It's just ok so far. Very slow start.

An alien seed is found in Hawaii and used for human experiments

Didn’t love the ending, but I still liked the book.

The mystery keeps building and the ending ties it all in for a satisfying conclusion.

An anthropologist from New York (Katherine Sundquist) is contacted by an old flame (graduate school friend, Ron Silver) to help him out on a dig in Hawaii. Katherine accepts and takes her sixteen-year-old son (Michael) with her. But while they are there, strange things are happening… her sons’ new friends keep turning up missing, or dead. And then there’s Ron’s mysterious employer (Takeo) and the skeleton they have discovered…

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really loved the Hawaiian setting, I felt like I was there. Most of the characters were likable, and the bad guys sinister. I was wondering what Takeo was up to with his mysterious project/experiments. I was worried about Michael and his friends when they got ill. I liked Katherine, she was a good female lead, as she tried to figure out was what going on with her son. I also enjoyed the exciting conclusion.

Another highly enjoyable, and captivating read by John Saul.

My first John Saul book, and impressed I am. Well written and easy to read, doesn't get bogged down with over descriptive nonsense and moves along at a good pace. Very enjoyable, I'll certainly read some more of his work. I'd liken his writing style to Koontz with how easy to read and enjoyable the book is.

Just didn't like it. I haven't liked his past few books, not very interesting and the characters were too simple.

'The Presence' was another awesome example of John Saul's ability to bring a story to life and leave me questioning the possibilities. Full of beautifully described scenery, possibilities of the unknown, great characters and scenarios that were full of surprises. The storyline was well written and the way it played out kept me glued to the pages. The characters were an array of personalities. Katharine was the typical mother who wanted the best for her family. She was a great lead. She's strong, determined and very strong willed when it came to her son Michael. He is not the typical teenager, but I think that has a lot to do with the relationship with his mother and what they had actually been through. Rob was an all around great guy. His dedication to Katharine, Michael and his work were admirable. A great add to your tbr list. Recommended read.

Necesito releerlo para hacer la reseña. Por ahora puedo decir que es bastante original y me ha tenido al borde del asiento hasta el final(azo).

I’ve always enjoyed John Saul’s books, and “The Presence” is no exception. The plot and story are compelling, with well-developed characters. I particularly appreciated that the “Presence” isn’t as malevolent as initially perceived, unlike Yoshihara, Jameson, and their teams.

The setting is beautifully described (most authors gloss over Hawaii assuming a few paragraphs will cover it), and Katharine’s fear of volcanic eruptions resonated with me, as I’ve always had a similar fear, even when living near extinct mountains. I also loved that the anthropologists outsmart the villains and the police.

This book is a masterfully crafted page-turner with several intriguing twists, and I especially loved the love stories (the deep love of a mother and the old flame coming back into Katharine's life). If I could give more precise ratings, I’d award it a 4.3.

Not the best that I’ve read, but OK. Kinda sci-fi blended with a supernatural spin.

I enjoyed the overall premise of the novel. Life seeded on earth from a distant planet. This is the first John Saul book I have read and I was happy with the pacing of the story. Just unpredictable enough to keep you guessing.

I think he failed somewhat in his attempt to create the high school friend environment. A lifetime Maui high school kid upon meeting a white kid who just moved there, would not all of a sudden be "best friends". Some of the deaths in the story seemed too casual also. Ending was anticlimactic. I was wishing for a little more.