Rating: 
Summary: Better off not read
Review: This is one of the worst outings Peter Straub has ever had as an author. An avid horror fan, I couldn't even get beyond the mid way point of the book. No plot development, slow to move and unsympathetic characters made me long for the turn of the page when I would discover what Mr. X was seeking. I was so bored with the book I didn't even bother to go to the end to find out what happened before putting the book on the shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: The Sun Also Rises part 2
Review: Both Stephen King and Peter Straub have ventured into the realm of "literary horror;" King in Bag of Bones, and now his fictional counterpart, Straub, with Mr. X.This book is reminiscent of Straub in many ways-- vague, shadowy plot, complex scenarios, too many characters. This yarn was working well for me up until about 200 pages. Thereafter, the book bogged itself down in Ernest Hemingway-esque absurdity. The antagonist of the tale, ie. Mr. X, Edward Rinehart, Mr. Sawyer, seemingly take a back seat to the preceedings in lieu of Straub's investigation into high class life and unsolved murders. This book is not his best by any means. Too many ancillery characters that function as weeds in Straub's horror garden--sucking the suspense of the story. Straub's best is Shadowland. Ghost Story had its moments, too.
Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Come Back
Review: I began reading Peter Straub books with the book "Ghost Story". I read it because my mother told me it was ultimately frightening, and I found that she was correct. It was intricate, and the plot was well done, but most, the characters were well developed and pleasing. After I finished that one, I began to read his books one after the other, and what I found was that his "Under Venus" through "Shadowland" age was his shining moments. Each one of the books in that period was almost as pleasing as "Ghost Story". However, the few books following that, "Koko", and "Mystery" for example, lost what makes Straub so intriguing: his excellent writing style. These books were enjoyable, though not as pleasing to the senses. Lately, with "The Throat" and most of all by far, "The Hellfire Club", Peter Straub lost everything going for him, and sank to the levels of Dean Koontz, with overly described gore and rape, etc. However, "Mr. X" finally puts an end to that. The book, I found, stands up right beside his earlier books, "Ghost Story" and "If You Could See Me Now" being his best. The character is well thought, likeable, human. The plot is simple and pieced together orderly, one of the things he lost in later books. The writing style is so fluent and beautiful that I finally enjoy one of his books. This book is for those of you who prefer the adult, mature, thought-provoking Straub, and is a good starting place for any curious, new Straub readers. This book is not for those of you who are looking for simple, "book candy", not requiring much thought or vocabulary. This book is for those of you looking to read difficult, well-written fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: An extremely complex tale of myth and murder...
Review: This is not an easy book to read. It took me three tries and some months to get past the first 50 pages. But once I did, I was hooked. Straub has taken a mass of threads, all seemingly unrelated, thrown them in a pile in the beginning, and then spent the next 400-odd pages sorting them out and then weaving them into a complex tale of murder, mythology, horror, literary reference, and more. I won't bother to do a synopsis, read the publisher's review above for that. Yes, I agree that there are a lot of names to keep track of. Yes, it can be very confusing. This is not a potboiler, a beach book, a book to skim through while you watch tv or listen to the radio. This book requires concentration and thought. But it rewards such reading with a fabulous tale of the macabe and mysterious. There are things left unresolved. I was somewhat dismayed at parts of the ending, as there were issues that were dealt with differently than I would ahve expected. But I loved the various references to Lovecraft, and other mythological beings. All in all I was pleased that I bought this book, and will consider re-reading it down the road (when I'm sure I'll discover even more I missed the first time.)
Rating:
Summary: Mr. X is NOT a disappointment!
Review: Peter Straub has always been a complex author. He likes to spill out all the pieces of the puzzle in the beginning and sort them out as the story goes on. It seems to frustrate some readers. I will admit that there were several times that I was confused but i saw it as a challenge. I think too many books spoon-feed readers these days. When an author is vague and allows you to make up your own mind, then the book is deemed poor. Mr. X is NOT a bad book. The characters are interesting and Mr. Straub has an interesting style. There are so many unsaid, implied and wonderful things in this book! I highly recommend this novel! I will recommend Floating Dragon or Ghost Story first but this book does not belong with the disappointments of Hannibal and other recent ilk.
Rating:
Summary: WARNING ! WARNING ! Mr. X - SUX
Review: Not even worth one star. Ignore any reviews that praise this, they have been put there by the publisher or friends of Straub. This is the first book in my life I could not finish. I still shiver at the thougt of going back to it so I was forced to make kindling of it. Absolutely the worst book I have ever read. And I read a lot ! I have read other Peter Straub books and I can't imagine that this is the same writer.
Rating:
Summary: First and Last Reading of Peter Straub
Review: Straub wants us to care about the the present-day Dunsten clan, suffering with the "curse" delivered upon them by the misdeeds of its forefathers. But Straub's publication of this drivel only shows how little he cares about his readers. Ned Dunsten lives in a dark, hazy world, which is where Straub leads and LEAVES us- dazed and confused. For example, what exactly was the Dunsten curse (were they witches, demons or merely subjected to supernatural powers on a whim?) and why exactly was it visited on this family? Ned Dunsten was much like a pinball, bouncing off the circumstances he encounters, although he is being unknowingly "guided" by the powers behind the curse. I feel battered and bruised myself from being bounced around and beaten with the knots in Straub's many loose ends. The fog of my confusion never cleared, even at the end. Frankly, I was just glad to reach it, only to have my relief ruined by the "monster baby", which left me further shaken and disturbed.
Rating: 
Summary: A STRUGGLE TO READ - MR. X
Review: Although the section about the fathers boarding school did keep me attentive, the rest of the book dragged horribly. I expected so much better and kept forcing myself to pick it up and read on. The initial concept is excellent, however, bringing it to fruition seems to have been out of reach for Mr. Straub.
Rating:
Summary: X-pletive Horrible!
Review: This book truly is scary. Frighteningly dull characters and horrifyingly bland dialogue had me cowering under the covers. The author's juvenile pretensions are painfully evident in silly character names and quasi-elitist references. This isn't a problem if your name's Pynchon, but Straub? Sorry Peter, better luck next time. I hate not finishing books, but after this ordeal I must reconsider. The only thing that kept me going was the prospect of tearing the thing in half when I was done. I implore fellow readers to do the same for the greater good of the country. One star is one too many for this fetid mess, put it in the trash before it attracts flies.
Rating:
Summary: Ouch!
Review: Hardcore Straub fans should avoid this hackneyed drivel like the plague, lest they end up holding a grudge. Transparent plot and characters are balanced out by painfully insipid dialogue. The only reason I bothered finishing this bomb was because by the time I realized things weren't going to get any better I had invested too much time to quit. Get out while you can! (and check out KOKO or Mystery instead, or even again, if you must).
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