Escape the Night [Mass Market Paperback]

Richard North Patterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 1986

"Intricate . . . Intelligent and menacing." The Boston Globe
By the bestselling author of "Degree of Guilt," an inescapable tale of suspense, scandal, and shock too terrifying to put aside as it draws you into its vortex of unforgettable characters and shattering events.
Peter Carey is the son of privilege -- and an heir to terror. Poised on the brink of power over a mighty family dynasty, he is also the victim of a recurring nightmare that suddenly becomes all too real. The twisted force that had claimed his parents many years before now stalks him too. But the key to his survival lies locked deep in Peter's own mind. And he must discover it before the final night closes in. . .

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Intricate . . . Intelligent and menacing." The Boston Globe
By the bestselling author of "Degree of Guilt," an inescapable tale of suspense, scandal, and shock too terrifying to put aside as it draws you into its vortex of unforgettable characters and shattering events.
Peter Carey is the son of privilege -- and an heir to terror. Poised on the brink of power over a mighty family dynasty, he is also the victim of a recurring nightmare that suddenly becomes all too real. The twisted force that had claimed his parents many years before now stalks him too. But the key to his survival lies locked deep in Peter's own mind. And he must discover it before the final night closes in. . .

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; later printing edition (June 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345334019
• ISBN-13: 978-0345334015
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

RICHARD NORTH PATTERSON is the author of The Spire, Eclipse and fourteen other bestselling and critically acclaimed novels. Formerly a trial lawyer, he was the SEC liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor and has served on the boards of several Washington advocacy groups. He lives in San Francisco and on Martha's Vineyard with his wife, Dr. Nancy Clair.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars One of the worst books I ever read!, July 7, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (New City,NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Escape the Night (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read many of Mr.Patterson's books and have really enjoyed them. However "Escape The Night" was absolutely unbearable. The story was unbelievable and the characters were confusing and completely unlikeable. I don't know what the author was thinking when he wrote this book. I just hope Peter Carey doesn't show up again. I'd take a book about Tony Lord or Chris Padgett any day over this book's wooden hero.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars UNUSUAL STYLISH THRILLER, February 16, 2003

By 

Michael Butts (Berkeley Springs, WV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Escape the Night (Mass Market Paperback)

This is my first Patterson book and overall I find it to be a very well-written, if complex, and stylish thriller. The novel opens in the early 1950's and we meet the Carey family, impossibly hard-hearted father John; brothers Charles and Phillip; the self-centered, somewhat demented Allie; and the charming little boy, Peter, who grows up to be the focal point of the novel. The first section has a lot of information in it, and though sometimes hard to digest or keep the many plot mechanizations in context, it sets a very sad and lethal plot for the remainder of the book.
Grown up Peter, having amnesia after the accident that claims his parents' lives, now must face the sale of his father's company and fend off some mysterious and deadly pursuers.
What makes this book work so well is Patterson's handling of the psyche of Peter, and the difficult time he has trusting people. Several key characters are introduced including his girlfriend, Noelle; the crazed killer Martin; two psychiatrists, one a longtime friend of his father; and Ruth Levy, the mistress of his deceased father and also the sister of his psychiatrist.
The plot thickens, secrets are hidden and revealed, and the novel ends in a blazing finish that is more than satisfactory.
Not by any means a brilliant classic, "Escape the Night" is a well-written study in suspense and terror.
RECOMMENDED.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This must have been written on a bad Tuesday., February 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Escape the Night (Mass Market Paperback)

Not one of RNP's best works. Really slow and tedious. Peter Carey never became a real person to me. Story just plodded along. If Peter had edited this book himself, he would have left about 50 usable pages. Leave Peter Carey alone and give me more Tony Lord or Chris Padgett.