This book is typical of Saul's writing. John knows the way to a twisting turning gut an ax pick of pages turning as his story slowly grips you while your eyes scan and hold the reader captivated throughout its journey pushing the points of pacified horror jubilant traits of filth deception and a glossy filling of who or what is responsible. He brings you to such heights; a mer finish is undignified. HE IS AN ARTIST. Which means "Read them ALL!!!"

Good mysterious read but hated how it ended. Need more follow up to what happened later. Love the story of the kids exploring and their summer at the lake...can picture boys out having fun!

it is an undeniably creepy horror chiller

John Saul's novels are mostly centred around children, and are frequently middle of the road horrors, with some good scenes of tension and a decent mystery to see readers through until the end. 'In the Dark' is no different in that aspect, a winning formula is not to be sniffed at. The scenario here centres around a supernatural force which seeks to influence the children that move in to a set of holiday homes. The plot is well thought out, with some well presented characters, and the requisite amount of spookiness. The book is however let down by a certain lack of closure. There are far too many questions left unanswered - or plot holes left unfilled (depending on your view). Overall though, another easy to read Saul horror, which will keep you interested until the inevitable conclusion.

Gruseliger und düsterer Horror, der eher gemächlich erzählt wird. Mir gefällt vor allem die bedrohliche Atmosphäre, die der Autor in seinen Werken schafft. Es hätten aber ruhig ein paar Seiten weniger sein können, da sich vieles wiederholt und es zum Teil etwas zäh voran ging. Wer Gewalt gegen Tiere nicht haben kann sollte die Finger besser von dem Buch lassen.

I really liked how creepy and suspenseful this novel was. It tells the story of a family who vacation at a house with many dark secrets. Soon there teenage son becomes obsessed with an old carriage house filled with cursed items. The family soon find themselves battling something quite evil!

NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH!! Another horror book to disturb my sleep and make me think twice about going to the lake for the 4th of July Celebration and fireworks!! Get ready for 'In The Dark of The Night' by John Saul.

With this book not being published until 2006, it reads like of Saul's first and early in his career books....and that is a great thing! Now you all know if you have followed me and my reviews that I LOVE Saul as a horror author, and this is a perfect example of why. Ready for my review? let's go to Pinecrest and celebrate Summer!

Dan and Merrill Brewster are the parents of 10 year old Marci and 16 year old Eric. They live in the Pines and are getting ready to celebrate Summer and rent a cabin at the lake for the month. They decide to rent a mansion! Yes, and huge and 'the scariest house on the entire lake' and it is called Pinecrest.

When the real estate agent takes them on the tour, they wonder why it has not been rented in over 5 years, she has no answer for the Brewsters, but they soon find out why as soon as they come up and move in for the Summer. Now, Eric is so excited because he thinks this is 'the summer he is going to lose his virginity!' along with his best friends Tad and Kent who are just a couple houses away on the lake. As soon as they get moved in, Eric does some exploring on the property after hearing about the disappearance of the former owner Dr. Darby who vanished 7 years ago.....why? And where did he go? Eric is bound to find out more. He finds an old and abandoned carriage house, and it is as big as their house back home. He shows it the next day to Kent and Tad, and when they uncover a hidden room inside it, they find some extremely disturbing things inside.

The summer is about to become full, (and I mean a HUGE body count) of ghosts, disturbing people watchin them in the house and around the lake, pets being gutted, and then the locals start being murdered! What and why do you ask? Could it have to do with Pinecrest, or is it a local wanting 'the Summer people' to go back where they come from. This is one of my all time favorites by Saul, and it is almost and nearly perfect.

Warning: if you have a weak stomach for scenes of disturbing gore, animals being gutted, and scenes involving creepy and VERY scary homeless people who are obsessed with Jesus Christ, then this is not for you. But: if you LOVE all that shit.......get ready for a quick and very gory read!

I listened to the audiobook version this 3 time reading, and I must say I was blown away by the performance of the narrator.
4.5

Enjoyed it. Never was really scary, suspenseful with a mystery, yes. I would like to someday read a book that was scary. Haven't found one yet. Don't get me wrong, good book, worth reading.

I was into it until I realized that the objects the characters were finding were from REAL LIFE serial killers. I got the ICK.

Three families rent summer homes, the mother of one a worrier. She sees danger everywhere, so being away from home for months is hard on her. The families each have a teenage son, friends since childhood. They are "good" boys (if we ignore their summer goals of getting "laid"!)

They snoop around an outbuilding, and discover that time moves in a different way there than in the outside world. What feels like 10 minutes there can be an hour or two outside. They also find strange artifacts collected at great cost by the former owner of the house, a doctor at a mental facility.

There is also a stereotypical "mental patient" living in the woods. He knows about the doctor's items, and had been assigned the job of keeping them safe. But, not the boys have found them, and won't stop asking questions about the doctor and his disappearance.

There is also the story of the rich summer people and the resident teenagers who resent them. Enter a couple of bullies to give our "good" boys trouble.

I didn't realize it was more horror than suspense. There were some quite gory scenes, especially when the family pets are killed. The items found turn out to be a collection of well-know serial killer "tools," long ago ones (Lizzie Borden) and more recent (Jeffrey Dahmer), so as the slaughters take place the methods and tools are from history. Some quite gross, like when a mother recognizes her dead son's tattoo on a lamp. Not for the squeamish. Oh, when the axe is in action (used of course by the mentally ill man) dozen of people are killed before the boys notice him. How can that be? The people were gathered for a fireworks display, certainly standing next to someone suddenly beheaded would be noticeable!

A little thing... once we are introduced to the three families, why are they still referred to by both first and last names? Even the three boys.

I don't recommend it. I got it at a library clearance event based on the paperback info on the back. Not really a very good story, or very well written.

Did John Saul really write this? This was just....bad.

It was an ok story. Def interesting enough to finish. It did drag some so I ended up just skimming to the end.