... They think nothing of it until Allan is hit and killed by the car as he returns to his own motor vehicle; the Cadillac deliberately aimed for him and then failed to stop after the fatal collision had happened. Was this a cruel coincidence in which both Mother and Daughter loose their first ... Read review
Advantages: A great book in the mystery and thriller genre Disadvantages: It`s the last Laymon book
“Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind”
It’s the summer of 68 and Leigh’s parents are at their wits end at her wayward behaviour, the final straw being her arrest at an anti Vietnam War rally. It seems nothing can stop her on the destructive route she has taken so an idea is hatched whereby she will spend the remainder of the summer at her Aunt and Uncles house overlooking Lake Wahconda. Initially reticent ... ...could get to rather enjoy the whole setup. Her spirits are further raised when she spies a young athletic man rowing on the Lake one morning, a tanned and muscled lad by the name of Charlie who uses the lake and its surrounding houses to hawk his Mothers hand made baskets. Romance is quick to blossom with long sunny days and lazy swims all adding to the glorious new love, however, while in the throws of some energetic lovemaking in an old abandoned ... more
“Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind”
It’s the summer of 68 and Leigh’s parents are at their wits end at her wayward behaviour, the final straw being her arrest at an anti Vietnam War rally. It seems nothing can stop her on the destructive route she has taken so an idea is hatched whereby she will spend the remainder of the summer at her Aunt and Uncles house overlooking Lake Wahconda. Initially reticent Leigh soon changes her mind when she arrives at the Lake in all of its glorious detail, with a summer of swimming and sunbathing ahead of her Leigh could get to rather enjoy the whole setup. Her spirits are further raised when she spies a young athletic man rowing on the Lake one morning, a tanned and muscled lad by the name of Charlie who uses the lake and its surrounding houses to hawk his Mothers hand made baskets. Romance is quick to blossom with long sunny days and lazy swims all adding to the glorious new love, however, while in the throws of some energetic lovemaking in an old abandoned beach house an accident sees Charlie fall through some rotten floorboards to his death, the love that was blossoming so fully between Leigh and Charlie is snuffed out before it ever really got going. As a final twist Leigh discovers she is pregnant and since she has had no other sexual partners Charlie must be the Dad.
“Those who plot the destruction of others often perish in the attempt”
Fast forward to 1984, and the result of Leigh and Charlie’s brief encounter is Deana, a ballsy sixteen year old who is very much her Mothers Daughter. On her first proper date with the local spunk named Allan a black Cadillac follows them as they look for a secluded spot to make out. They think nothing of it until Allan is hit and killed by the car as he returns to his own motor vehicle; the Cadillac deliberately aimed for him and then failed to stop after the fatal collision had happened. Was this a cruel coincidence in which both Mother and Daughter loose their first loves in tragic circumstances? Or is there a more malevolent reason for the two deaths? Revenge is top of the local polices theories, but who could possible want to destroy both Leigh and Deana’s lives, and how far will they go to do it?
“Revenge has no more quenching effect on emotions than salt water has on thirst”
Richard Laymon is one of those unique breed of writers who can grab you by the lapels and not let go until you’ve read his books from cover to cover. The Lake is glorious in its characterisation with the intricacies and foibles of the people involved described in perfect detail. The good guys are instantly likeable and the baddies are boo hiss bad, with an evil aura that seems to lift from the page. The Lake is not for the squeamish, with graphic blood letting and sexual intricacies relayed in full detail as is the Laymon trademark, but it is an extremely well detailed and free flowing book that will have die hard fans and those new to the Laymon fold equally enthralled. As a big fan of Richard Laymon I have seen his work develop and The Lake is a fine evolution of his craft, simple settings and a story that is plausible yet staggering make this a book worthy of a place in any mystery and thriller fans bookcase.
“In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior”
Ultimately though I turned the last page of The Lake with a heavy heart; you see Richard Laymon died on Valentines Day 2001 of a heart attack. Although a few finished manuscripts were found and deemed suitable for publication The Lake was the last of them, and so Richard Laymon`s unique writing style seems to have come to a premature end. I was never much of a bookworm when I left school, but a friend who lent me a Richard Laymon book way back when reawakened my passion for the printed word and I have never looked back. I’m saddened therefore that the Author who stirred such passion and excitement from me is not around to continue the job.
Advantages: Some strong characters - good storyline Disadvantages: Bit predictable
...would try writing one for the adults out there. This is not one to read to your little kiddiewinkles.
***The Author***
Richard Laymon died on Valentine's Day, 2001 at the age of just 54, but as with a lot of authors he had finished works available and this is one of them. He wrote over 30 novels as well as even more short stories. His genre was horror and he was well known for lots of gory bits in there as well as a lot of sexual experiences too. ... ...He is published in the UK by Headline who also publish many other great authors such as Dean Koontz.
