Late at Night

Yes, while the basic premise was inspired by TEN LITTLE INDIANS (in fact, the book admits it at one point, one of the characters saying this reminds them of it), William Schoell really ran with it. This is a very nice little horror story about 14 people on haunted Lammerty Island off the coast of Maine. 1 of those people is a twisted necromancer who can channel the power of the island's many tragedies. The other 13 are its potential victims. How many will fall, in what grisly manner, and who IS the necromancer? Those are the three questions that will keep you reading LATE AT NIGHT. Schoell did an excellent job all around, but some parts deserve special mention. The introduction with the history of Lammerty Island is a nice way to set things up and let the reader know more than the characters (almost always a nice situation to build suspense). Each of the 14 characters are well-drawn and distinct. The first two deaths are wonderfully chilling. Most of the deaths fit in with the necromancer's motivation and characterization, once you find out who it is and reread. And about three-fourths of the way in is a plot twist that I NEVER saw coming. If I could change one thing about this book, I'd add a map of Lammerty Island in the front and/or back. Every now and then I got a bit confused as to the geography. Schoell always writes good stuff, and this is no exception.

I don't know how the last reviewer got the idea that this could have been a basis for the Scream movies. Just to get that out of the way. But I will tell you what this book is.... It is a treasure, I found it hidden away at an old bookshop I happened to pass through. I read his other book, The Dragon, another phenominal one night read. But Late at night is a great story, a fast read and it keeps you at the edge or your seat..or in my case...on my feet for hours cause i couldnt even put it down to take a proper shower and ended up standing in teh shower stream holding the book up to keep it from getting wet, for three hours.This book is nearly perfect in terror and if you are lucky enought to have the chance to read it then do so...

William Schoell's "Late at Night" is a clever little horror story the plot of which you'll recognize if you've seen the movie "Scream." A bunch of different characters are drawn into an old mansion where they find a book that features a bunch of people just like them getting killed off one by one! I don't know if this book was the inspiration for "Scream," but it should have been. Its a good read for lovers of horror fiction.