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Jack-in-the-Box
She was a beautiful child, a perfect child. With her blonde hair and baby doll prettiness, she was the picture of angelic innocence. Phillip Baxter pushed aside his uneasiness about his strangely self-possessed daughter. She was just an ordinary kid. And, to his relief, she did act like an ordinary kid when he brought home a special present for her...
Alone in her room, Nora couldn't wait to open the antique jack-in-the-box. She couldn't wait to watch the hand-carved clown's head bob back and forth, its glass eyes staring at her, its lips drawn back into an insane grin. Any other little girl might have cringed in horror. But as Nora's wide eyes mirrored the grotesque wooden face, her pink lips were curving into the same malicious smile...
Alone in her room, Nora couldn't wait to open the antique jack-in-the-box. She couldn't wait to watch the hand-carved clown's head bob back and forth, its glass eyes staring at her, its lips drawn back into an insane grin. Any other little girl might have cringed in horror. But as Nora's wide eyes mirrored the grotesque wooden face, her pink lips were curving into the same malicious smile...
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1986
26 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,043 books1,395 followersWilliam W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 4, 2021
Eff this book and that little shit kid too!
Unlike his other book I read, I hated this from the start. This is one cool cover though and worth money on some sites and I got it for a couple of bucks. I’ll pack the rat bastard away and sell it at some point. So there. The end.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Unlike his other book I read, I hated this from the start. This is one cool cover though and worth money on some sites and I got it for a couple of bucks. I’ll pack the rat bastard away and sell it at some point. So there. The end.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
September 12, 2023
Johnstone wrote several schlocky horror tales, featuring clashes between good and evil, or more aptly, Satan versus God, and Jack-in-the-Box is just as OTT as the rest. It seems Johnstone was undecided whether to pen a knock off of The Omen or The Exorcist here, so he just ran with a mashup of both. Having a little devil child (possessed or the daughter of Satan? Never really clear) was not quite OTT enough, however, so Johnstone tossed in some Nazis as well. What a romp!
Our little villain, Nora, aged 11, comes off as evil from the first page. A compulsive liar, she has somehow managed to pit her parents against one another, for while she lies to her father all the time, her mother thinks she walks on water. The father, Phillip Baxter, sees his marriage crumbling and wants to get his daughter some professional help and his wife for support; in turn, Jeanne, his wife, offers him a divorce. All is not well in the Baxter household!
Little Nora has no grey areas-- she is pure evil. And with the gift of a strange, morbid Jack-in-the-Box, she gets even worse. The Jack-in-the-Box was previously owned by a Nazi death camp officer and is reputedly cursed; we know it speaks in German and at one time even bites one of Phillip's buddies. Deciding even Nazis were not enough, Johnstone brings in Phillip's deranged sister that Phillip did not even know existed (also a pawn of Satan) and even his mother, who knows Nora is commanded by Satan.
Envisioning Nora walking around in her SS Nazi uniform, with a swastika flag behind her, holding a demented evil Jack-in-the-Box while she commits all kinds of evil foo definitely stands out as a highlight. Johnstone just did not know when to quit when tossing in tropes to a story! That stated, the pacing really pulled me into the story and the bat-shit craziness of it kept me turning pages. Zebra was perhaps the only major publisher willing to publish Johnstone, and I bet they made a mint. Would I recommend this? If you really love old-school schlock horror, give it a go. It has the literary merit of something scrawled on a bathroom wall, but is fun for all that. 3 pulpy stars!
Our little villain, Nora, aged 11, comes off as evil from the first page. A compulsive liar, she has somehow managed to pit her parents against one another, for while she lies to her father all the time, her mother thinks she walks on water. The father, Phillip Baxter, sees his marriage crumbling and wants to get his daughter some professional help and his wife for support; in turn, Jeanne, his wife, offers him a divorce. All is not well in the Baxter household!
Little Nora has no grey areas-- she is pure evil. And with the gift of a strange, morbid Jack-in-the-Box, she gets even worse. The Jack-in-the-Box was previously owned by a Nazi death camp officer and is reputedly cursed; we know it speaks in German and at one time even bites one of Phillip's buddies. Deciding even Nazis were not enough, Johnstone brings in Phillip's deranged sister that Phillip did not even know existed (also a pawn of Satan) and even his mother, who knows Nora is commanded by Satan.
Envisioning Nora walking around in her SS Nazi uniform, with a swastika flag behind her, holding a demented evil Jack-in-the-Box while she commits all kinds of evil foo definitely stands out as a highlight. Johnstone just did not know when to quit when tossing in tropes to a story! That stated, the pacing really pulled me into the story and the bat-shit craziness of it kept me turning pages. Zebra was perhaps the only major publisher willing to publish Johnstone, and I bet they made a mint. Would I recommend this? If you really love old-school schlock horror, give it a go. It has the literary merit of something scrawled on a bathroom wall, but is fun for all that. 3 pulpy stars!
February 21, 2023
I think I'm starting to understand the love-hate relationship that horror fans have with William Johnstone. Last time I reviewed one of his novels, I talked about "The Uninvited," which unexpectedly turned out to be a B-movie tribute to giant bug invasions and environmental disasters. Surely a title called "Jack-in-the-Box" would be a little more straightforward in being about an evil toy, right?
Before I answer that, let me caution you by saying that it's hard to talk about what I did and didn't like about this novel without going into specifics, so I will enter spoiler territory, though there is no way I can ruin the entire insane experience that is this novel.
The first "spoiler," though I think it is important to be aware of it before you purchase this book, is that this story has almost nothing to do with a jack-in-the-box. I'm not even sure why Johnstone included it, let alone named the entire book after it. The titular device is just another of many crammed together cliches that he seemed to throw at the plot to see what stuck. Actually, the novel could have worked perfectly fine without it.
