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Claw Hammer
Something hunts the night.
Relentless, inhumanly cunning, it stalks the serene streets and elegant houses of the quiet Illinois suburb, shattering its victims' skulls and flaying the flesh from their still-living bodies in a maniacal, blood-drenched frenzy.
Now a dedicated cop and a brilliant young doctor will risk everything to run an elusive, insanely savage horror to earth. Their only clue: a beautiful girl, scarred body and soul by a hideous past she can't escape and by an evil that possesses her still. Their only hope: untangling the dark, terrifying secrets of her past in a desperate race to uncover the truth. But very soon their quarry will make them the hunted, trapping them in a nightmarish choice between an unspeakable death — or endless mind-ripping agony…
Relentless, inhumanly cunning, it stalks the serene streets and elegant houses of the quiet Illinois suburb, shattering its victims' skulls and flaying the flesh from their still-living bodies in a maniacal, blood-drenched frenzy.
Now a dedicated cop and a brilliant young doctor will risk everything to run an elusive, insanely savage horror to earth. Their only clue: a beautiful girl, scarred body and soul by a hideous past she can't escape and by an evil that possesses her still. Their only hope: untangling the dark, terrifying secrets of her past in a desperate race to uncover the truth. But very soon their quarry will make them the hunted, trapping them in a nightmarish choice between an unspeakable death — or endless mind-ripping agony…
- GenresHorror
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1989
2 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dale Anderson
35 books28 followersPaul Dale Anderson has written more than 27 novels and hundreds of short stories, mostly in the thriller, mystery, horror, fantasy, and science fiction genres. Paul has also written contemporary romances and westerns. Paul is an Active Member of SFWA and HWA, and he was elected Vice President and Trustee of Horror Writers Association in 1987. He is a current member of International Thriller Writers, Author’s Guild, and an Active Member of MWA and MWA Midwest.
Paul has taught creative writing at the University of Illinois at Chicago and for Writers Digest School. He has appeared on panels at ThrillerfestXI, Chicon4 and Chicon7, X-Con, Windy Con, Madcon, Odyssey Con, Minncon, the World Horror Convention, and the World Fantasy Convention. Paul was a guest of honor at Horror Fest in Estes Park, Colorado, in 1989. He is currently the chair of the 2015 HWA Stoker Awards Long Fiction Jury.
Paul has taught creative writing at the University of Illinois at Chicago and for Writers Digest School. He has appeared on panels at ThrillerfestXI, Chicon4 and Chicon7, X-Con, Windy Con, Madcon, Odyssey Con, Minncon, the World Horror Convention, and the World Fantasy Convention. Paul was a guest of honor at Horror Fest in Estes Park, Colorado, in 1989. He is currently the chair of the 2015 HWA Stoker Awards Long Fiction Jury.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 10, 2019
A story set in the past and future. joyce's family is extinguished by her father with a clawhammer. She seems to be the sole survivor but was badly hurt. After many years of plastic surgery she goes to her prom with Tony a footballplayer adored by many girls. When the prom is over the murders start again. Terribly mutilated bodies are left behind for the police. Who committed those atrocities? You'll get deep insight into the psychological abyss behind the facade of a normal family. Joyce is raised by her grandparents. But her grandfather Fred is a cured turned to religion alcoholic with a terrible past. Once he forced intercourse with Leona, Joyce's mother. Can Eric, a Police Detective and Marsha, a forsensic pro solve the murder cases and get out of the story unharmed? This is the first story I read by this author and it was a very compelling read up to the last page. You had many uncanny moments, some sex, terrible violence, family horror and a fine plot. Sometimes Anderson reminded me on Robert Laymon. This book was fast paced and highly entertaining. It really hits you like a hammer!
January 31, 2015
I lived in Chicago and worked at the American Society of Clinical Pathologists’ Chicago headquarters, directly across West Harrison Street from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, when I wrote Claw Hammer. My ASCP job was to sell continuing education classes to pathologists, and I got to sit in on many of those classes because I was the person who registered pathologists for various courses, set up microscopes in classrooms at conference centers, ran the overheads and slide projectors, hawked new books published by the Society or the College of American Pathologists, and hosted cocktail parties for the Docs at national medical conferences. One of those ASCP classes featured the latest techniques of tool mark analysis available to forensic pathologists interested in identifying the instrument of death, and I was fascinated to learn about the variety of ways people quite often used common household implements to kill beloved family members and friends.
