Hub_76 by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: mobi

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REVIEWS

Old Flames

reviewed by ross warren by Jack Ketchum

Leisure Books

£7.50

When horror writer Stephen King refers to another author as the ‘scariest guy in America’ people are going to take notice. Sadly the comment, about author Jack Ketchum, was evidently not made after reading the title novella, coupled here with a similarly themed tale from earlier in the writer’s career.

‘Old Flames’ is a well written thriller but it isn’t really horrific or frightening. The plot concerns Dora, a recently dumped career woman, who rues the missed opportunity of a high school romance with Jim that ended prematurely through her stubbornness. Through an agency, Flame Finders, she is able to track him down to LA where he

lives with a wife and two children. What ensues is a by the numbers thriller that is reminiscent of made-for-TV movies from the 80’s, particularly in a swimming pool scene which borders on cliché. Jack Ketchum is a skilled writer and there is nothing wrong in the execution of the tale it’s just that ultimately the plot is too flimsy and the characters too un-likeable to make this story engaging. Having said that it is a quick and engrossing read, although Ketchum appears to have lost the comma key from his computer, so rarely is it used, which leaves you almost unable to pause till the end of the paragraph. This is peculiar to this story and appears to be a conscious choice on the author’s part, possibly to convey a sense of the way in which Dora is ploughing ahead with her actions without pause to consider the implications of her decisions.

The additional bonus novella, Right to Life, is actually the longer of the two stories but being a re-print from earlier in Ketchum’s career you can see why it is not the story on the cover. The protagonist of this story is Sara, who like Dora is a strong willed woman, who finds herself pregnant with the baby of her married lover. Choosing to have an abortion, she is abducted whilst on her way to the clinic. Her kidnappers imprison and abuse her with the aim of taking the baby for themselves. Sara uses her strength of character to remain dignified until the moment arises when she can attempt her escape. This story is arguably more effective than Old Flames and is certainly more gruesome and horrific.

As an introduction to the themes and style of Ketchum’s work these two novellas are an adequate representation and should be sufficient to compel the reader to search out his more entertaining works such as the acclaimed Girl Next Door and Red.

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