion, no explanation for all of her secrets, why she's always pregnant, or why she opted to join Odd in the first place. There are just confusing faux explanations that don't actually explain anything at all, which is terribly frustrating given that this is the final book of the series, but I still hope it has a purpose and Dean Koontz will someday bring back this series with a bang and give us all the answers.

The third point to make is that, while Odd does manage to resolve the immediate threat he is facing, it doesn't really do anything in the big scheme of things. He doesn't truly deal a fatal blow to the Evil group he's after; he only halts their present strategy. 

Nothing prevents them from trying again next month. Is Odd's final journey truly going to be that? Deeply Odd's events, on the other hand, are perhaps far more upsetting, demonstrating that it was not the series' last novel.

Fourth, the ending is surely kind of disappointing for the final book in the Odd Thomas series. We are told that there is a continuous battle between forces of good and evil, and Odd is only a soldier in this conflict, fighting with numerous other invisible heroes. 

Odd's exploits are finally done, and we know how the conflict will go on without him. In fact, the ending of Odd's tale isn't even really related to the plot of the book; it's as if there was a desire to make this the final book, so a series ending chapter was added, whereas otherwise there would've been an eighth book, which I still believe will happen and we will read the next book someday in the future.


Final Thoughts

Odd Thomas has been a favorite of mine from the first book. If you haven't read any of them yet, do yourself a favor and do it right now.

If you're a fan of Odd, as I and many others are, you'll like this last episode of the series. By the conclusion, you'll both love and despise Dean Koontz. 

I've read practically everything he's written, and this is most likely his masterpiece. It's unusual for me to be sad in the midst of such grief and still be filled with hope and pleasure, but that's exactly what this narrative has done for me. 

And I've been sad, and I'm still sad as I type this. I was overcome with emotion by the beauty of what I read and the way it penetrated my heart and thoughts.

The characters in this novel shimmer and radiate, as they do in all of Koontz's writing. They've matured over the course of the series, and while the finale was fixed in stone on a macro scale, the circumstances around it were fluid enough to allow for some very imaginative details. 

Even though I knew how it would end, I was nearly taken aback when it did. I hoped for something else—something more. I really want to say that I'm not sure what was "missing" from this ending—so it's subtle that I can't even tell you what it was. But I know what it is: the sadness of knowing that I will miss Odd, and the beauty of the finale, which will undoubtedly make many readers cry.

Finally, I wish I could read more of this, and I am confident that all readers who will read this series will feel the same way. Really great and highly recommended novel and series.


Synopsis

The synopsis below is from the audio version of this book.
“From "one of the master storytellers of this or any age" (The Tampa Tribune) comes the stunning final adventure of "one of the most remarkable and appealing characters in current fiction" (The Virginian-Pilot) - as #1 New York Times best-selling author Dean Koontz brings the unforgettable odyssey of Odd Thomas to its dazzling conclusion.

Odd Thomas is back where it all started…because the time has come to finish it. Since he left his simple life in the small town of Pico Mundo, California, his journey has taken him to places strange and wonderful, mysterious and terrifying. Across the land, in the company of mortals and spirits alike, he has known kindness and cruelty, felt love and loss, saved lives and taken them - as he's borne witness to humanity's greatest good and darkest evil. Again and again, he has gone where he must and done what he had to do - for better or worse - with his courage and devotion sorely tested, and his soul forever changed. Every triumph has been hard won. Each sacrifice has taken its toll.

