All Fall Down

by John Saul

Something horrific is happening to the children of Eastbury, Massachusetts. Now, an entire town waits on the edge of panic for the next nightmare. There must be a reason for the terror. They all know it - but no one ever suspected.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Science Fiction, Supernatural

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

John 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.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not bad! Not bad at all!

If you gave me this book and asked me what author wrote it, I would have said without a doubt that it was Robin Cook. While creepy and mysterious like the other John Saul I have read, it is so hard to ignore how much like Cook this book is. Medical thriller to the max and I loved every minute of it!

You might notice how long it took me to read this and doubt how much I enjoyed it. It is merely the format I chose to read it in that caused the delay. Whenever I have a book on Kindle, for whatever reason, I frequently go days between reading sessions. But, trust me, I was always glad to get back to this one.

The God Project is creepy, mysterious fun. Any fan of horror/suspense/mystery should find something to enjoy here!

Trigger warning: Bad stuff happens to kids. Approach with caution.

[Misty Marie Harms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saul takes you on a journey through a seemingly normal small town, introducing you to a place ideal to raise young children, or so it seems. But beneath this pleasant village's facade lurks a dreadful secret. The book races along, pulling the reader on an adventure into a vast conspiracy involving the innocent children. This is a definite page turner. It grips you all the way to its very twisted end.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entire human genome was officially sequenced and mapped in 2003, after a decade-long project by an international team of scientists. Prior to 1990, when the Human Genome Project commenced, many questions existed about DNA, RNA, gene structures and sequencing. Prior to 1990, much of what we now know about genetics was fodder for science fiction and horror, which is why a lot of speculative fiction from the 1970s and ‘80s was “what-if?” extrapolations of unregulated human genetic engineering and experimentation.

John Saul’s 1982 sci-fi/horror novel “The God Project” joined the bandwagon of speculative authors playing upon the very real fears many people had about genetic engineering. What were the socio-political and ethical costs? Was genetic engineering the post-modern-day Frankenstein’s monster? What new wonders or horrors would we discover from this developing science?

Without giving away too many spoilers, “The God Project” epitomized two themes popular in ‘80s sci-fi/horror fiction: 1) Scientists playing God. A popular axiom: “Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.” 2) Unchecked secret governmental/military entities that weren’t above using American citizens as pawns or guinea pigs.

It is interesting to note that much of what was horrifying to a 1982 audience in this novel has become common plot devices in everything from movies like “Captain America: Winter Soldier” and TV shows like “The Boys”. (Hopefully that doesn’t give too much away in terms of spoilers.)

[Dirk Grobbelaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Fall Down is also published as The God Project

The door was slightly ajar.
There was no sound from within, and for a moment [she] felt an unreasonable sense of panic.

This is an uneasy read.

The first half of the novel is innocuous enough. A bit leisurely even. That is… until the trap is sprung and you realise that the false sense of security was exactly what the author was counting on.

I had some suspicions, and even although at least one turned out to be true, I didn’t quite see the ending coming. This is one of those books that will haunt me for a while yet.

We can do anything we want to, because nothing can hurt us.

This is exactly the kind of philosophy that gets someone killed.

Saul did pull the rug from under me, but it’s a good thing, since it’s that very fact that made me up the rating from three to four. It’s scary stuff, but not in the way you think. To truly understand, you would have to read it.

[Jeffrey Caston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my first John Saul book and I really liked it!

It was more thriller than horror. I'm not sure if he's mostly horror or thriller. I had thought horror, but I could be wrong about that.

But what I'm not wrong about is how much of a roller-coaster this one was.

Set in a small Massachusetts town, The God Project centers around a few families and some researchers. It's a race to find out what's happening to Eastbury's kids, triggered by a SIDS tragedy very early in the book. (So that really isn't a spoiler.)

The book is set in 1982. I don't remember computers being quite as powerful as they are depicted in this book, but it was a good mix of suspense, sci-fi, thriller, and fast-paced action. It was pretty short too, so it clipped along really well.

And wow, what a twist and an ending on this one! Fantastic!

I've got a few other Saul paperbacks in my bookcase. I'm looking forward to delving in to those soon.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy that I rediscovered how awesome John Saul is. I am going to have to put him in my favorite author list along with Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Bentley Little and Laurell K. Hamilton. Just that little list alone should give you a little insight into what my favorite types of books are. If you've read my blog before though, you'll know that I read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.

In The God Project Saul focuses on a little New England town where children are dying in their sleep of SIDs while others there and across the nation are disappearing or turning up dead too. At first it doesn't seem like these kids could have any connection at all until the story really gets rolling. Genetics and the Department of Defense all have a role to play and its still shocking all the way til the end of the book.

Saul writes a futuristic tale for the time that this was written, and it is fast paced and hard to put down. Just when you think you have it all figured out, he pulls another card out and plays a fast one on you. Things keep getting interesting and it left me wondering all the way til the end.

[MikeR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, The God Project. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when science, ambition, and bad decisions walk into a lab together, this book is your answer. John Saul's 1982 thriller delivers a deliciously twisted take on genetic experimentation gone wrong in a sleepy Oregon town. It’s creepy, weirdly plausible, and absolutely the kind of book that makes you side-eye your local science fair.



Plot Summary:
In Hawkshead, Oregon, genius geneticist Dr. Daniel Lowell decides to tinker with unborn babies’ DNA because, well, what could possibly go wrong?

Spoiler: Everything.

He convinces some expecting moms to sign up for his "totally-not-suspicious-at-all experiment," promising smarter, better babies. Surprise! The babies grow up to be creepy little super-intelligent murder muffins. Soon, the whole town is in panic mode, and it’s up to a skeptical journalist, a desperate mom, and a sheriff to stop the madness.




Main Cast of Chaos:

Dr. Daniel Lowell – Basically Frankenstein with a lab coat and zero chill.

Lisa Westbrook – The journalist with a nose for trouble and no sense of self-preservation.

Sarah Thompson – A mom who just wanted a healthy kid, not a future sociopath.

Sheriff Ray Cameron – Starts out as a “meh” kind of guy, ends up kicking ass for the greater good.


Themes That Hit Hard (And a Little Too Close to Home):

Science vs. Sanity:
Sure, progress is great. But Saul’s message is clear: just because you can play God doesn’t mean you should. Especially when the results might murder your neighbors.

Power Trip Central:
Lowell wants to control evolution. But surprise—people aren’t computers. You can't just tweak the code and expect a utopia. The experiment turns into a full-blown horror show.

Ethics.... Schmethics:
This book is a masterclass in "What Not To Do If You're a Scientist With Zero Oversight." Saul forces readers to think about where science ends and morality begins.



What I Took Away (Besides a Mild Fear of Kids):
The God Project is wild, fun, and disturbingly timely even now. It’s the kind of book that gets under your skin—not in a terrifying way, but in a "Wait... could this actually happen?" kind of way. It’s part thriller, part cautionary tale, part “Parents, read the fine print.”

If you’re in the mood for a vintage thriller with science-gone-wrong vibes, creepy kids, and a dash of moral panic, this one’s for you. John Saul brings the drama, the chills, and just enough real-world unease to keep you flipping pages and questioning your trust in modern medicine.

Recommended for people who like their horror with brains (literally), and anyone who's ever looked at a toddler and thought, “You scare me a little.”

[James Tuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS THE SH*T WHEN I WAS 13!

Seriously, back then this was the coolest book I had ever read.

I refuse to revisit the inside of the pages because I KNOW it will not hold up to the standard set in my memory from 28 years ago.

[Lauren Tortorelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading a John Saul book every now and then because you can always count on several things: good writing, evil children, satisfying story. The God Project is no exception. The story centers around two families and their two boys: Randy and Jason. But these aren't ordinary children. After the death of Jason's infant sister, the parents work to discover a cause but the cause may be closer to home and worse then they could have imagined.

A quick easy read for horror fans. It is not one of his scariest books, but it's a good one nonetheless.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first John Saul book I have read and I have another eight of his books on my shelves so I went into this hoping I enjoyed it and not have nine books by an author I don’t like.

Turns out that I am looking forward to reading more John Saul.

I have bought all nine John Saul books as he is a popular 80’s horror writer whose stories I want to read. Every time I have come across one of his books in my second hand/charity bookshop hunting I have bought it. All Fall Down is also known as The God Project. I would like to know why the name change. It is the only John Saul book that has a different title.

The book has dated as it features those new deadly machines called computers and the information they conceal which is found by one of the characters. For me, this adds to the story. It takes me right back to the 80’s when computers first entered our lives.

For others, the book may be considered out of date and a relic of its time but for me it takes me back to that time and immerses me in the 80’s. It reminded me of Jericho Falls, a book that had the same 80’s vibe and also featured a conspiracy.

The story features two families whose two children are involved in a vast conspiracy of genetic engineering which changes them and makes their lives frightening and scary. As the story progresses those behind the secret terror are revealed.

There is one sub-plot involving the death of a infant which is never explained. Is it related to the main story or something else? This should have been explored as it has implications for the other two children and the secret goings on. This sub-plot was not returned too after its early appearance in the book and was too open ended.

Having said that, I thought the ending fitted the book perfectly. A sense of creepy, bleak, nasty horror.

[Jay Sigler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The God Project was my introduction to John Saul's work. By the end of this book, I was pretty disappointed. It read fast and kept me mildly interested, mostly because of the dated 1980's high tech computer/DNA descriptions. There is a 1 star review from 2015 that parallels (in detail) a lot of what I didn't enjoy about this book so I'm not going to take the time to write it here. I did have higher expectations from Saul but ultimately, this book was FINE; not the best, not the worst.

If anyone has any John Saul recommendations that might alter my opinion of his work, I'm all for it!

[Laura Inkpen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I'm being harsh but the creepy artwork and blurb on the cover of this book seem kind of misleading to me. A thriller it may be but a horror it is not. And the author's decision to focus on a pair of hysterical mothers unravelling the mystery of their children's true nature rather than the body horror/awakening of the boys involved drains way too much of the eeriness out of this story. It's a shame too since the plot showed a lot of potential. Disappointing.

[Letta Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a teenager and I have to say, this is by far still one of the scariest things I have ever read. I sum it up as the Stepford Wives meet the womb. If you want a good thriller, this one you should pick up!

[Stela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Passable - I expected more of this, but in the end it was predictably enough.

[Roger Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book. I have a little bit of a problem deciding what the main genre is. It is certainly science fiction, but it is also a thriller and a suspense and a mystery. Children keep disappearing in a small town and there is an epidemic of crip death too. The mother of a crib death victim is completely unconvinced that her baby died of normal crib death and starts trying to find out what is really going on. That makes the story a mystery to be solved. Once she starts making some headway in her investigations she and her family and friends find themselves in mortal danger and they start having narrow escapes. That makes it a thriller. It is also a hard book to put down. On nearly every page there is the impression that another aspect to the mystery is about to be solved or that someone is going to get wiped out. That makes it a suspense. I also found some of it amusing too, but in ways that were not intended to be that amusing. I found that in the fact that it is kind of outdated. The mystery under investigation has to do with genetic engineering and a lot of the woman's detective work involves searching computer data bases. The book was published originally in the early 1980's and, let's face it, there have been a lot of progress in both genetics and computer science since then. The quaintness of how these fields were perceived at that time kind of stands out and brings an occasional smile, but it does not in any way detract from the suspense and excitement in the story. If you like science fiction and if you like a fast paced thrilling mystery then do read this book.

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That was where his father lived, so everything was all right.

Except that it didn't quite FEEL all right. Deep inside, Randy had a strange sense of something being very wrong"

The God Project by John Saul


Sigh. Yes, it is he. John Saul again. A writer I grew up with (his books) and a writer who succeeded every time in scaring the living daylights out of me.

This is much much different then most of his works.

And startlingly good. I do not think I moved the whole time while reading this.

I am moving into spoiler territory. Have you not read this book? Then do not read further. If you, like myself, are a Saul fan, perhaps you have the same gripe as I do.

SPOILERS:

why John Saul why? Why do you have to Kill EVERYONE in all your books? Why could you not let Lucy and Jim find happiness together?

Yeah I know. I get way to involved.

I always wanted a part two of this but Saul is not known for his happy endings soo..

But I wish he'd rewrite a few of them with happy endings. He'd make his fans..some of them such as yours truly..so happy.

But..no. It will most likely never happen. Second sigh.

I still friggin LOVED this! 4 stars!

[Elizabeth Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is extremely interesting and not a terrible summer read. The idea of something being wrong with out children or happening to them as being the most frightening thing that a parent can think of or experience is not new, but the way Saul gets in the psyches of the adults involved is fantastic. The story moves quickly and easily enough, and is well-written enough for belief suspension, which is not always the case for sci-fi/horror. Worth your time I think, and thought provoking too.

It does, however, reveal a bit of a bias in the author as against "evil big corporations" etc in the language. That being said, I must admit I did not see the twist that came in the last 15 pages - two twists actually.

