Rating: 
Summary: It will scare you to death!
Review: I read this book almost a year ago. I had a lot of time on my hands (I was pregnant and not working) and it only took me like two days to read Second Child. I am a fan of John Saul's other works and Second Child proved to be worthy of praise as well as Saul's other novels. Terry made me so mad! She definitely got what was coming to her in the end!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Book
Review: I thought this book was great! It kept me guessing a lot of the time, though some parts were predictable. The plot was interesting and kept me interested throughout the book. It is ghostly and yet psychological at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've ever read (and read again)
Review: I've read Second Child several times and I'll read it again. John Saul has the rare ability to make the impossible seem real, and the real seem impossible. It's a perfect balance between good and evil and leaves you shaking and cold. The best part is the first line, but you'll have to read it to find out. I promise you, you wont be able to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: "Carrie" meets "Beverly Hills 90210"
Review: in this suspensful tale of a teenager tormented by her peers
and a mother who could borrow parenting skills from Joan Crawford.
The book's seemingly bucolic setting belies the events which
ultimately take place there, and Saul does a fine job
describing the truly awful psychological terror plaguing
Melissa, the 13-year old protagonist. As with Saul's other
works, this is a good, compelling read that hits all the
right notes and will leave the reader flying through the
last couple of chapters. Don't pass up this one.
Rating:
Summary: At least not bad, and definitely it's worth reading.
Review: It's great and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. Saul gets right into your soul and reveals all fears, thoughts and features which accompanied you when you were a teenager. Characters and locations are well-described, and they make you believe you are there also because you feel anger rising inside, and warmth of father's love, and despair of a girl, and a lot of other things so skilfully written.It was my first book by John Saul; after reading it I've ordered two more. I like his style. I believe neither you nor I will be disappointed if we read other Saul's books.
Rating: 
Summary: The Horror, The Horror
Review: John Saul's Second Child is the first horror book I ever read. (6+years ago) At my younger age I had trouble with some of the bigger words and darker concepts, but it was the best Saul I've ever read (and consequently the only). Poor Melissa is having problems growing up and being accepted and generally--um--psychological others. Teri comes into her life ostensibly as a friend, but Teri has problems of her own... Of everything literary branded into my mind, there will always be an image of Teri's mother hanging from a second-story window of a burning building and then doing a faceplant on the concrete below. I can thank Saul for that--err--lovely imagery. Don't doubt though, it's a great book and I would submit, for starters. I have genuinely loved horror as a genre ever since Second Child. It is a worthy book and will quiver you.
Rating:
Summary: Psychologically thrilling but somewhat predictable
Review: My first John Saul book. I've been avoiding buying a novel of his for fear I would just have to buy many more. This novel convinced me I need to read more of his work. He is a master at creating sympathy for the characters, making it tough to endure what happens to them. A good read. My only problem was the somewhat predictable plot.
Rating:
Summary: No Need to Be afraid of the dark
Review: Not a bad story but if you're expecting something to scare you to the point where you'll sleep w/the lights on, then this isn't the book for you. All in all, it's a quick and easy read and it most certainly kept me interested - you'll fall in love w/Melissa and come to feel sorry for her.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Great...
Review: Okay, I know it's a reviewer cliche to say this was my first John Saul book (it seems like every reviewer notes that, add my name to the list) but this was the first I read. Well, actually, I listened to it on tape. I found this in the library, and eager to read something by John Saul--I had bought "Guardian," but hadn't gotten to it yet--I picked this up, and with a good amount of listening time, finished it in about two days. Oft heard Saul reader Lee Meriwether did a good job on all the voices, and read quite well, though I got tired of listening to her voice at points. (I imagine it's that way for anyone listening to an audiobook. This was also my first book on tape.) As for the story, it was...well, so-so. Terry McGuyver (I may spell the names wrong, sorry, I didn't get to see them in print) comes to live with her father Charles, stepmother Phyllis, and half-sister Melissa at their seaside summer home after her parents die in a fire in their Los Angeles home. Thirteen year-old Melissa is the character we immediately identify with, though. At the beginning of the novel, it is her birthday, and she is going through all the phases of moving on from childhood to teenage years, knowing she must get rid of her dolls and the such, and even stop talking to her imaginary friend Darcy. Darcy, the one who defends Melissa from the cruel, abusive Phyllis. Darcy, her only friend it seems, except for housekeeper Cora's grandson, Tag. When Terry comes into her life, it looks as if she may finally have a true companion, a sister. But things change, and Terry isn't as innocent as it would seem. And soon, she begins to manipulate the all-too-present Darcy through Melissa. For Darcy can almost possess Melissa...and Terry can make her do terrible things. Because Darcy isn't just an imaginary friend...she's a ghost. (Don't worry, I didn't give away anything that comes as a surprise.) The plot doesn't work very well, and stumbles through until it finally congeals, and can be described on the back of the book. And once things do come together, they're not that much. It almost seems like there should have been more to this plot, considering how quickly things start and are wrapped up. The climax, while creepy, was far too quick and unrealized. And the resolution...well, you'll see how it doesn't tie things together. The only way to describe what I mean is by spoiling most of the plot, so skip the next short paragraph if you don't want to know. ***How are the convictions of Melissa being Tag's murderer dropped? She even said, "I did it." (Through, Darcy, of course.) I was kind of left disappointed about that.*** Overall, the book wasn't the best I had ever read, but I'm definitely not done with John Saul yet. I think I just sort of started with one of his lesser novels. So, to all those John Saul newcomers, I don't recommend you start a review for this book with "This was my first John Saul novel" and find something else of his to start off with.
Rating:
Summary: Stepmotherly Fantastic!
Review: Saul brought us a spellbinding story about the common "innocent good vs. crafted evil." It is my favorite book as far as I can tell. The book kept me guessing by the middle of the story and then made a 180 degrees turn. So don't let the title fool you and give it a try! I highly recommend it.
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