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Blackstone Chronicles #6
Asylum
Editor Oliver Metcalf has written a provocative article on the Asylum that implies there may be a curse on the town. The community is outraged, charging him with inflaming hysteria. More urgent is the mysterious disappearance of Rebecca Morrison. As Blackstone rallies to find the missing woman, a mysterious package arrives on Harvey Connally’s front porch. The contents hold the ultimate, grisly key to the horrors of the Asylum. Now, at last, Oliver must confront the gruesome truth of the past—one that threatens to crush all the inhabitants of Blackstone in one final grip of terror…
128 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
3 people are currently reading
664 people want to read
About the author
John Saul
149 books2,841 followersJohn Saul is an American author best known for his bestselling suspense and horror novels, many of which have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. Born in Pasadena and raised in Whittier, California, Saul attended several universities without earning a degree. He spent years honing his craft, writing under pen names before finding mainstream success. His breakout novel, Suffer the Children (1977), launched a prolific career, with over 60 million copies of his books in print. Saul’s work includes Cry for the Strangers, later adapted into a TV movie, and The Blackstone Chronicles series. He is also a playwright, with one-act plays produced in Los Angeles and Seattle. In 2023, he received the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. Openly gay, he has lived with his partner—also his creative collaborator—for nearly 50 years. Saul divides his time between Seattle, the San Juan Islands, and Hawaii, and frequently speaks at writers’ conferences, including the Maui Writers' Conference. His enduring popularity in the horror genre stems from a blend of psychological tension, supernatural elements, and deep emotional undercurrents that have resonated with readers for decades.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 19, 2021
It had been too long to revisit the town of Blackstone for me! Another 5 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 read for me, and if you have not read 'The Blackstone Chronicles' yet; why?
Well, this is the icing on the top of blood soaked cake in John Sauls serial thriller in 6 parts; "The Blackstone Chronicles" and it does not disappoint!
Here is a video review of books 5 and 6 here:
https://youtu.be/tc7lYtqLMGY
Ready to get scared?
Richard
Well, this is the icing on the top of blood soaked cake in John Sauls serial thriller in 6 parts; "The Blackstone Chronicles" and it does not disappoint!
Here is a video review of books 5 and 6 here:
https://youtu.be/tc7lYtqLMGY
Ready to get scared?
Richard
March 12, 2015
Enjoyed this small horror series. Had just the right crazy, suspense, and horror.
April 20, 2019
Well that was unexpected.
The first four books were unflinchingly vicious, redolent of insanity and death. They were gripping and thrilling, proceeding straight to the action with nary a pause for breath. All beef, zero fat.
The fifth was more or less the same. Though it was evidently more muted, the consequences of the events were still horrifying enough.
This one, the final book in the series, was sadly underwhelming. It didn't feel as taut and vibrant as the other novellas though in some scenes it can be just as menacing. I was expecting fireworks and brimstone, an opus that would top all the brutalities and psychoses that the earlier books revelled in - a fitting climax to such a promising series. I shan't say it was a dud, but I think it could have been so much more. Maybe the author ran out of steam?
I did like the resolution somewhat, but I find a few of the details to be unsatisfying. What about the families that suffered - will they ever get the justice that they deserved?
Anyway, I did enjoy it, and I can find myself re-reading the entire thing in the future. The events near the end left the door open for a sequel and the author did say that he'd entertain writing one if the inspiration strikes him. I would definitely have grabbed that too, but the lack of any book in sight two decades after its publication means that the story might have ended for good.
The Blackstone Chronicles has been one helluva satisfying ride, but if I'll rate this book by its lonesome, I'll give it 6/10 or 3 unforgettably crazy stars out of 5.
The first four books were unflinchingly vicious, redolent of insanity and death. They were gripping and thrilling, proceeding straight to the action with nary a pause for breath. All beef, zero fat.
The fifth was more or less the same. Though it was evidently more muted, the consequences of the events were still horrifying enough.
