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The Presence
"Enough smoothly crafted suspense to keep readers turning pages long after dark."-- The Seattle TimesBeyond the sparkling Hawiian beaches, masked by the deceptive beauty of the rainforest, evil awaits sixteen-year-old Michael Sundquist and his mother, Katharine, and anthropologist who has come to the Islands to study the unusual skeletal remains unearthed on the volcanic flanks of Halekala, Maui.Yet far below the black depths of the Pacific a mysterious substance snakes through undiscovered fissures in the ocean floor, as nature itself seems to portend the terror to come.Then, with the sudden, unexpected death of Michael's friend, a disturbing truth the corporation that is funding Katherine's dig has a far greater investment than she ever imagined--an investment in medical terror. And her son may be part of their hideous grand plan. . . ."A suspenseful thriller . . . provocative . . . Nicely done, indeed."-- Kirkus Reviews"Classic Saul . . . A potent brew."-- Publishers Weekly
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 28, 1997
171 people are currently reading
2210 people want to read
About the author
John Saul
149 books2,830 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 - 30 of 178 reviews
May 6, 2022
An anthropologist from New York (Katherine Sundquist) is contacted by an old flame (graduate school friend, Ron Silver) to help him out on a dig in Hawaii. Katherine accepts and takes her sixteen-year-old son (Michael) with her. But while they are there, strange things are happening… her sons’ new friends keep turning up missing, or dead. And then there’s Ron’s mysterious employer (Takeo) and the skeleton they have discovered…
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really loved the Hawaiian setting, I felt like I was there. Most of the characters were likable, and the bad guys sinister. I was wondering what Takeo was up to with his mysterious project/experiments. I was worried about Michael and his friends when they got ill. I liked Katherine, she was a good female lead, as she tried to figure out was what going on with her son. I also enjoyed the exciting conclusion.
Another highly enjoyable, and captivating read by John Saul.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really loved the Hawaiian setting, I felt like I was there. Most of the characters were likable, and the bad guys sinister. I was wondering what Takeo was up to with his mysterious project/experiments. I was worried about Michael and his friends when they got ill. I liked Katherine, she was a good female lead, as she tried to figure out was what going on with her son. I also enjoyed the exciting conclusion.
Another highly enjoyable, and captivating read by John Saul.
April 24, 2022
Anthropologist Katharine Sundquist gets a job offer to study unusual skeletal remains that were unearthed on Maui. Katharine’s sixteen-year-old son, Michael, who has asthma, is being bullied in school so she decides that now might be a good time to leave New York and head for Hawaii. Unfortunately, Hawaii may not be the paradise they were hoping for when strange, unexplained things begin happening.
I enjoyed this book so much. I was so into it and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. The story had a really interesting cast of characters from the people Katharine worked with to the boys that Michael befriended on Maui. The Hawaiian setting was fantastic with wonderful descriptions. So atmospheric with the volcanoes, the lava flowing, the malevolent feel in the air. I enjoyed the scuba dives; the place where Katharine was working. Such a thoroughly entertaining read.
I enjoyed this book so much. I was so into it and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. The story had a really interesting cast of characters from the people Katharine worked with to the boys that Michael befriended on Maui. The Hawaiian setting was fantastic with wonderful descriptions. So atmospheric with the volcanoes, the lava flowing, the malevolent feel in the air. I enjoyed the scuba dives; the place where Katharine was working. Such a thoroughly entertaining read.
March 14, 2017
I wanted to read some escapist fiction and for this reason I chose this book – a sci-fi thriller.
The book starts with a pair of divers finding an interesting object off the coast of a Hawaiian island. This is followed by the mysterious death of a teenager in the US. From the very beginning the author has tried to create tension and excitement.
Then we meet Katherine Sundquist, an anthropologist who receives a “too good to be true” offer from her old flame in Hawaii. He has discovered a strange skeleton there and wants her help. Katherine takes her teenage asthmatic son, Michael, along with her. As per the good old formula – whenever there is a very good offer there has to be danger and deception!!!
I liked the way the author has created the character of Michael – he is the most fleshed out character in the novel. His fears, his aspirations, and his courage – all these would enable you to relate or at least sympathize with him. Michael would make friends there – for the first time he was accepted as a member of a “gang” of friends – but, a small seemingly harmless prank would unleash a spate of murders and kidnappings.
The author has included the usual ingredients one would expect to find in a thriller – corporate conspiracy, human greed, boyhood friendships, smart ass boy living in a dysfunctional family, rekindling of old romance, misunderstandings and what not.
The science fiction angle in the story had the potential to be great but I felt that it was not developed much. The author lost out on a good opportunity.
The end was also too convenient for my liking. The villains were shown to be a bit too incompetent.
Overall, it is an average thriller. I was expecting it to be much better but the author could not deliver. I am giving it a rating of 2.5 which I am rounding off to 3.
The book starts with a pair of divers finding an interesting object off the coast of a Hawaiian island. This is followed by the mysterious death of a teenager in the US. From the very beginning the author has tried to create tension and excitement.
Then we meet Katherine Sundquist, an anthropologist who receives a “too good to be true” offer from her old flame in Hawaii. He has discovered a strange skeleton there and wants her help. Katherine takes her teenage asthmatic son, Michael, along with her. As per the good old formula – whenever there is a very good offer there has to be danger and deception!!!
I liked the way the author has created the character of Michael – he is the most fleshed out character in the novel. His fears, his aspirations, and his courage – all these would enable you to relate or at least sympathize with him. Michael would make friends there – for the first time he was accepted as a member of a “gang” of friends – but, a small seemingly harmless prank would unleash a spate of murders and kidnappings.
The author has included the usual ingredients one would expect to find in a thriller – corporate conspiracy, human greed, boyhood friendships, smart ass boy living in a dysfunctional family, rekindling of old romance, misunderstandings and what not.
The science fiction angle in the story had the potential to be great but I felt that it was not developed much. The author lost out on a good opportunity.
The end was also too convenient for my liking. The villains were shown to be a bit too incompetent.
Overall, it is an average thriller. I was expecting it to be much better but the author could not deliver. I am giving it a rating of 2.5 which I am rounding off to 3.
October 7, 2022
John Saul writing style has always been extremely readable and this book was no different.
The story itself however reminded me more of something from Michael Crichton than John Saul but regardless of that I found this a fun fast paced read.
3.75/5
The story itself however reminded me more of something from Michael Crichton than John Saul but regardless of that I found this a fun fast paced read.
3.75/5
November 2, 2018
So creepy. . . but in a good way. lol! Saul at his best.
July 9, 2019
2.75 stars
I picked John Saul's book to try out a work of an unread author by your truly. As much as his website says, he supposedly writes "psychological, occult, scientific and paranormal thrillers", parts of which I have thought can be of interest to me. At some place it even mentions that his stories contain horror. So I decided to give this one a shot, a copy that I had found at a book-swap last month.
It turned out to be a decent, very easy fast-read, but only one of those that can be read when one wants to simply read for entertainment, with nothing much to contemplate upon. This book was an archaeological suspense thriller. Some parts of it were predictable, yet quite a bit of suspense was well kept almost till the end. There was nothing truly horrifying, but I can say it did contain a few terrorizing ideas. Overall, the book entertained me, but hardly at all stimulated my mind.
I will be reading some of his few selective titles in the future, as a break during my other contemplative reads. :)
I picked John Saul's book to try out a work of an unread author by your truly. As much as his website says, he supposedly writes "psychological, occult, scientific and paranormal thrillers", parts of which I have thought can be of interest to me. At some place it even mentions that his stories contain horror. So I decided to give this one a shot, a copy that I had found at a book-swap last month.
