Rating: 
Summary: When will we pass a Truth in Blurbing law?
Review: The hype assembled to sell the paperback edition of this book might usefully be examined in law schools or industry commissions as a test case on false advertising. 'Mr. X' provides some scattered moments of mild diversion, but it is precisely *not* filled with "ghastly, hide-your-eyes horror" (as Steven King [sic!] is alleged to have said); nor is its plot "challenging", its characters "intriguing" or does its final sentence "make you question everything you've just read" (as various other sources are cited as claiming). It is relentlessly unscary, clumsily plotted, peopled with unengaging characters and sent out the chute with a sentence of the type routinely rejected in undergraduate Creative Writing courses (of the "...so it was all a dream." variety).Peter Straus is capable of fine work indeed in this genre-- 'Ghost Story' immediately comes to mind-- but 'Mr. X' is very small potatoes compared to his best work. This is regrettable, of course-- but made doubly (and unnecessarily) so by the Big Lie blurbs marched across the cover and opening pages of this edition. The net result is that the reader feels not simply let down but cheated...and considerably more hesitant, naturally, to buy the next Peter Straub offering. Surely this is not what the author or his publisher intended.
Rating:
Summary: If *this* won the Bram Stoker award for best novel...
Review: Then the horror/dark fiction/dark fantasy genre is in worse shape than I thought (or, perhaps the HWA, which gives the award, is in worse shape than I thought). First of all - To the hardcore lover of horror, Lovecraftian themes have become like vampires - so familiar and overdone as to become cliche'. That means dealing with such themes obliges an author to put a new spin on an old idea, if the author is determined to take readers down such well-worn paths. In Mr. X, Straub doesn't. Second of all - While we're on the subject of cliches...apply the above paragraph to the "evil other" cliche as well as the Lovecraftian one. Mr. X is the main character's father and not his alter ego, true, but close enough. Oh, and he's something of a serial killer, too, isn't he? That brings the cliche' tally to 3. Yawn, yawn, yawn...perhaps we should rename this novel "The Carnival of Cliche's"... Third - Almost all, if not all, of the characters are two-dimensional. Here's your cookie-cutter "nice guy late bloomer", here's your cookie-cutter "free-spirited artist", here's your cookie-cutter "really evil guy who likes to kill cute babies and probably kick cute puppies, as well". Straub's short intro to Poppy Z. Brite's "Are You Loathesome Tonight?" is miles above the writing in this novel in terms of being interesting and captivating, and up to the stylistic quality of which I know Peter Straub is capable. Bottom line - worth the money if you need a cheap remedy for insomnia, but not worthy of any award, in my humble opinion.
Rating:
Summary: sadly disappointing
Review: I must admit Mr. X was a bit of a letdown. I've read most of Straub's work from Shadowland to The Hellfire Club,excellent by the way, and Mr. X is the worst of the lot. I just could not get myself to care about the main character, Ned Dunstan. This guy has a life in New York city, gorgeous women falling all over him, and money. So what that he comes from such an oddball family. I just never felt the intensity and urgency of the moment as the impending climax approached for Ned. The rest of the characters in this story, especially the aunts, I found to be very interesting. If you consider reading this book I recommend two things: first be sure to have read another novel of Straub's before you try this one. The reason is that Mr.X is very complex and I think it would be beneficial to have some previous experience with the author. Second, familiarize yourself with H.P. Lovecraft as his work is an integral part of the story. If you enjoy clear cut endings this book is not for you. Many questions are left for the readers to answer for themselves. I still have a couple of questions about it. I'm sure I will re-read Mr. X to clear up any questions, but that won't be for quite some time.
Rating: 
Summary: Self-Indulgent & Boring
Review: This book was a painful read. As another reader correctly observed, Straub tries too hard to show how clever he is and forgets to tell a compelling story. I quickly stopped caring about his quirky characters and their absurd lives. I used to enjoy Straub's work, particularly his very creepy "Shadowlands". However, "Mr. X" and "Koko" have annoyed me to such an extent that I sincerely doubt that I will ever read another Straub novel.
Rating:
Summary: Started slow then fizzled out altogether
Review: This book was so dreadfully slow I could not finish it. Horror fiction should grab you. This story never did.A lot of family history with no substance or relevance. I also found the fact that every woman who meets whatshisface falls head over heels for him to be ridiculous. The H.P Lovecraft connection was stretching it. Readers would be better advised to try Lovecraft. Or for new horror fiction, try Douglas Clegg-he will grab you from the start and never let go, especially You Come When I Call You, or The Nightmare Chronicles. Lets face it, if we want superb writing technique(with no interesting story attached)we'll look elsewhere. When I buy a book like this I just want to be entertained. I liked other Straub books however.
Rating: 
Summary: Mr. X-great literature or just plain awful story?
Review: There's been some controversy over how "good" this book really is-professional critics uniformly love it, but lots of folks feel too many questions are unanswered. The truth is this book exists on two levels. It is a pretty good beach book-full of plot twists and scary scenes. But the author had much more ambition than that. The fact is this is a mystery story where the final solution is never explicitly stated-Straub has too much respect for his audience for that. But for the alert reader there is a wealth of beauty and wonder to be found. The last sentence of the book is a whopper-clarifying much, making much more obscure and shifting the reader's gravity completely. There is also one final, unsaid secret to this story and about its characters. I did not get it until I read an interview with the author. Once I understood what he was trying to do, I re-read the book with far more understanding and blamed myself for missing the "obvious" (but apparantly lots of other readers also have missed this "secret" so read carefully). I would now rank this as Straub's best work to date. However, this book raises certain issues like a battle cry against modern litarary criticism...Can scary stories be literary? How hard should readers have to work to "get" a story? And how important is it for the writer to provide them with a "clean" ending? Straub expects his readers to work mighty hard and to write at least some of the story in their imaginations in this highly lyrical novel.
Rating:
Summary: Franks and Beans
Review: Sometimes you can get tired of eating fine, rich foods. Sometimes you want to go slumming at the local greasy spoon and get back to the raw basics of middle American dining. With books it doesn't quite work that way. You never get tired of reading fine books which is why this franks and beans offering from Straub should be avoided at all costs. Disregard this warning at the risk of causing irreperable damage to your finer sensibilities.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Start - Confusion - Unanswered Questions
Review: I am an avid reader - once engaged in a book, I follow through to the end. To start, the writer got my attention by unvieling a number of different paths the storyline could take by introducing many interesting characters. However, the author failed to round out their full story and place of significance in the book. Untimately, the writer leaves the reader hanging on the demnise of a few characters..void of closure. Mousie...alien, deformed child...what?? Does anyone really know what happened to Ned's brother? What was the significance of Ned recalling Star's moment in the auditorium throughout the book? Are the powers inherited or are they part of some alien personification? If you read this book, prepare for alot of unanswered questions.
Rating:
Summary: Not Worth the Time
Review: Although I've been a fan of Straub's this book is NOT worth it. The storyline moves in too many directions. There are too many illogical connections. It was also poorly edited (the main character is poured a drink of whiskey, but somehow his first gulp is of scotch, and then the drink becomes whiskey again). Don't bother with it.
Rating:
Summary: Poor offering
Review: I read up to a dozen paperbacks per months. Thrillers, mystery, detective ..... and recently Mr. X by Peter Staub. A waste of time. The story rambles. The storyline is unclear. The author seems to think that the reader can anticipate what is going on. Poor showing, Mr. Staub.
| 
