John Saul is one of my favorite authors. I have been reading his books off and on since high school. Every now and again I like to toss one of his books into the mix because I know it’ll be something I enjoy. This really wasn’t the case with “Cry for the Strangers.” Although John Saul is a good story teller, this book was really repetitive and slow moving, for what it could have been.

Exceptional read that keeps you turning the page.

I love the writings of John Saul

This is a very good book. It definitely made me want to read more from John Saul.

Stăteau cât mai aproape posibil de linia țărmului, grăbindu-se în josul plajei. Felinarul era aproape inutil, raza lui refractându-se difuz în rafalele de ploaie, dispersându-se în mii de puncte luminoase care nu luminau nimic, ci făceau întunericul să pară și mai negru decât era.
Missy se opri brusc și smuci mâna maică-sii.
— E cineva aici, zise ea.
Rebecca lumină în jur cu o mână tremurată.
— Robby? strigă ea. Robyiiii!
Se întoarse cu spatele în bătaia vântului și strigă din nou. Nu veni niciun răspuns, dar simți deodată unda șocului electric, când fulgerul brazdă cerul și se scurse în pădurea din apropiere.
Și, fu sigură, ceva era în spatele ei: o prezență străină. O prezență care, înțelese în clipa aceea, nu era fiul ei. Îi dădu drumul mâinii lui Missy.
— Missy, fugi! Fugi cât poți de repede!
Apoi, când o văzu pe Missy năpustindu-se în întuneric, simți cum i se încolăcește ceva în jurul gâtului.
Nu, își zise ea. Nu așa. Te rog, Doamne, nu...

I've just discovered John Saul books. This is the second book I've read by him. His stories are tight and well written. The punctuation errors - mostly missing periods - were distracting. Why are so many popular fiction books so riddled with proofreading errors lately?

"Cry for the Strangers" by John Saul is a psychological horror novel first published in 1979. It blends elements of mystery, suspense, and supernatural horror, characteristic of Saul's work. The story is set in the small, seemingly idyllic coastal town of Clark's Harbor, Washington, where eerie events and dark secrets disrupt the town's peaceful facade.

n  Plot Overviewn

Dr. Brad Randall, a psychiatrist from Seattle, and his wife, Elaine, relocate to Clark's Harbor to escape the stress of city life. Brad is offered a position as the town's only doctor after the mysterious death of the previous physician, Dr. Allard. Upon arriving, Brad and Elaine are charmed by the town's picturesque beauty but soon notice that something is amiss.

The town's residents are a close-knit and insular community, hesitant to accept outsiders and secretive about the town's history. Brad becomes increasingly suspicious as he notices strange occurrences, such as the town's apparent obsession with the sea and odd, seemingly ritualistic behavior among the townspeople.

n  Strange Events and Supernatural Elementsn

The tranquility of Clark's Harbor is shattered when a series of inexplicable deaths and accidents begin to plague the town. These deaths are often linked to the sea, with many victims found drowned or washed ashore, despite being experienced seafarers. The townspeople appear to be eerily accepting of these tragedies, attributing them to the "calling" of the sea, a phrase that Brad finds unsettling.

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As Brad digs deeper, he uncovers the town's dark secret: a malevolent, supernatural force linked to the sea. This force has haunted Clark's Harbor for generations, compelling some townspeople to act in bizarre and dangerous ways. Brad learns that the town's founders made a pact with this force, ensuring the town's prosperity in exchange for periodic sacrifices.

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n  Character Dynamics and Themesn

The novel explores themes of guilt, fear, and the influence of the past on the present. Brad's role as a psychiatrist is significant, as he struggles to rationalize the irrational events around him. His skepticism is challenged as he confronts the possibility that the evil afflicting the town is real and not just a manifestation of the townspeople's collective psychosis.

Elaine, initially more accepting of the town, begins to experience her own fears as she senses something is deeply wrong. Their relationship is tested as they deal with the increasing danger and the town's hostility towards outsiders.

The townspeople themselves are complex characters, many of whom are torn between their fear of the sea and their resignation to its power. This resignation is depicted as a form of collective madness, driven by the knowledge of the town's dark pact and the inevitability of the sea's "calling."

n   n    Climax and Resolutionn   n  
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The novel builds towards a tense and dramatic climax, as Brad and Elaine confront the town's secrets head-on. They discover that the deaths and accidents are not just random occurrences but are orchestrated by the townspeople under the influence of the supernatural force. In a final confrontation, the couple must fight to survive as the town descends into chaos.

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The resolution of the novel is ambiguous, leaving the reader with lingering questions about the nature of the evil that haunts Clark's Harbor. While some of the town's mysteries are revealed, the full extent of the supernatural force remains elusive, suggesting that the town's curse may never be fully broken.

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n  Conclusionn

"Cry for the Strangers" is a chilling tale that masterfully combines psychological horror with supernatural elements. John Saul's portrayal of a town gripped by a generational curse and the outsiders who uncover its secrets creates an atmosphere of creeping dread. The novel examines how fear and guilt can warp a community, leading to horrifying consequences, and challenges the reader to consider the thin line between the rational and the irrational in the face of true terror.

This should have been a novella man

This is the first book I have read by this author and I kind of liked it. It reminded me more of a TV crime thriller than an out and out horror novel, although it had some very chilling moments and a nice supernatural twist. I can't say that is VERY original and you can kind of work out what is going on, but it was a good way of getting there. Although, the one thing that did occur to me, was that if it was me, I'd have nailed shut the kids window a long time ago!

I'm not 100% in love with the ending though. While it left a nice little shudder on the last page, it sort of came out of left field a bit and felt a little bit out with what had happened previously in the book - hard to be more specific without adding spoilers, but if one of the characters was acting one way throughout, it seemed a bit of a quick turnaround in the last couple of paragraphs.

That said, it was an enjoyable enough read that I will dip into the author's other stories to see if they are as thrilling.

This novel definitely would have been more shocking back when first published, though it stands up to the test of time with the element of suspense. As a mystery, it's below par - there's basically no mystery. The cause of the deaths is obvious from early on. I'd say it's more supernatural than horror.

What Saul does is craft an eerie tale - a fine blend of creepiness and mystery, with a little bit of terror thrown in. I wouldn't say any of the characters in this novel stand out as being brilliant, there's basically no character growth apart from Chip. Maybe we don't need character growth in this quick tale.

The ending adds to the creepiness factor, and I found it satisfying.

A fine novel that I think now would be considered just creepy enough to be a made-for-TV movie.

John Saul. What more needs to be said. A master of his craft coupled with an innate ability to pull you into his world, his thoughts, and obviously his books. I’m very thankful to be able to read his works again. I’m so thankful to have authors like him and others to satisfy my needs in reading. Today, thank you John Saul for the reading pleasure you have given me.

If you crave the sounds of the surf and tranquility of the beach this is a book for you! Just kidding. There is nothing tranquil about Clark's Harbor.
Brad and Elaine are searching the Pacific North West for an ideal location to spend some time while Brad settles down to write a book. Their typical suburban life in Seattle is too hectic and he needs some quiet.
They stumble upon a picturesque town called Clark's Harbor and the beautiful beach calls to them as the location they seek. Unfortunately the town has a dark past and dark events continue that Brad and Elaine find themselves wrapped up in. They have to find out what is happening in the tiny seaside village before events continue to unfold that threaten their lives.

I loved this book. If you've read John Saul you'll know you are not going to get a fairy tale ending. It's dark, it's depressing and you feel for the characters. They are fairly well written and you feel a connection to a few and find yourself cheering them on. There's always a twist though. I read it in one day as I couldn't put it down. Living in a seaside village myself I feel when the weather warms up and the tourists arrive I might re-read this one on the back deck with a cool drink watching the seagulls and reimmerse myself in Clark's Harbor.