Night in the Lonesome October

Richard Laymon

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

Ed Logan is 20 years old and a sophomore at Willmington University. He's also been dumped by his girlfriend. Lonesome and broken-hearted, he goes for a late-night walk. He doesn't know where he's headed. He doesn't know what he's going to do when he gets there. And he has absolutely no idea of the strange people he is about to meet. Like Casey, the athletic blonde who roams the streets as if she's on a mission. And then there's Randy, who's definitely on a mission - to make Ed's life hell. And then there's the others. Not exactly people. And very definitely not friendly. If Ed's not careful, he's not going to make it home at all...

About the Author:
Richard Laymon took an MA in English Literature from Loyola University, Los Angeles. He worked as a schoolteacher, a librarian and a mystery magazine editor before concentrating on writing full-time. He died in February 2001.

Review by Jessica (310312) Rating (8/10)

Review by Jessica
Rating 8/10
On February 14 2001, one of the best kings of horror, Richard Laymon, died of a heart attack aged just 54. His memory and horror literature still lives on... thank God!

Twenty year old student Ed Logan is filled with high hopes as he returns to Willminton University for his second year. For Ed, summer has been too long without his girlfriend, Holly. However as soon as he returns to student life, he receives a letter from Holly who says she "will always cherish the times we had".

Heart-broken and teary eyed, Ed sets off on a walk in the middle of the night towards Dandi Donuts. As he is walking along the familiar streets, he spots a mysterious girl who skips along the curb edge. Intrigued Ed can't help himself and starts to follow her home. When she slips inside a darkened house, the mystery grips Ed and from then on almost every night he begins his ritual - following the anonymous girl with the long blonde ponytail through the streets.

At university, Ed bumps into Holly's best friend, Eileen Danforth, and before Ed knows it, he is having a relationship with Eileen. Soon both are pulled into the unknown as other characters play along the storyline.
The mad hag on the bike who comes peddling down the streets in the light of the moon. The cannibal trolls under the bridge who wait to capture passers by. And the strange man who Ed encounters later on in this chilling read. They all come together to give this tale life.

A good ending although the downside was there were simply too many sexual scenes for my taste. Still absolutely brilliant, although others may say it's not very imaginative. Laymon created such creepy characters, storylines and places with his way of using words. This book is totally addictive and will still be enjoyed by many in the years to come. Maybe not one of his best horror books, but still a favourite of mine.
Jessica (31st March 2012)