Day of Reckoning: The Stereoscope [Mass Market Paperback]

As I was expecting, the tension DID build in this installment of the Chronicles, but entirely too quickly. Yes, I did find this tale terrifying, but the rush-rush pace of the plot left "The Stereoscope" very unsatisfying. However, this story cannot be forgotten in the twisted web of the Chronicles because it reveals major aspects of the intriguing plot.

Arghh, still the same as the other installments, but a little better written than parts one and two and on par with three and four. Now let's see how he finishes it..

******THERE WILL BE SPOILERS OF EARLIER NOVELS******

And so the retribution continues. In the town of Blackstone, there is a project to renovate the inside of the now closed, but still hated and feared, Blackstone Asylum into a series of small shops and restaurants. Unfortunately somebody it taking a dim view of this, and they are now sending out cursed objects to the various people who had past, or have present ties to either the Asylum, or the renovation project. "The Blackstone Chronicles" is a novel serialized in six short (88 pages) monthly segments. In number one, an antique doll is sent to the developer, in number two, a locket is sent to the financer, in number three and four, old employees are sent a cigarette lighter and a handkerchief respectively. And misery, murder and destruction follow. This time a stereoscope has been left for Ed Becker and his family. Becker is the lawyer of the bank that is financing the Asylum renovation project. The stereoscope is found in a dresser which Ed Becker has purchased, and that he is trying to refurnish, from Melissa Holloway who is now running The First National Bank of Blackstone after the mysterious death of its original owner and manager. The pictures that can be used in the stereoscope are mysteriously of Becker's house. These pictures, or the possession of the stereoscope, are causing Becker to have dreams that he is interpreting as premonitions. And the dreams are getting more and more severe.

As this episode starts, assistant librarian Rebecca Morrison, who has been directly involved in two of the serialized novel's past incidents, has disappeared. People are suspicious. Was she involved in the town's mysterious happenings? Did she run away? Or was she disappeared by foul means.

In actuality, she was kidnapped in the previous installment, and throughout the novel she is kept captive. Although she is not excessively abused, neither is she treated well, and we are left wondering as to why she was abducted.

Her wannabe boyfriend Oliver Metcalf, who is the editor and publisher of "The Blackstone Chronicle", the town's weekly newspaper, is worried and is actively looking for her. And he seems to be the only one that believes that she is totally innocent of all suspicions. But he has his own troubles. Throughout the series he has been having migraines, and not only are they getting progressively worse, but each one is accompanied with visions of a small boy who is being tortured inside the Asylum.

Again, while the story is gathering steam towards its ending, and as we become more intrigued as how all these incidents will eventually fit together, the main problem just continues to be the novel's characters. The main characters seem to have come right out of central casting, while the supporting cast just seems like mobile furniture. Still, the story is full of suspense; even it will remind most of tv shows like "Friday The 13th" or "Warehouse 13". Unlike the other episodes, this story seems more like a bridge episode that is there to build up towards the grand finale rather than an almost stand-alone episode like most of the other episodes have been. You can't read this one without reading the previous episodes, and the curse this time seems rather weak.

For this site I have all six of these volumes in this series:


The Blackstone Chronicles #1: Eye for an Eye: The Doll (Blackstone Chronicles).
The Blackstone Chronicles #2: Twist of Fate: The Locket (Blackstone Chronicles).
The Blackstone Chronicles #3: Ashes to Ashes: The Dragon's Flame (Blackstone Chronicles, Part 3).
The Blackstone Chronicles #4: In the Shadow of Evil: The Handkerchief (Blackstone Chronicles).
The Blackstone Chronicles #5: Day of Reckoning: The Stereoscope (Blackstone Chronicles, Part 5).
The Blackstone Chronicles #6: Asylum (Blackstone Chronicles) (No 6).

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