That class reminded me of several terrible tragedies that had happened to grade-school classmates of mine in my own hometown of Rockford, Illinois. I recalled awakening one dawn to the sound of sirens when I was only about eight or nine. I learned that a neighbor had allegedly gone crazy during the night and killed his entire family—all but one daughter who survived--with a claw hammer. The milkman, the same milkman who had just delivered milk to my house, discovered the bodies when he entered the neighbor’s house to put milk in the refrigerator as he normally did twice a week. In those Father Knows Best and Leave It to Beaver days of the early 1950s, people were very trusting and nobody ever locked their back doors. All that changed, of course, after an entire family was killed in our close-knit suburban neighborhood. It never dawned on us that locking the doors would do no good if the killer lived inside the house and had keys.
Not long after that first tragedy, the mother of another female grade-school friend was electrocuted in her bathtub. Supposedly, a radio fell off a shelf and added 110 volts to an afternoon bubble bath and fried the lady like a lobster. Police arrested the lady’s husband and charged him with her murder. My young friend had to leave school to go live with her grandparents. I never saw her again.
One of my favorite uncles, Eric Ekebom, was a Rockford police detective sergeant and I remember asking to see his gun when I was too young to know any better. He told me he hadn’t had to use his gun even once in more than twenty years on the police force. He did carry a gun, he explained, but he said he really didn’t need one because “Good detective use their brains and not guns to catch criminals.” I’ll always remember that.
When Pinnacle Books bought two of my novels and wanted them delivered right away, I wrote a rough draft of Claw Hammer and sent it off with the expectation I would have time to revise and polish the manuscript. I had one day between the time I received the page proofs and the deadline for getting the completed novel back to New York in time to make the publishing window. I overnighted the proofs back. I have never missed a deadline. In the old days when I was learning the newspaper business, we published what we had in order to make a deadline. “Go with what ya got,” the editor called out as the deadline approached. Some stories were incomplete or inaccurate. We knew we always had the next day’s edition to round out the details or publish a correction. I’m glad Claw Hammer endured to see a next edition.
That class reminded me of several terrible tragedies that had happened to grade-school classmates of mine in my own hometown of Rockford, Illinois. I recalled awakening one dawn to the sound of sirens when I was only about eight or nine. I learned that a neighbor had allegedly gone crazy during the night and killed his entire family—all but one daughter who survived--with a claw hammer. The milkman, the same milkman who had just delivered milk to my house, discovered the bodies when he entered the neighbor’s house to put milk in the refrigerator as he normally did twice a week. In those Father Knows Best and Leave It to Beaver days of the early 1950s, people were very trusting and nobody ever locked their back doors. All that changed, of course, after an entire family was killed in our close-knit suburban neighborhood. It never dawned on us that locking the doors would do no good if the killer lived inside the house and had keys.
Not long after that first tragedy, the mother of another female grade-school friend was electrocuted in her bathtub. Supposedly, a radio fell off a shelf and added 110 volts to an afternoon bubble bath and fried the lady like a lobster. Police arrested the lady’s husband and charged him with her murder. My young friend had to leave school to go live with her grandparents. I never saw her again.
One of my favorite uncles, Eric Ekebom, was a Rockford police detective sergeant and I remember asking to see his gun when I was too young to know any better. He told me he hadn’t had to use his gun even once in more than twenty years on the police force. He did carry a gun, he explained, but he said he really didn’t need one because “Good detective use their brains and not guns to catch criminals.” I’ll always remember that.
When Pinnacle Books bought two of my novels and wanted them delivered right away, I wrote a rough draft of Claw Hammer and sent it off with the expectation I would have time to revise and polish the manuscript. I had one day between the time I received the page proofs and the deadline for getting the completed novel back to New York in time to make the publishing window. I overnighted the proofs back. I have never missed a deadline. In the old days when I was learning the newspaper business, we published what we had in order to make a deadline. “Go with what ya got,” the editor called out as the deadline approached. Some stories were incomplete or inaccurate. We knew we always had the next day’s edition to round out the details or publish a correction. I’m glad Claw Hammer endured to see a next edition.
January 18, 2021
Thank goodness for Pinnacle, an for that matter, Zebra books for publishing stuff others wouldn't touch. Claw Hammer is a right nasty read. You have your violent claw Hammer killings. Teen's looking to get laid, drunk and stoned. Maybe not in that order. Vile incest that makes your skin crawl.
It seems that everyone that is around a teenage girl that survived a claw Hammer attack by her father, while killing others in her family, start to turn up dead. A detective teams up with a Dr. to shed some light on things. A variety of colorful characters keeps this one interesting and moving.
It seems that everyone that is around a teenage girl that survived a claw Hammer attack by her father, while killing others in her family, start to turn up dead. A detective teams up with a Dr. to shed some light on things. A variety of colorful characters keeps this one interesting and moving.
July 21, 2020
A killer is stalking the streets of a quiet Illinois suburb. Violently shattering their victims skulls they leave a horrifying bloodbath trail. But hot on that trail are Eric a Detective and Marsha a forensic Doctor.
However there is a link, and that is that these victims are all somehow associated with Joyce a beautiful quiet school girl. But Joyce's clothes hide many deep angry scars and skin grafts from a fatal event that happened in her childhood that haunts her to this very day.
The police team race against time to uncover the truth about Joyce, her family and it's tragic past before it is too late for them all.
I really enjoyed the psychological aspect to this story. The characters were well crafted unreliably especially Joyce's Grandfather Fred a reformed alcoholic who has turned to religion & blames it for sleeping with his Daughter when she was young. We read his thoughts on that and his frustrations with Joyce and his forgiving Wife who dotes on Joyce and seems just too nice!..
We learn of tragic events, sexual encounters, affairs, drugs use and a array of characters which keeps you guessing who it could be and what are their motives?. The action is packed in and not until the bitter end does it all unravel to a satisfactory climax.
I chose this as it was included in Paperbacks from Hell and although not really scary as such it is violent & graphic with sexual encounters and referencing. I agree with another reviewer who commented on the bra-less professional character it was repeatedly mentioned, quite unbelievable and seemed to serve little purpose to the story but it didn't detract too much from my enjoyment.
I shall be reading the others in this series that the book has listed too.
But overall a enjoyable vintage horror especially for those who like to guess who did it?.
However there is a link, and that is that these victims are all somehow associated with Joyce a beautiful quiet school girl. But Joyce's clothes hide many deep angry scars and skin grafts from a fatal event that happened in her childhood that haunts her to this very day.
The police team race against time to uncover the truth about Joyce, her family and it's tragic past before it is too late for them all.
I really enjoyed the psychological aspect to this story. The characters were well crafted unreliably especially Joyce's Grandfather Fred a reformed alcoholic who has turned to religion & blames it for sleeping with his Daughter when she was young. We read his thoughts on that and his frustrations with Joyce and his forgiving Wife who dotes on Joyce and seems just too nice!..
We learn of tragic events, sexual encounters, affairs, drugs use and a array of characters which keeps you guessing who it could be and what are their motives?. The action is packed in and not until the bitter end does it all unravel to a satisfactory climax.
I chose this as it was included in Paperbacks from Hell and although not really scary as such it is violent & graphic with sexual encounters and referencing. I agree with another reviewer who commented on the bra-less professional character it was repeatedly mentioned, quite unbelievable and seemed to serve little purpose to the story but it didn't detract too much from my enjoyment.
I shall be reading the others in this series that the book has listed too.
But overall a enjoyable vintage horror especially for those who like to guess who did it?.
June 9, 2025
It’s been a while since we’ve had a drunk uncle story, amirite? Well lucky for you all, I finally got my hands on Claw Hammer by Paul Dale Anderson, who was practically pickled toward the end. I can’t front tho, most of the classics (vintage horror) that I’ve been reading have been actually good. With like good writing & storylines etc. This one had all of the above…but still had some WILD shit going on so…what’s that story about again Uncle Anderson?
Quick Synopsis:
Joyce came from a shattered home. Shattered by one single tool & one crazed parent who took them all out one night, almost Joyce as well. It’s now years later. She’s living with her extremely religious grandparents, trying to live a normal teenage life. All while hiding her latticework of scars from her past. One night, she innocently gets invited to a party & everything goes horribly wrong. Then kids in her class start coming up not just dead, but bludgeoned to a pulp by the very same weapon! Who is doing this & why is it all centered around poor Joyce? Hasn’t she suffered enough?
This book was everything I could ask for in a sleazy, bloody, horror story of yore. The death scenes were immaculately done & particularly gruesome. The POV changes were very well done & added to the buildup to that insane ending. My skin crawled during every scene with the batshit crazy, religious fanatic grandparents. The mindless barbie/ken doll teenagers just became hammer fodder. The cop/expert story that became a gritty, cringey May/December romance? While they’re scraping brain matter off walls? Totally made sense. All in a drunk uncle story done right. I also, just as I’m writing this found out there are like NINE more additions to this?! Like I can’t even focus enough to finish this, cuz I need them all now. If you can find it, go read it. It’s rare but a good one, now if you’ll excuse me…I have some hunting to do.
Quick Synopsis:
Joyce came from a shattered home. Shattered by one single tool & one crazed parent who took them all out one night, almost Joyce as well. It’s now years later. She’s living with her extremely religious grandparents, trying to live a normal teenage life. All while hiding her latticework of scars from her past. One night, she innocently gets invited to a party & everything goes horribly wrong. Then kids in her class start coming up not just dead, but bludgeoned to a pulp by the very same weapon! Who is doing this & why is it all centered around poor Joyce? Hasn’t she suffered enough?
This book was everything I could ask for in a sleazy, bloody, horror story of yore. The death scenes were immaculately done & particularly gruesome. The POV changes were very well done & added to the buildup to that insane ending. My skin crawled during every scene with the batshit crazy, religious fanatic grandparents. The mindless barbie/ken doll teenagers just became hammer fodder. The cop/expert story that became a gritty, cringey May/December romance? While they’re scraping brain matter off walls? Totally made sense. All in a drunk uncle story done right. I also, just as I’m writing this found out there are like NINE more additions to this?! Like I can’t even focus enough to finish this, cuz I need them all now. If you can find it, go read it. It’s rare but a good one, now if you’ll excuse me…I have some hunting to do.
December 17, 2023
Joyce saw an extremely traumatic experience as a child. Her body was scarred, shoulders to ankles, looking like huge chunks of flesh had been removed, bits of bone carved out. Her body was an abomination of deformity. Bloody Frankenstein. Three teens, flecks of blood and brains on the wall, faces pounded and hacked, skulls cracked wide open like runny eggs from cracked egg shells. Autopsy report suggests a claw hammer. Ouch. The hammer claw again, pulverizing jaws and teeth, into eye sockets, hit so hard a toupe flies through the air. The claw like a venomous snake waiting to bite.
October 10, 2022
A Very Dangerous Weapon Found in Every Home
Many years ago I read a paperback edition of this book. Fortunately for my current enjoyment I'd forgotten so much of the very violent storyline. In this first book in the instruments of death series A tool/weapon that is often accidentally used to smash thumbs becomes a story of what occurs when the claw in of the hammer is used on the suddenly quite fragile human skull.
The family dynamics in this savage tale are horrendous. The book is definitely not for the faint of heart. Be afraid be very afraid if you have any association with the main family characters in this novel. I have gained a new respect for hammers. In England where gun violence isn't prevalent like in the US - deaths by hammers is not uncommon. There have even been some English serial killers that used it as their weapon of choice (Peter Sutcliffe).
Many years ago I read a paperback edition of this book. Fortunately for my current enjoyment I'd forgotten so much of the very violent storyline. In this first book in the instruments of death series A tool/weapon that is often accidentally used to smash thumbs becomes a story of what occurs when the claw in of the hammer is used on the suddenly quite fragile human skull.
The family dynamics in this savage tale are horrendous. The book is definitely not for the faint of heart. Be afraid be very afraid if you have any association with the main family characters in this novel. I have gained a new respect for hammers. In England where gun violence isn't prevalent like in the US - deaths by hammers is not uncommon. There have even been some English serial killers that used it as their weapon of choice (Peter Sutcliffe).
October 18, 2024
Kinda feels like any number of modern crime procedurals, just considerably more violence.
Definitely lots of tropey, paperback slasher stuff in here. Teenagers doing drugs, contrived sex scenes, and an inexplicable romance between the two main protagonists. Reads quite a bit like YA point horror novels from the same era. If you remove the explicit violence and sex and leave it all implied, it could easily be a Fear Street book.
2 stars for one of these hardcore slasher paperbacks is the sweet spot, though. If I give one of these books 3 stars or higher, it's a masterpiece of the genre akin to Crime and Punishment.
Definitely lots of tropey, paperback slasher stuff in here. Teenagers doing drugs, contrived sex scenes, and an inexplicable romance between the two main protagonists. Reads quite a bit like YA point horror novels from the same era. If you remove the explicit violence and sex and leave it all implied, it could easily be a Fear Street book.
2 stars for one of these hardcore slasher paperbacks is the sweet spot, though. If I give one of these books 3 stars or higher, it's a masterpiece of the genre akin to Crime and Punishment.
June 16, 2017
If you are a fan of fictional sex and violence this book is for you. The plot had possibilities for me, but was overshadowed by sexual encounters that seemed contrived. I agree that some of them were integral to the plot - they were absolutely necessary. But others were hard to believe, such as an ME showing up at a crime scene braless. No woman that wants to be taken seriously would ever do that, especially at work as a professional.
December 2, 2019
A young girl left for dead survives only to be haunted by the past
Well narrated and brutal highly recommended if your in the mood for a thriller
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
Well narrated and brutal highly recommended if your in the mood for a thriller
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
July 6, 2023
Read the updated version. I really loved it! Really nasty violence and moves quickly. I had a hard time putting it down. I'm definitely going to read more of the series!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews