Faces of Fear: A Novel
by John Saul
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Book Summary Information
Author: John SaulEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-08-12
ISBN: 0345487052
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Book Reviews of Faces of Fear: A Novel
Book Review: Faces of Fear makes for an entertaining read
Summary: 5 Stars
John Saul's career began with the publication of his first bestseller, SUFFER THE CHILDREN, released in 1977. Now, 31 years later, he has written his 35th novel, FACES OF FEAR. The setting is primarily the Los Angeles area, and the plot involves the age-old debate about beauty either being in the eye of the beholder or skin deep --- or both.
Fifteen-year-old Alison relocates from Santa Monica to Bel Air with her mother, realtor Risa Shaw. The reason for the move is the marriage of Risa to Dr. Conrad Dunn, one of the more famous and prominent plastic surgeons in this wealthy area of California. Although Alison is reluctant to leave behind her friends and life in Santa Monica, she recognizes that she must be supportive of her mother, who was devastated by the fact that her husband, Michael, left her to be with another man. Conrad is also marrying on the rebound of his own personal tragedy --- the suicide death of his last wife, Margot, who was unable to live with the facial disfigurement caused by a horrific boating accident the previous year.
While this story is playing out, another far more sinister development is raising the fear of the surrounding community. A savage serial killer, dubbed the Frankenstein Killer, has been brutally murdering random women. What is most alarming is the fact that the culprit's modus operandi is strikingly similar to a series of murders that took place 15 years prior in the same area. During both murder sprees, body parts as well as the victims' adrenal and thymus glands were taken. The entire Los Angeles area is on alert, and no one knows where, why or how this monster will strike next.
Michael, having reconciled with Risa and settled as being lifelong friends, is living with his new partner Scott and working as a news editor for a local television station. One of his more aggressive reporters, Tina Wong, has firmly ensconced herself amidst the Frankenstein Killer case, and her pursuit of this story continues to put her in the way of the local police force and potentially in the path of a killer. As Tina gets closer to the truth, she begins to uncover patterns in the recent series of killings and is able to resurface the similarities to the 15-year-old murders.
Meanwhile, Alison is acclimating to the markedly different world her high school in Bel Air poses. She realizes that the students are living lives of endless privilege and seem to be addicted to plastic surgery enhancements. Not surprisingly, the bulk of these procedures have been conducted by her new stepfather. Risa, upon exploration of her new Bel Air mansion, discovers a hidden basement room that appears to be a shrine to Conrad's previous wife. What is most alarming to her is the realization that the recent surgical alterations Conrad has planned for Alison bear an eerie resemblance to the images of Margot that are being kept in the basement shrine. Risa and Alison both begin to suspect that things might not be as they appear, and this discovery means that their worst fears might quickly become their reality.
Throughout his successful career as a novelist, John Saul has stuck to a formula that works consistently, and none of his novels are disappointing. Where many of his contemporaries have changed or altered their styles from time to time, Saul has continued his craftsmen-like skill of knowing what will scare his readers, and he hits this mark every time. Another theme that encompasses much of the book and runs through many of his previous works is the use of teenagers as central characters. He states that "Teens are not much different over the years. They all have the same dreams, aspirations and fears." With FACES OF FEAR, Saul keeps these fears alive, which makes for another entertaining read.
--- Reviewed by Ray Palen
Summary of Faces of Fear: A Novel
New York Times bestselling author John Saul is a master at writing novels that chill the bones, curdle the blood, and tap into our darkest fears. He creates characters so real that you'll feel as if they're friends or family, and throws them into situations so terrifying that you won't be able to look away until you turn the final page. Now, in Faces of Fear, Saul proves that there's a fine line between perfection and madness.Fifteen-year-old Alison Shaw may not be beautiful, but she doesn't really care: She'd much rather read a good book than primp in front of a mirror anyway. But Alison's gorgeous mother, Risa, knows that beauty can be a key to success and wishes only the best for her daughter, especially when Risa marries a widowed plastic surgeon and moves Alison from Santa Monica to Bel Air. Beauty may be only skin deep, but to the denizens of Bel Air it means the world. Everywhere mother and daughter look, they are surrounded by beautiful people, many of whom have benefited from the skills of Alison's new stepfather, the charismatic Peter Dunn. Peter is certain he can turn Alison into a vision of loveliness, and Risa-drawn in by his cool confidence-is delighted. Reluctantly, Alison agrees to undergo the first procedure, and her transformation begins.
But soon Alison discovers a picture of Peter's first wife. To Alison's horror, she notices a resemblance between the image in the photo and the work her stepfather is doing on her. Though Risa refuses to acknowledge the strange similarity, Alison becomes increasingly frightened. Digging further into her stepfather's murky past, Alison uncovers dark secrets-and even darker motives-and realizes that her worst fears are fast becoming her reality.
Saul, John Books
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