The Right Hand of Evil

A big, somewhat silly, comic book of a novel that exploits just about every genre cliché from the bogeyman in the basement to magic amulets. It also suffers from narrative gaps, a rather sketchy backstory, and some overblown passages that basically amount to the author jumping out from behind a door and yelling "BOO!" But, for all that, it was a quick and entertaining read that reminded me of an outline for some trashy '80s shocker.

I certainly hope Dean Koontz did not read this book. Those who read his work will get the jab. The Right Hand of Evil is one of John Saul’s beefier books and Ironically he goes easier on his characters. No exploding children, children hanging themselves. But with that being said…that does not mean he does not put them through their paces. This story takes place in Louisiana and as a native to the state I have to honestly say. “Has Saul ever even been there?” Well maybe he has, but the book seemed like it was taking place in any other state than Louisiana. Everything he described reminded me of Alabama or Tennessee. If you are going to write a novel about Louisiana, I guess by default you have to conjure up a certain illusion. show more Chalkboard Voodoo is not going to be convincing enough. Yes the book was well written and it had a good story, but for as long as it was you would think he could remember that the part of the state he was writing about is mostly swamp. You don’t just idly tromp around through those areas without resistance from nature of some sort, Snakes, wildcats, alligators. The people who lived in St. Albans were spot on though. Much of the Northern central part of the state is chock full of religious zealots and tend to be rather unwelcoming, unlike the Southern half who seem to love everyone. But on to the story. A family moves to St. Albans, is not welcomed and that on top of issues with each other sets the stage for the selling of souls, alcoholism, murdering of animals and a lone Black man who might just have a reason to hate everyone. Geographically he missed the boat on this one, but his characters attitudes (Not Personalities) fit the bill. But as John Saul has said before. He does not like reading his own books because they scare him. He can tell a story effectively but always seems to focus more on trying to gross out the reader. If you are a Saul fan then you will like this book. Saul delivers as you would expect him to in his John Saul Way. There is going to be plot holes and things left unwritten that he appears to just have forgotten about. What happens to such and such, where did they go, and why does it just seem they were forgotten about and left out of the ending. show less

Ted and Janet Conway move into Ted’s ancestral home in Louisiana, along with their children (teenage twins Jared and Kim, and baby Molly) after Ted’s estranged aunt dies. Ted is an alcoholic who was just fired from his job so this seems like a fresh beginning for them. But the house has a legacy of evil that, at first, they try to overlook. But as time goes by, and strange things start happening, along with the total change of behavior in their son Jared, they realize they were wrong in moving here.

I totally enjoyed this book. It was a very creepy, chilling, and captivating read. The house itself was quite eerie, with descriptions of long gloomy halls, darkness outside the windows that goes on and on, a dank and spooky cellar, and show more people having horrifying dreams (or are they) within the house. The story was easy to read and I was always looking forward to getting back to the book to see what was going to happen next.

Another fine thriller by John Saul. show less

I have to put a warning on here to anyone that doesn't like animal mutilation as this book contains some of that which is very graphic.

It kind of surprised even me of the graphic content of the mutilations as I wasn't expecting it for one thing, but I kind of skimmed over those parts as I really didn't want to read it myself. So with that being said, this book was really good.

The Conway family moves into an old two story mansion that they inherited from dear "Aunt Cora". She left the house to her nephew, Ted in her will with a stipulation that him and his family had to live in the house. Up to the time before Aunt Cora died, Ted and Janet Conway were close to maybe getting a divorce as Ted is an alcoholic and their marriage was on the show more rocks.

The house sits not too far from the small town of St. Albans where everyone knows everyone. The town considers the house an eyesore and they also considered it to be evil as there have been many bad things that happened in the house.

After moving into the house, Janet along with her twin teenagers, Jared and Kim, feel that something is wrong with the house and word around town is the house is haunted. Even though they have moved, Ted is still drinking and Janet fears that eventually the town is going to know that Ted is a drunk, but then after being in the house a couple of so weeks something happens and Ted "changes". He is no longer drinking and he has turned over a new leaf. Janet cannot figure out what has brought on this transformation, but he is back to the Ted that she married. The twins are just as surprised by their father's change of heart and they too wonder what has happened.

The beginning of the end is really what happened as the house has taken control and the evil is seeping out into the family.

The Conway family and the citizens of the town become involved an evil force that has been laying in wait in the basement of the Conway house.

The book takes off about midway along with some gory graphic details that emerges off the pages and it contains a demonic atmosphere through most of the book.

The last half of the book is literally steeped in "evil" and it seemed that I could feel it as I was reading it.

I noticed that the book has gotten mixed reviews saying the book is not that scary, but in my opinion, it was scary to me as it contains voodoo, ritualistic killings, and the animal mutilations. Four stars for this one. show less

From Amazon:

When the Conways move into their ancestral home in Louisiana after the death of an estranged aunt, it is with the promise of a new beginning. But the house has a life of its own. Abandoned for the last forty years, surrounded by thick trees and a stifling sense of melancholy, the sprawling Victorian house seems to swallow up the sunlight. Deep within the cold cellar and etched into the very walls is a long, dark history of the Conway name--a grim bloodline poisoned by suicide, strange disappearances, voodoo rituals, and rumors of murder. But the family knows nothing of the soul-shattering secrets that snake through generations of their past. They do not know that terror awaits them. For with each generation of the Conways show more comes a hellish day of reckoning. . . .

My Thoughts:

"Alive] It was still alive:" This is the firat sentence and the story begins. John Saul always delivers at scary, spooky ride through his novels. I read this book about 10 year or so ago and just decided to reread it for the goosebumps effect. The story was very smooth flowing; the plot simple yet mysterious. The main characters were thoroughly developed and the words painted a totally spooky house of horror. A very enjoyable ride. show less

I read this one over Spring break, when I didn't have much time to read. I still finished it in a decent time, though, due to its storyline sucking me in. True, there was cheese there and sometimes dangerously close to overdoing it, and the tale was a bit cliché and used a very stereotypical villain most stories should avoid unless they're going to do it perfectly, but Saul wrote it relatively well so that you cared about most of the characters and wer curious how far he would take it and what would be the outcome.

Opening the story with a severe alcoholic as the husband and an unhappy marriage kept it flowing with unhealthy drama. I do have some curiosities with the resolution - was it always the same person who inhabits the people? show more Did the person inhabited redeem at all? I'm guessing he did have something in him as well for his charismatic ability rose highly. The ending felt too cut off - the ending happened but there was no afterword to see what happens with the family, even the reaction outside the door. The beginning skids off a bit from back story horror to delve into family drama buildup. This slow start still kept me into the story because it was akin to watching a train wreck.

I do have to say that, despite his easy flowing style and keeping something exciting always happening, he overdoes the comma rule. I read two books in a row like this. Eck. It's not a grammatical rule that he's breaking, but it does interrupt the flow of reading for me. A lot.

The twin bond is overdone in stories. Not much stand out character wise. The animal deaths really need to leave. Having the priest as the real controlling force of the town interested me. In a weird way I wish I could have gotten to see the improved, non-drink dependent father’s true face. I’d also have loved to learn more about the weird bargain that was made.

Overall, animal deaths are the most disturbing part of the book. Gore is moderately splashed, certainly there. Some creepy scenes but nothing too chilling. A decent story that keeps it interesting, but for a house tale likely one I won't remember forever. show less

This book was creepy in a good kind of way. The Conway family has had many deaths and unexplained disappearances for many years. The town folk think the "devil" is at work. Little do they know that they are right. Many years ago, a Conway priest conducted an exorcism that failed miserably. This failed exorcism is the cause of all the Conway tragedies for many years. Now another family of Conway descendants is living in the house and faced with their own problems. I really liked this book and I wasn't sure I would when I picked it up.