The Trickster

Rating:
Summary: A huge build-up.....
Review: A terrific novel with a disappointing ending. 420 pages to lay the groundwork to an anti-climatic ending. There is so much redeeming writing here, that I hate to dissuade anyone from reading this tale. This is my first read of work by Muriel Gray. I paln on reading more of Ms. Gray's work, but am not 100% sold yet!

Rating:
Summary: Great Story...Poor Research
Review: First let me point out what I disliked about the book. I am from Alberta where the story takes place and the author has done a good deal of research on our province but there are a couple of glaring errors that ripped me out of the story. The first one being when Sam was a child and his father put the heated "loonie" 1-dollar coin in to his hands. The loonie has only been around since 1987, and judging by the books timeline this event took place in the late 70¡¯s or very early 80's. Another error that jumped out at me was when the author referred to Canadian "provinces" as "states". I'm sure not to many Canadians were pleased with this one. Otherwise I found this to be a very entertaining read.

Rating:
Summary: Horror in the Canadian Rockies
Review: I don't often read horror novels, but I was attracted to this by the fact it's written by Muriel Gray, a well-known Scottish TV presenter. I was surprised at first, because to my mind it read very much like a Stephen King novel (but clearly not all the reviewers here agree with that - judge for yourself). After getting over that I found it a very enjoyable read, at times terrifying! I've visited the area the novel is set and it was quite evocative of place and atmosphere. I thought her characterisation of Sam Hunt was quite believable, although I'd like to know what aboriginal Canadians would think of it. As others have noted, the book has some of the errors of a first time novelist, but this only increases my anticipation of her next novel.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read with Some Beginner's Flaws
Review: I read "Furnace" first and back-tracked to "The Trickster."

I have no major complaints at all. This is a very diverting and well-written supernatural thriller. In comparison to "Furnace," I noted two things -- the characterization is weaker. Gray obviously means for us to like the characters in Trickster, but she doesn't pull it off quite as well. Also, while "Furnace" was notable for a near-zero rate of Scots/American English translation errors, "The Trickster" is full of them. For some reason, the Indians speak like budding rap stars. And a very proper young mother greets her son with the salutation "How's it hanging?"

Rating:
Summary: Trickster
Review: I really enjoyed this book, it held my attention and suspense right to the end....It tied things together very well. Didnt leave you wondering or not understanding. A good job of explaning the cultural back ground without too much dead wood or boring me. My husband started reading it becasue I was telling him what I was reading..and we started fighting over whos turn it was to read....Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Rating:
Summary: Well constructed horror tale with a few flaws
Review: If you like horror stories, you'll like this book. It has enough hideous murders to make Stephen King cringe, and the story pays meticulous attention to the characters and their lives, in a picture perfect Canadian ski town. I particularly liked the story mechanism which took the reader back to earlier in the century, when railroad workers unwittingly unleash the being that is the trickster.

However, there are a few flaws in the story, and they are quite serious ones. First and foremost is the author's continuing message of childhood sexual abuse amongst native Canadian families. If this is an important part of the plot, then so be it, but I think it is seriously overdone and takes away from some of the suspense, not to mention adding to the general distaste the reader may feel. Sometimes a little subtlety goes a long way.

Secondly, our hero/prime suspect's son suspects that there is sonething wrong with his father, and this is manifested throughout the novel as fear, until almost the end when he completely turns his thoughts around. Somehow any value that this plot device has had up to that time is lost at this point.

The ending is jumbled, but this appears to be standard fare with horror books that deal with the supernatural. Perhaps authors have difficulties articulating the end of a horror they have worked so hard to create.

But criticisms aside, this is an interesting read, and it kept me appropriately engrossed for a few days. The author is a talented writer, and I look forward to anything else she may write.

Rating:
Summary: Deeper Meaning
Review: Put aside the title, the gore, and feel for the depth and truth.

If you look past your own blindness, you'll see it written there. I did. And came away refreshed, renewed, and perhaps a little more in tune because of the recurring lesson... It's not hidden, but there in black and white, written over and over again. You just need to open your own eyes to see it, feel it, and know it... That awareness that you've just stumbled on something you have known all your life, yet had somehow forgotten or let lay too long. It's worth it.. to know it again.

** A great book for the reader who comprehends the space between the lines **

Rating:
Summary: When Animals Talk THEN Attack!
Review: So hunky that even men have fallen in love with him, Native Canadian Sam Hunting Wolf is in denial about his Indian heritage. Nevertheless, he is a powerful shaman whose spirit and energy is being used by a malevolent force known as "The Trickster" to slaughter his way through the small ski town of Silver. Sam's got to get in touch with his roots fast, before he's the only one left to ski those slopes.

Muriel Gray is a wonderful addition to the horror genre. I also enjoyed her "Furnace." But here she's written a fast paced, engaging story with characters you really care about. The origin and reason for the Trickster's resurfacing is a bit muddled, but otherwise this was a fun book.

As to the above title, the Trickster possesses animals in order to do his stalking, which makes for some really spooky scenes. When kitty starts using some very bad language it's time to leave the house!

Rating:
Summary: When Animals Talk THEN Attack!
Review: So hunky that even men have fallen in love with him, Native Canadian Sam Hunting Wolf is in denial about his Indian heritage. Nevertheless, he is a powerful shaman whose spirit and energy is being used by a malevolent force known as "The Trickster" to slaughter his way through the small ski town of Silver. Sam's got to get in touch with his roots fast, before he's the only one left to ski those slopes.

Muriel Gray is a wonderful addition to the horror genre. I also enjoyed her "Furnace." But here she's written a fast paced, engaging story with characters you really care about. The origin and reason for the Trickster's resurfacing is a bit muddled, but otherwise this was a fun book.

As to the above title, the Trickster possesses animals in order to do his stalking, which makes for some really spooky scenes. When kitty starts using some very bad language it's time to leave the house!