Nathaniel [Abridged, Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD]

John Saul (Author), Laural Merlington (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2003

From the blood of the past, evil rises to seek undying vengeance... Prairie Bend. Brilliant summers amid golden fields. Killing winters of razorlike cold. A peaceful, neighborly village, darkened by legends of death? Who is Nathaniel? For a hundred years, the people of Prairie Bend have whispered the name in wonder and fear. Some say he is simply a folk tale - a legend created to frighten children on cold winter nights. Some swear he is a terrifying spirit returned to avenge the past. And soon...very soon...some will come to believe that Nathaniel lives still - darkly, horrifyingly real. Nathaniel. For young Michael Hall, newly arrived in isolated Prairie Bend after having lost his father to a sudden tragic accident, Nathaniel is the voice that calls him across the prairie night...the voice that draws him into the shadowy depths of the old, crumbling barn where he has been forbidden to go...the voice - chanting, compelling - he will follow faithfully beyond the edge of terror...Nathaniel.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

For a hundred years, the people of Prairie Bend have whispered Nathaniel's name in wonder and fear. Some say he is a folktale, created to frighten children on cold winter nights. Some swear he is a terrifying spirit returned to avenge the past. But soon . . . very soon . . . some will learn that Nathaniel lives still--that he is darkly, horrifyingly real. Nathaniel--he is the voice that calls to young Michael Hall across the prairie night . . . the voice that draws the boy into the shadowy depths of the old, crumbling, forbidden barn . . . that chanting, compelling voice he will follow faithfully beyond the edge of terror. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

For a hundred years, the people of Prairie Bend have whispered Nathaniel's name in wonder and fear.  Some say he is a folktale, created to frighten children on cold winter nights.  Some swear he is a terrifying spirit retumed to avenge the past.  But soon . . . very soon . . . some will learn that Nathaniel lives still--that he is darkly, horrifyingly real.  Nathaniel--he is the voice that calls to young Michael Hall across the prairie night . . . the voice that draws the boy into the shadowy depths of the old, crumbling, forbidden barn . . . that chanting, compelling voice he will follow faithfully beyond the edge of terror. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD; Abridged edition (October 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590868862
• ISBN-13: 978-1590868867
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,073,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

House of Reckoning is John Saul's thirty-sixth novel. His first novel, Suffer the Children, published in 1977, was an immediate million-copy bestseller. His other bestselling suspense novels include Faces of Fear, In the Dark of the Night, Perfect Nightmare, Black Creek Crossing, Midnight Voices, The Manhattan Hunt Club, Nightshade, The Right Hand of Evil, The Presence, Black Lightning, The Homing, and Guardian. He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling serial thriller The Blackstone Chronicles, initially published in six installments but now available in one complete volume. Saul divides his time between Seattle, Washington, and Hawaii.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lot Better than I expected, oh man!, July 28, 1999

By 

Ryan Costantino (Nowhere, Special) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nathaniel (Mass Market Paperback)

For an author who has been called by some as a "wanna be Stephen King" this was definitely not what I expected. Sincerely chilling and disturbing I don't see how Mr. Saul's fanbase isn't much, much larger than it is. This is a serious case of critics being wrong, (and when I say wrong I mean they missed the freakin' moon on this one) A superb tale of supernatural intrigue in a small town setting. Hands down, if you like horror fiction (I'm not just talkin staples like Dean Koontz and Stephen King, I mean like John Farris and Peter Straub) then don't pass this one up.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In a tiny town...., October 10, 2007

By 

Dcl70 (colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nathaniel (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this bk. for the 1st time over 20yrs. ago & few times since. Although, it's not quite as good as I remember it's still a good read... As an adult I have a problem w/ 1 thing, the main character - Michael Hall. One might think he is 6 or 7 at times by the way he acts when he is really suppose to be 11. That inconsistency drives me crazy (short drive). That IMO is the only real flaw & doesn't take away from the story itself. From the beginning John Saul hooks you in & the story has a surprise twist at the end. The characters are well developed & Saul describes everything in vivid detail which pulls you into the story. I think what chills me the most is I can relate to this tale growing up in the city & moving to the country. The Halls & Mr. Findley remind me of people around here which makes the story all the more creepy...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, March 21, 2000

By 

Claire (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nathaniel (Mass Market Paperback)

I was so excited to finally read a great ghost story! The way Saul introduces so many characters and themes and just ties them together at the end is truly awesome. I recommend this book to all ghost story lovers!