Primal Scream

Rating:
Summary: THEY ALWAYS GET THEIR MAN OR WOMAN
Review: "Primal Scream" finally resolves the Headhunter case. After reading "Headhunter," you of course know who the Headhunter is. Only in this book is that notorious killer brought to justice, and in a very complex, but interesting, series of events. Also Katt from "Ripper" is back, being as flippant and basically obnoxious as many teenagers are, although she does mature quite nicely after going through one heck of a life threat, both from an irate grizzly bear and a snowbound psychotic named Winterman Snow. The double plot does have a tie-in, although you don't see it coming, or at least I didn't. The enormous amount of history on the Indian lore tended to slow the pace of the book down, and unless you're a real history buff, is not of any real importance to the book. Once the Headhunter is brought to a close, though, the book continues to propel us into a nightmare world of a mad hunter in the frozen wastelands of Northern Canada. The identity of Winterman Snow is a real shocker, but that's not the final one in this book. The last few pages reveals another shocking twist that I never saw coming in a million years! Slade is certainly adept at pulling some real doozies! All in all, a fascinating entry in this DeClerq series.

Rating:
Summary: So intelligent it's frightening!
Review: As a very loyal fan of Michael Slade (the pen name of two writers), I anxiously awaited this book. I have read all the others and was hooked from the very beginning. The writing is always smart and challenging, never insulting anyone's intelligence. It is gory (for fan's of horror), but we are always given a very clear portrait and glimpse into the mind of the killer/s. We also are treated to Canadian and Mountie/police/crime history (which I never believed I'd have any interest in (a testament to the engaging writing)! Primal Scream dips back into a case which constituted a previous novel, Headhunter (not at all necessary to have read any of the previous books to understand this one). This is my favorite Michael Slade book, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next one. The only problem I had with it was with the character Katt, who in the beginning is painted as a precocious teen. She is however, an annoying character in this otherwise intense and smart novel. Her little quips, poems and remarks make you want to vomit and roll your eyes (not necessarily in that order). Thankfully though, we only have to suffer through her at the beginning. At the end, her character becomes more serious and intelligent and real. This book is one in which the energy never dies down. From the very beginning throughout until the last page, we are interested, absorbed, entertained and educated.

Rating:
Summary: Very strange and gruesome...
Review: Being cooped up in the house during the weather led to a bit more reading time. That, and a two hour commute on light rail. Anyway, I just finished Primal Scream by Michael Slade. A strange and gruesome book that doesn't rank among my favorites. To start with, I think that much of the character development takes place in his earlier book Headhunter (which I haven't read). As a result, there were continual references to people and events that I didn't know anything about but that were important to this story. Next, there are two crime stories going on here that may or may not be interrelated, and it was confusing to figure out what was going on, and why. Third, there are vivid depictions of rape and sexual fetish stuff that is key to the story. Not for the squeamish. The storyline is that there are killings (beheadings, actually) that are going on, and they are similar to a crime spree from the first book. DeClerq is trying to solve the crime and figure out if they perhaps killed the wrong person on the earlier case. Some suspenseful moments to be sure, but very disturbing and somewhat confusing to follow...

Rating:
Summary: Very strange and gruesome...
Review: Being cooped up in the house during the weather led to a bit more reading time. That, and a two hour commute on light rail. Anyway, I just finished Primal Scream by Michael Slade. A strange and gruesome book that doesn't rank among my favorites. To start with, I think that much of the character development takes place in his earlier book Headhunter (which I haven't read). As a result, there were continual references to people and events that I didn't know anything about but that were important to this story. Next, there are two crime stories going on here that may or may not be interrelated, and it was confusing to figure out what was going on, and why. Third, there are vivid depictions of rape and sexual fetish stuff that is key to the story. Not for the squeamish. The storyline is that there are killings (beheadings, actually) that are going on, and they are similar to a crime spree from the first book. DeClerq is trying to solve the crime and figure out if they perhaps killed the wrong person on the earlier case. Some suspenseful moments to be sure, but very disturbing and somewhat confusing to follow...

Rating:
Summary: Mountie, Aboriginal history mix for page turner
Review: Good job done again by author(s) on this one. It is a mix of suspense and information which "Slade" carefully researches from an impressive bibliography. Primal Scream is written in the style of Headhunter and Evil Eye. Not a "too-polished" horor murder mystery, but a raw, believable story. While it makes the reader respect the work of the Mounties, it doesn't preach about happy endings and always getting the bad guys. Not too may authors will make one of their lead characters suffer as "Slade" does. It is Believable to the point where you hope it isn't. The books are crammed with history and information which is as interesting as the plot itself. Aboriginal culture and informaion abound as does that of Western Canadian history and the past, present and future of Canada's RCMP. A good read, "Slade" a new favorite which I look for in the book stores.

Rating:
Summary: New "Slade" novel back in the groove
Review: I have read all the Slade books and have seen a decline in quality in the last two. "Primal Scream" is more in line with the initial stories in this series, "Headhunter" and "Cutthroat". I was glad to see the loose ends in "Headhunter" brought to conclusion. This is an interesting series of stories that is exciting and engrossing. They do have graphic descriptions of violence and sexual acts so they are not for everyone. This book did not reference the next Slade book as the past titles did. I hope this does not mean there will be no more Declerq stores.

Rating:
Summary: Primal Scream
Review: Once you've started one of Slade's books, you might give it up if you're not inured to violence and suspense, but otherwise he really keeps you wanting more. Once you've read MANHUNTER you'll want to find out more about LeCLERCQ and his obsession with killers of the past and present. PRIMAL SCREAM completes his voyage into the past, with the violent death of his own daughter a throbbing memory inside his brain compelling him to lead an investigation into a possible copy cat killer. There's even a young girl called KATT, as if to hint at a COPY KATT!!

Is Slade even a real person? I wonder if it isn't the pseudonym behind which a variety or people can make their feelings known on the topic of serial killing. One thing this putative syndicate could do to raise the standard of their books is to get some more imaginative titles. For example, HEADHUNTER and PRIMAL SCREAM. There must be dozens of books and movies already with those names. PRIMAL SCREAM is a psychoanalutical movement, for goodness sakes. The way Slade writes you'd think it was a heavy metal band.

Canada must be proud that for a country with not very many people (compared to the US) Slade has populated it with mad maniacs and determined grim-jawed cops in pursuit. And plenty of victims whose blood is rich with riboflavin.

Rating:
Summary: Not the Best Slade I've read...but still good
Review: Since I read Hangman, I was always looking for Michael Slade books to show up at my local library. So, when Headhunter came in, I picked it up immediately. That book gave me the chills. But the ending left me confused.

So, when I found out that there was another Michael Slade book that served as almost a sequel to Headhunter, their first book, I ordered it immediately. I got the book and read it quite quickly.

It's not the best book by Slade (though I HAVE only read Hangman, and Headhunter apart from this one) but it does have some good qualities.

But I find it easiest to focus on the bad qualities.

There are two plots in this book, the Headhunter, and Winterman Snow up North. I was kinda dissapointed with how the Headhunter plot turned out, pretty much because I expected something different. There isn't much of an investigation into WHO the Headhunter is, which dissapointed me a lot, especially since I knew who the HEadhunter was. I also didn't know that it was supposed to be a mystery to who the Winterman Snow person was...I just thought it was a subplot. Nonetheless, when it is revealed, it is quite surprising. As well was dissapointing was that the plot never really picked up until I was well past page 100.

There were two good things about this novel. First of all, it cleared up everything that I was confused about in Headhunter. Mainly...the Headhunter's motives, and how all the scenes in New Orleans, and wherever else fit in with teh Headhunter case. Also, the twist in the final moments (the final part and final chapter, infact) is quite good, though just a way to get a few more pages onto the final manuscript, I think.

Though there still was that annoying writing style from Slade where people are often referred to from their occupation or their last name, this is a quite satisfying, and exciting novel.

WARNING: If you plan to read Headhunter, DO NOT READ PRIMAL SCREAM, it will spoil the ending for Headhunter. Personally, I would rather read Headhunter and be scared to death by it not knowing who the headhutner was, instead of reading Primal scream first and knowing who the Headhunter was throughout the reading of the book...

Rating:
Summary: Not for the weak of heart
Review: The authors propensity for villains with schizophrenia or MPD
and carrying multiple story lines in a single book is just getting old.
The story jumps around so much that it becomes quite hard to follow.
The plot is murky and although I don't mind foreshadowing I don't like
to be beaten to death with it (telling us someone's going to die once is
thrilling, more than that and it loses its impact and almost becomes
insulting "ok, I GET it they're going to die, get on with the story."). I
came across Ghoul a few years ago in a used book shop and was
enthralled now I'm just disappointed and doubt I'll read or buy further
books from this author and that saddens me.

Rating:
Summary: Typical Slade fare
Review: This book started out with promise. There is too much information. I'm all for learning a little in a book but I felt like I was reading a history book. There are too many characters, one very unlikable one named Katt. And some things seem farfetched. It seems a little unbelievable that one character would survive such a vicious bear attack. It took a while to get through this. Hopefully his other books are better.