In This Skin

Rating:
Summary: I'm REALLY tired of poor writing
Review: Clark's first four books were really good. Then on his fifth he faltered. His last book Stranger was a stumble. In This Skin is just plain bad writing and I am SO DAMN TIRED of authors who make the characters in their books do things that NO ONE would do. Like being chased by some creature right out of your worst nightmare that obviously wants to attack you, then when you see your boyfriend right after that you don't mention it???? She just went on like it was just a normal day, and she stays living in that derelict building (no electricity/lights), with only flashlights to see by (no windows, it's an old dance/concert hall), that is in the middle of an abandoned industrial area of town? A building where she had seen this creature before!!!???
Right there I stopped reading. It absolutely turns me cold to a book when a writer does that to his readers. What does Clark think, we're stupid and don't care what he makes the characters do, or NOT do? We do care (maybe I am projecting intelligence to too many readers??) and I am REALLY tired of writers who don't care enough about their craft or their readers to maintain integrity in their writings. So now, from here on out I will be VERY wary about buying another of his books.

On the cover there is a quote from Bentley Little where he states that "Simon Clark has what it takes to be another Stephen King"...HA!!!!....obviously Mr. Little has NEVER read any Stephen King, because NO ONE has the ability to tell a story like King. The quality and style of King's writing is beyond the ability of ANY other author, even Dean Koontz, as great an author as he is. Clark can't even be the writer he used to be!!!!

If you don't mind the characters acting in an absolutely unrealistic manner then by all means waste your money, but my suggestion is to read a book by an author who cares about crafting a story that makes the reader care about the characters, not one who makes you want to avoid them.

Rating:
Summary: I AGREE--BAD WRITING
Review: I was drawn in to reading Simon Clark's "In This Skin" by Bentley Little's cover blurb comparing him to Stephen King. I'm one of those readers who can't abandon a book once I begin it, but after finishing this book I did something I NEVER do: I threw it right in the motel garbage can.

Clark seems to have latched onto the idea of repetition of previous events in such a way as to remind those of us who may have drowsed off during earlier reading (quite possible)--latched on ad nauseum. We get it, Simon, I kept finding myself muttering as I trudged through this sludgy novel.

Also distracting was the apparent fact that Clark, as a British writer, wrote this novel in clearly British idiom, and, through the help of some weak editing, attempted to pepper the Americanized version with the occasional "Chicago" or "Steak and Shake" and think that made this novel accessible to American readers.

I did enjoy the character of the gun-wielding bully (I don't recall his name since I threw away the book). He was an interesting plot device, a fly in the ointment that brought about a rather predictable closure for the novel.

I agree with another review herein that Simon Clark's "In This Skin" is poor writing marketed as the second coming of Stephen King. As a writer myself, it pains me to offer a negative review, but I couldn't help but shake my head in frustration as I turned each page of this plodding book.

Rating:
Summary: Another Brilliant Clark Horror Story,
Review: In this skin is a good book. However it is not Clarks best work. I have been reading Simon Clarks novels for years and I have to say if you have never read a Simon Clark novel dont start here. Please read "Blood Crazy, King Blood or vampiric.

I dont agree with the comment that its bad writing. It doesn't lack a story, also if you had read any other books by Simon you would know that he likes to tell the same story from many different characters point of view.

I gave this book 3 stars which is still good and I will always place Simon Clark over Stephen King everytime

Buy this book its only a few $$, you cant even go to cinema for that.

Rating:
Summary: Another Winner From Clark
Review: Simon Clark is a wonderful writer from the other side of the pond, and much of his fiction deals with the end of the world. What's not to like? This is a tight, well written book, but I don't want to go into the plot too much for fear of giving away some of the fun. Anything by Clark is better than 99% of the dreck they call horror these days!

Rating:
Summary: Like reading a nightmare
Review: Simon Clark's new book, In This Skin, reads like someones nightmare. From the very first chapter, the story starts off dreamlike, with an unsettling feeling in both the character and reader's mind. Clark carefully and slowly builds the mystery between the characters, raising the stakes as the terror begins to mount. This Clark's most mature book to date - and possibly his best, focusing on what we don't know instead of shoving mindless, predictable graphic violence at the reader (although I do love a good gory scene, now and again). This has a solid beginning, middle, and end - with all the stuffings that a good horror novel should contain - believable characters in an original story that threatens their lives. In addition, Clark's mythology of the lurking dangers are fascinating and hint to flavors in his other novel, Darker (another fine read). Stranger and Darkness Demands are also recommended by Clark.

Rating:
Summary: Deceptive
Review: The synopsis on the back of In This Skin doesn't do it justice. The writing is as tight as the plot, and Clark brings several far different characters together in a tale of intertwining problems with a resolution that surprised and fulfilled.

A teenaged couple, a young man crippled with a terrible stutter, and a man losing himself in a search for a vanished love all converge on a closed down dancehall - the Luxor. Horror and destiny await within.

Rating:
Summary: My first Simon Clark novel... Won't be my last....
Review: WOW!!! IN THIS SKIN is the first of Simon Clark's novels that I have read (I know I know its his most recent but I am now ordering all his older novels) Really well written, filled with likable protaganists and nasty antagonists, creatures that are original and creepy. Clark makes you care about his characters and as the story unfolds you find yourself hoping that evrything will turn out ok... Clark keeps the story moving along and wallops you with a few surprises along the way. A really enjoyable, fun and creepy read. I will never look at a Crow the same way again ;) Try it... you'll like it!!!

Rating:
Summary: My first Simon Clark novel... Won't be my last....
Review: WOW!!! IN THIS SKIN is the first of Simon Clark's novels that I have read (I know I know its his most recent but I am now ordering all his older novels) Really well written, filled with likable protaganists and nasty antagonists, creatures that are original and creepy. Clark makes you care about his characters and as the story unfolds you find yourself hoping that evrything will turn out ok... Clark keeps the story moving along and wallops you with a few surprises along the way. A really enjoyable, fun and creepy read. I will never look at a Crow the same way again ;) Try it... you'll like it!!!