As I am re-reading all of his books in publication order, one after the other, I must say, this is NOT the way to read his books as though there are so many tropes that he uses quite often BUT that does not mean stay away from his books! This book is a strong 4 if not a 5 star read for me, so saying this let's get into my thoughts and review of one of what I call; Saul's horror classics, 'One Not to be Missed!'
16 year old Cassie Winslow has grown up with her alcoholic, and messed up mother in West Hollywood, after her mother takes her away from her father as an almost 2 year old child. Cassie moves to False Harbor Massachusetts after her mother is killed in an accident....(see, one of the usual scenes in all of his books, but they work!) and not really knowing her father, she is not excited about meeting her 8 year old half sister Jennifer or her Step mother; Rosemary. When she gets to False Harbor she meets Eric Cavanaugh the next door neighbor boy who seems the same age. As things start to unfold in this book you are so drawn into the strange people and possessed animals in this fishing town that you can not put this book down. That is one of the reasons that I have always loved Sauls way or writing, he does not waste hundreds of pages building a characters background then take you on a down spiraling story that just ends up being stupid, Saul takes that dare and scares the hell out of you with always making you care for or HATE the protagonists, which are usually always a child or teenager.
There is a very important character, Miranda Sikes in this book that you cannot help but feel sorry for, she makes you think of the 'scary bag lady' that is so often in horror fiction, that you are devastated when you find out what her role in this story is it just made me sad. And of course do not go into this expecting a happy ending. So, i am getting ready to make a video review on this 'vintage horror favorite' of mine for my YouTube Channel; AreYouIntoHorror so i will be posting a link soon here. This is a definite recommended read for me to anyone who likes their horror and suspense fast moving, tense, and disturbingly bloody and graphic.
Check out 'The Unwanted' by John Saul. (less)
Enjoyable. I was taken by surprise at the ending. I truly didn't see it coming.
This is a nice book for some light reading, assuming you like books that are in this genre. The story was entertaining and made for a quick read.
Not too bad. If you are a witchcraft fan, you might like this one, and the plot was enough to keep me listening.
This book was good read - if you like a horror story about witches.
For generations, the word Witch has clung to the Sikes women like an ancient curse. Now Miranda keeps a lonely vigil, a hawk and cat her only companions. Teen Cassie Winslow comes to live with her father and his family and Miranda's waitng comes to an end. Cassie has seen visions of a kind woman, someone totally unlike her abusive mother. That woman is Miranda, who passes on the strange secret she has been guarding to Cassie, in a legacy of supernatural power.
