Dark Mountain [Paperback]

Two families get together to go hiking and camping in the northern California mountains. Unbeknownst to them, they are not alone as a crazy old witch and her son are hiding out there. As the group gets into the mountains, the villainy arises. What we get here is a very good build up that feels a bit like Wrong Turn, which I just love. Events lead to a curse being laid on the families by the witch turning the story into something a little reminiscent of Stephen King's Thinner. This in turn leads to a smaller group returning to the mountains to try and remove the curse. What I always find odd with Laymon, is he introduces some hint of a life changing event in one character's past life but then never really ever expands upon it like you want him to do and you're always left with a nagging "what was the point of that sub-story then" kind of feeling; in this one, it's Karen's car crash from years before.

All in all, I was absorbed into the first portion of the book in the mountains. The next portion when the families return home has to deal with a drastic slowing of action or suspense but there are still a couple solid scenes within. The last part, the return to the woods, picks up again although becomes predictable until the end scenario. Overall, certainly better than some of his other stories but still doesn't contend with the The Beast House series.

I love Mr. Laymon's books. I just wish they were easier to find and more readily available. Once again he takes us on an adventure that we can't resist. What's so scary about going hiking and camping? The great outdoors, fresh air, fresh water, beautiful countryside and good company. No, nothing scary about that. Unless, of course, some weirdo attacks you and rapes you in the middle of the night and your campmate is forced to kill him. Unfortunately, it doesn't end there. The weirdo has an evil witch for a mother and she's not about to let you get away with killing her precious son. Anyone know how to remove a curse?

In Richard Laymon's latest re-released book, Dark Mountain, the reader finds himself (or herself) in familiar territory with a plot that focuses on ordinary people who encounter nasty things in the woods. In fact, many of the elements of Dark Mountain will seem familiar to Laymon fans, but that won't diminish the end result: another nasty yet entertaining book.

For the divorced Scott, a camping trip to the mountainous forests of California is a perfect chance to get away with his new girlfriend Karen and have her bond with his kids, Julie and Benny. Julie is a sullen teenager, while Benny is the fantasy-loving pre-teen. Also along for the trip is Scott's friend Flash and Flash's family, including teenage son - and soon to be Julie's love interest - Nick. Unfortunately, the woods they visit are already occupied by an old woman with supernatural powers and her monstrous son who wants to rape and murder every woman he sees; it is an urge that not even his mother can stop.

Although you might expect that the story would involve an increasingly desperate battle between the campers and their stalkers, Laymon throws a twist in: by the halfway point, the two families are safely back home. Actually, "safe" may be overstating things, as new problems beset them and force a return to the woods for a final confrontation.

In many ways, this is standard Laymon material, with vicious villains and an obsession with sex (and no end to the descriptions of female anatomy). Yet, in a way, this is almost a kinder, gentler Laymon, with a slightly more restrained level of violence. But only long-time Laymon fans will notice that difference, and even they won't be disappointed in the final result. Dark Mountain may not be for everyone, but horror fans should be pleased with it.