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The Glow
A young, upwardly mobile couple moves into an elegant townhouse, befriends their middle-aged landlords, who surround themselves with young people, and are mystified when other couples in the building disappear one by one
255 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 17, 2023
I found it fairly amusing that several of the blurbs on the cover of The Glow novel called it a 'modern' or 'updated' Rosemary's Baby given that it was first published in 1979, and while there are a few parallels, do not expect any devils here. Our lead, Jackie, works in a department store in NYC as a fashion buyer and is married to Pete, who works as a book editor for some unnamed publisher. Late 20 somethings, they really desire a new apartment, but the prices being what they are, are stymied. One day, however, after Pete does his jog around Central Park, someone snatches his jacket, which has his wallet and keys, etc. Thankfully, some fellow joggers are nearby and offer to let him use their phone. Turns out that the elderly, but extremely fit joggers all live in same building and as it turns out, the building has a vacancy-- a marvelous prewar apartment that is super cheap to boot! When Jackie meets the 'crew', however, she feels something is a little off. Not only are they all health nuts, but they seem more than a little nosey...
The Glow definitely possesses a little 'paint by the numbers' feel to it, as Stanwood seems obligated to drop in some foreshadowing or a little odd bit every 20 pages or so. You know pretty much right off the bat that something strange is going on in the apartment building and you kinda know where it is going to go, but Stanwood writes well enough to pull you along. This had a very retro feeling to it, naming all the 'hot' and 'trendy' spots in NYC circa 1977, along with the various fashions and so forth; you can tell Stanwood felt pretty much at home in the Big Apple. A fitting denouement tied things up nicely. Nonetheless, this is pretty much lite fare; maybe a good beach read. 3 jogging stars!
The Glow definitely possesses a little 'paint by the numbers' feel to it, as Stanwood seems obligated to drop in some foreshadowing or a little odd bit every 20 pages or so. You know pretty much right off the bat that something strange is going on in the apartment building and you kinda know where it is going to go, but Stanwood writes well enough to pull you along. This had a very retro feeling to it, naming all the 'hot' and 'trendy' spots in NYC circa 1977, along with the various fashions and so forth; you can tell Stanwood felt pretty much at home in the Big Apple. A fitting denouement tied things up nicely. Nonetheless, this is pretty much lite fare; maybe a good beach read. 3 jogging stars!
August 30, 2018
I found this book while shopping a "4 for $0.97" sale at a nearby thrift store—I needed a fourth book and decided on this one. I don't really read a lot of horror (although I'm drawn to the older ones, when I do read it), but I do give it a chance every now and then.
I'm surprised I enjoyed it, given that my usual reaction to such books is to be distinctly underwhelmed. It wasn't scary, and the story wasn't all that complex, but the characters were written well enough that I didn't care. And they weren't even the sort of characters I would tend to like: well-off New Yorkers with tons of leisure time despite having jobs, who attend all sorts of New York-type events and constantly eat in trendy restaurants, who own special Wedgwood china and pick out fabric for furniture. So yes, they were a bit annoying and pretentious, but seemed like good characters.
My main criticism is that the book was, as should probably be expected given the year of its publication, somewhat racist and homophobic. These weren't pervading themes, but every time a gay person or POC was mentioned or had page time, they came along with some microaggressions from the white characters.
This was predictable (in that you can guess what the villains are doing almost right away) but I didn't mind. I'm actually glad I found this random horror novel, but I will be donating it so some other lucky soul can read it.
3.5 stars
I'm surprised I enjoyed it, given that my usual reaction to such books is to be distinctly underwhelmed. It wasn't scary, and the story wasn't all that complex, but the characters were written well enough that I didn't care. And they weren't even the sort of characters I would tend to like: well-off New Yorkers with tons of leisure time despite having jobs, who attend all sorts of New York-type events and constantly eat in trendy restaurants, who own special Wedgwood china and pick out fabric for furniture. So yes, they were a bit annoying and pretentious, but seemed like good characters.
My main criticism is that the book was, as should probably be expected given the year of its publication, somewhat racist and homophobic. These weren't pervading themes, but every time a gay person or POC was mentioned or had page time, they came along with some microaggressions from the white characters.
This was predictable (in that you can guess what the villains are doing almost right away) but I didn't mind. I'm actually glad I found this random horror novel, but I will be donating it so some other lucky soul can read it.
3.5 stars
October 4, 2013
I found this book during a clearance sale at an old bookstore that was closing down in my town. I'm always on the lookout for good horror fiction, so I picked up this book looking forward to an easy, exciting read. I was disappointed.
Brooks Stanwood is a fine writer. He uses clean, sparing prose, and his characters are believable enough, but the problem is that they are so unlikeable. The two protagonists are a wealthy, upper class New York couple who engage in dinner parties, buy nice things, and have conversations about apartment hunting, food tours, and their cushy, well paying careers. It's as if characters from an 80's Nora Ephron movie were transplanted into a horror novel. It's just not relatable to a middle class midwesterner like me, especially if you're used to the blue collar types that Stephen King is so fond of. When the big twist ending came, I felt neither shock nor horror, but rather a little bit of concern mixed with indifference.
I can't recommend this book, but if I saw someone about to read the first chapter I wouldn't knock it out of their hands. Give it a try if the premise seems interesting to you, maybe your geographical and economical disposition will make the characters more relatable. It did get some decent Amazon reviews.
Brooks Stanwood is a fine writer. He uses clean, sparing prose, and his characters are believable enough, but the problem is that they are so unlikeable. The two protagonists are a wealthy, upper class New York couple who engage in dinner parties, buy nice things, and have conversations about apartment hunting, food tours, and their cushy, well paying careers. It's as if characters from an 80's Nora Ephron movie were transplanted into a horror novel. It's just not relatable to a middle class midwesterner like me, especially if you're used to the blue collar types that Stephen King is so fond of. When the big twist ending came, I felt neither shock nor horror, but rather a little bit of concern mixed with indifference.
I can't recommend this book, but if I saw someone about to read the first chapter I wouldn't knock it out of their hands. Give it a try if the premise seems interesting to you, maybe your geographical and economical disposition will make the characters more relatable. It did get some decent Amazon reviews.
June 18, 2013
I've had this ratty looking paperback from the 80s sitting on my bookshelf for nearly a decade and decided the other day to start cleaning out some of the older unread books. The blurb was sort of appealing but describes nothing of the actual story so it never really grabbed me when searching for 'the next read'.
Well let me first say; excellent book, am very glad I read it rather than just donating it to charity. What happens?
Well it's hard to say much without giving away the excellent build up present in the novel, but lets just say that a young couple move into a new apartment that is both in a remarkable location and rather inexpensive, this is the first rather odd scenario as most people know good apartments, in good locations do not have inexpensive rents. From here on you're almost waiting for something bad to happen, a serial killer spree, a Hannibal Lecter-esque neighbour, et cetera. Instead what happens is small little things that could be coincidences or could be more and it slowly builds to an unexpected & excellent ending.
Really enjoyed this book.
Well let me first say; excellent book, am very glad I read it rather than just donating it to charity. What happens?
Well it's hard to say much without giving away the excellent build up present in the novel, but lets just say that a young couple move into a new apartment that is both in a remarkable location and rather inexpensive, this is the first rather odd scenario as most people know good apartments, in good locations do not have inexpensive rents. From here on you're almost waiting for something bad to happen, a serial killer spree, a Hannibal Lecter-esque neighbour, et cetera. Instead what happens is small little things that could be coincidences or could be more and it slowly builds to an unexpected & excellent ending.
Really enjoyed this book.
April 29, 2022
The Glow is one of those popular urban horror novels from the ‘70s (see: The Sentinel or Harvest Home) that not only fell off the pop culture radar but also tapped into a really popular ‘70s fad: jogging.
The gist of the story goes like this: Pete and Jackie Lawrence are very successful young urban professionals—he’s an editor for Doubleday and she’s a dress buyer for Henri Bendel. They’re in need of a better located, larger apartment. While jogging in Central Park one morning Pete is robbed and three incredibly in shape senior citizen joggers come to his rescue. They invite him back to their apartment building to call the police—an incredibly located building that just so happens to have a large, gorgeous, available apartment at an unbelievable rent. Soon after, Pete and Jackie move in and befriend an elderly married trio of jogging enthusiasts who live in the building—the Jensens, the MacCraes, and the Goodmans—along with two equally young and physically fit couples—the Barnetts and the McDonalds. Life is good for Pete and Jackie in their new digs as they become as obsessed over jogging and healthy eating as their elderly neighbors. Then, one day the Barnetts disappear without a trace and the elderly neighbors seem even healthier and more fit than ever…
Unlike other readers, I didn’t find Pete and Jackie annoying characters—just pretentious in the manner that comes with a certain level of wealth. Although, there is a huge suspension of disbelief that such young, successful, intelligent individuals would be clueless to the events occurring around them and perfectly fine with the huge lack of boundaries their senior citizen neighbors demonstrate: showing up unexpectedly at their apartment at any given hour, blatant contempt for their eating and drinking habits, and brusque criticism of their hobbies, personal interests, and friends. When Jackie finally begins to express annoyance and suspicion Pete shrugs it off as Jackie not being “neighborly”.
I would wager, for the time, this novel was really creepy in a clever way by turning a fitness fad into something sinister. I recall reading my sister’s waterlogged hardback copy when I was twelve but I didn’t really “get” it and it wasn’t really that scary to me. Plus, I was just looking for sex scenes. Lol. However, neither the story itself nor the myriad pop culture references within aged very well (I highly suggest Googling all the pop culture references to give the story a bit more context and to have a fun trip through the past—some of the references I knew but most were not only new to me but also very interesting). It’s fairly obvious early on what the elderly joggers are up to, so the big reveal is more of how exactly are they pulling it off?
When the big reveal finally comes, it’s anti-climatic at best, full of so many deus ex machina situations, and leaves so many questions unanswered that it’s laughably implausible on every level. I mean, the lead villain spends close to twenty moustache twiddling pages explaining his devious dastardly plan. Also, the comparisons to Rosemary’s Baby other readers made is absolutely legit. Short of impregnating Jackie with the spawn of Satan, many of the situations, plot devices, and overall concept of The Glow are lifted directly from that novel—so much so that there’s even a brief callout to Ira Levin in a *wink wink* *nudge nudge* kind of way.
The Glow—like so many books from this era—is a quick and highly readable novel that cannot be viewed through the lens of today’s society. It’s rife with casual racism, homophobia, and misogyny (of the women are stupid and hysterical/men are smart and strong variety) which is surprising considering that Brooks Stanwood is the nom de plume of a husband/wife writing team. If you can get past that and you’re looking for a somewhat bizarre take on horror that’s also a fun time capsule of a long-gone era, then give it a try but I would highly recommend following this up with Rosemary’s Baby for a far superior take on charmingly sinister senior citizens.
February 24, 2025
Jackie & Pete Lawrence are sophisticated, young Yuppies (before that term was invented) in late 70s New York, stuck in a small apartment and wanting more. She’s a dress buyer, he’s a book editor and, after he’s robbed in Central Park, they are helped by a group of old people (in their late fifties) who allow them to rent an apartment in their wonderful building on the Upper East Side and also introduce them to jogging. When Pete’s fitness regime pushes him to the max, Jackie gets involved too and then some of their younger neighbours start to disappear.
Published in 1979, this capialises on the jogging craze then sweeping the USA (and, later, the world), was written by Howard (Mel Brooks’ cousin) & Susan Kaminsky and feels, to this reader, like the New York I saw on TV and in the films in that era, when I was a pre-teen and the city looked so damned cool. Everything, obviously, is of its time and although Pete (read in 2025) can be a bit of a twat, he & Jackie are good characters and I liked her a lot - she cooks a spaghetti sauce “as feisty as her temper”, loves her husband and friends and is the first to see there’s a problem, with the neighbours disappearing (the older folk explain the incidents away with logic). My only issue was that it feels like a thriller, even though the cover promises “a chilling tale of mounting terror”, as per Helen Van Slyke and I guessed that there was a “Rosemary’s Baby” kind of thing going on (apparently, Susan - in her day job as editor of the Saturday Evening Post - passed on the serial rights for Ira Levin’s novel). I didn’t quite see how it would end, until we discover the oldies are much, much older (in their eighties) but the book is then forced to have a Part 3, which details what they’re going to do to our heroes and does, unfortunately, feel like a massive amount of exposition (the actual horror of what they’re doing is quite clever though), but does explain where the title comes from. Also in its favour is a lovely little sting in the ending .Overall, I enjoyed this - it’s a quick read and it’s entertaining. I’d recommend it.
Published in 1979, this capialises on the jogging craze then sweeping the USA (and, later, the world), was written by Howard (Mel Brooks’ cousin) & Susan Kaminsky and feels, to this reader, like the New York I saw on TV and in the films in that era, when I was a pre-teen and the city looked so damned cool. Everything, obviously, is of its time and although Pete (read in 2025) can be a bit of a twat, he & Jackie are good characters and I liked her a lot - she cooks a spaghetti sauce “as feisty as her temper”, loves her husband and friends and is the first to see there’s a problem, with the neighbours disappearing (the older folk explain the incidents away with logic). My only issue was that it feels like a thriller, even though the cover promises “a chilling tale of mounting terror”, as per Helen Van Slyke and I guessed that there was a “Rosemary’s Baby” kind of thing going on (apparently, Susan - in her day job as editor of the Saturday Evening Post - passed on the serial rights for Ira Levin’s novel). I didn’t quite see how it would end, until we discover the oldies are much, much older (in their eighties) but the book is then forced to have a Part 3, which details what they’re going to do to our heroes and does, unfortunately, feel like a massive amount of exposition (the actual horror of what they’re doing is quite clever though), but does explain where the title comes from. Also in its favour is a lovely little sting in the ending .Overall, I enjoyed this - it’s a quick read and it’s entertaining. I’d recommend it.
June 27, 2020
One of the best horror novels I've ever read! Hooks you with pure story--with fascinating characters--and is so intriguing you gladly wait on the horror. And what horror! A scary novel about fitness nuts/joggers Like me!
Nothing is excluded or forgotten: shin splints, wheat germ, bean sprouts, sauna, nautilus—you name it.
By the way, I had some friends over for dinner, and they were delicious.
Nothing is excluded or forgotten: shin splints, wheat germ, bean sprouts, sauna, nautilus—you name it.
By the way, I had some friends over for dinner, and they were delicious.
November 16, 2011
This book wasn't as thrilling as it should of been and the main characters were just idiots.
June 26, 2025
I know I would never fall victim to any of this because I hate jogging.
August 8, 2021
Paul and Jackie are looking for a new apartment in Manhatten, everything is too expensive. Paul has recently started jogging and, when running in the park, has his jacket stolen. Three elderly, but spritly, joggers insist he come to their apartment to call the police. The apartment block they live in is gorgeous. It just 'so happens' they have a vacant apartment. Paul and Jackie move in and the elderly residents quickly become embroiled in their lives, encouraging them to exercise, eat healthily, take supplements and change their smoking/drinking habits.
I felt the first 3/4 of the book were a 4 stars but it kind of fizzled a little towards the end. I did however really enjoy it. I didn't much like the characters, Paul really was a bit dim!! The concept and plot is really good but I'm not sure The Twelvers would be able to carry on much longer without getting caught.
A cool 1980s mystery horror/thriller is add to your goodreads library.
I felt the first 3/4 of the book were a 4 stars but it kind of fizzled a little towards the end. I did however really enjoy it. I didn't much like the characters, Paul really was a bit dim!! The concept and plot is really good but I'm not sure The Twelvers would be able to carry on much longer without getting caught.
A cool 1980s mystery horror/thriller is add to your goodreads library.
December 17, 2020
Exceptionally fit and beautifully young looking elderly people wearing powder-blue jogging tracksuits and offering a ridiculously exclusive apartment to rent at reduced price, might be a good idea to stay away. Creepy and entertaining.
June 6, 2020
C'est absolument terrifiant à partir de rien.
February 1, 2025
Predictable but very entertaining - knowing what was happening did not diminish my employment at all
September 17, 2023
This novel hits the bad 70's trifecta of being casually racist, sexist, AND homophobic. There were multiple times when I had to set the book down and say "Wow" and be astounded at what was considered acceptable and inconsequential in terms of characterization back then.
But that's not the only reason for the one-star rating. Supposedly a "social horror" novel in the vein of Rosemary's Baby (Ira Levin's latest release gets a mention in the text; hint to authors: don't name-drop writers that remind the reader of better books they could be enjoying instead), it's flat-out BORING. I almost DNF'd halfway through. The reveal is obvious from the beginning. At least, it's obvious to anyone with critical thinking skills, which our protagonists lack. It's been a long time since I read a book in which I despised every single character, but the main couple was so unlikable (rich, trendy, shallow, vacant, boring, and dumb) that I gleefully awaited their deaths at the hands of the cult that lured them into renting a too-good-to-be-true apartment. (I won't bother with a spoiler tag because you have much better things to do with your life than waste several hours reading this shameless rip-off.)
The 1970's were before my time, so I wasn't sure if this novel was intended as a social satire or not. It seemed so, mainly because otherwise I don't want to contemplate why the main characters would be so oblivious to how creepy their new neighbors are. Are New Yorkers so obsessed with finding the perfect apartment that they're willing to put up with boundary-crossing neighbors openly criticizing their diets and lifestyle choices? The first time some nosy busybody told me to stop eating pasta and narc'ed on my pot smoking, I'd slam the door in their face. Not our perfect yuppie couple, though. They get suckered into their neighbors' jogging-and-fitness craze that was a real fad back in the late 70's. Except it's clear to the reader that this is a cult, and that the couple (they're so boring, I literally have forgotten their names now) is being primed for some kind of sacrifice. (The building owners/tenants even refer to one another as "a family". If you can't see the red flags, you deserve what you get.)
To top it off, the head villain then spends over 20 pages - no exaggeration! - at the end of the book explaining the history of their plan to prolong aging. Which involves a racist story of a fictional "primitive" Central American tribe that engages in blood-swapping. Seriously, this is just BAD.
It turns out "Brooks Stanwood" is the pseudonym of the married writing team of Howard and Susan Kaminsky. Howard Kaminsky's cousin is none other than Mel Brooks - which explains why a Mel Brooks movie gets mentioned in the text, but doesn't explain how Howard neglected to get an ounce of his cousin's talent.
But that's not the only reason for the one-star rating. Supposedly a "social horror" novel in the vein of Rosemary's Baby (Ira Levin's latest release gets a mention in the text; hint to authors: don't name-drop writers that remind the reader of better books they could be enjoying instead), it's flat-out BORING. I almost DNF'd halfway through. The reveal is obvious from the beginning. At least, it's obvious to anyone with critical thinking skills, which our protagonists lack. It's been a long time since I read a book in which I despised every single character, but the main couple was so unlikable (rich, trendy, shallow, vacant, boring, and dumb) that I gleefully awaited their deaths at the hands of the cult that lured them into renting a too-good-to-be-true apartment. (I won't bother with a spoiler tag because you have much better things to do with your life than waste several hours reading this shameless rip-off.)
The 1970's were before my time, so I wasn't sure if this novel was intended as a social satire or not. It seemed so, mainly because otherwise I don't want to contemplate why the main characters would be so oblivious to how creepy their new neighbors are. Are New Yorkers so obsessed with finding the perfect apartment that they're willing to put up with boundary-crossing neighbors openly criticizing their diets and lifestyle choices? The first time some nosy busybody told me to stop eating pasta and narc'ed on my pot smoking, I'd slam the door in their face. Not our perfect yuppie couple, though. They get suckered into their neighbors' jogging-and-fitness craze that was a real fad back in the late 70's. Except it's clear to the reader that this is a cult, and that the couple (they're so boring, I literally have forgotten their names now) is being primed for some kind of sacrifice. (The building owners/tenants even refer to one another as "a family". If you can't see the red flags, you deserve what you get.)
To top it off, the head villain then spends over 20 pages - no exaggeration! - at the end of the book explaining the history of their plan to prolong aging. Which involves a racist story of a fictional "primitive" Central American tribe that engages in blood-swapping. Seriously, this is just BAD.
It turns out "Brooks Stanwood" is the pseudonym of the married writing team of Howard and Susan Kaminsky. Howard Kaminsky's cousin is none other than Mel Brooks - which explains why a Mel Brooks movie gets mentioned in the text, but doesn't explain how Howard neglected to get an ounce of his cousin's talent.
November 16, 2021
Ce livre est une perfection. En français : "Jogging". Il est difficile de ne pas trop en dire.
Par un heureux hasard, un sympathique couple de New yorkais trentenaire trouve l'appartement de ses rêves.
Les propriétaires et les voisins sont tous de jeunes retraités en pleine forme, adeptes de la nourriture bio et du jogging, question de rester en forme. Ils sont très sympathiques, avec leurs nouveaux jeunes voisins, soucieux aussi, surtout, de leur alimentation et de leur condition physique.
Évidemment, on sent venir le piège, machiavélique. L'histoire est du niveau de Rosemary's baby (il y a d'ailleurs un clin d'œil à Ira Levin). La force du récit est que, bien qu'il se passe à l'orée des années '80, il est patiné et non vieilli. Tout se dessine à petites touches, toujours avec bienveillance et le sourire.
Par un heureux hasard, un sympathique couple de New yorkais trentenaire trouve l'appartement de ses rêves.
Les propriétaires et les voisins sont tous de jeunes retraités en pleine forme, adeptes de la nourriture bio et du jogging, question de rester en forme. Ils sont très sympathiques, avec leurs nouveaux jeunes voisins, soucieux aussi, surtout, de leur alimentation et de leur condition physique.
Évidemment, on sent venir le piège, machiavélique. L'histoire est du niveau de Rosemary's baby (il y a d'ailleurs un clin d'œil à Ira Levin). La force du récit est que, bien qu'il se passe à l'orée des années '80, il est patiné et non vieilli. Tout se dessine à petites touches, toujours avec bienveillance et le sourire.
March 24, 2025
I had a great time. But fair warning, I was reading this as a horror satire, which I'm pretty positive it is not. I think I was supposed to be taking this entirely seriously, but reading it as being tongue & cheek is way more fun.
It's Rosemary's baby but instead of devil stuff, it's a great commentary on fitness and wellness culture. When it becomes an addiction or an obsession, and how chasing a peak physical form can literally take over your entire life. Also great themes of keeping up with Joneses, and how much you'll sacrifice for the perfect looking apartment, in the perfect neighborhood, and the perfect veneer of a perfect life.
***It's definitely the 70's, and all the outdated language that entails.***
It's Rosemary's baby but instead of devil stuff, it's a great commentary on fitness and wellness culture. When it becomes an addiction or an obsession, and how chasing a peak physical form can literally take over your entire life. Also great themes of keeping up with Joneses, and how much you'll sacrifice for the perfect looking apartment, in the perfect neighborhood, and the perfect veneer of a perfect life.
***It's definitely the 70's, and all the outdated language that entails.***
August 31, 2017
Another one of my favorite thriller re-reads. I read this the first time when it was published in 1979 and found a copy of it a few months ago. Jackie and Pete are Manhattanites that are sick of their small apartment on the Upper West Side but haven't been able to find anything they can afford until Pete encounters a mugger in Central Park. A group of older people that were jogging witnessed the mugging and helped Pete since the mugger took his wallet and keys. They also just happen to have a beautiful 4 1/2 room apartment available in their gorgeous Upper East Side building with a doorman that is exactly what Pete and Jackie were looking for..........
November 9, 2024
This was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed all the specific details about restaurants, art galleries and fashion -- open-minded readers could take it as satire, but I think it was just an accurate reflection of upper-crust Manhattan West Siders - along with unfortunate bits of un-PC attitudes toward Black and gay folks that were de rigueur then. I also remember buying my dad The Complete Book of Running by Jim Fixx when I was a little boy!
This is well-structured, too - with complications that hooked me and a refreshingly downbeat resolution. There IS the long section where the villain explains his motives, and it's straight out of an episode of "In Search Of" - but I loved it!
This is well-structured, too - with complications that hooked me and a refreshingly downbeat resolution. There IS the long section where the villain explains his motives, and it's straight out of an episode of "In Search Of" - but I loved it!
December 17, 2021
I finished this novel in one sitting. I’ve only ever done that once before due to that novel being so fucking awesome. Sadly that was not the case with this one. The Glow started out slow and only got slower from there. There was times that this novel had flashes of excitement and then it goes back to its sluggish pace. There was so much filler! The only good part about this book was the bad ass ending. Ended just the way I was hoping for it to end. It had its moments but it was a 2.5 star read for me that I’ll round up to 3 for Goodreads.
April 14, 2019
‘“First they ran for their health. Then they ran for their lives...”
What fan of horror fiction could resist a tag line like that? Certainly not me, especially when coupled with the term “exer-psychos” in the summary.
Heavy on the Ira Levin influence, but that was a good thing for me. Four solid stars for a fun Sunday read.
What fan of horror fiction could resist a tag line like that? Certainly not me, especially when coupled with the term “exer-psychos” in the summary.
Heavy on the Ira Levin influence, but that was a good thing for me. Four solid stars for a fun Sunday read.
April 25, 2025
A young couple are encouraged to take up a fitness regime by the ‘older’ couples in the new apartment building in New York, but what is the motive behind it
A pretty good novel although you could see the plot a mile off. Described like most books of this time as the next rosemary’s baby. The only thing in common is a young couple , in New York with a new apartment
A pretty good novel although you could see the plot a mile off. Described like most books of this time as the next rosemary’s baby. The only thing in common is a young couple , in New York with a new apartment
June 12, 2019
The Glow describes a sinister apartment complex in NYC, where a group of older, highly athletic tenants provide affordable homes to younger couples - especially those without extended families - who subsequently disappear. Definitely a page-turner, but the ending is disappointing.
November 22, 2019
I read this book several times when it was first published. I loved it and remember it to this day. Ironically, it got me into running.
December 31, 2019
Straight up rip-off of Rosemary's Baby... but still kinda fun.
May 2, 2020
Pretty good horror novel. Some things didn't age well, but overall enjoyable.
July 30, 2020
Read in 1980. Sounds like a horror novel.
June 22, 2021
This book felt like if Lifetime tried to write a SyFy made for tv story. The main characters were not likeable. The story predictable. The writing good enough. It was the perfect fluffy beach read.
January 25, 2022
Teilweise etwas absehbar, aber von der Sache her gut und nachhaltig verstörend.
June 11, 2022
Beware of jogging pensioners. A little bit creepy.
August 14, 2024
Not good, not bad, just okay.
The one thing I want to do most right now is kick Pete‘s ass.
The one thing I want to do most right now is kick Pete‘s ass.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews