Customer Reviews

Shade of Pale

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

 

 

I've read this one right after Greg's first book "Horrow Show" and, once again, this one has all it takes.

He mixes up the elements of the supernatural without descending into either morbid fascination with the occult or shock, schlock and gore. Recounting the banshee myth (or at least elements thereof while taking liberties with the rest), he keeps it light, educating, entertaining and interesting. Into the mix he throws contemporary New York, hungup urbanites, grizzled cops, and the usual cast of bottom feeders. The result is endearing, facinating, fast-moving and hip entertainment.

Expect junk food for the mind in the form of light entertainment, and you will not be disappointed!

(There's only one demerit to the publisher, not the author: Who on earth wrote the book's jacket blurb? They obviously did not read the book as it grossly misstates its content!)

AFTER READING HORROR SHOW I LOVED IT SO MUCH I WENT ON TO BIG ROCK BEAT. THEN I CAME BACK TO THIS AND BOY WAS I GLAD I DID. EXCELLENT STORY. ENJOYED LEARNING THE OLD IRISH MYTH AND AN EXCELLENT ENDING!

Greg's second book is a great improvement from his debut "Horror Show". In Horror Show you knew the ending far before the end of the book, espically if you saw Ed Wood! But Shade of Pale is a vast improvement in both writing and story. This is a fast read, but the story propells the reader along at a comfortable pace. And as the story unfolds the conclusion is arrived at just the right time. A great lazy afternoon read!

This thriller solidifies Greg Kihn's place in the halls of great writers. This book is compelling, contemporary, and sometimes downright frightening! The images that this book creates will give you an experience that a movie of this type simply cannot. Probably the most sobering aspect of this book is that it is completely plausible if you believe in legends and myths. Even if you don't, you just might after reading this!

I heard about this book on Greg's radio show. Since I enjoyed listening to him on the radio, I went to his book signing and bought the book and took it home. I thought, "Greg Kihn wrote this. Can he be a seriously good writer?" After a few chapters I forgot all about Greg and just enjoyed the story. Yes, he is a good writer, albeit budding. I can see that down the line he may even be great. He writes like he talks, and if you've heard him on the radio or seen him in concert, he talks like he's talking to you and me personally. That's how he writes. The plot is simple, which I like, but complex enough to make it interesting. I also recommend his other book, Horror Show. That one was wilder and had more bizarre characters, but it was Greg through and through. Please keep it up, Greg. I look forward to many years of reading your stuff.

Well written and a can't put down read. This would make for an excellent movie. After buying one for myself I have bought more for friends.

I loved the premise of this book...the Banshee comes to America. Unfortunately, there were several things that kept me from loving the book. First and foremost, the romance between Jukes and Fiona fell flat. It happened too fast, the dialogue was almost painfully earnest, and I just didn't buy the depth of their emotional connection. In addition, I felt like there was too much left unexplained. Granted, Mr. Kihn exhibited a small flash of brilliance in introducing the idea that the Banshee's presence would generate a series of unlikely coincidences, since that would cover all manner of sins on the author's part, but I still wanted to know what it was about Jukes that made him sensitive to the Banshee (were his ancestors Irish?), I wanted to know why Pat, the IRA thug, and the men in his family had the knowledge to capture her (what was his beef with her killing Irish-Americansm anyway?), and I wanted to know why the hell Cathy was so messed up (and why I was supposed to care?).

This story raised many, many questions, but it answered so few them that I found it a frustrating read.

The story starts off ambitiously enough with some interesting elements: psychiatry, fashion photography, the IRA, and the Banshee. The first half of the book has some good scenes that set the story in motion. The second half of the book unravels and the cliches pile up. The plot elements become very predictable. It is almost as though the ending was rushed to meet a deadline. Next time take the time to polish the story and finish strong.