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Nightscape
Eight-year-old Evan was afraid to go to sleep. That's when they came. The people who wanted to take him away...change him. Make him like them. They were more horrible than words could describe. And there was nothing he could do to stop them.
Bonnie Laine watched her son in terror. Every day he changed a little, grew weaker, paler. Each night he woke up screaming "Don't let it get me!" And somehow she knew the horror was just beginning. Soon it would grow far beyond a little boy's nightmares.
Shep Thomas had dedicated his life to destroying the creatures that killed his brother. And Evan was going to lead him right to their hiding place, the place they called the creche. And even though they were far fro human, he was going to send them straight to Hell!
Bonnie Laine watched her son in terror. Every day he changed a little, grew weaker, paler. Each night he woke up screaming "Don't let it get me!" And somehow she knew the horror was just beginning. Soon it would grow far beyond a little boy's nightmares.
Shep Thomas had dedicated his life to destroying the creatures that killed his brother. And Evan was going to lead him right to their hiding place, the place they called the creche. And even though they were far fro human, he was going to send them straight to Hell!
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1992
30 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Stephen R. George
19 books26 followersStephen R. George is a Canadian author of horror fiction, suspense and dark fantasy. He writes under his own name and the pseudonyms Jack Ellis and Valerie Stephens. He has published 14 novels. His novels have been translated into Italian, Polish, Russian, and Norwegian. His short stories have appeared in a number of publications and anthologies including Cemetery Dance and the Hot Blood series. George was born in Scotland in 1959; he lives and works in Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 16, 2023
I finally found an affordable copy of this little gem and George takes us on a wild ride here! Like most of his novels, this is set in Minnesota/Twin Cities for the most part. Nightscape introduces our main protagonist Bonnie at a hospital, where she is being informed by the police that her son is ok. Apparently, her ex hubbie and son (8 yo) were in a car wreck and the husband is missing. Now, Bonnie and her husband divorced six years prior and her husband took custody of little Evan; Bonnie was in a pretty bad way in that part of her life and did some time in an asylum. Anyway, she is ok now and demands custody of Evan over her ex's parents who want the little boy.
In another story arc, George introduces Shep, an ex-cop from Chicago, as he calmly and methodically abducts some guy off the street in the Twin Cities and then takes him to a warehouse, demanding to know where the crèche is. It seems Shep's little brother fell for a gal six years prior, mentioned the crèche in one of his last letters before he turned up dead. Now, Shep is out for vengeance, determined to find this so-called crèche and kick some serious ass. Shep finally brutally kills the guy and moves on.
We know these two story lines will come together, but George leads us on a wild guessing game here. Who are these people associated with the crèche? Some kind of cult? When Bonnie takes little Evan home, it is obvious that he is terrified of something and that his father had something to do with it. Is her ex involved in some type of cult? When Bonnie is sure she is being followed by some mysterious folks, she starts to feel the terror as well...
This is one of the better George novels I have read; much more polished than, say, Brain Child, his first published novel. Super pacing and this just gets more mysterious as it progresses before the final, surprising reveal. About that reveal. While I liked it, I was hoping for a little more; hence rounding this down on the star front. 4.5 spooky stars!!
In another story arc, George introduces Shep, an ex-cop from Chicago, as he calmly and methodically abducts some guy off the street in the Twin Cities and then takes him to a warehouse, demanding to know where the crèche is. It seems Shep's little brother fell for a gal six years prior, mentioned the crèche in one of his last letters before he turned up dead. Now, Shep is out for vengeance, determined to find this so-called crèche and kick some serious ass. Shep finally brutally kills the guy and moves on.
We know these two story lines will come together, but George leads us on a wild guessing game here. Who are these people associated with the crèche? Some kind of cult? When Bonnie takes little Evan home, it is obvious that he is terrified of something and that his father had something to do with it. Is her ex involved in some type of cult? When Bonnie is sure she is being followed by some mysterious folks, she starts to feel the terror as well...
