Good idea, bad execution

My first complaint about this book was something that a book reviewer from the Tuscon Citizen had written, and the publisher decided to throw that on the back cover. This review said, "Fast-paced and smoothly crafted. The gripping narrative will remind you of Stephen King in his prime." No, it didn't. It reminded me of Stephen King when he was probably in 8th grade.

Second complaint: The characters were just deep enough to keep me (barely) interested, and the only two Saul allows us to know are Angel Sullivan and Seth Baker. Even then they weren't that interesting. These guys were made for each other. They keep getting picked on and never stand up for themselves, which is something I couldn't understand. Then they find their secret weapon, and either a) John Saul writes characters that are intensely dense, or b) he writes for intensely dense readers. I'm not sure which. There are so many moments in the narrative in the characters' heads, conversations, dreams or upon waking from their dreams when they constantly ask 'what was that?' or 'what could it mean?'. It got old really fast. Also, there are a handful of times in the story when you have to read about the same event, just with a different point of view. That got old too. You wouldn't think it would get boring in a book like this, but when you're reading a rerun that takes up another page...well, you get my point.

Third complaint: There wasn't enough character development with the others, such as Angel's mom or dad or the priest. It could've made this book a lot more interesting, and possibly added some needed depth. Or we could've been treated to more characters that were two-dimensional, and their thoughts/inner workings/past would've had the same depth. Ok, so maybe we're better off with the way he wrote it. Count your blessings.

Fourth and final complaint: Unessential details, such as a certain detail thrown in the story about a razor. Now, I'm not going to give it away. But let's just say that it was pretty stupid to throw in said unnecessary detail when you're pretty sure what's going to happen to the character. I know this doesn't make much sense, but if in doubt, go to page 431 and start reading with the 4th paragraph through the end of the page. I'm not saying all of this was unnecessary; quite the opposite. But there is a sentence at the end of the 4th paragraph that is. And if you don't agree with me... well, I'd hate to read the books you think are good fiction.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Strong gothic horror novel

Fifteen year old Angel Sullivan has no friends and is tormented by her peers. Her father drinks too much and has been fired from so many construction jobs nobody in town who will hire him. Marty¿s wife Myra loses herself in religion as a way of coping with her unhappy home life. When her sister Joni calls and informs her there is a perfect home that they can afford in Roundtree, Massachusetts, they buy it because Myra¿s brother-in-law gives Marty a job.

Angel loves her new home on Black Creek Crossing and believes she will make new friends at school but instead the students start tormenting her. The only person who befriends her is Seth Baker a pariah like Angel. Both teens notice inexplicable happenings in the house and a black cat with a definite agenda. He leads them to a place on the basement stairs where a book is found in a hidden panel and then he makes them follow him to a camouflaged cabin in the woods. There they open the book and what they find between the pages allows them to finally get revenge on their enemies.

Drawing on the Salem Witch trials and the folklore on haunted houses, John Saul creates a tale so vividly chilling and horrifying that readers will want to sleep with the lights on. BLACK CREEK CROSSING is not the typical haunted house story nor is it a modern day retailing of the Salem witches but an amalgam of the two. The protagonists draw reader sympathy from the very beginning which is why the ending is such a shock. Mr. Saul has written another gothic horror novel that is unforgettable.

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Oseroshito

Oseroshi+o is Japanese for ocelot.

Great Read!

Couldnt put it down. Its one of my Favorite books EVER!

Loved it!!!

No text was provided for this review.

Black creek crossing

Great read!!!!! Couldnt put down!!

Breathless

Left me breathless and wanting more. I fallen in love with John Saul's books. I have read two prior to this one, but this story was positively captivating. A must read for anyone who enjoys a good ghost story, and tales of mischief.

Not Fantastic, but not bad either

Not the most orginal plot, but the book read well. Was a very quick read. I thought the bullying was a little over the top, but overall believable. The end was what I found to be a lacking. The end left me unsatisfied.

invites you to find out what happens at Black Creek Crossing

As with all John Sauls writings you want to keep on reading. Hard to put down, you keep wanting to go to the next chapter. And the ending always has a surpise.

Witch Craft At It's Best & Wrost

This book really had me going. I love any story with witch craft and ghost. I was so into it until I came to the ending. Sure disapointment. I'm no writer! Hell, i can't even spell half the time; but i could have thought of a better way way to end that story. I just expected more out of John Saul.

