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Darkness
“[John] Saul has the instincts of a natural storyteller.”—PeopleVillejeune, Florida. A secluded little town at the edge of a vast, eerie swamp. Far from prying eyes. Far from the laws of civilization. Here folks live by their own rules—dark rites of altars and infants, candles and blood.Years ago the Andersons left town with a dream. Now they are back. To live out a nightmare. Something has been waiting for them. Something unspeakably evil. It feeds on the young and the innocent. And soon it will draw their teenage daughter into its unholy embrace. . . .
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
213 people are currently reading
9067 people want to read
About the author
John Saul
152 books2,856 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 249 reviews
February 7, 2021
Sixteen-year-old Kelly Anderson (from Atlanta) has been dreaming of a very old, sinister man trying to reach out to her for most of her life. She sometimes catches a glimpse of him in her mirror. Kelly also doesn’t feel like she fits in with the other kids. Eventually, an unhappy Kelly tries to commit suicide. Her adoptive parents (Mary and Ted) decide to go back home to Villejeune, Florida, to live with Ted’s father in his large house. One day Kelly meets another boy (Michael Sheffield) who seems to be experiencing the same thing she is (seeing the old man in the mirror). And she feels a connection with Michael. They like going to the swamp. They sometimes feel like it is calling to them. But what is happening deep in the swamp? Why do children gather? Who is the man known as the Dark Man?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a very entertaining read. I especially liked the great descriptions of the dark, murky swamps. They were very atmospheric. I liked Kelly and Michael, and Michael’s little sister Jenny (who I was worried for later in the book). The main characters were interesting, and the others… the swamp people, the evil Dark Man performing his rituals, were really eerie. The Dark Man was totally creepy. Another fine read by John Saul.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a very entertaining read. I especially liked the great descriptions of the dark, murky swamps. They were very atmospheric. I liked Kelly and Michael, and Michael’s little sister Jenny (who I was worried for later in the book). The main characters were interesting, and the others… the swamp people, the evil Dark Man performing his rituals, were really eerie. The Dark Man was totally creepy. Another fine read by John Saul.
May 12, 2018
Welcome to Villejuene, a small secluded town situated at the edge of a vast, dangerous swamp. The swamp rats – the people of the swamp live a primitive live and have minimal contact with the civilized world. In the swamp there is also the Darkman and his dark rites involving blood and infants. The perfect setting for evil!
The Andersons had left for Atlanta, never to return. However, circumstances force them to come back to Villejuene and they bring with them Kelly, their adopted teenage daughter. Kelly has been haunted by an evil presence and grew up alienated from her loving adoptive parents.
In Villejuene Kelly meets Michael, another adopted kid with no real problems. Wait! He does lose track of time. No points for guessing, Kelly and Michael sort of latch on to each other and discover something evil is happening around them. With the help of some pretty interesting characters they set out to fight the Darkman.
If you seek literary merit, then you don’t need me to tell you that this is not the book for you. This is a decent pulp fiction-ish horror novel with thrills and chills. The author has used the usual tropes of horror fiction to write a fairly entertaining story. What I liked best was his description of the swamp – the eerie place where danger is not only from the Darkman but from nature as well. The writer has managed to create an atmosphere of fear and suspense from the very beginning.
A point of criticism would be that the mystery would be revealed halfway through the novel. As an incorrigible whodunit lover, I would have preferred if the identity of the evildoers or the reason behind the conspiracy had been revealed at the end.
Overall, it is a decent horror novel, not great but still enjoyable if you like evil in small town and eerie swamps.
The Andersons had left for Atlanta, never to return. However, circumstances force them to come back to Villejuene and they bring with them Kelly, their adopted teenage daughter. Kelly has been haunted by an evil presence and grew up alienated from her loving adoptive parents.
In Villejuene Kelly meets Michael, another adopted kid with no real problems. Wait! He does lose track of time. No points for guessing, Kelly and Michael sort of latch on to each other and discover something evil is happening around them. With the help of some pretty interesting characters they set out to fight the Darkman.
If you seek literary merit, then you don’t need me to tell you that this is not the book for you. This is a decent pulp fiction-ish horror novel with thrills and chills. The author has used the usual tropes of horror fiction to write a fairly entertaining story. What I liked best was his description of the swamp – the eerie place where danger is not only from the Darkman but from nature as well. The writer has managed to create an atmosphere of fear and suspense from the very beginning.
A point of criticism would be that the mystery would be revealed halfway through the novel. As an incorrigible whodunit lover, I would have preferred if the identity of the evildoers or the reason behind the conspiracy had been revealed at the end.
Overall, it is a decent horror novel, not great but still enjoyable if you like evil in small town and eerie swamps.
January 16, 2015
The children of the Dark Man lurked in the shadows.
Okay. This is pretty eerie.
I think one of the challenges when writing macabre tales about the grotesque or fantastical is to make the reader believe. Even when there is a scientific element to the story, it is easy for this kind of thing to veer off into contrived territory, as opposed to scary. Even though Darkness skirts pretty near this particular border, Saul manages to keep it on the right side, i.e. he does manage to keep things believable for the most part. Believe me, in the context of this particular novel (which could easily have gone either way), this is no mean feat, and pretty important.
Somewhere out there, hidden in the tall saw grass, or concealed behind a clump of palmetto, they were watching him. The children, fixing him with their empty eyes, saying nothing.
Is it just me or is Horror fiction in any format just twice as crawly when there are children involved?
In the bright light of a perfect summer morning, when she should have been feeling good about everything, she felt only a dark terror.
A terror she realized might never leave her.
This book isn’t explicitly gory, not by a long shot, but the subject matter makes for (sometimes) harrowing reading. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if opinion over the book is divided. There was something specific that I thought was a just bit iffy. I won’t go into spoilers but it has to do with “reclaiming what’s theirs” (for those of you who have already read the novel). The way this is done is just frankly a bit yucky and preposterous. But this is a Horror novel, so…
For he knew what they wanted from him.
They wanted what was theirs.
Despite my one complaint (which will likely not be a complaint to others) I actually really enjoyed Darkness. It’s fairly tightly plotted, too. Saul doesn’t go into a lot of meaningless exposition or irrelevant background histories. Everything seems to have a point, and the underlying mystery is quite interesting. It’s just a good old eerie story with a fair bit of psychological wallop.
A soft, scratching sound, as if someone had crept onto his front porch.
August 13, 2022
Years ago the Andersons left town with a dream. Now they are back. To live out a nightmare. Something has been waiting for them. Something unspeakably evil. It feeds on the young and the innocent. And soon it will draw their teenage daughter into its unholy embrace....