This is one of the better George novels I have read; much more polished than, say, Brain Child, his first published novel. Super pacing and this just gets more mysterious as it progresses before the final, surprising reveal. About that reveal. While I liked it, I was hoping for a little more; hence rounding this down on the star front. 4.5 spooky stars!!
October 23, 2023
Spooktober 2023 Book 13
I’ve spoken at length about Stephen R. George and the fact that he was, surprisingly, one of the better frequent contributors to Zebras consistently terrible publications, so I won’t repeat myself other than to say that Nightscape is yet another example of fact.
Aside from having one of the gnarliest covers in a pantheon of amazing artwork (that actually kinda sorta has something to do with the plot) Nightscape is just a great read.
It’s not exactly scary, nor is it even wholly original, yet George continues his tradition of writing books that are fun and keep you entertained from beginning to end. It’s quickly paced, has some great characters, and had an emotional twist conclusion that I didn’t see coming and definitely didn’t expect. (Then again, George did a similar kind of thing with
Deadly Vengeance so it’s something he excels at).
This one might ever win any awards or ever be anyone’s all time favorite Zebra, but it’s a very competent book that proves not all Zebra’s horror line had to suck.
I’ve spoken at length about Stephen R. George and the fact that he was, surprisingly, one of the better frequent contributors to Zebras consistently terrible publications, so I won’t repeat myself other than to say that Nightscape is yet another example of fact.
Aside from having one of the gnarliest covers in a pantheon of amazing artwork (that actually kinda sorta has something to do with the plot) Nightscape is just a great read.
It’s not exactly scary, nor is it even wholly original, yet George continues his tradition of writing books that are fun and keep you entertained from beginning to end. It’s quickly paced, has some great characters, and had an emotional twist conclusion that I didn’t see coming and definitely didn’t expect. (Then again, George did a similar kind of thing with
Deadly Vengeance so it’s something he excels at).
This one might ever win any awards or ever be anyone’s all time favorite Zebra, but it’s a very competent book that proves not all Zebra’s horror line had to suck.
April 10, 2018
I really liked this extremely tense horror novel of hide and seek. Fast paced you really want to find out why someone is trying to catch Evan. It's also interesting to see who the real monster is in the end. Clever horror story told in a way that you won't put down the book. I will read more of this author! Clear recommendation.
March 4, 2025
The first half was pretty mellow, but the back end went full Clive Barker. It turns out Nightscape is just Nightbreed from a different angle. Recommended for anyone who ever wanted to peel off all their skin in one massive strip and then play with it.
March 26, 2013
A single mother with a young child being pursued by a cult like group who finds help in a resourceful male stranger who will suddenly do everything within his power to protect the newfound vulnerable pair. If this storyline seems familiar it is probably because it was used over and over again in various forms throughout the eighties and nineties, both in horror and non-horror genres. In fact, chances are it was used in the 70s as well; however, I have not been exposed to enough horror novels from that era to say this with certainty. The reasons for this popular plot line could be many, therefore I won’t speculate too much on why it took hold. One thing that does come to mind though, and, is hard for me to dismiss, is the overblown fear of cults that spread through the population during the 80s, especially satanic cults and the idea that they preyed upon children. Add in the growing divorce rate and frequency with which children were put under the care of a single parent -- often the mother -- and the slowly fading, but still powerful image of women being weaker than men and needing their protection, and it becomes easier and easier to see why such a theme in fiction could have became so popular. Or maybe none of that played a part and the reason so many books with this theme were printed was because one novel did really well and the publishers decided to milk it for all that it was worth. Whatever the reason there were many books with this theme printed back in the 80s and 90s. Some were pretty cliché and hard to separate from the rest. Others used the theme as nothing more than a springboard to tell an interesting tale, one that might seem cliché at first before taking off into a direction one never expected and completely twisting everything around.
