Bring Me Children [Paperback]

David Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 9, 1992

A novel featuring a physician whose mission to heal has been hideously perverted.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Prominent TV anchorman John Lyon breaks down on camera after discussing the escalating rate of violence against children. Later, an African American woman exhorts Lyon to seek out Mason Quindell, a West Virginia doctor and "monster"; then the woman throws herself in front of an oncoming taxi. So begins a convoluted tale of malevolence by the author of Lie to Me --a story that frequently threatens to bog down in its own excesses. Traveling to West Virginia, Lyon encounters the dead woman's granddaughter, who aids him in uncovering the sinister goings-on chez Quindell. Encountering voodoo, barbaric guard dogs and a dwarf with a severely limited vocabulary, readers may feel that Martin has tossed a few too many bizarre ingredients into his grisly goulash. Moreover, Lyon's sexual escapades seem gratuitous, especially in their violence, and the author's attempts at humanizing his protagonist merely decelerate the plot. And though Quindell fascinates as he repels, he bears a striking resemblance to Thomas Harris's archfiend, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Aficionados of this genre, however, may forgive all upon reaching the finale--a Grand Guignol affair which introduces Mr. Gigli, a wiry, particularly sinister torturer extraordinaire. 50,000 first printing; BOMC featured alternate.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Following in the bloody footsteps of his last thriller, Lie to Me ( LJ 6/1/90), Martin has again created a grisly work that is definitely not for the faint of heart. Network newscaster John Lyon sets out to expose the criminal doings of West Virginia doctor Mason Quinndell, who has been accused of murdering 18 babies. During his quest, Lyon encounters voodoo, a hermit dwarf with man-eating dogs, a comatose woman in a coffin, and the sadistic doctor, who has recently been blinded. With the help of an ex-prostitute and a grossly obese, corrupt deputy, the sightless doctor (who gets his jollies from slowly dismembering vagrants with a spoon--yes, a spoon--and other torture devices) tries to stop Lyon's investigation. Luridly fascinating and bargain-priced, this will provide a cheap thrill for Martin's fans. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/92.
- Rebecca House Stankowski, Purdue Univ. Calumet Lib., Hammond, Ind.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Headline Book Publishing (April 9, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747279306
• ISBN-13: 978-0747279303
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,256,600 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only 100 Pages through, but OH MY GOD!!!!!, May 14, 2002

By 

Scott Heath (Auckland Nouvelle Zélande) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bring Me Children (Hardcover)

Well, as the title suggests, I am only just under 100 pages through this book, and I am utterly awe-struck by the whole affair.
This books out-grosses anything that any other horror author I have ever read has(and probably ever WILL) write.

Nothing compares to the sheer sickness of this book, it contains everything you could ask for - gore,sex,incest, horror, etc.

Read it now!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointment, November 3, 2002

By 

T.F.H. "ozlifter" (McAlester, OK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bring Me Children (Paperback)

I bought this book after reading the reviews here. I was greatly disappointed.
It just wasn't scary. Sure, it had a lot of "twisted" characters, but none were too well imagined. A blind doctor who wants to gouge out people's eyes with a spoon, a black woman who practices voodoo, a fat cop who's kind of dumb. Nothing that original.
The gore was kept to a minimum, although one scene at towards the end attempted to make up for the relatively bloodless book. It didn't work. There were a couple of gratuitous sex scenes though. Probably the most descriptive sex scenes I've ever read in a book. I just found them exploitative and pointless.
David Martin doesn't have a true writer's flair either. His words often fall flat. There is no beauty or style to his prose.
Avoid this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart-Thumping Horror!, December 28, 2001

By 

"glennmiller3" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bring Me Children (Paperback)

This novel features: a blind doctor who is completely mad and sadistic; a washed-up reporter in turmoil; an exotically beautiful girl. There are depraved games of torture, and perverse eroticism.

I was reading this book late one night when, just as I got into a scene with the mad doctor mutilating one of his victims, I was startled by a loud noise on the roof. I actually jumped, and my heart thumped. It was a possum running around up there. Even though I knew what it was I had trouble shaking the fear. This is the first book which has affected me so powerfully.

I loved that sensation, and kept on reading right through the night until I had finished the book. David Martin is a master of suspense!