Stephen D. Frances (1917–1989)

Quick and satisfying horror/science fiction story about a series of gruesome murders of young women that leads Scotland Yard and a doctor to some unbelievable conclusions based on the superhuman strength of the killer. Basically a book you can just sit down and read all the way through. And all the time you just keep thinking, "If these British police would just carry guns, this might not have happened!" Although perhaps a bullet wouldn't have done the trick. Definitely gruesome, with alternating chapters about an Olympic Athlete who wakes strapped to an bed attended by a beautiful nurse who periodically gives him injections and when he wakes up WELL IT'S JUST TOO HORRIBLE TO TELL!!!! Meanwhile, the encounters between the young doctor, Scotland Yard, and the bad guys have a sort of gleeful maniacal humor to them, it's easy to see why this was turned into a picture with no less than Vincent Price, Christopher Lee AND!!! Peter Cushing. Although a check on IMDB shows that they apparently changed a few names and undoubtedly part of the plot as well. Still, I was looking to read a horror book as a change of pace and this one delivered in an over-the-top Saturday Morning serial sort of way. I'd be interested to check out some of Saxon's other books. (Actually, I just checked and the Saxon name was used by a whole host of writers. I sorted out a couple of titles--but there are so many, including translations, that it will take an expert to figure out what belongs to whom.)… (mehr)