Title: Black Lightning
Author: John Saul
First published January 1, 1995
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 9780449225042 (ISBN10: 0449225046)
Rating: 3.81
Overview
For years, journalist Sarah Walker has been captivated by the story of a notorious serial killer’s reign of terror, conviction, and subsequent execution. As she prepares to write the final chapter on the case, a new wave of murders sends shockwaves through the city.
Sarah becomes consumed by the investigation, haunted by the killer’s chilling last words to her before his death. With each gruesome discovery, it becomes clear that someone is determined to continue the killer’s legacy.
As Sarah races to uncover the truth, she realizes that the nightmare is far from over, and the killer’s sinister plan is more terrifying than she ever imagined.
About the Author
John Saul grew up in Whittier, California, and graduated from Whittier High School in 1959. He attended several colleges but never obtained a degree.
After leaving college, he decided to become a writer and spent the next fifteen years working in various jobs while attempting to write a book that would get published. During those years, he gained a wealth of knowledge about the car-rental industry and the travails of temporary typists.
He collected a lot of unpublished manuscripts but not a lot of money. Eventually, he found an agent in New York who spent several years sending his manuscripts around, and trying to make the rejection slips sound hopeful.
Then, in 1976, one of his manuscripts reached Dell, who asked him if he’d be interested in writing a psychological thriller. He put together an outline, and crossed his fingers.
Things started getting bizarre at that point. His agent and Dell both believed that the outline had all the makings of a best-seller.
Gambling on a first novel by an unknown author, they backed the book with television advertising, which was one of the first times a paperback original was promoted on television. The gamble paid off.
Within a month, “Suffer the Children” appeared on all the best-seller lists in the country and made the #1 spot in Canada. Subsequently, all 32 of his books have made all the best-seller lists and have been published worldwide.
In addition to being a novelist, John is also interested in the theater. He has acted, and as a playwright has had several one-act plays produced in Los Angeles and Seattle, and two optioned in New York.
One of his novels was produced by Gerber Productions Company and MGM as a CBS movie, and currently, one of his novels is in development.
John served on the Expansion Arts Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts. He is actively involved with the development of other writers and is a lecturer at the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference and the Maui Writers Conference.
He received the Life Time Achievement Award from the Northwest Writers Conference. John is also a trustee and Vice President of The Chester Woodruff Foundation, a philanthropic organization.
John lives part-time in the Pacific Northwest, both in Seattle and in the San Juan Islands. He also maintains a residence on the Big Island of Hawaii.
He currently enjoys motor homing, travel, and golf. He is an avid reader, bridge player, golfer and loves to cook.
Editoral Review
Black Lightning by John Saul is a page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Released on January 1, 1995, this novel is a masterful work of suspense that highlights Saul’s ingenuity and ability to craft compelling stories.
Saul is an American author who has been writing horror and suspense novels for decades. He has published over 35 best-selling books, including The Devil’s Labyrinth, The God Project, and Comes the Blind Fury.
Black Lightning is no exception to his reputation as a master of suspense and thrillers. The novel is set in one of the remote islands in the Pacific Northwest, where two sisters, Cathy and her sibling, are struggling to survive after their father passed away.
When a mysterious stranger named Garvin comes to the island, their lives take a turn for the worse as they find themselves caught up in a web of deceit and terror. The novel’s setting in a remote island makes for a perfect backdrop for the suspenseful and chilling tale that it tells.
Saul’s writing style clearly evokes the atmosphere of the island, with his vivid descriptions of the landscape and the characters that inhabit it. Through his writing, Saul is able to keep his readers engaged from the start, as they are gradually drawn deeper into the story.
While Black Lightning mostly falls under the suspense/thriller genre, it also deals with themes of grief and loss, the challenges of running a family business, and the impact of secrets and betrayal on families. These themes make the novel relatable to readers, and it is one of the reasons why the book is still relevant nearly three decades since its release.
Saul’s character development in Black Lightning is top-notch, as he takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster ride, getting them to care about his protagonists and their battles. His attention to detail is commendable, as he uses small details to create a connection between readers and his characters, and this is particularly evident in the case of Cathy and her sister.
However, the novel’s pacing is uneven, and some readers may find the plot to be somewhat predictable, especially if they’ve read other novels in the same genre. Additionally, the ending feels rushed, and the resolution is somewhat unsatisfying.
However, these minor flaws pale in comparison to Saul’s overall craftsmanship. Despite its minor shortcomings, Black Lightning is an entertaining, fast-paced, and well-written novel that is deserving of its place within the suspense/thriller genre.
Fans of Saul’s work will surely enjoy reading it, as will anyone who enjoys a good mystery packed with suspense, secrets, and twists. In summary, if you’re a fan of suspense and thrillers, Black Lightning is definitely worth your time.
It combines a well-crafted story with memorable characters and themes that are still relevant today. It might not be a perfect novel, but it is a page-turner that is guaranteed to keep readers engaged from beginning to end.
On a scale of one to ten, I would give it a solid eight, based on the quality of the writing, character development, and pacing.
