Offspring

I'm a fan of Smokey's reviews and her lists of horror titles. In fact she has inspired me to go buy quite a few new novels - including Bryan Smith's 'House of Blood' and 'Queen of Blood'. Also the absolutely brilliant 'Pressure' by Jeff Strand. So a great big thanks for those... I have read 'Off Season' - the 'original' version and Ketchum's preferred 'unexpurgated' edition, which is really a chance to restore the bleaker ending. 'Offspring' scared me more than the first book. I felt for the characters - David, Amy, Claire, Luke, and baby Melissa. I found it hard to turn the page wondering what was about to happen to them. (I haven't felt that level of terror in a book since reading Laymon's 'In The Dark'.) Ketchum is a psychologically acute writer. And he gets the anthropological sense of 'The Family' just right. It didn't feel like a lame sequel at all, but a darker shift of the lens. However, I won't be able to look at kitchen taps the same way after reading this. In the midst of all the awfulness is a sense of Ketchum's wisdom amd humanity. It's not what one would expect from a 'renegade' horror writer, but you can find treasure in the strangest places. (His book 'Cover' is one of the best novels ever about the effects of Vietnam, next to Kent Anderson's 'Sympathy For The Devil'.) I'm glad Ketchum is getting a bigger readership from the film tie-ins. He is one hell of a 21st century writer - examining the primal in human nature. This book is very well crafted - from the horrific beginning to the devastating end. Definitely worth a read.

Gripping writing style, fantastic setting and punctuated by visceral, gruesome horror. Great concept, particularly the primal tribe of ritualistic semi-humans. Characters that keep you hooked in. Exactly what I want from a psychological thriller.

I was disappointed with this sequel. I loved the first one but this just seemed a rehash. Ketchum is great at action scenes and horror is suitable nasty. Just didn’t engage.

An amazing sequel to the terrifying 'Off Season', where a group of cave dwelling cannibals attacked the peaceful residents of Dead River, Maine. It is now eleven years later and things seem to be back to normal. However, it seems that the offspring of the blood thirsty cannibals has somehow survived and are now ready for another gruesome night of blood and violence. A must read, especially if you have read 'Off Season.' Jack Ketchum is the undisputed master of the macabre. Absolutely terrifying.

IF YOU HAVE READ THE 1ST BOOK "OFF SEASON" THEN YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT AND THI SBOOK DOSENT FAIL,VERY VERY FREAKY AND SCARY. THE STORY MOVES AT SUPER CHARGED SPEED AND IT WILL KEEP YOU GOING TILL THE LAST PAGE.DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED!"!!!! BUT PLEASE READ THE 1ST "OFF SEASON" AND ANY OTHER JACK KETCHUM BOOK HE IS A MASTER OF GORE,SEX,FREAKY HORROR BOOKS

I've given this book 5 stars, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would recommend it highly. Full of fabulous twists and gripping till the very end. Will definitely read again sometime. Not for the faint of heart though good if you up for a bit of an adrenaline rush love, love, love it!

Not for me could not get into this book even after several tries it was so unbelievable where the author got this idea I do not know

This is a weird tale about a small tribe of naked cannibals, but instead of being south of the Amazon they are north of New York. If you like vicious murder, blood-sucking and molestation this is for you

This was my first read of Mr Ketchum's work and I'm looking forward to reading another novel by him. Be warned, he writes in a gritty r-rated descriptive style which, while, in my opinion, is not excessive or gratuitous, but can be a bit confronting for some readers.

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I had a hard time getting into it. The often extremely long sentences were hard to digest, especially since I'm not a native speaker. It took a while to get used to the writing style. The build-up felt long and rather slow, but once the mayhem starts, it starts with a bang. This sequel didn't have the same dread and gore as Off Season, but it's still a good read, and quite disturbing.

The book is action packed! A great story and not repetitive like some other authors. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. If you like action, horror then you’ll enjoy the story as I did. I love all of Jack Ketchum books. He never disappoints or is repetitive like some other authors. Enjoy!

offspring ist eine gelungene fortsetzung des horrorshockers off-season. klar, man wird sich fragen, warum hat jack ketchum das gemacht. wie geht das überhaupt, es wurden doch alle wilden am ende von off-season getötet. es hat halt eine wilde überlebt... und diese wilde, nur als the woman bezeichnet, hat sich einen neuen clan von wilden gezüchtet und zieht mit diesem wieder im alten jagdrevier umher, auf der suche nach neuen opfern und neuen mitgliedern. ihre opfer sind diesmal amy und david, ein junges paar mit baby, die von ihrer freundin claire und ihrem acht jährigen sohn besucht werden. schon bald sind diese leute in einen grauenhaften kampf ums überleben verwickelt. gleichzeitig schlittert auch steven, claires ex-ehemann, ein richtig mieser kerl, in diesen überlebenskampf. einzige hoffnung für all die leute scheint der alte, mittlerweile pensionierte und alkoholtrinkende ex-sherrif george peters zu sein, der vor 11 jahren die wilden erfolgreich bekämpft hat... dem buch gebe ich eben nur vier sterne, weil es einfach nicht mehr so schocken und überraschen kann, wie sein vorgänger. was jack ketchum allerdings sehr gut gemacht hat und was diese fortsetzung eben gut gemacht hat, ist, dass er viele interessante einblicke in die dynamik und in die motive der wilden gewähren lässt. und aufgrund seines schreibstils gewinnt die geschichte in der zweiten hälfte viel mehr dramatik als teil eins. ein gutes horror-buch, aber mr. ketchum sollte keinen dritten teil schreiben.