The Stone Circle [Hardcover]

Gary Goshgarian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997

A professor of archaeology hurries to uncover a circle of stones before construction begins on the spot, until he begins having nightmares and finds himself catapulted into a menacing world where the edges of reality are not firm."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Peter Van Zand, an archaeologist, takes six-year-old son Andy on a summertime "dig" on Kingdom Head, an island in Boston Harbor, hoping that together they can recover from the violent death of Connie, Peter's wife and Andy's mother. Peter is directing a crew in assessing the historical meanings of huge stones uncovered by construction workers excavating to build a casino on the island. The stones, on part of the island called Pulpit's Point, seem prehistoric to Peter, who is troubled by violent dreams of Andy's death, of a woman burning at a stake, and of Connie calling to him from the grave. Those around him question Peter's sanity, and Andy is suddenly terrified of his formerly loving father. But the woman burned on Kingdom Head in 1692 never seems evil enough to bring about the book's concluding events, nor does the present-day "bad guy," Fane Hatcher, seem bad enough to cause the island's longtime evil history to boil over into modern times. Still, overall, this is a good purchase for libraries wanting more reads like King, Saul, and Koontz.?Alice DiNizo, Raritan P.L.,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

The author of Rough Beast (1995) combines Amerindian and Celtic mythology in a thriller that would put Joseph Campbell to sleep. Goshgarian creates the islands of Kingdom Head and Shepherd's Island in Boston Harbor. When one of Boston's wealthiest citizens, young E. Fane Hatcher, decides to build condominiums, hotels, restaurants, shops, tennis courts, a golf course, a casino, and marinas on the islands, he hires Professor Peter Van Zandt, an archaeologist, to find the lost Hatcher family chapel on Kingdom Head. Already uncovered are three very mysterious large limestone slabs, which may tie in with the chapel. Peter's work is made more difficult by the fact that while he's trying to explore the island's past, he's also fleeing from his own. Three years earlier, following an argument about their son Andy, Peter's wife Linda was burned to death in an automobile wreck, a horror for which Peter blames himself. Now, the weird mood of Kingdom Head--the appearance of phantoms that seem to threaten Peter's six-year-old Andy; the discovery of an underground death chamber; Peter's seeming invasion by aggressive spirits who demand that he hurt those he most loves (even during sex); and his horrifying dreams that involve past events on the island--all contribute to his growing confusion and fear. The ancient Hannah Mac Ness saves him from drowning but then threatens his life and damns him for digging up tunnels and land that she and her forebears have lived on for centuries. Her Celtic ancestors, she says, came to Kingdom Head a thousand years before the Mayflower and worshipped the Druidic stone slabs Peter is attempting to remove and study. Hatcher, anxious to move his project ahead, announces that he's going to blow up the stones, and Peter finds himself battling his ex-employer, as well as his own demons, in an attempt to prove that an American Stonehenge exists. A richly conceived work that's largely buried under melodrama. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556115334
• ISBN-13: 978-1556115332
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #792,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page turning thrill ride conveyed through great charcters!, August 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stone Circle (Hardcover)

Goshgarian's thrilling tale about an archealogist trying to unearth the ruins of his life while maintaining his grip on reality is uniquely imaginative. Good, evil, sexual tension, humor, it's all there. The authenticity of his characters and non-stop action narrative make this book one of the best I've read in years! Check it out -- you won't be disappointed!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than an amusement park: One ride not to miss., September 9, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Guilford, CT, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Stone Circle (Hardcover)

Goshgarian's newest book, The Stone Circle, starts with a bang,settles back for a little history, then rushes headlong into equalproportions of hair-raising action, wicked dreams, Hitchcockian suspense, tender character moments, and wondrous surprise. As you get more involved in the plight of the characters you feel you are living this book yourself. Thoroughly entertaining and beautifully conceived, the Kirkus reviewer clearly did not read the book. There is no Celtic mythology. There is, instead, archeological fact skillfully woven into a fine fictional tale. The Kirkus Review makes The Stone Circle sound like a dry college text. This could not be further from the truth. This is a book filled with delicious images, pleasantly creepy moments, and memorable scenes. The author carefully thrusts us into action, gives us a chance to catch our breath at just the right moments, then drives us deeper into the suspense of the central mystery. At the same time, we fear for the safety of the young character Andy and his father. This is a must read. I can't wait to see the movie!

In November, this book will be a selection of the Literary Guild/Doubleday Book Club/Mystery Club.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eerie thriller with believable characters., August 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stone Circle (Hardcover)

Gary Goshgarian is a wonderful storyteller. The Stone Circle is an eerie adventure yarn set on an island in Boston Harbor, where a young college professor, haunted by dreams of his dead wife, tries to solve a scientific mystery at the site of an archaeological dig.

There are characters to root for, characters to hate, a race against time to save a little boy's life, and a bonus - you'll learn something about the way a modern archaeological dig works.

A compelling thriller, a terrific read !