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Second Child (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: secret cove, Jeff Barnstable, Brett Van Arsdale, Lenore Van Arsdale (more...)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
Price: $7.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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14 new from $3.40 302 used from $0.01 4 collectible from $10.00

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  Hardcover, May 31, 1990 -- $2.95 $0.01
  Paperback, Import -- -- $0.17
  Mass Market Paperback, December 31, 1996 $7.99 $3.40 $0.01
  Audio, Cassette, Audiobook, May 31, 1991 -- $88.59 $4.49

Frequently Bought Together

Second Child + The Unloved + Shadows
Price For All Three: $23.97

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  • This item: Second Child by John Saul

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    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
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  • The Unloved by John Saul

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  • Shadows by John Saul

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

One hundred years ago, in the beautiful village of Secret Cove, Maine, on the night of the annual August Moon Ball, a shy and lovely servant girl committed an act so unspeakably violent that its legacy still lives. Now, the blood-drenched past of this small town is about to come to life once more--just in time for this year's August Moon Ball. HC: Bantam.

Product Details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam (January 1, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553287303
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553287301
  • Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #333,376 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #31 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( S ) > Saul, John

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John Saul
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Front Cover | First Pages | Surprise Me!
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
secret cove
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Jeff Barnstable, Brett Van Arsdale, Lenore Van Arsdale, Tom Mallory, Teri Maclver, Ellen Stevens, Cyndi Miller, Melissa Phyllis, Kent Fielding, Charles Holloway, Cora Peterson, Phyllis Holloway, Kay Fielding, Burt Andrews, Cove Club, Melissa Teri, Lucy Barrow, Blackie Melissa, Melissa Holloway, Eleanor Stevens, Tag Peterson, Mama Melissa, Melissa Melissa, Tom Maclver, D'Arcy Melissa
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Second Child
75% buy the item featured on this page:
Second Child 4.4 out of 5 stars (38)
$7.99
The Unloved
9% buy
The Unloved 4.4 out of 5 stars (19)
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Cry for the Strangers
6% buy
Cry for the Strangers 4.6 out of 5 stars (7)
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Suffer the Children
5% buy
Suffer the Children 3.9 out of 5 stars (39)
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Customer Reviews

38 Reviews
5 star:
 (25)
4 star:
 (9)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (2)
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (38 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars One of My Favorite John Saul Books, March 29, 2003
By A Customer
After killing her parents in a house fire in San Fernando, California, 14-year-old Teri MacIver is taken in by her real father and his family (wife: Phyllis; daughter: Melissa) in affluent Secret Cove, Maine. While "Second Child" begins with Teri, it's her half sister (Melissa Holloway) that's more of the protagonist--or at least the one the reader feels the most sympathy for. Both girls have their own secrets--Teri's being she's a killer, and Melissa's being she has an imaginary friend (D'Arcy) that's actually a ghost who resides in the attic, inhabiting Melissa's body whenever her abusive mother punishes her, which is quite often. Once Teri discovers this secret, she uses Melissa's weak mental health to her advantage, hoping to knock her out of the picture so she can have the kind of life she thinks she deserves, in Melissa's place.

I read "Second Child" either in middle or high school (I don't remember which), so it's appropriate for readers that young, since they can probably relate easier to the teen characters in this book. Like most of Saul's books, "Second Child" has a supernatural twist to it, linking D'Arcy to events that happened 100 years ago in Secret Cove. Horror fans should definitely like this one.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, December 20, 2001
By Dee (Bronx, NY) - See all my reviews
I loved this book! It starts out great and doesn't stop there. Although it does have some supernatural twists to it, the book is more of a "good guy gets screwed by bad guy" type of novel. Unfortunatley, as one reviewer commented, it does leave some wondering to the imagination at the conclusion. However, as with any book, most are left to wonder, and I still think this is one of (if not the best) Saul novel to date.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Horror, The Horror, March 24, 2001
By Kevin M Burns (College Station, TX United States) - See all my reviews
John Saul's Second Child is the first horror book I ever read. (6+years ago) At my younger age I had trouble with some of the bigger words and darker concepts, but it was the best Saul I've ever read (and consequently the only).

Poor Melissa is having problems growing up and being accepted and generally--um--psychological others. Teri comes into her life ostensibly as a friend, but Teri has problems of her own...

Of everything literary branded into my mind, there will always be an image of Teri's mother hanging from a second-story window of a burning building and then doing a faceplant on the concrete below.

I can thank Saul for that--err--lovely imagery. Don't doubt though, it's a great book and I would submit, for starters.

I have genuinely loved horror as a genre ever since Second Child. It is a worthy book and will quiver you.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best spooky writers
If you're in need of some spookiness but don't have the time to read a Stephen King book,John Saul's one of the best! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Miz Piz

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good
This book was pretty good. It's easy to read and well told, with lots of detail. It involves an abusive mother, a horrifyingly deceitful and manipulative halfsister, an... Read more
Published 10 months ago by M. Reinhart

1.0 out of 5 stars The Second-Rate Child
Judging by the other reviews, this is a well-liked and very celebrated book. I'm glad people enjoyed it, because I sure didn't. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Sarah Seifert

5.0 out of 5 stars Anywhere Anytime
Knowing John Saul very little, and being more into James Patterson books, I was a little apprehensive at first, but after reading the first chapter I couldn't put it down... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Nora Sinclair

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good triller
One on the best John Saul's thrillers. As usual everything mind-twisted and only at end you find out the truth, but everything is around smth mysterious and paranormal... Read more
Published on January 30, 2007 by Svetlana Lensselink

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written
Another one of John Saul books that was very engaging. When Teri's parents died in a house fire, she moves in with her father(Charles), step-mother(Phyllis), and... Read more
Published on January 14, 2007 by Amy L. Dixon

4.0 out of 5 stars No Need to Be afraid of the dark
Not a bad story but if you're expecting something to scare you to the point where you'll sleep w/the lights on, then this isn't the book for you. Read more
Published on October 5, 2004 by New Yorker

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Dissapointed
When I came across this book and read the back panel I couldn't wait to read it! The story sucked me right in and I was glued for two days not wanting to put it down. Read more
Published on June 29, 2004 by Audra

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific
I love this book. it has to be in my opinion the best john saul book i've read so far. i recommend reading it...
Published on April 16, 2004 by chelseatobin

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!!
This book is just awesome, brilliant, genius, etc! It's my favorite book of all time, I have read it 3 times, and am planning to read it again, you just get so attached to the... Read more
Published on February 13, 2004 by karla

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