Stranglehold

by Jack Ketchum

Book Overview

As her husband descends into insanity, Lydia Danse becomes determined to protect her beloved young son from his father, but a possessive Arthur Danse refuses to give up on the boy he considers his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1941408761
• ISBN13: 9781941408766
• Release Date: August 2018
• Publisher: Crossroad Press
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

you wont want to finish it, but you'll have to

incomprehensible, depressing, sick, but what nakes stranglehold so riveting is its realistic characters and story that could actually happen. I had to stop reading several times because I did not want to read on, but I had to, and sure enough, in Ketchum style things somehow get worse. I finished the book in about 3 hours on the day I recieved it. I know there are a lot of reviews out there on this book, but it leaves such an impression on the reader, one feels inclined to write down their opinion. reader beware: second only to The Girl Next Door in stories that delve into the depths of human tragedy, and leave you feeling as dirty as the characters in the story

Second only to _Girl Next Door_ in its power to disturb.

Despite what one or two of the other reviewers has said, this is indeed a great novel. It is not an easy novel to read, however, given the highly disturbing nature of the subject matter--child abuse--and the realistic way Ketchum portrays it. It is also a novel in which good does not triumph over evil (that's not really much of a spoiler, by the way--this almost never happens in a Ketchum book), which might also limit your enjoyment. It's not the book to choose if you want to curl up in front of the fireplace and enjoy a comforting, light, easy read. But, if you're willing to confront some of the more disturbing aspects of the human condition and the flawed nature of some of our society's institutions which sometimes enable, rather than prevent, nasty things to happen, give this book a try. It's second only to Ketchum's _The Girl Next Door_ in the level of nasty, disturbing, realistic horror that he's able to bring to his storytelling.

It will blow you away!

Stranglehold is the perfect name for this book, because that is exactly what it does to the reader, it locks you in its grips till the last page. Even after you have finished the book, it still has you in a "stranglehold". I am a big Jack Ketchum fan and have read all but 3 of his books, this is definately one of his best!

Great, but truly disturbing!

I'd read two other Ketchum novels (Joyride and Red), and a couple of his short stories. While I enjoyed all of them tremendously, NOTHING prepared me for this one! It is a superior novel, one that is impossible to put down once started (although you'll probably be tempted to out of sheer disgust at the subject matter and the way Ketchum presents it). It is also, possibly the most disturbing novel that I've ever read, and I'm a twenty-five year hardened veteran of all types of horror. The prose is clean, lean and mean, but don't expect your typical lightweight SK type of read. I loved the book, and highly recommend it, but only to those with a strong constitution. The reason I didn't go all out and give this one a "10" is that the ending was SO upsetting... it left a bad taste in my mouth for days after finishing it.

Ketchum NEEDS to be read!!!

I recently discovered a new author. His name is Jack Ketchum. I found several of his short stories first in a small-press magazine. I saw the titles of several of his novels listed in the introduction to the short story. I picked up a copy of Stranglehold and was blown away by the subject material that Ketchum chose to explore. This book deals with the very ugly side of child abuse in the same vein as Andrew Vachss' Burke novels albeit Ketchum is more graphic. I was physically disgusted by the aftermath of the scenes as I well should be. I don't want to ruin the book's ending for anyone but it does not have the typical ending one expects from a book that explores this subject matter. Suffice it to say I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is bored with all of the King/Koontz reprints so readily purchased at any supermarket checkout line. After reading this book, I was physically and mentally weary and had lost some faith in human beings. I dare anyone to claim they have experienced that feeling after reading any novel of recent memory. I then went out and found 2 more of his books (Joyride and Cover).