Hell Fire

by John Saul

Pity the dead. For one hundred years the old mill has stood silent, its dread secrets locked away and barred from view. Still the people of Westover, Massachusetts, remember--remember and whisper of that fateful day when horrifying flames claimed eleven innocent lives. The day the mill's iron doors slammed shut--forever.

Pray for the living. Now Westover is a sleepy town tucked away beyond the Interstate, all but forgotten. Now, the last of the once-powerful Sturgess family dreams of reopening the mill. Now Philip Sturgess is about to unlock the doors to the past...and unleash an elemental fury. For beyond those doors, padlocked for so many years, deep within the dark, abandoned building, a terrible vengeance waits. A vengeance conceived in...Hellfire.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Ghosts, Paranormal, Mystery Thriller

278 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

John Saul is an American author best known for his bestselling suspense and horror novels, many of which have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. Born in Pasadena and raised in Whittier, California, Saul attended several universities without earning a degree. He spent years honing his craft, writing under pen names before finding mainstream success. His breakout novel, Suffer the Children (1977), launched a prolific career, with over 60 million copies of his books in print. Saul’s work includes Cry for the Strangers, later adapted into a TV movie, and The Blackstone Chronicles series. He is also a playwright, with one-act plays produced in Los Angeles and Seattle. In 2023, he received the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. Openly gay, he has lived with his partner—also his creative collaborator—for nearly 50 years. Saul divides his time between Seattle, the San Juan Islands, and Hawaii, and frequently speaks at writers’ conferences, including the Maui Writers' Conference. His enduring popularity in the horror genre stems from a blend of psychological tension, supernatural elements, and deep emotional undercurrents that have resonated with readers for decades.

Reviews

[Tessa Nadir · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Saul este unul dintre autorii mei preferati, pe care am ajuns sa il pretuiesc chiar mai mult decat pe Stephen King, cel din urma fiind un pic prea comercial pentru gustul meu. In adolescenta am citit cam tot ce a scris, astfel incat ori de cate ori mai gasesc o carte de a sa pe care am omis-o, ma bucur foarte mult. Cel mai bun moment de a citi creatiile sale este fara indoiala noaptea de Halloween. Il apreciez pentru ca este un maestru in prelungirea intensitatii misterului si fricii iar personajele sunt vii si traiesti alaturi de ele, temandu-te pentru siguranta lor. Acest build-up al terorii mi se pare fascinant.
"Focul iadului" nu este chiar atat de reusit, poate tocmai pentru ca personajele nu sunt atat de credibile iar in fata tragediei lor sunt lipsite de emotie, chiar fade. Cum ar fi Philip Sturgess, tatal vitreg al eroinei, in jurul caruia mor rudele si copiii iar el este lipsit de orice reactie sau emotie. Cel mai revoltator mi s-a parut atunci cand chiar dupa inmormantarea tatalui sau, doreste sa faca sex cu sotia sa in loc sa fie indurerat - iar cartea mai are cateva asemenea momente absurde.
Asa cum ne-am obisnuit la John Saul, romanul incepe cu un fragment edificator care ne pregateste si ne introduce in atmosfera. Actiunea se desfasoara in Westover, unde bogatul Philip Sturgess decide sa o ia de sotie pe Carolyn, o femeie de conditie normala care are o fiica dintr-o alta casatorie. Beth nu este bine primita de familia tatalui vitreg si nici de noua ei sora care, ori de cate ori poate, o raneste si o umileste.
In momentul in care Philip decide sa redeschida vechea fabrica de pantofi a familei, in jurul careia circula teribile legende si povesti, destinul personajelor se va schimba pentru ca acolo salasluieste un demon insetat de moarte si razbunare.
Ca incheiere, consider ca John Saul are romane mult mai bune cu care ne putem delecta dar si aceasta carte merita incercata pentru atmosfera si de dragul autorului in cazul in care avem prea mult timp liber la dispozitie.

[TAP · Rating 3 out of 5]

We all die sooner or later…

Hellfire is all about rich people problems, jealous horse girls, and a vengeful spirit which all make for a rough and rowdy soap opera good time. Perfect? Not at all. Entertaining escapism? Sure thing. My only wish is more gore. Thanks.

