Rating: 5 stars (Spotlight Review)
When Alex Fletcher is sent away to boarding school for a minor crime committed to fit in with his peers, one of his three new roommates is Darren Rust. Strange and quiet, Darren always seems to hold himself apart from the rest of the students, leaving others to wonder what he's always scribbling about in his ever-present journal. When Darren invites Alex to sneak out one night, Alex finds himself drawn into Darren's world.
As the two come of age, Alex discovers some things are worse than not fitting in, like being accepted. When he meets his future wife, Alex's life begins spiraling downwards as Darren begins stalking him like prey, intent on making Alex his partner and protege. After making an decision in an unthinkable situation no person should have to face, Alex believes his life is finally his own again, only to find out that things can always go from bad to worse and that it can be easier than one thinks to turn into the very person you fear and despise the most.
Pressure is written with a laser-beam focus on the story of two lives intertwined through the course of decades. The writing and story line are tighter than a miser's pockets, and the pace accelerates as the book progresses. This allows it to avoid the mid-novel lag that seems to plague a lot of otherwise decent thrillers and promotes a high level of tension by the time you reach the conclusion. While the lack of smaller story arcs may be viewed as a detriment by some, in this instance the simplicity of the plot line is what allows the reader really be drawn in to the life of Alex Fletcher. Think about it; if you were being stalked by a murderous psychopath, would you be terribly interested in the back stories and side dramas of everything and everyone else around you? Probably not.
Predictable for horror, some scenes were shockingly graphic and may be too strong for anyone with a squeamish stomach - particularly in connection to children. With that said, Strand exercised judicious restraint and limited the gore factor to what was integral to the story. This allows Pressure to bypass any "hack and slash" labels and supports suspension of disbelief by the reader. While the final showdown between Alex and Darren is also predictable for a horror / suspense novel, it takes an interesting -- if brutal -- twist that lends a certain "morality" element to the book.
Overall, Pressure is a solid, well-written novel that is difficult to put down. Award nominations aside, I can easily see Pressure as a movie adaptation, and probably a better horror movie than most on the market today. It's worth the time spent reading it, and mainstream horror and suspense fans will likely enjoy it. Strand's latest novel is another beautiful feather in already well-plumed hat.
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Mass Market Paperback: 323 pages
Publisher: Leisure Books (May 26, 2009) (Dorchester)
ISBN-10: 0843962534
ISBN-13: 978-0843962536