***The Story***
When the story starts we are 1986 and a man only known to us as the Candyman is horrifically murdering a prostitute. A couple of months later Deana is dying to rush off to spend time with her boyfriend instead of having to endure a family meal with her mother and grandparents. When she finally escapes for a night of passion she ends ...
belfin 18.04.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Lake - Richard Laymon
Advantages: Gripping story that keeps you interested Disadvantages: Laymon has passed away :(
...Aunt & Uncle's house by the lake for the summer, following a series of events at home that have made her parents come to this decision. After a few days of rest and relaxation Leigh begins to yearn for some male company, and when Charlie comes on the scene she is in her element. A young, handsome and fit boy for her to seduce and "play" with all summer. But tragedy strikes on their third meeting and he dies in tragic and terrible circumstances leaving ... ...It's 1986 and Deana West, the teenage offspring of Leigh & Charlie, is sneaking off to make out with her boyfriend Allan. They go to the woods but again history seems to be repeating itself and a lunatic who has followed them to the wooded clearing mows down Allan. Deana escapes and makes it out of the woods, but her nightmare is not over and until they catch the killer who seems to be stalking Deana and her mother she cannot rest easy.
The cop ...
wendybull 18.11.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Lake - Richard Laymon
Would you read it again?
Story
Characters
Readability
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "The Lake - Richard Laymon"
, it allows the mind to play tricks on you and make you hear footsteps where there are none, or hear banging inside cupboard doors, or find locked cellar doors open and puddles in the grand hallway??.or does the mind have nothing to do with it.
This is James Herbert's latest offering and what an offering it is. The goose bumps rose on my skin while I wrote the details above and this is the effect this book had had on me all the way through. It is a genuine chiller of a story and in my honest opinion is the book that has scared me the most since I began reading in this genre years ago. Other books have given me temporary chills, like The Lake by RichardLaymon, but this continuously had me shivering and the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck rose and fell with scary regularity.
The way Herbert managed to reveal the historical ...
Advantages: I got it cheap Disadvantages: Weak characters, not scary
Whilst queuing at the checkout in Asda recently, I spotted Beware by RichardLaymon on one of the shelves for £1. I'd recently read The Lake by Laymon and enjoyed it, so I decided to chuck Beware on the conveyor belt and give it a go.
Strange things are afoot in the town of Oasis; the local supermarket is apparently haunted. Soon, a guard dog is killed and the supermarket owner is found wrapped and jointed on the butcher's block. Local reporter Lacey Allen investigates, and finds that these supernatural happenings are a little closer to home than she first thought.
I found the book to be readable, although I didn't really enjoy the story. The problem was the characters. I found them flat, unbelievable and rather clichéd. The protagonist is Lacey, the reporter. Very early in the story she is savagely beaten, raped, beaten again ...
Advantages: great read Disadvantages: some stories seriously unbelievable
sometimes take his readers upon, causing you to wonder if this could really happen.
***WISHBONE***
A honeymoon setting, with newlyweds all loved up as they are supposed to be? Of course not, this is a RichardLaymon story. Diane and Scott are backpacking by the lakes. Diane is exhausted, tired and wants to be somewhere else for her honeymoon.
Scott, not being the nicest of husbands is quite capable of throwing his weight around with his new bride. The story settles in the campsite, a campsite Diane isn't happy with, especially when she finds a skull hanging high above the tent in a tree.
Scott spends all evening winding his wife up about what's lurking in the tree above. Life would take a turn for the unexpected when later the skull decides to have its own say.
I wont say more about this plot for fear of ruining it for you, but this ...
Product Information for "The Lake - Richard Laymon" »
Product details
Type
Fiction
Genre
Horror
Title
The Lake
Author
Richard Laymon
ISBN
0747267324; 0747269335; 0843954507
Manufacturer's product description
Leigh is young, rebellious and beautiful and she yearns for a summer of excitement by the lake. Maybe she'll find it in the arms of the handsome boy who rows her out to the abandoned beach house. Or maybe she'll stumble into a legacy of terror which will shatter her life.. See all Product Description
Compare The Lake - Richard Laymon to other similar Horror Books »
A nice gripping and readable novel ; A terrific tale of survival ; Very atmospheric ; The characters thoughts and feelings are projected well to the reader
Suddenly stops flowing towards the middle ; King can be slightly over obsequious towards the main character (*)
Stephen King's claim to fame ; Superb atmosphere ; Sublime plot ; A vivid imagination that stretches all supernatural boundaries ; Probably responsible for some of the best horror films of the 70's and 80's
Some unessesary background in the first half ; Kubrik mucked up the story too much ; Could have been much more (*)
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. (*)
