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Black Cat
Spirited from the dark jungles of Africa to a place in the american desert...
The evil soul of a witch doctor lives on in the body of Simon, the great jungle beast who leads his human followers - the Panther People - in their orgies of lust and blood. Now the innocent Martin family, George, Peg, and their beautiful daughter, Jenny, on vacation, will stumble upon this gruesome cult, trapped in a desert nightmare of terror and death - waiting. In the quiet wasteland, the sound of their own pulses will be all they can hear.
But somewhere in the dark night, outside their lonely hotel room, there is something breathing. For once Simon has your scent - he will not stop until he tastes your warm, fresh blood....
The evil soul of a witch doctor lives on in the body of Simon, the great jungle beast who leads his human followers - the Panther People - in their orgies of lust and blood. Now the innocent Martin family, George, Peg, and their beautiful daughter, Jenny, on vacation, will stumble upon this gruesome cult, trapped in a desert nightmare of terror and death - waiting. In the quiet wasteland, the sound of their own pulses will be all they can hear.
But somewhere in the dark night, outside their lonely hotel room, there is something breathing. For once Simon has your scent - he will not stop until he tastes your warm, fresh blood....
- GenresHorror
Audible Audio
First published February 1, 1982
4 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
John A. Russo
208 books102 followersJohn A. Russo, sometimes credited as Jack Russo or John Russo, is an American screenwriter and film director most commonly associated with the 1968 horror classic film Night of the Living Dead. As a screenwriter, his credits include Night of the Living Dead, The Majorettes, Midnight, and Santa Claws. The latter two, he also directed. He has performed small roles as an actor, most notably the first ghoul who is stabbed in the head in Night of the Living Dead.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 18, 2020
A murderous African panther cult, black magic, sexual enchantment. Horror strikes when Dan, the Panther Man, brings Simon, the man eating panther, for his shows to the USA. A travelling family and an Agent Orange affected Vietnam veteran get drawn into a story full of menace, madness and magic. Will some of them get out of it alive? What about the black cat? John Russo wrote a classic 80s horror novel. Fast paced, gory, with lots of sexual implications, a creepy hick family, witchcraft and black magic. I really enjoyed this 1982 classic and can highly recommend reading it. This is one of the Golden Age of Horror and definitely not for the faint hearted!
September 11, 2016
When I cracked this book open, the original Waldenbooks receipt fell out dated 02/1982. I found it somewhat fitting that a piece of 'ancient' history landed in my lap upon opening this book of horror.
We're not going to discuss the fact that I used the word 'ancient' about a book that was written after I was born.
John Russo is probably best known for co-writing the screenplay of "Night of the Living Dead" and then writing the novelization several years later. I would venture that most people, save die-hard horror fans of a certain age, have not heard of this book. I wouldn't have, certainly, except that my husband collected Russo's foil covers in the early 80's.
I think I might have been the first person to read this particular copy. Unbagging a book of this age in great condition to read is somewhat nerve-racking. I respect books of all types. I'm not one of those monsters that fold down the corners or anything, but nothing beats that feeling of reading a good, pliable, well-read paperback.
So, with great tension I read "Black Cat" and I have to wonder if that didn't affect my enjoyment. Then again, 'lurid' is the adjective that is on repeat in my head to describe how I felt about it, so it could be that I just didn't like it all that much.
It's not that it wasn't well crafted or written, that's all fine. It's just that witchdoctor'd panther cults who go on murdering rampages in their thirst for blood is just not my thing. When the Martin family crosses their path after a series of unfortunate events in the desert leaving them stranded...well, I'm not sure I cared all that much when (BIG SPOILER HERE) they were eaten, partially eaten, bitten, or scratched. Husband George was cheating on his wife, wife Peg was insipid, and daughter Jenny was a mouthy teenage brat.
The saving grace and goodness of the entire book was a Vietnam vet and Agent Orange victim, Tom. After leaving his family fearing that his madness was ruining them, he has the misfortune of hitchhiking right into this gruesome mess. The silver lining here is that he sees how messed up the rest of the world is and decides that he's not alone in his crazy. Tom becomes our hero who fights the circus family turned panther people bastards and saves the day to return to his family.
There really is a lot to the story that I'm just plain leaving out and I'm probably doing it a disservice, but there is only so much cult-like orgying that I can take. Remember, I did say lurid. So I'm just going to leave this here...
DONE!
May 14, 2019
The audiobook version of Black Cat was sent to me in exchange for an honest review from Capricorn Literary. Video review to come.
Black Cat is the story of the Martin family -- George, Peg, and their daughter Jenny -- who are on vacation when they stumble upon the Panther People, murderous beings that serve the evil soul of a witch doctor that lives on in the body of a panther named Simon... Are you following me? If not, don't worry. You can just go along for the ride like I did.
You may know John Russo as the co-screenwriter of Night of the Living Dead (yes, that one) or the numerous paperback originals he has written throughout his long career. Black Cat was published in 1982 by Pocket Books with a very shiny, metallic looking cover. That edition fetches a hefty sum of dough online, but thankfully Burning Bulb Publishing has reissued the novel in new paperback and digital editions, and Capricorn Literary just released a newly-produced audiobook version, narrated by Mike Reaves.
I'm pretty picky when it comes to audiobooks, but Reaves's deep, gruff voice serves the grittiness of Black Cat's story very well. His use of voice filters and effects were kept to a minimum, complimenting the story rather than distracting from it. Overall, I thought it was a great production and I was never annoyed by the narration.
As for the novel itself... wow. What a crazy story. Going into this, I expected more of a killer cat book. Instead I got a road trip gone awry plot featuring a blood-thirsty cult, brutal (and I mean brutal) massacres, graphic rape scenes, incest (I think?), and a murderous spirit possessing the body of an already murderous panther.
So. This book is obviously insane. "Depraved" is the word I would use to describe it. It is over-the-top and completely bonkers, which gives the book some fun twists and turns. But the rape scenes and the scenes involving slayings of entire families prevent this reading experience from being a totally enjoyable one. It is disturbing and not for the faint of heart. Black Cat also has its fair share of misogyny, but since that is from the perspective of the villains, that may have been the intent. Either way, it isn't pleasant and should be approached with caution.
I would recommend this if you like trashy horror pulp and have a stomach of stone. I'm pretty hardened so I was able to get through it, mostly because I was entranced by the WTF plot. But in the end, Black Cat will only appeal a niche group of people. Don't read it to your kids as a bedtime story.
Black Cat is the story of the Martin family -- George, Peg, and their daughter Jenny -- who are on vacation when they stumble upon the Panther People, murderous beings that serve the evil soul of a witch doctor that lives on in the body of a panther named Simon... Are you following me? If not, don't worry. You can just go along for the ride like I did.
You may know John Russo as the co-screenwriter of Night of the Living Dead (yes, that one) or the numerous paperback originals he has written throughout his long career. Black Cat was published in 1982 by Pocket Books with a very shiny, metallic looking cover. That edition fetches a hefty sum of dough online, but thankfully Burning Bulb Publishing has reissued the novel in new paperback and digital editions, and Capricorn Literary just released a newly-produced audiobook version, narrated by Mike Reaves.
I'm pretty picky when it comes to audiobooks, but Reaves's deep, gruff voice serves the grittiness of Black Cat's story very well. His use of voice filters and effects were kept to a minimum, complimenting the story rather than distracting from it. Overall, I thought it was a great production and I was never annoyed by the narration.
As for the novel itself... wow. What a crazy story. Going into this, I expected more of a killer cat book. Instead I got a road trip gone awry plot featuring a blood-thirsty cult, brutal (and I mean brutal) massacres, graphic rape scenes, incest (I think?), and a murderous spirit possessing the body of an already murderous panther.
So. This book is obviously insane. "Depraved" is the word I would use to describe it. It is over-the-top and completely bonkers, which gives the book some fun twists and turns. But the rape scenes and the scenes involving slayings of entire families prevent this reading experience from being a totally enjoyable one. It is disturbing and not for the faint of heart. Black Cat also has its fair share of misogyny, but since that is from the perspective of the villains, that may have been the intent. Either way, it isn't pleasant and should be approached with caution.
I would recommend this if you like trashy horror pulp and have a stomach of stone. I'm pretty hardened so I was able to get through it, mostly because I was entranced by the WTF plot. But in the end, Black Cat will only appeal a niche group of people. Don't read it to your kids as a bedtime story.
October 20, 2020
John Russo trades zombies for black panthers to great success. This one goes back and forth between a family on vacation in New Mexico to a tribe of panther worshipers in Angola for the first half. Then, the crazies in a small out of the way cabin terrorize the family.
This is one of the best books I have read by John Russo. Much better than his zombie efforts after NOTLD for me. This plays out like a great late night B-movie with all the sex and violence. Vicious wild panthers. Blood thirsty cultist. Bizarre looney family with secrets, of course. I was very pleased.
This is one of the best books I have read by John Russo. Much better than his zombie efforts after NOTLD for me. This plays out like a great late night B-movie with all the sex and violence. Vicious wild panthers. Blood thirsty cultist. Bizarre looney family with secrets, of course. I was very pleased.
June 21, 2023
After sitting on this 1982 original novel of terror and bloodshed.....I finally listened to this. Wow!!! What the hell did I wait so long for?
Check out my video review here:
https://youtu.be/CGt3WlHKYMc
Knowing that this was written by Russo, the author of the original 'Night of The Living Dead' I always thought that this sounded like a rip off of 'Cat People' which it kind of is. However, this has got to be one of the MOST graphically (both in the gore and the sexual torture) written books that I have read/listened to in a LONG time!! This book has it all....the stupid family on a summer vacation who get stranded, a creepy assed traveling carnival worker who worships the black panther he trained, cult worshippers, and EXTREME VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED!!
Simon the black panther that is the animal that this story of terror revolves around is the most beautiful and yet most mean 'bad guy' ever! It was a very original, unique and well written story of 'what the hell did I just read!?'
Highly recommended.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Rape, extreme sexual violence, torture, human meat cat food, extreme gore.
4.5 🩸🩸🩸🩸
Check out my video review here:
https://youtu.be/CGt3WlHKYMc
Knowing that this was written by Russo, the author of the original 'Night of The Living Dead' I always thought that this sounded like a rip off of 'Cat People' which it kind of is. However, this has got to be one of the MOST graphically (both in the gore and the sexual torture) written books that I have read/listened to in a LONG time!! This book has it all....the stupid family on a summer vacation who get stranded, a creepy assed traveling carnival worker who worships the black panther he trained, cult worshippers, and EXTREME VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED!!
Simon the black panther that is the animal that this story of terror revolves around is the most beautiful and yet most mean 'bad guy' ever! It was a very original, unique and well written story of 'what the hell did I just read!?'
Highly recommended.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Rape, extreme sexual violence, torture, human meat cat food, extreme gore.
4.5 🩸🩸🩸🩸
November 20, 2016
I quite enjoyed this book!
July 12, 2021
An African panther cult comes to America, mauling and killing and rhyming bad poetry ("Panther and I/Never to die"). It begins in Africa, where Simon the witch doctor bonds with a panther, mixing blood and getting matching brands, and goes on a murderous campaign of rampage against the local whites. Meanwhile stateside, the Martin family is travelling in New Mexico, where some hippies are quickly killed and Tom the suffering Vietnam vet is blamed. Scared and injured, the Martins encounter a local family whose pater familias was the late great Jungle Dan the Panther Man. Only he's not dead, he's alive, and the whole family is more or less nuts. Cue Benny Hill theme music.
The separate timelines eventually converge, with the revelation that Jungle Dan the wannabe Panther King brought Simon's homicidal panther from Africa 10 years ago in the vain hope of turning it into a circus spectacle and some juicy profits. But the jungle cat bit back, which is what you deserve when you mess with wild animals. There isn't much obvious social or ecological comment here, this is after all a paperback novel from 1982, but in horror it's always best not to mess with things that might mess with you.
At a meagre 223 pages the novel doesn't outstay its welcome or get bogged down in sidequests, it's all very straigthforward once the African and the New Mexico plotlines find their places. There's a fantastic, quick-paced and very cinematic B-movie quality to John "Night of the Living Dead" Russo's writing, which is not at all surprising considering his screenwriter credits, with smart visual descriptions, such as the mauled Jungle Dan or the mistaken identities of his sons. There's also a nice clarity to the characters and their motivations, again something that is probably one of the first rules of screenwriting. Tom the Vietnam vet gets the most complete character arc, going from slightly suicidal to finding something of a purpose and turning into a complicated hero in the process. The violence and sex are visceral, blunt and suitably gruesome, the novel punching perhaps even slightly above its own weight, since the plot never really requires it to go to such lengths. But again, it's all something that might look really good on the big screen.
The separate timelines eventually converge, with the revelation that Jungle Dan the wannabe Panther King brought Simon's homicidal panther from Africa 10 years ago in the vain hope of turning it into a circus spectacle and some juicy profits. But the jungle cat bit back, which is what you deserve when you mess with wild animals. There isn't much obvious social or ecological comment here, this is after all a paperback novel from 1982, but in horror it's always best not to mess with things that might mess with you.
At a meagre 223 pages the novel doesn't outstay its welcome or get bogged down in sidequests, it's all very straigthforward once the African and the New Mexico plotlines find their places. There's a fantastic, quick-paced and very cinematic B-movie quality to John "Night of the Living Dead" Russo's writing, which is not at all surprising considering his screenwriter credits, with smart visual descriptions, such as the mauled Jungle Dan or the mistaken identities of his sons. There's also a nice clarity to the characters and their motivations, again something that is probably one of the first rules of screenwriting. Tom the Vietnam vet gets the most complete character arc, going from slightly suicidal to finding something of a purpose and turning into a complicated hero in the process. The violence and sex are visceral, blunt and suitably gruesome, the novel punching perhaps even slightly above its own weight, since the plot never really requires it to go to such lengths. But again, it's all something that might look really good on the big screen.
October 8, 2024
I was given this book and had no idea what it was about before I started reading it. Fascinating story that starts in Angola and ends in New Mexico. All aspects of the story were interesting, from the beginning in Angola, to how the beast came to be in America. An intense read that kept my attention all the way to the end.
September 6, 2022
A panther cult in Africa, a family on a road trip in New Mexico, a creepy hitchhiker, a weird family in the desert. I don't know how anyone connected all this nonsense together coherently but somehow they did. Reminds me of a violent, fun B movie.
November 4, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up. This story was surprisingly creative and nerve-wracking. I'd still consider this a more "trashy" old school Paperback from Hell, but I think it's certainly worth a read (especially if you like animal attack stories...and this particular one has a unique spin).
December 1, 2019
Horror fiction in the 1970’s through early 1980’s - often straight to paperback - had a penchant for being “out there”, as if the thought was, if you can’t top “The Exorcist” or “The Amityville Horror” or “The Shining”, then crank up the WTF, and just outweird them. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Author Grady Hendrix wrote an excellent nonfiction book called “Paperbacks From Hell” about this era, and its many books, most of them forgotten today. “Black Cat” - the perfect example of such paperbacks - may mislead you into expecting simply a suspense tale of a killer panther, but it will surely throw you for a loop when it reveals itself to be a lurid tale of a family on a road trip and a wandering Vietnam vet with PTSD and Agent Orange damage, both wandering into “Wrong Turn”/“Hills Have Eyes” territory, involving a former circus performer turned voodoo panther cult leader, and his creepy AF family, in rural middle America.
Narrator Mike Reaves is a good fit for this lurid, creepy tale, particularly when using an electronic trach voicebox for one of the more sinister characters.
Is this fine literature? Oh hell no. But is it entertaining and a good example of its genre and era? Most definitely.
I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Author Grady Hendrix wrote an excellent nonfiction book called “Paperbacks From Hell” about this era, and its many books, most of them forgotten today. “Black Cat” - the perfect example of such paperbacks - may mislead you into expecting simply a suspense tale of a killer panther, but it will surely throw you for a loop when it reveals itself to be a lurid tale of a family on a road trip and a wandering Vietnam vet with PTSD and Agent Orange damage, both wandering into “Wrong Turn”/“Hills Have Eyes” territory, involving a former circus performer turned voodoo panther cult leader, and his creepy AF family, in rural middle America.
Narrator Mike Reaves is a good fit for this lurid, creepy tale, particularly when using an electronic trach voicebox for one of the more sinister characters.
Is this fine literature? Oh hell no. But is it entertaining and a good example of its genre and era? Most definitely.
I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2019
Agent Orange, don't make me read this book again. This was so painful for me to get through. I didn't like the story or the way it was presented. I really wanted to enjoy it and based on the synopsis, it sounded like something that was right up my alley. I don't like writing a review without some sort of positive, but I really didn't like anything about this book I am sorry to say.
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
November 8, 2021
I believe this is the 1st novel I’ve read by Author John Russo. I remember this book as a kid (pre-teen). It was in a box of paperbacks in my home. I never read it then but remembered the cover. Only recently I rediscovered the title and author.
This is not the book I was expecting. I thought it would be some type of were-panther thing. It’s so much more than that. It reminded me of the film “The Hills Have Eyes.” A family, father, mother and their teenage daughter, are travelling through the New Mexico desert. Family Vacation.
Through mishap and misfortune, they eventually meet the surviving members of a Circus family. Things go to hell from there.
A few different stories being told and eventually they intersect.
Spoiler alert. There is a black panther.
Over-the-top insanity. Surprised it was never made into a film, given everything that happens. Fun read.
This is not the book I was expecting. I thought it would be some type of were-panther thing. It’s so much more than that. It reminded me of the film “The Hills Have Eyes.” A family, father, mother and their teenage daughter, are travelling through the New Mexico desert. Family Vacation.
Through mishap and misfortune, they eventually meet the surviving members of a Circus family. Things go to hell from there.
A few different stories being told and eventually they intersect.
Spoiler alert. There is a black panther.
Over-the-top insanity. Surprised it was never made into a film, given everything that happens. Fun read.
December 11, 2019
Welcome to a gruesome horror thriller. On one hand, we have a cult of maniacal killers in the jungles of Angola calling themselves Panther People. Their witch-doctor leader Simon believes he can transform into a panther. Simon is bound and determined to remove all the white people from Angola. On the other hand, we have a family vacationing in Arizona. The story bounces between the two groups. For the longest time, I wondered how the Angola cultists and the Arizona family was going to meet. Even afterward, the explanation is a bit fuzzy. The immortality of Simon is a bit overstated. I submit Dan and Jessica Withers created the monster. Three.point.five. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 5, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this early 80s pulp horror potboiler by John Russo. This is the first novel I've read by Russo and I was very impressed. His writing is economical and effective. The story is extremely fast paced but Russo adds enough characterization to A: make the characters fleshed out and believable, and B: take you out of the action so that when he throws you back into the action, your heart is in your throat. Right from the first few pages, I knew I was in the hands of a pro.
He throws enough plot twists at you, that when you think you have it figured out, he still will manage to surprise you.
Highest recommendation to horror fans. This book was way better than it had to be. I am looking forward to reading more of Russo's novels.
He throws enough plot twists at you, that when you think you have it figured out, he still will manage to surprise you.
Highest recommendation to horror fans. This book was way better than it had to be. I am looking forward to reading more of Russo's novels.
July 26, 2024
A boy turning into a panther through magic now given the name Simon. Yes bloody bonkers. Now doing what the cat spirit wants. A man's head chopped off with a machete, the man's head kicked around like a soccer ball. A family massacred, hacked, severed, body parts wired onto a branch like hanging fruit. The panther hungry for human flesh, it's jaw crunching on bones, flesh consumed greedily. Not one of Russo's better books.
November 15, 2025
On a family vacation in New Mexico a family are caught up in a murderous plan involving a psychotic family and a witch doctors panther trained to eat human flesh
Not a bad read if a bit fanciful even for a novel of this era. I have read of leopard/ panther men before so their beliefs weren’t completely strange
Not a bad read if a bit fanciful even for a novel of this era. I have read of leopard/ panther men before so their beliefs weren’t completely strange
April 9, 2019
I love 70s and 80s horror and this is a good example
If you enjoy old school horror with lots of gore sex and deranged family’s this is for you
Mike did a great job narrating and the voice effect was a nice touch
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
If you enjoy old school horror with lots of gore sex and deranged family’s this is for you
Mike did a great job narrating and the voice effect was a nice touch
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
May 18, 2019
Audible:I tried several times but could not get through this book.It was just too much gore for me,and I can take a lot usually. Mike Reaves seemed to be a fine narrator. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
November 11, 2023
I read this book back when I was in 8th grade, wayyy too early to be reading such things, but the feelings I had while reading this have lasted through the years! I’d love to get my hand on another copy so I can reread it and see if it still holds as much weight as it did back then!
November 11, 2021
Not for the squeamish.
October 2, 2024
Didn't finish got halfway through and couldn't anymore. Maybe it's my adhd, but I just couldn't finish or concentrate on it. Maybe I'll wait a while and try again in a few months.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews