Customer Reviews

Cry for the Strangers

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It starts off with a young boy who witnesses his grandparents being murdered and though the boy runs away, he never forgets... Harney Whalen is the police cheif of the small town of Clarks Harbor. He loves his village, but has a strong hate for strangers... The Shellings have been in Clarks Harbor for 15 years. Then one day Pete, who is a fisherman, goes off on his boat, Sea Spray, and never returns... The Palmers are the new people in Clarks Harbor. They too, like the Shellings, are strangers. But their 9 year old son, Robbie, afflicted since birth with hyperkenisis, has been mysteriously cured since they moved to Clarks Harbor, they stay even though they feel the icy chill emanating from the town. Their daughter has terrifying visions about the beach where they live... Is Robbie cured? Or is something else happening?

This is a pretty damned good book. It has suspense, supernatural twists, and plots all over the place. But the ending leaves peoples imagination working overtime. It gives you the ending, but you keep wondering. In any case, I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Clark's Harbor is a small fishing village in Washington State. The Palmer family moves there, believing the rural/fishing tranquility is just the answer for them. Their older child, 9-year-old Rob suffers from some hyperkinetic disorder and has never known a calm moment. Restless and full of angry activity, Rob has never been able to concentrate on any activity. His younger sister Missy, 7 is his opposite number. Bright, verbal and very calm, she provides the stability Rob lacks.

Once at Clark's Harbor, Rob is able to play calmly and interact normally with peers for the first time. Rebecca and Glen Palmer naturally want to promote this, so they move to the fishing community. Once there, the town's shadowy history emerges from the sea and the sand; the forces that have unleashed fearsome powers appear to have had the opposite effect on Rob. The questions are what agents, if any cause these changes? Are these natural phenomena or something supernatural? And what frees Rob from his inner turmoil once in Clark's Harbor? What does the town's history have to do with Rob?

This is a very compelling work that will pull readers into a vortex of swirling emotions and questions.

This John Saul novel takes place in Clark's Harbor, a picturesque town on the East Coast. It's about a family with a young boy who before they moved to Clark's Harbor had severe emotional problems and is now calm and good. The boy's psychiatrist and his wife decide to move there also, as newcomers both families are subjected to ridicule and false accusations. To make matters worse the boy becomes obsessed with the sea and the real terror begins

As always, John Saul transports you to a different place in a different time. His description of places and events is so real that you can actually feel yourself there. I love all his books.

After experiencing the terrifying Comes the Blind Fury I decided to try another John Saul novel. I chose Cry For The Strangers and I am certainly glad I read it early because it is one creepy, scary, and enjoyable book. After reading many reviews of John Saul's books I still cannot understand why so many people give him a bad rap. I have read several since this one and I can sum it up simply that I read John Saul because it is fun to do so. I love being scared and John Saul does it each and every time. Cry For The Strangers is unsettling horror which creeps up on you as you read. You can feel a chill slowly walking its way up your spine. I felt true concern for the main characters and a real sense of dread for what was outside haunting the beach in this novel. I actually saw the movie shortly after reading this book and enjoyed it as well. This is a great break from reality and a fun scare for anyone. Give yourself a good dose of the chills and read Cry For The Strangers.

Great service. The item was in great condition just as described.
I've really enjoyed reading this book!

Was this a movie made in 1982? I seen it 20 years ago, but only remember the opening part of the movie. Had know idea it was a book.

John Saul, You just keep getting better. What a mind! I was hooked from the moment I discovered you. I know of no other author who can create stories involving children and take them to such a degree of drama. Keeps you reading all night.

John Saul is a master of horror story telling. His stories cause shivers up and down your spine, butterflies in the stomach, and the uncontrollable urge to keep reading. I am deliberately keeping these reviews vague so as to not spoil anything.

Cry for the Strangers was, in my opinion, one of the creepiest stories I've read so far this year. Brad and Elaine Randall are looking for a place to stay for a year so Brad can write a book. When they come into Clark's Harbor, they think they've found the perfect place. It is a lovely little town with several beautiful little beaches ... and strangers are NOT welcome here. From the moment they decide they want to live there, strange things start happening. A fisherman falls overboard and drowns - tangled in his own net. Elaine discovers the corpse of a dog on the beach, with its neck broken. The fisherman's wife commits suicide. And one of Brad's former patients (he is a psychiatrist) is here - a young boy who suffered from terrible hyperactivity - and is apparently completely cured.

As things get uglier and uglier for the Randalls (and the Palmers, whose child I just mentioned), they are repeatedly told that it is because they are strangers and they don't belong here. Can they discover the secret to save their lives in time?

Saul writes true horror, so don't expect any happy endings here. But DO expect to be thrilled and chilled. Don't miss this great story.

I enjoyed the book it was a good story but it is a little odd that these people don't move with all the murders and the killer we know who it is it just takes a while for the story to unfold you just want to scream at the Randals for not packing up and going home but the story is good and different but could of been better.