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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Do Not Ignore This Letter... Or You Will Suffer...", May 27, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Chain Letter (Avon Flare Book) (Paperback)
"Chain Letter" is somewhat similar to Lois Duncan's "I Know What You Did Last Summer," involving a hit and run, and Pike's two books: "Last Act" (relating to a high school play) and "Weekend" (similar group ending). Prior to receiving a threatening chain letter, all seven friends (Alison Parker, Fran Darey, Brenda Paxson, Kipp Coughlan, Tony Hunt, Neil Hurly, and Joan Zuchlensky) were involved in a hit and run. They buried the body of the anonymous man in the California desert, and a short time later, they began receiving instructions from someone ("the Caretaker") who knows about their past. And if they don't follow these orders--like desecrating the school mascot, purposely flunking a test, publicly embarrassing several teachers, streaking naked at school, and burning down the school--they could all end up dead. Christopher Pike is, without a doubt, one of my favorite YA writers. I've been reading and re-reading his books for about 15 years now. Though his books are geared for teenagers, they're intelligent and complex enough to satisfy most adult suspense readers as well (speaking as one). The pace in "Chain Letter" isn't quite as smooth as some of his others, though, but it's still a pretty good teen thriller. Worth reading if you're a Pike fan, in addition to the sequel: "Chain Letter 2: The Ancient Evil."
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chain Letter, March 25, 2000
This review is from: Chain Letter (Avon Flare Book) (Paperback)
This was one of Christopher Pike's best works to date. The struggle to save their lives while upholdind their dignities and morals is poignantly shown in this horror masterpiece that starts down the "I Know What You Did Last Summer" road, and manages not only to surpass that mediocre movie, but leave it in the dust. Pike's usually ever present supernatural twist is not involved in this book, but there is so much hinted mistery, you forget to miss it. Far less bloody than most of Christopher Pike's books, it is, nonetheless, chilling, scary, and NOT FOR PRETEENS. Other than that, read it, you won't regret it.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pike's best, very entertaining, February 23, 2005
This review is from: Chain Letter (Avon Flare Book) (Paperback)
Of the four Pike novels that I've read, Chain Letter is by far the best. Pike works within a strict formula that involves a whodunit, attractive young protagonists, and a thrilling sense of danger. In this particular outing, these elements are bolstered by a stronger-than-average set of characters, and above all the nifty idea that a chain letter is making demands that must be met.
This book could have served as the inspiration for "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and shares that movie's premise of a shared horrible secret that comes back to haunt the young beautiful friends who left a man for dead.
Pike has a knack for moving a story along in the manner of a conventional thriller novel, and this book is extra exciting because of the gimmick of overt threats and unspeakably horrible demands.
By playing on an Urban Legend, Pike has tapped into something that hits a little closer to home than most of his works.
If you're going to give Pike a try, this is the book to cut your teeth on.
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