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Perfect Nightmare
If you open your house to strangers, who knows who might come in. And what they might be after. Or whom. Now, ponder the unthinkable and surrender to your darkest dread, as sinister storyteller extraordinaire John Saul weaves a heart-stopping tale of lurking terror and twisted intent.
Every parent’s nightmare becomes reality for Kara Marshall when her daughter, Lindsay, vanishes from her bedroom during the night. The police suspect that the girl is just another moody teenage runaway, angry over leaving behind her school and friends because her family is moving. But Lindsay’s recent eerie claim – that someone invaded her room when the house was opened to prospective buyers – drives Kara to fear the worst: a nameless, faceless stalker has walked the halls of her home in search of more than a place to live.
Patrick Shields recognizes Kara’s pain – and carries plenty of his own since he lost his wife and two children in a devastating house fire. But more than grief draws Patrick and Kara together. He, too, senses the hand of a malevolent stranger in this tragedy. And as more people go missing from houses up for sale, Patrick’s suspicion, like Kara’s, blooms into horrified certainty.
Someone is trolling this peaceful community – undetected and undeterred – harvesting victims for a purpose no sane mind can fathom. Someone Kara and Patrick, alone and desperate, are determined to unmask. Someone who is even now watching, plotting, keeping a demented diary of unspeakable deeds... and waiting until the time is ripe for another fateful visit.
Every parent’s nightmare becomes reality for Kara Marshall when her daughter, Lindsay, vanishes from her bedroom during the night. The police suspect that the girl is just another moody teenage runaway, angry over leaving behind her school and friends because her family is moving. But Lindsay’s recent eerie claim – that someone invaded her room when the house was opened to prospective buyers – drives Kara to fear the worst: a nameless, faceless stalker has walked the halls of her home in search of more than a place to live.
Patrick Shields recognizes Kara’s pain – and carries plenty of his own since he lost his wife and two children in a devastating house fire. But more than grief draws Patrick and Kara together. He, too, senses the hand of a malevolent stranger in this tragedy. And as more people go missing from houses up for sale, Patrick’s suspicion, like Kara’s, blooms into horrified certainty.
Someone is trolling this peaceful community – undetected and undeterred – harvesting victims for a purpose no sane mind can fathom. Someone Kara and Patrick, alone and desperate, are determined to unmask. Someone who is even now watching, plotting, keeping a demented diary of unspeakable deeds... and waiting until the time is ripe for another fateful visit.
365 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
257 people are currently reading
3418 people want to read
About the author
John Saul
149 books2,831 followersJohn Saul is an American author best known for his bestselling suspense and horror novels, many of which have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. Born in Pasadena and raised in Whittier, California, Saul attended several universities without earning a degree. He spent years honing his craft, writing under pen names before finding mainstream success. His breakout novel, Suffer the Children (1977), launched a prolific career, with over 60 million copies of his books in print. Saul’s work includes Cry for the Strangers, later adapted into a TV movie, and The Blackstone Chronicles series. He is also a playwright, with one-act plays produced in Los Angeles and Seattle. In 2023, he received the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. Openly gay, he has lived with his partner—also his creative collaborator—for nearly 50 years. Saul divides his time between Seattle, the San Juan Islands, and Hawaii, and frequently speaks at writers’ conferences, including the Maui Writers' Conference. His enduring popularity in the horror genre stems from a blend of psychological tension, supernatural elements, and deep emotional undercurrents that have resonated with readers for decades.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 366 reviews
September 27, 2022
Lindsay Marshall (from Camden Green, Long Island) has one more year of high school and then she graduates. But her parents want to sell their house and move to New York City because Lindsay’s father’s job is there, and her parents are seeing less and less of each other since he has to stay at a small apartment in the city. Lindsay is upset to leave all her friends behind, and she hates the city. When their house is opened to prospective buyers Lindsay feels her room has been invaded, it has a strange smell and she thinks someone was lying on her pillow. It is giving her the creeps. But her parents brush her fears aside. The next time their agent holds an open house for them, Lindsay vanishes, never to be seen again. It is later revealed that this has happened to a few other females after they had open houses. Is there a connection? Is someone abducting these girls?
A totally scary story about a crazy kidnapper who gets access to his victims through visiting the open houses of the homes they are selling. I really felt for Lindsay’s mom (Kara) and everything she went through, along with the victims. This book had lots of tense and disturbing situations. A creepy, dark, and captivating read by John Saul.
A totally scary story about a crazy kidnapper who gets access to his victims through visiting the open houses of the homes they are selling. I really felt for Lindsay’s mom (Kara) and everything she went through, along with the victims. This book had lots of tense and disturbing situations. A creepy, dark, and captivating read by John Saul.
July 16, 2022
Open house turns into nightmare. Who is kidnapping the girls and why? What about the Marshall family and why does Patrick Shield help Kara to get Lindsay back? This John Saul will run shivers down your spine. The way the maniac is described is absolutely haunting. Will the police find the perp in time? The novel evolves like a movie. At parts you can't stand the descriptions of mad action and the misery Kara Marshall has to face. Psychological horror at its best in the typical John Saul manner. Well drawn characters and deep insight into a mind gone mad. There are only a couple of his novels left I didn't read. This one didn't disappoint. Straight to the heart. Highly recommended!
September 12, 2021
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This book is about a kidnapper that gains access to people's houses by the means of open houses as these people attempt to sell their home. One of the victims is a teenage girl Lindsay and her mother never gives up hope of finding her. This is a horror thriller genre novel.
Creepy. This is the word I would use to describe this book. The idea of letting strangers into your house to peruse through the whole building is unsettling in itself. Then you add in the idea of kidnapper using this as his way to commit these crimes is just plain creepy. The sense of foreboding is throughout this book and it had me on edge. There were a couple of scenes where I knew something major was going to happen but had no idea how and what direction it would come from. I think I had to remind myself to breathe while reading these scenes. This book is also a whodunit as the reader tries to figure out the culprit. I did think the ending was a little streamlined and that is why I lowered my rating the half star. If the reason behind the kidnapper and the finale was fleshed out a little more this would have been an easy four star rating.
I wasn't expecting a lot with this book as I have a love/hate relationship with this author's books. I enjoy his books but there is always one little piece that makes me not love them. This happened in this book but not to a degree that I was disappointed. This book gave me some serious creepy vibes and reading it with the lights off did affect me in the good way of scaring me.
This book is about a kidnapper that gains access to people's houses by the means of open houses as these people attempt to sell their home. One of the victims is a teenage girl Lindsay and her mother never gives up hope of finding her. This is a horror thriller genre novel.
Creepy. This is the word I would use to describe this book. The idea of letting strangers into your house to peruse through the whole building is unsettling in itself. Then you add in the idea of kidnapper using this as his way to commit these crimes is just plain creepy. The sense of foreboding is throughout this book and it had me on edge. There were a couple of scenes where I knew something major was going to happen but had no idea how and what direction it would come from. I think I had to remind myself to breathe while reading these scenes. This book is also a whodunit as the reader tries to figure out the culprit. I did think the ending was a little streamlined and that is why I lowered my rating the half star. If the reason behind the kidnapper and the finale was fleshed out a little more this would have been an easy four star rating.
I wasn't expecting a lot with this book as I have a love/hate relationship with this author's books. I enjoy his books but there is always one little piece that makes me not love them. This happened in this book but not to a degree that I was disappointed. This book gave me some serious creepy vibes and reading it with the lights off did affect me in the good way of scaring me.
September 12, 2016
Somehow I ended up with an abridged copy of this audiobook. I don't like abridged because I always feel like I'm missing something super important, usually characterization, but this abridgement wasn’t too bad.
This story is about a psycho attempting to create a family by abducting women through open houses. It has tones of that horrible triple abduction story in Cleveland, where the monster kept three women imprisoned for his own selfish needs for over a decade. Truly a horrible, nightmarish true-crime. But this book was written years before Castro was exposed as a rapist and kidnapper which makes reading this all the more horrifying. This version doesn’t linger too much on the damage inflicted on the victims and for that I am grateful. I had enough of that after watching Lifetime’s “Cleveland Abduction”. I can’t speak for the unabridged version, however, so beware.
When teen Lindsay is abducted, her mother Kara, distraught and heartbroken, takes action. When things go from bad to even worse for Kara she doesn’t dissolve into a puddle of self-pity but keeps on keeping on with the search. As admirable as that is, it felt a little unbelievable and unnatural but I’ll chalk it up to the four hours that were cut from this version and give it a pass. Kara quickly ends up joining forces with a man named Patrick, a widower and brother of a friend, and I found that bit rather strange and unnatural too considering the previous turn of events which I will not ruin.
It should be noted that I figured out who the killer was pretty early on. It should also be noted that I am not at all good at these things. I can only assume that it was pretty darn obvious.
The narration is done by Dick Hill and Susie Breck. I liked the fact that there were two narrators but Dick Hill’s voices weren’t very distinctive and his males all sounded like the same man, except for the killer. His killer voice was over the top, bordering on silly. Still, the story was definitely creepy and it was a page-turner so I’ll give it a solid 3.5 stars.
This story is about a psycho attempting to create a family by abducting women through open houses. It has tones of that horrible triple abduction story in Cleveland, where the monster kept three women imprisoned for his own selfish needs for over a decade. Truly a horrible, nightmarish true-crime. But this book was written years before Castro was exposed as a rapist and kidnapper which makes reading this all the more horrifying. This version doesn’t linger too much on the damage inflicted on the victims and for that I am grateful. I had enough of that after watching Lifetime’s “Cleveland Abduction”. I can’t speak for the unabridged version, however, so beware.
When teen Lindsay is abducted, her mother Kara, distraught and heartbroken, takes action. When things go from bad to even worse for Kara she doesn’t dissolve into a puddle of self-pity but keeps on keeping on with the search. As admirable as that is, it felt a little unbelievable and unnatural but I’ll chalk it up to the four hours that were cut from this version and give it a pass. Kara quickly ends up joining forces with a man named Patrick, a widower and brother of a friend, and I found that bit rather strange and unnatural too considering the previous turn of events which I will not ruin.
It should be noted that I figured out who the killer was pretty early on. It should also be noted that I am not at all good at these things. I can only assume that it was pretty darn obvious.
The narration is done by Dick Hill and Susie Breck. I liked the fact that there were two narrators but Dick Hill’s voices weren’t very distinctive and his males all sounded like the same man, except for the killer. His killer voice was over the top, bordering on silly. Still, the story was definitely creepy and it was a page-turner so I’ll give it a solid 3.5 stars.
May 22, 2020
It's been a long time since I read a John Saul book...but i believe I have now read everything he has ever published. His books are supernatural in content but has enough of a non-ghostly story to satisfy almost everyone. I don't want to even imagine what it would be like to have a child go missing but John Saul did an excellent job of portraying a mother who does not give up regardless of what everyone is telling her. This creepy stalker story becomes a shrewd whodunit that will appeal to mystery fans, suspense fans and supernatural /horror fans alike.
April 7, 2012
Perfect Nightmare was my first John Saul book and it was fast, intense and extremely dark as simple words rang truth in my ears like bells and they were terrifying and depressing but made for a really good horror book. There were no super natural monsters, no vampires and witches but a soul of a man so dark and rotten that it chilled me to the bone as I read this book in two days, as it was a very fast and smooth read. I must admit that the story left me feeling down and sad because it was so real and horrifying yet I knew it was a book so I kept reading, if it was a newspaper article I don't know if I would have had the guts to continue.
Kara Marshall and her husband Steve were planning on moving form the charming Long Island home to the city, where Steve worked because they couldn't afford to stay in the house and needed help with their finances. As they decided to put their home out on the market, they unknowingly invited a stranger into their house for an open house who ended up doing the worst harm a mother can imagine; he was responsible for having her only daughter, Lindsay who was a seventeen year old girl, disappear without a trace. I have never read a book so dark and twisted, as the mother's agony was so clearly written, I felt pain as I read it and I felt sick reading about the cold blooded killer who tortured and kidnapped women out of their homes and who were thought to be dead by their family members. I have been told by some people that a loss of a child is the most macabre thing a parent can suffer, and I got a major does of the end, the sadness and the finality of someone else's actions as they ended a mother's happy life and set her life in eternal shadows as her own child was being tortured and pushed to brinks of death. I got to read and feel the emptiness, the sadness, the way the mother knew her child was out there and was not coming back, that no matter what dreams she woke up from that nothing was ever going to be the same. Just as things got bad they got worse very quickly and darkness turned to inky blackness as I had no hope for any of the captured girls.
This was a gloomy, morbid book, and it caught me in a surprise a few times, but I'm glad I read it, as it made me look around more at people and made sure to always keep safe. This really read so realistically that I'm still trying to shake it off, but I know its fiction and it was a good read from a solid and well known author, and I will definitely read more of his stuff.
As someone else mentioned, I don't know hot Saul wrote this, as it was insane and real but I respect him as a writer, as clearly his skills were sharp, and despite the negative reviews, maybe this was too dark for some, to me this was a great read.
Kara Marshall and her husband Steve were planning on moving form the charming Long Island home to the city, where Steve worked because they couldn't afford to stay in the house and needed help with their finances. As they decided to put their home out on the market, they unknowingly invited a stranger into their house for an open house who ended up doing the worst harm a mother can imagine; he was responsible for having her only daughter, Lindsay who was a seventeen year old girl, disappear without a trace. I have never read a book so dark and twisted, as the mother's agony was so clearly written, I felt pain as I read it and I felt sick reading about the cold blooded killer who tortured and kidnapped women out of their homes and who were thought to be dead by their family members. I have been told by some people that a loss of a child is the most macabre thing a parent can suffer, and I got a major does of the end, the sadness and the finality of someone else's actions as they ended a mother's happy life and set her life in eternal shadows as her own child was being tortured and pushed to brinks of death. I got to read and feel the emptiness, the sadness, the way the mother knew her child was out there and was not coming back, that no matter what dreams she woke up from that nothing was ever going to be the same. Just as things got bad they got worse very quickly and darkness turned to inky blackness as I had no hope for any of the captured girls.
This was a gloomy, morbid book, and it caught me in a surprise a few times, but I'm glad I read it, as it made me look around more at people and made sure to always keep safe. This really read so realistically that I'm still trying to shake it off, but I know its fiction and it was a good read from a solid and well known author, and I will definitely read more of his stuff.
As someone else mentioned, I don't know hot Saul wrote this, as it was insane and real but I respect him as a writer, as clearly his skills were sharp, and despite the negative reviews, maybe this was too dark for some, to me this was a great read.
July 31, 2024
Don’t have enough to worry about? Let’s add stalkers finding victims through open houses. Kara Marshall needs to sell her house and relocate to the city with her husband. Her daughter Lindsay, like any other teenager, resists the move. When Lindsay later shares her suspicions with Kara—someone has been going through her things in her bedroom after the initial open house and has left their stench lingering on her pillow—Kara initially dismisses it, thinking that open house events are professional and secure, and that no one would go through her personal items. However, she soon finds herself living out every parent's nightmare when Lindsay goes missing.
It’s a startling realization: anyone who comes into an open house could have ulterior motives—unless you stage it with furniture and items that are not personal to you, they would have access to everything you own. It’s very creepy. John Saul’s writing usually creates a gripping and suspenseful atmosphere, which is evident in certain sections of this book. However, I felt the suspense was lacking in some parts. The time spent stalking Lindsay could have been used more effectively to disturb the reader further.
Kara's character is well-developed, and we can follow her devastation and disillusionment with the authorities, who typically and expectantly dismiss her claims about her missing child. The addition of other victims adds to the complexity of the situation, providing a community of victims who might help each other—a potential solution to the problem. However, some elements of the plot were predictable, and I was able to spoil much of the book for myself.
Overall, it is certainly an imperfect read but remains engaging for the most part.
It’s a startling realization: anyone who comes into an open house could have ulterior motives—unless you stage it with furniture and items that are not personal to you, they would have access to everything you own. It’s very creepy. John Saul’s writing usually creates a gripping and suspenseful atmosphere, which is evident in certain sections of this book. However, I felt the suspense was lacking in some parts. The time spent stalking Lindsay could have been used more effectively to disturb the reader further.
Kara's character is well-developed, and we can follow her devastation and disillusionment with the authorities, who typically and expectantly dismiss her claims about her missing child. The addition of other victims adds to the complexity of the situation, providing a community of victims who might help each other—a potential solution to the problem. However, some elements of the plot were predictable, and I was able to spoil much of the book for myself.
Overall, it is certainly an imperfect read but remains engaging for the most part.
June 11, 2009
This guy is so fucking creepy. This book gave me more chills up my spine than Black Creek crossing; he's starting to equal H.P. Lovecraft as the rare author that can scare me. I swear I didn't want to turn the lights out the other night. Realtors and those selling their homes should read this first ;) Being in the market for a new house, this book hits particularly close to home. Because this story is grounded totally in reality, the horror is even more intense than his other works with supernatural elements.
February 16, 2022
After reading this again for the 3rd time, it STILL makes me think 'why would anyone let strangers in their house?', and it still creeped the shit out of me! Way to go John Saul! WARNING: If you have a fear of abduction or of being watched; DO NOT read this book!
"Perfect Nightmare" is exactly what the title says.....a NIGHTMARE! The serial killer/rapist that is in this book, gets his victims after attending Open Houses that realtors are hosting. YES! Can you believe that if you have ever been to one, or had one in your house, have you never thought that someone could possibly steal or plant something in your house with out you ever knowing? This book starts off scary, and you just know that it is not going to be good for the mother of teenaged Lyndsay, the beautiful, blond haired blue eyed 17 year old cheerleader, that the killer becomes OBSESSED with after seeing a picture of her in her bedroom.
Lyndsay is the popular girl at her Long Island high school and she does not look forward to moving before she becomes a senior and prepares for graduation. Why do they have to move now? And why to The City?. With Lyndsay being so mad and upset about the move, the police try to tell her mother when she is discovered missing, "you are worried, but don't be. She will be home in a couple hours, she probably just when to a friends house to get her anger out....." Mother's always know best, and she is right. She did not and is not coming home.
The serial Crazy in this book is the creepiest of creeps. Saul can write the terror like you are right there with the victims and the survivors. He takes a situation like an open house of an address that is for sale, and turn it into a scene of sick behavior of a very sick and demented person out to hurt and torment, and possibly kill an innocent person. Let me tell you, while i was listening to this character (of the serial rapist/killer) and the way he talked to the victims was absolutely a ticket back to my childhood of being a victim to a sick man's game of Candyland. Not for the easily offended or those with a fear of kidnapping.
4 💀💀💀💀
"Perfect Nightmare" is exactly what the title says.....a NIGHTMARE! The serial killer/rapist that is in this book, gets his victims after attending Open Houses that realtors are hosting. YES! Can you believe that if you have ever been to one, or had one in your house, have you never thought that someone could possibly steal or plant something in your house with out you ever knowing? This book starts off scary, and you just know that it is not going to be good for the mother of teenaged Lyndsay, the beautiful, blond haired blue eyed 17 year old cheerleader, that the killer becomes OBSESSED with after seeing a picture of her in her bedroom.
Lyndsay is the popular girl at her Long Island high school and she does not look forward to moving before she becomes a senior and prepares for graduation. Why do they have to move now? And why to The City?. With Lyndsay being so mad and upset about the move, the police try to tell her mother when she is discovered missing, "you are worried, but don't be. She will be home in a couple hours, she probably just when to a friends house to get her anger out....." Mother's always know best, and she is right. She did not and is not coming home.
The serial Crazy in this book is the creepiest of creeps. Saul can write the terror like you are right there with the victims and the survivors. He takes a situation like an open house of an address that is for sale, and turn it into a scene of sick behavior of a very sick and demented person out to hurt and torment, and possibly kill an innocent person. Let me tell you, while i was listening to this character (of the serial rapist/killer) and the way he talked to the victims was absolutely a ticket back to my childhood of being a victim to a sick man's game of Candyland. Not for the easily offended or those with a fear of kidnapping.
4 💀💀💀💀
October 19, 2022
A fun, fast-paced, and twisted thriller. I enjoy John Saul's writing and this was on par with his best. There are multiple POVs in the novel including the antagonist and man that POV was creepy and disturbing.
September 9, 2025
My first John Saul book, I've been dying to read him just never got around to it. So when I went to my favorite bookstore on half price books day (hardback 50 cents and soft covers 10 cents and YA free ) the guy working there showed me his books they just got in and I scored like 8 of his books. I was very happily surprised. I really really liked this book. I thought I had the killer figured out... nope... the plot....nope... the writing was eerie and made me feel like I was with the girls struggling to breathe. Defiantly looking forward to the rest of his books I picked up.
August 8, 2023
Poor Lindsay. She's set to graduate from high school next year with all her friends when her parents tell her they’ve decided to move back to NYC. She’s devastated. When she disappears, the police think she’s run away. Her mother knows that’s not what happened. This is the first John Saul novel I’ve read in a dozen years, and I wasn’t disappointed. This was more a mystery/thriller than a horror story.
September 16, 2012
This started out as a very promising book, and left me full of suspense. It is a real page turner, you can't help but keep reading to find out what happens. Unfortunately, it kind of goes downhill at the end. It was good the first half but the second half got a bit tedious. I think the death of the husband was a bit of a filler plot since it didn't really go anywhere. There were lots of bits that just weren't important to the plot itself and it got to be a bit much. Also, the end was good but not great. It was a fascinating ending yet it lacked explanation and depth. It felt rushed, like the author just wanted to finish the book. I felt like there were several strings left untied at the end. I wish it would have gone more into what exactly happened and the resolutikon of the characters. I was surprised that there wasn't an epilogue or something just to show what the survivors felt and what they were doing now. It was disappointing in that respect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2014
Been reading Saul for years. Loved this book...fast paced and exciting. Only one part towards the end there was a bit too much detail, but it didn't hurt the story and it picked up again quickly. I would ,recommend this to anyone who likes to read thriller/horrors.
-Paige
-Paige
June 21, 2022
Not my cup of tea for a book
October 16, 2022
This was an okay read. There were several times where I ended up skimming because I got bored. It's stories like this that always make me wonder how the author comes up with the little tidbits, as in being able to describe what a person with these kind of issues thinks and all the gross stuff.
I was not a fan of Lindsay at all. She was 17, yet, acted like she was a lot younger. Constantly pouting, feeling sorry for herself (all the time) and running off when she got upset. There was one part where she tells her mom (I think it was) to stop treating her like a little kid. What a joke.
What exactly was with the two male realtors? I mean Kara catches Mark Acton watching Lindsay as she's heading into the house. Okay...what exactly is wrong with that? I mean we're never told how old he is, he could have been in his early 20's for all we know. Plus, he's a male! haha Yet, the weirdo vibe is put out on him. Then the other guy, Rick Mancuso. Ellen thinks he's weird because what? He tells her that Emily is a cute kid? I don't get it. The police detective guy ends up thinking they're weird too and I don't feel like there was anything 'weird' related about them, at least not explained.
So Lindsay doesn't want to go home after the open house. Yet, the only friend she mentions is Dawn and the fact that she can't go with Dawn because she has other plans. Why didn't she just go to another friend’s house?
After reading the back of the book, I wasn't surprised at all that Kara's husband ended up dying. Considering it said that Kara's neighbor, Patrick, would basically be helping her to deal with all the bad stuff. I automatically thought, "Well where's her husband at?"
Lindsay is looking for her slipper that apparently was under the bed. The phone rings which causes her to jump up and bang her hand/knuckles on the wood part. Which in turn, turns black and blue within seconds? Doubtful.
Patrick (of course we don't know it's him yet) is under Lindsay's bed. Lindsay is talking on the phone as he starts to pull himself out from under said bed. Lindsay hangs up and goes to find the slipper again. She's crouched down when suddenly he's grabbing her by the ankles and pulling himself out that way. How was he already partway out without her seeing him? Was there nothing she could have grabbed to hit him over the head with? That part was just strange.
The way Kara's husband died...wow! And that's a wow in a bad way. Could that part have been anymore of a cliche? I mean seriously, first he's driving home drunk...in a car that he's never driven before (hence, he doesn't know what handle does what)...then he realizes there's tons of traffic, suddenly it starts raining...and ends up getting cut off. Anything else? That was just stupid.
Lastly, it was obvious that Patrick had multiple personalities or something going on. He refers to Ellen as 'Mommy' and treats/acts like Shannon and Lindsay are the little girls. What in the world made any of them think he considered himself the father? That was weird. I mean I automatically thought he was thinking of his abusive childhood. Hence, his mother didn't notice anything bad that happened to him. And what was with Shannon and Lindsay wanting to show him that they loved him by talking sexy to him?
I was not a fan of Lindsay at all. She was 17, yet, acted like she was a lot younger. Constantly pouting, feeling sorry for herself (all the time) and running off when she got upset. There was one part where she tells her mom (I think it was) to stop treating her like a little kid. What a joke.
What exactly was with the two male realtors? I mean Kara catches Mark Acton watching Lindsay as she's heading into the house. Okay...what exactly is wrong with that? I mean we're never told how old he is, he could have been in his early 20's for all we know. Plus, he's a male! haha Yet, the weirdo vibe is put out on him. Then the other guy, Rick Mancuso. Ellen thinks he's weird because what? He tells her that Emily is a cute kid? I don't get it. The police detective guy ends up thinking they're weird too and I don't feel like there was anything 'weird' related about them, at least not explained.
So Lindsay doesn't want to go home after the open house. Yet, the only friend she mentions is Dawn and the fact that she can't go with Dawn because she has other plans. Why didn't she just go to another friend’s house?
After reading the back of the book, I wasn't surprised at all that Kara's husband ended up dying. Considering it said that Kara's neighbor, Patrick, would basically be helping her to deal with all the bad stuff. I automatically thought, "Well where's her husband at?"
Lindsay is looking for her slipper that apparently was under the bed. The phone rings which causes her to jump up and bang her hand/knuckles on the wood part. Which in turn, turns black and blue within seconds? Doubtful.
Patrick (of course we don't know it's him yet) is under Lindsay's bed. Lindsay is talking on the phone as he starts to pull himself out from under said bed. Lindsay hangs up and goes to find the slipper again. She's crouched down when suddenly he's grabbing her by the ankles and pulling himself out that way. How was he already partway out without her seeing him? Was there nothing she could have grabbed to hit him over the head with? That part was just strange.
The way Kara's husband died...wow! And that's a wow in a bad way. Could that part have been anymore of a cliche? I mean seriously, first he's driving home drunk...in a car that he's never driven before (hence, he doesn't know what handle does what)...then he realizes there's tons of traffic, suddenly it starts raining...and ends up getting cut off. Anything else? That was just stupid.
Lastly, it was obvious that Patrick had multiple personalities or something going on. He refers to Ellen as 'Mommy' and treats/acts like Shannon and Lindsay are the little girls. What in the world made any of them think he considered himself the father? That was weird. I mean I automatically thought he was thinking of his abusive childhood. Hence, his mother didn't notice anything bad that happened to him. And what was with Shannon and Lindsay wanting to show him that they loved him by talking sexy to him?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2014
This was a pleasant surprise, as I have heard of Saul for at least 20 years and tried and failed to get drawn into several of his books through the years. Finally though I came acroos this at just the right time, and while I would likely rate it 3.5 stars 4 will suffice...were it not for the ending, which was a little lackustre to me it would have been a solid 4 anyway.
A teen girl, discovers her family must move prior to her senior year of high school and thus ends her hopes of graduating w/ friends and attaining the head cheerleader position. Enter a faceless creepy psychopath stalking some perfect specimens....and we have a creepy scary almost from the headlines type of horror read that should delight fans of the genre....but also has the realism of being something that could happen in any town to any family. Since I abhor supernatural elements, this book was a good one for me as it is totally devoid of them. A string of disappearance occurs, with no clues leading to the perpetrator. While there are certanly cops involved this is in no way a crime thriller.....the creepy antagonist combined the realistic and mostly likeable main characters set up some creepy, horrifying and heartbreakig scenes. I loved that halfway through the book I kind of figured out the sicko was 1 of 2 individuals...but I seemed to go back and forth between which one I thought was really behind this.....other than the surprise of finding out who it really was, the ending didn't live up to the enjoyment that most of this read held me in.
I would recommend this to all horror/suspense fans.
A teen girl, discovers her family must move prior to her senior year of high school and thus ends her hopes of graduating w/ friends and attaining the head cheerleader position. Enter a faceless creepy psychopath stalking some perfect specimens....and we have a creepy scary almost from the headlines type of horror read that should delight fans of the genre....but also has the realism of being something that could happen in any town to any family. Since I abhor supernatural elements, this book was a good one for me as it is totally devoid of them. A string of disappearance occurs, with no clues leading to the perpetrator. While there are certanly cops involved this is in no way a crime thriller.....the creepy antagonist combined the realistic and mostly likeable main characters set up some creepy, horrifying and heartbreakig scenes. I loved that halfway through the book I kind of figured out the sicko was 1 of 2 individuals...but I seemed to go back and forth between which one I thought was really behind this.....other than the surprise of finding out who it really was, the ending didn't live up to the enjoyment that most of this read held me in.
I would recommend this to all horror/suspense fans.
June 18, 2009
"Perfect Nightmare" by John Saul starts with a nifty premise. A kidnapper targets victims by stalking open houses and homes for sale on the internet. Great idea, and one that hasn't been done yet, to my knowledge, or done to death (no pun intended). The main and core characters are likable, sympathetic and realistic. You can relate to them and you care about what you just know is going to happen.
But starting about midway through the book, I felt that Saul began to lose his focus. Maybe it was the introduction, or reintroduction, of some secondary characters - - mostly thrown in for red herring purposes. But I felt the book lost some of its snap.
The seemingly pointless and senseless death of a major character threw me for a loop - - and not in a good way.
The "big reveal" at the end of the kidnapper was no surprise, as the signs were much too obvious much too early in the book.
The story seemed to end rather quickly, as if Saul himself got tired of the characters and the story.
That being said, although I like Saul's other works, I felt this was formulaic (for him) and seemed an almost phoned in effort. For a new writer, or one less prolific or proven, it might come across as a better effort, but I expect more from Mr. Saul.
But starting about midway through the book, I felt that Saul began to lose his focus. Maybe it was the introduction, or reintroduction, of some secondary characters - - mostly thrown in for red herring purposes. But I felt the book lost some of its snap.
The seemingly pointless and senseless death of a major character threw me for a loop - - and not in a good way.
The "big reveal" at the end of the kidnapper was no surprise, as the signs were much too obvious much too early in the book.
The story seemed to end rather quickly, as if Saul himself got tired of the characters and the story.
That being said, although I like Saul's other works, I felt this was formulaic (for him) and seemed an almost phoned in effort. For a new writer, or one less prolific or proven, it might come across as a better effort, but I expect more from Mr. Saul.
September 2, 2007
Hmm. This was alright. Alright in the sense that I cared enough to have something to say about it.
I don’t think that the writing was great, or even good. But it was enough to not put me off completely. The concept of a killer that stalks his victims through the real estate ads was clever.
But the “chilling” parts were just stupid. That the subjects could smell their attacker. It was just over the top, didn’t cause goosebumps, just reminded me that it was a silly paperback.
Also, the reasoning for the way the “baddie” was acting that was kind of just thrown out there in the end… it was quite a good reason. But it wasn’t talked about enough for me to know whether I was meant to feel sorry for him, or if it was just supposed to be known.
It had the potential to be a lot better. The end was badly written, too rushed, and the descriptions were silly, and there was a lot of needless bullshit throughout.
I don’t think that the writing was great, or even good. But it was enough to not put me off completely. The concept of a killer that stalks his victims through the real estate ads was clever.
But the “chilling” parts were just stupid. That the subjects could smell their attacker. It was just over the top, didn’t cause goosebumps, just reminded me that it was a silly paperback.
Also, the reasoning for the way the “baddie” was acting that was kind of just thrown out there in the end… it was quite a good reason. But it wasn’t talked about enough for me to know whether I was meant to feel sorry for him, or if it was just supposed to be known.
It had the potential to be a lot better. The end was badly written, too rushed, and the descriptions were silly, and there was a lot of needless bullshit throughout.
August 3, 2014
I haven't read a John Saul book for many years. I used to be quite a fan so I was quite looking forward to something more contemporary and up to date. This is a pretty scary novel. Certainly if you have children and are of a sensitive disposition you should avoid. The subject matter is grim and it does make for quite an uncomfortable read. The author conveys creepiness and suspense builds well as you would expect from an experienced writer. The book is well written but a little formulaic. Unfortunately the flaw is in the ending it is just too predictable. I felt that the author had grown bored and rushed the ending. It was a real shame as this should have been an outstanding read from a master horror writer.
September 12, 2016
John Saul can't write. He can tell a long-winded story full of cliches and predictable plot devices, but he can't write. I've only ever read one book by Saul before this one, back when I was twelve, and I thought it was okay but that's probably because I was twelve. Saul doesn't know how to write teenage girls, everything that is meant to be witty fails, the flat characters grated into my head until I was ready to quit halfway through, the killer ended up being a jip, and there's an abundance of weak plot twists. I'd also like to mention that the first-person narrative of the killer is terribly written. I'd love to elaborate, it's just that I don't care enough to do that.
November 15, 2023
I have just one word for this book: Disturbing
This is another book I read along with the audiobook and the narrator (Dick Hill) had my skin crawling. The reading of the "villain's" parts were way too convincing. To the point that I almost stopped reading the book at multiple points. Thanks for making this book more creepy than it would have been from just reading alone.
This is another book I read along with the audiobook and the narrator (Dick Hill) had my skin crawling. The reading of the "villain's" parts were way too convincing. To the point that I almost stopped reading the book at multiple points. Thanks for making this book more creepy than it would have been from just reading alone.
January 10, 2024
this was okayyyyyy
the storyline was interesting, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. the usual thrillers that i read (such as the silent patient by alex michaelides or the only one left by riley sager) are scary of course, but not to this extent. this book had a lot of torture and had children involved which really turned me off. it was creepy and made me very uneasy. moreover, this book was about kidnapping young females which also scared me since i’m a young girl myself 😃
the writing itself was okay BUT the ending was terrible. it was so rushed i found??? everything happened in like 20-30 pages and was barely explained :/
i don’t think this book was necessarily bad as i did read it in three days and was very invested in the storyline, BUT i just think it was too creepy for my liking. unfortunately i will not be reading another one of his books
the storyline was interesting, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. the usual thrillers that i read (such as the silent patient by alex michaelides or the only one left by riley sager) are scary of course, but not to this extent. this book had a lot of torture and had children involved which really turned me off. it was creepy and made me very uneasy. moreover, this book was about kidnapping young females which also scared me since i’m a young girl myself 😃
the writing itself was okay BUT the ending was terrible. it was so rushed i found??? everything happened in like 20-30 pages and was barely explained :/
i don’t think this book was necessarily bad as i did read it in three days and was very invested in the storyline, BUT i just think it was too creepy for my liking. unfortunately i will not be reading another one of his books
August 21, 2023
"If you open your house to strangers, who knows who might come in. And what they might be after. Or whom."
This book is disturbing... When a horror novel makes my skin crawl, it does its job.
This book is disturbing... When a horror novel makes my skin crawl, it does its job.
September 25, 2008
I can always count on John Saul to creep me out with a good story. While Perfect Nightmare isn't one of my favorites, I haven't yet read a book of his that I didn't like. The premise of this story is extremely unsettling - a traumatic event in a young boy's life results in his becoming a pedophile as an adult, except he doesn't know he's a pedophile. He abducts his victims by sneaking into their homes during an Open House completely undetected. Unmasking the monster in this tale wasn't too difficult, but the ending was nonetheless shocking. If you have enjoyed other books by John Saul, chances are you will enjoy this one too.
January 1, 2018
A young teenage girl is missing shortly after her parent's home is shown during an Open House held by the realtor. The police have little to go on and feel it is possible the girl took off because she was upset about the family's pending move. Her mother doesn't agree with this thinking and organizes her own search for her daughter. Then the unthinkable happens, a young mother disappears just as her home is scheduled for an Open House. As the story progresses it gets scarier by the moment. Don't read this just before you have an Open House scheduled!!!
August 18, 2025
The title perfectly suits this John Saul story...it's realistic horror is terrifying, sometimes making me put the book down...but also compelling me to turn the page to figure out why. I felt great agony for Kara Marshall and wish I had these deep feelings for the Shields' family as well - their past is also horrific and I felt it lacked character development. Saul's writing can make my skin crawl so naturally I want more description...but this one might come to me in my own dreams just the way it is.
April 25, 2022
Am citit această carte în 2 zile. Mai bine zis, am devorat-o. John Saul a intrat oficial pe lista autorilor mei preferați. ❤️
Nu aș zice că e horror cartea, ci mai degrabă thriller. Avem parte de niște răpiri care au de-a face cu niște evenimente numite vizionări publice. Persoanele care vor să își vândă casa, apelează la această metodă unde potențialii cumpărători vin la tine în casă la anumite intervale orare, ca niște intruși dacă mă întrebați pe mine. 😳
Iar răpitorul nostru profită de acest lucru, urmărindu-și victimele inclusiv de sub pat. Partea asta a fost creepy. 😱
Nu îmi vine să cred că nu mi-am dat seama cine era răpitorul pentru că după ce am aflat, era evident. 🤦🏻♀️
Nu aș zice că e horror cartea, ci mai degrabă thriller. Avem parte de niște răpiri care au de-a face cu niște evenimente numite vizionări publice. Persoanele care vor să își vândă casa, apelează la această metodă unde potențialii cumpărători vin la tine în casă la anumite intervale orare, ca niște intruși dacă mă întrebați pe mine. 😳
Iar răpitorul nostru profită de acest lucru, urmărindu-și victimele inclusiv de sub pat. Partea asta a fost creepy. 😱
Nu îmi vine să cred că nu mi-am dat seama cine era răpitorul pentru că după ce am aflat, era evident. 🤦🏻♀️
November 18, 2025
Just meh. There was a twist that ALMOST got me with the red herrings but not good enough to fool me completely. I just think the story is overdone, and the full reasoning behind the kidnappings failed to fully connect and make sense,and the author relied far too heavily on shock value. Also the death of THAT character was just utterly pointless, as was their entire subplot. Just shoddy work. The only highlight was pacing. It made this a relatively quick and easy read.
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