Now, whatever destiny drives him has finally steered his steps home, where those he cares for most surround him, the memory of his tragically lost true love haunts him, and one last challenge - vast and dreadful - awaits him. For Odd Thomas, born to serve a purpose far greater than himself, the wandering is done. Only the reckoning remains.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Final Book, Fitting End, Fry Cook, Great Series, Last Book, Loose Ends, Pico Mundo, Sad To See, See It End, Sorry To See, Thomas Series, Together Forever


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
Buy the Kindle Version Here
Free With Free Audible Trial

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Black House Review

Stephen King, Peter Straub, American, Arthurian, Classic, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Murder, Paranormal, Psychic, Serial Killer, Supernatural, Thriller, Witches, Wizards

Black House

Published: 15, September 2001
Genre: American, Arthurian, Classic, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Murder, Paranormal, Psychic, Serial Killer, Supernatural, Thriller, Witches, Wizards
Book 2 of 3: Talisman (The third book has not yet been published.)

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King and Peter Straub collaborated on the horror book Black House, the sequel to The Talisman. This is one of Stephen King's multiple novels that connect up with the Dark Tower series, which also includes Hearts in Atlantis and Insomnia. Black House was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel. The novel is set in Straub's hometown of Wisconsin, rather than King's favorite setting of Maine. The town of French Landing is a fictitious version of Lacrosse County, Wisconsin. Centralia is also named after the adjacent tiny town of Centerville, Wisconsin.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the chapter based on Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven.

As far as I know, one more book in this series is in the works, but neither of the two authors has offered a time or date for release. 

I was scared it would be too terrifying or too dull — I have read practically all of Stephen King's works over the years and was concerned that they were all starting to sound the same. 

But, despite certain unpleasant features, it was a really engaging novel, and no, I never get tired of reading Stephen King, and his works do not all seem the same.

I'm sure reading the first book, The Talisman, will help you comprehend this one, but if you haven't, don't worry; you'll still like this one. 

The novel has various references to the previous one, yet the plot stands well on its own. It also makes allusions to places and events from The Talisman's Dark Tower series, which helps to comprehend this one. 

It is not required. But, once again, I recommend reading them all, especially the first book in this series, The Talisman.

Peter Straub and Stephen King, what a fantastic arrangement. They blend flawlessly and provide a narrative line that is both interesting and enthralling no matter how many times I read it. 

I could go on and on about the excellent character development, imagery, and the way the book has its own distinct atmosphere. To be absolutely honest and upfront, I read literature in this category only for the sake of entertainment. 

If the book morphs in my mind's eye from words to images, if I can visualize the characters so well that I literally care about them, and if I am both delighted with the ending and unhappy that it finished, then I am a very happy customer!

"The Talisman," an epic masterpiece saga. The reader can sense the banter and friendliness between King and Straub in the descriptions and character development in these stories because of the way they are written.

Black House is more than merely a continuation of Jack's quest in The Talisman. It's also a look at the evil that can infiltrate a tiny community, as well as the unusual heroes that arise from such devastation. 

This is one of the themes that make Stephen King and Peter Straub such excellent storytellers. Both are masters of character development and their use of tiny, seemingly idyllic communities as the background for the war between good and evil is what gives this narrative credibility.

The cleverness of this novel is that there is no quest this time, nor is it merely about the now-grown-up Jack Sawyer. 

Black House is as much a novel about a tiny community in trouble as it is about the conclusion that reaches out like the limbs of a tree into Stephen King's Dark Tower series. 

Once again, the characters are so well-developed that I felt profound emotions for each of them, as well as for the enigmatic Tower that lurks in the shadows, leaving a scary image in the reader's imagination. 

The conclusion of Black House is both rewarding and devastating, leaving me curious about what happens next.

The narrative takes place around twenty years after the events of The Talisman. Jack Sawyer is a retired LAPD investigator who now lives in the little community of Tamarack, Wisconsin. He has mostly forgotten his childhood escapades.

Stephen King has a continuous story theme that runs across several of his stories like an undercurrent. 

The image of the Dark Tower and Roland the The Gunslinger are notions that he returns to, sometimes explicitly as in the Dark Tower novels, sometimes subtly as in The Black House. 

The finale of this work is based in part on the legend of the Tower, which adds another strand of mystery to the topic while also illuminating others.

Here I am about to mention something that is essentially for those who are going to read this novel as if it were the same as the quest in the previous book, but it is not, and as a result, some readers may not like it, so here goes... 

Stephen King and Peter Straub are back with the Black House, a sequel to their previous work The Talisman. 

You don't have to have read the first novel to appreciate this one. Indeed, it may be better if you haven't read the previous book because it was a normal fantasy adventure and its sheer plainness may lead you to think negatively of the Black House, which would be a shame because this new work is a work of genius.


Final Thoughts

The title is a play on the title of Charles Dickens's work Bleak House. This is done on purpose. The book is stylistically similar to Dickens' work, and even the complicated storyline has Dickensian reverberations. 

The writers make no attempt to conceal their link; the book is full of outright nods to Bleak House, and at one point, one of the characters even spends some time reading that novel aloud to one of the other characters, who is blind. I adore these small details - it's merely a game, but it adds depth and freshness that I adore.

Black House is one of Stephen King and Peter Straub's best stories, and this Audiobook is delivered by Frank Muller, who was without a doubt the best voice in Audiobook before his unfortunate accident a few years ago.

Black House is a sort of sequel to the novel Talisman, and it has many of the same villains. The Crimson King, who appears in Insomnia and the Dark Tower series, is just as terrifying. 

The Black House was a literal "black house," and it was here in the Talisman that Jack fought one of his most courageous fights. 

Because of the relationship with the villain and who he or she is representing, I believe I can call it another branch of the Dark Tower series.


Synopsis

“From the #1 New York Times bestselling authors of The Talisman, “an intelligent…suspenseful page-turner” (The Wall Street Journal) from “two master craftsmen, each at the top of his game” (The Washington Post).

Twenty years ago, a boy named Jack Sawyer traveled to a parallel universe called the Territories to save his mother and her Territories “Twinner” from an agonizing death that would have brought cataclysm to the other world. Now Jack is a retired Los Angeles homicide detective living in the nearly nonexistent hamlet of Tamarack, Wisconsin. He has no recollection of his adventures in the Territories, and was compelled to leave the police force when an odd, happenstance event threatened to awaken those memories.

When a series of gruesome murders occur in western Wisconsin that are reminiscent of those committed several decades ago by a madman named Albert Fish, the killer is dubbed “The Fishman,” and Jack’s buddy, the local chief of police, begs Jack to help the inexperienced force find him. But are these new killings merely the work of a disturbed individual, or has a mysterious and malignant force been unleashed in this quiet town? What causes Jack’s inexplicable waking dreams—if that is what they are—of robins’ eggs and red feathers? It’s almost as if someone is trying to tell him something. As this cryptic message becomes increasingly impossible to ignore, Jack is drawn back to the Territories and to his own hidden past, where he may find the soul-strength to enter a terrifying house at the end of a deserted tract of forest, there to encounter the obscene and ferocious evils sheltered within it.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Crimson King, French Landing, Hearts In Atlantis, Jack Sawyer, King And Peter, King And Straub, Sequel To The Talisman, Serial Killer


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Desperation (2006) (16+)

Silver Bullet (1985) (R)

The Tommyknockers (1993) (M)

Christine (1983) (R)

The Dead Zone (1983) (R)

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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The Regulators Review

Stephen King, American, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Paranormal, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Urban

The Regulators

Published: 24, September 1996
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Paranormal, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Urban

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's work The Regulators was written under the alias Richard Bachman. It was released in 1996, along with its "mirror novel," Desperation. The two novels depict parallel universes in relation to one another, with most of the people from one story appearing in the other's reality, but under different circumstances. Furthermore, when the hardcover first editions of each novel are placed side by side, they form a full painting, and on the back of each cover is a glimpse at the cover of the book on the other side.

Stephen King had already "killed off" Bachman after the alias was widely revealed around the time of the publishing of Bachman's novel Thinner in 1984. However, according to the book's jacket and a tongue-in-cheek preface by the book's editor, Bachman had written this 1996 work years before, but the manuscript had just recently been discovered in a trunk by his widow.

