Long before the film there was the written word. Long before we settled down in
front of video or now DVD players for our fright-fests, we would read tales of 
terror by candlelight.
For most, this has been lost, however there are still those that prefer the pages
to celluloid or even both and why not?
This section then is for you. To help you to search through the rubbish and find
stories worth your time to read. If you're an avid reader of horror novels then
why not join 'Castle Dracula' as an official 'staff member' reviewing them.
To do so, just click on the 'Join My Staff' link in the menu to the left for details
of this and other vacancies.

- Chain Letter -
- Ruby Jean Jensen -

The paper was yellowed with age and edged in black. The spidery words were elegantly 
penned: Whosoever possesseth this letter and dares to break this chain shall suffer 
disaster and death...
'Abby' and 'Brian' knew what they had found. A "chain letter." But it was unlike any 
chain letter their friends had ever gotten. This one was evil - they knew it in their 
souls. They dared not break the chain. They would send the letter to their special 
friends. And they would know who had broken the chain - by who had died...
When I first read the back of the cover I thought it was yet another chain letter plot. 
However, Jensen fanatic that I am, I whipped this baby up immediately and dug in that 
same day.
Thankfully it is not just another chain letter book --- oh no, not by far!!
The story is mainly through the eyes of 'Brian' and 'Abby,' two kids who dare to take 
the plunge of uncovering the mystery of the letter. It begins with 'Brian's' dog, 'Babs,'
going missing. The poor animal wanders in the old, abandoned 'Hawthorne Hill Nursing 
Home.' There three children - 'Brian,' 'Abby,' and 'Shelley,' find a piece of the letter. 
Pretty soon tragedy strikes but not just through deaths...also through how the children 
themselves change.
It’s not as cruel as some of Jensen's other books, though the atmosphere is still 
unsettling. Even though told through eyes of children much of the time, the tone is 
not really light.
'Brian' is an adorable little boy who is all innocence with a big heart. He's fun to 
read through and easy to sympathize with.
'Shelley' is also a well drawn character whose life is kind of bleak.
'Abby,' while not unusual, is a bit more bratty and thinks a little for herself a bit 
too much before the shit really hits the fan.
All other characters are likeable - although I would have liked to learn more on the 
bearded "man".
Ruby Jean Jensen writes like the best of them. Here is no different. Her choice of 
wording is beautiful and I love the analogies she uses. The writing doesn't get too 
stuffy though, where it crams the rhythm aside.
"Chain letter" is what it says it is...and so much more. It is more complex than the 
back of the book cover lets on. In fact, the cover blurb is slightly misleading, as it 
doesn't play out much like the words suggest. What unravels is a lot more rewarding.
The ending was a little abrupt and a bit of a letdown. The final few pages seemed to
come out of no where. I guess they were supposed to be a shocking revelation of sorts 
-- but with a revelation like this one I wanted to know more.
"Chain Letter" took me two days -- it would have been a lot less if I had more time. 
I found it, bought it, read it and then devoured it as I do most of Jensen's books. 
Not to be missed! 

Reviewed By Erin Williams.

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