Eat the Dark

August 20, 2007
Set in what appears to be Pennsylvania, Schreiber's sturdy second novel (after Chasing the Dead
) features a classic thriller premise: people trapped in an enclosed space with a serial killer on the loose. When the police bring Frank Snow, a ruthless and possibly supernatural mass murderer, to soon-to-be abandoned Tanglewood Memorial Hospital for an MRI, Snow, of course, escapes and starts dismembering people. Security guard Mike Hughes, along with his wife and son, must travel through the hospital to find a way out. Cast members who are more than mere victims include the enigmatic Dr. Walker; the requisite beautiful woman, Jolie Braun, who may be having an affair with Mike; and the ghost of a suicidal ICU nurse. Luckily, there's a deeper mystery involving Dr. Walker and Snow, but unluckily it turns out to be irrelevant and ordinary. Working from the principle that less is more, Schreiber offers a lean scare tale that will resonate with slasher-film fans in particular.

December 24, 2007
Mike Hughes didn't expect his last night at the soon-to-be closed Tanglewood Memorial Hospital to be particularly memorable. But one patient wreaks havoc upon everyone left in the building when the lights go out. Trapped in the foreboding environment, Hughes and others must escape the brutal and deadly clutches of serial killer Jon Snow. Raudman delivers an enjoyable performance overall. Her pacing works well for the many suspenseful moments of the tale. While listeners may not be flinching at the exciting bits, they will certainly feel pangs of anxiety as Raudman increases her pitch and pace. Her tone, deep voice and light rasp often add to the suspense of the story. While some of her male characters come across as vocal caricature, Raudman's best talents reside in her vocalization of Snow and the maniacal edge within her performance that perfectly embodies him. Simultaneous release with Del Rey hardcover (Reviews, Aug 20).