Waaaaay back in the early 80's, Stephen King pronounced: "Who's the scariest guy in America? Probably Jack Ketchum." It was, to say the very least, a Waaaaay back in the early 80's, Stephen King pronounced: "Who's the scariest guy in America? Probably Jack Ketchum." It was, to say the very least, a generous compliment that drew attention to a relatively unknown entity in horror publishing. Even to this day, Ketchum remains on the margins of an already ghettoized genre. He doesn't publish lots, and what he does produce tends to be graphic, propulsive stories filled with violence, sex, and grim outcomes.
He is most notoriously known amongst horror fans for his The Girl Next Door and Off Season. Neither are fit for the faint of heart, but it was the latter -- Ketchum's debut -- which a panicked, censorious publisher cut to pieces in 1980. It would be almost 20 years before an unexpurgated version was made available.
When Ketchum is writing at his absolute best, I would be hard pressed to think of anyone scarier. His prose is sharp and tight; he doesn't waste words and he will use them to haunt you and hurt you. His book of short stories Peaceable Kingdom contains some of the best writing I have read by anybody (and received the 2003 Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection).
This early novel (1984) is not Ketchum writing at his best but there is still a lot to recommend it. It's a coming-of-age horror story, set in a small town. It features an abandoned house with a gruesome history and a beautiful fucked up girl with a gruesome history of her own. Ketchum sets up the tension and the dread perfectly. You know something bad is going to happen, really bad, but with no idea exactly what (and the not knowing is always the best part). The climax is graphically realized and electric (if a little derivative).
As an audiobook, the novel excels. The reader has a deep baritone voice that whispers at the exact right moments to provide the desired shivery effect....more
Oy vey! This was a tough one ... boy, Jack Ketchum is definitely not for the faint of heart. He pulls no punches ever and this one is no exception. JuOy vey! This was a tough one ... boy, Jack Ketchum is definitely not for the faint of heart. He pulls no punches ever and this one is no exception. Just like his other infamous, traumatizing novel -- The Girl Next Door -- Only Child (previously published as Stranglehold) is inspired by true events -- and what a horrible and depressing story! Give me supernatural horror any day because at least then I don't have to brood about the real consequences for the real people involved. This one does not have a happy ending and left me feeling really shitty (hence, three stars). But it was compelling and well-written. ...more
Not crazy about this latest Ketchum novel. The featured bonus novella Right To Life is especially gruesome, 150 pages of "torture porn" -- not my thinNot crazy about this latest Ketchum novel. The featured bonus novella Right To Life is especially gruesome, 150 pages of "torture porn" -- not my thing. Ketchum is such a talented writer, there's no doubt about that but I felt like this latest effort was simply gratuitous for no good reason, unlike The Girl Next Door, which while horrific and also about torture, still had heart and empathic characters. ...more
Ketchum's prose is tight and puts you right into the story. Considering the brutal content of this particular novel, that can prove for heart-rending,Ketchum's prose is tight and puts you right into the story. Considering the brutal content of this particular novel, that can prove for heart-rending, heart-stopping reading. This book is not for the squeamish, and I'll admit, there are a few places where I thought I would have to quit it for my own sanity. Gets under the skin.
The Girl Next Door is the harrowing tale of two sisters, Meg and Sarah, who lose their parents in a car accident. They are sent to live with a relative, Ruth, who over the course of one summer, begins to become "unhinged" shall we say. As her madness grows, Ruth's treatment of the girls degenerates into abuse, and then finally, torture. The real horror here is that Ruth's three young sons and their friends become participants to the torture. ...more
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