Thrilling rather than Scary !Tracys character and her hatred towards her step sister Beth neatly potrayed !However,So many deaths but characters get back with their normal lives as if there is nothing happened!GOod Read and hand grippping once it picks up pace.

I do love John Saul! I think I read almost all his books as new releases, but listening to them through Audible is even better! This is a great book, and although tragic, I love it. As the way it ended, I always expected a sequel to Hellfire.

First John Saul book. Very very good!

Loved this book! The story was very interesting, especially the vengeance that took place because of one mans horrid deed! Was a very fast read. But I find this happening every time I open a Saul book!

Great!

good 'ol 80's horror. stereotypical plot based on my 21st century sensibilities but enjoyable enough.

Ok so this is one of those books I read when I was probably too young to have read it, whilst my mum just let me. As I haven't read it since way before I left home, I simply don't remember how *much* I liked it, just that it made enough of an impression on me that I remember certain scenes. It was definitely the John Saul book that stands out the most to me (the other being Suffer the Children, with the memorable scene of the tween/teenage girl being crushed to death under a horse's hooves after she's teleported? magicked? into a parallel yet also past version of the place she's currently in. Yeah, there's some supernatural time travel/reincarnation involved, like a lot of Saul's books...)

Instead Hellfire has the memorable scene of what exactly happened on the site of the old mill that caused this 'curse' thing. Maybe it's another reason why I don't like fire!

So I'd like to read this again and see if I still like it. If I can find a copy that isn't yellowed with cigarette smoke.

Also this book is the only reason I know that they used to take urine and inject it into rabbits to tell if you were pregnant, cause there's a doctor that references that (something about 'catching a rabbit'). At the time, if I was old enough to be aware of pregnancy tests (let's face it, I probably was), I would have never heard of the ol' rabbit test, because that shit is OLD.

And so until I can re-read it, it's going with a tentative middle ground. I'm sure it's dated as hell(fire) and my tasted are different now too, but give me a break - I was 7-12 and didn't have the internet!

I used to read John Saul's books as a teenager in the 90s. They were some of my favorites. I had always gravitated towards thrillers and horrors, and spent many nights tucked away in bed, reading Carrie, Misery, and other Stephen King novels.
But John Saul's books are better, in my opinion, simply because they get to the point. There isn't a ton of exposition. There is character building, plot, climax, and epilogue. They are quick, fun reads, each one of them unique in their own ways but clearly the work of the same author.
I have now read Punish the Sinners, The God Project, and Hellfire as an adult, and I don't see myself stopping here with Saul's books. They are just as fun and creepy as I remember then being.

It was fun to escape into the historic town of Westover, MA. I also like when they take place in the same state i live in. Some behaviors of the characters were unrealistic but i appreciated the aspect of history, terror, and family feud. i was shocked by alan’s death! but when beth died and carolyn had basically no reaction i was like wtf

"Good old-fashioned horror story."

I admit it I just don't buy John Saul. His books are entertaining enough but they always have something missing. Just suspense perhaps? Mill to reopen following tragic accident 100 years prior. You know the rest I think. It will pass the time but not live long on the memory.

This was a good fun read especially so close to Halloween. I wouldn't exactly call it high art but if you are looking for something light with a bit of a disturbing quality to it then this is the book for you.
It's all about the greed of a rich family and the consequences of their actions. Saul develops some rather absurd and stereotypical characters. It is very clear who is good and who is evil.
I expected to plod along a rather predictable plot but still found myself a bit surprised and horrified by the ending. Yes, it is a horror book about ghosts and whatnot but the scariest part of the book is not the things that go "boo" in the night. In fact, to me, the ghosts became more of a side-plot. I don't want to give away the ending because it definitely left an impression on me and without it the book would be completely forgettable. All I'll say is if you have some time to kill and are inclined towards this genre than it definitely makes for a great read.