Customer Reviews

Savage

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Trevor Bentley appears at first to be a normal 15 year old boy, but there is a heroic side to him that becomes evident through out this book.
one rainy night he accidentally stumbles upon the infamous Jack the Ripper, and deciding that this may be the only chance any one gets to put a stop to his murderous rampage, he sets out to stop him, Unfortunately young Trev finds him self way out of his depth as he gets himself and a family held hostage by the Ripper on a boat set sail for The new world, America, Trevor manages to escape from the grasp of this legendary murderer, but not before they both find them selves in America.
This story is truly a great adventure, Starting in late 19th century London, to the new word America and then climaxes in the wild west, 3 very unique cultures that all existed at that time, add to this a story of love, friendship and self discovery and of coarse gruesome death in the way only Laymon can tell, and you have what is one of the greatest stories told

It's been over a year since Richard Laymon's passing and I just remembered what a great writer he was-- 'is' actually, he'll live on through his books!! I decided to pay my long overdue respects in the form of a review.

Let there be no doubt about it 'Savage' is Laymon at his peak!!
I read somewhere that Laymon wrote this book after his editor suggested he tried something different from his usual slasher/ splatterpunk fare. It's breathtaking to read this book and come to the conclusion he's done just that, but also has incorperated almost all of the usual elements that have made him such a winner (in my opinion anyway).

'Savage' is about Jack the Ripper, but it's not like you expect a serialkiller-novel to be. It's a fictional retelling and it also adds so much to the Ripper legend. It's told from the first person point of view and just the mix of Victorian English with Mark Twain-like American slang is worth the price of purchase alone. I won't spoil the plot, I'll just say the book is epic in scope and it heads for one of the most satisfing finales I have ever read. The way the Ripper ends up in the Old West, it's a classic!!

This is for all you knuckleheads out there who still suck their Stephen King books and worshipp their worn off copies of 'Lord of the Rings'. This is so good, maybe they'll call THIS literature in about a 100 years time!

I think its a great story, full of adventures, with an courageous hero (Bentley)and an horrifying devil(Ripper) I read this book about 6 times or more and like the lovescenes with generals daugther and the young cowgirl most...very erotic

I rank this really close to the top of my Laymon book list. I enjoy his writing-although a tad bit far fetched at times. I wasn't sure how I'd like this 1800's book with a western theme. Well, I can't say enough good things about it. Trevor/Willy was a great character, who got himself in all kinds of trouble. I have to say if your a Laymon fan, get your hands on this book it is well worth the hunting for it!

I've read 5 or 6 Richard Laymon books, and this is definitely my favorite. I wasn't able to put it down until I finished it. If you've enjoyed any of his other books, I highly recommend reading this one as well.

Savage tells the story of Trevor Bentley, a young man forced to flee England after accidentally witnessing Jack the Ripper's final recorded killing. Mistakenly blamed for the crime, Trevor seeks escape from the authorities and the Ripper on a yacht moored in the Thames. Tragically, the Ripper tracks him to the boat, commandeers it, and forces the owner to sail for America. Trevor is drafted to help man the boat, and can only watch helplessly as the Ripper holds a female passenger captive.

After an arduous voyage, they reach the United States. Trevor escapes from the boat before the Ripper can kill him and manages to establish himself in America. Despite the fact that the Ripper is still at large, Trevor allows himself to believe that his nightmare is over.

The young man is mistaken, however. One day he reads of a multiple slaying in Tombstone, Arizona--three women, horribly mutilated, were found dead in their home. The local authorities attribute the massacre to Indians, but Trevor recognizes the Ripper's handiwork. Blaming himself for allowing the fiend to reach America, Trevor vows to seek the madman out and kill him. The rest of the novel describes Trevor's odyssey across America, leading to his final confrontation with his nemesis.

Savage will probably surprise a lot of Laymon's fans. On the surface, one might pick this novel up expecting an outright gore fest--after all, it's Laymon writing about Jack the Ripper. But the book defies expectations--instead, readers are treated to a happy combination of traditional western and a bildungsroman. Laymon delivers a well wrought tale of suspense, where the violence, although prevalent, is secondary to the main thrust of the story--that is, the unique rite of passage Trevor must undergo before he can be at peace with himself. Imagine Great Expectations, with blood and guts mixed in.

After reading the synopsis of this book, I got excited. I usually love tales of alternate history and this one had potential. I was disapointed to find that it's only an average read. The Ripper, evil as he is, is portrayed as no more than an English fop. The hero, Trevor, gives new meaning to the word fickle as he tromps from one adventure to another. The whole story seems disjointed. I found myself scanning a lot. Laymon seems obsessed with adolescence and the sexual obsessions thereof. I haven't read a book of his where some teenagers glands weren't percolating with lust. I would only recommend this book to die-hard Laymon or Jack the Ripper enthusiasts.

This is like my all time favourite book..... Laymon is awesome far better then king (who should get his throat slit) and awfully underated....but there is one problem with this book and that's the part when he's on tha boat takes a bit to long and drags on..... but Laymon IS KING and king is LAYM.... hehe

It's 1888, London and fifteen-year-old Trevor Bentley is in search of his uncle, a Bobbie (police office) to save his mother from the man who has beaten her. He's robbed, his cloths are stolen, he seeks refuge in a vacant apartment. Someone comes, he hides and witnesses Jack the Ripper murder a prostitute.

The Ripper knocks him out and when he comes to, he's on a boat bound for America. He's a prisoner, along with an American family. When they arrive, Trevor jumps overboard and is the voyages only survivor. The Ripper killed them all and now Trevor wants revenge.

Thus starts a journey that has Trevor chasing the Ripper across America to Arizona. Plenty of blood, gore and sex in this exciting book that's something more than erotic, but a bit less than porno. Only Richard Laymon could walk that kind of line and keep you clued to your seat. Five stars for this terrific thriller.

To me this seemed to be a different type of story line for Laymon but I really liked it! The storyline was fluid right up until the end but than takes a weird turn and I thought oh no here goes another good book. But, the ending was good and I enjoyed the book.