[Taco Banana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I am reminded of John Saul's reliability. I've read a half-dozen of his books and the worst of them was still pretty good.
A big point of his stories are the characters are just flawed humans acting as flawed humans should. There's no great underlying preachiness, he picks a target, one within the realm of reasonable fear, and builds some chills and thrills. This one tackles heartlessness of science and military industry to convey a particularly chilling tale with a super-good-times finish.
Fast, feels highly plausible (my ignorance of DNA probably helps this notion), ultimately entertaining.

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one over 20 years ago, but the ending still sticks with me. The writing is so-so, but I feel the ending was so awesome that it deserves 4-stars.

[Brandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Call me naive but I like happy endings and that just wasn't.....

[Athena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had given this book 3 stars until I came to the end. "The God Project" is about genetic engineering, which has been practiced for a long time now, and how it's being abused for government purposes. Doesn't sound too far-fetched as this point, does it? The company devoted to the scientific research for this specific experiment was funded by a pharmaceutical company, and the department of defense. I liked the mysterious survey that no one knew anything about, and the fact that the women who didn't want their children at first were the place of the experiments.
John Saul also has the ability to take a regular place in a home, the dining room during breakfast, and make it void of all goodness and wholesomeness one would automatically imagine. I also didn't like the way Randy Corliss came across as a big dumb kid who partook in carelessness; it didn't make him look invincible, just dumb. Jason Montgomery was depicted as cold.
The main reason I was disappointed was because I thought at the beginning of the book it was established that Jason had in fact murdered Julie, and then re-enacted it with Fred proving that it wasn't the BCG injection after all. I was hoping there was a parallel story-line aside from the main point. It seemed as though the ending was just rushed.

[(shan) Littlebookcove · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had so much high expectations about this book. Sadly i couldn't quite get in to this book. It was my first ever John Saul book that i can recall reading. i don't think i've read any of his work's before and  it left me very disappointed.
 
This book is over 30 years old and it simply hasn't aged well. It is a horror novel about genetic engineering, as several people in a small town suspect their children may the products of an experiment in human evolution.
 
The ending also. Well i was very disappointed. i was expecting better. i did take this book on my wedding trip with me, but i'm kind of glad i left it till i got home now. I'm not going give up on John Saul but  I guess this book is like marmite you either love it or hate it. 

[Richard K. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I just finished this book yesterday, and it has been almost 40 years since i had originally read this...and let me tell you it gets 5 stars!!! Yes, this is the first of Saul's books that did not have any supernatural elements to it, and it was the first of many to come books under his new publisher, Bantam Books. This book is so realistically scary that it STILL blows me away with the pure human EVIL that exists in this story. The last 3 pages will chill you to the bone. So without saying any more or giving away plot lines and what not; here is a link to the video review I did for it on my YouTube Channel; AreYouIntoHorror . Take a look, and please if you have not done already SUBSCRIBE, its FREE!
https://youtu.be/ydOR20dLPqI


Thanks so much, Richard
Keep on reading and LET"S GET SCARED!!

[Easton Livingston · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hmm. How do I summarize my thoughts about this book which I have been done with for quite a while but didn't add it to my finished reading because of my crazy schedule.

I believe I can sum this up in two words.

It's ghastly.

To say I did not like this book is an understatement. I had written a full review on my website back in February here:

Easton Livingston Review: The God Project by John Saul.

In case you don't have the time to get into a lengthy review, I will simply suggest you avoid this book like the plague. Nothing to see here except a bad story with bad writing and bad pacing wit…I won't start. Just not a good book. Won't be reading another in, like, forever.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, but not that much -- and I can't quite put my finger on why. The mystery definitely kept me with it through the book, trying to figure out what was going on. And I was very sympathetic to the families who had lost their children, and felt they were were well-drawn as characters. But a part of me simply had trouble embracing the story as a whole.

In part, that may be because for each of the component elements (to be more specific would be a spoiler), I've read other works (e.g., by Card or Kress), where those elements were used so much better. To give this one credit, it was published in 1983, which was very early to be dealing with some of these themes.

There were definitely some interesting twists at the end, of the nothing-is-really-ever-as-it seems type.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I own a few of Saul's books and do enjoy the stories. I picked this one up as a break from my normal authors but similar genre. The idea behind the story and everything was pretty good, the ending I was glad was not the typical "happy ending" so made me a bit proud that the author did not give in and do what was all expected. However I think it could have been better told. I got in to the story easily enough and finished the book quickly, but about half way through it seemed to peter out and became easily predictable until the ending. Great idea for a tale though!

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literary magic! The flow and easy ramp up to the ending was enjoyable. The characters are believable and behave just as you would expect for the circumstances. It is a medical thriller without "over your head" jargon. It was like watching a LifeTime movie, a good read.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept - secret genetic engineering of super warriors. Quick read but not much depth.

[Lyndsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good story but far longer than it needed to be and some annoying typos

[Socrate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Montgomery se aplecă şi îşi sărută fiica, apoi înfăşură pledul croşetat, de culoare roz, pe care mama ei îl făcuse cu prilejul naşterii lui Julie ― şi pe care Sally nu putea să îl suporte ― în jurul umerilor copilului. Julie, în vîrstă de şase luni, se răsuci somnoroasă, deschise ochii pe jumătate şi gînguri.
― Nu eşti tu îngeraşul meu? murmură Sally, atingînd nasul micuţ al fetiţei. Julie gînguri din nou, iar Sally îi şterse o picătură de salivă de pe bărbie şi îi mai dădu un pupic, după care ieşi din dormitor. Nu reuşise pînă la urmă să-l transforme cu adevărat într-o cameră pentru copii nou-născuţi.
Nu pentru că nu ar fi intenţionat să o facă. Într-adevăr, camera aceea fusese destinată creşterii copiilor încă de la naşterea lui Jason, cu opt ani în urmă. Făcuse împreună cu Steve planuri amănunţite, ajunseseră chiar să aleagă tapetul pentru pereţi şi să comande perdelele. Dar Sally Montgomery pur şi simplu nu era tipul de femeie care să se ocupe de decoraţiuni. În afară de asta, deşi nu o recunoscuse în faţa nimănui, cu excepţia lui Steve, ideea i se păruse dintotdeauna o prostie. Asta însemna că trebuia să o tot reamenajeze pe măsură ce copilul creştea. În lumina slabă a unui felinar de afară, Sally privi camera de jur împrejur şi ajunse la concluzia că avusese dreptate. Perdelele, deşi de culoare albastră, erau încă strălucitoare şi curate, iar pereţii, râmaşi la fel de albi cum fuseseră atunci cînd ea şi Steve cumpăraseră casa, cu nouă ani în urmă, erau acoperiţi cu o multitudine de fotografii şi afişe tipărite, de care orice copilaş ce se respectă ar trebui să se bucure ― Mickey Mouse pe un perete, răţoiul Donald pe cel din faţa lui, cu o serie de alte personaje care umpleau spaţiile goale. Chiar şi ventilatorul ce se rotea încet deasupra pătuţului Juliei fusese ales atît pentru calitatea fabricaţiei lui, cît şi pentru felul în care era proiectat, chiar dacă Sally ajunsese, aproape împotriva voinţei ei, să recunoască valoarea formelor lui abstracte, despre care vînzătoarea îi spusese că avea să "facă minuni pentru imaginaţia copilului". Cînd aveau să crească şi să aibă propriii lor copii, urmau să aducă înapoi din pod ventilatorul şi afişele şi să le împartă între Jason şi June, care pînă atunci vor ajunge la o cu totul altă apreciere asupra lor. Chicotind la gîndul acesta, despre care îşi dădea seama că provenea dintr-un simţ practic supradezvoltat, Sally închise fără zgomot uşa camerei copilului şi o luă pe scări în jos. Trecînd prin dreptul uşii dormitorului principal, se opri şi ascultă sforăitul lui Steve, simţindu-se tentată să lase baltă raportul la care lucra şi să se strecoare în pat, alături de el. Însă latura ei practică se impuse din nou, aşa că trase şi uşa aceea şi continuă să coboare scările. Se uită la foile de hîrtie ce acopereau biroul. Era preferabil să termine raportul în noaptea aceea şi să apuce să strîngă toate hîrtiile acelea înainte ca Steve să coboare, dimineaţă, şi să întrebe tăios de ce pe biroul "lui" erau răspîndite lucrurile "ei". Renunţase cu ani în urmă să mai încerce să-l convingă că biroul era al "lor". Steve avea anumite convingeri cu privire la teritoriu. Bucătăria, de exemplu, era a ei, cu toate că Steve era un bucătar mai priceput decît ea. Camerele de baie erau ale ei, de asemenea, în timp ce camera familiei, care, conform tuturor preceptelor, trebuia să fie în mod categoric a lor, era a lui. Pe de altă parte, dormitorul lor, la care amîndoi ţineau, era al ei, în vreme ce garajul, pe care nici unul dintre ei nu îl dorea în mod deosebit, era al lui.