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Home > Books > Fiction > Horror Books > T Horror Books > The Cellar - Richard Laymon
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5 Reviews

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The Cellar is one of those books which starts well, and then by the climax, the reader finds themselves thinking "Dear oh dear". I will begin this review by stating that the book has a pretty... more

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for The Cellar - Richard Laymon

Rating Summary based on 5 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		1
  • 4 Stars
    		3
  • 3 Stars
    		1
  • 2 Stars
    		0
  • 1 Star
    		0

Detailed rating

  • Characters
  • How does it compare to other works by the same author?
  • How does it compare to similar books?
  • Readability
  • Story
  		• 3.8
  		• 3.2
  		• 3.8
  		• 4.4
  		• 4.0
  • 21 of 21 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Arbobug

    Arbobug

    3 Stars Not Laymon's Best 07/02/2011

    Advantages Advantages It's R Laymon! Koontz sums it up pretty well - "You will have a good time w/ anything he writes"

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Silly story, bad main character, and an anticlimactic ending.

    The Cellar is one of those books which starts well, and then by the climax, the reader finds themselves thinking "Dear oh dear". I will begin this review by stating that the book has a pretty terrible ending, but don't worry, I won't spoil the ending (any further) in this review. STORY ---------- The Cellar's main character is Donna Hayes, who has just learned that her extremely abusive ex husband, Roy, has just been released from prison. She flees with her daughter, Sandy, meaning to hide from Roy. The pair end up in the town of Malcasa Point, where there is a famous house called "Beast ... more
  • 4 of 4 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of sparkymarky1973

    Level 4 sparkymarky1973

    Member since 23/08/2006

    Reviews written: 96

    5 Stars missed Laymon,you missed a treat alright!! 23/08/2006
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages blood,gore, monsters and a spooky mueseum owner-what else do you need?

    Disadvantages Disadvantages great start to a series of novels about the Beast House

    Every day visitors flock to the infamous Beast House at Malcasa Point-the scene for a series of brutal murders that occurred several years ago-and gasp in horror at the gruesome wax work figures that tell the official story of what went on. But what they hear is only half the story,a version heavily edited by the owner of the Beast House herself.... Mother and daughter,Donna and Sandy Hayes,come to the town fleeing an abusive figure from their past,who they know is determined to track them down.Hearing about the Beast House for the first time,the pair are intrigued and decide to pay it a visit ... more
  • 6 of 6 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of RichardW

    RichardW

    4 Stars Reads like a good first novel 06/12/2000
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Fast and furious, with no time for rose-smelling

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Might prove too hectic for some - I like to pause between action sequences, the better to enjoy them.

    'The Cellar' was the first novel from Richard Laymon, an author who now fills whole shelves in your local horror section, and it reads very much like what it is. "I'm going to write a horror novel, what do I need to do?", says the author to himself. The answer, apparently, is to hold your breath, type and think at breakneck speed, make sure that everything is either action, sex, or plot, and then send it off to your publisher. It works very well. The pace is blistering, and the only problem there is that there is no time to stop and appreciate this until the novel is finished. Nothing is ... more
  • 3 of 4 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of philsammie

    philsammie

    4 Stars Good solid novel 12/07/2000
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Gripping and fast moving

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Will be too shocking for some

    This was Laymon's very first novel, and also possibly his most shocking. It contains scenes of paedophilia which some readers will be offended by, but it has to be said that these scenes are entirely justified and necessary to define the character of Roy, a child abuser who is released from prison and sets off after his daughter and ex wife. They flee to a small town called Malcasa Point, which has a tourist attraction called Beast House, where there are some very strange goings on... For a first novel, it's very impressive, and hard to put down (I read it in two days), but when you read ... more
  • 13 of 13 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of ameo747

    ameo747

    4 Stars Snappy or crappy? 24/12/2007
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Exciting and fast paced

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Graphic

    I've read several of Richard Laymon's books and some I had to put down. The either detailed violence or graphic and disturbing sex is off putting to say the least. The Cellar is no different (dear god no), but the first few pages were gentle and engaging enough to have me read on. Laymon's plots have great sense of urgency and his characters are well defined. While some may say he's crude (he is) he does know how to tell a tale, though never content on scaring us he often makes it his mission to disgusts us too. The Cellar is no antithesis to all this and is one of his most enjoyable, albeit ... more

Product information

for The Cellar - Richard Laymon

Product Details

Type Fiction
Genre Horror
Title The Cellar
Author Richard Laymon
ISBN 0352323884; 0747235333; 0770107559

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