This one, the final book in the series, was sadly underwhelming. It didn't feel as taut and vibrant as the other novellas though in some scenes it can be just as menacing. I was expecting fireworks and brimstone, an opus that would top all the brutalities and psychoses that the earlier books revelled in - a fitting climax to such a promising series. I shan't say it was a dud, but I think it could have been so much more. Maybe the author ran out of steam?
I did like the resolution somewhat, but I find a few of the details to be unsatisfying. What about the families that suffered - will they ever get the justice that they deserved?
Anyway, I did enjoy it, and I can find myself re-reading the entire thing in the future. The events near the end left the door open for a sequel and the author did say that he'd entertain writing one if the inspiration strikes him. I would definitely have grabbed that too, but the lack of any book in sight two decades after its publication means that the story might have ended for good.
The Blackstone Chronicles has been one helluva satisfying ride, but if I'll rate this book by its lonesome, I'll give it 6/10 or 3 unforgettably crazy stars out of 5.
April 1, 2022
This was not it..... Sad that it ended this way. What happened? Why?? I have so many questions.. Also the twist was predictable in book 2. So the town just keeps living and not caring about what happened? What about the supernatural aspect of the book? Just gone? This reminds me of those movies where you find out there wasn't a ghost but some one living in the walls.
and I agree with another reviewer - the relationship between Oliver and Rebecca is creepy and not sweet at all.
and I agree with another reviewer - the relationship between Oliver and Rebecca is creepy and not sweet at all.
January 21, 2023
Hier im letzten Teil der Blackstone Chroniken wurde nun auch aufgeklärt, was es mit den Geschenken auf sich hat und wer dafür verantwortlich ist, dass gewisse Personen damit beschenkt worden sind. Dieser Teil hat mir wieder besser gefallen, allerdings auch hier eine Warnung, es geht um Gewalt an Kindern.
Fazit: Mir persönlich haben die Bücher rund um Blackstone nicht ganz so viel gegeben. Ich mochte die Protagonisten teilweise einfach nicht, zum ersten weil manche einfach nur nervig waren, zum anderen weil die Hörbücher so vertont wurden, dass die nervigen Charaktere auch noch nervige Stimmen erhielten. Auch waren die Geschichten relativ vorhersehbar und nicht besonders spannend. Das macht mir eigentlich sonst nicht so viel aus, aber in anderen Geschichten von John Saul wurde der Mangel an Spannung durch die düstere Atmosphäre und das Unheilvolle wettgemacht. Das hat mir hier leider etwas gefehlt.
Fazit: Mir persönlich haben die Bücher rund um Blackstone nicht ganz so viel gegeben. Ich mochte die Protagonisten teilweise einfach nicht, zum ersten weil manche einfach nur nervig waren, zum anderen weil die Hörbücher so vertont wurden, dass die nervigen Charaktere auch noch nervige Stimmen erhielten. Auch waren die Geschichten relativ vorhersehbar und nicht besonders spannend. Das macht mir eigentlich sonst nicht so viel aus, aber in anderen Geschichten von John Saul wurde der Mangel an Spannung durch die düstere Atmosphäre und das Unheilvolle wettgemacht. Das hat mir hier leider etwas gefehlt.
August 4, 2018
From Casual Debris.
And the hexalogy closes with a whimper. The final book of Saul's Blackstone Chronicles completes the serialized work as expected, since throughout the series there has been only one logical suspect behind the distribution of the asylum artifacts. I did not mind the explanation and can even forgive the sickeningly overt sentimental closure as it is in keeping with the rest of the text, but there is an immense flaw in this final entry that I cannot overlook.
The revelatory explanation for the strange events that have occurred in the town of Blackstone is altogether rational, and yet the events themselves are depicted as being supernatural. Therefore, the explanation contradicts the events they are attempting to explain.
I won't elaborate further as the elaboration includes spoilers. You can find the spoiler-filled details here.
And the hexalogy closes with a whimper. The final book of Saul's Blackstone Chronicles completes the serialized work as expected, since throughout the series there has been only one logical suspect behind the distribution of the asylum artifacts. I did not mind the explanation and can even forgive the sickeningly overt sentimental closure as it is in keeping with the rest of the text, but there is an immense flaw in this final entry that I cannot overlook.
