Night Stalker [Paperback]

Carol D. Luce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1990

"Night Stalker -- a dandy read -- tense, original...Add Carol Davis Luce to your list of writers not to be overlooked." -- Tony Hillerman author of Talking God

Things were looking up for Alexandra Carlson. She had finally gotten her life back together again. She'd moved into a wonderful secluded house on a mountainside in Reno, her paintings were beginning to sell, and there was even a hint of romance on the horizon. Then things began to happen. Little things. Anonymous phone calls full of heavy breathing. A broken tree branch outside her bedroom window. Her cat, Winnie--gone without a trace. A moving shadow above the skylight. Surely it was all her imagination...

Then one day she picked up the phone and there was someboby--somebody who knew her childhood nickname. In the background she could hear a scratchy record--an old song that brought dark memories out of the shadows.

That night something woke Alexandra out of a sound sleep. This time, the heavy breathing wasn't coming from the telephone. Someone was in house with her. And she was at his mercy.

RAVE REVIEWS "Night Stalker" is a spine-tingling thriller with Alex and Justin's steamy relationship adding spice to the electrifying plot. Tops in thrilling suspense.

DROOD REVIEW "Night Stalker" From the first page to the last, there is no escape for the reader--this book must be competed before any peace of mind can return; tension increases rapidly. Gripping!

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Kensington Pub Corp (Mass Market) (March 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821742450
• ISBN-13: 978-0821742457
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #639,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carol Davis Luce's first novel, Night Stalker, was also her first sale. "A dandy read," wrote author Tony Hillerman. It went into three printings and became the flagship for the sub-genre "Woman in Jeopardy" at Kensington Publishers--strong heroines pitted against evil opponents. Reviewers have said of her villains: [Night Prey] "Luce's portrayal of a psychopathic mountain man is chilling..." [Night Game] "The villain is evil personified."

In addition to five published novels, Carol's short story "Shattered Crystal" appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Magazine and Treadmill Tales (audio). E-reads Publications reprinted Night Passage in e-book format and POD. Nonfiction publications include two articles for Writer's Digest. One article, "Writing Suspense That'll Kill Your Readers," was reprinted (second edition) in THE COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF NOVEL WRITING (Writer's Digest Books)2010.

*In The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing 2010, Carol Davis Luce defines tension as "the act of building or prolonging a crisis." She goes on to give some examples and ends the chapter with this: "How you build that suspense can make the difference between your readers chucking your book for a good night's sleep or nudging their spouse to say, 'the suspense is killing me.'"

Visit Carol at http://imagerystudios.com/carol

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Night Stalker is Great!, April 16, 2002

By 

Fred Rayworth (Las Vegas, NV United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Night Stalker (Paperback)

I have been a fan of Carol since I first read Night Passage over five years ago. Since then, I have been stalking bookstores looking for her work.

Night Stalker is about a woman stalked and harassed in her home by an unknown assailant. He invades every aspect of her life and it is quite unnerving to read as it unfolds. She gets the police involved but they are unable to help much at first. She soon finds a possible ally in a police detective but he seems to have trouble with her credibility. It left me guessing as to the stalker's identity right to the end. Of course, all of the guesses I made were wrong and it was real fun to finally find out who the stalker was.

Night Stalker is a fine mix of mystery, horror, and romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I do not usually read a novel in just three days but could hardly put it down despite my other obligations.

A great read, I can't wait to start her second novel, Skin Deep. I highly recommend checking out Amazon and other book outlets and
ordering her work. You will not be disappointed!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars as generic as the title, December 6, 2002

By 

David Group (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Stalker (Paperback)

Night Stalker is just one of the zillion books revolving around a woman being harassed and attacked by a mysterious stranger. However, the victim is maddeningly passive and complacent about her own safety, to the point where you find yourself thinking "Check the locks on your doors!" "Call the police!" or "Carry a can of mace or a stun gun!" The identity of the stalker is interesting, but his actions and goals leave more questions than they answer.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart-shattering romantic suspense-Don't miss this one!, February 20, 2006

By 

G. A. Mccreedy (Tucson, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Stalker (Mass Market Paperback)

What is it like to be harassed and stalked, in your own house?

In Carol Davis Luce's atmospheric, landmark suspense novel-precursor to the best of the romantic suspense genre-Alex Carlson has moved into her father's house to regroup from past problems and regenenerate her art career. The house is just what she needs; beautiful and secluded. But someone doesn't want her there. And that someone is playing for keeps.

Soon Alex is brought face to face with the horrific lessons of her childhood, and the origination of the menace is much closer than she thinks.

NIGHT STALKER kept me up until three in the morning. The writing just grabbed me and kept me turning pages, even though at some points I have to admit to being creeped out. This is the kind of book where you want all the lights in the house on, and try not to listen to the branch outside, scraping at the window...