In The Dark by Richard Laymon

In the Dark by Richard Laymon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 503

Publisher - Headline

Source - Bought from Waterstones

Blurb from Goodreads

Nothing much happens to Jane Kerry, a young librarian. Then one day Jane finds an envelope containing a fifty-dollar bill and a note instructing her to "Look homeward, angel." Jane pulls a copy of the Thomas Wolfe novel of that title off the shelf and finds a second envelope. This one contains a hundred-dollar bill and another clue. Both are signed, "MOG (Master of Games)." But this is no ordinary game. As it goes on, it requires more and more of Jane's ingenuity, and pushes her into actions that she knows are crazy, immoral or criminal--and it becomes continually more dangerous. More than once, Jane must fight for her life, and she soon learns that MOG won't let her quit this game. She'll have to play to the bitter end.



My Review

Jane plods along in her job, working a library, nothing really interesting happens. She finds an envelope waiting for her that changes that. It contains a $50 bill and an invite to "play" a game and directions where to find the next envelope. As Jane accepts and plays, I mean what harm could it do, she finds the clues and locations more dangerous but the money is bigger each time.

Oooft I think the thing about this one is it could happen to anyone, a random person inviting you to play a game, money, anonymity, excitement, danger. Jane is compelled to find the next and see if MOG (Master of Games) keeps upping the money. Despite things getting darker and much more dangerous Jane convinces herself she isn't doing anything wrong and can stop, if she wants.

I found myself getting frustrated at times with Jane, why why why would you put yourself through that, don't go in there, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!! In the same breath I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was next, who is MOG, why is this even happening and how far was Jane willing to go.

Holding my breath for some scenes, the book is brutal in some parts, disgusting, shocking, horrifying and just wild. If you have read Laymon before you know there is a mix of just about everything in store for you, if not, lace up your books cos it is a good one, 4/5 for me this time.

View all my reviews

Savage by Richard Laymon

Savage by Richard Laymon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - over 4 days

Pages - 437

Publisher - Headline Feature

Source - Amazon

Blurb from Goodreads

Whitechapel, November 1888: Jack the Ripper is committing his last known murder and beneath the bed on which he's butchering his victim cowers a fifteen-year-old boy. So begin the adventures of Trevor Bentley: a boy who embarked on an errand of mercy and ended up on a quest for vengeance, a boy who will bring the horrors of the Ripper to the New World.


My Review

Imagine Jack the Ripper had an eye witness to his last slaughter, that witness is fifteen year old Trevor. Trevor gets a first hand account of what Jack is capable of and being the fine young lad he is he can't let Jack carry on, by intervening he changes his own life and those he encounters forever. The first part of the story is Trevor, encountering Jack and how they come to part. Then Jack ends up on a bit of an adventure, a bit of a western, outlaws, coming of age, fighting, shooting, murder and then back to Jack. It was almost two different stories, the part with Jack the Ripper then a few hundred pages of different adventures, growing up, shaves with death and then back to Jack.

For a fifteen year old Trevor has a very good streak of nobleness, righteous and justice - maybe kids where like that back then who knows. It has a bit of a Tom Sawyer I think I want to say, remember Treasure Island type adventures and pirates, jostles with bad guys and growing up? A bit of all that and then one of our worst killers in history.

Certainly different and an interesting take on the old Jack the Ripper but whilst some parts worked well some could have been stronger if left to that vein or split into two separate stories. I have read a few Laymon books and I do like his writing. He carves great characters and sets scenes so vivid you can easily lose yourself in the world he has created, even just a few pages in. 3.5/5 for me this time, I will be buying more of his work!

View all my reviews

Blood Games by Richard Laymon

Blood Games by Richard Laymon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 467

Publisher - Headline Feature

Source - Bought online

Blurb from Goodreads

Laymon's restored version of his 1992 horror novel that tells of a group of former college friends who hold a reunion at a deserted resort lodge only to find they're sharing it with a maniac. — They meet for one week every year, five young women, best friends since college, in search of fun and thrills. Each year they choose a different place for their reunion. This year it's Helen's choice, and she chose the Totem Pole Lodge. Bad choice. The Totem Pole Lodge is a deserted resort hotel deep in the woods with a gory, shocking past Helen has a macabre streak and she can't wait to tell her friends all about what happened at the lodge and why it's now abandoned. But Helen and the others are in for a nasty surprise. The resort isn't quite as deserted as they think. And not all the gruesome events at the Totem Pole Lodge are in its past. The worst are still to come....


My Review

Five friends from college meet up every year, each year one picks what the groups does and they all go, no questions asked. This year is Helen's turn, Helen loves horror and what better choice than an abandoned lodge that was the site of a massacre. The girls arrive and after a while they realise they aren't alone and soon fighting for their lives.

Helen, Cora, Vivian, Finley and Abilene explore the lodge and go over some of their past exploits, including how they met and bonded in college. With each throwback the reader is given a potential suspect of who may want to get even with them. Or is there something more evil lurking at the lodge? The suspense and eerie atmosphere it present almost from the beginning, you can feel the hair standing up on the back of your neck as you get deeper into the story. The split timeline is easy to follow as the chapters are well earmarked.

There are a fair few themes in the book, mystery, horror, murder, sexual encounters, friendship, revenge and pushing the limits. I found some of the sex stuff wasn't really required although I suppose when the group got together it brought back when they were carefree and a bit more risky. There are plenty of creepy moments in the book , I have always loved checking out old abandoned buildings, after this I may reconsider that.

I forgot how much I enjoyed Laymon's writing, he creates characters and places that just draw you in, almost from the first chapter. 3.5 out of 5 for me this time, I need to buy up more of his books and reacquaint. Perfect for a night wrapped up in the blanket with some candles and just freak yourself right out.

View all my reviews