The main focus is on an evil 10-year-old girl named Nora. She's not possessed. She is evil incarnate. She has a birthmark shaped perfectly into the number 6. She has terrific powers which she uses to pester, maim, and even kill people for the pure pleasure of being evil.
Now, despite the obvious reference to "The Omen," Johnstone won't let us forget he is making an Exorcist ripoff. The girl spins her head all the way around, and does it several times. She spits and vomits nasty soup, though this time it's brown and not green. She cusses like a sailor. A priest tries to tie her to the bed and perform an exorcism in one of the most lackluster exorcist scenes ever put to pen.
In terms of sheer viciousness and brutality, this girl has Regan MacNeil beat. Nora truly must be one of the most evil child characters I have ever read about! You just have to see for yourself. She starts off rotten from the very first pages of the novel.
As a result, I never once felt any sympathy for the girl. She has not one endearing or even interesting quality ever. As a result, she is not a person. She's simply a force. Therefore, when Johnstone wastes a bunch of time having his characters debate whether they can "save" her, I'm thinking--"She's the devil, you ass!" There's nothing to save! But Johnstone was trying to have it both ways. He wanted to outperform "The Exorcist" and "The Omen" in terms of sheer over-the-top evil, but then realized too late that the conflict was not complex enough to pad out the book for over 300 pages.
Another way he drags out the story is by artificially creating multiple "factions" of good and evil to contribute complexity. It JUST SO HAPPENS that Satan is reincarnated in a small New York town, born to a lackluster inbred middle class family. That's like having aliens try to take over the world by invading Toma, Wisconsin. But actually, IT JUST SO HAPPENS that in this small town, a random therapist that Nora's father goes to see is looking for the next antichrist, and she immediately gets in touch with a local Catholic priest who JUST SO HAPPENS to also be an expert on exorcism, and then it turns out that a relative of the evil girl JUST SO HAPPENS to also be a witch who has known all along about Nora being Satan and how to destroy the evil, though she never did a damn thing about it before! And on top of all that, the house where Nora's family resides JUST SO HAPPENS to be the site of an evil curse that has killed or driven away anyone who has lived there for the past 90 years. And on top of all THAT, a Nazi defector JUST SO HAPPENS to also live in town! Holy crap, now we have Nazis?
Wait a minute, isn't this book called "Jack-in-the-Box"? Why yes! Because ON TOP OF ALL THAT, a cursed jack-in-the-box JUST SO HAPPENS to show up in a local antique store, which JUST SO HAPPENS to get purchased by the father of the evil girl.
AND--ON--TOP--OF--ALL--THAT, the cursed toy JUST SO HAPPENS to have once been the evil mascot of the Nazi who would carry it around with him at the extermination camp where the aunt of Nora's father's best friend JUST SO HAPPENED to have been once interred in Europe during the second World War!!!!
I mean, just look at all this stuff going on! And there's more that I simply can't go into! I bet I can tell you what happened--Johnstone had no vision at all for what story he wanted to write. He needed to pay the bills, his publishers were clamoring for another title, and he cobbled together a bunch of old ideas he had scribbled all over his office to save time. The result is a Frankenstein monster of tropes, blatant ripoffs, and lazy plot conveniences that are all tied together with "it-just-so-happens-that..."
In short, this could be the greatest novel ever written. I liked it!
There are some effective moments in the narrative. For example, there is a scene involving a "alcohol blackout" that I found more horrific than any of the pure supernatural mayhem in the story. The idea that your memory is unreliable, that you can wake up and be told how you did all these awful things that you didn't think you were capable of, to the point where you are not sure if you are being gaslighted or whether you are really a monster. It's a true consequence of addiction that Johnstone could have based his whole novel around.
But I think the real reason I enjoyed this book was because I allowed myself to be manipulated. This is no different than the intellectual void that is the drama of reality television, or the World Wrestling Federation, or "Rocky IV." Johnstone paints a character so despicable that you want to see her defeated by anyone able to "kick ass for the Lord." So you keep turning the pages, thinking things like "Oh no, she didn't just say that! Oh, if I were her daddy, I'd slap the taste out of her mouth!" Johnstone somehow managed to suck me into his trashy pulp fiction world where I am cheering a 10-year-old girl getting smacked upside the head and wondering when the stupid jack-in-the-box monster is going to appear in the story again.
Folks, William Johnstone is the Charles Band, the Roger Corman, the Claudio Fragasso, and the Dustin Ferguson of novelists. And "Jack-in-the-Box" is one of his classic examples of 80s schlock.
I can't defend why I sat up until three in the morning reading this dumb book so that I felt like I had a hangover the next day and was tempted to grumpily serve my kids Boo Berry cereal instead of hot eggs and crispy bacon. Speaking of kids, though, I will say that I did give them some extra hugs and kisses. After reading this book, I'm thankful they are only minor hellions.
I don't know what to advise you as far as whether or not to read this. You may think I spoiled a lot in this review anyway, but believe me, I just scratched the surface! There are some sick, twisted surprises in store here.
So after everything I said today about this book, if you are still intrigued then YOU are the right audience, and you need to read this tonight!
Before I answer that, let me caution you by saying that it's hard to talk about what I did and didn't like about this novel without going into specifics, so I will enter spoiler territory, though there is no way I can ruin the entire insane experience that is this novel.
The first "spoiler," though I think it is important to be aware of it before you purchase this book, is that this story has almost nothing to do with a jack-in-the-box. I'm not even sure why Johnstone included it, let alone named the entire book after it. The titular device is just another of many crammed together cliches that he seemed to throw at the plot to see what stuck. Actually, the novel could have worked perfectly fine without it.
The main focus is on an evil 10-year-old girl named Nora. She's not possessed. She is evil incarnate. She has a birthmark shaped perfectly into the number 6. She has terrific powers which she uses to pester, maim, and even kill people for the pure pleasure of being evil.
