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Evil
Friday The 13th is a Sunday school picnic next to the nonstop horror of.....Evil.
They were Everton Highs best - the prettiest, smartest, and most successful students of the class of '72. Seven old friends back for a blast of a reunion, sharing memories...and one horrible secret.
Because Matt, Eve, Karen, Sam, Buddy, Ruth, and Tim know the real truth about Raymond - the creepy, nerdy kid who died on graduation night.
Now they're about to make a fatal mistake. They're going to visit Raymond's grave. They're going to play some deadly games of sex and terror. And they're going to learn their lessons as they take a final degree in pure, bone-chilling....Evil.
They were Everton Highs best - the prettiest, smartest, and most successful students of the class of '72. Seven old friends back for a blast of a reunion, sharing memories...and one horrible secret.
Because Matt, Eve, Karen, Sam, Buddy, Ruth, and Tim know the real truth about Raymond - the creepy, nerdy kid who died on graduation night.
Now they're about to make a fatal mistake. They're going to visit Raymond's grave. They're going to play some deadly games of sex and terror. And they're going to learn their lessons as they take a final degree in pure, bone-chilling....Evil.
214 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 3, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 10, 2025
It's your classic whodunnit set-up. Seven people are trapped in a large house during a hurricane, where someone is slowly picking them off one by one. They're all thirty-somethings, out celebrating their 15-year high school reunion late one night in New Jersey, when the severe storm forces them to find refuge at an old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. The roads are all flooded and the bridge is out, so they are stuck there until the storm passes. They had found the front door unlocked, so when no one answered their desperate knocks (the severe winds and rain were at dangerous levels and they could barely hold on to the railing), they let themselves in, where they immediately discover two bodies, evidently husband and wife, viciously murdered. And recently, too. But they have no choice but to stay.
And once the power goes out and the group of friends start getting killed, they start to wonder if maybe there's a connection to their buried and nearly forgotten past, specifically the night of their graduation, when a strange, creepy boy that none of them liked was found dead of an apparent suicide. The mystery of who's responsible for the murders, as well as the interpersonal dynamics between the seven friends (who each have their secrets), kept me intrigued and glued to the page. Things get ramped-up to near-ridiculous levels toward the end, however, which almost retroactively ruined the first 4/5ths of the novel for me. Still, the journey getting there was fun, and there were more than a handful of creepy, tension-filled moments sprinkled throughout, including the , which somewhat made up for the 20-30 pages leading up to it.
So no, it's not a forgotten classic, but for anyone who's in the mood for a quick eighties-style slasher mixed with a locked-room mystery scenario, Evil is worth checking out. I had a blast reading it (I read the entire thing in just two sittings), and I imagine most horror fans will as well, even with the absurdly over-the-top last couple chapters.
3.5 Stars
(And no, it's not the same Richard O'Brien from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.)
ETA: Thanks to Erin (Paperbackstash) and Jordan West for tipping me off to this book.
And once the power goes out and the group of friends start getting killed, they start to wonder if maybe there's a connection to their buried and nearly forgotten past, specifically the night of their graduation, when a strange, creepy boy that none of them liked was found dead of an apparent suicide. The mystery of who's responsible for the murders, as well as the interpersonal dynamics between the seven friends (who each have their secrets), kept me intrigued and glued to the page. Things get ramped-up to near-ridiculous levels toward the end, however, which almost retroactively ruined the first 4/5ths of the novel for me. Still, the journey getting there was fun, and there were more than a handful of creepy, tension-filled moments sprinkled throughout, including the , which somewhat made up for the 20-30 pages leading up to it.
So no, it's not a forgotten classic, but for anyone who's in the mood for a quick eighties-style slasher mixed with a locked-room mystery scenario, Evil is worth checking out. I had a blast reading it (I read the entire thing in just two sittings), and I imagine most horror fans will as well, even with the absurdly over-the-top last couple chapters.
3.5 Stars
(And no, it's not the same Richard O'Brien from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.)
ETA: Thanks to Erin (Paperbackstash) and Jordan West for tipping me off to this book.
April 20, 2016
Dear Jack and Erin,
Words can't express how grateful I am to have you as my Goodreads friends! You are doingGod's Satan's work in your tireless exhumation of forgotten horror treasures, most with appealingly tawdry covers that make my heart sing. You both have fattened my to-read lists with a glut of titles that I am excited to consume. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Yours,
mark monday
well what can I say that these two wondrous individuals haven't already said in their inspiring reviews? not much.
so many sweet spots:
- a reunion of old high school friends who are avoiding discussion of That Terrible Thing That Happened To All Of Them That Has Much Relevance To What Is Happening Now
- an exceedingly sinister mansion. loved the atmosphere!
- horrific nighttime weather conditions: a hurricane!
- the rarely depicted Excellent Reason (see above) for not fleeing a house where horrible things are happening
- realistic characters whose characterization is actually carefully handled and is a key motivator for the narrative itself; prose that may not have blown me away but still impressed me with its clarity and lack of pretension and the occasional writerly flourish; a fast-paced narrative with no sloppiness and no tedium and which forced me to read this all in one sitting
- a killer in the mansion! or is it one of our charmless protagonists...
- a bizarre and ambiguous ending that solved the mystery but, after that mystery is solved, makes sure that the reader knows there is still unimaginable trouble ahead. my gosh, that last line...
- my personal favorite: characters who are attacked because they are leaving the safety of the group to use the bathroom. ha! just realistic enough to not annoy me and just laughable enough to make me, well, laugh.
fun book!
Words can't express how grateful I am to have you as my Goodreads friends! You are doing
Yours,
mark monday
well what can I say that these two wondrous individuals haven't already said in their inspiring reviews? not much.
so many sweet spots:
- a reunion of old high school friends who are avoiding discussion of That Terrible Thing That Happened To All Of Them That Has Much Relevance To What Is Happening Now
- an exceedingly sinister mansion. loved the atmosphere!
- horrific nighttime weather conditions: a hurricane!
- the rarely depicted Excellent Reason (see above) for not fleeing a house where horrible things are happening
- realistic characters whose characterization is actually carefully handled and is a key motivator for the narrative itself; prose that may not have blown me away but still impressed me with its clarity and lack of pretension and the occasional writerly flourish; a fast-paced narrative with no sloppiness and no tedium and which forced me to read this all in one sitting
- a killer in the mansion! or is it one of our charmless protagonists...
- a bizarre and ambiguous ending that solved the mystery but, after that mystery is solved, makes sure that the reader knows there is still unimaginable trouble ahead. my gosh, that last line...
- my personal favorite: characters who are attacked because they are leaving the safety of the group to use the bathroom. ha! just realistic enough to not annoy me and just laughable enough to make me, well, laugh.
fun book!
October 21, 2020
Fans of mystery and horror rejoice! Not only are there a lot of great new books coming out by talented new authors, but there is still plenty of older material out there to keep you frantically flipping pages that you've never even heard about before. "Evil" is just one of those forgotten gems.
The premise is as simple as the title. Six thirtysomethings leaving a high school reunion and get stuck in the squalls of a hurricane. To wait out the storm, they take shelter in an inviting Victorian farmhouse, only to find that the family had just been murdered. And just as they can't leave as the raging floodwaters rise around them, neither can the killer. Trapped in a sprawling country mansion with a maniac, what follows is a 80s homage to the classic "old dark house" subgenre while embracing the then modern aesthetic of the silent slasher.
I guess you could say this is a haunted house story of a sort, but here the house is haunted by a very recent tragedy as well as memories of an incident almost forgotten from the youth of our main protagonists. Also, something very human, as opposed to supernatural, haunts the dark shadows of the countless rooms and hallways while the rain lashes against the panes--human, but nonetheless "evil."
This novel was short and paced perfectly. The writing borders on pedestrian yet brilliant, being easy to read for almost any age yet incredibly descriptive and conveying quite deep and tender adult themes. The suspense is palpable. The killings are vicious but not sensationally gory, as this book doesn't need cheap shocks to scare you witless. And when the action pauses to wax philosophic, the reader maintains investment because one feels for the characters as real human beings.
