From Publishers Weekly Despite the high death toll generated by some pretty nasty weapons (claws, fangs, shotgun, fire poker, pitchfork), there's not much terror here because banal details and very ordinary people overwhelm the fear factor. MaryAnne Carpenter, trying to cope with the return of the loutish husband who earlier deserted the family, heads off to Idaho with her 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son in order to comfort her recently orphaned godson. Joey Wilkenson's parents have died in mysterious accidents and his mother, MaryAnne's best friend, had named her Joey's guardian. Joey seems an average 13-year-old, if given to understandable bouts of moody withdrawal. But the apparently peaceful mountain valley becomes menacing when a camper is brutally killed, perhaps by an animal, and MaryAnne feels increasingly isolated as winter approaches. Rumors of a wild mountain man or sasquatch circulate, and Joey starts to exhibit strange behavior. Further horrifying events occur, but their final explanation is too pat. A sequel is threatened, but hopefully Saul ( Darkness ) who has done better, will reconsider. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more From Kirkus Reviews Saul's 16th horror novel (Shadows, 1992, etc. etc.) finds the author in a less horrific, even speakable mode, since the pivotal plot device seems possible, if definitely unlikely. Maryanne Carpenter was abandoned by her husband for a younger, prettier, richer woman, and now he wants to return to her and young Alison and Logan. Meanwhile, Maryanne is the godmother of Joey Wilkeson, and when Joey's wealthy parents both die in accidents on their fabulous Western mountain retreat, Maryanne flies to Joey to care for him--and discovers that as Joey's guardian, she's now wealthy herself and need never work again. The pubescent Joey, however, is odd, loves to fade into the hills with his dog and stay away for long periods. What's more, townsfolk have a strong aversion to him. At the same time, a shadowy figure haunts the mountain retreat and soon more bodies drop, horribly bloodied. Does Joey have something to do with these deaths? He, in fact, has strangely inhuman characteristics and is turning into the wolfboy son of the shadowy figure--a man to whom government scientists once gave the DNA of a wolf to discover what immunities he might come up with. But the wolf DNA bonded with his own, and his physical structure and appetite changed so drastically that he parted from mankind and for 14 years has lived in the wilderness--a killer. He and Joey's mother, though, had been lovers and now his DNA has bonded with Joey's. Wisely, as with Lon Chaney, Jr.'s, Larry Talbot in The Wolf Man, Saul works up some sympathy for his canine killers who, after all, are victims of the moon as well as of the government and those hunting them down. Bound for bestsellerdom--like many of Saul's others. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. Read more From the Inside Flap e right scares in all the right places." The Seattle TimesA telephone rings in the dead of night with shocking news for single mother MaryAnne Carpenter: her friends the Wilkensons are suddenly, inexplicably dead, their only child, Joey, a sad and silent adolescent and MaryAnne's godchild, abruptly orphaned. But as MaryAnne rushes with her family to the Wilkenson's ranch to embrace her young charge, disturbing questions mount. Was it an accident that killed her friends? Or murder?Now, as winter transforms the ranch into a place of blinding, dangerous storms, a series of horrific murders, killings that suggest a raging animal and defy solution by the local police, draw ever closer to MaryAnne and her young family. From the Paperback edition. Read more
R**A
Not that bad; POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
I enjoy John Saul, and am pretty sure I've read everything by him that's available. I like that he sets his books in different locales and makes them interesting, in this case: the mountains of Idaho. This is mid-period Saul, and I expected children to be abused and/or murdered, and I was right. He's gotten away from that since, at least less than his beginning with SUFFER THE CHILDREN, brutally unkind to the fates of little kids.I was fascinated with many facets of the book, and characterizations were quite complete. I was disappointed that the lead character, Mary Anne, was such a spineless wimp, and Audrey initially comes off as a saint, later to be found out as a flake. Not enough was said about the government testing conspiracy to give credence to the ultimate outcome. Most of the characters were superficially defined, and few were completely likeable; I was surprised that the lawyer was among the most appealing. I liked Olivia (needed more of her) and the sheriff, and even Joey was defined enough to create a sense of caring about his subsequent fate.The problem really centers around the character of Mary Anne; is she June Cleaver, or just some over-reactionary dim bulb?I've liked all of John Saul's writing, for various reasons, and his settings are described completely. Indeed, the Idaho settings were attractive and appealing. I will continue to read John Saul; I was pleasantly surprised at his latest, THE HOUSE OF RECKONING, probably is very best of all. Hopefully, he's gotten away from the idea of killing off little kids.
M**E
What's in the woods?
Is it worse than what's in your home? Loved this creepy story. The characters were all so memorable and realistic. He set the scene so you felt you were seeing it with your own eyes. I would not be surprised to see this become a movie one day.
P**T
Loved it
I really liked this book. It’s probably my 2nd favorite John Saul book (1st being Second Child). Although I didn’t like the portrayal of any child being hurt or killed. I really enjoyed the setting. Another thing I like about this book is how John Saul shows how cruel children can be to each other; something that is quite common.
A**R
A heart-stopper
This book kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through! There was barely a breath between the different dramas going on in the story.. I am a firm fan of John Saul, and, like Stephen king, he gets to your "bones" with his chilling detail! Guardian was full of twists and suspense....it was one you hated to put down, to even eat! LOL
A**A
Good read
Good read
O**S
Modern day werewolf story
I couldn't wait to open this book.It was suspenseful, with twist and turns. I'm wondering if there's a part 2.
R**S
great
great
N**Y
Guardian
Very similar to his previous one. No guessing on what happened. To much strum und drang. I couldn't get into the characters since I knew some or more would be killed.
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