Rating: 
Summary: UTTERLY, UTTERLY ADDICTIVE
Review: Straubs' latest book leapfogs over any other book published by his dear friend, the increadibly over rated Stephen King. Dick Dart, is a most orginal character in a twisted, sick, psychopathic way.
Great twists, even better character possesing evil sins and shadowy pasts.
"This world is populated by ingrates, morons, assholes and those beneath them." So true.
Straubs' finest to date. Brav
Rating:
Summary: Straub always rocks
Review: Thank God other readers say good stuff about Koko - a truly amazing piece of fiction that haunts the memory like an experience - but some of the reviews here of The Hellfire Club seem to be missing the point. I can understand that people do not like graphic descriptions of rape and violence (though why they would then read a book entitled The Hellfire Club is beyond me) but to underate the book so badly as a result is a little unfair! This is a fantastic book - it is all plot and it never slows down - it just gets a little confusing at times, which is a good thing. Dick Dart is a fantastic creation - compellingly repulsive, smart and lethal and the most interesting plot device I have seen for a long time. What a great way to keep a story moving! It may not be the best of Straub's novels (and I have read most of them) but it ranks pretty highly. Not horror, but an utterly enjoyable, wonderful thriller with a lovely complicated mystery at the core. Very good stuff.
Rating: 
Summary: Wasn't as scary as advertised
Review: The advertising I read for this book said it was the scariest book you've ever read. It wasn't scary at all. In fact, it was more of a mystery than it was a horror novel. I was very disappointed. stephen King has nothing to worry about
Rating: 
Summary: poor plot -hard to follow-a long read
Review: the plot of a "book novel" within this book was confusing. the story line rambled on and on with no real suspense or twists. the only really interesting character was dick dart. it seems like a better book would have been built around this character. outside of dick dart, the book dragged on. it was an effort to read and i would not recommend. this is my second bad straub book. if youre looking for a steven king or dean koontz type author, forget peter straub.
Rating:
Summary: His best since... the last one
Review: There are a few things that appear to be rock solid in this world. Gravity, time, and that Peter Straub never disappoints. The Hellfire club is another in a long line of books that justifies the latter. Peter Straub uses a technique in this book, which is sometimes known as a story-within-a-story, to complement and to enrich the story. While it is a difficult technique to pull off, Peter does this seamlessly and effectively. The book is heavily layered, and can be read and understood in a variety of ways, in which the description 'a modern day crime story' is not the least of them. I could not find a single flat character in this story nor could I find a single hole in the plot. Midways, there appeared to be so many loose threads you'd never believe they all would be resolved, but Peter delivers! The book's main antagonist is the most vicious, yet almost unbelievably charming murderer I have ever known of -- and Nora Chancel is the single most complete heroine this genr! e has ever produced. In short, it's fair to say that The Hellfire Club is the most enjoyable and thought-provoking crime story I've read in years.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: This book needed serious editing. Tedious details and repetition made for slow going through most of the story. The ending wrapped up the mystery in a tidy fashion, but didn't seem worth the trouble of wading through the whole story. I enjoyed reading Shadowland, Koko, and Ghost Story. I was expecting more from this book and I was disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Good or Bad?
Review: This is my third Straub book, the first was Shadowland. I must say that this one is written better technically but I enjoyed the plot of Shadowland much better because it was so unique. The Hellfire Club, however, had classic Steven King elements along with the classic Straub flare. A King fan could see the vilian Dart coming a mile away. As regards the style of the book, Straub is one of the most confusing writers that I have ever read (barring Hawthorne of course) because there are times when you just don't understand why he says what he says or what he means. However, the book did have its flashes of genius. The plot was varied and unexpected which was refreshing. The weaving in of the book Night Journey into the plot was inventive. But Straub dashes his genius with an over-the-top writing style that can get a little tedious to get through. While he seems to be getting better as an author he needs a good editor to tell him how to clean a novel up.
Rating:
Summary: This is the kind of book I've been searching for
Review: This is one intense, disturbing book. I thought it had taken a wrong turn about 100+ pages in, but I should have trusted Straub to keep me intrigued and surprised.Well-written, intelligent, with a poweful climax, this is a terrific book. You should read it.
Rating:
Summary: exelent
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read. I have established a habit of reading it once a year (since 1997), and every year I look forward to get started. The writing is superb. The story is exelent and the mixing of the subplots are done with admireable skills. All major characters feel so alive and the interaction between them are truly believable. You will never forget Mr. Dart, funny and evil at the same time. Or the brave Nora for that mather. Mr Straub, You have created a masterpiece!
Rating:
Summary: exelent
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read. I have established a habit of reading it once a year (since 1997), and every year I look forward to get started. The writing is superb. The story is exelent and the mixing of the subplots are done with admireable skills. All major characters feel so alive and the interaction between them are truly believable. You will never forget Mr. Dart, funny and evil at the same time. Or the brave Nora for that mather. Mr Straub, You have created a masterpiece!
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