From the opening scene of the old classmates scrunched into a Volvo and driving to a cemetery through dark country roads during a pugnacious thunderstorm, I was hooked. Everyone can identify with the fear of driving through the dark, your vision blinded by gallons of rain splashing against a foggy windshield. And then when the intense second act starts within the mansion itself, I could not put the book down. If a faithful adaptation had been made for the screen, this could have been a legendary cult classic.
So why did this book drop off the radar? Well for one, it came out a little too late, as the slasher craze was nearing its end. Also, the author, who was nearing 55 years old at the time of its publication, was not your typical horror novelist.
For years I thought that the Richard O'Brien who wrote this book was the English writer and co-star of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Turns out, this is a different author. His specialty? Not horror! He is a comic writer who wrote gags for Woody Allen, and eventually earned a living writing books about his hobbies--collecting toy soldiers and trains! He dabbled in writing a few thrillers and mysteries for Dell, most of which have fallen into obscurity, though among select circles his fiction has been celebrated.
But because he never wanted to sell himself as a horror writer, his novels snuck onto the stacks of mall bookstores with only the necessary publicity from the publisher. So unlike Stephen King, who himself was the product, there was little hype built up around these works.
However, thanks to Grady Hendricks' "Paperbacks From Hell," people who still have their old horror titles collecting dust on the shelves, or who enjoy hunting in used book stores for the next surprise, are noticing books like "Evil" again.
But as of this writing, "Evil" has not had an e-book transfer. If you are interested, you have to go get a used copy online. But if you want a good horror thriller and think you've seen it all, it would be worth you shelling out the shipping and supporting small booksellers to get your hands on this masterpiece of suspense.
The premise is as simple as the title. Six thirtysomethings leaving a high school reunion and get stuck in the squalls of a hurricane. To wait out the storm, they take shelter in an inviting Victorian farmhouse, only to find that the family had just been murdered. And just as they can't leave as the raging floodwaters rise around them, neither can the killer. Trapped in a sprawling country mansion with a maniac, what follows is a 80s homage to the classic "old dark house" subgenre while embracing the then modern aesthetic of the silent slasher.
I guess you could say this is a haunted house story of a sort, but here the house is haunted by a very recent tragedy as well as memories of an incident almost forgotten from the youth of our main protagonists. Also, something very human, as opposed to supernatural, haunts the dark shadows of the countless rooms and hallways while the rain lashes against the panes--human, but nonetheless "evil."
This novel was short and paced perfectly. The writing borders on pedestrian yet brilliant, being easy to read for almost any age yet incredibly descriptive and conveying quite deep and tender adult themes. The suspense is palpable. The killings are vicious but not sensationally gory, as this book doesn't need cheap shocks to scare you witless. And when the action pauses to wax philosophic, the reader maintains investment because one feels for the characters as real human beings.
From the opening scene of the old classmates scrunched into a Volvo and driving to a cemetery through dark country roads during a pugnacious thunderstorm, I was hooked. Everyone can identify with the fear of driving through the dark, your vision blinded by gallons of rain splashing against a foggy windshield. And then when the intense second act starts within the mansion itself, I could not put the book down. If a faithful adaptation had been made for the screen, this could have been a legendary cult classic.
So why did this book drop off the radar? Well for one, it came out a little too late, as the slasher craze was nearing its end. Also, the author, who was nearing 55 years old at the time of its publication, was not your typical horror novelist.
For years I thought that the Richard O'Brien who wrote this book was the English writer and co-star of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Turns out, this is a different author. His specialty? Not horror! He is a comic writer who wrote gags for Woody Allen, and eventually earned a living writing books about his hobbies--collecting toy soldiers and trains! He dabbled in writing a few thrillers and mysteries for Dell, most of which have fallen into obscurity, though among select circles his fiction has been celebrated.
But because he never wanted to sell himself as a horror writer, his novels snuck onto the stacks of mall bookstores with only the necessary publicity from the publisher. So unlike Stephen King, who himself was the product, there was little hype built up around these works.
However, thanks to Grady Hendricks' "Paperbacks From Hell," people who still have their old horror titles collecting dust on the shelves, or who enjoy hunting in used book stores for the next surprise, are noticing books like "Evil" again.
But as of this writing, "Evil" has not had an e-book transfer. If you are interested, you have to go get a used copy online. But if you want a good horror thriller and think you've seen it all, it would be worth you shelling out the shipping and supporting small booksellers to get your hands on this masterpiece of suspense.
March 30, 2022
15 years ago: A group of 7 friends, plus their classmate, Raymond drive out to a lodge and break in to drink and hang out on graduation night. Raymond was a very weird and creepy person, and no one in the group can even remember why he was invited that night. The next day, Raymond is found hung in a shed near the lodge.
Present day: The night of their 15 year highschool reunion, the group of 7 friends decide to go visit Raymond's grave. After stopping briefly to pay their respects, they move on, as there is a terrible storm picking up outside. Trying to drive home proves impossible and after reaching a flooded bridge, they have no choice but to stop at the only house around and ask for shelter.
No one answers, so they let themselves in, desperate to get out of the now hurricane. They quickly discover the homeowners butchered in the kitchen, and they can't even call for help, as the storm has knocked the phone lines down. They try to leave, worried whoever did it may still be in the house, but the winds and rain are so severe, they are driven right back to the house.
They convince themselves the killer has fled, but when the power goes out, due to a sabotaged generator, they become even more frightened.
After a member of their group winds up murdered, Eve speaks up, and tells her friends she believes Raymond is responsible for the deaths and tragedies happening that night. Even though the police ruled his death a suicide, she says she knows it was murder - and he's finally getting his revenge - for if it wasn't Raymond that killed one of their friends just now, then it must be someone among them...
Is Raymond truly back from the grave to get his revenge - or is someone in their group responsible for the death?
-----------------------
First of all, let me just say, what a hidden gem. I am so pleased I discovered and bought this book and it was worth every penny. I managed to finish this book in one night, which is astounding for me because no matter how desperately I want to just sit down and read, my brain is always running full-steam ahead and forcing me to do a million different distractions throughout the night. So for me to sit still long enough to finish a book in one night is incredible for me.
About the book itself, I thought I figured out about halfway through what was going on, but I was never quite sure, and even then I ended up only being half right, because there was a twist at the end. I didn't love the explanation about who/what (not trying to ruin it) was killing people, because I felt it just didn't get enough explanation. Then the very last page I really didn't like. Just kinda vague and disappointing. If there was a sequel, it would be totally fine, but not as a stand alone novel.
Other than that, I loved it.
Present day: The night of their 15 year highschool reunion, the group of 7 friends decide to go visit Raymond's grave. After stopping briefly to pay their respects, they move on, as there is a terrible storm picking up outside. Trying to drive home proves impossible and after reaching a flooded bridge, they have no choice but to stop at the only house around and ask for shelter.
No one answers, so they let themselves in, desperate to get out of the now hurricane. They quickly discover the homeowners butchered in the kitchen, and they can't even call for help, as the storm has knocked the phone lines down. They try to leave, worried whoever did it may still be in the house, but the winds and rain are so severe, they are driven right back to the house.
They convince themselves the killer has fled, but when the power goes out, due to a sabotaged generator, they become even more frightened.
After a member of their group winds up murdered, Eve speaks up, and tells her friends she believes Raymond is responsible for the deaths and tragedies happening that night. Even though the police ruled his death a suicide, she says she knows it was murder - and he's finally getting his revenge - for if it wasn't Raymond that killed one of their friends just now, then it must be someone among them...
Is Raymond truly back from the grave to get his revenge - or is someone in their group responsible for the death?
-----------------------
First of all, let me just say, what a hidden gem. I am so pleased I discovered and bought this book and it was worth every penny. I managed to finish this book in one night, which is astounding for me because no matter how desperately I want to just sit down and read, my brain is always running full-steam ahead and forcing me to do a million different distractions throughout the night. So for me to sit still long enough to finish a book in one night is incredible for me.
About the book itself, I thought I figured out about halfway through what was going on, but I was never quite sure, and even then I ended up only being half right, because there was a twist at the end. I didn't love the explanation about who/what (not trying to ruin it) was killing people, because I felt it just didn't get enough explanation. Then the very last page I really didn't like. Just kinda vague and disappointing. If there was a sequel, it would be totally fine, but not as a stand alone novel.
Other than that, I loved it.
January 27, 2016
Color me surprised. You'd think I would have learned by now in my reading habits not to pre-judge a book too much by the cover and back blurb. Apparently this is another one where the publisher (or whoever wrote the back blurb) kind of lied. The story doesn't go like it says it does. The description marks it in the mind as a semi-fun, ultra cheesy experience; instead it's surprisingly intricate in some of its areas and goes down a completely different route.
True, they are at a reunion. True, they are going to the cemetery. This is where it changes -- being in the middle of a hurricane they ignored, not believing it would hit inland and stressed with the reunion and everything going on - and are forced to seek shelter at a lit-up house on the road. There they walk into the scene of a violent murder. Unable to bear staying in the house where such crime was committed, they again venture outside into the storm, only to find it's much worse, their
car is washed away, and they are stranded again. Sure a little unrealistic but with the way it's written, but not hokey actually reading it.
The writer impressed me with wording style. ";" may not have been used correctly ALL the time, and O'Brien clearly loves that punctuation mark, but his writing was suited for serious, suspenseful novels. He has a knack for keeping the pace flowing even when doing the introspective stuff, and for getting the picture out crystal clear without having to take long or rely on much wording. Impressive.
Instead of a cheese horror fest, it's more akin to a murder mansion mystery novel. The group dynamics of the seven played in strongly. They have their individual secrets, revealed in time, and there are hidden feelings/relationships lurking under the surface for many of them. Surprisingly most can't really remember the night of Raymond's death, but this is explained as well. Instead of just a group of people forced together in this situation to be sliced off one by one, there are several different intriguing stories going on at once.
The horror comes into play as there are some short scenes that are actually creepy and well written. Gore is not nauseating, but it coats the pages when it needs to. If you are turned off by brutality this book won't bother you in that regard. If you enjoy that kind of thing, there's a small enough here to keep you satisfied. Overall it ties into the story as it should - quick scenes to serve the purpose of keeping the suspense tight and the mystery elusive.
I will say the last chapter or so fell a bit short and was the weakest form of the novel, but overall it's a good read for this creepy, Fall season. More cheese and traditional horror stuff comes across at the end, but this one is a good blend of suspense, mystery, and creepy tale to keep things interesting. It's an older book so you may not find it laying around (I've had it on the TBR pile a few years), but if you do stumble across it, definitely worth a read.
True, they are at a reunion. True, they are going to the cemetery. This is where it changes -- being in the middle of a hurricane they ignored, not believing it would hit inland and stressed with the reunion and everything going on - and are forced to seek shelter at a lit-up house on the road. There they walk into the scene of a violent murder. Unable to bear staying in the house where such crime was committed, they again venture outside into the storm, only to find it's much worse, their
car is washed away, and they are stranded again. Sure a little unrealistic but with the way it's written, but not hokey actually reading it.
The writer impressed me with wording style. ";" may not have been used correctly ALL the time, and O'Brien clearly loves that punctuation mark, but his writing was suited for serious, suspenseful novels. He has a knack for keeping the pace flowing even when doing the introspective stuff, and for getting the picture out crystal clear without having to take long or rely on much wording. Impressive.
Instead of a cheese horror fest, it's more akin to a murder mansion mystery novel. The group dynamics of the seven played in strongly. They have their individual secrets, revealed in time, and there are hidden feelings/relationships lurking under the surface for many of them. Surprisingly most can't really remember the night of Raymond's death, but this is explained as well. Instead of just a group of people forced together in this situation to be sliced off one by one, there are several different intriguing stories going on at once.
The horror comes into play as there are some short scenes that are actually creepy and well written. Gore is not nauseating, but it coats the pages when it needs to. If you are turned off by brutality this book won't bother you in that regard. If you enjoy that kind of thing, there's a small enough here to keep you satisfied. Overall it ties into the story as it should - quick scenes to serve the purpose of keeping the suspense tight and the mystery elusive.
I will say the last chapter or so fell a bit short and was the weakest form of the novel, but overall it's a good read for this creepy, Fall season. More cheese and traditional horror stuff comes across at the end, but this one is a good blend of suspense, mystery, and creepy tale to keep things interesting. It's an older book so you may not find it laying around (I've had it on the TBR pile a few years), but if you do stumble across it, definitely worth a read.
June 27, 2023
Do NOT waste your time on this piece of trash! I warned you....it is that bad!
Wow, with being written by the same man who played Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and also the one who wrote that musical classic; I expected so much more with this 'wanna be' tale of revenge horror.
What!? Did I say horror? Well, there is NOT a single bit of horror in this 214 page snoozer.....and what LITTLE that does happen takes more than 175 pages to get there. This could have been better being a 30 page short story, but then I don't think even that short would it have been any better. It is compared to 'Friday the 13th' on the back cover........OMG! Skip this NOW! lol.
1 Snnnnnooooooooze!
Wow, with being written by the same man who played Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and also the one who wrote that musical classic; I expected so much more with this 'wanna be' tale of revenge horror.
What!? Did I say horror? Well, there is NOT a single bit of horror in this 214 page snoozer.....and what LITTLE that does happen takes more than 175 pages to get there. This could have been better being a 30 page short story, but then I don't think even that short would it have been any better. It is compared to 'Friday the 13th' on the back cover........OMG! Skip this NOW! lol.
1 Snnnnnooooooooze!
April 13, 2023
This was fine. 2.5 stars
May 12, 2024
Evil by Joshua Berlin
Amanda had a pleasant night in store for herself. She has cooked a meal in the oven and is awaiting the arrival of her friend Lauren for a sleepover. The night is rounding into shape, and they are having fun playing games when suddenly darkness is upon them. Within the home, stillness and fright chill the air as an intruder has entered the fray. The lights have gone out, and footsteps are heard throughout the house. The psychopath's sole priority is inflicting carnage on the dwellers. They tuck themselves into the bathroom with the unenviable task of fighting for their lives. Suddenly, a solution presents itself, and after a brief but tumultuous struggle, they escape through a window. This further enrages the killer to exact revenge and track down Amanda anywhere at any time.
Joshua Berlin, the author, has created a novel filled with Evil. It would be as if you were descending into a well full of mildew and clouded in utter darkness. Where every sound touches upon your senses, rendering you helpless. Reading much like an 80's slasher movie, I was scared to the core. I will admit to having the occasional chuckle in asking, "Why would they do that, or don't go in there!" which is the cheesiness I love and expect from an old horror film. Mr. Berlin excelled in his writing of the murderer, the choice of creating a non-talking character added to the allure of his sinister nature.
I wiped the perspiration from my brow and gathered my senses to indulge the readers in my opinion. Is it perfect? No would be my answer. However, the book succeeds where it matters most. It strikes fear in the heart with an abundance of descriptive scenes that bring the book to life, or death as it were. I recommend it to anyone with a penchant for the gorier side of the genre and who likes their killers a bit more spicy. This gets 4 out of 5 stars⭐
Amanda had a pleasant night in store for herself. She has cooked a meal in the oven and is awaiting the arrival of her friend Lauren for a sleepover. The night is rounding into shape, and they are having fun playing games when suddenly darkness is upon them. Within the home, stillness and fright chill the air as an intruder has entered the fray. The lights have gone out, and footsteps are heard throughout the house. The psychopath's sole priority is inflicting carnage on the dwellers. They tuck themselves into the bathroom with the unenviable task of fighting for their lives. Suddenly, a solution presents itself, and after a brief but tumultuous struggle, they escape through a window. This further enrages the killer to exact revenge and track down Amanda anywhere at any time.
Joshua Berlin, the author, has created a novel filled with Evil. It would be as if you were descending into a well full of mildew and clouded in utter darkness. Where every sound touches upon your senses, rendering you helpless. Reading much like an 80's slasher movie, I was scared to the core. I will admit to having the occasional chuckle in asking, "Why would they do that, or don't go in there!" which is the cheesiness I love and expect from an old horror film. Mr. Berlin excelled in his writing of the murderer, the choice of creating a non-talking character added to the allure of his sinister nature.
I wiped the perspiration from my brow and gathered my senses to indulge the readers in my opinion. Is it perfect? No would be my answer. However, the book succeeds where it matters most. It strikes fear in the heart with an abundance of descriptive scenes that bring the book to life, or death as it were. I recommend it to anyone with a penchant for the gorier side of the genre and who likes their killers a bit more spicy. This gets 4 out of 5 stars⭐
September 8, 2021
I enjoyed this "vintage" (is 1989 vintage now?) horror novel. I'd seen it around the used bookshelves over the years and never gave it a chance until now. I tend to like my horror reads shorter rather than longer. I think horror should be a carnival ride even if you can see how the ride ends. Hopefully you'll get the sick rush of it all and wear that silly smile as you exit the ride. This novel fits the bill. It's well written, it's compelling, and it's short. It skirts the line between horror and (locked room) mystery. There is a sense of shared guilt about a past sin among 7 friends that feeds the dread. I wavered between 3 and 4 stars on this one and it lands at the 3.5 mark. It's good, it's entertaining, but it's not a classic that you'll tell your friends about years later. While reading it I was often reminded of Agatha Christie's novel And Then There Were None.
July 19, 2021
I found this book to be boring. It started out ok. The group of friends get together again at their reunion and decide to go for a ride to the cemetery where an old classmate was buried. Supposedly he had committed suicide by hanging himself. It's pouring outside and they have to abandon their car and find their way to an old farm house. The whole story from thereon is about a "killer" in the house, killing everyone one by one. Some good parts in it....wondering who is the killer? Is it the evil spirit of the old classmate?
Then the ending.......blah, just blah. I felt it just ended quickly. Really, no great explanation. Just stupid.
Then the ending.......blah, just blah. I felt it just ended quickly. Really, no great explanation. Just stupid.
May 17, 2025
Look at that spooky cover - of course I picked this one up. The story started quite strong. A highschool reunion, seven friends in a car, a visit a the cemetery, a dead class mate from the past named Raymond and a terrible storm. All the right ingredients. They stranded in a remote house and discovered two murdered people. Who is the murderer? Is there a connection to the past and might be one of the reunion persons involved? Atmospheric, creepy and page turning. In the end it dragged a bit but overall a very good uncanny thriller. Who was evil? Really recommended!
March 17, 2020
May not be a great book, but it was a fun read.
March 4, 2024
Slasher movies always have a great villain, someone who strikes fear into the hearts of the characters, and someone who the audience remembers long after their first viewing. Michael Myers. Freddy Krueger. Jason Voorhees. Chucky. Now, horror literature welcomes the next slasher icon, The Intruder from Joshua Berlin's debut novel, 'Evil'. Dark and mysterious, he stalks his way through the night in much the same manner he does in 'Evil'. Their night was supposed to be fun, filled with love and laughter. But when two young friends, Amanda and Lauren find themselves home alone in a dark house, with heavy footsteps thudding above them, it soon puts them into a dangerous situation. Stalked from the shadows by an evil menace who is hungry for death and destruction, Amanda and Lauren must fight for their very survival. Without giving any spoilers away, I will say this, while it's not an exceptionally long novel, at just over 250 pages, it's fairly fast paced and will keep you turning the pages. A great recommendation for lovers of slasher movies, suspense movies, and anyone who loves horror.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews