THE LONG DARK NIGHT

by Joseph Hayes ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 31, 1974

The hours are not so much desperate as long -- longer than the title implies and filled with so much violence -- almost more than you can glom. Beginning with the casket of a judge who is removed from it, skull and bones left perching on his headstone; proceeding with the sodomy of a youngster; on to the rape of lovely if feckless Coralie, fortunately already full of pills so she doesn't feel a thing, including her murder; on to arson and further ugly actions against the citizenry of a small town where Boyd Ritchie, after serving eight years in prison, returns to execute his reprisals -- namely with everyone in sight. Surely even if your taste is impounded, this is more than you will want to take (the publisher thinks otherwise and will promote it accordingly) in one engorged evening as ""his lungs gulped air, each gasp a spasm of agony.

Pub Date: May 31, 1974

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1974

Categories: FICTION