Bad Things

I had read Marshall's STRAW MAN trilogy of books and loved them. They were totally engrossing and deeply disturbing. Knowing this, I expected the same with BAD THINGS and was not disappointed. Marshall is a master at keeping everything just below the surface. Even the most mundane moments leave you with the feeling that there is something evil and sinister lurking behind. BAD THINGS incorporates the same creepiness that his other books have, and leaves you wondering just what the next page will bring. You always know that something weird and eerie awaits you. I did find the ending to be somewhat lacking. However the rest of the book is so strong that it didn't bother me. A five star recommendation.

Michael Marshall has created a formidable story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Even the innocent rustling of leaves makes your scalp crawl. I cannot read this book at night when I'm alone--it's just too creepy. But creepy in an excellent way. When two people have died mysteriously -- a little boy and a sixtyish man--no one seems concerned about investigating. But three years after his son dies, John Henderson is drawn back to that horrible place and back into the nightmare. Will the woman who says she "knows what happened to his child" be able to lead him to the truth? Or will she, too, die before the that truth is exposed? Something wicked lurks in North West Washington State. This book is a must read for those who like their thrillers with a touch of ghoul. Definitely recommended read. Diane Davis White Author, Moon of the Falling Leaves

I was so surprised by this book. I love thrillers but have read so many that I am seldom intrigued by a plot. This book is so well written and the story so well told, that I literally couldn't put it down. If you like eerie stories whose characters hold your interest, this is the one for you. I was so taken with the author that I ordered other books by him. Order this; you won't be disappointed.

I was a fan of Michael Marshall back when he was writing Science Fiction (as Michael Marshall Smith), but his thriller/horror novels ("Straw Men" etc) failed to grab me. "Bad Things" has changed that. Rather than going for all-out horror, this time the story has the kind of slow, claustrophobic and occasionally surreal uneasiness of (say) a David Lynch movie. In places, it even seems initially to be padded with unnecessary detail and superfluous characters, but gradually the strands all weave together and you realize that everything is relevant after all--and that if anything, a few of the characters could have used more fleshing out. Unlike some of the author's other books, the plot twists here are more like gentle curves, albeit the kind of curves you find on a mountain road. It's more of an unfolding mystery than a thriller, though at times the tension level gets pretty high; there are few flashes of the offhanded humor often found in the author's SF, and that's probably for the best. I'd recommend the book to pretty much anyone, which is a rare thing. I ended up staying up late to finish it, which is also unusual.

Absolutely outstanding! Michael Marshall has been a favorite of mine since his Straw man series, and in Bad Things, he has written an even better story! We have a mix of fine mystery and suspense, combined with seriously creepy plot twists. It isn't by accident that one of the blurbs is by Stephen King! The story opens with the sudden death of a child in strange circumstances. It fast forwards 3 years to find the narrator (the father) with his life totally changed. While he was previously a high paid lawyer, now he is a waiter. He is happy enough, however, and as at peace as possible, given the history. Suddenly he gets a message from a stranger that she "knows what happened." The story flies forward from that moment into very unexpected and uncharted territory. The writing is tight and every word perfectly chosen. This thriller arrived in my mailbox at 2pm yesterday and I read it straight through! It was so compelling that I carried it in the car to an appointment and read at the red lights! I recommend this book without hesitation!