Bargain (6 books in 1 vol) John Saul's The Blackstone Chronicles ($8.77-$9.99)

[arcadata]

John Saul's The Blackstone Chronicles: The Serial Thriller Complete in One Volume (6 Novels in 1 volume) is $8.77 at the Sony eBookstore, $9.99 at B&N Nook and $9.29 at Kobo Books & Amazon Kindle.

Product Description:

Now, for the first time, the New York Times bestselling serial thriller is complete in one terrifying volume. John Saul, the master of supernatural suspense, John Saul, brings to chilling life the small New England town of Blackstone--and the secrets and sins that lay buried there. . . .

From atop Blackstone's highest hill, the old Asylum casts its shadow over the village. Built in the 1890s to house the insane, the Asylum has stood vacant for decades. But now, the wrecker's ball is about to strike--and unleash an ominous evil. Strange gifts begin to appear on the doorsteps of Blackstone's finest citizens.

Each bears a mysterious history. Each brings a horrifying power to harm. Each reveals another thread in the suspensefully woven web of . . .

THE BLACKSTONE CHRONICLES (Six books)

Part I--An Eye for an Eye: The Doll
Part II--Twist of Fate: The Locket
Part III--Ashes to Ashes: The Dragon's Flame
Part IV--In the Shadow of Evil: The Handkerchief
Part V--Day of Reckoning: The Stereoscope
Part VI--Asylum

[TrvlrsChick]

If you get this at kobo, you can use the 50% off coupon 1stbirthday, today only.

[arcadata]

Amazon dropped down the price to match Sony - it's also $8.77 right now for the Kindle.

[koland]

After looking at the description and an author interview, this seems to be a long serialized novel, not six novels in one. Originally published in six parts (and seriously overpriced in paperback, it appears). Anyone whose read it?

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by koland

After looking at the description and an author interview, this seems to be a long serialized novel, not six novels in one. Originally published in six parts (and seriously overpriced in paperback, it appears). Anyone whose read it?

I read it in installments when it first came out. Like Stephen King's The Green Mile, it was published in short paperbacks that came out one month after the other. It had some fun parts, but it's no Green Mile. It reminded me more of 1980s horror novels with haunted antiques.

It has been a while since I read it, but I seem to remember liking the first couple of parts better -- I think because I liked the stories involving the old asylum and the doll and the locket better. However, long-time fans of John Saul may have liked it more because some of the characters of his previous novels appeared in the installments -- at least those who survived. For example, one of the priests from Punish the Sinners appears in the stories.

You can read a couple of excerpts on the official Blackstone Chroncicles site at Random House. For example:
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/.../locketex.html

and

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/...locketex2.html