... Instead of getting on with the plot, he decides to tell us what the main character’s favourite sexual fantasy is. He tries to bring her breasts into the story wherever possible. I’m not sure why, but perhaps he was just trying to actually maintain the reader’s interest in ... Read review
Advantages: good storyline Disadvantages: bad writing, other flaws
...the rest of his books in no time.
I was, however, very much disappointed.
~*~
THE PLOT
Jane Kerry is the new librarian at Donnerville Public Library. She’s desperate to make a good impression on the visitors, but is getting slightly bored with the daily routine of her life.
However, all this is about to change, when a mysterious envelope with her name on it appears at ... ...to a book that is in stock at the library, where she finds another $100, as well as another cryptic message.
With her new friend Brace guiding and accompanying her, Jane continues to play the game, and every time she solves a clue or completes a task, she receives double the previous reward.
However, the tasks increase in difficulty each time, and every time Jane seeks out another payout, she puts herself in more danger, ... more
I bought this book after my friend raved constantly about it – so much so that I knew nearly half of the story before even buying it. However, I had never read any of Richard Laymon’s work before, and was curious about his writing style.
The front and back covers of the book are full of praise for Laymon’s work – even from hit horror writer Stephen King – great, I thought, I’ve discovered another great writer, and I’ll be buying the rest of his books in no time.
I was, however, very much disappointed.
~*~
THE PLOT
Jane Kerry is the new librarian at Donnerville Public Library. She’s desperate to make a good impression on the visitors, but is getting slightly bored with the daily routine of her life.
However, all this is about to change, when a mysterious envelope with her name on it appears at the library desk. What could it be, and more importantly, who is it from?
When she opens the envelope, she discovers a $50 bill, and a cryptic note, signed by “MOG (Master Of Games)”.
Jane realises that the message is leading her to a book that is in stock at the library, where she finds another $100, as well as another cryptic message.
With her new friend Brace guiding and accompanying her, Jane continues to play the game, and every time she solves a clue or completes a task, she receives double the previous reward.
However, the tasks increase in difficulty each time, and every time Jane seeks out another payout, she puts herself in more danger, and her actions begin to shock even herself.
But who is Master of Games? Does the game have an end? And will Jane want to stop even if it does?
~*~
MY OPINION
Now, I think that the plot of the book is quite interesting and exciting, so the story had amazing potential. But, I don’t think much of Laymon’s writing style at all.
First of all, Richard brings sex into the story when it’s completely irrelevant and unnecessary. Instead of getting on with the plot, he decides to tell us what the main character’s favourite sexual fantasy is. He tries to bring her breasts into the story wherever possible. I’m not sure why, but perhaps he was just trying to actually maintain the reader’s interest in his story, but I think that it proves that he severely underestimates his readers. As a teenage boy, I wouldn’t have minded a bit of it, but he just goes completely over the top!
The characters also weren’t very believable. Why on earth would anyone humiliate and endanger themselves as much as the main character does? Certainly not just for a bit of money. It’s just silly. Sure, an ordinary person would be curious at first, but after about the fourth task I think that anyone would realise that they should stop.
Some chapters are also completely boring. One of the first tasks that Jane takes on is quite simple, yet the writer goes into too much detail about it.
I’m not saying that the book is bad – the general premise somewhat makes up for the bad quality of writing, but there are some obvious flaws.
A few good points about the book, though – it is quite interesting to see where Jane’s adventures will take her next, so in this aspect, the book is a bit of a page-turner and quite gripping. Richard Laymon also manages to hold some interest by keeping the identity of Master Of Games a secret throughout the book, but personally, I found the ending quite disappointing after a huge build-up, apart from one aspect which could have been explored more.
~*~
CONCLUSION
“In The Dark” has a brilliant storyline, which is ruined by poor writing, and some events being quite unrealistic. I would say, still read it if you’re in the mood for a thriller, but be prepared to be frustrated by the writing and various other inconsistencies.
I also notice that the front and back covers are only praising Richard Laymon’s work in general, and not this book in particular, so I’m planning to read another book by the same author, in the interests of finding out whether all of his books are the same.
Advantages: A bit of suspense and thriller Disadvantages: Poorly written and a but far fetched sometimes
...town and gets a job in the local Library. She feels her life is very mundane and boring and she will not be able to meet new people but then an envelope appears on her desk in the library with her name on it. She opens it to find $50 and a note with a clue which leads her upstairs to a book where she finds another envelope with a note but this time with $100. The notes are signed MOG (Master of Games) and each note has another clue which leads her ... ...in order to get the next envelope, each containing twice as much money as before.
I started off really enjoying this book and thought the suspense was quite good and 'where will she be sent and what will she have to do next?' but then I thought the book started to get a little far fetched. First of all she is being sent to stranger and stranger places and being asked to do horrible things (such as walk into an abandoned house, go upstairs to an ...
NewYork2006 23.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of In the Dark - Richard Laymon
Advantages: Richard Laymon wote it Disadvantages: Ending could have been better explained
...Kerry is the new librarian in small town Donnerville.One evening as she is getting ready to
close up she discovers a envelope addressed to her.Upon opening it she finds a note
wrapped around a fifty dollar bill.
The note reads 'Look homeward,angel' signed Master Of Games.Checking the Thomas
Wolfe novel of the same title she discovers another envelope with another note and one
hundred dollars.
Her tasks cause her to meet up with Brace a college ... ...As the payoff increases in value so does the risk to Jane herself and M.O.G insists she
completes the tasks without any help from Brace.Jane is put in more and more dangerous
situations and on several occasions is forced to fight for her life.
As the tasks begin to require she does crazy and immoral things she tries to quit.But
M.O.G has other ideas.Breaking into her home as she sleeps he carves messages into her
skin leaving no trace of his ...
erinmitch 15.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of In the Dark - Richard Laymon
Advantages: Great read, full of surprises Disadvantages: Not for the easily offended
In the Dark is definitely one of Laymon's better books, which keeps you guessing right to the end. It's about Jane, a librarian, who out of the blue receives an anonymous letter with a cryptic clue leading her to a financial reward. One clue leads to another, but as the prizes become bigger, the feats she has to perform become more and more sinister, dangerous and downright evil! It's a brilliantly written novel, full of surprises, and Laymon even ...
philsammie 12.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of In the Dark - Richard Laymon
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Advantages: Short. Exciting Disadvantages: Linear plot. Poor characters. Confusing in places
Written in 1981, The Woods Are Dark is RichardLaymon?s second novel. And it shows.
The story is set in the town of Barlow, where the locals kidnap and rob tourists to take out to the Killing Trees, where they are offered as sacrifices to the barbaric Krull tribe that live in the woods. People like Sherri and Neala, and the Dills family are rounded up by the town?s ?Delivery Men.? This arrangement has gone on for generations, as tourists are robbed and then handed over to the Krulls to murder or breed from. However, when Delivery Man Johnny Robbins falls in love with Neala, after chaining her to one of the Killing Trees and leaving her for the Krulls, he decides to break the rules, rescue the girl and flee Barlow, taking his sister and niece with him.
I enjoyed the first half of The Woods Are Dark. It?s a fairly short book, so it ...
Advantages: Always engrossing and suspenseful Disadvantages: Perhaps lacks the bite of Laymon's very best.
Darkness, Tell Us is slightly above average for a RichardLaymon book, but never quite reaches the standard of his very best novels. It has a lot in common with Dark Mountain, but improves on that novel in most departments, and is never dull. It's the story of a group of students who receive a message via a Ouija board, and set off into the mountains in search of treasure promised to them by the spirit. It's a very entertaining story, and contains a secret which is nigh on impossible to guess. Its uneasy atmosphere (you're never quite sure what's about to happen) makes it very suspenseful and it's ultimately very satisfying. Like Funland, it may also appeal to those who are not hardcore horror fans. ...
Advantages: fast paced thriller you might not be able to put down Disadvantages: very violent, very bloody
a different demographic too. Some of the scenes of violence and sexual abuse were depicted in a bit too much detail and I had to rush through those pages so as resist the urge to vomit!
If you feel I've given too much of the plot away, think again - there are so many plot twists that the little I've told you doesn't even begin to go near spoiling the story!
Overall I'd rate Come Out Tonight as 4½ out of 10. I'm so glad I didn't pay more than 20 pence for this book! Read it at your peril?
~*~AUTHOR'S OTHER BOOKS~*~
As well as this book Laymon, who was mostly famous for writing horror novels, wrote many other books including: After Midnight Alarums, All Hallows Eve, Among the Missing, The Beast House, Beware, Bite, Blood Games, Body Rides, The Cellar, Cuts and Darkness Tell Us.
For more info about the author have a look at http://laymon ...
Product Information for "In the Dark - Richard Laymon" »
Product details
Type
Fiction
Genre
Horror
Title
In the Dark
Author
Richard Laymon
ISBN
0747209944; 0747245096
Manufacturer's product description
When the new librarian, Jane Kerry, receives a letter enclosing a 50-dollar bill and a note signed MOG (Master of Games) with a clue to another pay-off, she is hooked. But when violence begins to occur she has second thoughts and wants to quit, but MOG has other ideas.
Compare In the Dark - Richard Laymon to other similar Horror Books »
The writing is taut and effecive, and several stand alone scenes are magnificent. The conclusion, had it been published as a stand alone novella, would have been wonderful.
Nothing happens, and there is some nasty use of forced incest as a means to create a tawdry shock. Oh, and nothing happens. (*)
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