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Book Review By Somer Robb
The Blackstone Chronicles by John Saul

The town of Blackstone has sat in the shadow of the large mansion turned asylum for generations. Now the town is ready for the next phase of the buildings life, a shopping center. The whole town has turned up for the ceremonial destruction of one of the walls and a speech by the towns newspaper editor Oliver Metcalf, the grandson of the original builder and the son of the asylums last superintendent. As the ball swings Oliver is overcome with blinding headaches and visions of a boy in the asylum.

While Oliver trys to figure out the visions a black shadow in the asylum is taking objects once owned by asylum patients and giving them to various residence. In turn these objects bring horror beyond imagine to their recipients. Now Oliver has two mysteries to solve while trying to keep Rebecca, a quiet woman whom he is falling in love with, safe.

This was written in serial form distributed in seven books and is now in one full novel.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Horror story? Yes
Horror plotlets - the inanimate object chased me!
Descript. of chases or violence - 30 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 40's-50's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Writing Style
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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