Customer Reviews

Shackled

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a Ray Garton fan from way back, and pick up just about anything with his name on it. I was browsing through the bookstore a few years ago, where the new PBs were, and BAM! I saw this. At firstI thought it was too good to be true-the cool cover, the title-probably a reprint I thought. Nope. I almost dropped the book on he floor and tripped on it in my haste to get to the cashier.

I knew this book would be good, since it was Garton, but it exceeded my expectations, and they were high. The books opens with a great scene-a young teenage runaway is in a bus terminal. A very kindly looking older woman talks to her gently, finds out she's run away from home because of abuse, and finally offers her a ride and a place to stay. When she gets in the car with the woman and her husband, she notices something's wrong...there's an upside-down crucifix hanging from the rearview mirror. Not exactly what you want to see when you're getting in a strange car.

The plot concerns a group of Satanists (who of course are the ones trolling for runaways) and the main character's involvement with them. One of them has been entangled with them years before; not only was he lucky to escape with his life, but he became an alcoholic he wasso traumatized by what he found out. He's on the wagon now, but when the group and him threaten to cross paths again, you wonder if he's going to start drinking again...you'll have to read it to find out the rest of the gripping plot.

I could NOT put this book down; I think I read it all in one greedy sitting, and this isn't a skimpy book, either. There is also some seriously hardcore horror here, folks. Garton has always impressed me with his ability to shock, but several times during my reading, my jaw dropped open in amazement and disbeleif that some of the scenes made it past a mainstream publisher.

This, of course, is not a complaint-I'm not easy to shock, so when an author is skilled enough to do it, I'm pretty impressed. Sadly, I misplaced my copy ... and therefore only got to read it once...but there's nightmarish scenes and images I can remember now as if I had read the book hours ago.

If you like horror, you need to discover Ray Garton, and this is a great book to start with. If you're a Garton fan, but never found this title, I can assure you that it is worth tracking down. Probably one of my all-time favorites by him or any other horror author.

This is an incredible book. After I first read it, approximately a year ago, I was stunned. I have since read it again. I've read literally hundreds of books, but none has ever stayed in my mind like this one. Besides containing two of the most evil characters in literature (and I do consider this book literature!), Dr. Corbus and Rex Calisto, it balances out its bleak picture of the dark part of our society with hope and faith. Some of the other reviewers have referred to the theatrical nature of this book. I hope, however, that it is not made into a movie. It would inevitably fall short of the book, and that is a disappointment I couldn't stand. I have since read several other works by this author; although good, they do not even come close to this. Words literally cannot describe the effect this book had on me. I'll just say that I recommend it to anyone who wants a profound reading experience. Does anyone know when he is publishing a new work? I can't wait to read it!

Garton has impressed me before. I want to be absolutely clear in saying that I am not a converted critic. His seminal classic, Live Girls, remains my favourite take on the vampire/adventure genre. Nevertheless, this was something wholly different. Where I have previously been impressed by his ability to weave the supernatural and the actual into a seamless whole, here we see his gift for taking the actual and making it so real it hurts. Though the novel has been critisized for using a number of stock characters (the reporter on the edge, the able diabled etc) this device works as a superb way to have his reader latch onto and care about his characters with utmost speed. That done, he hurls us into a demanding and challenging plot. What I've always considered truly horrific is when a light is shined fully into the shadows. Those suspiscious shapes become illuminated, and what we discover is a reality far more twisted than our imagination can create. Such is the case as Garton takes us by the hand and drags us through the topic of child abuse. All the more terrifying is the increasing feeling as you read the novel that he might just be right. His take on the Internet as a place to market and advertise for victims is just too common-sensical too dismiss. This is the triumph of the novel, this feeling of situations which might be a little close to reality. Read it if you can. But I warn you, you might not be able to. And that is the highest recommendation it is possible to give horror fiction.

This is a novel that defies genre. It's got enough horror to satisfy the fans of Garton's earlier works, but more than anything, it's a novel of suspense that will most likely get a lot more fans for Garton. And he deserves them. I have been reading his horror novels for years, but this isn't one of them. This is his most commerciall effort yet. His characters in this novel are so likeable that you actually =hurt= when bad things happen to them...and bad things =do= happen them. That's what sets Garton's work apart from other writers..he doesn't hesitate to hurt people we've come to care about. but the best thing about Garton's work is that we =always= care about his characters. They aren't always good, but they're never totally bad. They are always REAL PEOPLE! And thats more than you can say for a lot of the popular fiction out there right now. This is a book you REALLY SHOULD READ! -- Jerr

I've never read anything by Ray Garton before, but after reading Shackled, I plan to find his other works. Shackled gets off to a quirky start, and at times almost feels like a comedy because of some of the goofy characters. But it doesn't take long for the book to sink its claws into the reader, and then it doesn't let go. The last fifty or sixty pages of this book left me exhausted and I dare anyone not to read them in one sitting! The characters are many cuts above most found in popular fiction, and they really get under your skin, both the good ones and the bad ones. I strongly recommend Shackled. --Melanie

All hyperbole aside, Ray Garton has written a whale of a good read. The characters are quirky but for the most part believable and you come to care about them. The only negative comments I could make about this book is that I felt that it dragged a bit in the middle, there are no strong female characters in the book, and two characters who appear in the middle of the story seem a bit too cliched for my taste. The plot devlopment moves, for the most part, at breakneck speed and you will find yourself hardpressed to put the book down. This is not the Ray Garton story I had become used to, but any Ray Garton is better than 90% of the thrillers/horror stories on the market today

Others have said this isn't a horror novel, and maybe it isn't, but it scared the heck out of me! If you start reading this book, I promise you won't stop until you've finished, even if it means staying up all night! And if you're anything like me, this book will give you nightmares, because it's the kind of thing that could easily happen. The idea of an organized group of pedophiles rounding up children to use in child pornography and sell as sex slaves is simply not out of the question anymore...sadly, it's a reflection of the times in which we live. But as ugly as this story sounds, it's worth reading because it gives us a glimmer of hope. The characters in this book are strong, brave people who risk everything to save the children who are in danger. Just as this is a reflection of the ugliest part of our society, it is also a reflection of the best of our society--it gives us characters with enough faith and strength to rescue our children. This book beautifully depicts the religious faith and love of family held dear by so many people, and it deserves to be a blockbuster. Tim

SHACKLED is not only a deftly woven tale of suspense that takes the reader deep into the darkest shadows of society, it also offers a story of redemption and incredible faith in the face of unspeakable atrocity. The multi-layered plot first appears to be a kidnapping investigation, and then seems to evolve into the uncovering of a Satanic cult. But what is really going on is far more sinister. Garton is a master at plot-driven material, but with SHACKLED, also shows his gift for creating fascinating, human, recognizable characters. As well as a core of reporters, cops, and bad-guys, the story is aided by a range of others -- from a wheelchair-bound researcher with a penchant for gourmet sandwiches, to a pastor whose quiet faith is tested relentlessly, to a sixteen year-old girl with an unquenchable will to survive. Garton takes chances with the material, and his roots in horror show in some gruesome scenes involving spiders, snakes and maggots (not all three at once!). The story culminates into an all-out battle between good and evil, and ultimately, Garton's go-for-broke chances pay off, and pay off big. -Sara Zarr

Los Angeles based Tabloid reporter Bentley Noble fails to live up to his surname as he tiredly struggles through life resenting the world. As Bent feels bent out of shape, two incidents occur. Seven year old Samuel Walker is abducted near his Vallejo home. Bent is assigned to investigate the case. However, just after that incident, an occurrence in San Francisco, happens. Sixteen year old Lacey Ryan is also kidnapped. There is nothing obvious to link these two crimes. ........ His case is going no where until he meets Mrs. Kotter, who insists that she is communicating with Liberace's ghost. She tells Bent that the two children have been abducted by a cult of satanists. Shocking himself, the usually cynical Bent believes her. Following up on what Mrs. Kotter tells him, Bent soon realizes that there exists a dark conspiracy, targeting children and other weaker segments of society. His continual investigation makes Bent an obvious target of the high tech satanists, who will do anything to keep their dark secrets quiet. ....... SHACKLED is a frightening tale because it seems as if it could easily happen in society today, especially with what can be found on the Internet. Even though the story line is fast paced and gripping at times, the novel has limited audience appeal because it includes graphic scenes of child torture and language that will turn off many readers except the hard core fans who like reading works that take them one step beyond the edge. .......Harriet Klausner

Overall I enjoyed this fast paced book with all it's different characters but in the back of my mind I kept thinking that it was written to be made into a movie. That may not be fair to the author but you have to admit there are a lot of cliched characters in the book (the burnt out ace reporter, the loyal friend, the resourceful handicapped person, the young genius and a bad guy who can control almost everything).It wasn't until I was 3/4 of the way into the book that it seemed to take on a different tone as if the author shifted gears. Prior to that time he never said a word about the nature of the sexual abuse being done to the various victims(Lacey and Samuel) and then all of a sudden when Lacey is sent to the "mansion" he gets very very graphic. What for? It's a disconcerting style change that had no real meaning. I did enjoy Doc and Ed who reminded me of characters from the Quentin Tarentino films.So if you want to read an interesting book with some surprising twists towards the end then this is your book. If you are looking for a true mystery with believable endings then this is not for you.