This was an ok read. I truly wanted to finish it which shows that the writer kept me interested. It wasn't anything all that special or memorable though. The ending was too abrupt and unsatisfying. It was like the book was leading up to nothing, just showing gruesome death after gruesome death with no real substance. Also, the author had way too many offensive stereotypes in his story. And another thing, the leading lady seems cold and unsympathetic to her husband's plight from the very beginning with no real proof that the poor bastard is in on anything. The novel never verifies whether he was to blame for anything. She just seems to not want to be bothered with a catatonic husband. I had a hard time rooting for her. My final verdict: not bad, only so-so though.
McDowell's writing style is so fluid and pleasing that even a far-fetched, drawn out plot such as is found in Amulet is satisfying. I did find the increasingly grotesque deaths getting tiresome, but still enjoyed the book very much. It's a shame this writer died so young and with such a sparse body of work; his later horror novels are among the best written.
McDowell's writing style is so fluid and pleasing that even a far-fetched, drawn out plot such as is found in Amulet is satisfying. I did find the increasingly grotesque deaths getting tiresome, but still enjoyed the book very much. It's a shame this writer died so young and with such a sparse body of work; his later horror novels are among the best written.
