'The Intruders' by Michael Marshall is a slow-burning thriller that follows the story of Jack Whalen, a former cop who becomes entangled in a mysterious plot involving a murder and a missing girl. The narrative weaves together different perspectives and timelines, keeping readers in suspense until the very end. Marshall's writing style is described as evocative and clean, with eerie descriptions that set the tone for the eerie events that unfold in the book.

Characters:

The characters are a mix of underdeveloped archetypes with Jack Whalen as a more complex central figure, although he lacks the depth of previous protagonists by the author.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines an engaging, sardonic tone with alternating first and third person perspectives, though it includes some repetitive language.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around a former cop and his unexpected reunion with an old classmate, unraveling a complex mystery that explores themes of reincarnation and a secret society.

Setting:

Set largely in Seattle, the narrative effectively weaves a familiar reality with unsettling horror elements.

Pacing:

The pacing receives mixed feedback, with many finding it excessively slow and drawn out, especially before the climax, while some appreciated the gradual buildup.

Notes:

The Intruders feels like it was padded from a shorter work due to its pacing.

The peripheral characters are often seen as sketchy and hard to distinguish.

The protagonist, Jack Whalen, is compared unfavorably to characters from other works by Marshall.

The story unfolds slowly, frustrating some readers as they anticipate a big reveal.

Jack meets his former classmate, Gary Fisher, leading to significant plot changes in his life.

The book touches on themes of reincarnation and secret organizations, which intrigue many readers.

Some characters are underdeveloped, leaving readers wanting more depth.

The novel was read quickly and is engaging despite some criticisms.

It explores questions about reality and human experiences, like déjà vu.

The book has connections to a television adaptation, but some feel the book offers deeper insights.

A mix of horror and science fiction tones is present throughout the story.

The author, Michael Marshall Smith, is British but set the story in Seattle, showing good research on his part.

Readers seem to appreciate the writing style, finding it clean and evocative.

The pacing is criticized, with some parts taking too long to develop but rewarding at the end.

Themes resonate with readers who enjoy mysteries that provoke thought about real-world phenomena.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of murder, violence, and psychological horror.

From The Publisher:

For ex-cop Jack Whalen, it all begins with a visitfrom a childhood friend, a lawyer who needs Jack's help. The family of a noted scientist has been senselessly, brutally murdered, and the scientist is nowhere to be found.

But Jack has more pressing concerns. The past that drove him from the L.A.P.D. continues to haunt him. And his wife has disappeared during a routine business trip to Seattle. She never checked into her hotel, she isn't answering her cell phone. She is gone.

A third missing person, a little girl in Oregon, is found miles away. But it soon becomes obvious that she is not an innocent victim . . . and far from defenseless.

Something very strange is happening-a perplexing series of troubling events that's leading Jack Whalen into the shadows. And the secrets buried there are unlike anything he, or anyone, could possibly have imagined.

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The Intruders

Michael Marshall