A perfect Halloween read!

I loved it! If you're looking for a true ghost/witch story just in time for Halloween, look no further. Black Creek Crossing is a great suspenseful novel. I finished it in 3 days. I couldn't help myself, the story sucks you in, and you're not satisfied until you know what happens. Highly recommended!

Ill forever remember this book

This is one of the scarier John Saul books I have read. Especially the ending. I dont know about other people but I would never live in a house where a man killed his wife and child.. But in the cercumstances of this books people DO move in.. There is a lot going on in this book, and I really enjoyed it. I like how the author included the 'Black Cat' and witches! Awesome read. Try it out!

it was a good book

it kept me interested. made you feel sorry for the 2 kids,what they had to go though in school and at home,I allways read John Saul his books just keep getting better Im going to read perfect nightmare next. he has a new one in hardback

One of my favorites.

Angel is an outcast in her old school and she moves into the old house at black creek crossing.Due to the move she has to go to a new school were she hopes to meet friends. The only friend she meets is Seth Baker who just like her is an outcast. While unpacking one day she finds that there is a cat in her closet and since there was no whole in the closet (or what she could tell) she names the cat houdini. Throughout the rest of the book she gets made fun of by the cool girls of her school, has creepy incounters and finds out the horrifying truth about the house that she is now living in. Though this was the first John Saul book that I have read it will certainly not be the last.

In Defense Of A Good Book

I read Black Creek Crossing recently. While I was reading it I also read some of the reviews published here. I think that some of us may have been a little hard on Mr. Saul. I mean when you have to pick apart the accuracy of the human body to say how bad a book is then you don't have much. That having been said, I think that Mr. Saul wrote a very good book on the sensational elements of goth culture. This was long overdue for him. It was certainly a ghost story, combined with the romantic elements of the outcast. Mr. Saul has not lost his touch on making both his characters, locations, and buildings seem very real in the readers imagination. I think the problem arises out of the fact that Mr. Saul stepped outside of the box. Mr. Saul's recent previous efforts have been something the mainstream would find acceptable. This counterculture area is where the mainstream becomes very touchy. I say congrats Mr. Saul!! This was a very sensationalistic, entertaining and enduring piece of work.

this wasn't half bad

This book seemed very interesting to me when I first picked it up, and it was extremly spellbinding. Till the very end. The last chapeter seemed to end too quickly, with nearly no explanation (and hello, did any one else notice the aorta is not in the neck). Other than that, Black Creek Crossing was certainly fun while it lasted, and I would definately recommend it.

Spellbinding :)

I really enjoyed this book, even though it started off slow for me and I was able to figure out part of the story. Yet once I got into the plot, I couldn't put it down. On the other hand, as much as I loved the book, there are two things I take issue with, one of them being that Mr Saul apparently doesn't know that your aorta is in your chest, and not your neck!! Try jugular or carotid artery, those are accurate! But, I won't say more about that because I don't want to ruin the story for people. As it is, that was at the end of the book anyway. Up until then, I was loving the story and then I was immensely disappointed and wondering why no editor, or Mr Saul himself had caught the error. So, that's partly why I'm only giving it 4 stars. Another issue I had is the amount of teasing that Angel and Seth endure at school. I understand this was the groundwork for the basis of the story, but I think he went a little overboard and could have omitted some. Ultimately, I still enjoyed the book!

I loved it.

This book keept me on the edge of my seat. Took me 4 days to read it. My grades whent down in 4 days to. But it was worth it. I gave this book to all of my friends. I recomend it.

awesome!!!

i loved this book! john saul has done an excellent jod writing it ^_^ i recomend it to everyone!

What ever happened to tying up loose ends?

Though the first four hundred pages of the novel were quite intriguing, the last sixty or so were an absolute disappointment. Having read most of Saul's work it seems as if he's patched together a conglomeration of Suffer the Children and classic teenage angst into a concoction that just doesn't seem to work. The character development which in the first one hundred pages was fine ultimately comes up short towards and the end when it seems as if Saul was in a rush to meet his publishers demands rather that the satisfaction of the reader. It wouldnt have hurt to add another fifty pages to give the reader a true ending, rather than the haphazard one that is presently there.