Faces of Fear: A Novel
by John Saul
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Book Reviews of Faces of Fear: A Novel
Book Review: Scary, But Could Have Been a Little Better
Summary: 4 Stars
Once again, horror/suspense novelist John Saul has written an imaginative and scary story but, in my opinion, it could have been just a little better.
The story revolves around Alison Shaw. Risa Shaw, Alison's mother, has learned that her husband Michael has been having an affair with another man. Risa and Michael divorce, both moving on to new lives. Michael begins his life with Scott, while Risa becomes involved with Conrad Dunn, a wealthy and well-respected plastic surgeon. Conrad is suffering from his own loss; his beautiful supermodel wife Margot has just committed suicide. Margot was distraught after a boating accident left her million-dollar face disfigured. No longer able to look herself in the mirror, Margot flung herself head-first off a cliff. Conrad is distraught after his wife's suicide, but he finds solace in Risa's arms. Soon, Conrad and Risa are married, and Alison and her mother move into Conrad's luxurious mansion.
Also occurring during this time are a series of ghastly murders. Women are being disemboweled and different body parts are being removed, such as noses, lips, and ears. Reporter Tina Wong, one of Michael Shaw's reporters, dives head-first into the story and wants to air a special on television about the murders. Meanwhile, Conrad has taken a new interest in his young step-daughter, insisting that she get breast implants. As time moves forward, Alison begins to realize that Conrad's intentions may not be what they seem. Risa has also discovered a secret shrine that Conrad has set up in honor of his dead wife. What's even more chilling is a photograph Conrad has taken of Alison wearing one of Margot's old dresses. Risa finally begins to unravel the truth about her new husband, but will it be too late for her and Alison?
This is a very good book. John Saul has done a good job of developing his characters and making them believable. The story is well-conceived and it flows at a good pace. The only problem I had with the book was with the rapid conclusion of the events. It seemed to me that Saul might have been in a hurry to finish the book, because everything is resolved rather quickly. Despite this one point, I thought the book was very good overall.
I recommend this book highly. The story is good, and the characters are real and believable. I did like "The Devil's Labyrinth" and "In the Dark of the Night" better, though. Still, "Faces of Fear" is definitely worth reading.
Book Review: Another Hit-or-Miss for Saul
Summary: 4 Stars
I can be pretty scathing in my reviews for this author (read my other reviews, to find out). I just believe he has given us, his readers, some pretty mediocre reads of late. He latest is an amazing commentary on societies obsession with perfection and beauty. It contains lukewarm thrills at best and he reveals the killer and his hand to quickly.
The book begins with a strange prologue (as usual) that seems to have nothing to do with the book until you get 200 pages in. Then we meet the cast of characters. Alison Shaw a fifteen-year-old, who is living a quiet life in Santa Monica, California. Her mother Risa, a realtor and her father Michael, a t.v. news manager have an almost perfect marriage. But that marriage is broken when it is revealed that Michael is gay and has been having a relationship with another man, Scott Lawrence. So, Alison's perfect exsistence is shattered.
Meanwhile, famed plastic-surgeon, Conrad Dunn and his wife Margot are on rocky ground. She was in a horrible boating accident that left her scarred. And here is what makes no sense whatsoever. Why doesn't Conrad fix his wife's face? It is never even hinted at why he doesn't. Major plot hole #1. Eventually, he does fix her face after she has thrown herself off a cliff. What?!
Anyway, we pick up a year later and Risa is marrying Conrad. I don't understand why or how it even lead to that. Major plot hole #2. Alison is upset about leaving Santa Monica and moving to Beverly Hills. Eventually, she starts to try and fit in. Going as far as getting a boob job. What?! Major plot hole #3-Risa seems to have no problem with her husband doing her daughter's surgery, come on!
In the background a serial killer is offing women and taking certain body parts. A reporter in Michael's employ starts to put the pieces together. The pieces are easy to figure out and the reader will no doubt have the mystery solved way before the big reveal. A reveal in my opinion is revealed too soon.
The ending was okay and once again Saul gives us a useless epilogue. It adds nothing to the story. This book was better than In the Dark of the Night (2006) but not as good as last year's effort The Devil's Labyrinth. It certainly isn't on par with books like Suffer the Children or even The Presence.
Book Review: What a bore
Summary: 2 Stars
Wow! this will be my second two star rating this week. I seem to be on a very unlucky book streak.
I have read each and every one of John Saul's books. Actually, I remember, very clearly, reading them as a teenager and how scared they use to make me.
