From the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of The Intruders and The Straw Men comes a nerve-shattering story of guilt, rage, deadly secre...
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Sep 30, 2011
Kristin
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You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/09/rev...
John Henderson is waiting tables at a small restaurant in the Pacific Northwest,and house sitting for a friend in the area. It’s been three years since his young son died on Lake Murdo in Black Ridge,Washington,and he’s doing his best to live life and forget,when one day he receives an email that says simply “I know what happened.” Soon,John is pulled back to Black Ridge and meets a mysterious woman who claims More...
John Henderson is waiting tables at a small restaurant in the Pacific Northwest,and house sitting for a friend in the area. It’s been three years since his young son died on Lake Murdo in Black Ridge,Washington,and he’s doing his best to live life and forget,when one day he receives an email that says simply “I know what happened.” Soon,John is pulled back to Black Ridge and meets a mysterious woman who claims More...
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Jul 26, 2011
I expected to be much more impressed with Michael Marshall’s Bad Things. Having read – no, devoured – many of his previous novels, I began this one with very high expectations.
Approximately the first 50 – 60 pages fully lived up to my expectations. I got very involved with the character of John Henderson and felt that I understood why he had made the decisions that he did. The set up for the mystery was also well presented and well written, and it was what kept me reading.
I b More...
Approximately the first 50 – 60 pages fully lived up to my expectations. I got very involved with the character of John Henderson and felt that I understood why he had made the decisions that he did. The set up for the mystery was also well presented and well written, and it was what kept me reading.
I b More...
Feb 25, 2011
Jeff
rated it: 
I have been a fan of Michael Marshall (Smith) since I read Spares quite a few years ago. I was expecting to like this book, but instead I loved it. Much like the Straw Men Trilogy, the action drives the book, but is not the main focus. Slowly and skillfully, Marshall morphs the story from possible paranoia to unfold the mystery and reveal the supernatural cause of the "Bad Things".
The plot itself was interesting but what blew me away was the writing itself. I was completely ab More...
The plot itself was interesting but what blew me away was the writing itself. I was completely ab More...
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Apr 30, 2009
Kelly
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A gripping storyline that kept me from putting the book down until I had finished it. The day his son Scott went out on to the jetty changed John Henderson's life forever. He manages to get continue with some semblence of a life, but really he's just walking the walk. Until the day someone tells him they know what happened to his son. There starts a nightmare John never could have imagined. Keeping you gripped the entire way through and surprising you with the unravelling story every step of the
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May 02, 2009
Sharon
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Michael Marshall's "Bad Things" starts off with a bang: a four-year-old child apparently dies of fright while his parents watch.
The action then flashes forward three years or so, with the parents divorced and living in different states. The father, James, is living in a small Oregon beach town waiting tables (a far cry from his previous career as a successful lawyer). One day, he receives an e-mail from a stranger, telling him that this person knows why his son died. More...
The action then flashes forward three years or so, with the parents divorced and living in different states. The father, James, is living in a small Oregon beach town waiting tables (a far cry from his previous career as a successful lawyer). One day, he receives an e-mail from a stranger, telling him that this person knows why his son died. More...
Apr 13, 2011
Rose
rated it: 
This book was very creepy. The bad things were indeed very bad. This was one of those stories where I just couldn't put the book down until I found out what happened or I'd be wondering & bothered all day so I read it in just a few hours. I liked how the theme of guilt & regret ran deep in the story of John Henderson. I've often thought those are 2 of the worst feelings in the world because there isn't much you can do to change them or get rid of them. Usually they come about through your action
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Apr 18, 2009
Robin
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I had higher hopes for this book and thought for about the first 1/4 I would really like it. However, I read about half and ended up skimming the rest. It is a suspenseful tale of a father whose life falls apart after his young son's sudden death that isn't explained (cororner said there was no reason, the boy just suddenly died). At the start of the story (a couple of years after the death of his son) the father is divorced and living on the Oregon coast, working in a small restaurant that is
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Apr 08, 2010
Tina DC
rated it:
Michael Marshall's "Bad Things" was a pretty good suspense/thriller. The characters were well-drawn and the story is good in general. I did enjoy the read, but there were a few parts that could have been better.
The supernatural element, while briefly explained to some degree, could have been elaborated on more to make the story really pop; I would have liked to hear more about that than Kyle. And you have to read well into the book to know that there actually is somethin More...
The supernatural element, while briefly explained to some degree, could have been elaborated on more to make the story really pop; I would have liked to hear more about that than Kyle. And you have to read well into the book to know that there actually is somethin More...
Jul 11, 2011
Chavonne
rated it:
My favorite thing about book clubs is that they encourage me to try books that I would never have picked up on my own. This novel starts off great--the writing is tight, though a bit too sarcastic for me, and the plot grabbed me. The first half of the book is very entertaining. Then the plot goes haywire, the characters too many to follow, a plot line is introduced that has nothing to do with nothing. The end is just ridiculous, too--instead of the gasp I expected, I ended the book with a groan.
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Jun 19, 2009
Jaime
rated it:
I liked this, but I didn’t love it. It is a slow builder, which is fine, but I think I was looking for more of an underlying, subtle creepy feeling like I got from reading Rosemary’s Baby. I never felt like John was in real danger until the end.
John himself is an interesting character. He does what needs to be done without a lot of emotional wrangling, but it’s hard to get a good feel for why he is the way he is. Was he always this way, and just masked it when he was married? Or did More...
John himself is an interesting character. He does what needs to be done without a lot of emotional wrangling, but it’s hard to get a good feel for why he is the way he is. Was he always this way, and just masked it when he was married? Or did More...
Jun 26, 2011
Jeremy
rated it:
I loved the Straw Men books, and also enjoyed Intruders, but Bad things wasn't quite up to those lofty standards. I am starting to read a formula with his novels, first person from some bad ass tough guy type character, and then third person propelling the story along. Marshall mixes in some paranormal into his hard boiled thriller novels, but now it seems a little forced, almost like a subplot and not the main part of the story.
I'd like to see him change up his style with an upcom More...
I'd like to see him change up his style with an upcom More...
Oct 12, 2010
Olga
rated it:
The Intruders had the most chilling ending of just about any thriller I've ever read. It brought it all together, turned it around, and finished with a subtle but emotionally devastating bang. The ending of Bad Things is just... smudged and crumpled. Quite a letdown. I like Marshall's style and characters a great deal, and Bad Things is a great read all the way through, but the climax does not justify reading the 350+ pp. that came before it, building to it. Not exactly anticlimactic, but not we
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Feb 08, 2011
Neil
rated it:
First book read, written by Michael Marshall, interesting the name "Smith" does not appear on the book.
A great and interesting read, a bit of sci fi? It is one of those books one does not want to go into detail about since it would spoil it for the person who is about to read it, it is one of those 6 hours books, best read in bed, it kept me spellbound, in the company of my cat Ziggy with attitude, who needs to walk all over me periodically, literally in order to have a snack in More...
A great and interesting read, a bit of sci fi? It is one of those books one does not want to go into detail about since it would spoil it for the person who is about to read it, it is one of those 6 hours books, best read in bed, it kept me spellbound, in the company of my cat Ziggy with attitude, who needs to walk all over me periodically, literally in order to have a snack in More...
Oct 24, 2011
Nigel
rated it:
We here at Sheelagh na Gig like our thrillers dark and brooding and twisty, full of foreboding, dense with danger,tingling with trepidation, minging with menace, but most of all, we like them well written. That’s why this week’s review commends to your attention Bad Things, by Michael Marshall, which has an opening that will break your heart, a story that will drag you to the edge of your seat, and a terrifyingly suspenseful climax that will dump you on the floor.
Bad Things opens wit More...
Bad Things opens wit More...
May 07, 2010
Victoria
rated it:
I liked this book quite a bit! It was certainly thrilling - and even genuinely spooky at times! The premise was fascinating and the plot involved twists that I did not see forsee coming! My only two real complaints would be the number of times the phrase "bad things" was used and the fact that the book came off just a bit racist... but, overall, it was an enjoyable book and I enjoy Marshall's turn-of-phrase and biting wit. He is a talented writer and I have enjoyed discovering his work
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Jul 30, 2011
Sherry
rated it:
I just finished this well written, dark suspenseful wonder of a book. What a delight! It is certainly dark and menacing, but I like my fiction dark, dark, dark. The characters are wonderfully fleshed out, realistic. I think Michael Marshall is one of the better writers working today. He consistently delivers interesting bookes featuring intriguing heartbreakingly real people who suffer horrible losses and yet go on. It happens everyday in real life, its nice to see these themes explored i
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May 16, 2009
David
rated it:
On the heels of Marshall's mind-bending/blowing masterpiece 'The Intruders', this is ultimately disappointing. Almost throughout, the book is sprinkled with Marshall's wit as well as musings on adulthood/parenthood and the nature of evil - so I liked what was good along the way. Things start falling apart in the latter part of the book, though - revealing that the premise isn't a sturdy base. By the last five chapters, I was wishing the whole thing had been better.
Jul 30, 2009
Nathalie
rated it:
This was the 1st book I read by Michael Marshall and I loved it. What a heartbreaking premise... your child dies in front of your eyes, terrified, and you're powerless. Despite this very gloomy beginning, I really enjoyed the book, the suspense and the writing. He is an incredibly gifted writer, this Michael Marshall, and I'm in the process of ordering all his books from my library :)
Jul 24, 2009
Gregor
rated it:
This was better than his last book, The Intruders. But the book still had some problems. The fact that the gangstas decided to help out the hero near the end didn't ring true. And, of course, they served no real purpose either. They ended up just being loose threads of a (pretty pointless) subplot that needed to be tied up. Michael Marshall lists Stephen King as a major influence, but his books read more like Dean Koontz (albeit with better writing, and a much better sense of humor).
Feb 13, 2012
Brad
rated it:
Michael Marshall writes intense thrillers. I wish he would delve back into science fiction. Spares and Only Forward were interesting reads. Let's hope I enjoy this book after the suckiness that is the Jefferson key by Steve Berry.
Started out strong, kinda lost its way in the middle and towards the end. But still better than most thrillers. I would classify this as a supernatural thriller.
Started out strong, kinda lost its way in the middle and towards the end. But still better than most thrillers. I would classify this as a supernatural thriller.
Jan 31, 2011
Irene
rated it:
This book was ok but nothing spectacular. I had never heard of this author before this book was mentioned in the last issue of Cemetery Dance magazine, and thought I'd give it a chance. I had high hopes but through the first 100 and something pages I felt it dragged a bit and wished it would just get on with it. It did have some genuinely creepy moments but it also had a few instances that just plain didn't make a lot of sense.
Apr 25, 2010
Linda
rated it:
There's not a lot I can say about this book -- other than it was okay. Oh, the other thing -- I read it quickly! Picked this one up at the library with the New Fiction, and I don't think I'll bother reading any of the author's other books. Story was okay, and the characters were just not that interesting.
Jul 30, 2011
Good book and good author but this was a depressing book at the start and in the middle. The ending was good but overall the story lacked something. Not sure what but it needed a little something extra. Still a good book though. Enjoy.
Sep 08, 2010
Randy
rated it:
A top notch thriller with a sympathetic protagonist. I enjoyed Bad Things very much. Michael Marshall reminds me a little bit of Stephen King, especially with this novel. (His short stories, not so much.)
Jul 16, 2011
Mark
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Read lots of Michael Marshall's earlier books but haven't read one in a while. I'm glad I picked this one up, it kept me hooked from the start didn't let up. I felt it had some echo's of Stephen King
Feb 23, 2011
Jeff
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Kind of a poor man's Stephen King. I enjoyed it mostly because I didn't realize that it had a supernatural aspect until the second half of the book so that was an interesting development.
Jan 02, 2011
Caley (Katie)
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While I'm not so sure the ending was all that and more, but the journey sure was satisfying. Marshall has a way with blending the mundane with the supernatural that I admire.
Oct 25, 2010
Iain
rated it:
Very enjoyable and creepy. Lots of fun to read, but felt the ending was a little weak and didn't live up to the build up. Great atmosphere and setting.
Jul 10, 2009
Chris
rated it:
Michael Marshall's Bad Things is an intensely creepy, extremely well-written novel. I almost couldn't put it down and became fairly emotionally entangled in the story and the people in it. That said, I was expecting an end, an explanation that would justify the creepy mystery. And it just wasn't there. The means justified the end. It's most definitely worth picking up.
Jun 01, 2010
Lani
rated it:
I would really give this one 3 1/2 stars if that was an option. The book was very well written and it was a page turner that I stayed up until 2:30 AM reading. But I was disappointed in the end. You get to know several characters in the first person but there are so many unanswered questions. It's like the story isn't complete but not something a sequel would be able to answer since most of the characters are gone. I may look for a blog about this book to see if someone else might have an idea o
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