Breathless thriller (In the Dark - Richard Laymon)

Member Name: moleman

Product:	In the Dark - Richard Laymon
Date:	14/08/00 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Absolutely gripping, great characterisation

Disadvantages: May be too sick in places for the sqeamish

In The Dark is probably Laymon's best book, and one of his most accessible. The story is simple - a librarian recieves a note telling her where to look for some money. She finds it, along with another note with instructions on how to get double, and so on... Unfortunately for her, themore money involved, the greater the risk. The characters are extremely well drawn, with the heroine initially sceptical, then almost addicted to the tasks involved, to the point where she feels almost betrayed when there is no next note for a few days. She manages to be very well balanced and reckless at the same time. Given that this is a *horror* novel, rather than a straight thriller, some of turns are nasty, especially one involving a trip to a serial killer's house.
Overall, Laymon's writing is nearly flawless, not only do you not know what will happen next, but you honestly *care* about the people it happens to!

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