Blood Games by Richard LaymonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Time taken to read - 1 day
Pages - 467
Publisher - Headline Feature
Source - Bought online
Blurb from Goodreads
Laymon's restored version of his 1992 horror novel that tells of a group of former college friends who hold a reunion at a deserted resort lodge only to find they're sharing it with a maniac. — They meet for one week every year, five young women, best friends since college, in search of fun and thrills. Each year they choose a different place for their reunion. This year it's Helen's choice, and she chose the Totem Pole Lodge. Bad choice. The Totem Pole Lodge is a deserted resort hotel deep in the woods with a gory, shocking past Helen has a macabre streak and she can't wait to tell her friends all about what happened at the lodge and why it's now abandoned. But Helen and the others are in for a nasty surprise. The resort isn't quite as deserted as they think. And not all the gruesome events at the Totem Pole Lodge are in its past. The worst are still to come....
My Review
Five friends from college meet up every year, each year one picks what the groups does and they all go, no questions asked. This year is Helen's turn, Helen loves horror and what better choice than an abandoned lodge that was the site of a massacre. The girls arrive and after a while they realise they aren't alone and soon fighting for their lives.
Helen, Cora, Vivian, Finley and Abilene explore the lodge and go over some of their past exploits, including how they met and bonded in college. With each throwback the reader is given a potential suspect of who may want to get even with them. Or is there something more evil lurking at the lodge? The suspense and eerie atmosphere it present almost from the beginning, you can feel the hair standing up on the back of your neck as you get deeper into the story. The split timeline is easy to follow as the chapters are well earmarked.
There are a fair few themes in the book, mystery, horror, murder, sexual encounters, friendship, revenge and pushing the limits. I found some of the sex stuff wasn't really required although I suppose when the group got together it brought back when they were carefree and a bit more risky. There are plenty of creepy moments in the book , I have always loved checking out old abandoned buildings, after this I may reconsider that.
I forgot how much I enjoyed Laymon's writing, he creates characters and places that just draw you in, almost from the first chapter. 3.5 out of 5 for me this time, I need to buy up more of his books and reacquaint. Perfect for a night wrapped up in the blanket with some candles and just freak yourself right out.
Will be keeping this book in mind the next time I'm looking for a dark and creepy read. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! Freaking myself out isn't hard to do but this sounds interesting. I may have to read this one.
ReplyDeleteI love the last sentence of your review! I'm glad you enjoyed this mystery thriller.
ReplyDeleteReally good review and thanks for alerting us to this book. I've always been a fan of books where you have a group of girlfriends who met in college and you get to follow them tnrough tbe years. And you throw in a murder and I am very interested to check out Blood Games.
ReplyDeleteReunions of old friends and family can be the basis of a very good book.,The horror genre is but one type of book that it works well in. This sounds very good. The characters and plot sound like they are well done..
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