The revelatory explanation for the strange events that have occurred in the town of Blackstone is altogether rational, and yet the events themselves are depicted as being supernatural. Therefore, the explanation contradicts the events they are attempting to explain.
I won't elaborate further as the elaboration includes spoilers. You can find the spoiler-filled details here.
May 30, 2025
With this last chapter of the series, I will give a complete review of all 6 books, comprised of my reviews for the previous issues, redacted for consistency, and with my added thoughts for the sixth chapter.
I read this when it came out, shortly after the success of King's The Green Mile, in 1997. I was at that time reading a lot of King and a few of John Saul's works, and really liked the format and the author. The rise of the format was short-lived, though. Saul was clearly banking on the recognition that The Green Mile got, but could not build on it. It's not his fault, as he uses the format much more naturally than King, in it being a semi-episodic form. It was just an odd format for most readers, and that, combined with the added costs of paying for 6 individual issues, led to the downfall of the genre.
Saul himself is also an odd writer. In the horror sphere, he was always more of a rip-off writer, but got massive success from it. And other than his counterparts, he is a very old-school, conservative writer, that feels a bit out of time.
Still, I loved him as a teen and so decided to reread The Blackstone Chronicles.
The read for me is filled with nostalgia, but it also didn't age very well. I can appreciate Saul for the pulpy feelings, but at the same time feel a bit uncomfortable with his view on family, women, and, honestly, bourgeois people in general. I just can't take him very seriously anymore.
CHAPTER 1
The first issue of The Blackstone Chronicles, is very effective. The sloppy writing style set aside, it is genuinely creepy (I mean, dolls, right?) and the pace in which things happen is really disturbing.
You can never quite grasp in which year (or even century) this is set. It could as well play in the 50s. But that adds to the charm. And the tropes fit as well. The friendly banker, the slightly mentally challenged love interest. You couldn't write this today; I'm not even sure you could write it in 1997, but, alas, Saul did, and currently I'm still enjoying it.
In retrospect, the first issue, together with the third, might be the strongest one. The concept of the possessed objects is new, and the reaction of ordinary (whilst always rich) people is intriguing, not the least because we don't really foresee who is affected and who is not. A strong start.
CHAPTER 2
The second issue of The Blackstone Chronicles is a real letdown. Where the characters in the first part were slowly spiraling down the path of insanity and where their obsessions were rooted in the trauma they experienced, the possession in this second part comes out of nowhere and does not resonate with the life that our protagonist has lived up to now. And it could have been so easy. Jules Hartwick, our all-too-friendly banker, goes through the hell of an audit that threatens everything he has built with his bank. There is enough room to connect the motives here and for him to feel paranoid about the auditors. Instead, the paranoia that comes through the possession concentrates on his family, where there is no ground for any of it. That way, it feels disconnected from the characters as we get to know them.
The second big problem is that in the first part we were experiencing the possession secondhand through a protagonist who was himself not affected. This time it's our POV character who is possessed, which makes the whole thing all the more unbelievable.
CHAPTER 3
We're back in form with the third outing of The Blackstone Chronicles. In fact, it might be the strongest entry of the series. And this even though there is not much horror to find in this one.
The previous two outings gave us the classic possession, where a person does something against their will, triggered by the presents they received. This time the evil is in the people themselves and was always there.
But that's a good thing and a welcomed change of pace. It really is amazing how different the single issues are.
In the third part, we're not only dealing with a lot of childhood trauma and disturbed characters, but also with religious fanaticism. Right out of Mr. King's playbook. And Saul handles it well.
CHAPTER 4
The series is taking up pace with the 4th issue. Saul starts connecting the individual possession stories with the greater narrative, and we get a sense of urgency that elevates above the monthly novella. Much of this fourth book we spend with Oliver solving the main mystery, and it is fun.
The story of the handkerchief takes a back seat, but it's still compelling in a similar fashion as the religious indoctrinating of book 3, again with an abusive mother-daughter relationship, minus the religion. A lot of disturbed characters in this cozy little town.
I especially liked the idea of the mother deciding to be an invalid, needing a wheelchair, and how Saul connects this psychosis to the ending, when mother is not able to help her daughter because she really can not move her legs anymore.
This is also the first issue, that ends on a cliffhanger, with Rebecca being abducted. It adds a lot of suspense to the overarching narrative.
CHAPTER 5
Expectantly, the narrative puts right up with where Chapter 4 ended, and a big part of the story is spent on the overarching mystery.
But it also muddies the waters a bit. Saul tries to hold the pace, while still telling a singular storyline. And he tries to connect these elements through the prophetic dreams of our protagonist.
I don't like dreams in books. More often than not, especially in horror fiction, it is a cheap device to sprinkle some surreal elements - some real imagination - into an otherwise conservative narrative. Or some lame excuse for excessive foreshadowing.
Both hold true for book 5, but it doesn't bother me that much. Compared to the baseless hallucinations of book 2, when a before stable person suddenly got mad over the possession, the dreams in this issue help connect the memories of possessed lawyer Becker with the powers of the possessing item. They also help us as readers in experiencing the downward spiral of his psychosis. So it's a good element, driving us deeper into the minds of the poor inhabitants of Blackstone, and they connect the deeper trauma, that is represented through the asylum, with the affected families.
CHAPTER 6 - CONCLUSION
With all the connective tissue Saul tried to establish in the previous volumes, we were still always stuck with separated narratives. In chapters 4 and 5, he tried to put the focus more and more on the grander narrative, but his mind was always split.
So it was always going to be a big task to end all this satisfyingly in a single issue. Sadly, Saul didn't manage it.
Way too much of the finale is spent with summaries of what happened before. And in listing all the horrifying things, that happened, and all the objects, that brought doom over Blackstone, it gets all too clear for the reader, that nothing of this is properly connected with the conclusion.
It was getting clearer in the last chapters that the mysterious figure won't be someone we don't know. And it was indeed logical that it would be all put on poor Oliver. The problem is that it doesn't fit his characterization or the place he had in the story so far.
The purpose of the objects nor the form of possession are properly explained. And the relationship between him and Rebecca seems more toxic than ever.
After the mystery is solved, Sail hurries to get away from Blackstone. And leaves it in a mess of loose ends. There is still the freaking doll from chapter one. There still is the possibility that Oliver is taken over by his trauma (and kills Rebecca in her sleep). There still is most of the asylum standing.
We depart from Blackstone, still worried about its occupants.
The rating of 2 stars goes for this 6th chapter. Overall, I would rate the series a 3, albeit a low one.
I read this when it came out, shortly after the success of King's The Green Mile, in 1997. I was at that time reading a lot of King and a few of John Saul's works, and really liked the format and the author. The rise of the format was short-lived, though. Saul was clearly banking on the recognition that The Green Mile got, but could not build on it. It's not his fault, as he uses the format much more naturally than King, in it being a semi-episodic form. It was just an odd format for most readers, and that, combined with the added costs of paying for 6 individual issues, led to the downfall of the genre.
Saul himself is also an odd writer. In the horror sphere, he was always more of a rip-off writer, but got massive success from it. And other than his counterparts, he is a very old-school, conservative writer, that feels a bit out of time.
Still, I loved him as a teen and so decided to reread The Blackstone Chronicles.
The read for me is filled with nostalgia, but it also didn't age very well. I can appreciate Saul for the pulpy feelings, but at the same time feel a bit uncomfortable with his view on family, women, and, honestly, bourgeois people in general. I just can't take him very seriously anymore.
CHAPTER 1
The first issue of The Blackstone Chronicles, is very effective. The sloppy writing style set aside, it is genuinely creepy (I mean, dolls, right?) and the pace in which things happen is really disturbing.
You can never quite grasp in which year (or even century) this is set. It could as well play in the 50s. But that adds to the charm. And the tropes fit as well. The friendly banker, the slightly mentally challenged love interest. You couldn't write this today; I'm not even sure you could write it in 1997, but, alas, Saul did, and currently I'm still enjoying it.
In retrospect, the first issue, together with the third, might be the strongest one. The concept of the possessed objects is new, and the reaction of ordinary (whilst always rich) people is intriguing, not the least because we don't really foresee who is affected and who is not. A strong start.
CHAPTER 2
The second issue of The Blackstone Chronicles is a real letdown. Where the characters in the first part were slowly spiraling down the path of insanity and where their obsessions were rooted in the trauma they experienced, the possession in this second part comes out of nowhere and does not resonate with the life that our protagonist has lived up to now. And it could have been so easy. Jules Hartwick, our all-too-friendly banker, goes through the hell of an audit that threatens everything he has built with his bank. There is enough room to connect the motives here and for him to feel paranoid about the auditors. Instead, the paranoia that comes through the possession concentrates on his family, where there is no ground for any of it. That way, it feels disconnected from the characters as we get to know them.
The second big problem is that in the first part we were experiencing the possession secondhand through a protagonist who was himself not affected. This time it's our POV character who is possessed, which makes the whole thing all the more unbelievable.
CHAPTER 3
We're back in form with the third outing of The Blackstone Chronicles. In fact, it might be the strongest entry of the series. And this even though there is not much horror to find in this one.
The previous two outings gave us the classic possession, where a person does something against their will, triggered by the presents they received. This time the evil is in the people themselves and was always there.
But that's a good thing and a welcomed change of pace. It really is amazing how different the single issues are.
In the third part, we're not only dealing with a lot of childhood trauma and disturbed characters, but also with religious fanaticism. Right out of Mr. King's playbook. And Saul handles it well.
CHAPTER 4
The series is taking up pace with the 4th issue. Saul starts connecting the individual possession stories with the greater narrative, and we get a sense of urgency that elevates above the monthly novella. Much of this fourth book we spend with Oliver solving the main mystery, and it is fun.
The story of the handkerchief takes a back seat, but it's still compelling in a similar fashion as the religious indoctrinating of book 3, again with an abusive mother-daughter relationship, minus the religion. A lot of disturbed characters in this cozy little town.
I especially liked the idea of the mother deciding to be an invalid, needing a wheelchair, and how Saul connects this psychosis to the ending, when mother is not able to help her daughter because she really can not move her legs anymore.
This is also the first issue, that ends on a cliffhanger, with Rebecca being abducted. It adds a lot of suspense to the overarching narrative.
CHAPTER 5
Expectantly, the narrative puts right up with where Chapter 4 ended, and a big part of the story is spent on the overarching mystery.
But it also muddies the waters a bit. Saul tries to hold the pace, while still telling a singular storyline. And he tries to connect these elements through the prophetic dreams of our protagonist.
I don't like dreams in books. More often than not, especially in horror fiction, it is a cheap device to sprinkle some surreal elements - some real imagination - into an otherwise conservative narrative. Or some lame excuse for excessive foreshadowing.
Both hold true for book 5, but it doesn't bother me that much. Compared to the baseless hallucinations of book 2, when a before stable person suddenly got mad over the possession, the dreams in this issue help connect the memories of possessed lawyer Becker with the powers of the possessing item. They also help us as readers in experiencing the downward spiral of his psychosis. So it's a good element, driving us deeper into the minds of the poor inhabitants of Blackstone, and they connect the deeper trauma, that is represented through the asylum, with the affected families.
CHAPTER 6 - CONCLUSION
With all the connective tissue Saul tried to establish in the previous volumes, we were still always stuck with separated narratives. In chapters 4 and 5, he tried to put the focus more and more on the grander narrative, but his mind was always split.
So it was always going to be a big task to end all this satisfyingly in a single issue. Sadly, Saul didn't manage it.
Way too much of the finale is spent with summaries of what happened before. And in listing all the horrifying things, that happened, and all the objects, that brought doom over Blackstone, it gets all too clear for the reader, that nothing of this is properly connected with the conclusion.
It was getting clearer in the last chapters that the mysterious figure won't be someone we don't know. And it was indeed logical that it would be all put on poor Oliver. The problem is that it doesn't fit his characterization or the place he had in the story so far.
The purpose of the objects nor the form of possession are properly explained. And the relationship between him and Rebecca seems more toxic than ever.
After the mystery is solved, Sail hurries to get away from Blackstone. And leaves it in a mess of loose ends. There is still the freaking doll from chapter one. There still is the possibility that Oliver is taken over by his trauma (and kills Rebecca in her sleep). There still is most of the asylum standing.
We depart from Blackstone, still worried about its occupants.
The rating of 2 stars goes for this 6th chapter. Overall, I would rate the series a 3, albeit a low one.
July 16, 2021
Nope. Predicted the big twist way back. There is definite otherworldly component, but I feel like it should either it needs to be stronger or just written better. I feel like I was told a lot of things that some addition descriptions would have been nice. I have no feeling for the town or any of the people. None. They didn't have personalities except for the "romantic" couple and quite frankly, their courtship is creepy.
November 29, 2020
3.5 stars
I gotta admit that I only read this series bc of my way too high goodreads goal but it was an okay read. I did guess the plot twist way too early tho and then it wasn't properly explained either so :/
I gotta admit that I only read this series bc of my way too high goodreads goal but it was an okay read. I did guess the plot twist way too early tho and then it wasn't properly explained either so :/
November 18, 2025
Excellent series. Looking forward to reading more John Saul. Love finding a new author!
October 19, 2024
So das war's also mit den Blackstone Chroniken!Der letzte Teil der Reihe war sehr gut und hat so einiges erklärt was bisher in den dunklen,verwobenen Räumen des Irrenhauses versteckt war.
Das Ende kam irgendwie für mich doch überraschend,(ich musste den letzten Abschnitt nochmals lesen um es zu verstehen)
Schlussendlich fand ich die Storys gut,nur die Frauen kamen nicht gut an weil sie falsch,intregannt und naiv dargestellt wurden.
Deshalb würde ich dem nur 4,5 Sterne geben.
Was für mich auch sehr gut war;dass die Schrift meiner Buchausgabe fett und gross gedruckt war.Für kurzsichtige Leseratten wie mich ein klarer Vorteil!
Das Ende kam irgendwie für mich doch überraschend,(ich musste den letzten Abschnitt nochmals lesen um es zu verstehen)
Schlussendlich fand ich die Storys gut,nur die Frauen kamen nicht gut an weil sie falsch,intregannt und naiv dargestellt wurden.
Deshalb würde ich dem nur 4,5 Sterne geben.
Was für mich auch sehr gut war;dass die Schrift meiner Buchausgabe fett und gross gedruckt war.Für kurzsichtige Leseratten wie mich ein klarer Vorteil!
February 22, 2018
I finally completed reading the Blackstone Chronicles by John Saul. Holy crap! That was a great serial!
Overlooking the quaint little town of Blackstone sits an abandoned mental asylum. Relics of the horrors that occurred within its walls are mysteriously given to six of the town's residents, whose families all had ties to the asylum. These gifts will push the town to the brink of madness, and some people over the edge into the abyss.
I have been a Saul fan for over 20 years, and this may well be his masterpiece.
My rating: 4.75/5 stars
Overlooking the quaint little town of Blackstone sits an abandoned mental asylum. Relics of the horrors that occurred within its walls are mysteriously given to six of the town's residents, whose families all had ties to the asylum. These gifts will push the town to the brink of madness, and some people over the edge into the abyss.
I have been a Saul fan for over 20 years, and this may well be his masterpiece.
My rating: 4.75/5 stars
February 16, 2021
This was an amazing series, though did find out I had the gift-giver right from the beginning. Based on the afterword by the author, I came to find out the first book's Elizabeth is a creepy mf and I look forward to finding and reading more of his books!
November 5, 2021
All in all a good story. It worked well as a serial, not quite as good as The Green Mile but that’s to be expected. King is King. I might have to revisit some old John Saul books again since this did remind me of my early days as a teen reader.
February 13, 2020
I enjoyed all 6 parts of this serial thriller. With a surprise ending to a very mysterious story, the finale was just a rewarding as the whole tale.
Read
April 22, 2020Awesome!
June 26, 2020
I love how each book in the series gets better.
September 8, 2020
Absolutely wonderful ending to this series!
Read
October 27, 2020a wrap up of a truly eerie series
March 10, 2023
This was good. Enjoyed the serial novel idea as much as I did The Green Mile
March 19, 2024
It is finished. Some clues I put to get her but there was others I missed completely.
August 21, 2024
This is the last book in a small novel series about a town being cursed by their own asylum
June 20, 2025
Great series from beginning to end
June 24, 2025
This book was probably the least exciting of the series, but I'm glad I finished it. It was an exciting series with interesting characters and twists.
October 13, 2024
I've debated back and forth on what to give this because I'm torn on how I feel about it. For one thing, the pacing was really good. There's also an interesting character, Henry Connolly, who should have been featured more in the other parts because he's the most complete character out of everyone. But the ending to this was just too predictable, and I kind of don't understand why it ended that way. There are still so many questions left unanswered, and this is kind of sad because the lead-up to the ending was well done; the tension and suspense was there for something shocking to happen, yet it never happened, so I'm kind of disappointed with that. I do like the insight we get from Oliver, though. All of the things that he has been experiencing comes to a head, so there was that to look forward to.
Overall, my reading experience was enjoyable with this serialized novel. The plot could have been a bit more complex and the characters could have been deeper, but this scratched that horror itch that I have every so often. I wouldn't mind seeing this being improved and then made into a television show—a miniseries would be perfect. There's a good setting in here that could go in any direction creatively, and I think that's why I feel drawn to John Saul's work even if I have yet to give anything a 4 or 5 Stars. (There's still hope though!) He's got some great ideas and a good writing format for stories. I'm sure I'll pick up another novel of his sometime.
Note: Oh, and there are also some acknowledgments/shout outs to Stephen King at the beginning of the first part, The Doll, as well as at the end of the last part, Asylum, so be sure to read the beginning and ending of those two parts. Happy Reading!
Overall, my reading experience was enjoyable with this serialized novel. The plot could have been a bit more complex and the characters could have been deeper, but this scratched that horror itch that I have every so often. I wouldn't mind seeing this being improved and then made into a television show—a miniseries would be perfect. There's a good setting in here that could go in any direction creatively, and I think that's why I feel drawn to John Saul's work even if I have yet to give anything a 4 or 5 Stars. (There's still hope though!) He's got some great ideas and a good writing format for stories. I'm sure I'll pick up another novel of his sometime.
Note: Oh, and there are also some acknowledgments/shout outs to Stephen King at the beginning of the first part, The Doll, as well as at the end of the last part, Asylum, so be sure to read the beginning and ending of those two parts. Happy Reading!
February 6, 2023
Reread.
The final "gift" has been delivered to Harvey Connally, the uncle of Oliver Metcalf, but Harvey is certain the gift was actually meant for his nephew. When Oliver sees the shaving box with a blood-stained straight razor inside, all of the repressed memories came flooding back.
Oliver's father was a monster who had visited his rage upon the patients of the asylum and worse, his own son Oliver. And through Oliver's childhood, Malcolm had been grooming his son to be the instrument of his revenge. From the beginning of the renovation project, Oliver had been having blackouts and performing tasks (without his conscious knowledge) that his father had implanted into his memory years prior.
Between the death of his uncle and finding himself standing above Rebecca holding the straight razor, Oliver finally snaps out of the trance he's been in and realizes what has been going on in Blackstone all along. Now that he's remembered his past, he's been freed of his father's influence and the "curse" is lifted from the town.
This series was great. I love serial novellas and wish they would make a comeback. There was always just enough thrill and suspense in each novella to keep you eager for the next one. The stories were so well written that I was never truly sure who the dark figure was. Not until right before the reveal. I adore John Saul novels and am glad I decided to reread this series.
The final "gift" has been delivered to Harvey Connally, the uncle of Oliver Metcalf, but Harvey is certain the gift was actually meant for his nephew. When Oliver sees the shaving box with a blood-stained straight razor inside, all of the repressed memories came flooding back.
Oliver's father was a monster who had visited his rage upon the patients of the asylum and worse, his own son Oliver. And through Oliver's childhood, Malcolm had been grooming his son to be the instrument of his revenge. From the beginning of the renovation project, Oliver had been having blackouts and performing tasks (without his conscious knowledge) that his father had implanted into his memory years prior.
Between the death of his uncle and finding himself standing above Rebecca holding the straight razor, Oliver finally snaps out of the trance he's been in and realizes what has been going on in Blackstone all along. Now that he's remembered his past, he's been freed of his father's influence and the "curse" is lifted from the town.
This series was great. I love serial novellas and wish they would make a comeback. There was always just enough thrill and suspense in each novella to keep you eager for the next one. The stories were so well written that I was never truly sure who the dark figure was. Not until right before the reveal. I adore John Saul novels and am glad I decided to reread this series.
September 21, 2014
This is a fantastic ending to the series. Some have complained it wasn't "big" enough, but this is a small town thriller... not a Michael Bay film.
In "Asylum," you finally fully understand Oliver's background and what has been driving the villain to commit such awful deeds. The reality of this is more disgusting and terrifying than any other element of the last five books put together, and I had a visceral reaction to the big reveal. What makes it so much more impactful for me is that Oliver's past is one that is shared by so many others, though perhaps not in that exact form. True terror comes not from the unbelievable, but from what's possible.
All loose ends are tied up here in spectacular fashion. If you're looking for a little more, though, pick up "The Blackstone Chronicles" computer game released back in the late nineties. It's a beautiful adventure game that takes place only a short time after this series ends, and it gets into the patient's histories a lot more deeply than the books do. Additionally, you get to know the meaning behind every item in a very intimate way and meet new spirits too. That game was a pleasure to play, especially to find out exactly what happened to Abraham and Paul.
This series was brilliantly composed and one of my favorites. I wish serials like this were more popular these days!
In "Asylum," you finally fully understand Oliver's background and what has been driving the villain to commit such awful deeds. The reality of this is more disgusting and terrifying than any other element of the last five books put together, and I had a visceral reaction to the big reveal. What makes it so much more impactful for me is that Oliver's past is one that is shared by so many others, though perhaps not in that exact form. True terror comes not from the unbelievable, but from what's possible.
All loose ends are tied up here in spectacular fashion. If you're looking for a little more, though, pick up "The Blackstone Chronicles" computer game released back in the late nineties. It's a beautiful adventure game that takes place only a short time after this series ends, and it gets into the patient's histories a lot more deeply than the books do. Additionally, you get to know the meaning behind every item in a very intimate way and meet new spirits too. That game was a pleasure to play, especially to find out exactly what happened to Abraham and Paul.
This series was brilliantly composed and one of my favorites. I wish serials like this were more popular these days!
February 13, 2017
Overall, this series was good. The ending of Asylum left quite a bit to be desired IMHO because it was just like, "Ehhhh...we'll let that slide." The premise of the story line was spot on though, I'll say. I really liked the idea of how things came to be.
June 12, 2008
Oliver Metcalf, editor of 'The Blackstone Chronicle,' the town's weekly newspaper, has written of the mysterious deaths that have occurred in Blackstone over the last six months, implying that there may be a curse on the town. He is terrified of the old Asylum and gets terrible headaches every time he goes near it. Did something happen to him there when he was a young boy, something so horrible he blocked it from his memory? His uncle, Harvey Connally, received a familiar gift that may help him remember what happened. Will Rebecca be saved in time? In this final part, we finally discover who the dark figure is, although the Blackstone community reaches it's own conclusion. The curse is lifted. The nightmare is over. I am a big fan of John Saul, however, I found this series a bit predictable. In Part 4 of this series, I suspected who the dark figure might be and it turned out I was right. Usually, I am very disappointed when that happens, but it is forgivable here because it worked.
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