Customer Reviews

Master of Murder

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although it was published five years ago, I still bought the book and didn't regret one penny of it.

The master of teen thrillers, who beats R.L. Stine's books by a mile, wrote Master of Murder almost as perfectly and flawlessly as his previous books, which were also very good and attention-grabbing. Christopher Pike has the power to paralize you with his writing in such a way that you can't close any book he's written until it's finished. This was the best one yet.

Master of Murder was about a seventeen-year-old boy named Marvin, who was actually a famous author who had millions of fans and millions of dollars, but wrote under a pen name so nobody knew who he was.

He wanted to remain unknown, for two reasons. One, the last book of his famous series, The Mystery At Silver Spring, was overdue, and he was worried his fame would soon end. Second, he knew that his father could-- and would --take away all his money if he knew how notorious and rich Marvin was.

But then one night Marvin gets a fan letter that says, "I know who you are." At first he isn't that worried, but then more letters begin to come, and soon Marvin is caught in a mystery more complicated and terrifying then his own books.

I advise any other teens who are interested in young adult thrillers to read Master of Murder, and any who aren't, who could learn to love them from this book.

This is one of my all time favorite Christopher Pike books. Actually it's one of my all time favorite books period. The story is delightful and the characters are wonderfully real. I've read this book many times over and it never gets boring or old. I definately reccommend this book to anyone wanting a good book to read. Also in both of Pike's Tales of Terrors we hear more of Marvin and his life.

As a huge fan of Christopher Pike, I loved this book. I read it for the first time years ago, and have since gotten my own copy and love it even more.
Tip - if at first a Pike book seems confusing, then read it again later. I began reading Christopher Pike in late primary school, and then in high school. While I thought they were entertaining, when I read them again now (at 20) I enjoy them so much more, and on so many more levels.

This book is one of Pike's straight horror/criminal type reads - there are no spiritual or esoteric themes that the later books have.
A great book to introduce yourself to Pike, if you haven't already. Once you start reading, it is very hard to stop!!

I started reading books written by Christopher Pike since the 4th grade. That was over 8 years ago. Master of Murder was my first entry into his world. Ever since then, I have not been able to stop reading his books. I currently own a collection of every single one of his books. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a wild fan, looking for signatures and such, I just enjoy his books.

To me, Master of Murder has always been my favorite book of his collection. I have honestly read the book from front to back 40-50 times. Yes, within 8 years, that's highly possible. I have yet to get tired of the book. Each time I read it, I find a detail I missed or a new fact overlooked.

I reccommend reading this book, because it has a genuine plot, that keeps you guessing until the end. At first, the book may be a little hard to understand, but as clues fall into place, a whole storyline becomes unveiled. It is a wonderful book.

Whether your at the age of 6 or the age of 26, read the book, and enjoy it, I know I have.

I'm 13 and a big reader. I've read more than half of Christopher Pike's books. The are always suspenseful and mysterious but "Master of Murder" was, I think, the best! It had suspense and murder along with romance. It was very devious and worthwhile. I couldn't put it down! I was even reading it during my classes! It was like an addiction it was so good! I couldn't recommend it to you more! So don't debate over it just read it! I know you'll thank me later!

Christopher Pike is the best author ever. He gives his book suspense, thrill, and everything a book needs to become a great hit. And he did the same with Master of Murder. I've owned the book for over a year, and I read it very often! Everytime I read, I can't put it down! Its about a older teen named Marvin. He has alot of secrets. He is in love with Shelly, but most importantly, he is Mack Slate. Mack Slate is the bestselling author who writes thrilling novels that no one can put down.

Hes making millions. He has thousands of fans. But no one knows who he is, because he writes under a pen name because he is afraid that his father will take his millions, and gamble and drink it all away.

Anyways, the story has many hidden effects, and twists. Everything is so unpredictable and I can never stand to put this book down!

Its the BEST!

It is the best book I read by Christopher Pike. Master of Murder was about a seventeen-year-old boy named Marvin, who was actually a famous author who had millions of fans and millions of dollars, but wrote under a psudonym so nobody knew who he was. But then one night Marvin gets a fan letter that says, "I know who you are." At first he isn't that worried, but then more letters begin to come, and soon Marvin is caught in a mystery more complicated and terrifying then his own books.

This is my favorite Christopher Pike book. I think it the most honest and truthful as to what Mr. Pike is really like behind the scenes as a working writer.

Yeah, Pike is much older in real life than the character of Marvin, but this book shows Pike is a kid at heart. If you read between the lines, it reveals that all elusive "mysterious creative process" behind all great works of fiction.

I'm in college now, but, mainly because of this book, Christopher Pike remains one of my favorite authors!

"Master of Murder" takes place in Sesa, Oregon, where 17-year-old* Marvin Summer attends high school during the day, and in his free time, he writes the extremely popular The Mystery of Silver Lake** series, a story line that uncannily begins to resemble his own present situation.

Although Marvin writes under a pen name (Mack Slate), someone from his hometown knows who he really is and starts sending him unsettling letters to his private p.o. box, concerning Marvin's investigation into the one-year-old "suicide" of Harry Paster, the boyfriend of Shelly Quade, a girl Marvin's had a crush on for years. But who keeps sending him these letters? And what exactly do they want from him?

Like a lot of Pike's books, "Master of Murder" has plenty of surprising plot twists, true-to-life characters who do some pretty crazy things in the name of love, as well as a one-year-old murder that comes back to haunt everyone. This is a very engrossing and fast-paced book, and if you're a diehard Pike fan, you'll more than likely wonder how much of this book is autobiographical, since Christopher Pike (real name: Kevin McFadden) is such a private writer, just like Marvin.

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*(The synopsis inaccurately states Marvin is 18 years old; he's really 17.)
**(Another error: Marvin's teen thriller series is called "The Mystery at Silver Spring" in the synopsis; it's really "The Mystery of Silver Lake".)

I've had a good time reading this book, but I have only read this after I read Wizrd by Steve Zell. It's better than this book by a lot. If I read Master of Murder first, I might've thought it was a great book. But compared to Wizrd, this book is only average.