Something Dangerous

Rating:
Summary: Great character descriptions, terrible ending
Review: I enjoyed this book, well, most of it. The descriptions of boarding school life, degrading teachers, bullies, friendships, were all wonderful and made for great reading. The sinister nature of the main relationship was well spelled out. The plot has been written about before so I wont go there now again. The only problem I have is with how it all culminates. I won't do more to reveal this ending but I do take issue with it. The editorial review which states that the "climax is refreshingly non-formulaic" has really got to be kidding. Do they understand what they are saying by this? Did they like that kind of climax? Why? Every ending does not have to be a happy one but this was way out of line. Another editorial review even downplays the nature of the violence! That is incredible that anyone could think that. I think that the author could have done better with the end result of the plot and could have left the readers feeling a bit better instead of with an empty ache as he has done, to me anyway. I hope people will read this book and write what they think about the ending.

Rating:
Summary: Bowled Over
Review: I read this after reading Patrick's second novel, "The Puppet Show". I could not believe that this was as good a performance. What marked out "The Puppet Show" was how much I cared about the characters, places where I cried with them, places where I shared their joy, places where I wanted to get into the book and join in. This was equally so with "The Wishing Game". Whether you can identify with some of the characters and situations depends on what life experiences you may have had, but I was riveted from the start. Like another reviewer, I couldnt stop thinking about this book for days afterwards and didn't want to pick up another. I defy anyone not to get involved.

What marks it out from so many horror books is simply that so much is left unsaid, imagination is needed, but when Richard Rokeby slowly turns around towards the end of the book, his hairs standing on the back of his neck, mine had already done so!

It's a superb book, and repays re-reading so many layers has it.

Rating:
Summary: A CHILLING DEBUT
Review: Youth prone to violence have been much in the news lately, and they take center stage in British lawyer Redmond's chilling debut.

At Kirkston Abbey, a school for boys, kindness, nurturing, and care are not in the curriculum. But rather it is a place where class bullies torment during the night and unforgiving, tight-lipped instructors alternate humiliation with haranguing during the day.

Thus, 14-year-old Jonathan Palmer, is grateful when he is befriended by wealthy loner Richard Rokeby, a student whose power makes him impervious to the cruelty of the instructors or his fellow students.

As Richard takes the younger boy under his wing, Jonathan feels safe for the first time, not seeing that Richard is possessing him as well as protecting him.

Safety, it seems,.has a price as violence spawns more violence and evil takes control. Something Dangerous is a well crafted Gothic tale, not for the weak of heart.