Reviews

I didn't even know that Hitchcock's Psycho was based on a novel until recently. Being a big fan of the film, this was a very enjoyable read. Pretty much the same story as the film, just with more detail.

jeansbooks's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cpeters2384's review against another edition

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4.0

1959. This book for its time is just exquisite. I’m soooooo very upset I had seen the movies before reading the book. Heck, before knowing there was a book or the joy of knowing I could read it before the movie.
Creepy, mysterious and so very unsettling is Norman and all that he is. I’m glad I finally got my hands on a copy so I can appreciate this classic and log its elements in my bank for future reads/critiques.

pipi_marino's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

marcus_bines's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I've watched the Hitchcock movie several times, but had never read the novel it's based on. Turns out it's a very faithful adaptation, with exactly the same structure, which meant that for me there were few surprises. Nevertheless, the writing was good, straightforward and fast-paced, and I still felt the tension inherent in the final scenes in the Bates house, despite knowing what would happen.

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