Nightscape by Stephen R. George falls into this second category. Published in the early nineties it begins with the story of a young woman named Bonnie Laine who learns one night that her ex-husband Harris Laws and eight year old son Evan were in a bad car accident, one which Harris has mysterious vanished. Aside from losing a finger, Evan is okay and eventually taken home by Bonnie, much to the dismay of her ex in-laws who were of the opinion that they would be better suited to care for him while their son Harris is away. Speaking of Harris, no one knows where he went, but the theory of the police is that he suffered a head injury and wandered away. At first this theory is accepted by everyone, but then Bonnie starts to sense that she is being followed. Her concern grows when Evan starts telling her about some odd people his father had hooked up with, people he had nightmares about, people that Harris said he was going to give Evan too. It isn’t until Harris actually shows up with these people and tries to take Evan that Bonnie realizes her ex-husband may have fallen under the control of a dangerous cult, one that probably has horrifying plans for Evan. Thankfully a man named Shep Thomas, who has been hunting down the cult members due to them killing his younger brother six years earlier, steps in and helps Bonnie and Evan escape the ex-husband and cult members. The question is will his skills as a former police officer help keep Evan safe from the cult members, or will he fail in his newfound quest. Furthermore will his own desires of revenge for his murdered brother cause him to risk Evan and his mother in order to locate the main players within the cult? Also, why is Evan starting to shed his skin?
Lately my journey through the world of out-of-print horror novels from the 70s, 80s and 90s has been one of continued disappointment, my mind often thinking that even at fifty to sixty cents the book wasn’t worth the price I paid. Because of this I didn’t really dive into Nightscape with any enthusiasm, my mind hesitant to build up hope that this one would be any better that the previous books -- the fact that it was printed by the same publisher as the others added to this fear. Thankfully my disappointment was at an end and the story contained within these tattered pages was the type I have been looking for when buying these old horror novels. Even better it actually had a twist I didn’t see coming followed by an ending that seemed to fit perfectly without feeling forced. Now this isn’t to say the book wasn’t without flaws, but those flaws weren’t enough to take away from the enjoyment I felt while reading; enjoyment that kept me from reaching over for the TV clicker every couple of pages because I was too focused on learning what would happen next -- especially once the skin started peeling off of Evan. At that point I was hooked and pretty much sat on the couch until the book was finished, my only distraction being those that a human just can’t ignore for long without making a mess or dying. All in all this is one that I will recommend, a book that is perfect for a quiet weekend inside the house.
Nightscape by Stephen R. George falls into this second category. Published in the early nineties it begins with the story of a young woman named Bonnie Laine who learns one night that her ex-husband Harris Laws and eight year old son Evan were in a bad car accident, one which Harris has mysterious vanished. Aside from losing a finger, Evan is okay and eventually taken home by Bonnie, much to the dismay of her ex in-laws who were of the opinion that they would be better suited to care for him while their son Harris is away. Speaking of Harris, no one knows where he went, but the theory of the police is that he suffered a head injury and wandered away. At first this theory is accepted by everyone, but then Bonnie starts to sense that she is being followed. Her concern grows when Evan starts telling her about some odd people his father had hooked up with, people he had nightmares about, people that Harris said he was going to give Evan too. It isn’t until Harris actually shows up with these people and tries to take Evan that Bonnie realizes her ex-husband may have fallen under the control of a dangerous cult, one that probably has horrifying plans for Evan. Thankfully a man named Shep Thomas, who has been hunting down the cult members due to them killing his younger brother six years earlier, steps in and helps Bonnie and Evan escape the ex-husband and cult members. The question is will his skills as a former police officer help keep Evan safe from the cult members, or will he fail in his newfound quest. Furthermore will his own desires of revenge for his murdered brother cause him to risk Evan and his mother in order to locate the main players within the cult? Also, why is Evan starting to shed his skin?
Lately my journey through the world of out-of-print horror novels from the 70s, 80s and 90s has been one of continued disappointment, my mind often thinking that even at fifty to sixty cents the book wasn’t worth the price I paid. Because of this I didn’t really dive into Nightscape with any enthusiasm, my mind hesitant to build up hope that this one would be any better that the previous books -- the fact that it was printed by the same publisher as the others added to this fear. Thankfully my disappointment was at an end and the story contained within these tattered pages was the type I have been looking for when buying these old horror novels. Even better it actually had a twist I didn’t see coming followed by an ending that seemed to fit perfectly without feeling forced. Now this isn’t to say the book wasn’t without flaws, but those flaws weren’t enough to take away from the enjoyment I felt while reading; enjoyment that kept me from reaching over for the TV clicker every couple of pages because I was too focused on learning what would happen next -- especially once the skin started peeling off of Evan. At that point I was hooked and pretty much sat on the couch until the book was finished, my only distraction being those that a human just can’t ignore for long without making a mess or dying. All in all this is one that I will recommend, a book that is perfect for a quiet weekend inside the house.
September 13, 2017
I barely remember what this one is about, but I do recall enjoying it very much so when I first read it back in the day. I also remember how well-written it really is. And how fast-paced it ends up being. Bought it on Kindle recently. So I should revisit it anytime soon.
June 29, 2022
Yet another great Zebra horror. Little kid gets involved in an auto accident with his dad. He loses a finger, his dad and his sense of normalcy. His estranged mother comes back to take custody of him till his father is found. From there their lives go south in a hurry. A strange man shows up to help sort out things for them, but he seems to be digging a deeper hole. There are forces that want the boy for a reason only his mother must discover.
Not only is this a great book with nice horror / thriller bits. It also has a cover that most heavy metal bands would have killed for back in the day. Nice touch.
Not only is this a great book with nice horror / thriller bits. It also has a cover that most heavy metal bands would have killed for back in the day. Nice touch.
June 10, 2021
Bonnie's husband has gone missing, suddenly leaving her the sole care-giver of their son Evan. It isn't long before she starts to notice strange things happening, and even stranger people following them around. She meets Shep, who knows exactly who those people are, and what they want - and it's not good. He's been tracking them down for years, trying to avenge his brothers death. Soon, she starts to notice sinister changes in Evan, and realizes something is very wrong. Well, turns out her husband has joined a cult of shape-shifting creatures and they want to recruit her son next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2020
This, being my first read by Stephen R. George, was fantastic. Probably one of the better Zebra horror books out there in my opinion. I won't give away too much but the whole book is about change, and how much people can fear it... even when it's for the better. I would call this a perfect mix of thriller and horror too.
I found the pacing and character development to be good and the last 60 pages to literally make me not want to put the book down. The cover is a little misleading but people's skin does come off (though not that graphic as shown). This story would have made a wicked X-Files episode too. I currently own two other books by this author and I'll be reading them now for sure.
I found the pacing and character development to be good and the last 60 pages to literally make me not want to put the book down. The cover is a little misleading but people's skin does come off (though not that graphic as shown). This story would have made a wicked X-Files episode too. I currently own two other books by this author and I'll be reading them now for sure.
July 19, 2023
4 stars. full review to come.
March 31, 2023
Quick and easy to read with wonderful writing. The horror, which there is plenty, alongside graphic violence, has a slight sci-fi and even greater "body snatchers" vibe.
June 9, 2020
This was awesome! Even if you think you know what’s going on you probably don’t. I love how you don’t really know what’s happening until close to the end. The characters are believable and you can relate to them
Narration by Rebecca Ehrenpreis was amazing. She did a great job.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
Narration by Rebecca Ehrenpreis was amazing. She did a great job.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
July 27, 2016
Not too bad--more of a thriller than horror, though the supernatural touches were definitely there. More than that I felt it was an interesting story about family.
April 12, 2024
This was an interesting read, and not really what I expected at all. It's always a pleasant surprise when you read a good Zebra novel, and this one was an especially surprising journey to take. George uses some well worn tropes to solid effect here, one in particular that is woven into the story from start to finish, and provides some unexpected twists and turns with his novel. There's plenty of action and suspense and a nicely drawn portrait of motherhood as well. All in all, a worthy read from Zebra.
July 25, 2025
Fucking awesome!!!
July 11, 2020
I loved this story! I can honestly say, as far as I can remember, that I've never read a story that has been so... uncertain, regarding what was going to happen next, that I was left impressed. Really the only thing "I knew" that was going to happen was Evan's mom finding him. Other than that, the story seemed to pull me along by a string, I was that focused on it! Wanting to know what was going to happen next. Wow! The story gets a 5+ from me.
Unfortunately, the narrator was a different story. She's only getting 2 stars from me. I felt the majority of the time, her voice was flat, almost like a computer was reading the story. It took me a bit to get used to her voices, especially Bonny. I don't know, she sounded funny in a distracting way. That was the kind of female voice I would have imagined a male narrator attempting to do. And I always question myself when it comes to narrators with accents. Like I can handle British/English, Irish/Scottish, redneck/country accents when they pronounce words differently than in the US. But when the narrator sounds like they're from the US and not country or anything yet pronounces certain words as though they've never seen/spoken them before...it’s strange to me. For example, "Mobil" (gas station) was pronounced as "Mo-bill," or "pedophiles" as "pee-da-files," or "homicide" as "homo-side." Just strange to me. I think the most annoying mispronunciation was regarding "frightened." My god, I don't know how many times the word was used in the story (A LOT!) but every time the narrator said it, it was like she had no time to include the "th" part, so it sounded/was pronounced like "fry-end." Tell me someone else noticed this? I admit I'm nitpick when it comes to stories and mistakes (ones I notice that no one else seems to) but come!
I had only one comment about the story itself. When Shep sleeps in Bonny's bed and wakes up covered in sweat? Barf! Yet, he didn't tell Bonny and later, she went to sleep in the bed. Ew! I would never let a strange sleep in my bed.
Unfortunately, the narrator was a different story. She's only getting 2 stars from me. I felt the majority of the time, her voice was flat, almost like a computer was reading the story. It took me a bit to get used to her voices, especially Bonny. I don't know, she sounded funny in a distracting way. That was the kind of female voice I would have imagined a male narrator attempting to do. And I always question myself when it comes to narrators with accents. Like I can handle British/English, Irish/Scottish, redneck/country accents when they pronounce words differently than in the US. But when the narrator sounds like they're from the US and not country or anything yet pronounces certain words as though they've never seen/spoken them before...it’s strange to me. For example, "Mobil" (gas station) was pronounced as "Mo-bill," or "pedophiles" as "pee-da-files," or "homicide" as "homo-side." Just strange to me. I think the most annoying mispronunciation was regarding "frightened." My god, I don't know how many times the word was used in the story (A LOT!) but every time the narrator said it, it was like she had no time to include the "th" part, so it sounded/was pronounced like "fry-end." Tell me someone else noticed this? I admit I'm nitpick when it comes to stories and mistakes (ones I notice that no one else seems to) but come!
I had only one comment about the story itself. When Shep sleeps in Bonny's bed and wakes up covered in sweat? Barf! Yet, he didn't tell Bonny and later, she went to sleep in the bed. Ew! I would never let a strange sleep in my bed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2020
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and any opinions expressed herein are my own.
This book is labeled as horror but it is actually more paranormal. I did not find the story to be scary or creepy. There were several plot holes, which you just have to accept to move the story along. The ending, to me, did not mesh with the rest of the story. There was some good humor.
The narrator, Rebecca Ehrenpreis, was oddly flat and at times almost robotic. The character voice for Bonnie [Evan's mother] was just odd - kind of Betty Boopish and the detective's voice reminded me of Droopy, the Bassett Hound cartoon character.
This book is labeled as horror but it is actually more paranormal. I did not find the story to be scary or creepy. There were several plot holes, which you just have to accept to move the story along. The ending, to me, did not mesh with the rest of the story. There was some good humor.
The narrator, Rebecca Ehrenpreis, was oddly flat and at times almost robotic. The character voice for Bonnie [Evan's mother] was just odd - kind of Betty Boopish and the detective's voice reminded me of Droopy, the Bassett Hound cartoon character.
May 4, 2020
When Bonnie gets the call that her son’s been in a car accident, and her ex-husband is missing, she must resume her guardianship over her child. She’s not sure of herself, sure of her ability to take care of her son. Then her little boy starts to have disturbing nightmares about things he’s convinced aren’t figments of his imagination.
Thrilling little horror book full of chills and thrills. Plenty of suspense. When I first started listening to this book, I wasn’t sure what to think but I loved the ending. This book had the creepy feeling similar to movies like Sinister.
Characters are realistic and sound. I love that the MC is flawed and doubtful. It makes it easier to put yourself in her position. To try and imagine what you would do if it were your child having such strange dreams. This book reminded me a bit of Doctor Sleep, and I loved that Stephen King feeling.
Narration was well done.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Thrilling little horror book full of chills and thrills. Plenty of suspense. When I first started listening to this book, I wasn’t sure what to think but I loved the ending. This book had the creepy feeling similar to movies like Sinister.
Characters are realistic and sound. I love that the MC is flawed and doubtful. It makes it easier to put yourself in her position. To try and imagine what you would do if it were your child having such strange dreams. This book reminded me a bit of Doctor Sleep, and I loved that Stephen King feeling.
Narration was well done.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
April 14, 2020
Great story, great narration! Bonnie Laine is shocked when she gets the call that her son, Evan, has been in a car accident and her ex-husband is missing. Bonnie gave up her rights to her son when she divorced, while suffering from depression. Now she’s responsible for her 8yo son and she’s a bit clueless. When her son begins having strange dreams and claims that a woman and drooling man are after him, Bonnie doubts her ability to take care of and protect her son. Then there’s the PI who is out for revenge for his brother’s murder...he insists that the woman and drooling man are not human. Is Bonnie losing her mind or us there some truth to Evan’s dreams and the PI’s claims? This story will have you doubting your own sanity! If you enjoy horror/paranormal genre then you need to give this book a try. I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my unbiased review.
March 12, 2021
It’s a horror story with heart:
-Mother son relationship
-Loss
-And about finding oneself and letting go.
Shep the good guy is then seen as a bad guy and the bad guys, the shedders, aren’t bad at all. But Shep ends up becoming one of them so they won’t have to kill him. It’s a question of how far will you go to protect your people? At first I thought this novel would be a lot more gorey, involving a Satanist cult but it is so much different and I’m glad but. It’s a really good horror/mystery read.
-Mother son relationship
-Loss
-And about finding oneself and letting go.
Shep the good guy is then seen as a bad guy and the bad guys, the shedders, aren’t bad at all. But Shep ends up becoming one of them so they won’t have to kill him. It’s a question of how far will you go to protect your people? At first I thought this novel would be a lot more gorey, involving a Satanist cult but it is so much different and I’m glad but. It’s a really good horror/mystery read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2016
Not sure yet
I'm really not sure if I liked this book or.not. I enjoyed the ending but didn't really think it was a great horror book. Just really not my type of book.
I'm really not sure if I liked this book or.not. I enjoyed the ending but didn't really think it was a great horror book. Just really not my type of book.
December 27, 2019
4.1 stars!
When it comes to revealing teen emotions in a horror novel, George shines. Deeply revealing horror.
When it comes to revealing teen emotions in a horror novel, George shines. Deeply revealing horror.
May 21, 2021
Nightscape is often highly regarded in vintage horror paperback circles. I had only read one Stephen R. George book prior — The Forgotten — and had a total blast with it (see my review for more; I rated that one 4.5 stars as it was a super satisfying read with some creepy unsettling moments peppered throughout).
Mr. George was definitely a talented writer, better than your average Zebra author from that era. Nightscape is competently written, and the characters are well defined. The book starts out very well, and I was digging it plenty. There’s a palpable sense of mystery and paranoia that permeates throughout. But the story went in a different direction than what I expected/was hoping for. I won’t spoil it but the back cover mentions that one of the characters has dedicated his life to destroying the creatures that killed his brother. So I fully expected a “creature feature” but didn’t exactly get that...
I can see why some might rate this 4 or even 5 stars but... I guess I was just expecting something a little more fun and pulpy. It does move at a brisk pace but I never felt like it reached the point where I felt “this is awesome.” It was always ... “Almost there... come on, you can go from good to amazing...” but would always inevitably come up short.
Finally, as other reviewers have said, it’s more of a paranormal thriller/family drama than a straight up horror book. That was disappointing as well. I think had he took the book in a 100% pulpy horror sort of manner, it would have been way more interesting and entertaining. I guess I just didn’t really click with this one, even though I still enjoyed it. Just nowhere as fun as his other book, The Forgotten!
Mr. George was definitely a talented writer, better than your average Zebra author from that era. Nightscape is competently written, and the characters are well defined. The book starts out very well, and I was digging it plenty. There’s a palpable sense of mystery and paranoia that permeates throughout. But the story went in a different direction than what I expected/was hoping for. I won’t spoil it but the back cover mentions that one of the characters has dedicated his life to destroying the creatures that killed his brother. So I fully expected a “creature feature” but didn’t exactly get that...
I can see why some might rate this 4 or even 5 stars but... I guess I was just expecting something a little more fun and pulpy. It does move at a brisk pace but I never felt like it reached the point where I felt “this is awesome.” It was always ... “Almost there... come on, you can go from good to amazing...” but would always inevitably come up short.
Finally, as other reviewers have said, it’s more of a paranormal thriller/family drama than a straight up horror book. That was disappointing as well. I think had he took the book in a 100% pulpy horror sort of manner, it would have been way more interesting and entertaining. I guess I just didn’t really click with this one, even though I still enjoyed it. Just nowhere as fun as his other book, The Forgotten!
March 30, 2023
From the blurb: "Eight-year-old Evan Laine is afraid. He'd lost a finger in a car accident, but now it is slowly growing back. There are other changes, too. Changes he can't hide from his mom. And dreams. Dreams from which he wakes, screaming. They are after him… the beautiful redheaded woman, and the drooling boy/man. They want him to change. They are making him change, shaping him into something just like them."
This is a very weird story with supernatural overtones. Evan's mother had let her ex-husband keep custody of the boy while she dealt with mental health issues, but she appears to be the one who's okay now and Evan wants to stay with her. The grandmother is hostile to the mother and wanted custody while they try to find out what happened to her son and the mother is timid, but her maternal instinct kicks in and she becomes protective of the boy.
Enter a private investigator with his own agenda and it all seems a mess, while strange things happen in Evan's dreams and his body begins to change. 70% through this story I was still guessing at exactly what the people Evan's father is mixed up with are actually doing or how they invade dreams and cause physical changes. By the end it was explained, but not entirely to my satisfaction. Still, it was an interesting story and I would consider reading something else by this author.
This is a very weird story with supernatural overtones. Evan's mother had let her ex-husband keep custody of the boy while she dealt with mental health issues, but she appears to be the one who's okay now and Evan wants to stay with her. The grandmother is hostile to the mother and wanted custody while they try to find out what happened to her son and the mother is timid, but her maternal instinct kicks in and she becomes protective of the boy.
Enter a private investigator with his own agenda and it all seems a mess, while strange things happen in Evan's dreams and his body begins to change. 70% through this story I was still guessing at exactly what the people Evan's father is mixed up with are actually doing or how they invade dreams and cause physical changes. By the end it was explained, but not entirely to my satisfaction. Still, it was an interesting story and I would consider reading something else by this author.
