Nightmare Lake

Twilight: Where Darkness Begins #11

by Carl Laymon, Richard Laymon (Pseudonym )

It started off as a family vacation, but when Burt and his sister Sammi discover the remains of a human skeleton hidden in the woods, it's just the beginning of the horror...

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Horror Thriller, Fiction

146 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 3, 1983

About the author

pseudonym of Richard Laymon

Reviews

[Alex (The Bookubus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

This wasn't going to get a high rating no matter what (very plain, direct narrative, with a plot that seemed to jump from one event to another without much finesse), but then the author had to go and pull the it-was-all-a-dream twist at the end? What a fucking hack.

That "Carl Laymon" is a pseudonym of Richard Laymon is no surprise to me.

EDIT: Someone noted that this wasn't Laymon's decision. I hate editing out my initial impressions, so I'll leave my initial reaction, but add this comment that the ending was the editors' decision. So THEY'RE the fucking hacks, not Laymon. At least, not this time.

[Caleb Golden · Rating 1 out of 5]

You most likely already know that this book is written by splatterpunk guru Richard Laymon (using one of his pen names) Unfortunately, this book is not up to Laymon standards. Richard wrote another book under this pen name called "Your Secret Admirer," and much like it, this book seems more aimed at teens than at horror fans. This book is also a prime example of what happens when struggling authors have bills to pay and therefore take on a project they really don't care about in order to make ends meet; a practice that I abhor because the author's lack of interest in his own story and characters is always painfully evident, as it is here. The book starts with a couple of kids who find a skeleton with a stake through its ribs while on a camping trip. They remove said stake which brings a vampire back to life, sounding like a pretty good setup for your typical sex filled, blood splattered Laymon novel but alas, no. At less than 150 pages of mild/implied violence, Brady Bunch dialogue, and highly predictable plot twists that a grade schooler could see coming, it's basically a very poorly written episode of Goosebumps.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars. Disappointed. I thought this was going to be a slasher book but it turned out to be a badly done vampire mystery. Published in 1983, the writing style felt even older like 40s or 50s. It also felt like middle grade, a precursor to Goosebumps. Short ~150 pages but dragged. At least the dog didn’t die. Great cover. I found it hard to believe the kids were allowed to take a boat out on their own.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A fun, little jaunt into a summertime mystery/horror with a group of kids. Reminded me a bit of Stand By Me only in that they find a skeleton and it is a bit of an adventure.

[Adam Cleaver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, this is not the best Laymon book ever, however, you have to take into account its a teen horror book like Goosebumps or Point Horror etc.
The story is pretty lame, and does teh whole 'vampire' thing, that has been done to death by this point. Also, the whole "it was just a dream" was an awful ending.
Still had teh Laymon troups in there, though hidden, with the love-at-first-sight, and the odd and worrying younger girl fancying the older male cop, and her teacher. Which always feels off in his books.
However, for a kids story not too bad, and worth a quick read, if nothing more.
This is a 2.5 star read for me, falling nearer a 2.

[Egghead · Rating 3 out of 5]

actually has
supernatural menace
...until last pages.

[Jack Hambly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this while looking for books written by Richard Laymon. I had read one of the Twilight books (Goosebumps has nothing on these books) while in middle school many years ago and had greatly enjoyed it. Laymon may have toned back his style for a younger audience, but he was still able to craft an entertaining and enthralling chiller.

[Snakes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rare YA horror by Richard Laymon (writing under the pseudonym of Carl Laymon). Kind of unbelievable and nonsensical in a cheese YA way and then the ending turned a ridiculously stupid and disappointing 180 to pull off a cliche that annoys almost everyone. Just okay.