Ghost Light

Rating:
Summary: Creepy and entertaining!
Review: Contrary to the previous review, I found this book to be very creepy and entertaining. I enjoyed the suspense, and was sorry when the story was done! I recommend this book for anyone who loves good horror fiction!

Rating:
Summary: Creepy villain
Review: I'll take the middle ground in the reviews here so far. I like Hautala's writing, and I happen to think he is quite talented. I also liked GHOST LIGHT although I did not find it to be incredible. I had some problems with various aspects of the novel, but overall I thought it was a good little thriller.
Anyone looking at Debbie and Alex Harris would think they had the perfect life together: beautiful home, 2 incredible children, lasting marriage. But Cindy Toland, Debbie's sister, knows differently, and after Vicki dies in what is dubbed as a freak accident, she knows she has to do something to protect Billy and Krissy, her niece and nephew. She knows the horrors Debbie faced with Alex, and she sets off cross-country with the children to try to escape her maniacal brother-in-law. What does Alex do? He dives into escalating psychopathology and will stop at nothing to punish Cindy for taking what is his. Forever looking over her shoulder, Cindy tries to make a new life for the kids. What she can't escape is Krissy's insistence that a mysterious "blue lady" appears to her each night. A confrontation is inevitable, but Hautala makes sure to build the suspense along the way.
I liked the character of Alex. He is insane, he is creepy, he is the absolute worst that humanity has to offer. He adds an edge to this story and had me cheering on the good guys. Yes, the storyline is rather formulaic horror, but it works. It's that simple! I was pulled into the suspense and had to keep reading to find out how everthing comes together at the end. I recommend this book; it's certainly worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: I'd give it no stars if I could
Review: One of the worst books I've ever read. Suspenseless, leaden, with cliches leaping out of every paragraph. Out of print and deservedly so. I've read numerous Hautala books...enough of them to say unequivocally that the man is a really poor writer with no sense of plotting, characterization, and pace.

Rating:
Summary: They really should allow zero star reviews...
Review: This is, without a doubt, the worst book I've ever read. So bad that I just couldn't bring myself to finish it-- and I wholeheartedly believe in finishing any book I start. The plot was utterly ridiculous and the dialogued so cliched that I find it hard to believe that this book was written by an adult. I'd like to think that others that have given this book a favorable review are youngsters that still have time to develop a more discriminating taste in literature. But I won't hold my breath.

If suspence or horror is what you're looking for, run away from this book. On the other hand, if you want to read something aloud to your friends for a great, good laugh-- this is the ticket!