Creepers (original 2005; edition 2006)

I've always been fascinated by the idea of breaking into and exploring abandoned buildings. I can still remember the thrill I got poking about in what we used to call 'the haunted house' (an abandoned Victorian at the end of the block). So this book was a spine tingling treat. It reeled me in and held me close until the very conclusion. There was a sense of claustrophobic urgency as the story progressed and I was unable to put it down. While a little bit 'different' as far as the horror genre is concerned, there was plenty of horrific to go around.

Quick read and quite enjoyable. ( )

SPOILER ALERT!!! This book is very suspenseful and I finished it in 3 hours, in one sitting. I only gave it 3 stars because I was not happy with the way it ended and how characters start to die off pretty quickly. The twist in the end was pretty good, but only one original character is left standing with a weak ending. ( )

This book was given to me by my sister, she found it in a flea market and saw that there was a positive comment on the cover of Stephen King, whom I adore, so she bought it.
I started to read it without too many expectations but I was immediately captured. I didn't know of the existence of the Creepers and their presence immediately makes the story fascinating. But the real protagonist of the story is the Paragon Hotel, where no one set foot since 1968, the year of its closure. In fact, the Hotel looks the same, almost frozen in time, each room seems to be exactly as it was the day when the owners left. I don't give him 5 stars because in the middle of the book I already imagined the end and I like most when the author surprises me, but I recommend reading it anyway because the story is original and in some passages really keeps you in suspense. ( )

Creepers are self-styled, amateur urban archeologists. They illegally break into shuttered buildings, photographing and recording the detritus and ephemera of ages past, presumably to record a piece of forgotten history before it is lost forever to the wrecking ball. But, when five such creepers ascend from drainage pipes into The Paragon Hotel, they find they are not alone.

I am a Morrell fan and will probably be more generous with this book than others might. The premise of the book suggests wonderful possibilities on which it doesn’t quite deliver. The book seems just a little light, diving into some characters’ back story furiously while never scratching the surface on others’. The twists of the plot are interesting but aren’t explored completely, delivering a thrilling ride without any pause to the story flashing by. I don’t know if a ruthless editor got to the book or if Morell just shortcut through a good idea. Either way, I hoped for more than I got.

On the plus side, there are several genuinely creepy moments in the book. And Morrell is a master at the thrill.

Bottom Line: A satisfying thrill without as much substance as the premise suggests. ( )

Searching for a fast-paced read for killing time on your lengthy commute? Creepers by acclaimed author, David Morrell, will cure your boredom in the first chapter. After reading his non-fiction book, Lessons from a Lifetime of Novel Writing, I felt compelled to read his stories.

As most of you know, I am a library junkie. I scavenge the shelves for free reads by my favorite authors. When I noticed that Creepers was available in audio book, I was thrilled.

How did the premise hook me?

Creepers, people who go exploring in abandoned buildings. That is one group of people who has not been over-explored in thriller fiction, as are detectives and assassins. I wanted to know more about these people. Why did they risk their safety to search through the ruins of historical society dilapidations? Morrell did his homework.

What did I most like about the book?

The non-stop action. In some books, I prefer catching my breath between chapters. You know, the scene and sequel pattern. Morrell kept the story mostly focused upon the scene, the action.

The characters’ backstory and emotions are not as fully developed, but the plot itself is sufficiently engaging. We readers of this tale are expecting an adrenaline-rushed ride through a deserted hotel, not getting into each of the character’s heads to determine their personal motivations.

Keep it simple. Keep it thrilling.

Was there a moral to the story?

Some novels promote the author’s agenda. Creepers did not off gas that preachiness. Though there is some underlying discovery about how negative circumstances in childhood can manifest in adult psychopath behavior, I did not feel bogged down by the theme.

Morrell is a master at weaving story, theme, and characters towards the ultimate goal of a gripping plot. New writers should take notes on his stories to learn how the master accomplishes this in each of his novels.

Would I recommend this book to thriller lovers? Wholeheartedly. For those readers of suspense, Morrell should top the list. For those aspiring writers of thriller fiction (like me), Morrell is a standard for creating classic novel crafting. ( )