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mkday82's review against another edition
3.0
Book #23 - 2023
Title: Beware
Author: Richard Laymon
Pages: 218
Started: 07/12/2023
Finished: 15/12/2023
🌟🌟🌟
I started reading Richard Laymon books as a teenager and he was one of my favourite horror authors. It’s been a long time since I read a Laymon book and decided to pick up one of his shorter novels to dive into again. If you don’t like far-fetched this book isn’t for you. Beware was a quick read, I enjoyed it but not as much as I was expecting. This story had potential and could’ve been so much better than it was; it felt rushed but also dragged out at times. I think it’s also necessary to come with a trigger warning for rape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Supremely sick, superbly satisfying. Hoffman ranks as one of Laymon's most repulsive, repugnant bad guys.
walkonpooh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
verkisto's review against another edition
2.0
This isn't the next published novel after Out Are the Lights; there are two books between that one and Beware! -- Night Show and Allhallow's Eve precede this one -- but for whatever reason, those two books aren't available as e-books. So I'm jumping out of order here, but it turns out that it's good to do so, as Laymon's talents improve with this book. His characterization is more convincing, and his plot gets more centered, though it's still far from a perfect story.
The story starts off with a series of brutal attacks that take place in a grocery after it's closed, which culminate in a vicious double-murder. Lacey Allen, a reporter for the local paper, comes in at the tail end of the murders, and is herself attacked and raped. At the same time, we're introduced to a character named Matthew Dukane, a vigilante private investigator of sorts who rescues a young woman from a murderous, possibly supernatural cult. The story is about Lacey's journey to identify her attacker, and Dukane's journey to discover the origins of the cult. The two stories intertwine, of course, and while it doesn't feel like the cleanest of merges, it at least doesn't feel forced.
The main premise of the book is a little ridiculous, even for a horror novel, and that might be a barrier for people reading the story. It doesn't take long in the story to find it, but it's still a bit of a surprise, so I don't want to spoil that for anyone. But it requires a rather big suspension of disbelief, on par with Gregor Samsa turning into a huge bug overnight, but where Kafka put that moment at the start of the story, Laymon puts it into the story after the reader has invested more time into it. It's a bit of a gamble.
This is a Laymon novel, so it has its share of sex and perversions, though they don't feel gratuitous here. The misogyny is restricted to the antagonist, so it's more a characteristic to make us dislike him than it is something the author endorses. The only questionable moment I found in the book occurred when Lacey, who a few days previous has been so brutally raped that it was hard for her to lower herself into a bath, and she was asking herself if she would ever feel comfortable being touched again, hooks up with her love interest. Another author would have made that transition the entire story of their book, but Laymon glosses over it and moves on with his plot.
Speaking of the plot, Laymon seems to have a habit of ending his books rather abruptly. This time, at least, he goes beyond an abrupt ending and gives the reader some closure for the main characters. And it's still a pretty thin plot, no matter how you look at it.
So, Beware! is an improvement, though it's still not a great book. I can see Laymon's style starting to form itself, and think that as I keep reading, the stories will improve. I'm still not sure if I'll reach the point where I would recommend him without reservations. As far as his horror goes, it's nothing original, and as far as his storytelling abilities, they're nothing to put him over other authors. His stories (so far) seem sufficient, but that's about it.
The story starts off with a series of brutal attacks that take place in a grocery after it's closed, which culminate in a vicious double-murder. Lacey Allen, a reporter for the local paper, comes in at the tail end of the murders, and is herself attacked and raped. At the same time, we're introduced to a character named Matthew Dukane, a vigilante private investigator of sorts who rescues a young woman from a murderous, possibly supernatural cult. The story is about Lacey's journey to identify her attacker, and Dukane's journey to discover the origins of the cult. The two stories intertwine, of course, and while it doesn't feel like the cleanest of merges, it at least doesn't feel forced.
The main premise of the book is a little ridiculous, even for a horror novel, and that might be a barrier for people reading the story. It doesn't take long in the story to find it, but it's still a bit of a surprise, so I don't want to spoil that for anyone. But it requires a rather big suspension of disbelief, on par with Gregor Samsa turning into a huge bug overnight, but where Kafka put that moment at the start of the story, Laymon puts it into the story after the reader has invested more time into it. It's a bit of a gamble.
This is a Laymon novel, so it has its share of sex and perversions, though they don't feel gratuitous here. The misogyny is restricted to the antagonist, so it's more a characteristic to make us dislike him than it is something the author endorses. The only questionable moment I found in the book occurred when Lacey, who a few days previous has been so brutally raped that it was hard for her to lower herself into a bath, and she was asking herself if she would ever feel comfortable being touched again, hooks up with her love interest. Another author would have made that transition the entire story of their book, but Laymon glosses over it and moves on with his plot.
Speaking of the plot, Laymon seems to have a habit of ending his books rather abruptly. This time, at least, he goes beyond an abrupt ending and gives the reader some closure for the main characters. And it's still a pretty thin plot, no matter how you look at it.
So, Beware! is an improvement, though it's still not a great book. I can see Laymon's style starting to form itself, and think that as I keep reading, the stories will improve. I'm still not sure if I'll reach the point where I would recommend him without reservations. As far as his horror goes, it's nothing original, and as far as his storytelling abilities, they're nothing to put him over other authors. His stories (so far) seem sufficient, but that's about it.
dannireadsallthetime's review against another edition
3.0
My second Laymon book and he is seriously getting on my nerves with using the word “Rump”. Again, my second read by Laymon and that’s how much he has used it. IT’S NOT A RUMP STOP CALLING IT THAT! It was giving me anxiety just waiting to come across the word over and over again, that it didn’t slightly detract me from the story. I was given 20 or so of his books and honestly if he prats on using Rump in every book I am going to lose my head. Come on man, use something else. He seems to have a weird fascination with it, amongst other things.
Despite my whingey start, I enjoyed this one more so than Beast House. It was really creepy reading about this invisible maniac, and how the story unfolded nicely. I did lose the thread a bit when other characters were introduced and characters started travelling. For me it’s just a personal preference I prefer a simply story, but yes I think this one is going to stick in my mind. The first half of this book was most enjoyable…. Hold the rump.
Despite my whingey start, I enjoyed this one more so than Beast House. It was really creepy reading about this invisible maniac, and how the story unfolded nicely. I did lose the thread a bit when other characters were introduced and characters started travelling. For me it’s just a personal preference I prefer a simply story, but yes I think this one is going to stick in my mind. The first half of this book was most enjoyable…. Hold the rump.
ethanz's review against another edition
3.0
When people ask… would you rather have the ability to fly, or be able to turn invisible whenever you want?
All the people that picked invisibility, I will automatically think of this lol.
I always picked invisibility, as well… but for completely different reasons.
•escaping an awkward/embarrassing moment in public.
•wandering in places you’re not supposed to be.
•steal from the rich and give to the needy and yourself.
Those are just a few I would do.
But I would NEVER, EVER, give a psychopath the ability to be invisible… you’re just asking for bad news.
All the people that picked invisibility, I will automatically think of this lol.
I always picked invisibility, as well… but for completely different reasons.
•escaping an awkward/embarrassing moment in public.
•wandering in places you’re not supposed to be.
•steal from the rich and give to the needy and yourself.
Those are just a few I would do.
But I would NEVER, EVER, give a psychopath the ability to be invisible… you’re just asking for bad news.
rovertoak's review against another edition
3.0
Laymon is definitely not for casual horror readers - you have to know that there's going to be a lot of, um, horrible content - but the fears he taps into are so primal and you can't help but get sucked in to the horror - if that's your thing!
monnie1976's review against another edition
3.0
Beware is a quick, sleazy gruesome read that does exactly what it sets out to do and does little else. Is this a bad thing? Not really. If you have ever read anything by this author the gratuitious T&A, extreme violence and sometimes hormonal teen boy type writing is par for the course. Yet his books move quick and much like an eighties slasher flick end up being fictions version of a guilty pleasure.
One of the main characters rang a little false with me but in the end the story was entertaining, gleefully over the top and completely unapologetic about any of it.
One of the main characters rang a little false with me but in the end the story was entertaining, gleefully over the top and completely unapologetic about any of it.
mrfrank's review against another edition
4.0
The late great Richard Laymon's BEWARE is a brutal, violent, graphic, gore-soaked tale. In other words, everything you expect from Richard Laymon. Though this is only the second story I've read of his extensive library, it is already clear to me no one writes like him. He was a living legend who is cited by today's great horror writers as a major influence and with good reason. Richard Laymon is not one to hold back.
Laymon has a way with describing cringe inducing brutality. Always, you will find yourself scrunching your face and feeling the gore as the words pass through you eyes. BEWARE is no exception. The story has all the trade mark blood spattered death and mayhem. This story also has a bump of supernatural to boot. BEWARE is The Invisible Man for a modern age.
Don't dare open this book after a hearty meal. It will come back up. If you ache for no holds barred horror fest this is the book for you. If you love it then keep reading Richard Laymon because the man is disturbingly good at the trade.
Laymon has a way with describing cringe inducing brutality. Always, you will find yourself scrunching your face and feeling the gore as the words pass through you eyes. BEWARE is no exception. The story has all the trade mark blood spattered death and mayhem. This story also has a bump of supernatural to boot. BEWARE is The Invisible Man for a modern age.
Don't dare open this book after a hearty meal. It will come back up. If you ache for no holds barred horror fest this is the book for you. If you love it then keep reading Richard Laymon because the man is disturbingly good at the trade.