Over the years I have read several John Saul thrillers. They always gave me chills. This one is no exception. It was so hard to put down yet had me turning on all the lights while jumping out of my seat at every sudden noise. Even my cats appeared to sneak around suspiciously while I read. Thanks John for the nightmares!

So this book, which is the entire collection of short stories set in Blackstone in one book, made me think of a 90's horror/comedy show (like Tales from the Crypt without the Cryptkeeper). You know, low budget for the effects, each story has a moral at the end or a separate theme but they're all tied together in some way. Yeah, something like that. It was all very 90s. But not bad. It was an enjoyable series of short stories that features a cursed item in each one, then it all comes together in the end when you find out who the mysterious shadowed figure is delivering these items to the townsfolk. Easy read, nothing too deep, and your classic 90s horror. Enjoy!

Brilliant book! Every chronicle was a gripping read, even with the good pace, I still had to resist skipping ahead. It would make a great horror anthology series for TV! The denouement was good, although it could have been clearer. I would have loved to see MM actually pay for all his sins – that’s what kept it from being a 5-star, in my opinion.

This was a fun story. I really enjoyed it.

I still think that sanitariums in horror stories are cliche, but this serial collection of short stories was done pretty well.
I gotta be honest, I predicted the ending about halfway through. It wasn't tough to guess. And the themes were mostly cohesive.
But the tension was palpable, and the horror evocative. I'd recommend this book.

3 Stars

Meh... it was okay. Nothing to scream about or get creeped out by. It was entertaining in the cookie-cutter, horror type of way; but nothing frightful or delightful.

Verhaal:t 3,5/5
Karakters:t 3,5/5
Schrijfstijl:t 3/5
Papier/audio?t Papier.t
Herlezen: t Misschien.

For me to make a run through 500-something pages in 3 days is pretty unusual, and while a lengthy power outage, and a cold that kept me up nights, had something to do with that - I want my pace to represent how this was a fun read for me.

I've wondered about some of the short-format printing options trending, and while this serial was planned to mirror the publication of Green Mile (Stephen King) - and the two of them reflected a much older approach to publishing (that Dickens used, among others) - I think this experience has told me what I wanted to know about it.

I wouldn't want to wait for thin installations to come out, wouldn't want to track them down and deal with the possibility of that being at all challenging, but I DO like the storytelling format once it's all collected (the same way I read Green Mile - which I liked less than Blackstone, BTW, even if it was technically better written).

I don't think there's a single original thing in this book (if you're a relatively experienced reader) - but the unoriginal things are organized in enjoyable ways, and none of them stunk to high heaven. The quasi-supernatural mechanisms weren't annoying or heavy handed (not often, at least). The scariest imagery was handled without belaboring anything - and the author succeeded in leaving you wanting more. John Saul has a good writing voice, comparable to Stephen King in some ways - with dashes of Ray Bradbury sprinkled in. I felt the same way about his world-building as I did about Dan Simmons' in Summer of Night. It's not as polished or easy/natural as Stephen King when he does it, but it's highly readable.

The book managed some decent surprises. I liked a handful of the characters. There were a few brave choices made with the leading lady in the piece, and they may put the lie to my claim that there wasn't anything particularly original going on.

Also, some cheesiness. But it's a format that makes some cheesiness seem almost inescapable. Since so much of the book is mystery-oriented, I don't want to spoil anything.

It reminded me of the pacing,scares and mystery of the classic movie Black Christmas (of "the call is coming from inside the house" fame).

Strictly speaking, the 4 star rating is for the experience and fun - it's more of a 3 if we're going to talk about it as art. Recommending it to my mom, in a good way :)

The Blackstone Chronicles, John Saul, 1997

My favorite quote: “The dark figure cradled the doll, gazing into its porcelain face in the moonlight, stroking its long blond hair, remembering how it had come to be here.”

Notable characters: The truth is, they’re all notable. Seriously. This is some of the best work Saul has ever done

Most memorable scene: Early on, when the little girl goes to the asylum. I was stunned. STUNNED. And so was the nurse who helped her undress

Greatest strengths: The shock value. Here there be many, many shocks …

Standout achievements: For technically containing six different stories, it’s remarkably cohesive

Fun Facts: The Blackstone Chronicles is a serialized novel consisting of six installments, all of follow the lives of different characters living in the fiction New Hampshire town of Blackstone

Other media: It’s been adapted into a graphic novel, a computer game, and ALMOST a miniseries … but apparently plans fell through

What it taught me: Because of the way it’s weaved together with a few interesting threads, this collection reads like a complete novel -- something I paid very close attention to for later use in my own work

How it inspired me: When Tamara Thorne and I began our gothic horror collaboration, The Ravencrest Saga, it was originally released in serial form. It’s thanks to Stephen King’s The Green Mile and John Saul's The Blackstone Chronicles that we were able to do that. Those serializations paved the way and warmed modern-day readers to the idea of serial installments

Additional thoughts: When we interviewed John Saul on our podcast, he told us a wonderful story about how this book prompted Whoopi Goldberg to get in touch with him … good stuff

Haunt me: alistaircross.com

- My Description -
In the small town of Blackstone, there sits a hill.
On this hill, an abandoned building rests.

Blackstone Asylum has sit dormant for decades.
Having closed down, It sits almost like an eyesore.

Plans are sit into motion to tear the old building down.
The replacement building will be a brand new and modern shopping center. Pretty spiffy.

Plans are delayed when a problem occurs with the funding for the project.

That's when the gifts begin to arrive.

Like the old asylum, these gifts also have a history.

Part 1 - An Eye for an Eye, The Doll:
A baby doll is left on the front porch of the Mcguire household. Megan McGuire is ecstatic. Like any little girl, she loves baby dolls. There is something special about this one.

Little Megan thinks the doll is for her.
Elizabeth, Megan's mother, is pregnant.
She refuses to give Megan the doll because she suspects the doll might be for the new baby.

Elizabeth hides the doll from Megan, but Megan finds the doll.
Elizabeth hides the doll again, this time somewhere Megan can't reach.

This time, The doll finds Megan.

Drastic consequences take place.

Part 2 - Twist of Fate, The Locket:
Jules Hardwick finds a small box in his driveway.

The box contains a heart shaped locket.

Soon after Jules finds the locket, he begins having visions of his wife with another man. She's having an affair! He's sure of it!

Drastic consequences take place.

Part 3 - Ashes to Ashes, The Dragon's Flame:
Oliver Metcalf and Rebecca Morrison are out shopping one day.

Rebecca finds a dragon cigarette lighter.
She has to have it. It's perfect for her cousin Andrea.

Andrea is finally coming home after being away for twelve years.
Her boyfriend left her then she finds out she's pregnant.
She has to come home. She has nowhere else to go.

Rebecca gives her the dragon lighter as a Welcome home present.

Drastic consequences take place.

Part 4 - In the Shadow of Evil, The Handkerchief:
While browsing his attic, Oliver finds a beautiful hand embroidered handkerchief with the letter R.
He knows just what to do with it. It would be just perfect for Rebecca.

If only someone hadn't stolen it from her...

Drastic consequences take place.

Part 5 – Day of Reckoning, The Stereoscope:
Ed Becker stakes a claim on an abandoned antique dresser left in the old asylum.
He wants to bring it home, refurbish it, then sell it for more than what he paid for it.
Pretty simple. Pretty smart.

Not so fast.

Ed discovers that the dresser has something inside one of the drawers.
A stereoscope, a 3-D device used for viewing images.

Ed really should have left that dresser where he found it.

Drastic consequences take place.

Part 6 – Asylum:
The Asylum is alive.

Everyone thought it was abandoned...

Boy, were they wrong.

- My Review -
I love old abandoned buildings, whether it is a house or in this case, a mental hospital.
There is such history inside them.

I believe no building is ever really abandoned.
If only walls could talk...

I read this for the month of October to celebrate Halloween. Boo. HaHa =)

My favorite story out of the 6 is the 1st one.

There were a few creepy scenes throughout the book so that made me happy.

While I did enjoy this book, the last story felt disconnected from the rest of the book. That was very disappointing.

Also, the ending was abrupt. It left me wanting more.

If you are a huge fan of 80s horror films, this would be a great book for you. It read just like one. I liked it, but found it a bit too full of tropes for me. I'm a big fan of John Saul in general, but this one wasn't one of my favorites. Still, if you're in the mood to read something that's a bit nostalgic for old horror flicks, this would be an excellent book for you.

A wonderful story of the town of Blackstone and sins past and present. Odd things are happening as long lost items become unwanted gifts with deadly consequences.
Originally published in serial format, this novel is easy to read in six sittings. Very entertaining from start to finish.