A secluded town of crazy sickos living in a murky swamp somewhere in Florida, performing dark rituals, sacrificing babies and stealing their souls to gain eternal youth. The premise almost makes me want to crack a joke about Hollywood but I'll behave myself. The plot is simplistic and straightforward, but it's a fun and eerie one that makes good use of the creepy scenery of a backwater swamp full of cultish horror.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, thrillers, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
A secluded town of crazy sickos living in a murky swamp somewhere in Florida, performing dark rituals, sacrificing babies and stealing their souls to gain eternal youth. The premise almost makes me want to crack a joke about Hollywood but I'll behave myself. The plot is simplistic and straightforward, but it's a fun and eerie one that makes good use of the creepy scenery of a backwater swamp full of cultish horror.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, thrillers, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
December 1, 2016
When I first started reading many years ago John Saul was one of my first authors. During those years I left behind his works and after reading this one I have no idea why. This is a supernatural thriller that takes place in the swamp. There is a cult of children that follow the Dark Man. The Dark Man has ulterior motives for his cult.
I enjoyed this book so much. I liked the setting of the swamp and using children and teenagers as the victims added to the creepiness. I am a sucker for supernatural themes that are explained by science (even though the science is ludicrous) and that is prevalent in this novel. There are several moral themes throughout this book. Examples would be a mother's love for her child or how man is corrupt in their attempts to retain their youth. Everything worked perfectly. I had no problem with any of the characters and the twists and turns kept my interest throughout.
After reading this book I plan to revisit this author more frequently. It is an older novel but it entertained me throughout with its eerie setting and supernatural aspects.
I enjoyed this book so much. I liked the setting of the swamp and using children and teenagers as the victims added to the creepiness. I am a sucker for supernatural themes that are explained by science (even though the science is ludicrous) and that is prevalent in this novel. There are several moral themes throughout this book. Examples would be a mother's love for her child or how man is corrupt in their attempts to retain their youth. Everything worked perfectly. I had no problem with any of the characters and the twists and turns kept my interest throughout.
After reading this book I plan to revisit this author more frequently. It is an older novel but it entertained me throughout with its eerie setting and supernatural aspects.
August 16, 2021
A sweltering hot and humid Florida swamp full of creepy critters, creepier kids, deadly mysteries, and a black-cloaked puppet master known as the “Dark Man” running shit like a ruthless dictator. Welcome to the world of Darkness, where if the evil cult doesn’t get you, the gators will.
This was my first John Saul book, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. The concept was super cool, and the swamp setting really worked perfectly for this story. There is a lot to love here, and I flew through this book in no time. It’s compulsively readable.
A few minor issues prevented me from handing out the full 5 stars; namely, some loose ends that were never fully explained, and a few classic cases of “why the hell did that character make that insanely idiotic decision?”. Overall, though, Darkness is an effective horror novel with a winning formula. I’ll definitely be reading more of Saul’s work in the future.
Hug your children, and for goodness sake, keep them out of the damn swamp!
This was my first John Saul book, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. The concept was super cool, and the swamp setting really worked perfectly for this story. There is a lot to love here, and I flew through this book in no time. It’s compulsively readable.
A few minor issues prevented me from handing out the full 5 stars; namely, some loose ends that were never fully explained, and a few classic cases of “why the hell did that character make that insanely idiotic decision?”. Overall, though, Darkness is an effective horror novel with a winning formula. I’ll definitely be reading more of Saul’s work in the future.
Hug your children, and for goodness sake, keep them out of the damn swamp!
August 23, 2014
I read this book Years ago.. I STILL THINK ABOUT IT AND SHUTTER!
This book was absolutely horrifying and riveting.
This book was absolutely horrifying and riveting.
April 18, 2023
I've tried several John Saul novels before but none have ever really lived up to my hopes. Just as I had vowed to give up on him, I decided to try one more. This one was published in 1991, the 15th novel he published, so still solidly in the "early" John Saul library. And it did the trick. It kept me turning the pages and kept me from being on time to a couple of appointments. Now, I'm in that unenviable position of thinking...I need to read more of his stuff. But will they satisfyingly align more with this one or more with those previous disappointments? Time will tell.
May 17, 2020
Truthfully this story ended up very different than what I had expected it to be.. although when I started it I really had no idea what it was about. Still the opening scene seemed to suggest one thing but the actual truth of what was going on was very different. But it was different in a good way. The story moved smoothly and the writing was top notch. The characters were all great too. Evil ones were rotten and a few who I didn't expect to be bad turned out to be that way too. I guess it just proves you don't never know about some people.
This story was a lot more interesting than the previous book I read. The plot had more to offer. It was more creepiness going on, more strangeness, more sneaking about in the dead of night and trying to spy on people while hoping you won't get caught, more uncertainty...and it was also about hope. People who are different finding each other so they are not alone anymore,realizing what was missing in their lives and how to change it. And of course a big conspiracy! In retrospect Florida is sort of known for a legend linking the subject of this secret to the state.
One thing I did notice was that the ending seemed to have forgotten about one of the characters. I didn't exactly like that. It's like it left the end hanging. I think the author should have said something, to make it clear what had happened to her. That's why I'm rating four stars and not a full five.
This story is set in a small town in Florida, near the swamp. It's about a young teen girl named Kelly who moves there with her parents to live at her grandfather's house. She soon meets Michael and the two realize they have much in common. Both are odd and don't really fit in with others their age. But odd things are going on in the swamp and in their town. Lots of the town residents have dark secrets. And there's a strange frightening man out in the swamp too called the Dark Man. He holds strange secret ceremonies out there at night and he has lots of strange kids as followers. And soon Kelly and Michael find themselves in the middle of the mess. Will they survive or will they be yet more victims of the Dark Man?
This story was a lot more interesting than the previous book I read. The plot had more to offer. It was more creepiness going on, more strangeness, more sneaking about in the dead of night and trying to spy on people while hoping you won't get caught, more uncertainty...and it was also about hope. People who are different finding each other so they are not alone anymore,realizing what was missing in their lives and how to change it. And of course a big conspiracy! In retrospect Florida is sort of known for a legend linking the subject of this secret to the state.
One thing I did notice was that the ending seemed to have forgotten about one of the characters. I didn't exactly like that. It's like it left the end hanging. I think the author should have said something, to make it clear what had happened to her. That's why I'm rating four stars and not a full five.
This story is set in a small town in Florida, near the swamp. It's about a young teen girl named Kelly who moves there with her parents to live at her grandfather's house. She soon meets Michael and the two realize they have much in common. Both are odd and don't really fit in with others their age. But odd things are going on in the swamp and in their town. Lots of the town residents have dark secrets. And there's a strange frightening man out in the swamp too called the Dark Man. He holds strange secret ceremonies out there at night and he has lots of strange kids as followers. And soon Kelly and Michael find themselves in the middle of the mess. Will they survive or will they be yet more victims of the Dark Man?
December 15, 2025
I finally finish it. It took me almost 10 days for a 300 page book.
This is my second or third Saul novel and what I notice is that he writes good characters but over simplistic plot that probably should have been a novella lenght.
In this book we are introduced to a young teen who has problems adapting and she tries to kill herself - and failed. So her parents think it's probably best to leave the city and take her to the backward town they used to live. In that town surrounded by swamps, people still leave outside of civilization - the swamp rats as they call it and there she is trying to live a new life.
The book really flows by in the beginning but then the middle it's just boring and we know who is the dark man, why he is doing the stuff he is doing to children but the book drags on. It remind me of a previous book i've read from him.
The end didn't satisfied me as I hoped. It's not bad book it's just feels over long and in the end there was no horror whatsoever and even the thriller part was a bit stolen from us. 59/100
This is my second or third Saul novel and what I notice is that he writes good characters but over simplistic plot that probably should have been a novella lenght.
In this book we are introduced to a young teen who has problems adapting and she tries to kill herself - and failed. So her parents think it's probably best to leave the city and take her to the backward town they used to live. In that town surrounded by swamps, people still leave outside of civilization - the swamp rats as they call it and there she is trying to live a new life.
The book really flows by in the beginning but then the middle it's just boring and we know who is the dark man, why he is doing the stuff he is doing to children but the book drags on. It remind me of a previous book i've read from him.
The end didn't satisfied me as I hoped. It's not bad book it's just feels over long and in the end there was no horror whatsoever and even the thriller part was a bit stolen from us. 59/100
Read
July 30, 2019This book is part dippy as hell and part really entertaining. The science is questionable too. Would having hormones from your thymus gland taken away really take away your soul? There's suspension of disbelieve and then oh come on, that makes no sense! This book was better in Jr. High.
July 28, 2017
La historia se lleva a cabo principalmente en Villejuene, muy cerca de Orlando Florida, y por lo tanto uno se imaginaria que es un lugar feliz por estar a unos kilómetros de Disney, sin embargo no es así, en ese lugar vive el tenebroso, un ser que hace algo a los niños, los cambia y deja diferentes... vacíos. En esta historia tenemos como personajes principales a Kelly y Micheal, jóvenes que son diferentes a la mayoría, con un deseo de soledad y sensacion de ser perseguidos por un horrible mostro, que nos podemos encontrar en este libro, bueno una sensación enorme de angustia y suspenso, en la cual tenemos a un antagonista despreciable y aterrador, como siempre en los libros de John Saul el plano principal serán los niños, ellos sufrirán y serán atormentados desde inicio hasta el fin de la historia.
November 13, 2020
You can never go wrong with a Horror classic as one from the one and only John Saul!! Another great reread even after 30 years!! Still chills me to the marrow.
When this book was originally published in 1991 it was groundbreaking in it's scenes of disturbing and messed up as hell horror! The Anderson family leave Atlanta after Ted, the father loses his job. They have a 16 year old daughter Kelly who is going thru a lot of emotional and rebellion problems, and they decide to move back to Villajeune Florida, where Kelly was born. As Kelly starts acting out with dying her pink, smoking, and getting obsessed with a boy named Michael who knows the swamp like no one else in town, she decides to go for a walk after getting into it with her father.
Kelly sees and hears a voice that she cannot see and it calls to her, someone is telling her of the 'Dark Man', a figure that has existed for years here, and she is bound to find out if he is real or not. She does not return, after getting lost. What they come back to is something beyond belief, a swamp town riddled with children and babies disappearing, strange children seen in the swamps at night with glowing almost animal like eyes, sounds of weird chanting, and drums never heard before. Then Kelly sees and feels something.....something that will make Ted and his family wish they had never came back to Villejeune.
This book deals with some pretty messed up subject matter, including child abuse, cannibalism, body horror, and Voodoo. There are many scenes that literally had me shivering and wondering what the hell I would do if I was ever in the situation of trying to make someone believe what I was telling them is the truth, and with no luck what so ever. It is a tense, and quickly paced horror story that John Saul is always and was so great at doing. This book dealt with a subject matter and ways of terror that I have never heard of ever before in a book, and that is what I love about all of Sauls writing.
I give it a high 4.5 Stabby rating and recommend it to anyone who really wants to read a book that makes them say when they finish....'What the hell did I just read!?' Do you want to take a night time walk thru the swamps in Villajeune Florida.....? Let's go.
When this book was originally published in 1991 it was groundbreaking in it's scenes of disturbing and messed up as hell horror! The Anderson family leave Atlanta after Ted, the father loses his job. They have a 16 year old daughter Kelly who is going thru a lot of emotional and rebellion problems, and they decide to move back to Villajeune Florida, where Kelly was born. As Kelly starts acting out with dying her pink, smoking, and getting obsessed with a boy named Michael who knows the swamp like no one else in town, she decides to go for a walk after getting into it with her father.
Kelly sees and hears a voice that she cannot see and it calls to her, someone is telling her of the 'Dark Man', a figure that has existed for years here, and she is bound to find out if he is real or not. She does not return, after getting lost. What they come back to is something beyond belief, a swamp town riddled with children and babies disappearing, strange children seen in the swamps at night with glowing almost animal like eyes, sounds of weird chanting, and drums never heard before. Then Kelly sees and feels something.....something that will make Ted and his family wish they had never came back to Villejeune.
This book deals with some pretty messed up subject matter, including child abuse, cannibalism, body horror, and Voodoo. There are many scenes that literally had me shivering and wondering what the hell I would do if I was ever in the situation of trying to make someone believe what I was telling them is the truth, and with no luck what so ever. It is a tense, and quickly paced horror story that John Saul is always and was so great at doing. This book dealt with a subject matter and ways of terror that I have never heard of ever before in a book, and that is what I love about all of Sauls writing.
I give it a high 4.5 Stabby rating and recommend it to anyone who really wants to read a book that makes them say when they finish....'What the hell did I just read!?' Do you want to take a night time walk thru the swamps in Villajeune Florida.....? Let's go.
June 24, 2024
Is this the technically best written book ever? Surely not. Is it predictable at times? Absolutely!
But it’s an excellent pulp fiction horror novel, without much gore, but a lot of suspense and (for me at least) a very nice ending!
Pulled me out of a reading slump so that’s an extra star! Loved it, will definitely read more John Saul in the future.
But it’s an excellent pulp fiction horror novel, without much gore, but a lot of suspense and (for me at least) a very nice ending!
Pulled me out of a reading slump so that’s an extra star! Loved it, will definitely read more John Saul in the future.
January 11, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Darkness — John Saul
John Saul is one of those authors who gets lazily filed under “just horror,” which is a bit like calling a crocodile “just a lizard.” Technically correct. Practically fatal.
Darkness isn’t Saul’s best — hence four stars instead of five — but compared to much of modern horror, it’s a reminder that the genre can still do something unfashionable: be effective.
Michael McDowell is often praised as a “master of place” (fair), but read reviews of "Darkness" and the same word keeps surfacing: Villejeune. Calm on the surface, rotten underneath. The swamp isn’t a backdrop — it’s a threat with patience. Even the alligators feel like they’ve read the script. Saul knows horror doesn’t need spectacle when the setting itself is hostile.
The horror is pure Saul: psychological, relentless, and unconcerned with reader comfort. He steps straight into one of horror’s most uncomfortable territories — threats against children — and never once apologises. Some readers will bounce off that. Saul will not notice.
What really stood out — especially after recently reading "The Lathe of Heaven" — is how grounded Darkness feels. Both novels warn that:
Knowledge + authority + moral certainty = danger
Le Guin explores this with dream-logic “science” that (for me) dissolves its own argument. Saul does the opposite. He uses soft medical science — occasionally eyebrow-raising, yes — but it anchors the horror in something recognisable. Plausibility matters. It makes the fear stick.
And here’s the thing critics seem to miss:
Saul gives you everything in one book. Atmosphere, psychology, social rot, menace, momentum, and a clear beginning, middle, and end. You don’t need to read three critically acclaimed novels and a thesis appendix to assemble the experience. He does the job in a single volume and sends you home rattled.
And then there are the critics.
They adore abstraction.
They adore metaphor.
They adore anything that feels like it could be assigned in a seminar.
But Saul? Often dismissed.
Why? Because he commits the unforgivable sin of writing a book that prioritises momentum, atmosphere, and reader engagement. Critics tend to reward books that feel important over books that actually work. Ironically, if you slow down during the final fifty pages of Darkness — not easy, because the story is in full sprint — you’ll find genuinely poetic writing. Saul just refuses to stop the narrative dead so critics can admire the sentence structure.
The story itself is classic eerie pulp done right: a small town at the edge of a swamp, a sinister figure known as the Dark Man, blood rituals involving infants, and two adopted teenagers — Kelly and Michael — bound by unease and missing time. Saul lets the horror unfold cleanly and chronologically, without gimmicks, without winks, without telling you how clever he’s being.
Yes, the central mystery reveals itself earlier than I’d prefer. And yes, one plot element involving “reclaiming what’s theirs” is deeply, memorably unpleasant. But this is horror. If you’re here for comfort, you’ve made a genre error.
What Saul nails is believability. The novel skirts contrivance but never falls in. The town feels real. The fear feels earned. The book isn’t especially gory — it doesn’t need to be. The subject matter does the work.
At its core, Darkness is about proximity: the idea that the most terrifying things aren’t distant monsters, but what lives right beside us, quietly waiting.
This isn’t literary horror.
It isn’t experimental horror.
It’s EFFECTIVE HORROR.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what critics hate most.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
John Saul doesn’t need prestige, critical permission or a syllabus. He just needs a swamp.
John Saul is one of those authors who gets lazily filed under “just horror,” which is a bit like calling a crocodile “just a lizard.” Technically correct. Practically fatal.
Darkness isn’t Saul’s best — hence four stars instead of five — but compared to much of modern horror, it’s a reminder that the genre can still do something unfashionable: be effective.
Michael McDowell is often praised as a “master of place” (fair), but read reviews of "Darkness" and the same word keeps surfacing: Villejeune. Calm on the surface, rotten underneath. The swamp isn’t a backdrop — it’s a threat with patience. Even the alligators feel like they’ve read the script. Saul knows horror doesn’t need spectacle when the setting itself is hostile.
The horror is pure Saul: psychological, relentless, and unconcerned with reader comfort. He steps straight into one of horror’s most uncomfortable territories — threats against children — and never once apologises. Some readers will bounce off that. Saul will not notice.
What really stood out — especially after recently reading "The Lathe of Heaven" — is how grounded Darkness feels. Both novels warn that:
Knowledge + authority + moral certainty = danger
Le Guin explores this with dream-logic “science” that (for me) dissolves its own argument. Saul does the opposite. He uses soft medical science — occasionally eyebrow-raising, yes — but it anchors the horror in something recognisable. Plausibility matters. It makes the fear stick.
And here’s the thing critics seem to miss:
Saul gives you everything in one book. Atmosphere, psychology, social rot, menace, momentum, and a clear beginning, middle, and end. You don’t need to read three critically acclaimed novels and a thesis appendix to assemble the experience. He does the job in a single volume and sends you home rattled.
And then there are the critics.
They adore abstraction.
They adore metaphor.
They adore anything that feels like it could be assigned in a seminar.
But Saul? Often dismissed.
Why? Because he commits the unforgivable sin of writing a book that prioritises momentum, atmosphere, and reader engagement. Critics tend to reward books that feel important over books that actually work. Ironically, if you slow down during the final fifty pages of Darkness — not easy, because the story is in full sprint — you’ll find genuinely poetic writing. Saul just refuses to stop the narrative dead so critics can admire the sentence structure.
The story itself is classic eerie pulp done right: a small town at the edge of a swamp, a sinister figure known as the Dark Man, blood rituals involving infants, and two adopted teenagers — Kelly and Michael — bound by unease and missing time. Saul lets the horror unfold cleanly and chronologically, without gimmicks, without winks, without telling you how clever he’s being.
Yes, the central mystery reveals itself earlier than I’d prefer. And yes, one plot element involving “reclaiming what’s theirs” is deeply, memorably unpleasant. But this is horror. If you’re here for comfort, you’ve made a genre error.
What Saul nails is believability. The novel skirts contrivance but never falls in. The town feels real. The fear feels earned. The book isn’t especially gory — it doesn’t need to be. The subject matter does the work.
At its core, Darkness is about proximity: the idea that the most terrifying things aren’t distant monsters, but what lives right beside us, quietly waiting.
This isn’t literary horror.
It isn’t experimental horror.
It’s EFFECTIVE HORROR.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what critics hate most.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
John Saul doesn’t need prestige, critical permission or a syllabus. He just needs a swamp.
November 9, 2025
A lot of small towns have secrets. Behind the quaint veneer of the small town life with friendly and familiar faces waving at each other in passing, family owned businesses on main street, the locals catching up on the latest town happenings at the diner, peaceful gatherings at the school and church, often lies a hidden side seldom only whispered about, unknown to passing strangers. There may be a school principle having a secret affair. There may be an unsolved murder or disappearance that becomes the subject of gossip for years to come. There may even be a local sheriff involved in running moonshine. Still, some towns have secrets darker that others. Some towns, like Villejeune, Florida; tucked away in the swamplands of the Everglades, are haunted by a secret cult, that casts a dark shadow over the town's humble veneer, and performs dark rituals deep in the bogs.
Villejeune is a town surrounded by swamp water that is filled with alligators, swarms of insects, and snakes of all sorts, including boa constrictors large enough to swallow a grown man. The town itself seems normal enough, except shrouded in the mist of the sheets of humidity that rise out of the surrounding wetlands. Outside the town, there is a community of outsiders, known to the locals as "swamp rats", who travel into town by boat from their stilted shacks, and avoid contact with the outside world as much as possible.
Amongst the swamp dwellers, there is belief in a dark figure who haunts their watery locale, a "Dark Man", dressed in a black cloak like the grim reaper, who kidnaps and ritualistically steals the souls of kidnapped children. Though the people who live in town regard these tales as backwoods superstitions, pregnant mothers and their husbands have nightmares about their soon to be born infants being taken by the Dark Man. Some believe that others who live amongst them in the swamp are agents of this evil figure, with suspicions that some of their neighbors may even take part in the Dark Man's evil ceremonies, standing before the cloaked figure in a circle lit by torches, in front of the diabolical altar.
Kelly Anderson, a trouble teenager, finds herself in the town of Villajeune, after her family decides to move there to be close to family after she attempts suicide. She lived as an outsider in her previous home in Atlanta, and her parents think the small town life closer to her extended family may be good for her mental health. However, in addition to her emotionally instability and difficulty fitting in, even before she made the move to Villajeune, she had been haunted by dreams and waking visions in the mirror of a figure dressed in black. Soon after moving into her new home, she soon realizes that the dark being that haunts her may not just be a figment of her imagination, and that she has now moved closer to it's real-life presence.
In "Darkness", John Saul does a great job of creating a creepy atmosphere in the swamplands. His vivid descriptions of Villajeune and it's surroundings make the setting become a character in the tale itself, as much as the people in the story. It gives this story a unique flavor, and the inhospitable environment of the swamp adds to the tension. The story begins with mysterious happenings, leaving the reader in anticipation to find out what is really going on. From the beginning, one will likely begin speculating about whether there are real supernatural forces at work, or if there may be a logical explanation for all of the horror.
Overall, this is an above average horror novel. It's gripping throughout, but there's some gaps in logic and unbelievability that often take the reader out of the story. Still, there's plenty of twists and turns, and brilliant pacing, so the reader will still want to keep going despite some parts of it not making sense. Also, there's a lot to entice those who are interested in secret societies and cults. It's a good book to read around Halloween, or for anyone planning on making a trip to the Everglades.
Villejeune is a town surrounded by swamp water that is filled with alligators, swarms of insects, and snakes of all sorts, including boa constrictors large enough to swallow a grown man. The town itself seems normal enough, except shrouded in the mist of the sheets of humidity that rise out of the surrounding wetlands. Outside the town, there is a community of outsiders, known to the locals as "swamp rats", who travel into town by boat from their stilted shacks, and avoid contact with the outside world as much as possible.
Amongst the swamp dwellers, there is belief in a dark figure who haunts their watery locale, a "Dark Man", dressed in a black cloak like the grim reaper, who kidnaps and ritualistically steals the souls of kidnapped children. Though the people who live in town regard these tales as backwoods superstitions, pregnant mothers and their husbands have nightmares about their soon to be born infants being taken by the Dark Man. Some believe that others who live amongst them in the swamp are agents of this evil figure, with suspicions that some of their neighbors may even take part in the Dark Man's evil ceremonies, standing before the cloaked figure in a circle lit by torches, in front of the diabolical altar.
Kelly Anderson, a trouble teenager, finds herself in the town of Villajeune, after her family decides to move there to be close to family after she attempts suicide. She lived as an outsider in her previous home in Atlanta, and her parents think the small town life closer to her extended family may be good for her mental health. However, in addition to her emotionally instability and difficulty fitting in, even before she made the move to Villajeune, she had been haunted by dreams and waking visions in the mirror of a figure dressed in black. Soon after moving into her new home, she soon realizes that the dark being that haunts her may not just be a figment of her imagination, and that she has now moved closer to it's real-life presence.
In "Darkness", John Saul does a great job of creating a creepy atmosphere in the swamplands. His vivid descriptions of Villajeune and it's surroundings make the setting become a character in the tale itself, as much as the people in the story. It gives this story a unique flavor, and the inhospitable environment of the swamp adds to the tension. The story begins with mysterious happenings, leaving the reader in anticipation to find out what is really going on. From the beginning, one will likely begin speculating about whether there are real supernatural forces at work, or if there may be a logical explanation for all of the horror.
Overall, this is an above average horror novel. It's gripping throughout, but there's some gaps in logic and unbelievability that often take the reader out of the story. Still, there's plenty of twists and turns, and brilliant pacing, so the reader will still want to keep going despite some parts of it not making sense. Also, there's a lot to entice those who are interested in secret societies and cults. It's a good book to read around Halloween, or for anyone planning on making a trip to the Everglades.
March 19, 2021
I spent most of time reading The Darkness wondering why I still haven’t been able to connect with John Saul’s writing.
It’s perplexing, because I know he’s a Big Name Horror Guy; he sold a bajillion books in the 80s & 90s, & he’s one of those names that horror fans at least know, even if they haven’t read his stuff. But through two books (this one & Suffer the Children, his debut), it just ain’t happening for me.
And it is weird, because there’s a delightfully creepy story in here, dealing with murky Florida swamps & nefarious medical procedures conducted on children & a cabal of men who never seem to age. It’s a little more mystery than horror, but it’s got a striking setting & a plot that seems tailor-made for delivering the frights.
So what’s holding me back?
In a word, style.
Or rather, a lack of one.
There are writers who have an obvious style (Ray Bradbury is Exhibit A). Then there are writers like Vonnegut & Cormac McCarthy & Peter Heller who are minimalist & seem not to have a style, when in fact their non-style is their style (cue that scene from 1992’s Singles where Kyra Sedgwick says to Campbell Scott, “I think that, a) you have an act, & that, b) not having an act is your act”).
But Saul, by contrast, really has no style. His writing is pedestrian. Workmanlike. And sometimes that can be effective. But not here. Reading The Darkness is like watching someone trudge through deep snow, placing one foot laboriously in front of the other. They eventually get where they’re going, but man – the journey is no fun to watch.
To put it simply, there’s nothing about the way Saul wrote this story to convince me it’s worth telling.
I tell my students this all the time: it isn’t the story that matters, it’s how you tell it.
I don’t need bells & whistles. That can be exhausting. But I’d like, at a minimum, a sense that the author is invested in his own tale. The Darkness is all building blocks with no ornamentation.
And as a result, I found it to be a completely passive experience.
My eyes registered the words, I flipped the pages, but 24 hours from now I’ll have forgotten all about it.
It’s perplexing, because I know he’s a Big Name Horror Guy; he sold a bajillion books in the 80s & 90s, & he’s one of those names that horror fans at least know, even if they haven’t read his stuff. But through two books (this one & Suffer the Children, his debut), it just ain’t happening for me.
And it is weird, because there’s a delightfully creepy story in here, dealing with murky Florida swamps & nefarious medical procedures conducted on children & a cabal of men who never seem to age. It’s a little more mystery than horror, but it’s got a striking setting & a plot that seems tailor-made for delivering the frights.
So what’s holding me back?
In a word, style.
Or rather, a lack of one.
There are writers who have an obvious style (Ray Bradbury is Exhibit A). Then there are writers like Vonnegut & Cormac McCarthy & Peter Heller who are minimalist & seem not to have a style, when in fact their non-style is their style (cue that scene from 1992’s Singles where Kyra Sedgwick says to Campbell Scott, “I think that, a) you have an act, & that, b) not having an act is your act”).
But Saul, by contrast, really has no style. His writing is pedestrian. Workmanlike. And sometimes that can be effective. But not here. Reading The Darkness is like watching someone trudge through deep snow, placing one foot laboriously in front of the other. They eventually get where they’re going, but man – the journey is no fun to watch.
To put it simply, there’s nothing about the way Saul wrote this story to convince me it’s worth telling.
I tell my students this all the time: it isn’t the story that matters, it’s how you tell it.
I don’t need bells & whistles. That can be exhausting. But I’d like, at a minimum, a sense that the author is invested in his own tale. The Darkness is all building blocks with no ornamentation.
And as a result, I found it to be a completely passive experience.
My eyes registered the words, I flipped the pages, but 24 hours from now I’ll have forgotten all about it.
April 25, 2011
This was the first book I read from John Saul.I bought this book a million years ago at a yard sale for like 25 cents haha. It was a beat up book but the back had me interested. I swear this had to bought back when Scott and I first got married and that was 19 years ago! I even still have this book.
John Saul is a great horror author. Out of all the books I've read by him I have more than enjoyed. He gives you that creep factor as well in some that out of this world, that would never happen factor. But at the end of the day he will scare you!
These type of books aren't for everyone and I haven't read anything from him in some time. Though I do pick them up and read the backs, I just don't buy them any more. Maybe it's my old age and becoming a mom but since so many involve children it kinda freaks me out some. But if you don't mind that type of stuff then by all means please read his stuff.
John Saul is a great horror author. Out of all the books I've read by him I have more than enjoyed. He gives you that creep factor as well in some that out of this world, that would never happen factor. But at the end of the day he will scare you!
These type of books aren't for everyone and I haven't read anything from him in some time. Though I do pick them up and read the backs, I just don't buy them any more. Maybe it's my old age and becoming a mom but since so many involve children it kinda freaks me out some. But if you don't mind that type of stuff then by all means please read his stuff.
March 23, 2013
Every time I try to read a John Saul book, I think, "Why did I bother?" Yet every so often I will pick one up and hope for the best. I need to learn from the past. I couldn't finish this one -- I got about a third of the way through and then just skipped to the end. And I never skip to the end. It was that bad.
You can be a poor to mediocre writer in certain genres: Danielle Steel and Stephenie Meyer immediately come to mind. But in the horror genre, the writing needs to work. It needs to, you know, SCARE you. Creep you out. Create tension.
Not put you to sleep.
You can be a poor to mediocre writer in certain genres: Danielle Steel and Stephenie Meyer immediately come to mind. But in the horror genre, the writing needs to work. It needs to, you know, SCARE you. Creep you out. Create tension.
Not put you to sleep.
June 30, 2014
Great book that I read way back in 7th grade. The thing took me damn near all year, but a lot of those cryptic and eerie scenes in the swamps stayed with me.
For some reason I thought the main character cutting off all her pink hair was a bit odd too.
Anyways, for some conspiracy stuff with rich people and swamp folk, this is your bet!
For some reason I thought the main character cutting off all her pink hair was a bit odd too.
Anyways, for some conspiracy stuff with rich people and swamp folk, this is your bet!
October 22, 2018
Es el clásico autor que tiene mucho ruido pero pocas nueces.
Un pueblo al que acude una familia con problemas. Allí le recibe su padre y abuelo rico. Alguien rapta niños en el pueblo y hay gente que nunca envejece. Los recién llegados se verán involucrados.
Un pueblo al que acude una familia con problemas. Allí le recibe su padre y abuelo rico. Alguien rapta niños en el pueblo y hay gente que nunca envejece. Los recién llegados se verán involucrados.
June 16, 2008
I regretted reading this book...I should have guessed it though by reading his other books...The story was interesting but the ending was horrible.
August 19, 2020
Villejeune, een klein stadje aan de rand van een moeras, een occulte sekte en twee families die op sinistere wijze met elkaar verbonden blijken te zijn.
De boeken van John Saul had ik al een tijdje op mijn radar staan en was dan ook blij verrast toen ik een leuke stapel titels op de kop kon tikken in de kringloop.
Er valt niet zo heel veel te vinden over de schrijver. Geen interviews en weinig recensies. Ik weet wel dat hij vanaf zijn eerste publicatie meteen een bestseller auteur was en dat zijn boeken als horror gecategoriseerd worden. Hij heeft een flink aantal hoge scores op goodreads. Toch kom je zijn naam niet tegen in lijstjes met 'de beste horrorboeken'. Na het lezen van dit boek begrijp ik dat ergens wel.
Het geraamte van het verhaal zit stevig in elkaar. John Saul weet het geheel kundig op te bouwen en alle personages dragen iets bij aan het plot. Je merkt dat hier een ervaren schrijver aan het werk is. Het probleem alleen is dat de personages niet tot leven komen. Ik probeerde er al lezende achter te komen waar dit aan lag, maar ik kon het niet duiden. Totdat er een passage langskwam in het boek dat alles wat ervoor geschreven was ontsteeg en ik meteen zag wat er daarvoor ontbrak: voelbare emoties tussen de personages. Het was een scene waar het verhaal van opbloeide en alles wat daarna volgde meteen meer gewicht had. Plots bekommerde ik me iets meer om de personages. Maar het probleem is dat je inmiddels al op pagina 130 bent en er niet meer van dit soort passages volgen. Ik mis in het boek ook het alledaagse. John Saul had meer kleine, voor iedereen herkenbare, dingetjes in het verhaal mogen stoppen. Liedjes op de radio, een fles cola die terloops uit een koelkast wordt gepakt, niet opgeruimd speelgoed. Noem maar op. Alledaagsheden die als ankerpunten fungeren waardoor de lezer het gevoel krijgt in een echte wereld te vertoeven. De wereld die de schrijver nu schetst voelt door het gebrek daarvan onaf en blijft op afstand.
Het moeras speelt een grote rol in het boek. Maar net als de personages komt helaas ook het moeras niet helemaal tot leven. Ik bedacht me tijdens het lezen vaak hoe graag ik zou willen dat het moeras een entiteit zou zijn, een personage op zich. Dat had het boek goed gedaan, maar het kwam eerder bedompt dan broeierig over.
Ik vind niet dat John Saul een uitgesproken stijl heeft. Het proza is over het algemeen goed te lezen, maar er staan ook zinnen die niet lekker lopen en soms afbreuk doen aan de context. Daartegenover kom je gelukkig ook zinnen tegen die je voor je plezier een paar keer opnieuw leest. Ik heb de vertaling gelezen, dus het kan zijn dat er tijdens het vertaalwerk het een en ander niet goed over is genomen.
Ondanks alle aanmerkingen heb ik me prima vermaakt met dit boek. Er zitten behoorlijk wat occulte elementen in (waarvan ik al snel enthousiast word) en John Saul laat een paar keer goed zien dat hij nagelbijtende scenes neer kan zetten.
Dit was mijn eerste kennismaking met het werk van John Saul en had gehoopt wat enthousiaster te zijn. Toch ben ik nog wel nieuwsgierig naar zijn eerdere werk uit de jaren 70 en 80. Misschien dat dat me meer weet te bekoren. Maar voor nu blijven die boeken nog even in de kast staan.
De boeken van John Saul had ik al een tijdje op mijn radar staan en was dan ook blij verrast toen ik een leuke stapel titels op de kop kon tikken in de kringloop.
Er valt niet zo heel veel te vinden over de schrijver. Geen interviews en weinig recensies. Ik weet wel dat hij vanaf zijn eerste publicatie meteen een bestseller auteur was en dat zijn boeken als horror gecategoriseerd worden. Hij heeft een flink aantal hoge scores op goodreads. Toch kom je zijn naam niet tegen in lijstjes met 'de beste horrorboeken'. Na het lezen van dit boek begrijp ik dat ergens wel.
Het geraamte van het verhaal zit stevig in elkaar. John Saul weet het geheel kundig op te bouwen en alle personages dragen iets bij aan het plot. Je merkt dat hier een ervaren schrijver aan het werk is. Het probleem alleen is dat de personages niet tot leven komen. Ik probeerde er al lezende achter te komen waar dit aan lag, maar ik kon het niet duiden. Totdat er een passage langskwam in het boek dat alles wat ervoor geschreven was ontsteeg en ik meteen zag wat er daarvoor ontbrak: voelbare emoties tussen de personages. Het was een scene waar het verhaal van opbloeide en alles wat daarna volgde meteen meer gewicht had. Plots bekommerde ik me iets meer om de personages. Maar het probleem is dat je inmiddels al op pagina 130 bent en er niet meer van dit soort passages volgen. Ik mis in het boek ook het alledaagse. John Saul had meer kleine, voor iedereen herkenbare, dingetjes in het verhaal mogen stoppen. Liedjes op de radio, een fles cola die terloops uit een koelkast wordt gepakt, niet opgeruimd speelgoed. Noem maar op. Alledaagsheden die als ankerpunten fungeren waardoor de lezer het gevoel krijgt in een echte wereld te vertoeven. De wereld die de schrijver nu schetst voelt door het gebrek daarvan onaf en blijft op afstand.
Het moeras speelt een grote rol in het boek. Maar net als de personages komt helaas ook het moeras niet helemaal tot leven. Ik bedacht me tijdens het lezen vaak hoe graag ik zou willen dat het moeras een entiteit zou zijn, een personage op zich. Dat had het boek goed gedaan, maar het kwam eerder bedompt dan broeierig over.
Ik vind niet dat John Saul een uitgesproken stijl heeft. Het proza is over het algemeen goed te lezen, maar er staan ook zinnen die niet lekker lopen en soms afbreuk doen aan de context. Daartegenover kom je gelukkig ook zinnen tegen die je voor je plezier een paar keer opnieuw leest. Ik heb de vertaling gelezen, dus het kan zijn dat er tijdens het vertaalwerk het een en ander niet goed over is genomen.
Ondanks alle aanmerkingen heb ik me prima vermaakt met dit boek. Er zitten behoorlijk wat occulte elementen in (waarvan ik al snel enthousiast word) en John Saul laat een paar keer goed zien dat hij nagelbijtende scenes neer kan zetten.
Dit was mijn eerste kennismaking met het werk van John Saul en had gehoopt wat enthousiaster te zijn. Toch ben ik nog wel nieuwsgierig naar zijn eerdere werk uit de jaren 70 en 80. Misschien dat dat me meer weet te bekoren. Maar voor nu blijven die boeken nog even in de kast staan.
December 11, 2021
3.5
In search for an interesting horror novel I saw the name of John Saul. The plot seemed interesting and I bought the book. This was entertaining enough but I struggled a little with both the plot and the writing style. Especially in the middle of the book.
The mythology didn't really work for me. The read seemed more like YA than adult fiction to me. Nonetheless, I was happy to stick with it until the end and it was interesting.
In search for an interesting horror novel I saw the name of John Saul. The plot seemed interesting and I bought the book. This was entertaining enough but I struggled a little with both the plot and the writing style. Especially in the middle of the book.
The mythology didn't really work for me. The read seemed more like YA than adult fiction to me. Nonetheless, I was happy to stick with it until the end and it was interesting.
August 18, 2018
(3.5 stars) I've said it before and I'll likely say it again: I love that John Saul's books have a timeless feel to them due to his leaving out references that would "date" when the stories take place. Though published in 1991, this could have just as easily been published last week.
Unlike a lot of his other stories which tend to take place in sleepy hamlets in New England, this one takes place in Villejuene, Florida, a sleepy town surrounded by swampland. Ted, a native of Villejuene, and his wife, Mary, agree to leave the life they have built in Atlanta and return to Villejuene following a suicide attempt by their adopted daughter, Kelly, and lack of job prospects for Ted, who has been offered a partnership with his father's booming construction business, aimed at the growing retiree community Villejuene is becoming.
Plagued by nightmares of an old man, Kelly has never felt she fit in with the other kids - that she's somehow different -until she meets Michael Sheffield, who feels the same way, right down to having grown up seeing images of the old man himself. Drawn to the swamp, they become initiated into the "Circle" of other children who are "governed" by the Dark Man - the scary man of their nightmares. Knowing that something has happened to them and these other children that sets them apart, they set out to discover what it is.
Meanwhile, "swamp rat" (local jargon for those living in the swamp) Amelie Coulton gives birth to a baby boy who she is told died at birth but never gets to see before he's buried. Convinced that her baby is still alive, she turns to Barbara Sheffield (Michael's adoptive mom and town social worker), hoping that having lost a baby of her own, Barbara will believe her knowing no one else is likely to believe an uneducated swamp rat. Barbara tries to counsel her through her grief, but the more she gets to know Kelly, the more similarities she sees to her niece which makes her wonder if her own baby DID die or if Kelly could possibly be her, even though the Andersons adopted Kelly in Atlanta, and her daughter was stillborn in Villejuene. She becomes even more suspicious that something is going on in Villejuene, and that it's connected with the mysteries of the swamp, when looking through old pictures, she realizes that several of the men in town haven't aged at all in the past 20 years.
Having read several other books of his, I am familiar with his formula and kept waiting for the children to start dying so it was a fun change of pace that that didn't happen in this one, but rather the children conquered in the end. The pace was a bit slow in places but the climax of the book made up for it in that I had a hard time putting it down wondering how it would all come together. It was a bit more far-fetched and unrealistic than some of his books but not quite enough to make it too cheesy and unreadable. I can't imagine it's easy to come up with plot line after plot line year after year and continue to churn out bestseller after bestseller so I'm willing to cut him some slack here. (Though I did downgrade from a 4.0 to 3.5 because of it).
Every time I finish one of his books, I'm eager to read another; this was no exception. Even though I know they follow a formula, they are just such great books!
Unlike a lot of his other stories which tend to take place in sleepy hamlets in New England, this one takes place in Villejuene, Florida, a sleepy town surrounded by swampland. Ted, a native of Villejuene, and his wife, Mary, agree to leave the life they have built in Atlanta and return to Villejuene following a suicide attempt by their adopted daughter, Kelly, and lack of job prospects for Ted, who has been offered a partnership with his father's booming construction business, aimed at the growing retiree community Villejuene is becoming.
Plagued by nightmares of an old man, Kelly has never felt she fit in with the other kids - that she's somehow different -until she meets Michael Sheffield, who feels the same way, right down to having grown up seeing images of the old man himself. Drawn to the swamp, they become initiated into the "Circle" of other children who are "governed" by the Dark Man - the scary man of their nightmares. Knowing that something has happened to them and these other children that sets them apart, they set out to discover what it is.
Meanwhile, "swamp rat" (local jargon for those living in the swamp) Amelie Coulton gives birth to a baby boy who she is told died at birth but never gets to see before he's buried. Convinced that her baby is still alive, she turns to Barbara Sheffield (Michael's adoptive mom and town social worker), hoping that having lost a baby of her own, Barbara will believe her knowing no one else is likely to believe an uneducated swamp rat. Barbara tries to counsel her through her grief, but the more she gets to know Kelly, the more similarities she sees to her niece which makes her wonder if her own baby DID die or if Kelly could possibly be her, even though the Andersons adopted Kelly in Atlanta, and her daughter was stillborn in Villejuene. She becomes even more suspicious that something is going on in Villejuene, and that it's connected with the mysteries of the swamp, when looking through old pictures, she realizes that several of the men in town haven't aged at all in the past 20 years.
Having read several other books of his, I am familiar with his formula and kept waiting for the children to start dying so it was a fun change of pace that that didn't happen in this one, but rather the children conquered in the end. The pace was a bit slow in places but the climax of the book made up for it in that I had a hard time putting it down wondering how it would all come together. It was a bit more far-fetched and unrealistic than some of his books but not quite enough to make it too cheesy and unreadable. I can't imagine it's easy to come up with plot line after plot line year after year and continue to churn out bestseller after bestseller so I'm willing to cut him some slack here. (Though I did downgrade from a 4.0 to 3.5 because of it).
Every time I finish one of his books, I'm eager to read another; this was no exception. Even though I know they follow a formula, they are just such great books!
November 23, 2014
Well, i read the romanian version of this book and from now on i will keep my reviews as short and to the point as possible.Darkness is quite a good book if you are into mistery, horror.It kept me in suspense while reading it and i was not bored at all and not quite scared, ,mostly i was surprised by some story developments.Basically you are taken to Villejeune, Florida, where eerie things happen.You have this huge, creepy swamp, with aligators, snakes, insects, an evil presence and a mysterious old lady.This town holds many secrets and you will be surprised by who the bad guy is, or should i say bad guys.The Sheffields and the Andersons are caught up in a maze of lies, fear and darkness.For many years, children have died or disappeared in this city but no one really knows what is happening.Souls are being stolen by this evil presence.I enjoyed this story, and my favourite characters are the 2 teenagers, Michael and Kelly.They are trying to find out what happened to them , why they feel so empty, why the strange sounds of the swamp control their minds, why they are connected in some way.I was really angry at some other characters because betrayal was their middle name and i was waiting for their secrets to be revealed.There were some creepy parts and i really hoped, throughout the story, that someone would see the truth and help the children win their lives back.So, read the book, you won”t regret it.I bought my own copy of this and it won”t be the last John Saul book i buy.Thank you
September 19, 2017
To begin with, I wanted note that although I rated this book only 2 stars, it was not a terrible story. It had many flaws, but was enjoyable enough for me to finish and not be too terribly bored. The plotline itself was intriguing and the setting of dangerous swamp was depicted well.
These are the issues I had:
1. The writing style was somewhat unsophisticated. Many of the sentences did not flow together well and the language was a little too simple for my personal preferences, which made the book read more like a young adult novel.
2. Shifts between character's points of view were not always apparent. Sometimes I would be thinking that I was still in one character's head, but then get a few paragraphs in and realize the POV had switched to another character. When writing in omniscient POV, I think it's important to make it clear in the first sentence when there is a POV shift. That did not always happen in this book and sometimes the POV would switch without there being any page breaks. It got confusing and forced me to reread certain passages once I discovered whose head I was in now.
3. The plot twists were overly predictable.
4. I assumed this was a horror novel, but there were no scary parts. I think there were certain passages that were meant to be scary, but they were not written with much suspense.
Again, this is not a horrible book, but there are definitely much better works in this genre out there. This one fell flat for me, unfortunately.
These are the issues I had:
1. The writing style was somewhat unsophisticated. Many of the sentences did not flow together well and the language was a little too simple for my personal preferences, which made the book read more like a young adult novel.
2. Shifts between character's points of view were not always apparent. Sometimes I would be thinking that I was still in one character's head, but then get a few paragraphs in and realize the POV had switched to another character. When writing in omniscient POV, I think it's important to make it clear in the first sentence when there is a POV shift. That did not always happen in this book and sometimes the POV would switch without there being any page breaks. It got confusing and forced me to reread certain passages once I discovered whose head I was in now.
3. The plot twists were overly predictable.
4. I assumed this was a horror novel, but there were no scary parts. I think there were certain passages that were meant to be scary, but they were not written with much suspense.
Again, this is not a horrible book, but there are definitely much better works in this genre out there. This one fell flat for me, unfortunately.
July 26, 2010
I think this was supposed to be scarier than it was. It had potential to be scary with The Dark Man and his family of zombie children, the spooky swamp and its inscrutable inhabitants, and the obvious terror of the characters but somehow it just didn’t hit me. There were parts that were really creepy, especially toward the end, but I wouldn’t say scary. At times it sort of slipped toward corny and that made it lose some of its horror bite. I was also waiting for all the pieces to fall into place and I don’t think they ever really did. I understand there being mystery and magic around the events and I don’t need to know how all the stuff happened. But I do think there are some things that need some explaining so they make sense within the context of the book. One of the main characters is just sort of plopped into this story. She is integral to the plot but where she came from, her connection to everything else, and the motivations for her actions are never explained. It felt like you were coming at the story from two angles but they never quite met in the middle. It was a fast read and there were some interesting ideas and scenes and could be kind of fun in a light, not-too-much-thinking sort of way but this book, my first John Saul, did not leave me in a hurry to read any more.
May 20, 2018
The thing that's always creeped me out about John Saul's writing is his near-obsession with the idea of adults who prolong their lives by stealing youth from children. Sticking to this theme, Darkness takes place in a quiet Florida town where some residents don't age and many children disappear.
I enjoyed the theory -- and the book -- but didn't find it very different from many of Saul's other novels, especially Midnight Voices.
I enjoyed the theory -- and the book -- but didn't find it very different from many of Saul's other novels, especially Midnight Voices.
November 26, 2012
I loved this book so much it is one of my favorites.It always leaves you on the edge of your chair.The more you read into the book the better it gets. although i did get confused towards the middle of the book i caught on the next chapter.I also could relate to some of the characters in some ways so it left me suspenseful every step they took, also if i stopped reading for a while i would try to think about what i would do myself to solve the situation.at some of the parts in the book it does get a little scary but that is what made me like it even more.
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