This was a real page turner! Mystery, suspense, really kept you on the edge of your seat and turning the page to see what was going to happen next. Just when you think you have it figured out, you find out youre wrong. And just at the end it twists again and you get another surprise before the book ends! Excellent! Loved it!

This author has the ability to surprise me, which is hard to do given all the books I’ve read. I knew there was an element of haunting in the story, but the way it manifested was a total twist. The way disassociative identity disorder and possession reflect one another is masterfully done. And the anguish both Matt and Joan experience is tangible. My sympathies were certainly dragged in too many directions to keep track of.

A very good book but I was hesitant to finish it. It deals with sexual abuse with a child and that is something that is very upsetting for me. It was a little different from what I have read of John Saul. I love him as an author but this seemed a little different from his usual writing. Will still continue to read John Saul because his books are outstanding.

As a young adult I enjoyed John Saul's novels. They had the right level of creepiness to make my spine tingle.
As a somewhat older adult I still enjoy the odd Saul novel. "Nightshade" had the typial Saul twists and turns and was creepy, not just in a scary way, but a disurbingly sleazy way too.

A Saul novel with a bit of twist at the end, but does not go beyond his typical motifs. The story centers on a family (mom and her son, who marries a rich guy in New Hampshire small town). The mom's mom is dottering, struggling with Alzheimers, and finally almost burns her house down. She moves in with her daughter and son in-law, but she is really a terrible person, always insulting to everyone. It seems her only love was for her dead daughter from years ago; she even keeps a shire to her in the house.

After to move, 'bad things' start to happen. Mom and dad fight about granny (to put her on a home or not), and dad moves out. Things start to get strange as well. I will stop here so no spoilers.

Saul manages to move the story alone, and the twists as the end were good, but flat characters and lots of stereotypes. 2.5 stars.

I came across some inconsistencies. Here are my thoughts.
P81 does it strike anyone else as strange that a 15, or any aged, child would sleep naked in their parents home?
P95 Patients cannot be strapped into any chair. It's illegal. It would have to be a horrible off-the-grid care home.

"Impulsively, she put her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek."
How does that translate into
"The warmth of his kiss still on her lips."?
Pay attention, John.

This is a very strange book. You hate the evil mother, but you also end up being so disgusted with Joan. This makes it a hard read. At the end it all comes together quite strangely but it's not an enjoyable walk through the woods.

first i read "the right hand of the evil" it was brilliant.but this a "creep" most of the time i can't understand what's going on and greatly annoyed by the "italized" writing for the mental voice's & too much details for the surroundings . i will say don't go for this otherwise you will regret for buying this.

When the very first chapter of a John Saul book features cruelty to a child, you know that he's playing to an old and successful formula. Nightshade is full of menace, with twists and turns, some more obvious that others. It's a story of paranoia, revenge, lust and betrayal, with a supernatural curve of course. Gripping from start to finish, and Nightshade is no short story, Saul has penned another decent horror tale. Recommended for any horror fan, especially if you're bored of the torrent of vampire and zombie books which currently fill the bookshelves.

creepy

This book surprised me. I was honestly expecting to not like it at all. I found myself unable to stop reading as I got closer to the end. It was brilliantly done. There are many moments when the supernatural seems as though it is only insanity and turns around back into the supernatural. I really didn't know what was happening and found myself drawn to finding out the truth. I highly recommend this book.

I honestly don't see why so many people dislike this book. It's a very good story by John Saul. It has so many different twists and turns. I had a really hard time putting the book down. Don't listen to what others have said about this great novel, find out for yourself how good it is. Don't let others tell you it's bad. A definite 10/10

This was one of his better books. I really and enjoyable easy read. I liked how it all came together in the end. Saul did a very good job interweaving the characters past with the present to keep you guessing. What happened to Cynthia? Why does crazy Mom hate Joan so much? and Who is bastard Matt? There are other questions the reader asks, but as the story comes along it all makes sense. I enjoy good stories I do not know why it took so long for me to read. Great book.