This was a good book. That’s all I can say about it. What I like most about John Saul is consistency. He always writes a good book. He never writes bad ones, nor has he written a truly great one. There is no magnum opus or capstone work in John Saul’s library of 36 published titles. With a few exceptions, all rely on the standard Saul construct for a novel with different characters, settings and circumstances.I’ve said in earlier reviews that Saul doesn’t flesh out his characters any more than is necessary to tell his story and none of the characters in this story are particularly deep. With the exception of Chip, none are introspective. We are left with the motivations and emotions at hand with no backstory.A stylistic critique I’d level at this Saul work is how he writes from so many points of view. None of the main characters are a mystery to the reader and despite a few red herrings about Indian legends, it’s painfully obvious who the villain is. But being in Harney Whalen’s head was useless text. We were in his head when he was rational. He knew he was having blackouts and was concerned about it. Saul could have shown us that. If Saul needed to be an omniscient narrator, he should have taken us into Harney’s head when he was maniacal.Saul does do a good job of creating the setting of the remote, unfriendly fishing village on the coast of Washington; constantly beset by storms and cold weather. Perhaps it’s because Saul grew up in Washington that he is able to set the scene so well.Saul is fun and easy to read. I can breeze through his books in just a few sittings and the stories, while seldom enthralling, are well told and well written.Cry for the Strangers was Saul’s third book. Like most authors, he improved over the years and wrote many books superior to Cry for the Strangers. Nonetheless, the book made for light, easy reading and I enjoyed it a great deal.There was a made for television movie based on this story. To my knowledge, it is the only adaptation of a Saul story for any screen. I have not seen it, but it was apparently not well received by viewers and IMDB.com reviewers.
A spate of mysterious killings threaten a family in a small beach town.I really enjoyed about two thirds of this book. It was an interesting concept and quite spooky, with some irritating characters, and some you had sympathy for. The mystery kept me reading, to find out what was going on and how people were being killed. You could see the identity of the killer coming a mile off, but it was still interesting, wondering how the characters would find out the truth. I found myself looking forward to reading the book, which is always a good sign.Towards the end though, there were a few things which started to undermine it for me.The kids just kept going outside in the middle of the night, despite the fact that there was a killer on the loose, and despite the fact that the parents were aware of them having previously climbed out of the window. What parents would continue to let this happen (over and over)? Lock the windows, lock the doors if you really think it's necessary. Keep your kids in plain sight. I didn't find this very realistic.I also didn't feel the need for the attempted explanation of what had been going on, at the end. It just didn't seem plausible. Yes, it was supposed to just be a 'possible' guess, but it really didn't make sense at all.Also- why were the wives so passive, giving in to all the men's whims, staying at home while the big strong men went out to sort things? As if you would agree to move to a town where people keep dying, where everyone hates you, into a house with no electricity, just because your husband fancied it! As if you would just sit at home while your loved ones were out in a storm with a serial killer on the loose! Hardly realistic and a bit cliched.Overall though, I would recommend this as a good read.
What do You think about Cry For The Strangers (1986)?
As I read through Saul's huge list of books, I decided to pick this one next his 3rd i believe? Not bad although I have definatly read better of his. I find Saul one of the easiest to read of all my fave authors and finish his books pretty quick. In one week i read both this and Suffer The Children. This one's about 2 families who decide to move beach side into the little town of Clark's Harbour. A town which the people who reside there do ok that's if they have lived there for more then 20yrs. The newbies??....Not so good! The villain this time around is the sheriff Harlen Whalen who makes life for these two families...let's just say not the easiest. A good read but not Saul's best.
—Lee Kyle
I reread this over the weekend since I was sick. Maybe 20 years has altered my perception of this book, but I had to downgrade it from 3 stars to 2.My main issue with this is the pacing. Yes, I get that he's building suspense and mystery, but by the first quarter of the book, you know who's responsible. Maybe not why, but with Saul's books, why is never a guarantee to be offered by the end.Also, the manner of the deaths of the 'strangers', not horrific or jarring. Not that they have to be, but f
—S.L.