As always, the author provides just the right amount of tension and backstory. You only receive enough information to keep you reading.

I've seen a lot of criticism for this book, and the major reason is because of Stephen King's detractors who dislike him because of his views, as well as those who read Desperation before reading this book. 

If you like the author and aren't seeking for literary greatness, just a fun fast-paced read, this is the book for you.

I really don't have any issues with this narrative, which begins on what looks to be any typical day in an Ohio suburb, except that on this day, the people awoke in the Twilight Zone, but I don't think any episode of the Twilight Zone could be as brutal or horrific. 

The author describes the setting so brilliantly in this narrative that you can almost hear the chirping birds yourself. That is, until the first bullet blasts out...

Tak, in my opinion, is nothing compared to the Crimson King of the Dark Tower series or the renowned Randall Flagg from The Stand; he was simply a tiny pervert with a taste for chocolate milk and Chef Boyardee. But the destruction wrought by it made me sad and enraged.

Though Stephen King does not explicitly declare it in "The Regulators," it is linked to "The Dark Tower" in some way, as are all of his writings. Tak, the malevolent monster, speaks in the same dialect as the can-toi in "The Dark Tower." 

I also feel that the Tower's appearance on that specific Earth is mentioned at the conclusion, and there's a strong suggestion that Tak originates from the same place beyond the world as Pennywise/It and the Crimson King. 

In fact, the end of "The Regulators" helped me understand something that happened at the end of "The Dark Tower." I wish I had the opportunity to ask Stephen King if my assumptions about these relationships are correct!

I felt bad for everybody connected, especially the kids. However, I am conflicted about the outcome of this narrative. The way it finished makes you wonder why this narrative went on for so long. 

When the reality about why toy vehicles were out to harm them was eventually exposed, the threat was easily handled. It's no surprise that a specific character only joins the other characters in the last 20% of the novel. There was no other way for this narrative to conclude than the way it did.

I previously indicated that I read Desperation before reading this book, and if you have, you should be aware of a problem. This novel will strike you as strangely familiar, and not in a good way. 

I propose placing some books and time between the two to reduce your inclination to despise it right away because of the recasting of people in whole new settings, with new personalities and families. 

Desperation is my favorite of the two, although it might be because I read it first. It's not that I despise this book; in fact, I adore it. The main difference for me was that I felt the characters in Desperation to be a little more realistic; they are extremely similar to characters the author has used in previous works.

The beginning was thrilling, the middle was just what a middle is, but the conclusion was thrilling as well. It was a very traditional (for Stephen King as Richard Bachman) horror story, complete with the usual (once again usual for Stephen King) gore. 

However, a number of the characters were well-drawn and the type you'd like to see make it to the conclusion. 

As is generally often the case, there was a twist in the end. I didn't mind that the tale rambled a little. Anyway, if you enjoy King, or in this instance Bachman, you'll probably like this. 

Some of the stuff I didn't like, but I reminded myself that it is a horror novel with a monster in it, similar to IT, and I began to feel a little more at ease.


Final Thoughts

This is one of those novels if you appreciate Stephen King's writings that make you wonder where he got the idea from when you read them. It's fast-paced, gory, and you know you're reading one of his stories when you finish it. 

I read this immediately after finishing "Desperation," which was an unbelievably good novel. The Regulators include some of the characters from Desperation, which I thought was a clever twist. 

The first few chapters of The Regulators have you hooked and you won't be able to put it down. The plot twists, turns, and shocks are excellent. 

While reading this, you were transported to an "other" universe. The author has a fantastic imagination, which he utilized to its full potential in this novel. You have the impression that you are actually on Poplar Street!!!

I like the parallel tale with the same people from Desperation as well as Tak, the same quack villain.

If you enjoy classic Stephen King stories, you'll enjoy this one. I read this after finishing Bag of Bones, and it made me melancholy. This is why I fell in love with The King. 

I'm sure many people like the new King, which is also great. I like it as well, but keep the gore coming! The Regulators had enough of it, and as long as you don't take this narrative too seriously, I think you'll find it amusing, to say the least. "The Regulators" is a vivid, inventive, and nasty story.


Synopsis

“Master storyteller Stephen King presents the classic, terrifying New York Times bestseller of those caught between the surreal forces of good versus evil in a small suburban Ohio town.

“The red van rolls past…humming and glinting. …Things are happening fast now, although no one on Poplar Street realizes it yet.”

It’s a gorgeous midsummer afternoon along Poplar Street in the peaceful suburbia of Wentwort, Ohio, where life is as pleasant as you ever dreamed it could be. But that’s all about to end in blaze of gunfire and sudden violence, forever shattering the tranquility and the good times here. For the physical makeup of Poplar Street itself is now being transformed into a surreal landscape straight out of the active imagination of the innocent and vulnerable Seth Garin—an autistic boy who’s been exposed to and possessed by a horrific, otherworldly force of evil, one with sadistic and murderous intent and who is willing to use whatever means necessary to grow ever stronger.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Character Development, Dark Tower, Journal Entries, Many Characters, Pen Name, Power Rangers, Read Desperation, Takes Place, Years Ago


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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Later Review

Stephen King, Ghost, Hard-Boiled, Mystery, Paranormal, Police Procedurals, Psychic, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Later

Published: 2, March 2021
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Ghost, Hard-Boiled, Mystery, Paranormal, Police Procedurals, Psychic, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:
Later Summary


The Review

Stephen King's crime thriller Later was released by Hard Case Crime. The book is published in paperback and hardback, with a limited number of hardcover copies available. The limited hardback edition has cover art by Gregory Manchess, while the paperback version has cover art by Paul Mann. Seth Numrich reads the 7-hour Audiobook.

Following the publication of The Colorado Kid and Joyland, this is Stephen King's third Hard Case Crime novel. Jamie Conklin, who has the gift to see deceased people, is the protagonist of the narrative, which is recounted in the first person. The novel debuted at number two on The New York Times fiction best-seller list in the week ending March 6, 2021.

To give you a little background on the story, it is set in the late 2000s and is told by the main character, a young boy living in New York City with his single mother, Tia.

Jamie possesses the gift to see and communicate with the dead. The deceased persons he can communicate with must honestly answer all of his queries.

Jamie is terrified as a child when a man killed in a traffic accident waves to him despite the fact that he is dead.

He also speaks to Mona, the late wife of Professor Martin Burkett, a neighbor, and friend of the Conklins', when he is a few years older. Jamie's mother is the only one who is aware of his abilities.

The book contains many themes that are reminiscent of classic Stephen King novels, but this time they have been combined with the crime, mystery, thriller, ghost story, supernatural and coming-of-age genres to produce something a little unusual. The author has always done this for most of his career, and he is just getting better at it

There are recurring themes such as a youngster having to grow up and depend on himself in the face of less-than-perfect adults, and supernatural power being both a blessing and a burden.

The protagonist's reminiscences of his terrible upbringing reminded me of earlier Stephen King stories, but this one is more current, given the events that take place in this millennium.

Even if the beginning is a little slower than in some other crime books, I was extremely hooked on this plot. The action kicks up later.

The novel isn't as long as I'd like it to be, but it's still manageable for a casual reader in terms of page count, and it has some excellent, crisp, and accurate language.

First-person narrators have always piqued my interest, and Jamie Conklin is a figure I won't soon forget. The author has a knack for writing about children and the bittersweet process of growing up, and his voice and perspective are handled with care.

Naturally, his characters are compelled to mature in ways that both terrify and pleasure us. I finished the novel in one sitting.

There are several unexpected Easter eggs stashed within this magnificent little masterpiece. What begins as a slow-burner as the author develops the universe and people, it rapidly builds into a page-turner filled with high intensity and mystery.

In reality, this Stephen King work is exceptionally brutal, gloomy, and dark. It has the feel of a Richard Bachman novel. But there's a little more heart in this. Perhaps there's a hint of J.D. Salinger here if Holden Caulfield had a magical revelation to go along with his despair.

Later is a quick but enjoyable journey that will appeal to Stephen King and Hard Case Crime aficionados alike.

When you believe it's a relation to Haley Joel Osmont from The Sixth Sense, it's not your imagination playing tricks on you. In this novel, the author brazenly admits the link.

Dean Koontz's 2007 novel Odd Thomas is another book that springs to mind while thinking about who sees dead people.

However, this does not imply that the author stole the concept because it has existed from the dawn of humanity when shamans and leaders professed to communicate with the dead. Even now, many individuals profit from deceiving the naive.

Here, too, you have a young child, aged 9 at the start to 15 at the end, who sees dead people in some way.

These deceased people, on the other hand, converse with young Jamie, and it appears that one of the magical laws is that they always answer his inquiries honestly.

These ghosts don't have the white sheets, they're more haunting than Casper, and they range from a kind elderly lady to a serial killer.

It also reminds us of Joyland, one of Stephen King's early Hard Case Crime works. It elicits a similar sense of childish awe.

Jamie's narrative voice is the key to this quick-paced small story. It's got that coming-of-age innocence mixed together with a dash of streetwise snark that simply fits.

Despite the final war between good and evil, like in most of the author's tales, you'll find this one to be horror mild. It doesn't quite reach the point of being horrifying, but it skirts the edge, and it all depends on who is reading it.

If you're searching for a way to get started with Stephen King's work, this is a good place to start. If you've been a long-time reader of Stephen King's work, like me, you'll be happy to succumb to a great author at work. There's a logical explanation we return time and time again.


Final Thoughts

Is this a horror story? After more consideration, uncle Stevie, or, in this instance, our protagonist Jamie Conklin is correct: there are some truly awful events in Stephen King's Later.

Don't get me wrong: it's not on the same level as IT, Pet Sematary, or 'Salem's Lot,' but it doesn't make it any less terrifying, right? Horror may be found anywhere, at any time, and in any shape or size.

Just because something isn't frightening to one person doesn't imply it won't terrify someone else.

So, what have we learned as a result of this lengthy digression? This is a scary story, but like I already stated, it all depends on who is reading it.

I adore the way the author depicts his characters; his descriptions make the characters' sentiments and emotions seem so genuine, even when their talents are magical. Despite the fact that it was a surprise, I truly like the ending.

Characters come to life in his novels, and his books are full of them. The stories frequently take a back step, despite the fact that they are equally as enticing and brilliantly anchor his work.

It's difficult to detest this book if you're a fan of the author. Even if you haven't read any of his previous excellent works, this one is a decent read. It's a quick read that was well worth my time and money.


Synopsis

“A brand-new novel from legendary storyteller Stephen King!

Sometimes growing up means facing your demons.

The son of a struggling single mother, Jamie Conklin just wants an ordinary childhood. But Jamie is no ordinary child. Born with an unnatural ability his mom urges him to keep secret, Jamie can see what no one else can see and learn what no one else can learn. But the cost of using this ability is higher than Jamie can imagine - as he discovers when an NYPD detective draws him into the pursuit of a killer who has threatened to strike from beyond the grave.

Later is Stephen King at his finest, a terrifying and touching story of innocence lost and the trials that test our sense of right and wrong. With echoes of King’s classic novel It, Later is a powerful, haunting, unforgettable exploration of what it takes to stand up to evil in all the faces it wears.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Case Crime, Colorado Kid, Dead People, Easy Read, Hard Case, Highly Recommend, Jamie Conklin, Main Character, Page Turner, Quick Read, Really Enjoyed, Sees Dead, Sixth Sense, Young Boy


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

Compare Kindle E-readers on one page

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