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Shiver
On a bad night in L.A., shy and timid Wendy Alden survives a terrifying encounter with a serial killer nicknamed the Gryphon. But the Gryphon isn't through with Wendy. His insane obsession drives him to strike at her again and again. To save her life, Wendy must discover an inner strength she never suspected she possessed....
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1992
100 people are currently reading
340 people want to read
About the author
Brian Harper
12 books5 followersA pseudonym used by Douglas Borton, aka Michael Prescott.
Douglas Child Borton, Jr. grew up in New Jersey and attended Wesleyan University, then moved to Los Angeles and pursued a career as a screenwriter. After working with several independent producers, he eventually switched to writing novels, a much less stressful occupation. He has published eight thrillers, from Comes the Dark (1999) to Mortal Faults (2006), and currently is at work on a new book. Today he divides his time between the Arizona desert and the Jersey shore.
Douglas Child Borton, Jr. grew up in New Jersey and attended Wesleyan University, then moved to Los Angeles and pursued a career as a screenwriter. After working with several independent producers, he eventually switched to writing novels, a much less stressful occupation. He has published eight thrillers, from Comes the Dark (1999) to Mortal Faults (2006), and currently is at work on a new book. Today he divides his time between the Arizona desert and the Jersey shore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 6, 2018
One of the best and creepiest books about a creepy serial killer doing creepy things, creepily that I have ever read that still gives me the creepiest, creeps even thinking about it.
It’s really good. Oh. And creepy.
It’s really good. Oh. And creepy.
March 11, 2015
This was a blistering serial killer and victim, cat and mouse novel. The shocks and suspense are piled on so heavily that the heavy emotional tone of the first third of the book gets a little obscured, but that first third is what gives the book its backbone and its strength. Some healthy suspension of disbelief is needed in the final third of the book. As long as you know you are reading the literary equivalent of a roller coaster, all you can do is sit back and hold on. But, again, its the very skillful setup of the first third of the novel that makes the endless jolts of the rest of it work. I've been impressed by everything I've read by Douglas Borton aka Brian Harper. Looking forward to reading more of his stuff.
June 16, 2012
Wow, wow, wow! I cannot stop thinking about this book! It was so eerie and stressful in some parts that I actually had to put it down and take a walk to calm my nerves!
I did, however, find the courage to finish this book, then proceeded to have my husband purchase it! This book was well written, with lots of twists/turns/gore to fulfill just about anyone's appetite. The serial killer in this story is so twisted that I find him to be one of the scariest characters that I have read about. One day after finishing this book, I am still making sure my lights are on and my pit bull is near me.
This is a must read! Fair warning, language, gore and a sick twisted mind is in this book. If these things bother you, you may want to skip it. Your loss though. :)
July 9, 2011
I know everyone prefers free books; however, I found a wonderful 99 cent book that kept me on the edge of me seat. If you like crime novels that is. "Shiver" by Michael Prescott is definitely worth the change lol.
March 30, 2024
There's a new serial killer haunting Los Angeles, targeting young women in their twenties and thirties. The Gryphon, named as such because of the small clay gryphon statues he leaves in the hands of his headless, horribly defiled victims.
SHIVER by Brian Harper, released in 1992, is another book I bought at Salvation Army ten years ago but never got around to reading until now... and wow! Brian Harper isn't a household name, but he should be. Honestly, this should be up there with SILENCE OF THE LAMBS by Thomas Harris. The writing in SHIVER—which was Harper's debut under this particular pen name—is so insanely descriptive, I almost felt I was being hypnotized by the amount of detail, mesmerized by the depth he brings to each of the lead characters. This book easily painted vivid scenes in my mind. It's incredibly disturbing, too, so beware.
What really surprised me was how much his style reminds me of Dean Koontz from about 2005 onwards. I've read quite a bit of Koontz, and if you would've put Koontz's name on this before I read it I wouldn't have suspected it was anyone else.
I absolutely have to read Brian Harper's other novels, as well as the books he writes under his current pen name, Michael Prescott.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
SHIVER by Brian Harper, released in 1992, is another book I bought at Salvation Army ten years ago but never got around to reading until now... and wow! Brian Harper isn't a household name, but he should be. Honestly, this should be up there with SILENCE OF THE LAMBS by Thomas Harris. The writing in SHIVER—which was Harper's debut under this particular pen name—is so insanely descriptive, I almost felt I was being hypnotized by the amount of detail, mesmerized by the depth he brings to each of the lead characters. This book easily painted vivid scenes in my mind. It's incredibly disturbing, too, so beware.