May 3, 2020
Ambitious and "clever", but boring and very unscary and full of plotholes. Feels like the author had a legitimately original and interesting idea for the ending of this book, and then came up with a decent beginning, but the middle feels repetitive and padded, with lots of scenes with no tension or goals at all, and lots of very obvious boilerplate dialogue and interactions that you can skip by the pageful without missing anything. Also feels like it was written in a tremendous hurry before all the bugs were worked out of the plot. Would have worked better as a novella maybe with more time spent on it. Also, as others have said, it's really more of a supernatural thriller than a horror novel, there are very few scenes that even try for dread/terror, really more of a suspense thing.
All that said, the following paragraph was pretty cool, and sums up one of the characters nicely: "Feeling better, feeling angry, wanting to hurt something, he went back to the car."
All that said, the following paragraph was pretty cool, and sums up one of the characters nicely: "Feeling better, feeling angry, wanting to hurt something, he went back to the car."
March 30, 2018
This book was a fast-paced, interesting thriller. I quite enjoyed the unique story line and was thrilled with the fact that you can't predict where this one is going, even if you think you can. I thought the main characters were well crafted and believable. Bonnie, is a young mother who is full of doubts and insecurities about her worth as a mom. Shep, a detective, is a tormented soul, very angry over the death of his brother Jeff, who jumps in to help Bonnie when her son Evan is threatened by the same group of people who may have killed Jeff. Their journey together is full of twists and turns to get to a truth that has a devastating impact for both.
I found this to be a worthwhile, entertaining read and I definitely plan to read more books from this author.
I found this to be a worthwhile, entertaining read and I definitely plan to read more books from this author.
September 6, 2023
Finally found a copy of this book at an affordable price, reprinted by Macabre Ink! This was the first novel I've read by Stephen R George, yet another author who had a string of horror novels published by Zebra Books in the late 80s, early 90s. I was pleasantly surprised! George can really keep you glued to the pages. The story is fascinating and the pace is at a gallop for most of the book. I wasn't crazy about the ending, but I found the book to be an above average horror boom novel overall. I will definitely be reading more of George's work, I hope his rare novels are also brought back to life by Macabre Ink!
April 23, 2020
Wow I loved this book, it gave me some serious chills, the whole series of events that lead to Bonnie reuniting with her son was scary, but nothing compared to the nightmare that begins to unfold as they try to deal with the strange changes happening to Evan. Nothing is as it seems, including their allies, who could be more dangerous than the unknown. I was shocked at the strange turn as the danger stalking Evan an Bonnie comes from a different source, it left me wrung out as Bonnie is faced with another impossible choice. Definately a must read.
September 5, 2020
Kind of boring. It had potential then just started fizzling.
Evan has lived with his father all his life. His grandparents playing a very big role, too. That’s why no one could understand why he’d walk a away and leave Evan alone at a car crash site. Especially when Evan has been injured so badly. Evan knew he hadn’t walked away.
Now he was staying with his mother. His mother who had given up her right to him when he was a little baby. She promised to take care of him. She promised she wouldn’t let the bad people take him like they took his dad.
Evan has lived with his father all his life. His grandparents playing a very big role, too. That’s why no one could understand why he’d walk a away and leave Evan alone at a car crash site. Especially when Evan has been injured so badly. Evan knew he hadn’t walked away.
Now he was staying with his mother. His mother who had given up her right to him when he was a little baby. She promised to take care of him. She promised she wouldn’t let the bad people take him like they took his dad.
April 26, 2018
A solid story.
This was a strong story about being different and the fear it causes. Of course it doesn't seem like that initially. Evan, the child the story is centered on, has started to experience some very strange things. First the car accident from which his father disappears and in which he loses a finger. Then he goes to live with his mother who had given him up to his dad when they divorced. The nightmares begin and nothing is ever the same afterwards.
This was a strong story about being different and the fear it causes. Of course it doesn't seem like that initially. Evan, the child the story is centered on, has started to experience some very strange things. First the car accident from which his father disappears and in which he loses a finger. Then he goes to live with his mother who had given him up to his dad when they divorced. The nightmares begin and nothing is ever the same afterwards.
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