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Cry for the Strangers
Clark's Harbor was the perfect coastal haven, jealously guarded against outsiders. But now strangers have come to settle there. And a small boy is suddenly free of a frenzy that had gripped him since birth... His sister is haunted by fearful visions... And one by one, in violent, mysterious ways the strangers are dying. Never the townspeople. Only the strangers. Has a dark bargain been struck between the people of Clark's Harbor and some supernatural force? Or is it the sea itself calling out for a human sacrifice? A howling, deadly... Cry For The Strangers.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
63 people are currently reading
1479 people want to read
About the author
John Saul
149 books2,820 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 101 reviews
July 10, 2018
Brad Randall and his wife Elaine (from Seattle) decide to live in Clark's Harbor (Washington) for a year. Brad is a psychiatrist who is writing a book and the small coastal town seems like the perfect place to do it, away from all the distractions back home. But soon they find Clark's Harbor isn't as lovely as it seems. The townspeople aren't very friendly towards strangers. And now the strangers are dying in violent, mysterious ways...
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the Randall's neighbors (Glen and Rebecca Palmer) and their story concerning their nine-year-old son Robby who suffered from hyperkinesis (whose condition miraculously improved after moving to Clark's Harbor). I disliked Police Chief Harney Whalen. But I liked Deputy Chip Connor who was kind to the Palmers. I found the story of Sod Beach (aka Sands Of Death) to be totally creepy.
This was a fast and easy read. I was always curious to see what was going to happen next. I liked the setting and atmosphere of the coastal town.
Another captivating read by John Saul.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the Randall's neighbors (Glen and Rebecca Palmer) and their story concerning their nine-year-old son Robby who suffered from hyperkinesis (whose condition miraculously improved after moving to Clark's Harbor). I disliked Police Chief Harney Whalen. But I liked Deputy Chip Connor who was kind to the Palmers. I found the story of Sod Beach (aka Sands Of Death) to be totally creepy.
This was a fast and easy read. I was always curious to see what was going to happen next. I liked the setting and atmosphere of the coastal town.
Another captivating read by John Saul.
December 11, 2017
I remembered reading this in my youth and enjoying it, but find it doesn’t measure up as an adult. John Saul was a much different type of writer than King and Koontz, his books fashioned on creepiness rather than horror. Cry for the Strangers is broken up into three parts — Book One, Book Two, Book Three — and therein lies much of the problem with this story about a fictional seaside town called Clark’s Harbor and the four people who have moved there and find it not welcoming to strangers.
Book One is the best portion, John Saul doing a wonderful job of setting everything up, ratcheting up the creepiness as old legends and some mysterious deaths come into play, as do the townspeople. The husband wants to write a book about biorhythms and try to figure out why young Robbie, a former patient and son of the second couple, has so improved since moving to this unwelcoming town. It’s not a gripping, edge of your seat kind of story, but you’re hooked, willing to keep turning pages to discover what’s happening in Clark’s Harbor. But then comes Book Two.
In the second section, we follow around the unlikable sheriff, while the main two protagonists return to pack for the big move, placing them off-stage. It was while they were off-stage in part two that it came to me what was wrong with this story, which I’ll get to in a bit.
Book Three is better, as the main couple return. While there is some excitement, the ending, rather than being creepy, sort of ruins it for this reader. This same ending would have worked well if this had been a short story — perhaps even a novelette or novella — and that’s what is wrong with this book. This is so long, and the reader has so much invested, that we expect more than we get, and certainly not that final scene.
Cry for the Strangers is a terrific short story which has been padded into a bloated novel. It isn’t that the idea, the premise, isn’t good, it’s that it’s a thick rubber band stretched until the elasticity barely holds. This was an early effort from Saul, but most of his books follow this same kind of pattern. I loved this as a teenager, thinking it was very creepy. But as an adult, I found the narrative stretched so far that it muted the creepiness, highlighting the book’s bloated length. Saul is a good writer, but I can’t help feeling this story would have made a wonderful, perhaps even memorable, read had it not been padded. Trimming down and then combining parts one and three, and losing part two entirely, would have made this a fantastic read!
I wouldn’t discourage anyone from giving this book a read, since I often have the same issues with King and Koontz (whom I prefer). Tastes vary and you might like this book more than I did. I certainly didn’t dislike it, but I ruined a fond teenage memory by revisiting this book. Maybe the old saying is true, that you just can’t go home again…
Book One is the best portion, John Saul doing a wonderful job of setting everything up, ratcheting up the creepiness as old legends and some mysterious deaths come into play, as do the townspeople. The husband wants to write a book about biorhythms and try to figure out why young Robbie, a former patient and son of the second couple, has so improved since moving to this unwelcoming town. It’s not a gripping, edge of your seat kind of story, but you’re hooked, willing to keep turning pages to discover what’s happening in Clark’s Harbor. But then comes Book Two.
In the second section, we follow around the unlikable sheriff, while the main two protagonists return to pack for the big move, placing them off-stage. It was while they were off-stage in part two that it came to me what was wrong with this story, which I’ll get to in a bit.
Book Three is better, as the main couple return. While there is some excitement, the ending, rather than being creepy, sort of ruins it for this reader. This same ending would have worked well if this had been a short story — perhaps even a novelette or novella — and that’s what is wrong with this book. This is so long, and the reader has so much invested, that we expect more than we get, and certainly not that final scene.
Cry for the Strangers is a terrific short story which has been padded into a bloated novel. It isn’t that the idea, the premise, isn’t good, it’s that it’s a thick rubber band stretched until the elasticity barely holds. This was an early effort from Saul, but most of his books follow this same kind of pattern. I loved this as a teenager, thinking it was very creepy. But as an adult, I found the narrative stretched so far that it muted the creepiness, highlighting the book’s bloated length. Saul is a good writer, but I can’t help feeling this story would have made a wonderful, perhaps even memorable, read had it not been padded. Trimming down and then combining parts one and three, and losing part two entirely, would have made this a fantastic read!
I wouldn’t discourage anyone from giving this book a read, since I often have the same issues with King and Koontz (whom I prefer). Tastes vary and you might like this book more than I did. I certainly didn’t dislike it, but I ruined a fond teenage memory by revisiting this book. Maybe the old saying is true, that you just can’t go home again…
May 24, 2023
John Saul este unul dintre autorii mei preferati si imi place in mare parte pentru ca de fiecare data stii la ce sa te astepti de la el si poti sa intuiesti cam cat de horror sunt cartile sale, astfel incat rareori dezamageste. Este genul de autor care s-a mentinut fidel propriului stil si nu a diluat niciodata suspansul, frica si atmosfera apasatoare de dragul comercialului sau a cerintelor pietei.
Prezentul roman a aparut in 1979 si surprinzator, continutul si tendintele in materie de horror se preteaza si la tendintele actuale. Putem doar sa admiram cat de avansat era John Saul pentru perioada aceea, scriind ceea ce altii poate incearca abia acum.
Venind vorba despre atmosfera si intriga, le putem compara cu cea din Twin Peaks, desi poate nu atat de pregnante ca acolo, insa cititorul este condus incetisor in acest labirint al suspansului iar lucrurile devin din ce in ce mai apasatoare si infricosatoare.
In prolog ni se dezvaluie un ritual ciudat, ce include un dans pe plaja in timpul unei furtuni, la care participantii ingroapa de vii in nisip doi oameni si ii lasa acolo sa moara. Aceasta legenda circula pe plaja 'SOD Beach' si daca este adevarata sau nu, psihiatrul Brad Randall si sotia sa Elaine vor afla pe propria lor piele. Ei decid sa se mute la Clark's Harbour pentru ca el doreste sa scrie o carte despre un fost pacient, Robby Palmer, care suferea de o grava hiperkinezie si care s-a vindecat miraculos atunci cand parintii lui s-au mutat aici.
Desi satenii sunt dusmanosi nedorind sa aiba de-a face cu strainii, seriful locului este neprietenos si agresiv cu ei, iar furtunile misterioase sunt la ordinea zilei, ei nu se lasa descurajati si doresc sa descifreze misterul mortilor de pe plaja.
In ceea ce-l priveste pe Robby, putem doar sa ne intrebam daca chiar si cei mai inocenti dintre noi pot ajunge in final cei mai malefici.
Mi s-a parut potrivita denumirea plajei 'Sands of Death' (SOD) si de asemenea m-a amuzat afirmatia lui Elaine cum ca singurul lucru bun la o furtuna, cand te afli la un motel este ca nu poti auzi ce se intampla in camera alaturata si nici nu poti fi auzit.
Cel mai mult mi-a placut ca si dupa ce mi-am dat seama de 'sursa raului', romanul era in continuare interesant si captivant, John Saul stiind sa starneasca interesul cititorului pana la sfarsit, astfel ca nu te poti opri din citit chiar si atunci cand descoperi unele lucruri. In loc sa taie cheful, te intriga mai mult.
Prezentul roman a aparut in 1979 si surprinzator, continutul si tendintele in materie de horror se preteaza si la tendintele actuale. Putem doar sa admiram cat de avansat era John Saul pentru perioada aceea, scriind ceea ce altii poate incearca abia acum.
Venind vorba despre atmosfera si intriga, le putem compara cu cea din Twin Peaks, desi poate nu atat de pregnante ca acolo, insa cititorul este condus incetisor in acest labirint al suspansului iar lucrurile devin din ce in ce mai apasatoare si infricosatoare.
In prolog ni se dezvaluie un ritual ciudat, ce include un dans pe plaja in timpul unei furtuni, la care participantii ingroapa de vii in nisip doi oameni si ii lasa acolo sa moara. Aceasta legenda circula pe plaja 'SOD Beach' si daca este adevarata sau nu, psihiatrul Brad Randall si sotia sa Elaine vor afla pe propria lor piele. Ei decid sa se mute la Clark's Harbour pentru ca el doreste sa scrie o carte despre un fost pacient, Robby Palmer, care suferea de o grava hiperkinezie si care s-a vindecat miraculos atunci cand parintii lui s-au mutat aici.
Desi satenii sunt dusmanosi nedorind sa aiba de-a face cu strainii, seriful locului este neprietenos si agresiv cu ei, iar furtunile misterioase sunt la ordinea zilei, ei nu se lasa descurajati si doresc sa descifreze misterul mortilor de pe plaja.
In ceea ce-l priveste pe Robby, putem doar sa ne intrebam daca chiar si cei mai inocenti dintre noi pot ajunge in final cei mai malefici.
Mi s-a parut potrivita denumirea plajei 'Sands of Death' (SOD) si de asemenea m-a amuzat afirmatia lui Elaine cum ca singurul lucru bun la o furtuna, cand te afli la un motel este ca nu poti auzi ce se intampla in camera alaturata si nici nu poti fi auzit.
Cel mai mult mi-a placut ca si dupa ce mi-am dat seama de 'sursa raului', romanul era in continuare interesant si captivant, John Saul stiind sa starneasca interesul cititorului pana la sfarsit, astfel ca nu te poti opri din citit chiar si atunci cand descoperi unele lucruri. In loc sa taie cheful, te intriga mai mult.
April 25, 2023
The Palmer family moves to the seaside town of Clark's Harbor expecting to be greeted by a beautiful coastal haven, but are met with hostility, superstition and rumors of paranormal horrors haunting the beach where many curious wanderers have lost their lives. On nights when it rains, supernatural phenomena begin to happen to Bobby Palmer's son, and someone else in the town may also be effected by the same event. Unknown to all victims, one of them is being driven to do terrible things against their will.
A decent paranormal mystery story that feels like a cliche horror haunting movie. The setup of the plot and the subtle creepiness of the seaside town are nicely done, but the main story and all of the characters are pretty forgettable. The culprit committing the crimes is extremely obvious, the Palmer children are very annoying and constantly make stupid decisions, and I just really didn't feel emotionally invested.
I did like the story of Chief Whalen, the superstitious hardass who has an unnatural hatred for all visitors and outsiders. He's not a likable guy, but he did enhance the tension and mystery of the story quite a bit. I found him more interesting and developed than the main cast of protagonists. I also liked the lore and history of the setting itself.
Not a bad novel, just kind of forgettable and would've worked better as a short story or a novella in my opinion.
My rating: 2.7/5
A decent paranormal mystery story that feels like a cliche horror haunting movie. The setup of the plot and the subtle creepiness of the seaside town are nicely done, but the main story and all of the characters are pretty forgettable. The culprit committing the crimes is extremely obvious, the Palmer children are very annoying and constantly make stupid decisions, and I just really didn't feel emotionally invested.
I did like the story of Chief Whalen, the superstitious hardass who has an unnatural hatred for all visitors and outsiders. He's not a likable guy, but he did enhance the tension and mystery of the story quite a bit. I found him more interesting and developed than the main cast of protagonists. I also liked the lore and history of the setting itself.
Not a bad novel, just kind of forgettable and would've worked better as a short story or a novella in my opinion.
My rating: 2.7/5
May 30, 2022
I have read quite a few Saul novels over the years, but I was hoping that an early novel (this was first published in 1979) of his would be different from his usual fare. Alas, no. Saul seems to have discovered his formula quite early-- a young family with a few young kids moves to a new, small town and bad things start to happen. The source of the bad things does vary, albeit they usually have some supernatural aspect to them. Take this formula, rinse and repeat, and you have the gist of many if not all of Saul's novels.
So, here the small town is Clark's Harbor, a small, largely fishing town on the Washington coast. In this case, we have Glen and Rebecca Palmer, along with their two kids, Missy aged 7 and Robby, a few years older. Robby has some sort of mental dysfunction that makes him fidgety all the time and also destructive. One day the Palmers were taking a vacation and when they got to the small town of Clark's Harbor, Robby seemed to suddenly be ok. When they left, as soon as they got away Robby resorted to his old self. The Palmers decide that they will relocate to Clark's Harbor and buy a run down shack by Sod beach. Glen starts to renovate an old building in town to make it an art gallery, as he paints and his wife is a potter.
Along the way, we are introduced to more 'strangers' in Clark's Harbor, usually for them to meet some strange death, which always happens during the area's sudden violent storms. What is causing the deaths? Does this have something to do with an old Indian legend about the place? Sod beach is really "Sands of Death" as the natives called it, and reportedly, they used to bury strangers in the sand with their head just above ground and let the tide kill them. Can you say Creepshow? In any case, suspicion is focused by some of the new 'strangers' that the town sheriff may be up to something; he hates strangers and warns them in a more than neurotic way that if they stay there will be 'trouble'; seems par for the course as they die right and left.
So, a decent read by Saul, and if you have not read enough of his books to be aware of his formula, you may get more out of this than I did. 2 rinse and repeat stars.
So, here the small town is Clark's Harbor, a small, largely fishing town on the Washington coast. In this case, we have Glen and Rebecca Palmer, along with their two kids, Missy aged 7 and Robby, a few years older. Robby has some sort of mental dysfunction that makes him fidgety all the time and also destructive. One day the Palmers were taking a vacation and when they got to the small town of Clark's Harbor, Robby seemed to suddenly be ok. When they left, as soon as they got away Robby resorted to his old self. The Palmers decide that they will relocate to Clark's Harbor and buy a run down shack by Sod beach. Glen starts to renovate an old building in town to make it an art gallery, as he paints and his wife is a potter.
Along the way, we are introduced to more 'strangers' in Clark's Harbor, usually for them to meet some strange death, which always happens during the area's sudden violent storms. What is causing the deaths? Does this have something to do with an old Indian legend about the place? Sod beach is really "Sands of Death" as the natives called it, and reportedly, they used to bury strangers in the sand with their head just above ground and let the tide kill them. Can you say Creepshow? In any case, suspicion is focused by some of the new 'strangers' that the town sheriff may be up to something; he hates strangers and warns them in a more than neurotic way that if they stay there will be 'trouble'; seems par for the course as they die right and left.
So, a decent read by Saul, and if you have not read enough of his books to be aware of his formula, you may get more out of this than I did. 2 rinse and repeat stars.
July 7, 2020
M-a ținut cu sufletul la gură mereu😍😍Mi-a plăcut foarte muult. Autorul acesta are ceva aparte pe care nu l-am mai întâlnit în alte cărți horror. După ce am studiat la facultate legat de Teoria Literaturii, mi-am dat seama ce este atât de special la cărțile lui Saul,subiectiv vorbind evident. Astfel, cred ca naratorul însuși este chiar acel ceva care bagă frica in oase atât personajelor cât și naratarului sau cititorului implicit. Asta cred ca face cartea atâta de marcantă și înfricoșătoare. Plus ca este plină de acțiune și nu te plictisești nici o secundă!
March 10, 2015
A spate of mysterious killings threaten a family in a small beach town.
I really enjoyed about two thirds of this book. It was an interesting concept and quite spooky, with some irritating characters, and some you had sympathy for. The mystery kept me reading, to find out what was going on and how people were being killed. You could see the identity of the killer coming a mile off, but it was still interesting, wondering how the characters would find out the truth. I found myself looking forward to reading the book, which is always a good sign.
Towards the end though, there were a few things which started to undermine it for me.
The kids just kept going outside in the middle of the night, despite the fact that there was a killer on the loose, and despite the fact that the parents were aware of them having previously climbed out of the window. What parents would continue to let this happen (over and over)? Lock the windows, lock the doors if you really think it's necessary. Keep your kids in plain sight. I didn't find this very realistic.
I also didn't feel the need for the attempted explanation of what had been going on, at the end. It just didn't seem plausible. Yes, it was supposed to just be a 'possible' guess, but it really didn't make sense at all.
Also- why were the wives so passive, giving in to all the men's whims, staying at home while the big strong men went out to sort things? As if you would agree to move to a town where people keep dying, where everyone hates you, into a house with no electricity, just because your husband fancied it! As if you would just sit at home while your loved ones were out in a storm with a serial killer on the loose! Hardly realistic and a bit cliched.
Overall though, I would recommend this as a good read.
I really enjoyed about two thirds of this book. It was an interesting concept and quite spooky, with some irritating characters, and some you had sympathy for. The mystery kept me reading, to find out what was going on and how people were being killed. You could see the identity of the killer coming a mile off, but it was still interesting, wondering how the characters would find out the truth. I found myself looking forward to reading the book, which is always a good sign.
Towards the end though, there were a few things which started to undermine it for me.
The kids just kept going outside in the middle of the night, despite the fact that there was a killer on the loose, and despite the fact that the parents were aware of them having previously climbed out of the window. What parents would continue to let this happen (over and over)? Lock the windows, lock the doors if you really think it's necessary. Keep your kids in plain sight. I didn't find this very realistic.
I also didn't feel the need for the attempted explanation of what had been going on, at the end. It just didn't seem plausible. Yes, it was supposed to just be a 'possible' guess, but it really didn't make sense at all.
Also- why were the wives so passive, giving in to all the men's whims, staying at home while the big strong men went out to sort things? As if you would agree to move to a town where people keep dying, where everyone hates you, into a house with no electricity, just because your husband fancied it! As if you would just sit at home while your loved ones were out in a storm with a serial killer on the loose! Hardly realistic and a bit cliched.
Overall though, I would recommend this as a good read.
December 1, 2012
Well, Goodreads ate my long review, and I'm too pissed about that to rewrite it eloquently, so here's the bare-bones:
"Cry for the Strangers" is a good read--interesting characters, well drawn locations, an initial sense of dread that escalates nicely into full-blown creepiness. The ending, however, was slipshod and unsatisfying, in my opinion. The novel deserved a better ending than it received.
Now I'll try and save this again. sheesh
"Cry for the Strangers" is a good read--interesting characters, well drawn locations, an initial sense of dread that escalates nicely into full-blown creepiness. The ending, however, was slipshod and unsatisfying, in my opinion. The novel deserved a better ending than it received.
Now I'll try and save this again. sheesh
March 11, 2017
Sadly, this book did NOT stand the test of time. I vaguely remember reading it many, many moons ago. Now that I read it again, I understand why (unlike many of John Saul's other books) I only read it once. The reason it took me so long to read is that I seriously considered not finishing it.
If you are new to John Saul, skip this one and try "Comes the Blind Fury", "The Unloved", or "The Unwanted" instead.
If you are new to John Saul, skip this one and try "Comes the Blind Fury", "The Unloved", or "The Unwanted" instead.
February 14, 2010
I love all the books of John saul...his books are scary,to the point,and he maintaines the same tempo throughout the book..
June 18, 2024
John Saul's third novel, 1979's Cry for the Strangers, is another solid horror thriller from him. I read it in three days. I'm just going to keep reading John Saul until I find a novel I don't like, but then I'll probably call that an exception and just keep on reading him. So far, he is six for six. Five were 5 star and this is his first 4 star for me. This one is not quite as shocking or weird as his first two - the brilliant Suffer the Children and almost equally great Punish the Sinners - but has a lot of the same themes - visitors coming into a small town, this one seaside like Suffer the Children, gothic style legends/curses, creepy kids, mental health issues, and unexplained murders/suicides - and again takes his story to the final page to add a sense of the cosmic. He does a better job than Punish the Sinners of individualizing all the characters so I'm not asking "Okay, who is this guy or girl again?" But Cry for the Strangers is a little too telegraphed, even though he does a good job at hinting at various explanations for the mystery up until the very end. Also, how many times are the Palmer parents going to let their creepy curious kids, Robby and Missy, escape out their bedroom window during the night (and during a storm, no less!) and go wandering in the woods and the beach in their pajamas before locking those windows? Ha ha. If you start comparing the logic of John Saul's stories to our world, you'll be unable to suspend your disbelief. Me? I love Saul's stories so much, I am very forgiving of illogic. This one is his first novel where one of the main characters is a writer, so there's that whole author identifying angle which so many King novels add. Overall, I still enjoy John Saul more than Stephen King as far as stories go. What a storyteller!
June 11, 2023
I've really enjoyed reading John Saul. I remember reading a book or two when I was younger and enjoyed it then as well. I gave it four stars only because I enjoy more extreme books today and more complex stories. The story was great but I did find it a little long for the context.
April 13, 2013
This was a good book. That’s all I can say about it. What I like most about John Saul is consistency. He always writes a good book. He never writes bad ones, nor has he written a truly great one. There is no magnum opus or capstone work in John Saul’s library of 36 published titles. With a few exceptions, all rely on the standard Saul construct for a novel with different characters, settings and circumstances.
I’ve said in earlier reviews that Saul doesn’t flesh out his characters any more than is necessary to tell his story and none of the characters in this story are particularly deep. With the exception of Chip, none are introspective. We are left with the motivations and emotions at hand with no backstory.
A stylistic critique I’d level at this Saul work is how he writes from so many points of view. None of the main characters are a mystery to the reader and despite a few red herrings about Indian legends, it’s painfully obvious who the villain is. But being in Harney Whalen’s head was useless text. We were in his head when he was rational. He knew he was having blackouts and was concerned about it. Saul could have shown us that. If Saul needed to be an omniscient narrator, he should have taken us into Harney’s head when he was maniacal.
Saul does do a good job of creating the setting of the remote, unfriendly fishing village on the coast of Washington; constantly beset by storms and cold weather. Perhaps it’s because Saul grew up in Washington that he is able to set the scene so well.
Saul is fun and easy to read. I can breeze through his books in just a few sittings and the stories, while seldom enthralling, are well told and well written.
Cry for the Strangers was Saul’s third book. Like most authors, he improved over the years and wrote many books superior to Cry for the Strangers. Nonetheless, the book made for light, easy reading and I enjoyed it a great deal.
There was a made for television movie based on this story. To my knowledge, it is the only adaptation of a Saul story for any screen. I have not seen it, but it was apparently not well received by viewers and IMDB.com reviewers.
I’ve said in earlier reviews that Saul doesn’t flesh out his characters any more than is necessary to tell his story and none of the characters in this story are particularly deep. With the exception of Chip, none are introspective. We are left with the motivations and emotions at hand with no backstory.
A stylistic critique I’d level at this Saul work is how he writes from so many points of view. None of the main characters are a mystery to the reader and despite a few red herrings about Indian legends, it’s painfully obvious who the villain is. But being in Harney Whalen’s head was useless text. We were in his head when he was rational. He knew he was having blackouts and was concerned about it. Saul could have shown us that. If Saul needed to be an omniscient narrator, he should have taken us into Harney’s head when he was maniacal.
Saul does do a good job of creating the setting of the remote, unfriendly fishing village on the coast of Washington; constantly beset by storms and cold weather. Perhaps it’s because Saul grew up in Washington that he is able to set the scene so well.
Saul is fun and easy to read. I can breeze through his books in just a few sittings and the stories, while seldom enthralling, are well told and well written.
Cry for the Strangers was Saul’s third book. Like most authors, he improved over the years and wrote many books superior to Cry for the Strangers. Nonetheless, the book made for light, easy reading and I enjoyed it a great deal.
There was a made for television movie based on this story. To my knowledge, it is the only adaptation of a Saul story for any screen. I have not seen it, but it was apparently not well received by viewers and IMDB.com reviewers.
August 29, 2011
* The people of the small, Pacific-coast fishing town of Clark's Harbor don't like strangers. Neither did the people of Cornwall Coombe, the small farming community of Tryon's "Harvest Home." The difference is, we understand why the corn-loving farmers don't like them. The people of Clark's Harbor are just unreasonably rude. One character repeatedly points out that trouble always follows when strangers move in, but the fact is, the trouble always comes at the strangers' expense. I should think pity would be a more appropriate reaction.
* I read this first as a teenager, and I must have liked it quite a bit, because I went on to buy several more books by John Saul. Somehow it seems more suitable to teens, yet it was a bestseller; and this was long before Harry Potter or Twilight, when kids didn't propel books onto the NYT bestseller list. Or did they?
* It's not bad, it's passive. It lies there and lets you do what you want, get what you can from it. It isn't a creative read and it doesn't encourage you to put any more into it than you care to. And that's what makes it happy. You can't really dislike a book like that, although you won't feel that great about conquering it, either. Unless, perhaps, it's your first time.
* I read this first as a teenager, and I must have liked it quite a bit, because I went on to buy several more books by John Saul. Somehow it seems more suitable to teens, yet it was a bestseller; and this was long before Harry Potter or Twilight, when kids didn't propel books onto the NYT bestseller list. Or did they?
* It's not bad, it's passive. It lies there and lets you do what you want, get what you can from it. It isn't a creative read and it doesn't encourage you to put any more into it than you care to. And that's what makes it happy. You can't really dislike a book like that, although you won't feel that great about conquering it, either. Unless, perhaps, it's your first time.
July 25, 2021
This novel definitely would have been more shocking back when first published, though it stands up to the test of time with the element of suspense. As a mystery, it's below par - there's basically no mystery. The cause of the deaths is obvious from early on. I'd say it's more supernatural than horror.
What Saul does is craft an eerie tale - a fine blend of creepiness and mystery, with a little bit of terror thrown in. I wouldn't say any of the characters in this novel stand out as being brilliant, there's basically no character growth apart from Chip. Maybe we don't need character growth in this quick tale.
The ending adds to the creepiness factor, and I found it satisfying.
A fine novel that I think now would be considered just creepy enough to be a made-for-TV movie.
What Saul does is craft an eerie tale - a fine blend of creepiness and mystery, with a little bit of terror thrown in. I wouldn't say any of the characters in this novel stand out as being brilliant, there's basically no character growth apart from Chip. Maybe we don't need character growth in this quick tale.
The ending adds to the creepiness factor, and I found it satisfying.
A fine novel that I think now would be considered just creepy enough to be a made-for-TV movie.
April 27, 2017
This was ok. It felt like it needed more work though, the ending was a bit lame, felt a bit like one of those irritating lead-ins to a next book in a series.
I was given a few books by this author by a neighbour, I quite liked them but reading them in quick succession, I can't help feeling they are a tad 'Nora Roberts', as in the author has a formula and runs with it. Kids, dead pets and weather carrying bad vibes are his thing apparently.
I was given a few books by this author by a neighbour, I quite liked them but reading them in quick succession, I can't help feeling they are a tad 'Nora Roberts', as in the author has a formula and runs with it. Kids, dead pets and weather carrying bad vibes are his thing apparently.
October 1, 2016
Made the mistake of watching the TV movie first. The book is way better of course. Saul has a way of bringing you into the world he created giving you believable characters and terrific atmosphere and setting. A fun read.
June 27, 2018
*Contains spoilers*
I love this author but this book was very dry. It was not suspenseful or scary. It needed more "meat" to the storyline.
Also - John must not have gotten the memo that no one cares who dies in the book but the dog needs to live". ☺
I love this author but this book was very dry. It was not suspenseful or scary. It needed more "meat" to the storyline.
Also - John must not have gotten the memo that no one cares who dies in the book but the dog needs to live". ☺
July 4, 2018
Kick ass. There is a dark cloud that hovers over every page of this book. You will probably figure out who the killer is right away. And still keep reading. The characters in the town, coupled with legends, old secrets and silly newcomers and their plans make for a great story. Sands of death!
November 7, 2018
On my trip home from Oklahoma I read this on Audible Audiobook for my many hours of driving.
I enjoyed this book and may re-read it with no interruptions. Like looking for deer and critters.
I do like a good John Saul book! :)
I enjoyed this book and may re-read it with no interruptions. Like looking for deer and critters.
I do like a good John Saul book! :)
December 19, 2014
Just okay. Kind of repetitive. Kind of predictable. Could have been a short story.
July 1, 2023
John Saul's stories tend to include the same themes and even though he might use some of those tools in his novels, there is something about them that always manages to captivate me.
Cry for the strangers is a slow burn atmospheric horror that takes place in a small town by the sea. In this town they are not fans of strangers. When two new couples decided to move in, the heavy storms came with them. And during the storms really bad things happened.
The story has a really slow build up and it focuses on the residents of the town as well as in their struggles, thoughts and their past. When tragedy strikes, they are quick to put the blame on each other.
The novel touches on the horrors we can not explain and those that might be living just next door.
Perfect For: If you enjoy a good exploration of character and small communities that need to battle against an unknown evil, this will be the perfect read for you.
Cry for the strangers is a slow burn atmospheric horror that takes place in a small town by the sea. In this town they are not fans of strangers. When two new couples decided to move in, the heavy storms came with them. And during the storms really bad things happened.
The story has a really slow build up and it focuses on the residents of the town as well as in their struggles, thoughts and their past. When tragedy strikes, they are quick to put the blame on each other.
The novel touches on the horrors we can not explain and those that might be living just next door.
Perfect For: If you enjoy a good exploration of character and small communities that need to battle against an unknown evil, this will be the perfect read for you.
August 24, 2022
IN SHORT: These people are Too Stupid To Live (TSTL) -- and many won't. Yay?
PLOT: Couple moves to small fishing village that doesn't welcome strangers. Odd things start happening, and there's suddenly a growing body count...
VERDICT: 2.88 stars, rounded to 3. A good book to read during a beach vacation and/or a stormy night. Would've been 3+ stars with smarter protagonists.
NOTES:
- Good small town horror/thriller plot that suffers from too many idiot* protagonists.
- Storms and a lack of phones & electricity make things spookier than usual.
- Holds up well from 1979, if you don't mind numbskull characters,
*Some examples (of many): People repeatedly
TRIGGER WARNING: Harm to
PLOT: Couple moves to small fishing village that doesn't welcome strangers. Odd things start happening, and there's suddenly a growing body count...
VERDICT: 2.88 stars, rounded to 3. A good book to read during a beach vacation and/or a stormy night. Would've been 3+ stars with smarter protagonists.
NOTES:
- Good small town horror/thriller plot that suffers from too many idiot* protagonists.
- Storms and a lack of phones & electricity make things spookier than usual.
- Holds up well from 1979, if you don't mind numbskull characters,
*Some examples (of many): People repeatedly
TRIGGER WARNING: Harm to
June 26, 2011
I reread this over the weekend since I was sick. Maybe 20 years has altered my perception of this book, but I had to downgrade it from 3 stars to 2.
My main issue with this is the pacing. Yes, I get that he's building suspense and mystery, but by the first quarter of the book, you know who's responsible. Maybe not why, but with Saul's books, why is never a guarantee to be offered by the end.
Also, the manner of the deaths of the 'strangers', not horrific or jarring. Not that they have to be, but for such a build up, you'd expect a little more than another drowned fisherman.
All in all, it's a slow book. He's written far better ones than this one. I don't relate to any of the characters, so I have little invested in their outcomes. As people are plucked off--though never a main character--I find I just don't care. Just one more dead body due to mysterious Indian folktales and legends. Saul did the one thing an author shouldn't do: he created cardboard characters I actually hope get offed. I should care about them, but I don't.
Especially Brad Randall. His smug, holier-than-thou attitude has rubbed wrong since the first page he appeared on. He was one character I kept hoping would be killed, but, of course, he wasn't. Boo.
I hope the other Saul books I reread over the coming months hold up to their memory, unlike Cry For the Strangers. I should have just left this one buried in my teenage memory.
My main issue with this is the pacing. Yes, I get that he's building suspense and mystery, but by the first quarter of the book, you know who's responsible. Maybe not why, but with Saul's books, why is never a guarantee to be offered by the end.
Also, the manner of the deaths of the 'strangers', not horrific or jarring. Not that they have to be, but for such a build up, you'd expect a little more than another drowned fisherman.
All in all, it's a slow book. He's written far better ones than this one. I don't relate to any of the characters, so I have little invested in their outcomes. As people are plucked off--though never a main character--I find I just don't care. Just one more dead body due to mysterious Indian folktales and legends. Saul did the one thing an author shouldn't do: he created cardboard characters I actually hope get offed. I should care about them, but I don't.
Especially Brad Randall. His smug, holier-than-thou attitude has rubbed wrong since the first page he appeared on. He was one character I kept hoping would be killed, but, of course, he wasn't. Boo.
I hope the other Saul books I reread over the coming months hold up to their memory, unlike Cry For the Strangers. I should have just left this one buried in my teenage memory.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2021
This is the first book I have read by this author and I kind of liked it. It reminded me more of a TV crime thriller than an out and out horror novel, although it had some very chilling moments and a nice supernatural twist. I can't say that is VERY original and you can kind of work out what is going on, but it was a good way of getting there. Although, the one thing that did occur to me, was that if it was me, I'd have nailed shut the kids window a long time ago!
I'm not 100% in love with the ending though. While it left a nice little shudder on the last page, it sort of came out of left field a bit and felt a little bit out with what had happened previously in the book - hard to be more specific without adding spoilers, but if one of the characters was acting one way throughout, it seemed a bit of a quick turnaround in the last couple of paragraphs.
That said, it was an enjoyable enough read that I will dip into the author's other stories to see if they are as thrilling.
I'm not 100% in love with the ending though. While it left a nice little shudder on the last page, it sort of came out of left field a bit and felt a little bit out with what had happened previously in the book - hard to be more specific without adding spoilers, but if one of the characters was acting one way throughout, it seemed a bit of a quick turnaround in the last couple of paragraphs.
That said, it was an enjoyable enough read that I will dip into the author's other stories to see if they are as thrilling.
March 7, 2020
As this being the 4th book in my Horror Challenge I put upon myself for my YouTube channel AreYouIntoHorror? which is to re read all of john Saul's books in order of publication, well this is one that I had not read in over 30 plus years. That being, it was creepier now than when i originally read it in 1979. Saul grabs you jn to Cry with a prologue as in slot of his books, then forces you to flip these pages as fast as possible to unlock the horrors and mystery of why this small town in Washington state, called Clark's Harbor does not like or accept any new strangers to come into it. My memory of the gruesome story and its murders was all brought back anew and i thoroughly enjoyed this one and rated it a strong 4 stars, however, this could have had more ghosts scenes involving little Missy and her 12 year old Brother Robbie.....this was where it really came up and bit you in the ass.
January 22, 2013
This book...like so many of Mr. Sauks's books, I had serious issues with the endings. I really liked the book up until that point, but the endsing annoys me, and it didn't actually make that much sense.
Because the sherriff says how his grandparents moved there from away and their son married a half-Indian girl. So, ok, fine. But when he's haunted by the voice of his grandmother, it's all about these Native American stories. Yet it's clear that that grandmother hadn't been Native at all. So why would that grandmother be connected to any Native American story?
Plus, it doesn't actually make much sense - his grandparents were from away.
Well, mostly, I was just irritated by the ending.
Because the sherriff says how his grandparents moved there from away and their son married a half-Indian girl. So, ok, fine. But when he's haunted by the voice of his grandmother, it's all about these Native American stories. Yet it's clear that that grandmother hadn't been Native at all. So why would that grandmother be connected to any Native American story?
Plus, it doesn't actually make much sense - his grandparents were from away.
Well, mostly, I was just irritated by the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2015
It's October and that means it time for a few horror novels; which is the reason I picked this one up. I've read a couple of other John Saul novels in the past and, though they aren't scary, they leave a good impression and give off just a bit of creepiness. This one fell flat in every sense. What made it even worse were the many continuity/plot/character holes throughout the story. Characters saying or thinking one thing (from their point of view) and then later doing the exact opposite. It was disappointing to say the least. Read some of his others and just skip this one.
February 21, 2012
Boring! I read him when I was younger and I didn't like him then and I definitely don't like him. He's too "old" when he writes. It shows in his writing. he maintains themes throughout all of his novels. Children with special abilities or disabilities. Beach. Strangers. Supernatural elements. I listened to this as an audio book and I nearly drove my car off a cliff to get away from it. Wouldn't recommend it.
March 11, 2021
There are a bunch of authors of these type of psych horror that I read growing up. I called them popcorn books. The same thrill as watching a horror movie. I eventually stopped reading them because they were somewhat formulaic. They were fun but I wanted to be surprised.
Rereading them as an adult, they are still fun. I have a few more that I am reading but I think this is just a nostalgia phase.
Rereading them as an adult, they are still fun. I have a few more that I am reading but I think this is just a nostalgia phase.
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