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jodieb81's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
horrorhussy's review against another edition
2.0
Thankfully we have improved ways of writing splatter gore since the 80s!
WTF was that ending?
WTF was that ending?
paulabrandon's review against another edition
1.0
Ick. No. This had a good idea at its core, but the detailed descriptions about child sexual abuse were just unacceptable.
the88shrimp's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
billymac1962's review against another edition
3.0
The following review is from my old website...this didn't make the initial migration to Goodreads for some reason.
It wasn't until finishing this novel that I decided to "skull" this review. But the ending was very good, and it was quite shocking in parts.
However...the heroine of the story, Donna, supposedly a caring mother, pissed me off so often that I was tempted to throw the book through a window. I mean, here's a woman on the run with her 12 year old daughter. Her husband, Roy, a child-raping psychotic, has just been released from prison, and doting Donna takes every chance she can get to abandon her daughter and bang away with some stranger (Jud) she just met. It was so bad, I was actually hoping Roy would snatch daughter Sandy...it would have served Donna right. And the love scenes...ugh. Was Laymon 14 years old when he wrote this??
Another unbelievable aspect was Sandy immediately latching onto Jud's buddy Larry, a perfect stranger. This from a 12 year old girl who was raped by her father six years ago.
Give me a break. But...the novel is so short, you don't have to put up with this ridiculousness for long. The ending alone was enough to merit a skull for this review, but I doubt very much I'll be reading Laymon again.
FYI, my website had a cool rotating skull beside those novels I felt bestowed such an honor. This one ranked a skull for the ending alone, but I'm hard pressed to go as high as a four stars...hmmm...OK, three stars but with reservations.
It wasn't until finishing this novel that I decided to "skull" this review. But the ending was very good, and it was quite shocking in parts.
However...the heroine of the story, Donna, supposedly a caring mother, pissed me off so often that I was tempted to throw the book through a window. I mean, here's a woman on the run with her 12 year old daughter. Her husband, Roy, a child-raping psychotic, has just been released from prison, and doting Donna takes every chance she can get to abandon her daughter and bang away with some stranger (Jud) she just met. It was so bad, I was actually hoping Roy would snatch daughter Sandy...it would have served Donna right. And the love scenes...ugh. Was Laymon 14 years old when he wrote this??
Another unbelievable aspect was Sandy immediately latching onto Jud's buddy Larry, a perfect stranger. This from a 12 year old girl who was raped by her father six years ago.
Give me a break. But...the novel is so short, you don't have to put up with this ridiculousness for long. The ending alone was enough to merit a skull for this review, but I doubt very much I'll be reading Laymon again.
FYI, my website had a cool rotating skull beside those novels I felt bestowed such an honor. This one ranked a skull for the ending alone, but I'm hard pressed to go as high as a four stars...hmmm...OK, three stars but with reservations.
thatnerd's review against another edition
I can't do it. I can't read this book. When I reached the part about 20-25 pages in where the author starts describing a just released convict invading a home, murdering the parents, and molesting the daughter, I could not continue. Disgusting and unnecessary as it was implied earlier that this person was a child molester. This was just unnecessary graphic detail that was NOT needed. Based on THAT alone, I will never pick up another book by this author.
the_enobee's review against another edition
4.0
This may be the most messed up, bizarre, and morbid book I have ever read. And I tore through it in 3 sittings! What is wrong with you, Laymon? More importantly, what is wrong with me? I laughed though the last 30 pages in wonder at the twists, turns, and descriptions. Laymon gets an A+ from me for imagination; I'm just not sure he used his powers for good ;)
paperwitch's review against another edition
4.0
Laymon is one of those authors that does not hold back, this book was gory, a bit cheesy, fast paced and messed up. Was it brilliant? No. Was the dialogue a bit shitty? Yes. Were the characters complete idiots? Yes. Was it straight up gory, messed up fun? Yep. The cellar is one of those books that I definitely can see myself rereading in the future.
grimscribe114's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
igotid77's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25