So, John, I ask you! where is the fear? where is the horror? where is the good writing?????
Faces of Fear starts off very slowly - Saul introduces us to a bunch of characters and it takes forever to figure out how they will all eventually manage to merge into a cohesive storyline. We are introduced to our main characters, Risa the mom, Alisson the daughter, Conrad the doctor (you can already see where this is going) and Margot, Conrad's beautiful wife - who is Conrad's masterpiece, after all he is the best plastic surgeon around!
Saul likes to involve young adults into his storyline and this is no exception. I have no problem with this, but I have to say that usually his young adults are just more with 'it' than Alisson seems to be, which, to me, makes her a weak and somewhat boring character. Risa seems like she floats around her life - constantly searching for something and Conrad simply thinks he is god's gift to the world.
This novel is set in the world of the rich so we get lots of descriptions of beautiful mansions and private schools. I wish the characters had been as detailed as the descriptions of the mansion.
But, I could have gotten past all of that IF this storyline was in the least scary, suspenseful or engaging. By page 40, when no action was evident, I started counting how many pages I had left to read (always a bad sign for me). There is no suspenseful build up here, there is not dark, scary places (read Manhattan Hunt Club for a good example of how good a story Saul can write). In the end it ends up being a Frankenstein storyline - boring and totally predictable.
This book is slow, slow, slow and boring!
I am sorry to have to write this poor review - I know that each author pours their heart into their novels, but this book is just boring beyond belief.
I am grateful that I got this one at the library.
Book Review: A hit for John Saul
Summary: 4 Stars
I have read every single John Saul book since the beginning. His early works were amazing chillers that sent shivers up your spine. They were usually told through the perspective of a teenage main character and were quite believable. I think that in the latter half of his work each book is a hit or miss. I remember loving PERFECT NIGHTMARE but thought his last few just didn't hit the mark. Characters seemed unbelievable, plots formulaic and very overblown. THE DEVIL'S LABYRINTH was just so over the top for me I can't believe I finished it.
Now to the good news. John Saul is back to form!! FACES OF FEAR is an amazing read and has all the positive John Saul touches that show his unique style. Beauty, inner and outer is explored here. The story is told through the eyes of many different characters and it more than works. The main character is a teenage girl - Alison Shaw but her mother and father - Rita and Michael are also fully realized characters. They get divorced but remain best friends both getting into new relationships. (I must say that John Saul's inclusion of some more modern touches like having gay characters, cell phones, MySpace etc. is a great comfortable move forward and shows this author is a part of today's times and not resting on his laurels.)
I am not going to go into great depth on the plot here as many have for I find the very well written story chilling, with many entertaining gruesome scenes that add thrills galore. The very suspenseful plot is what carries this novel. I wasn't able to put it down as the story drew my in. I was chilled, scared, thrilled and creeped out. Most importantly I was entertained.
For me, I was aware of part of the whodunnit but not all of it. Even figuring some things out does not make this book boring or predictable. Part of the ending was a little expected but it didn't take away from the superb journey to get there. Interesting, well developed characters and a great story excellently told.
Give yourself a treat and dim the lights and devour this excellent book. I am very glad John Saul is still writing.
Book Review: HOW DEEP IS SKIN DEEP?
Summary: 4 Stars
As many know John Saul is a master at penning thrillers, chilling thrillers. His 35th offering, Faces of Fear, may well be the chillingest. What could be more frightening than marrying a man you think you know and then discovering that he is not at all the man you thought he was? The answer to that question is it is even more terrifying when said husband means to harm your child.
Prominent plastic surgeon Conrad Dunn has had a hand in (or scalpel, if you will) in creating some of the most beautiful people to be found in Bel Air. Among them was his late wife, Margot. After scarring her face in an accident she took her own life.
It only took a year for Dunn to find a second wife, the lovely Risa Shaw, mother to 15-year-old Allison. It's quite a leap from the Shaw's former home in Santa Monica to a plush mansion in Bel Air, but Allison is happy for her mom and tries her utmost to adjust to a school full of very rich kids and what is in essence a very different life. Once a down to earth kid not too interested in appearances, she suddenly finds herself among the prettiest of the pretty.
Risa is a firm believer in while beauty may be only skin deep it's also a key to the good life, so when Dunn proposes improving on what nature gave Allison she enthusiastically approves. Before long Allison comes across a picture of Margot, and is shocked to see the resemblance between the face in the photo and the work Dunn has planned for her.
Of course, knowing this author that's only the beginning of the horrors to come.
- Gail Cooke