It turned out to be a decent, very easy fast-read, but only one of those that can be read when one wants to simply read for entertainment, with nothing much to contemplate upon. This book was an archaeological suspense thriller. Some parts of it were predictable, yet quite a bit of suspense was well kept almost till the end. There was nothing truly horrifying, but I can say it did contain a few terrorizing ideas. Overall, the book entertained me, but hardly at all stimulated my mind.
I will be reading some of his few selective titles in the future, as a break during my other contemplative reads. :)
March 3, 2018
OMG, it was so great to read such a 'hard-to-put-down' book again!
It has been a long time since I've had the pleasure of reading a really intense thriller, but John Saul's~ The Presence, was a great one. I don't know why I haven't read more by him since I remember really liking 'Nathaniel' years ago. I will definitely be reading more of his work for a while.
This book captured my interest from the beginning, and the suspense got intense very early on. It is a great unique storyline, plus I really enjoyed all the descriptions of Hawaii. This book really put me into the scene, and the characters are very well developed as well. I really cared about them.
Highly recommend this one.
It has been a long time since I've had the pleasure of reading a really intense thriller, but John Saul's~ The Presence, was a great one. I don't know why I haven't read more by him since I remember really liking 'Nathaniel' years ago. I will definitely be reading more of his work for a while.
This book captured my interest from the beginning, and the suspense got intense very early on. It is a great unique storyline, plus I really enjoyed all the descriptions of Hawaii. This book really put me into the scene, and the characters are very well developed as well. I really cared about them.
Highly recommend this one.
October 4, 2022
Wow!
I have not read a John Saul book in forever, but this book reminded me why I love his books so much! Great read right from the start, but a white knuckle page turner from about the 60% mark! Loved it!
I have not read a John Saul book in forever, but this book reminded me why I love his books so much! Great read right from the start, but a white knuckle page turner from about the 60% mark! Loved it!
February 11, 2012
2012 so far for me has been one of the worst years of my life and it is only February! My luck with reading reflects everything else by being as satisfactory as a Christmas Eve shopping spree. Okay, what's next? Sigh. All right, let's try this store. Oh damn, we are waiting in line for five hours waiting to just get the fuck out! You get the idea. Anyway, in desperate need of something, anything!, that could claim more than three stars and at least impress me a little, I thought long and hard about which author could save me from my horrible reading choices and ensure that I did not make another. Andrew Neiderman? Wrong! Richard Laymon? I wish but read everything already. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child? Already read two this year and don't want to wear them out.
John Saul? Huh? What's that you say? John Saul. Self, you are a genius, and you are talking to yourself. You must be really losing it from all of the terrible fiction you've forced down your brain lately. Like a super-hero who rescues almost too late to make a difference, John Saul's novel the Presence was there and had been all along. Now, I am being sarcastic of course because I only gave it four stars but it was yet another yet another yet another great John Saul novel. The guy does write the same freakin' story over and over but he does it so well that it isn't even a big deal. This one follows the trends of novels like Brain Child or Creature. Who doesn't love medical thrillers? The book was more than that though. The characters were wonderfully crafted and the setting, Hawaii, was perfectly described. I say that with confidence even though I have not been there yet. Then, the novel makes itself stand out by taking a huge risk of an ending. I loved it (the ending I mean) but I bet a lot of people were annoyed by it. I applaud Saul for trying to be slightly different like a kid who decides to wear a tie to school one day over his usual clothing.
So, to rap up my blog-like review of the Presence, it was a very fun and engaging read and. More importantly for me, it impressed me and I gotta tell ya, I am finding it harder and harder to be impressed with boks. This sounds very negative but it isn't meant to be. I love reading and always will, but I like surprises in my fiction even if I don't like them in real life. I mean, who doesn't like a little fictional change? not a bad
thing though.
John Saul? Huh? What's that you say? John Saul. Self, you are a genius, and you are talking to yourself. You must be really losing it from all of the terrible fiction you've forced down your brain lately. Like a super-hero who rescues almost too late to make a difference, John Saul's novel the Presence was there and had been all along. Now, I am being sarcastic of course because I only gave it four stars but it was yet another yet another yet another great John Saul novel. The guy does write the same freakin' story over and over but he does it so well that it isn't even a big deal. This one follows the trends of novels like Brain Child or Creature. Who doesn't love medical thrillers? The book was more than that though. The characters were wonderfully crafted and the setting, Hawaii, was perfectly described. I say that with confidence even though I have not been there yet. Then, the novel makes itself stand out by taking a huge risk of an ending. I loved it (the ending I mean) but I bet a lot of people were annoyed by it. I applaud Saul for trying to be slightly different like a kid who decides to wear a tie to school one day over his usual clothing.
So, to rap up my blog-like review of the Presence, it was a very fun and engaging read and. More importantly for me, it impressed me and I gotta tell ya, I am finding it harder and harder to be impressed with boks. This sounds very negative but it isn't meant to be. I love reading and always will, but I like surprises in my fiction even if I don't like them in real life. I mean, who doesn't like a little fictional change? not a bad
thing though.
August 9, 2022
I...don't even know where to begin with this one, partly because I finished it last weekend, but had problems logging into Goodreads until today. I guess the first thing I should say is the title has no bearing whatsoever on the plot. It seems like it's going to at first, with the anomalous bones discovered on Maui, and later a signal from space, but ultimately it's meaningless. It's like if Jurassic Park had been called, I don't know..."The Looming" or something.
But the title isn't the only thing that doesn't make sense here. The motivations of the antagonist are...non-existent, as far as I can tell. We're given absolutely no credible reason for why he's researching the McGuffin that drives the plot, aside from the need for the story to have a villain. Is he trying to weaponize it? Use it to help people adapt to an increasingly-polluted world (and make a profit in the process)? Who knows?
Heck, the way the McGuffin works doesn't even make a lick of sense. The more I type, the dumber it all sounds. And don't even get me started on the red herring plot line of the bones.
Two stars for a good initial setup, but an absolute disaster of an execution. At least, narratively. There are elements here that work pretty well in a vacuum: the teenage feeling of invincibility leading to disaster, being in the wrong place at the wrong time and having it change your life forever, etc. It's just unfortunate that these interesting, human themes are attached to...this.
But the title isn't the only thing that doesn't make sense here. The motivations of the antagonist are...non-existent, as far as I can tell. We're given absolutely no credible reason for why he's researching the McGuffin that drives the plot, aside from the need for the story to have a villain. Is he trying to weaponize it? Use it to help people adapt to an increasingly-polluted world (and make a profit in the process)? Who knows?
Heck, the way the McGuffin works doesn't even make a lick of sense. The more I type, the dumber it all sounds. And don't even get me started on the red herring plot line of the bones.
Two stars for a good initial setup, but an absolute disaster of an execution. At least, narratively. There are elements here that work pretty well in a vacuum: the teenage feeling of invincibility leading to disaster, being in the wrong place at the wrong time and having it change your life forever, etc. It's just unfortunate that these interesting, human themes are attached to...this.
November 30, 2011
I rather liked this story. I thought it was very interesting & presents some things to ponder. I also thought it had a good ending. Glad I finally got around to reading it :-)
Join us in the John Saul Lit Group on Goodreads. We're always reading a John Saul title. The Presence is featured as our group read for November-December 2011. Visit the group anytime by clicking here: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/3...
Join us in the John Saul Lit Group on Goodreads. We're always reading a John Saul title. The Presence is featured as our group read for November-December 2011. Visit the group anytime by clicking here: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/3...
October 25, 2017
I didn't like this story. When Mark Reynolds (I believe that was the name of the first victim) killed himself I didn't think it was because he had a doctored oxygen tank. Yes, pollution is a major problem, getting really bad in some cities, but the concept introduced in this book seemed so far-fetched.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2020
Decent read by Saul. Mother and teenage son relocate to Hawaii for a few months to help with a dig-- it seems so rather odd bones have been found on Maui. Needless to say, something fishy is about as some of her son's new friends start dying for no apparent reason. She tries to get to the bottom of it and it just gets weirder. Some suspense, but no real thrills. 2.5 stars.
May 11, 2024
Originally posted on the book blog Creature From the Book Lagoon.
*Trigger Warning: Animal testing, animal death.
Wow. Ok, so this book has been on my TBR shelf longer than any other book… How long? Since 1998!!! 😮 GEEEEEZ! I know, right?? About fluffing time.
I picked it up multiple times over the years but always ended up not reading it. Not because it was bad, just always ended up spacing it off or something. D: But this winter the local library had a 2024 Winter Reading Challenge. One of the prompts is to “Read a book with fire on the cover”. Lava counts, right?? Kinda? 😀 Fuck it I’m counting it….
The premise is what really spoke to me. I’m a sucker for any story that weaves in paleontology or archaeology! The Presence is my type of story! 😀 The mystery of the odd bones at the dig had me hooked right away. I was so curious through the whole book, dying to find out more.
Now, the part of the plot that I didn’t care much for is all the teen angst and family drama. I didn’t really like any of the kids. And all the mom stuff was just so MEEEHHHH. I wanted more about the dig and the shady research. I get why the tenns were involved but it just wasn’t as exciting as the other parts of the story.
Another problem was the very ending. Well, it wasn’t a problem exactly, it was just… kind of anti-climatic! :/ It also just felt a little bit too abrupt. There is this big escape and the bad guy is chasing them and then BOOM. Over….? Huh. And then the epilogue was basically just like, 2 weeks later, and ALL IS BETTER NOW!! :/ Wha-?? I really didn’t care much for that…
I know after all that, it kinda sounds like I hated this book. Not true! Yes, the book had a few issues but overall the story was entertaining. I could over look the family drama and yea, the ending was a little bit of a bummer, but it didn’t ruin the whole book for me. It is a good story. It could have done a little more with the villains and the ending.
I’m super happy I finally read this book and I’m interested in reading other books by this author. 🙂
*Trigger Warning: Animal testing, animal death.
Wow. Ok, so this book has been on my TBR shelf longer than any other book… How long? Since 1998!!! 😮 GEEEEEZ! I know, right?? About fluffing time.
I picked it up multiple times over the years but always ended up not reading it. Not because it was bad, just always ended up spacing it off or something. D: But this winter the local library had a 2024 Winter Reading Challenge. One of the prompts is to “Read a book with fire on the cover”. Lava counts, right?? Kinda? 😀 Fuck it I’m counting it….
The premise is what really spoke to me. I’m a sucker for any story that weaves in paleontology or archaeology! The Presence is my type of story! 😀 The mystery of the odd bones at the dig had me hooked right away. I was so curious through the whole book, dying to find out more.
Now, the part of the plot that I didn’t care much for is all the teen angst and family drama. I didn’t really like any of the kids. And all the mom stuff was just so MEEEHHHH. I wanted more about the dig and the shady research. I get why the tenns were involved but it just wasn’t as exciting as the other parts of the story.
Another problem was the very ending. Well, it wasn’t a problem exactly, it was just… kind of anti-climatic! :/ It also just felt a little bit too abrupt. There is this big escape and the bad guy is chasing them and then BOOM. Over….? Huh. And then the epilogue was basically just like, 2 weeks later, and ALL IS BETTER NOW!! :/ Wha-?? I really didn’t care much for that…
I know after all that, it kinda sounds like I hated this book. Not true! Yes, the book had a few issues but overall the story was entertaining. I could over look the family drama and yea, the ending was a little bit of a bummer, but it didn’t ruin the whole book for me. It is a good story. It could have done a little more with the villains and the ending.
I’m super happy I finally read this book and I’m interested in reading other books by this author. 🙂
September 28, 2016
'The Presence' was another awesome example of John Saul's ability to bring a story to life and leave me questioning the possibilities. Full of beautifully described scenery, possibilities of the unknown, great characters and scenarios that were full of surprises. The storyline was well written and the way it played out kept me glued to the pages. The characters were an array of personalities. Katharine was the typical mother who wanted the best for her family. She was a great lead. She's strong, determined and very strong willed when it came to her son Michael. He is not the typical teenager, but I think that has a lot to do with the relationship with his mother and what they had actually been through. Rob was an all around great guy. His dedication to Katharine, Michael and his work were admirable. A great add to your tbr list. Recommended read.
August 16, 2012
Once I got near the last third of the book I could not put it down ... Even after I took nighttime cold medicine for the cough I was fighting (thankfully I've never been to hawaii.) I did think this book was going to be scary, like Friday the 13th scary, so I was fort of let down when it was more science fiction esque -- but it definitely had me thinking, speculating after each little clue was revealed.
February 2, 2011
I enjoyed the story and the two parts that verged together at the end to come together. I really liked the end concept of what the "presence" was. I did not like the overly tidy epilogue. That took it down a notch for me- I think I would have preferred it to be open ended rather than solved. I still enjoyed the read and minus the epilogue I think it was a good read.
May 18, 2013
I love John Saul books. He is almost as good of a horror author as Stephen King. His writing style is unique and that is what makes him one of my favorite authors. I haven't read a book of his I haven't liked yet, they are all so great. I would reread any of his books anytime but there are too many to go into detail about each one.
October 16, 2015
The story moved from point A to point B with an easy flow and it wasn't overly long so for that I enjoyed it. The plot didn't impress me, it seemed rather basic and really never developed to its full potential. I felt like it could've been a more intense story but unfortunately that did not happen. Three stars.
July 21, 2016
I always enjoy John Saul's books. They usually fall into the category of "fun read" rather than "spectacular read" and "The Presence" is no different. Never a dull moment, always engaging and begging you to turn the page. I've heard Saul's books post-1990 or so have been less than stellar, but this one is not that. It's definitely worth a read.
November 16, 2017
I enjoyed this book for the most part. I didn't become really invested and intrigued by the story until about half way through however. I loved the ending where everything convulges and I loved the idea behind the experiments as well as the overall message of the book. I wish there had been a little more suspense and hook though.
August 1, 2016
Normally I love John Saul. But I did not enjoy this book. I did not like the premise and there were a lot of parts that bored me. I wanted to read a book that scared me. This was not it. And I found it to be a little stupid at points.
April 23, 2018
Ugh... Strike 1 for this author. I really want to like his stuff so I will give him another chance (or 2). We'll see how it goes.
This book was well written but the story failed to draw me in. It just wasn't Interesting. 😒
This book was well written but the story failed to draw me in. It just wasn't Interesting. 😒
May 9, 2021
A fast paced thriller. A usual John Saul book. I started re-reading some of my younger years favorites and this came up. I started reading these books after graduating for Christopher Pike books and shortly before reading Stephan King.
September 5, 2010
Just didn't like it. I haven't liked his past few books, not very interesting and the characters were too simple.
June 21, 2010
I only finished this book because I was using it as the Hawaii book in the geography challenge I'm doing. It is trite and the scientific and technological descriptions and concepts are ludicrous.
June 5, 2013
It's just ok so far. Very slow start.
August 6, 2011
Dissapointing book from Saul, in my opinion. Dull and really predictable. Bad lecture. The story was good. The book, awfull.
December 21, 2020
A good plot and somewhat interesting characters.
January 27, 2022
Very interesting book, super fun story.
I have read this book for my 50 states, 50 scare 2022 challenge.
I have read this book for my 50 states, 50 scare 2022 challenge.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews