Silent Children

by Ramsey Campbell

Once upon a time there was a man who loved children. He loved them so much he tried to save them from their imperfect parents. Unfortunately, Hector Woollie didn't work for Child Protective Services . . . and the children he rescued, he murdered.

Once upon a time, Leslie had a happy marriage, a happy son, and a happy life. Now divorced, she is trapped in ongoing battles with her ex-husband, Roger, especially over their newly-adolescent son, Ian.

When Ian and his young stepsister disappear, Roger insists the boy kidnapped the girl, while Leslie thinks Ian might have run away. She prays that her son is near and will come home soon.

Ian is near-right next door, just on the other side of a shared wall. Ian can hear his parents fighting and his mother's desperate weeping, but he can't call for help. Hector Woollie has him and his stepsister, and if either child makes a peep, the madman will slit both their throats.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Thriller

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 7, 2000

About the author

Ramsey Campbell is a British writer considered by a number of critics to be one of the great masters of horror fiction. T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today," while S. T. Joshi has said that "future generations will regard him as the leading horror writer of our generation, every bit the equal of Lovecraft or Blackwood."

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This hardcover was printed by Forge books (Tor) in 2001.

The novel concerns a serial killer of children who buries his victims in the houses he renovates for customers.

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-¿Basta, en general, con arropar narrativamente una idea sencilla para hacer novela de horror?.-

Género. Novela.

Lo que nos cuenta. Hector Woollie es un responsable de reformas que esconde los cadáveres de los niños a los que mata en aquellos domicilios en los que es contratado para trabajar, pero que muere ahogado tras ser descubierto por un empleado al que enfrenta en una balsa. La última casa que Woollie usó como improvisado camposanto pertenece a una mujer, Leslie, divorciada, con un hijo adolescente que parece ir por el mal camino y que no se consigue llevar bien con su pequeña hermanastra perversamente infantil, que decide alquilar una habitación a un escritor muy interesado en realizar una obra sobre Woollie y sus asesinatos.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Rowan MacBean · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read until chapter ten and then gave up out of complete disinterest.

[Susanz · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading some reviews I was unsure about this book. After getting into it, I ended up liking it more than I expected.

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

These people are the worst. Ramsey Campbell novels make me hate Brits. Is it possible to slap an entire country?

[Ignacio Senao f · Rating 2 out of 5]

Siempre igual colega, hace librazos o auténticos mojonazos. Este es una gran mierda.

Una mujer con su hijo vive con los papas, estos se fueron de su casa ya que encontraron a un niño enterrado entre el hormigón de una obra que le hicieron en casa, ya que el albañil era un asesino. Ahora esta mujer quiere irse con su hijo a solas a esa casa. Que no vayas, que no vayas, pero va coño.

Ahí podrías imaginar que empieza a vivir cosas terroríficas en la casa. PUES AIRE. Se convierte en una historia romántica con engaños. Vaya leñazo de libro…

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

I’m having a hard time understanding why this has such low ratings. Ramsey Campbell is a master at his craft. No, there’s no big reveal, no defining wow moment, and no slap you in the face plot twists in this one. However, what this does have is beautiful writing, great character development, and an original plot that is best devoured slowly. Campbell has such an incredible way of invoking a sense of impending doom and terror that the whole experience feels dreamlike. The horror comes from the way you’re constantly expecting something terrible to happen. The characters aren’t over the top, but real in both their actions and thoughts.

[Arthur B · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lesser Campbell novel, which in later years he's revealed he was more or less ordered to write by his agents because they didn't believe there was a market for his supernatural works. An effort is clearly being made, but the concept never feels plausible enough for me to get invested. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...

[Toms_fiction.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“‘Now I lay you down to sleep,
Close your eyes good night.
Angels come your soul to keep,
Close your eyes goodnight...’”
.
.
This is definitely one of the best thriller/horror novels I’ve read all year. Ramsey Campbell has made me a huge fan. There’s a lot of mystique around the plot in the first few chapters which I love. It rounds out what the book will be about without giving away too much of the plot. Theres also a few wonderful twists. Campbell kept them limited and did not overdo which is also a perk. The characters were also developed well. You get to know them very personally and may even become attached. This also can be bittersweet once the book ends. Ramsey did an amazing job on this novel and I can’t wait to dig into another!

[Nico · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bufff, menos mal que me costó 3 €, que van y vienen. Una novela que parte de una idea interesante, e intrigante, pero ejecutada horriblemente, cero tensión, paja por todos lados, no sabía lo que estaba leyendo, era el día a día de los personajes con el trasfondo del asesino de niños, pero nada más. Aún así , en el futuro quiero probar con otra novela del autor para descartarlo definitivamente o no.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent from beginning to end! Please disregard the ridiculous, unjust 3.22 "rating" and read it. Better than any psychological thriller / suspense book I've read that's come out in the last 10 years or so. Creepy as hell and Campbell at his best! 🙌

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another can't put down scary novel from beginning to end...

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hadn't read Campbell in a while. Good story, although I didn't always enjoy the dialog - glib responses to simple, direct questions. "What time is it?" "What time should you like it to be?"

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Solid idea with the potential for high creep factor; unfortunately, there was too much revealed too early. It felt predictable and anti-climactic in parts as if there was nothing really left to discover or find out. And the characters weren't all that likeable, which caused me to disconnect and not really care about their survival. So my first experience with Campbell wasn't great but I plan to read one or two more anyway. 2.5 stars

[Jerry Balzano · Rating 2 out of 5]

See my review of The Overnight for a more thorough discussion of why I'm currently "paused" at the 75%-mark of both that book and this one, and for my thoughts about the redoubtable Ramsey Campbell, a most unique horror writer.

UPDATE: All right, I finished it, and overall I have to say it was something of a disappointment, definitely a minor work of Campbell's, in my estimation.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very difficult book to get into. It wasn't until the last third of the story that my interest was peaked, and even then I kept waiting for something to happen that never did. The ending and epilogue felt like the author had just given up.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too slow moving.

[Mary Whidden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting thriller by an English author.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great- dragged and dragged. The plot was good but the author got so caught up in the minutiae that I skimmed through the last few chapters. Pretty disappointing.

[Laurie's Story · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow... had good promise, but the "wow!" never kicked in.

[Òscar Espinosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more of this so-famous horror author.