Customer Reviews

Faces of Fear: A Novel

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

 

 

This was the first time I had read anything by John Saul and, given my immense disappointment in the last 45 pages, it may very well be the last. The first 348 pages were intense and I enjoyed them as much if not more than my favorite work by Dean Koontz.

But everything changed in those last 45 pages - everything was wrong. It was as if the author was tired of the story he had created and didn't know how to end it so he handed it off to someone else. I would actually feel better if this were the case because I would be more apt to invest my time in another of his works if I thought it would be as enjoyable as those first 348 pages.

So if I shuffle the chapters around in my head and let the novel end earlier, without the deluge of waste material that makes up those last 45 pages, then this was a five star experience. If I accept the novel as it stands, I simply don't know how to rate it.

One last thing which was rather disturbing: the description on the backside of the paperback copy I read was wide off the mark. It's as if the covers were printed before the ending was written and (a) either no one bothered to notice the huge discrepancies, or (b) nobody knew how to incorporate these highlights into the story.

A terrific storyline, with potential for greatness, robbed of it's glory. I feel let down by the publisher, the editors and the author.

I've never read John Saul but decided to try one on friends' recommendations. Big disappointment ! I hope this isn't representative of his work. Very predictable, weak premise, cliche characters. The ending is outright absurd.

Classic John Saul. Good story and good ending. If you like Saul, you will enjoy it!

The novel is a fast paced suspense thriller in the world of plastic surgery. Mr. Saul puts a few twists into this world. The story is, however, very predictable. Now, the ending. It's mediocre & ridiculous at best. It just does not do the book justice.
A 16 year old girl is the object of affection from a very twisted mind. Two main characters enter like Batman & Robin to save all that is good. No cops needed here. It's all done and the world is made a safer place before the cops even arrive.