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73rd out of 415 books
—
556 voters
Creepers (Frank Balenger #1)
by
David Morrell (Goodreads Author)
On a cold October night, five people gather in a run-down motel on the Jersey shore and begin preparations to break into the Paragon Hotel. Built in the glory days of Asbury Park by a reclusive millionaire, the magnificent structure - which foreshadowed the beauties of art deco architecture - is now boarded up and marked for demolition.
The five people are "creepers," the s...more
The five people are "creepers," the s...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
September 26th 2006
by Vanguard Press
(first published January 1st 2005)
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Oct 19, 2009
Michael
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Thriller fans
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
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Das Buch hat fast fünf Jahre auf meinem SUB geschlummert und nun endlich habe ich es gelesen. Fast schon bin ich froh, das kein Blut in der Zwischenzeit herausgetropft ist. Gut, es stand ja drauf THRILLER, aber so habe ich es mir nicht vorgestellt.
Am Anfang plätschert die Geschichte so vor sich hin. Man erfährt etwas von der Gruppe (ein Professor und seine ehemaligen Studenten) und von Balenger (anfangs noch ein Journalist) einer der Hauptfiguren. Wer/was sind Creepers, was machen sie und warum...more
Am Anfang plätschert die Geschichte so vor sich hin. Man erfährt etwas von der Gruppe (ein Professor und seine ehemaligen Studenten) und von Balenger (anfangs noch ein Journalist) einer der Hauptfiguren. Wer/was sind Creepers, was machen sie und warum...more
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. I DON'T HIDE MY REVIEWS, BUT I DON'T PUT THEM OUT ON A FEED OR BLOG.
The title is apt since the story's about creepers -- explorers of abandoned urban structures -- and is itself creepy.
In fact I'd call this a horror crime thriller.
Morrell expertly delivers a story in multi layers. Just when you think it's only about a creepers club, you learn the target building, a hotel, has a history of a rich, perverted owner who spied on his guests, some of whom committed, or were victi...more
The title is apt since the story's about creepers -- explorers of abandoned urban structures -- and is itself creepy.
In fact I'd call this a horror crime thriller.
Morrell expertly delivers a story in multi layers. Just when you think it's only about a creepers club, you learn the target building, a hotel, has a history of a rich, perverted owner who spied on his guests, some of whom committed, or were victi...more
In 1984 (I think), I read David Morrell's First Blood. I was captivated, amazed, in awe. I hadn't watched the movie, so I didn't know what to expect, nor had I read any reviews of the book. It was just something I picked up on the shelf at my local Waldenbooks-and completely out of my reading genre.
I should say my "reading age," as well. I was 12.
Since then, I hadn't read anything else by Morrell. I bounced between horror and fantasy, science fiction and science fact. So when I was last at the...more
I should say my "reading age," as well. I was 12.
Since then, I hadn't read anything else by Morrell. I bounced between horror and fantasy, science fiction and science fact. So when I was last at the...more
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This book was OK. I'm not that into horror genre, so maybe that's why I'm not giving it 3 stars. I will have to admit that I read this book in one night, so it can definitely be a page turner, of course that could be because I hadn't read a fiction book in awhile and so my brain was starved for one.
I can't really put a finger on why I didn't like this book more. The character development was weak, and too many scenarios were just beyond the reach of believability, but it's a horror book so what...more
I can't really put a finger on why I didn't like this book more. The character development was weak, and too many scenarios were just beyond the reach of believability, but it's a horror book so what...more
From the creator of Rambo comes Creepers, David Morrell's first novel featuring hero Frank Balenger.
"Creepers" is a slang term for urban archaeologists who explore abandoned buildings that are banned from the public or awaiting demolition. The building in question is an old hotel built by an agoraphobic millionaire located in the ghost town of Asbury Park on the Jersey shore. A group of four creepers is entering this ancient hotel accompanied by reporter Frank Balenger, who will honor them in th...more
"Creepers" is a slang term for urban archaeologists who explore abandoned buildings that are banned from the public or awaiting demolition. The building in question is an old hotel built by an agoraphobic millionaire located in the ghost town of Asbury Park on the Jersey shore. A group of four creepers is entering this ancient hotel accompanied by reporter Frank Balenger, who will honor them in th...more
David Morrell- Creepers (Headline Book Publishing) 4 Stars
Creepers sneak into abandoned buildings and they explore. They have the rule of not leaving any trace of there having been there, and not removing anything. When they enter the Paragon Hotel they have no idea just what kind of trouble they are getting themselves into. It has been abandoned for years and they never could have imagined the secrets it has been hiding. Death and fear await all who enter. Those who enter may never leave.
The be...more
Creepers sneak into abandoned buildings and they explore. They have the rule of not leaving any trace of there having been there, and not removing anything. When they enter the Paragon Hotel they have no idea just what kind of trouble they are getting themselves into. It has been abandoned for years and they never could have imagined the secrets it has been hiding. Death and fear await all who enter. Those who enter may never leave.
The be...more
I've always been fascinated by the idea of exploring abandoned buildings but have always been too chicken to do it for real. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw Morrell's Creepers, a fictional story about a group of urban explorers (aka "creepers"). About 24 hours later, I was finished. I just couldn't put it down!
The story follows a group of urban explorers and one reporter as they prepare to explore one of the most mysterious hotels ever- the Paragon Hotel. Built by a reclusive archit...more
The story follows a group of urban explorers and one reporter as they prepare to explore one of the most mysterious hotels ever- the Paragon Hotel. Built by a reclusive archit...more
Creepers
I picked up this book in my building’s laundry room and idly brought it to my apartment. I read the first chapter, stopped, watched a documentary called Urban Explorers, and then read the book.
Urban explorers are people who explore abandoned buildings. “Real” explorers are careful to not disturb the buildings they explore; they only take pictures, no souvenirs. In the beginning of Creepers a group of five people are preparing to enter the Paragon Hotel which is slated for demolition in a...more
I picked up this book in my building’s laundry room and idly brought it to my apartment. I read the first chapter, stopped, watched a documentary called Urban Explorers, and then read the book.
Urban explorers are people who explore abandoned buildings. “Real” explorers are careful to not disturb the buildings they explore; they only take pictures, no souvenirs. In the beginning of Creepers a group of five people are preparing to enter the Paragon Hotel which is slated for demolition in a...more
As they say, "An image is worth a thousand words.". Well for this book, only 388 pages worth. But the sheer suspense this novel brings to the reader makes it worth every drop of sweat you perspire, every nail you bite off and every time you feel butterflies in your stomach.
In simple terms, while you read this book, you become your own worst enemy. You mind will bring out the dark side of your imagination, exposing the horrible thoughts inside your head. While the book may not go as far as your m...more
In simple terms, while you read this book, you become your own worst enemy. You mind will bring out the dark side of your imagination, exposing the horrible thoughts inside your head. While the book may not go as far as your m...more
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I found the premise of this novel quite interesting. I actually hadn't even read enough of the cover to know that it was in fact a fairly straightforward thriller, and in the opening I was expecting a supernatural horror (the appearance of strange wildlife and the suggestion of more furthered this suggestion), having found the book in the horror section. Well, while I did think the premise was quite good, I found the execution far less so.
I found the characters to be flat and their dialogue to...more
I found the characters to be flat and their dialogue to...more
This is a great novel by David Morrell! A very interesting and mysterious writing, a thriller that actually thrills.
It is a story about a group of people, "urban explorers" or "creepers", as they are called, that research abandoned and long closed buildings for their personal satisfaction and pleasure, as well as documenting photographs and their experiences and history. Being a thriller, you've got everything you could possibly wish for...mystery, sudden changes of situations, antagonists, acti...more
It is a story about a group of people, "urban explorers" or "creepers", as they are called, that research abandoned and long closed buildings for their personal satisfaction and pleasure, as well as documenting photographs and their experiences and history. Being a thriller, you've got everything you could possibly wish for...mystery, sudden changes of situations, antagonists, acti...more
A wild adventure predicated on a preposterous story - and yet, it works. I knew nothing of this book going into it, other than the fact that I had read Canadian author Morrell's book "First Blood" as a kid, after seeing the movie, when the world was introduced to the world-famous Rambo character. I assumed this was a horror story, and it is, to some extent, but it covers so many genres that horror is very low on the list. The premise of these geocaching urban archaeologists/explorers embarking o...more
I was fortunate enough to pick this book up in a bargain bin. Intrigued by the premise -- sort of urban explorers going into old structures in the middle of the night seeing what they can discover with no plans for looting any treasures found.
In this story, five people are led by a college professor, who has apparently done this on many occasions. �They are going to "explore" a long-abandoned hotel which had been owned by a paranoid hemophiliac. �The hotel has been untouched and intact for decad...more
In this story, five people are led by a college professor, who has apparently done this on many occasions. �They are going to "explore" a long-abandoned hotel which had been owned by a paranoid hemophiliac. �The hotel has been untouched and intact for decad...more
Let me first say that this book was not what i was expecting...what i was expecting was a ghostly horror story of some kind. So after my initial disappointment that this was in fact a thriller suspense dealing with the subject of urban exploring, which i of course Googled and which you most likely will also Google during and after reading the book, i eased into the writing and found myself enjoying it.
Five people enter the Paragon Hotel on the premise of exploring each floor, all the way up to t...more
Five people enter the Paragon Hotel on the premise of exploring each floor, all the way up to t...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I grabbed this book at the library a day after hearing that one of my bookish friends was reading it (and discovering that 2 of my other friends had given it 5 stars). I had never heard of the book before, but thought it sounded interesting and wanted to give it a try. Well, I was HOOKED from chapter 1. The creepers (who break into historical buildings for the purpose of investigating the past, not stealing) are exploring a dilapidated hotel and find more creepy stuff lurking than just dust, rat...more
I really want to like David Morrell, I mean, he created Rambo, but I've only read one short story, which was terrible, about a girl fending off wolves in a country house one winter, and this retarded book, that's really a 350 page short story. I did keep reading and reading, because I wanted to see what he would think of next, but it feels like 3 or 4 different stories just stuck together. At first it looks like there are going to be badass mutants in a hotel, then a murder mystery, then a thril...more
This tale was rivoting from the beginning. It also was different than anything I had read before. A story about people adventuring in old abandoned areas of cities going into buildings to learn about the past and to imagine what it was like to be there when the places were alive with people. These people also never stole/looted from the locations. They just wanted adventure and in their current expedition they got it. I will not go into details but let us just say the unexpected happened this ti...more
Creepy book about "creepers," urban archaeologists who legally or illegally enter abandoned urban buildings to explore their design, architectural features, and oddities. This story takes place in the abandoned fictional Paragon Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey. I have always had a fascination with abandoned and derelict buildings and homes, having entered a few as a youth. Who lived here? What did they leave behind that would indicate who they were and how they lived?
This is a gripping tale tha...more
This is a gripping tale tha...more
This book was given to me by my sister, she found it in a flea market and saw that there was a positive comment on the cover of Stephen King, whom I adore, so she bought it.
I started to read it without too many expectations but I was immediately captured. I didn't know of the existence of the Creepers and their presence immediately makes the story fascinating. But the real protagonist of the story is the Paragon Hotel, where no one set foot since 1968, the year of its closure. In fact, the Hotel...more
I started to read it without too many expectations but I was immediately captured. I didn't know of the existence of the Creepers and their presence immediately makes the story fascinating. But the real protagonist of the story is the Paragon Hotel, where no one set foot since 1968, the year of its closure. In fact, the Hotel...more
I must admit to being pulled to this book by the cover... A bit shameful I know as "you shouldn't judge a book by its cover" but I found I had made the right decision in picking this book as it ticked practically all my boxes for suspense and eery descriptions of the building and atmosphere. Although it's not exactly a deep and meaningful book, but then its not meant to be, its fun, scary and just enough character involvement to make you feel hooked. As a big Richard Laymon fan, I have to say th...more
Books like this are what's wrong with fiction. It's chock full of cheeseball dialogue and lazy writing. There's really no excuse for David Morrell (who wrote the excellent 'The Totem') to be pulling this crap.
The book is chock full of phony characters spouting overly explanatory dialogue. Characters announce what they're doing out loud for no apparent reason.
The book is full of crap like this:
"Is this where the old man blew his brains out? After he realized the extent of what you did, he became...more
The book is chock full of phony characters spouting overly explanatory dialogue. Characters announce what they're doing out loud for no apparent reason.
The book is full of crap like this:
"Is this where the old man blew his brains out? After he realized the extent of what you did, he became...more
There's a long-abandoned mental hospital a few miles from my home, and I've always had a hankering to go in there some time with a flashlight and camera. Some people - "urban explorers" aka "creepers" - do just that, no matter that it's trespassing, dangerous, and illegal. Looking for some vicarious wish fulfillment, I eagerly picked up Creepers (2005), a novel about a band of amateurs who "infiltrate" a decaying hotel at Asbury Park, NJ. But several of these amateurs have ulterior motives, whic...more
Mystery. Horror. Suspense. Thriller. This is hard to classify. It's my first Morrell novel, and I expected both schlocky writing and an unoriginal plot. Instead, I found Creepers to be surprisingly smart and cteatively disturbing. Far-fetched? Perhaps. But disturbing. The characters were fleshed out with a flair that most pop fiction writers never master. The plot simmered quickly, rose to a boil in record time and then scalded. I mean that in a good way. If a reader wants a fast-paced, slick po...more
Great story -about urban explorers, or "creepers," who explore, illegally, abandoned buildings, tunnels, hospitals, just about any structure or maze that is closed off, preserving part of itself. They are in most big cities, and have hundreds of clubs. Their motto is to look, disturb as little as possible, take nothing from the site, and take away all trash. They are untrained archaeologists in that sense. And this one is about an abandoned hotel in NJ, and what they find there - a thriller, a t...more
This Bram Stoker winner from David Morrell is not what I could classify as pure horror, but it certainly has plenty of horror elements. The less you know about the plot the better. All you need to know is that reporter Frank Balenger has joined a group of "creepers", urban explorers, to secretly investigate an abandoned and soon-to-be demolished old hotel. Once there, they find multiple layers of terror and danger, and so much of what the reader thought was true is revealed to be false. This nov...more
Although this book had a lot of good things going for it, somehow it wound up being less than the sum of its parts. The writing was generally good, and the set up of having the story take place in "real time," hour by hour, was clever and well managed. There was even an effort to add some psychological depth to the motives of the primary antagonist. Unfortunately that depth was all superficial. As the plot twists and turns came (as they must in such a book) the story became harder to swallow, an...more
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“Creepers” is a great horror/suspense story which I enjoyed very much.
I appreciated how David Morrell made the reader unsure of where the
evil came from, demonic realm or from the heart of man.
I’ve seen several documentary’s on the exploration of underneath
great cities but Creepers made it seem more real and alive; less
sanitized. I also liked the way that Professor Conklin insisted that they
treat the area as if it were an archeological dig; which in essence it
was.
A great thrill ride that s...more
I appreciated how David Morrell made the reader unsure of where the
evil came from, demonic realm or from the heart of man.
I’ve seen several documentary’s on the exploration of underneath
great cities but Creepers made it seem more real and alive; less
sanitized. I also liked the way that Professor Conklin insisted that they
treat the area as if it were an archeological dig; which in essence it
was.
A great thrill ride that s...more
I had never read anything from the author of First Blood, but when my brother-in-law told me that he enjoyed one of his books I thought I would see what I thought of this one. The story intrigued me. 'Creepers' is a slang term for people who go and search through old, abandoned buildings, which is exactly what the group of people in this book do. The book starts with them planning the trip and quickly moves to them gaining access. The hotel they walk around in is very dark and laced with rust, m...more
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David Morrell is a Canadian novelist from Kitchener, Ontario, who has been living in the United States for a number of years. He is best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become a successful film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. More recently, he has been writing the Captain America comic books limited-series The Chosen.
More about David Morrell...
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