John Saul discussion

Faces of Fear by John Saul, read August 2008

Saul's 35th Novel! Plastic surgery, My Space and homosexuality, oh my! Other themes in this book include: wealth, perfection, teens, online predators, self, perception, image, change and ego. This was not bad for a John Saul novel, not bad at all! Right away I found the story intriguing and Saul was able to keep my interest throughout the book, although as the story went on, it became just a little unbelievable. The one thing I am impressed with more than anything is this book's ending! I've been a Saul fan for over a decade (since I first read The Blackstone Chronicles: The Serial Thriller Complete in One Volume (Blackstone Chronicles) as a teenager), and this ending was not typical off the wall John Saul; the ending was normal with a nice conclusion to the story.

This book was originally "The Face of Fear" but Saul changed the title slightly so it wouldn't be confused with a Dean Koontz book by the same name. I would still rank The Homing and The Manhattan Hunt Club higher on the list of Saul's best, but I think fans will enjoy this story of "The Frankenstein Killer"!

I also did enjoy this book. I just finished it a couple of days ago. I agree with that the ending was very much different from the usual 'John Saul ending'. It was very eerie thought and very up to date with new age dangers and conflicts (i.e. Plastic surgery, online predators and new step parents, etc.)

As for John Saul ending, I don't believe it can get much worse from 'The Devil's Labyrinth'.

I like your way of thinking Jill! :-) Glad to see a new person in this little group. Lots of people didn't like Faces of Fear because it was too predictable. Personally, I liked it better than his newest one, House of Reckoning (2009).

I have yet to read House of Reckoning. I'm kinda all over the place with his works right now. My library is not too well stocked on the John Saul, but I will be suggesting that they get some more of his titles.