Now, despite the obvious reference to "The Omen," Johnstone won't let us forget he is making an Exorcist ripoff. The girl spins her head all the way around, and does it several times. She spits and vomits nasty soup, though this time it's brown and not green. She cusses like a sailor. A priest tries to tie her to the bed and perform an exorcism in one of the most lackluster exorcist scenes ever put to pen.
In terms of sheer viciousness and brutality, this girl has Regan MacNeil beat. Nora truly must be one of the most evil child characters I have ever read about! You just have to see for yourself. She starts off rotten from the very first pages of the novel.
As a result, I never once felt any sympathy for the girl. She has not one endearing or even interesting quality ever. As a result, she is not a person. She's simply a force. Therefore, when Johnstone wastes a bunch of time having his characters debate whether they can "save" her, I'm thinking--"She's the devil, you ass!" There's nothing to save! But Johnstone was trying to have it both ways. He wanted to outperform "The Exorcist" and "The Omen" in terms of sheer over-the-top evil, but then realized too late that the conflict was not complex enough to pad out the book for over 300 pages.
Another way he drags out the story is by artificially creating multiple "factions" of good and evil to contribute complexity. It JUST SO HAPPENS that Satan is reincarnated in a small New York town, born to a lackluster inbred middle class family. That's like having aliens try to take over the world by invading Toma, Wisconsin. But actually, IT JUST SO HAPPENS that in this small town, a random therapist that Nora's father goes to see is looking for the next antichrist, and she immediately gets in touch with a local Catholic priest who JUST SO HAPPENS to also be an expert on exorcism, and then it turns out that a relative of the evil girl JUST SO HAPPENS to also be a witch who has known all along about Nora being Satan and how to destroy the evil, though she never did a damn thing about it before! And on top of all that, the house where Nora's family resides JUST SO HAPPENS to be the site of an evil curse that has killed or driven away anyone who has lived there for the past 90 years. And on top of all THAT, a Nazi defector JUST SO HAPPENS to also live in town! Holy crap, now we have Nazis?
Wait a minute, isn't this book called "Jack-in-the-Box"? Why yes! Because ON TOP OF ALL THAT, a cursed jack-in-the-box JUST SO HAPPENS to show up in a local antique store, which JUST SO HAPPENS to get purchased by the father of the evil girl.
AND--ON--TOP--OF--ALL--THAT, the cursed toy JUST SO HAPPENS to have once been the evil mascot of the Nazi who would carry it around with him at the extermination camp where the aunt of Nora's father's best friend JUST SO HAPPENED to have been once interred in Europe during the second World War!!!!
I mean, just look at all this stuff going on! And there's more that I simply can't go into! I bet I can tell you what happened--Johnstone had no vision at all for what story he wanted to write. He needed to pay the bills, his publishers were clamoring for another title, and he cobbled together a bunch of old ideas he had scribbled all over his office to save time. The result is a Frankenstein monster of tropes, blatant ripoffs, and lazy plot conveniences that are all tied together with "it-just-so-happens-that..."
In short, this could be the greatest novel ever written. I liked it!
There are some effective moments in the narrative. For example, there is a scene involving a "alcohol blackout" that I found more horrific than any of the pure supernatural mayhem in the story. The idea that your memory is unreliable, that you can wake up and be told how you did all these awful things that you didn't think you were capable of, to the point where you are not sure if you are being gaslighted or whether you are really a monster. It's a true consequence of addiction that Johnstone could have based his whole novel around.
But I think the real reason I enjoyed this book was because I allowed myself to be manipulated. This is no different than the intellectual void that is the drama of reality television, or the World Wrestling Federation, or "Rocky IV." Johnstone paints a character so despicable that you want to see her defeated by anyone able to "kick ass for the Lord." So you keep turning the pages, thinking things like "Oh no, she didn't just say that! Oh, if I were her daddy, I'd slap the taste out of her mouth!" Johnstone somehow managed to suck me into his trashy pulp fiction world where I am cheering a 10-year-old girl getting smacked upside the head and wondering when the stupid jack-in-the-box monster is going to appear in the story again.
Folks, William Johnstone is the Charles Band, the Roger Corman, the Claudio Fragasso, and the Dustin Ferguson of novelists. And "Jack-in-the-Box" is one of his classic examples of 80s schlock.
I can't defend why I sat up until three in the morning reading this dumb book so that I felt like I had a hangover the next day and was tempted to grumpily serve my kids Boo Berry cereal instead of hot eggs and crispy bacon. Speaking of kids, though, I will say that I did give them some extra hugs and kisses. After reading this book, I'm thankful they are only minor hellions.
I don't know what to advise you as far as whether or not to read this. You may think I spoiled a lot in this review anyway, but believe me, I just scratched the surface! There are some sick, twisted surprises in store here.
So after everything I said today about this book, if you are still intrigued then YOU are the right audience, and you need to read this tonight!
June 12, 2021
A hideous jack-in-the-box.
Murderous Nazis.
And the most evil little girl in print.
William Johnstone brings them all together in a gory, chilling, and very scary roller coaster ride of a book. The horror starts slowly as you realize that something is terribly wrong with young Nora. This beautiful young child is warped and wrong – and her family will pay the price.
The book is extremely violent. I should also warn you that there’s one scene involving Nora that is truly awful – it definitely breaks some taboos. But this is an excellent piece of horror fiction that will keep you reading breathlessly to the end. Just don’t expect to get any sleep that night.
I’m extremely happy that the publishers are reissuing these old horror novels. Old as they may be, they stand up against today’s modern horror wonderfully – in most case surpassing them.
And excellent (and scary) read.
• ARC Provided by Net Galley
Murderous Nazis.
And the most evil little girl in print.
William Johnstone brings them all together in a gory, chilling, and very scary roller coaster ride of a book. The horror starts slowly as you realize that something is terribly wrong with young Nora. This beautiful young child is warped and wrong – and her family will pay the price.
The book is extremely violent. I should also warn you that there’s one scene involving Nora that is truly awful – it definitely breaks some taboos. But this is an excellent piece of horror fiction that will keep you reading breathlessly to the end. Just don’t expect to get any sleep that night.
