Title: House of Reckoning
Author: John Saul
First published October 13, 2009
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 3.82
Overview
When Sarah Crane’s mother passes away and her father is arrested for murder, she is forced to adapt to a new life. Struggling to fit in at school and with her foster family, Sarah finds solace in her friendship with Nick Dunnigan, a troubled former mental patient, and Bettina Phillips, her eccentric art teacher.
However, when Sarah begins to paint images that seem to come from the dark history of Bettina’s ancestral mansion, she realizes that there may be more to the house than meets the eye. As Nick’s hallucinations become more intense, Sarah discovers that they have the power to take control and exact revenge on the violent generations that came before them.
Will they be able to stop the darkness from consuming them, or will they succumb to the House of Reckoning?
About the Author
John Saul grew up in Whittier, California, and graduated from Whittier High School in 1959. He attended several colleges, majoring in anthropology, liberal arts, and theater, but never obtained a degree.
After leaving college, he decided to pursue his passion for writing and spent the next fifteen years working various jobs while attempting to write a publishable book.
During this time, he gained valuable experiences that could be used as background material for books, such as working in the car-rental industry and as a temporary typist. However, despite accumulating a nice collection of unpublished manuscripts, he did not make much money.
Fortunately, in 1976, one of his manuscripts caught the attention of Dell, who asked him to write a psychological thriller. John put together an outline, and Dell backed the book with television advertising, which was a first for a paperback original.
The gamble paid off, and Suffer the Children became a best-seller, appearing on all the best-seller lists in the country and making the #1 spot in Canada.
Since then, John has written 32 books, all of which have made the best-seller lists and have been published worldwide. He is also interested in the theater and has had several one-act plays produced in Los Angeles and Seattle, and two optioned in New York.
In addition to his work as a novelist and playwright, John is actively involved with the development of other writers and is a lecturer at writing conferences. He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northwest Writers Conference and served on the Expansion Arts Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts.
He 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, as well as on the Big Island of Hawaii. He enjoys motor homing, travel, golf, reading, bridge, and cooking.
Editoral Review
House of Reckoning by John Saul is a spine-chilling horror novel that was first published on October 13, 2009. John Saul is a renowned American horror author known for his ability to craft bone-chilling narratives that keep readers glued to the pages.
His other notable works include “The Blackstone Chronicles” and “The God Project.” “House of Reckoning” is a novel that is sure to leave readers with goosebumps and a sense of unease.
The novel is a classic horror story set in a small town in Massachusetts. It revolves around the life of Sarah Crane, a troubled teenager who is haunted by her past.
Sarah is forced to leave her hometown and move to a new school where she meets an eccentric art teacher, Mr. Conlan. Mr. Conlan is a recluse who lives in a creepy old mansion that has a dark and disturbing history.
Despite the warnings of her classmates, Sarah becomes intrigued by Mr. Conlan and his mysterious past. She soon learns that the old mansion holds many secrets, and she finds herself embroiled in a web of deceit, betrayal, and horror.
The characters in the novel are well-developed and relatable. Sarah, the protagonist, is a troubled teenager who is struggling to come to terms with her past.
Mr. Conlan, the eccentric art teacher, is a complex character who is haunted by his own demons. The setting of the novel is also well-crafted, with the creepy old mansion providing the perfect backdrop for the horror that unfolds.
One of the strengths of the novel is its pacing. John Saul has a knack for keeping readers on the edge of their seats, and “House of Reckoning” is no exception.
The plot is well-structured, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very end. The themes of the novel, including betrayal, revenge, and redemption, are also well-explored and add depth to the story.
However, the novel does have some flaws. The writing style can be a bit heavy-handed at times, with some passages feeling overly descriptive.
Additionally, some readers may find the horror elements to be too predictable or clichéd, with the story relying too heavily on jump scares and cheap thrills.
Overall, “House of Reckoning” is a well-crafted horror novel that is sure to satisfy fans of the genre. While it may not be for everyone, those who enjoy a good scare will find plenty to enjoy in this book.
John Saul has once again proven himself to be a master of horror, and “House of Reckoning” is a worthy addition to his impressive body of work.
Rating: 4/5 stars.