90% family drama. 10% PG-13 supernatural spooks.

Good enough to finish.

Also, no one told me John Saul was gay. Go off. I will be looking for more of his gentle horrors to read in the future.

[Brendon Lowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hellfire is typical John Saul. It has solid writing, easy to follow and digest plot, great character development and his hallmarks being small towns, creepy kids and supernatural elements.

The characters of Abigail and Tracy really got under my skin as the rich snobby upper class snobs. I hated the character of Tracy the most but that just a credit to the skill of Saul and his writing ability.

This is a quick read and engaging enough even if its follows family dramas and history's more than the horror elements for the most part of the plot. Definitely glad I have read it but isnt in the top books of his I have read so far.

3.5 stars down to 3 for Goodreads.

[Erikalea · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite John Saul book.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me, I have not read that many of John Saul books. John Saul has a very solid plot line dealing with a family business of hiding secrets, driving family members crazy and haunts from the past in the old mill that the Sturgess family owned. It was not the ending that I thought it would be. Hellfire is mixed with old town folklore, family secrets and legends of the town. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it as a book worth reading.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Saul is noticeably inferior to many of the big-name writers, and Stephen King has openly criticized his writing, but although his writing doesn't have the same power or finesse as King or Straub or ... must I say it, Dean Koontz ... he is more than capable of turning out a simple and entertaining story that takes us from point A to B. Sometimes, in the case of 'Hellfire', he even manages to scare us - or at least creep us out a little. But the best part of this book is that it continues to shock you - especially in the second half (and even more the ending!!!) with its number of casualties and violent revelations, which are delivered exceptionally well...

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more of a 2.5/5 rounded up

As with most Saul novels I've read, I had a fine time with Hellfire, and it was a quick read, so his stuff makes more a light horror snack of sorts. Despite rarely being blown away by his work, it's almost always enjoyable and Hellfire was certainly a decent read with strong storytelling, though I must admit that most of it's characters drove me insane, save the two father figures. There were a couple of small surprises too, so that was nice, though the ending didn't completely land with me. I get nostalgic for these periodically, so I'm sure I'll pick up another one soon.

[Sarah (is clearing her shelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent horror story. Plenty of deaths, including some unexpected ones, and violence. I really felt for Beth and wished horrible things on Tracy and her grandmother.

[Korah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooooo Philip and Carolyn were cousins??? Feel like that was kind of glossed over. Tracy was a despicable villain.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read by Saul. Blue blood Phillip marries a 'common' wife much to the displeasure of his family, and especially his teenage daughter. Besides the nasty family dynamics (Phillip's daughter Tracy is really evil), the novel centers on an old shoe mill in the small New England town that has been shut for 100 years. Phillip wants to turn the old building into a shopping mall, but we soon learn that the mill has a very dark history, and one that is still haunting the place.

[Yani Daniele · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Saul es uno de los pocos autores que logra meterme por completo en la atmosfera de sus historias, logra hacer que sienta escalofríos, que todo mi cuerpo sienta la tensión por los hechos que están por ocurrir y en los que no puedes interferir, se te corta la respiración anticipando los momentos claves, esos en los que sabes que algo va a saltar desde la oscuridad y atrapar a un personaje, sabes que va a ocurrir, pero no puedes hacer nada.
En fuego infernal tenemos un pequeño pueblo que siempre ha estado dominado y bajo el influjo de una familia poderosa, los típicos ricachones que miran al resto con desprecio, los que siguen creyendo que los demás son meros seres inferiores que solo existen para servirles. Por generaciones han hecho y deshecho a su antojo pero luego de una tragedia su poder va disminuyendo, su gran riqueza mermando pero aún así se niegan a ver la vida como es. Entre esos pensamientos, el nuevo heredero de la familia, da un giro a su vida y desea restaurar una vieja fabrica, un fabrica que encierra historias, secretos y algo más peligroso.
Y toda la trama gira en torno a esta familia y la fabrica, tenemos un ser sobrenatural haciendo de las suyas pero también hay un personaje humano que está a la misma altura o quizás sea aún más cruel, psicópata y el que me volvió loca todo el libro, porque me sacaba canas verdes su total impunidad.
No quiero contar más porque entrar en detalles es caer en los spoilers, la sinopsis ya de por sí dice bastante, así que lo único que puedo agregar es que si aman este género, si les gusta sentir escalofríos, deberían darle una oportunidad a Fuego infernal.

[B.W. Ginsburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another ghost story is cleverly and skillfully delivered to us by John Saul. While the book starts out a little slow, it soon turns into a fast-paced page turner. Saul is amazing at including imagery that makes us feel as if we are part of the story and he has a great talent for developing characters that we find ourselves feeling strongly about. We know immediately who to root for and who we want to fail.
This story is a little “creepier” than The Unwanted and Nathaniel. While Nathaniel was definitely eerie, Hell Fire contains more violence and frightening imagery. However, that’s part of what adds to the greatness of the story. The plot is filled with mystery, violence, history, and revenge.
Another great thing about Hell Fire is that it touches on so many issues that are relevant in the world today. The story is not only a ghost story, but it also deals with class and the resentment that one side of a town has for the other. The story also touches on the hatred that one sibling can have for another and how jealousy can turn a person into something someone else may have never thought imaginable. If you’re looking for a book that has many facets and is scary at the same time as relevant, Hell Fire is definitely for you!

[Aurora Dimitre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, John Saul is so fun. It took a little bit to get as overdramatic as I wanted it to be, though--it's been a while since I've read one of his books, though, maybe I'm just out-of-practice. There were some wild points, though. Definitely a fun time.

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Hellfire" is a haunted house (or haunted mill) story with a compelling premise and a subpar execution. The "table setting," as I heard someone once describe the first act of the story, is handled deftly enough. The second act makes promises though that the third act can't keep.

Beth Rogers is a young girl from a working class family who, after her parents' divorce, finds herself living in one of those "blended" families that is not really blending. Her stepsister, Tracy, is scioness to a fortune that her clan, the Sturgess family, amassed under conditions that would make a Dickensian urchin's face blush (assuming you could see his skin beneath the layers of coal).

To reveal much more would be to give up the game. Stuff happens at the mill (how's that for being vague in the spirit of avoiding spoilers?). Stuff also happens at the big house where the stodgy Sturgess family have lived for generations, looking down their noses at their servants and now holding those same noses as love puts the "white trash" Beth and her mother Carolyn in the master's suite.

Some of the scenes work as little horror vignettes, but the vague eeriness never really becomes something more, and one-too-many turns of the screw involving underdeveloped characters leaves one shrugging as opposed to shivering. Not enough Diabolus from this Machina, and considering the 80s produced a superabundance of great mass market paperback horror titles, anyone with access to a used bookstore need not be a beggar when it only costs a couple bucks to be choosy. John Saul is not bad, but frankly Stephen King could write better than this even blackout drunk and under deadline.

[Michelle Dinkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!! A tragedy and kept me on the edge of my seat. I listened to this book via audible and I couldn't stop listening. It was amazing!!! The characters were well described and the storyline was well defined.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hellfire (1986)


  „Crosgrove se uită împrejur, ochii lui cercetând interiorul fabricii.

  — Da, spuse el. Ciudat. Toată viaţa am auzit poveşti despre locul ăsta, despre cât e de periculos. Poveşti stupide. Acum renovează fabrica şi ce se întâmplă? Nici n-au terminat-o şi avem deja un mort. De-aia zic că-i ciudat.

  Jeffers se uită curios la partenerul lui.

  — Doar nu vrei să spui ceea cred eu că vrei să spui, nu?

  Crosgrove ridică din umeri.

  — Nu ştiu, spuse el încet. Tu n-ai crescut aici, ca mine. S-a mai întâmplat o dată ceva asemănător. Cred c-au trecut vreo patruzeci de ani. Atunci a fost fratele lui Phillip Sturgess, Conrad Junior.

  Barney Jeffers se încruntă.

  — Vrei să spui c-a murit? Aici, în fabrică?

  — Nu aici, în fabrică, Barney, spuse Crosgrove sumbru. Chiar în locul ăsta. La capătul scărilor.

  Jeffers fluieră uşor.

  — Isuse. Ce s-a întâmplat?

  — Asta-i problema, rosti Crosgrove. Nimeni n-a ştiut dacă a fost accident, crimă sau ce-o fi fost.”

[Anto Tilio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este John Saul lo hizo de nuevo.
Hace como 10 años conocí a este autor que me produjo el trauma literario más grande de mi vida. Desde ese momento se volvió una apuesta segura y cada vez que encuentro un libro suyo debo comprarlo. Fuego infernal es el cuarto libro que leo del autor hasta el momento y creo que será mi segundo favorito por tener algunas semejanzas a Dejad a los niños.
En Fuego infernal nos topamos con una fábrica abandonada sobre la cual existen numerosas historias y parece albergar algo maligno. Los dueños de la misma son los Sturgess, una de las familias más ricas de Westover. Y aunque la fábrica permaneció cerrada y abandonada durante 100 años, muy pronto revivirá de diferentes maneras.
La historia sigue los pasos de la pequeña Beth, su mamá se casó recientemente con Phillip Sturgess y desde entonces viven en la mansión de la colina. Con la muerte del padre de Phillip comienzan los dramas. Phillip planea reabrir la vieja fábrica y poner una especie de centro comercial en ella para que el edificio empiece a producir dinero. Pero la hija de Phillip ha vuelto a casa durante las vacaciones y detesta a su madrastra y hermanastra siendo su abuela la única que la apoya y la consciente ya que también desdeña a su nueva nuera e ignora completamente a su hija. La vida de Carolyn y Beth con los Sturgess será compleja, pero sobre todo para la niña ya que su hermanastra la insulta, humilla y molesta constantemente.
Cuando empiezan las obras en la fábrica, el padre de Beth será el encargado de las mismas y ella comienza a pasar tiempo en el edificio. Allí conoce a una niña que sufrió una terrible tragedia, Amy. Beth termina entablando cierta amistad con Amy, un entendimiento que nace del dolor que ambas sienten. Pero Amy está furiosa por lo que le sucedió y es la causante de todas las cosas extrañas que suceden en la fábrica. Así empiezan las muertes y accidentes en el edificio, los cuales no tienen otra explicación más que se tratan de accidentes. Pero las obras siguen su curso a pesar de las tragedias y siguen negando la maldad que reina en el edificio. Cuántas vidas debe cobrarse la fábrica para que les caiga la ficha y arrasen con ese lugar? Pues la respuesta es obvia, hasta que no hay vuelta atrás y todo se va al carajo.
En general me pareció una historia muy triste. Por un lado tenemos a Beth que debe lidiar con la nueva situación familiar y lentamente se va quedando sola, lo que la acerca cada vez más a Amy. Y la historia de Amy es sumamente horrible, lloré de bronca y pena por todo lo que vivió esa niña y si bien entiendo su furia son cosas que podrían haberse impedido si la gente rica no fuera tan asquerosa. El final me pareció muy trágico aunque tuviera cierta justicia, lástima que en los libros de Saul las cosas nunca parecen terminarse del todo.
La verdad verdadera es que la villana de esta historia es Tracy, esta pendeja maldita le gana por mucho margen a las niñas malvadas y fantasmales de acá y otros libros del autor. Merecía un final mucho peor del que tuvo.

En fin, una historia de fantasmas vengativos, dramas peliagudos y furias infernales. Saul cumple con creces en sus historias y ojalá fuera más reconocido en el género.

[MikeR · Rating 5 out of 5]

The old mill in Westover, Massachusetts, has a troubling past tied to child labor and the violent actions of a man from long ago. As plans to renovate the mill begin, strange events start to happen, giving the building a menacing aura. Carolyn Rogers lives in the Sturgess mansion with her husband Philip, the mill's owner, their daughter Beth, Philip's daughter Tracy, and his mother. Sadly, Carolyn and Beth face hostility from Tracy and her grandmother, making their lives harder. Beth feels alone and struggles to fit in, thinking she has connected with Amy, the spirit of a girl her age. Meanwhile, Tracy is a source of nightmares, taking every opportunity to cruelly tease Beth.

John Saul's ghost story is skillfully written, becoming an engaging read with rich descriptions and well-crafted characters. The story draws readers in, and the narrative is strong, eerie, and immersive, linking the characters' lives to the mill's dark history. The supernatural aspects blend smoothly, leading to a surprising and chilling ending.

[Natasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story about a rich family's past and secrets, about one spoilt girl and another sweet innocent girl being bullied by the first all throughout the book, and a lot more. Good versus evil with the main character ending tragic and unfair. The epilogue was very characteristic for the author, showing us an ending that I like to call 'x-files' ending...kind of happily ever after but with the possibility of everything going south once again later in the future.

I don't know why I liked the story especially as I'm not a fan of books where the main character a kid is. I guess because of it's simplicity and the author's great depiction of every character and his/her emotions I really enjoyed it (and his ability to provoke emotions in me, like disliking the treatment Tracy was giving to Beth etc). I think some would find the story boring and some not. I would have to think hard whom to recommend this.

[Brian Mcclain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really know what to think. The writing was good and the characters were fleshed out, but they were all either really good or really bad and no real intermediate levels. It was like watching a slow burn horror movie only instead of a slow burn there were several scenes that went real quick and then went back to almost nothing. By the end I just really wanted to see what was going to happen and the ending was perhaps the most disappointing part. I found no satisfaction in either the last chapter or the epilogue and feel as though there was a better way to end it that would bring some sense of closure. So as I sit here writing this review I give it 3 stars on literary merit alone, but with the note that I didn't find it as entertaining as I would've liked. I will definitely try Saul again as I've come across a couple of his books and I always give authors a second chance.

[Jacob Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf for years before I sat down and read it. I've only read about three John Saul books but each one I've read seems to have a kid as the protagonist and supernatural things happening. This book reads as a ghost story with the ghost seeking revenge for her death.

The book was a good read and hard to put down. The slow build up of information to the reader made you want to keep reading. You know the book is building to a climax that something major will happen but I was almost surprised with the outcome. John Saul is an another not afraid to kill off secondary and even major characters in his stories. I was surprised by the many deaths. Most horror books just have nobody's that die where as this book you are more and more invested in the person who dies.

All and all I found it to be a great read. A nice way to spend a day.

[Sir Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hellfire follows tracy and beth.
There is an old abandoned wind mill.
They both hook up with phillip.
There going to go to the wind mill.
It's a spooky wind mill.
Then the girls try to kill each other.
The old haunted wind mill.
I'll kill my best friend about u bit.
Still thoughts of that tin windmill toy.
With the grommet demon.
The hell fire lighter.
Is hell transindent.
A new plane of exsistancs.
Left in the ashes of hell.
The haunted wind mill.
Theres a dam in town.
That once had a wind mill.
I hate traci and Xavier.

[Madi Fleitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was slightly reluctant to pick up this book because of the numerous comments comparing Stephen King and John Saul, but in my opinion they are incorrect. I have never been one to be interested in thriller/horror, but this book captivated me from the get-go. There were multiple points in the book in which I audibly gasped. Specifically the last line in the epilogue made me get the chills and check behind my shoulder for no reason other than reflex of being scared.

[Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something about John Saul that makes me love reading his books. I blew through this so quickly. Even though most of his books become predictable, for some reason I just can't help but loving it. Many people say that they were shocked at the second half/ending, but if you read enough of his books, it is predictable. I continue to love John Saul, and the best part I have found is his consistency in quality, at least so far.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The creepy parts were good and I was pleased that the author was not afraid to kill off likable characters. Even though the storyline was a little weak and the characters were pretty two dimensional, I would be interested in checking out this author's more recent work.

[Steve Parcell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit it I just don't buy John Saul. His books are entertaining enough but they always have something missing. Just suspense perhaps? Mill to reopen following tragic accident 100 years prior. You know the rest I think. It will pass the time but not live long on the memory.

[Ellenjsmellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this one. Could've had a sequel, but I guess chose not to write one. Quick read.

[Amy Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book three times. if your into ghost stories, you will enjoy it. Even though I have read it multiple times, it creeps me out everytime.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted a little more creepy story, but over all I enjoyed the book.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't review favorite authors.
3.5 stars. Slower than the average Saul horror, but still a good ghost story.