I’m extremely happy that the publishers are reissuing these old horror novels. Old as they may be, they stand up against today’s modern horror wonderfully – in most case surpassing them.
And excellent (and scary) read.
• ARC Provided by Net Galley
July 31, 2016
Nora Baxter is not your typical little girl. It's because of Nora that the Baxter family can't hold on to housekeepers or babysitters. Other children don't like her much either. She has no friends, not that she wants any. Things get broken around Nora, accidents happen, property gets damaged and things (and people) tend to die around her too.
Nora's father sees through her lies and manipulative behavior but her mother prefers to bury her head in the sand. Throw in some Nazis, satanic worship, an evil Jack in the box and a priest, and you've got the perfect storm.
This is classic 80s horror that is being re-released and I am thrilled to see it find a new home on kindle for a new generation of horror lovers. William W. Johnstone was a force to be reckoned with when it came to horror in the 80s. I do remember reading this book in paperback decades ago and it after re-reading on kindle I can say it stands the test of time. 5 out of 5 stars from me.
I received an advance copy for review
Nora's father sees through her lies and manipulative behavior but her mother prefers to bury her head in the sand. Throw in some Nazis, satanic worship, an evil Jack in the box and a priest, and you've got the perfect storm.
This is classic 80s horror that is being re-released and I am thrilled to see it find a new home on kindle for a new generation of horror lovers. William W. Johnstone was a force to be reckoned with when it came to horror in the 80s. I do remember reading this book in paperback decades ago and it after re-reading on kindle I can say it stands the test of time. 5 out of 5 stars from me.
I received an advance copy for review
August 16, 2016
Phillip Baxter pushes aside his uneasy feelings about his daughter. Nora is just an ordinary child. Other children don't like her that much either. Her father brings home an evil looking Jack-in-the-box and so it begins.....
This is a re-issue which was originally published in the 1980's. They definitely are not written like this anymore.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Kensington Books and the author William W. Johnstone for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a re-issue which was originally published in the 1980's. They definitely are not written like this anymore.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Kensington Books and the author William W. Johnstone for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2024
What a mess. Although I did like some elements of the book it just really fell short. A lot of the times I was confused as to what the hell was going on or happening now, as the author seems to throw random themes then run with it. I also found there were too many characters.
Zebra horrors are maybe just not my thing. I'll keep trying
Zebra horrors are maybe just not my thing. I'll keep trying
July 26, 2016
I received an advance review copy of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and for that I am very grateful.
Kensington Books (Lyrical Underground) is re-issuing the William W. Johnstone horror catalog which is cause for great celebration for fans of the great (a golden age?) horror novels of the 70’s and 80’s. I loved the lurid covers of these pulp horror novels from Johnstone, Masterton, Coyne, Saul, Laymon, Slade and others.
Johnstone was always one of my favorites. Not only were the covers evil, the stories inside were just as advertised. These were not PG horror stories and anyone reading these books knew for certain that the usual rules did not apply. No character, no matter how appealing, was safe. There was no expectation that good would triumph over evil. Many of these stories were so disturbing that I wonder if they would even be published today. Strangely enough, I have been looking periodically for his novels to come out in e-book form because I wanted to read them again. I kept looking but only recently noticed some of his Devil’s Kiss, etc. series but none of the stand-alone novels. Then came these Kensington Books editions. I hope they reprint all of his evil little masterpieces.
Johnstone likes evil toys and boy is this one a doozy. He also likes evil children and they don’t get nastier than Nora Baxter. This novel will never be made into a movie; it is much too disturbing. Yet for all the bloodletting, I never felt that it was purely for show, or showing off as the splatterpunk authors tend to do. I got a sense that Johnstone took the conflict of good and evil seriously and that there was a message hidden in all the mayhem.
If you didn’t grow up with Johnstone and enjoy horror then he is definitely required reading and these editions are a fantastic place to start. I plan on collecting the whole series. They don’t write them like this any more.
Kensington Books (Lyrical Underground) is re-issuing the William W. Johnstone horror catalog which is cause for great celebration for fans of the great (a golden age?) horror novels of the 70’s and 80’s. I loved the lurid covers of these pulp horror novels from Johnstone, Masterton, Coyne, Saul, Laymon, Slade and others.
Johnstone was always one of my favorites. Not only were the covers evil, the stories inside were just as advertised. These were not PG horror stories and anyone reading these books knew for certain that the usual rules did not apply. No character, no matter how appealing, was safe. There was no expectation that good would triumph over evil. Many of these stories were so disturbing that I wonder if they would even be published today. Strangely enough, I have been looking periodically for his novels to come out in e-book form because I wanted to read them again. I kept looking but only recently noticed some of his Devil’s Kiss, etc. series but none of the stand-alone novels. Then came these Kensington Books editions. I hope they reprint all of his evil little masterpieces.
Johnstone likes evil toys and boy is this one a doozy. He also likes evil children and they don’t get nastier than Nora Baxter. This novel will never be made into a movie; it is much too disturbing. Yet for all the bloodletting, I never felt that it was purely for show, or showing off as the splatterpunk authors tend to do. I got a sense that Johnstone took the conflict of good and evil seriously and that there was a message hidden in all the mayhem.
If you didn’t grow up with Johnstone and enjoy horror then he is definitely required reading and these editions are a fantastic place to start. I plan on collecting the whole series. They don’t write them like this any more.
February 7, 2017
Review of JACK-IN-THE-BOX by William Johnstone.
I believe this is the first horror novel by this author I have read, but it's so definitely impacted me that I'm on a quest to read them all. JACK-IN-THE-BOX is set in Connecticut and Manhattan. The horror is wonderfully implacable and inescapable, as the protagonist discovers much to his dismay. The daughter of a wealthy, hard-charging, Manhattan attorney is, on the surface, a pathological liar, which her father Philip and older brother Phil recognize and acknowledge. Her mother Jeanne, however, is blind to Nora's failings, even to the extent of strongly considering divorce. Imagine any parent who believes her or his child can do no wrong, and is contemptuous of anyone who believes differently, and you'll comprehend Jeanne Baxter.
However, Nora is not only a liar. Nora is the spawn of Satan, and I say that not figuratively but literally. As the story unfolds, we learn that Nora is not an isolated example. The author also weaves in Nazism, both in the Third Reich era, but also in contemporary New York City, exorcism, Vietnam [as past history], and practice of the occult, including black magic. Of course, the eponymous jack-in-the-box is a main character throughout, a depository of pure Satanic evil, which is brought into the story by the protagonist, the ill-fated Philip Baxter.
I found this novel a definite page-turner, and my interest never flagged.
I believe this is the first horror novel by this author I have read, but it's so definitely impacted me that I'm on a quest to read them all. JACK-IN-THE-BOX is set in Connecticut and Manhattan. The horror is wonderfully implacable and inescapable, as the protagonist discovers much to his dismay. The daughter of a wealthy, hard-charging, Manhattan attorney is, on the surface, a pathological liar, which her father Philip and older brother Phil recognize and acknowledge. Her mother Jeanne, however, is blind to Nora's failings, even to the extent of strongly considering divorce. Imagine any parent who believes her or his child can do no wrong, and is contemptuous of anyone who believes differently, and you'll comprehend Jeanne Baxter.
However, Nora is not only a liar. Nora is the spawn of Satan, and I say that not figuratively but literally. As the story unfolds, we learn that Nora is not an isolated example. The author also weaves in Nazism, both in the Third Reich era, but also in contemporary New York City, exorcism, Vietnam [as past history], and practice of the occult, including black magic. Of course, the eponymous jack-in-the-box is a main character throughout, a depository of pure Satanic evil, which is brought into the story by the protagonist, the ill-fated Philip Baxter.
I found this novel a definite page-turner, and my interest never flagged.
September 24, 2016
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Man, was I excited to start this book. Horror is a very hard literary genre. I don't get scared often with books, but I want to be. What's creepier than a jack-in-the-box? And when you combine one with a creepy child? I was fully expecting to be completely creeped out.
This is some V.C. Andrews-level convolutedness here. It goes from interesting to creepy to ridiculous within a matter of a few chapters. I enjoyed the Flowers in the Attic series when I was 12. Maybe that's when I should have read this one.
It's the child. No, it's the jack-in-the-box. No, it's the house. No, it's their inbreeding. No, it's...
Seriously? Pick a theme, and go with it. You don't have to keep throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Your wall is coated in spaghetti. Knock it off.
Man, was I excited to start this book. Horror is a very hard literary genre. I don't get scared often with books, but I want to be. What's creepier than a jack-in-the-box? And when you combine one with a creepy child? I was fully expecting to be completely creeped out.
This is some V.C. Andrews-level convolutedness here. It goes from interesting to creepy to ridiculous within a matter of a few chapters. I enjoyed the Flowers in the Attic series when I was 12. Maybe that's when I should have read this one.
It's the child. No, it's the jack-in-the-box. No, it's the house. No, it's their inbreeding. No, it's...
Seriously? Pick a theme, and go with it. You don't have to keep throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Your wall is coated in spaghetti. Knock it off.
January 12, 2017
Fantastic cover and rollercoaster reading ride with this 80s pearl. You have an obsessed girl more evil than Damian from The Omen, violence, bloodshed and suspense and the end doesn't get finished in this book. Maybe the author planed a small series. You really don't need the Jack in the box, it's an interesting plus in the story the author fully solves. Anyway. Great read if you're into horror and really scary!
September 28, 2016
William M Johnstone's Jack in the Box is an enjoyable horror novel that was published originally in the 80's and it does have that 80's vibe to the story with its lack of cellphones and various other devices that we find in today's world.
This book is an uneven affair with the first half not quite coming together with forced plots and it feels that it is finding its footing. It is very readable, but at times, belief has to take a back stage as it starts to reveal itself.
The second half of the book, really starts moving and the story takes a fantastic turn. With engaging plots, characters and overall structure that turns this into a fun amusement park ride. This is the point of the book that I found the most enjoyable. As all the plot threads come together, you find yourself deeply involved and cursing any outside disturbance that may get in the way from moving forward with the book.
The finale unfortunately is a come down and it does feel that the author wasn't quite sure how to end the plot from the various threads that he started to weave. It felt somewhat forced and too quick and was not a very satisfying solution to the proceedings.
Johnston writing at times felt that he did not have a lot of facts and was making it up as he went along. When dealing with exorcism and overall background, it did feel like he could skip descriptive passages and jump to the next scene letting the reader fill in the gaps. As this was written before the internet and maybe his local library did not have the resources to fully investigate the circumstances on what he was writing.
Overall, it is a very enjoyable page turner with an involving plot and many surprises unfold through the course of the proceedings. At times it does feel rushed and once the reader passes the first thirds, they are in for one hell of a ride. I would recommend this to any horror fan who likes a fun roller coaster ride. I am rating this four stars with one star taking off due to the first third being disjointed and the forced ending.
This book is an uneven affair with the first half not quite coming together with forced plots and it feels that it is finding its footing. It is very readable, but at times, belief has to take a back stage as it starts to reveal itself.
The second half of the book, really starts moving and the story takes a fantastic turn. With engaging plots, characters and overall structure that turns this into a fun amusement park ride. This is the point of the book that I found the most enjoyable. As all the plot threads come together, you find yourself deeply involved and cursing any outside disturbance that may get in the way from moving forward with the book.
The finale unfortunately is a come down and it does feel that the author wasn't quite sure how to end the plot from the various threads that he started to weave. It felt somewhat forced and too quick and was not a very satisfying solution to the proceedings.
Johnston writing at times felt that he did not have a lot of facts and was making it up as he went along. When dealing with exorcism and overall background, it did feel like he could skip descriptive passages and jump to the next scene letting the reader fill in the gaps. As this was written before the internet and maybe his local library did not have the resources to fully investigate the circumstances on what he was writing.
Overall, it is a very enjoyable page turner with an involving plot and many surprises unfold through the course of the proceedings. At times it does feel rushed and once the reader passes the first thirds, they are in for one hell of a ride. I would recommend this to any horror fan who likes a fun roller coaster ride. I am rating this four stars with one star taking off due to the first third being disjointed and the forced ending.
August 28, 2018
Actual Rating: 2.5/5
I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed. This is my third Johnstone after Sandman and Sweet Dreams, and Jack-in-the-Box is by far his most cohesive, straightforward story yet, even though it follows the spawn of Satan befriending a Nazi jack-in-the-box to take over the world. But Johnstone just isn't as much fun when he isn't going off on a million weird tangents, and Jack-in-the-Box suffers for it.
For one thing, the jack-in-the-box is almost completely irrelevant. Aside from an amazing moment where one character screams "You Nazi son of a bitch!" and tries to strangle it while the jack-in-the-box screams at him in German, it's just kind of there to laugh evilly and play a funeral march for the demon-kid's victims. Disappointing.
Johnstone sticks to his evil kid premise, but the book is still a huge mess. Johnstone seems to be making everything up as he goes along per usual, but I've noticed a recurring habit where he seems to only remember plot elements from the previous 10 or so pages. There's a pretty sizable plot twist about midway through involving secret societies surrounding the characters and even a long history of inbreeding within the family, but a dozen or so pages later, you can pretty much forget it because it amounts to nothing. It's pretty funny, but after a while begins to drag when none of the plot reveals go anywhere.
The book's still pretty fun, filled with all the depraved gore and cringey (underaged) sexual debauchery you'd come to expect from the guy, but it's missing that over-the-top braindead je ne sais quoi that makes his other stuff so magical. It's classic Johnstone, so I can't not recommend it, but I would advise seeking out Sandman first, then diving into this one when you really don't have anything else to read.
I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed. This is my third Johnstone after Sandman and Sweet Dreams, and Jack-in-the-Box is by far his most cohesive, straightforward story yet, even though it follows the spawn of Satan befriending a Nazi jack-in-the-box to take over the world. But Johnstone just isn't as much fun when he isn't going off on a million weird tangents, and Jack-in-the-Box suffers for it.
For one thing, the jack-in-the-box is almost completely irrelevant. Aside from an amazing moment where one character screams "You Nazi son of a bitch!" and tries to strangle it while the jack-in-the-box screams at him in German, it's just kind of there to laugh evilly and play a funeral march for the demon-kid's victims. Disappointing.
Johnstone sticks to his evil kid premise, but the book is still a huge mess. Johnstone seems to be making everything up as he goes along per usual, but I've noticed a recurring habit where he seems to only remember plot elements from the previous 10 or so pages. There's a pretty sizable plot twist about midway through involving secret societies surrounding the characters and even a long history of inbreeding within the family, but a dozen or so pages later, you can pretty much forget it because it amounts to nothing. It's pretty funny, but after a while begins to drag when none of the plot reveals go anywhere.
The book's still pretty fun, filled with all the depraved gore and cringey (underaged) sexual debauchery you'd come to expect from the guy, but it's missing that over-the-top braindead je ne sais quoi that makes his other stuff so magical. It's classic Johnstone, so I can't not recommend it, but I would advise seeking out Sandman first, then diving into this one when you really don't have anything else to read.
August 5, 2016
This was only the second story that I have read by this author, and unfortunately it will be my last. Jack-In-The-Box seems to have a very disjointed plot (that more often than not makes no sense), nor does it have a real conclusion. It would seem as though this author deliberately likes putting his characters through hell only to have nothing get resolved at the end. I loathe stories that do this that are not part of a collection as it makes me feel as though I wasted my time reading it.
Also, (and this was a complaint I had about the other novel I read by this author) it was not mentioned that this story is actually a re-release of a story that came out in 1986 and therefore is NOT formatted for easy kindle reading. In fact, it would appear as though the pages of the original novel were scanned and then put together in ebook format. There was no way to enlarge the small text, and some of the pages were actually off center (the page itself seemingly tilted slightly to the side).
Overall, I am certain that this book will appeal to those who enjoy a more "old school" horror novel, or ones that enjoy reading about children (and adults) hacking each other to death. It did have its moments, but it just wasn't for me.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Also, (and this was a complaint I had about the other novel I read by this author) it was not mentioned that this story is actually a re-release of a story that came out in 1986 and therefore is NOT formatted for easy kindle reading. In fact, it would appear as though the pages of the original novel were scanned and then put together in ebook format. There was no way to enlarge the small text, and some of the pages were actually off center (the page itself seemingly tilted slightly to the side).
Overall, I am certain that this book will appeal to those who enjoy a more "old school" horror novel, or ones that enjoy reading about children (and adults) hacking each other to death. It did have its moments, but it just wasn't for me.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
August 13, 2016
Woah. What a ride. This is a great addition to the pedophobic sub-genre that was so popular in the 60s-80s (think The Exorcist, The Omen, Rosemary's Baby, etc). I loved how this novel really went all out. Evil child? Great sure, but it's been done. How about adding a possessed toy? Oh, and I know! Nazis! Cause Nazis always make these stories better. Lordie. This had it all. And I loved that about it. It knew it was a campy, fun read and it didn't hold back. There were things in here that even I (a jaded reader who thinks she's read it all) went "Woah. You didn't just go there". But Johnstone did. Oh boy, he did. I'm not gonna spoil any plot points, but there are several points in this where I was delightfully surprised where the story went. My only complaint was that, after such an amazing ride, the ending was uneventful. I literally thought "That's it?" and even went back and reread a few pages cause I thought I missed something. Maybe after the craziness of the rest of it, the ending couldn't be anything but a let-down, but still...I wanted more. But, if you love these old campy horror novels, definitely check this one out.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
October 14, 2016
This is the second book I have read by this author (the other one was "Bats" which I really enjoyed). This one has also been re-released by Kensington and was apparently first published in the 80's so it definitely has an 80's feel to it.
Nora is not a normal little girl. In fact, she is devil's spawn and her father, Phillip knows something is not normal but her mother thinks nothing is wrong with her perfect little angel. Throw in a nasty jack-in-the-box that has Nazi connections and you have a campy but fast and enjoyable read. Be warned, though, there are some scenes that are definitely taboo so be prepared. The book reminded me a bit of one called (I think) "Demon Seed" and "The Exorcist" combined.
I am glad that Kensington has decided to release William W. Johnstone's books once again for a new generation.
I received a copy of this book for free from Kensington via Netgalley (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
Nora is not a normal little girl. In fact, she is devil's spawn and her father, Phillip knows something is not normal but her mother thinks nothing is wrong with her perfect little angel. Throw in a nasty jack-in-the-box that has Nazi connections and you have a campy but fast and enjoyable read. Be warned, though, there are some scenes that are definitely taboo so be prepared. The book reminded me a bit of one called (I think) "Demon Seed" and "The Exorcist" combined.
I am glad that Kensington has decided to release William W. Johnstone's books once again for a new generation.
I received a copy of this book for free from Kensington via Netgalley (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2020
Marginally better than the rest of Johnstone's horror novels, mainly because it's not slavishly following the format of evil forces coming to a small town and making it people go murder-crazy, with less ranting than usual, and actually tries to tell a horror story
It's basically a take on the Exorcist if instead of the demon it was a nazi-created, satan-possessed Jack-In-The-Box made of a human skull, so better or worse depending on if you have any amount of taste.
It's basically a take on the Exorcist if instead of the demon it was a nazi-created, satan-possessed Jack-In-The-Box made of a human skull, so better or worse depending on if you have any amount of taste.
September 20, 2016
Twenty years ago William W. Johnstone released Jack-in-the-Box. Kensington has re-released them through Lyrical Underground. I have never read Johnstone before and unfortunately I don't think I'll be reading anymore. I think through years of watching horror movies and reading scary books I've become desensitized. I was unimpressed and it was cheesy and toward the end the violence was just gratuitous, and coming from me that says a lot one of my favorite zombie movies is Dead Alive (Which is said to be the bloodiest movie ever made by the amount of fake blood used). It started out okay, like something I would see in a Masters of Horror but it quickly turned into something B rated. It's a mix of the Exorcist, Satanic Nazis, a female Damien, and Puppetmaster (I know it came out after this book was published in 1989, but it was so much better). The jack-in-the-box is such a small part in the story it almost seems like the book should be named something else. The writing was very dry and predictable, parts of it were very interesting but those parts were outnumbered by the parts I had to push through. I talked myself into finishing the book and I wish I hadn't. The ending was disappointing, even the characters were disappointed with how it ended. I couldn't even bring myself to like the main characters.
Phillip is a lawyer married with two kids, it would be the ideal life but his daughter is a pathological liar, she acts vindictively and then lies about her action. Nora has her mother wrapped around her little finger and has her mom believing that Phillip hates Nora. On an impulse Phillip buys a horrific antique jack-in-the-box that Nora falls in love with, and the horror begins. Nora is an incarnation of evil, she has the power to manipulate people with her mind and turns everyone against her father. Phillip recruits the help of a priest Joe, a private eye Paul, a child psychiatrist Sheela, and his best friend Sam to help him defeat his satanic daughter. The jack-in-the-box has ties to Nazi Germany, it's previous owner was a Satanic worshiping Nazi who escaped at the end of the war and is living in New York now trying to have another Nazi uprising. With every death Nora causes she gains more and more power. Phillip's family has a huge secret and everything comes out the more powerful Nora becomes.
Overall, it was disappointing. I was hoping for more.
Phillip is a lawyer married with two kids, it would be the ideal life but his daughter is a pathological liar, she acts vindictively and then lies about her action. Nora has her mother wrapped around her little finger and has her mom believing that Phillip hates Nora. On an impulse Phillip buys a horrific antique jack-in-the-box that Nora falls in love with, and the horror begins. Nora is an incarnation of evil, she has the power to manipulate people with her mind and turns everyone against her father. Phillip recruits the help of a priest Joe, a private eye Paul, a child psychiatrist Sheela, and his best friend Sam to help him defeat his satanic daughter. The jack-in-the-box has ties to Nazi Germany, it's previous owner was a Satanic worshiping Nazi who escaped at the end of the war and is living in New York now trying to have another Nazi uprising. With every death Nora causes she gains more and more power. Phillip's family has a huge secret and everything comes out the more powerful Nora becomes.
Overall, it was disappointing. I was hoping for more.
August 12, 2016
Kensington Books (Lyrical Underground) is re-issuing this classic horror book. I have always associated Mr. Johnstone's name with his western books so this was quite a surprise for me to find his branch of horror books. This book has all the classic horror needs, so if you're a horror fan you will enjoy it.
Nora is a beautiful child. Of course, what is on the outside covers what is on the inside. Which is pure evil. Her father, Phillip, suspects she is evil but can't bring himself to face that fact. When he purchases an old, odd, horrific looking jack-in-the-box and his daughter is overjoyed for the gift does things get so far out of control you wonder who could possibly stop her.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nora is a beautiful child. Of course, what is on the outside covers what is on the inside. Which is pure evil. Her father, Phillip, suspects she is evil but can't bring himself to face that fact. When he purchases an old, odd, horrific looking jack-in-the-box and his daughter is overjoyed for the gift does things get so far out of control you wonder who could possibly stop her.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2016
Jack-In-The-Box by William W. Johnstone Jack-In-The-Box by William W. Johnstone is truly a horrifying, evil book. I found it frightening, similar to Peter Blatty's The Exorcist combined with The Omen by David Seltzer. I gave it four stars.
Introduction to the Jack-in-the-box: "The eyes were not painted on but glass, carefully set into the face of the ugly clown head.
Then the eyes moved. They shifted back and forth, inspecting the surroundings. The glass orbs flickered with an unnatural light and life."
I received a complimentary Kindle copy from Kensington Books-Lyrical Underground and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Jack---Box-Wil...
Introduction to the Jack-in-the-box: "The eyes were not painted on but glass, carefully set into the face of the ugly clown head.
Then the eyes moved. They shifted back and forth, inspecting the surroundings. The glass orbs flickered with an unnatural light and life."
I received a complimentary Kindle copy from Kensington Books-Lyrical Underground and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Jack---Box-Wil...
May 27, 2020
What in the holy hell did I just read? I won't go into particulars of plot and characters but this book read like a fever dream. Maximum Johnstone. Good lord, this book is batshit insane. It is one of the craziest books I have ever read, even crazier than Johnstone's legendarily crazy "Toy Cemetery". I gave the book 4 stars not because it is good, not at all, and there is probably much evidence to prove that it is actually quite terrible, but it is so insanely over the top, just ridiculous pulp horror that I was in awe of it. Recommended for hardcore horror fans with a taste for the ridiculous, and that's it. I couldn't in good conscience recommend it to anyone else. Absolutely the most excessive, ridiculous 1980s horror boom fiction there is. If that sounds like its up your alley, you just might enjoy this thing.
July 27, 2016
What a great book! Written back in the '70's along with Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist, Johnstone was known primarily for Western sagas. But, I guess, he decided to try his hand at horror, and penned a couple. This was everything I could ask for. I don't know if he made any changes for the re-release, but this sure stood the test of time. There were no anachronisms and the violence, well, it was even more appropriate today than it was then.
I received my copy from Kensington Books and hope all horror fans pick up a copy.
I received my copy from Kensington Books and hope all horror fans pick up a copy.
September 1, 2016
First I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Holy Moly!!! Had me on the edge of my seat from the first page. Scared the living daylights out of me. I literally had to stop myself reading this after nightfall due to dreams. Still having dreams about it and it's been a few days. One thing I know for sure I don't want to look at a jack-in-the-box for the rest of my life, nor will I ever buy one for any of the kids as they creep me out now. If you want to read a really creepy book this one is definitely the one for you. Enjoy :)
Holy Moly!!! Had me on the edge of my seat from the first page. Scared the living daylights out of me. I literally had to stop myself reading this after nightfall due to dreams. Still having dreams about it and it's been a few days. One thing I know for sure I don't want to look at a jack-in-the-box for the rest of my life, nor will I ever buy one for any of the kids as they creep me out now. If you want to read a really creepy book this one is definitely the one for you. Enjoy :)
December 3, 2016
This tale is creepy as hell.
It reminds me of the Exorcist but with the added companion of a horrible toy. For someone afraid of Clowns, puppets, dolls and so on, this is definitely a nightmarish tale. A classic among the new horror versions, the setting in a 70th era feels more unsettling as we now have the privilege of information at our fingertips with the internet and the use of cellphones. The Nazi factor is also compelling and unsettling.
Note: I received an ARC for review and an honest and unbiased opinion.
It reminds me of the Exorcist but with the added companion of a horrible toy. For someone afraid of Clowns, puppets, dolls and so on, this is definitely a nightmarish tale. A classic among the new horror versions, the setting in a 70th era feels more unsettling as we now have the privilege of information at our fingertips with the internet and the use of cellphones. The Nazi factor is also compelling and unsettling.
Note: I received an ARC for review and an honest and unbiased opinion.
September 8, 2018
So bloody good!
I have been a fan of this author’s books since I was in high school, many moons ago and I am never disappointed. With this book there is possession, the devil(of course) , demonic toy, ghosts, and blood,lots of blood. It’s a lot of gory fun and a good story. I’ve said before I wish there was books out there like this now. Unfortunately those days are gone but thank god for amazon delivering the ebooks where they are affordable because they are out of print. I highly recommend this book for fans of the classic 70s and 80s horror novels.
I have been a fan of this author’s books since I was in high school, many moons ago and I am never disappointed. With this book there is possession, the devil(of course) , demonic toy, ghosts, and blood,lots of blood. It’s a lot of gory fun and a good story. I’ve said before I wish there was books out there like this now. Unfortunately those days are gone but thank god for amazon delivering the ebooks where they are affordable because they are out of print. I highly recommend this book for fans of the classic 70s and 80s horror novels.
September 16, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Disjointed and disappointing! With undeveloped plot and basically no character development, this is only of a couple of books in 2016 that I did not finish. Only my opinion.
Disjointed and disappointing! With undeveloped plot and basically no character development, this is only of a couple of books in 2016 that I did not finish. Only my opinion.
September 22, 2016
I might have liked this when it was originally published in the 1980s but now it just didn't do it for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Recommend this if you enjoy the horror genre and if you would like to read a classic.
September 30, 2016
This book was very scary for me in some ways. The evil Jack-In-the-Box is a good idea for a story. I love horror books so I had to give this one a try. It was ok for me. * I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
October 6, 2016
A possessed little girl, a jack-in-the-box that is evil. A little bot of the exorcist. This is the 2nd book by this author that I have read and I want more. I could not stop reading. Nora is a complicated child and her father sees through her BS but her mom thinks she is perfect.
January 9, 2017
I received this arc from Netgalley.
Good ole fashioned horror. This one will keep you on your toes with lots of excitement. I would have liked a more wrapped up ending.
Good ole fashioned horror. This one will keep you on your toes with lots of excitement. I would have liked a more wrapped up ending.
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