What really surprised me was how much his style reminds me of Dean Koontz from about 2005 onwards. I've read quite a bit of Koontz, and if you would've put Koontz's name on this before I read it I wouldn't have suspected it was anyone else.
I absolutely have to read Brian Harper's other novels, as well as the books he writes under his current pen name, Michael Prescott.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
October 3, 2019
Gritty
This is a difficult book to rate. Perhaps this novel deserves a higher rating, because it is indeed very well written, but it is hard to give too much praise to someone who can create such gruesome murderous scenes. It that sense it was a gripping story and an interesting study of a twisted and merciless, violent and hateful killer.
The characters are for the most part believable and real, although some characters seem to recover from the trauma and violence a bit too quickly ( but we see that in many hero’s - the protagonist gets brutally beaten and in the next scene looks dashing again, eh?) kThis was my second Prescott read, and you have to wonder how he can conjure up such evil. Hmmmm...
If you have a real thirst for bloodshed and brutal, depraved murder and dismemberment, he will not let you down.
This is a difficult book to rate. Perhaps this novel deserves a higher rating, because it is indeed very well written, but it is hard to give too much praise to someone who can create such gruesome murderous scenes. It that sense it was a gripping story and an interesting study of a twisted and merciless, violent and hateful killer.
The characters are for the most part believable and real, although some characters seem to recover from the trauma and violence a bit too quickly ( but we see that in many hero’s - the protagonist gets brutally beaten and in the next scene looks dashing again, eh?) kThis was my second Prescott read, and you have to wonder how he can conjure up such evil. Hmmmm...
If you have a real thirst for bloodshed and brutal, depraved murder and dismemberment, he will not let you down.
January 30, 2020
Very impressed. The writing is so descriptive and detailed, making the reading experience so immersive. Greatly written characters as well as a positive character development for the female protagonist. I like how a good portion of the story is from the killer’s point of view and how we get to read his thought process as to why he does what he does, it’s interesting and not often done. There’s a few twists that happen which catch you off guard, something you wouldn’t notice unless you read the book a second time. A Super interesting and different take on a serial killer fictional story, definitely recommend.
May 3, 2024
“The sound made him shiver.”
The sound being that of bones cracking. Courtesy of The Gryphon, a serial killer that is terrorizing Los Angeles. A serial killer that Detective Sebastian Júarez Delgado is determined to stop!
The Gryphon decapitates his victims and then leaves a clay gryphon in one of their hands. Pretty gruesome stuff. Some a bit hard to read, including necrophilia, rape, and the aforementioned beheadings. As to the story itself, it starts strong, and slowly, slowly gets weaker. The love story is terrible, and the meek victim turning into the super tough-as-nails survivor is hard to believe. I don't think that 24 hours is enough for either plot point to be possible. But none-the-less, they are in here. I did like that the point of view shifted often between the killer, the detective, and the heroine and it moved the story along at a nice pace. Gross, but good!
The sound being that of bones cracking. Courtesy of The Gryphon, a serial killer that is terrorizing Los Angeles. A serial killer that Detective Sebastian Júarez Delgado is determined to stop!
The Gryphon decapitates his victims and then leaves a clay gryphon in one of their hands. Pretty gruesome stuff. Some a bit hard to read, including necrophilia, rape, and the aforementioned beheadings. As to the story itself, it starts strong, and slowly, slowly gets weaker. The love story is terrible, and the meek victim turning into the super tough-as-nails survivor is hard to believe. I don't think that 24 hours is enough for either plot point to be possible. But none-the-less, they are in here. I did like that the point of view shifted often between the killer, the detective, and the heroine and it moved the story along at a nice pace. Gross, but good!
July 14, 2019
DNF. I made it more than half way through but just didn’t care about any of the characters, found the instant love interest of the detective to be silly and the serial killer change of heart to be way too over the top.
February 28, 2019
Good book
This was a good book kept me wanting to read it all the time but couldn’t but it was never really out of my mind..
This was a good book kept me wanting to read it all the time but couldn’t but it was never really out of my mind..
January 1, 2022
Wow... whos Genius
Great Characters
Fun to watch how each character reveals itself by each line.
Great Characters
Fun to watch how each character reveals itself by each line.
July 18, 2025
This is a page turner from the beginning. Quick read. I highly recommend this one.
July 27, 2011
If you love a good serial killer suspense novel (a good novel, not a good serial killer, 'cause, you know, that's just nuts!) and you haven't discovered Brian Harper's Shiver, what are you waiting for?! Well, besides having a safe place to read, with all the doors and windows locked, and a sharp knife under the pillow, and an elephant gun under the bed...well, you get the drill. Sublimely scary, this tale of the almost-victim-turned-survivor-turned-the hunted will certainly give you the shivers...unless you're already dead.
December 2, 2013
Excellent holiday read! The characters just come alive for the reader. The reader can actually feel what each character is feeling, know what they are thinking, and just be there with them. Mr. Prescott has a unique talent, and I highly recommend his books. Wendy is exceptional in this book, and I love how her life has changed for the better throughout this book. I'd like to know more about Wendy after this book!
July 26, 2014
I love Michael Prescott, he has a sick and wicked mind. He does some sick ish to his characters and I love that about him. I want to be afraid and I want to be on the edge of my seat and he does it every time. He doesn't beat around the bush and write unrealistically. He gives it to you raw. His serial killers cut off faces and heads. They rape and bite. They are evil. This isn't your mama's thriller. Prescott is the real deal.
February 17, 2013
I love a strong female protagonist, especially one who starts out ordinary and quickly turns into a dynamo to protect herself. Wendy Alden is such a protagonist. I was rooting for her all through this high-tension thriller, and she didn't disappoint. If you're into edge of your seat suspense novels, this is the one for you. There's supposed to be a movie coming out. I can't wait to see it!
August 27, 2011
Wow. There's no way on God's green earth that all of that could happen to one woman. A little far-fetched (and somewhat dated) but still a fairly nice thriller. Lots of action even if unbelievable. A scary psychopath for sure.
July 25, 2011
Originally written under the pen name Brian Harper in 1992, I just picked this book up to read and could not put it down. Outstanding and tense throughout as you follow the serial killer nicknamed the Gryphon. Great summer read
June 4, 2012
This was a very enjoyable read. The suspense was intense and just continued throughout. Finally a female protagonist that did things, I would like to think, most thinking women would try before giving up and just becoming a victim.
March 7, 2013
I liked this book, I like the heroine, and I like how her character builds throughout all that she endures. As with most of Prescott's books, the villains are a little nastier than I like. But it is well written, keeps your interest, and makes you want to know what is going to happen next
August 26, 2013
I am a fan of Michael Prescott. However, Wendy has the 9 lives of a cat and goes to some unbelievable efforts to save herself. Not too many folks around her get to live though. The killer has an equivalent number of "lives", so maybe it all works out....
November 27, 2013
One of my favorite thrillers I've read in the past couple of decades. The connection of all the murders is interesting and creative yet incredibly simple. I have the copy published under the authors first pen name Brian Harper. Great book!
September 8, 2014
The reason I rated this boo so high is that I did not guess the killer before the end, which to me is really the test for a murder-mystery's development. I read it in two sittings; the writing is fast-paced and fairly good.
May 7, 2015
Gripping
I enjoyed the style in which this story was written. Great plot and execution especially the creation and depth of the characters. Kept me in the flow of the story constantly and found it difficult to put down.
I enjoyed the style in which this story was written. Great plot and execution especially the creation and depth of the characters. Kept me in the flow of the story constantly and found it difficult to put down.
August 30, 2022
Okay I really like Michael Prescott. Scary serial killer story....lots of twists and turns. This story just didn't want to end! Just when you thought it was......it took yo0 further! Really liked it.
August 3, 2011
OUCH!! This is one of those crime dramas that stays with you...I can't get this serial killer out of my head!! You will love the heroine, though...and I don't mean the drug. :)
July 27, 2011
Good mystery/thriller. Serial killer is definitely creepy in this one.
August 8, 2011
I haven't read a book like this in a long time. I really enjoyed the dual points of view. I liked the mystery and yet felt fulfilled in the conclusion. Will definitely read another by this author.
August 11, 2011
Overall a good book.
September 10, 2011
Better than I expected.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews