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sapphire_dreams's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was so close to DNF’ing this book so many times. The sensitive topics aren’t handled with care and it seemed unnecessarily graphic or insensitive. The characters were cool (especially Alex) and the ending was satisfying but it wasn’t worth reading through 300+ pages worth of bullshit. But hey, the ending was cool!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Addiction, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Cursing, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Rape
Moderate: Antisemitism and Blood
harvio's review against another edition
4.0
- from the jacket: "Can a good man go too far to protect his family? That is the question underlying this gripping tale of a family fighting for its life, which pulls the reader into its stranglehold of terror in the tradition of Straw Dogs and Cape Fear. Having survived a childhood of physical beatings and psychological torture, successful Manhattan lawyer Jacob Schiff cherishes his stable family life with his wife, Dana, a psychiatric social worker, and their teenage son, Alex. But Jake sees it all unravelling when John Gates, a homeless man who has become Dana's patient, starts stalking her and menacing the family. As Gates's behaviour becomes even more bizarre and violent, and no one seems able to stop him, Jake is driven to the breaking point by fear and desperation and takes a fatal step that could destroy everything he cares about.
- highly regarded by the likes of Stephen King, James Ellroy, and James Patterson, Blauner previously won the 1992 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel Of The Year.
- a little violent in parts (for me, anyway), but smoothly written with good character development
- highly regarded by the likes of Stephen King, James Ellroy, and James Patterson, Blauner previously won the 1992 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel Of The Year.
- a little violent in parts (for me, anyway), but smoothly written with good character development
cosmicbeth21's review against another edition
3.0
This book was pretty good, took awhile for me to get into it, pretty slow moving in the beginning but wound up liking it in the end.
taylortummons's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
avid_read's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
pziemlewicz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
brghreader's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
harvio's review against another edition
4.0
- from the jacket: "Can a good man go too far to protect his family? That is the question underlying this gripping tale of a family fighting for its life, which pulls the reader into its stranglehold of terror in the tradition of Straw Dogs and Cape Fear. Having survived a childhood of physical beatings and psychological torture, successful Manhattan lawyer Jacob Schiff cherishes his stable family life with his wife, Dana, a psychiatric social worker, and their teenage son, Alex. But Jake sees it all unravelling when John Gates, a homeless man who has become Dana's patient, starts stalking her and menacing the family. As Gates's behaviour becomes even more bizarre and violent, and no one seems able to stop him, Jake is driven to the breaking point by fear and desperation and takes a fatal step that could destroy everything he cares about.
- highly regarded by the likes of Stephen King, James Ellroy, and James Patterson, Blauner previously won the 1992 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel Of The Year.
- a little violent in parts (for me, anyway), but smoothly written with good character development
- highly regarded by the likes of Stephen King, James Ellroy, and James Patterson, Blauner previously won the 1992 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel Of The Year.
- a little violent in parts (for me, anyway), but smoothly written with good character development
eggbeater's review
4.0
This is one of the books recommended by Stephen King in his book "On Writing." It is a fast-paced thriller that I think is unforgettable. It really illustrates the downward spiral of untreated mental illness and drug addiction. This book shows a lot of compassion for misunderstood people. It is also just plain fun.
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