John Saul Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Blackstone Chronicles Books
| An Eye for an Eye | (1996) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Twist of Fate | (1997) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Ashes to Ashes | (1997) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| In the Shadow of Evil | (1997) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Day of Reckoning | (1997) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Asylum | (1997) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Publication Order of Anthologies
| Sex, Drugs, Rock'n'Roll: Stories to End the Century | (1998) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
For over 35 years, John Saul has been publishing at least one New York Times Best Seller each year. Millions of his books are now available worldwide in print and translated in 29 different languages. Year after year he has been voted in as the lead author for Ballantine Books/Random House.
One of his works includes The Blackstone Chronicles, a six-book serial novel he published on a monthly basis for six stretches. The book appeared on New York Times Best Seller list for the better part of the year, winning awards and later on being developed into a video game—The Blackstone Chronicles—that’s still being played all around the world as we speak.
Born on Feb 25th, 1942 in Pasadena, California, Saul was raised in Whittier before graduating from Whittier High School, 1959. He thereafter enrolled to several colleges including Antioch in Ohio, Montana State University, Cerritos in Norwalk, and San Francisco State College, but didn’t last longer enough in any of them to actually graduate. Though he doesn’t hold any degree, his majors included Liberal Arts, Anthropology and Theater.
According to Saul, by the time he was deciding to leave college, he had already made up his mind that he was going to be a full time writer. But before his dream panned out, he was forced to spend 15 years of his youthful life doing all sorts of jobs to foot his bills as he tried to polish his craft.
Within the 15 years, Saul wrote a number of unpublished manuscripts and around ten books he published under different pens names. A case in point is a book he wrote during a weekend after he was laid off from work out of the blue. This book, as often joked by him, earned him $200; the amount he claims was the first earning he ever received from writing.
He eventually succeeded in finding an agent in New, whose best bet was to keep sending his manuscripts to various publishers, and make the rejection letters sound a bit hopeful. A glint of hope shone when one of his manuscripts was send to Dell, who even though didn’t like the manuscript enough to buy it, asked him if he could put together a psychological thriller. He had no option but to assemble the outline and keep his fingers crossed.
That’s when the hit came. Both his agent and Dell were unanimous in pointing out how the outline had all the ingredients of a best-seller. They were ready to stick their necks out for a first novel by an unknown author. So first they decided to promote the paperback on National TV, and the gamble paid off in ten folds.
A month after “Suffer the Children” was released, the book succeeded in sneaking its way in all the best-seller lists in the country, garnering the number one slot in Canada. That marked the beginning of all his subsequent books being made the best-sellers.
In addition to being a successful novelist, John’s interest in theatre has also paid off. As a playwright with several plays produced in Seattle and Los Angeles, and two of them optioned in New York, Saul’s feat in theatre is nothing to sneeze at. It goes without mentioning his “Cry for the Strangers” novel that Gerber Production Company and M.G.M made into a C.B.S movie.
In his “The Blackstone Chronicle” series, Saul follows the lives of several leading families in the fictitious small hamlet of Blackstone—the McGuires, the Beckers, the Connallys, and the Hartwicks, all of whom have a role to play in the shocking turn of events.
What’s more fascinating is how their lives have been intertwined through births, deaths, marriages, business dealings, hardships, rivalries, and occasional triumphs. It goes on to reveal the shocking events and circumstances that bind all the people of Blackstone together.
But how can you explain the relationships, the events, or the catalyst that establishes the motion that’s now the basis of all the evil that’s engulfing Blackstone? How best can you tell the separate stories of different characters whose lives are chained to one, long-hidden past and controlled by one powerful force?
The series has the answer to all the conundrums you have. Conceived in parts or installments, “The Blackstone Chronicles” series is full of suspense and intrigue that appears to take form as you head to finish all the volumes in the series. However, it’s important to note that each book under the series arrives with its own set of new puzzles, all of which connect towards the end of the series.
The first book in the series is “An Eye for an Eye: The Doll,” which begins with the story of Oliver Metcalf, an editor of the Blackstone Chronicle, fretfully presiding over a ceremony that’s supposed to see to it that the Old Asylum is demolished. Turns out, the building’s fate still hangs on the beam, as financial problems crop up forcing the projected to be frozen.
Next we are introduced to Contractor Bill McGuire, who, on the face of it, can’t hide his dismay over the halted project. He’s determined to proceed and finish the project without further ado, notwithstanding he has a family and a pregnant wife to take care of.
Before he gets in over his head with the project, someone drops a package at his door. Mrs McGuire opens it only to find it’s an antique doll with blond hair. Her young daughter, Megan is all fired up about the gift and can’t stop wrapping her arms around it. But, Bill’s wife, Elizabeth smells a rat. Who sent the doll and what is it for? But what both Bill and Elizabeth are yet to find out is that such innocent gifts often herald a murderous menace in Blackstone.
As much as the second book–Twist of Fate; The Locket—in the series is still connected to the first, it features loads of new characters and its own unique puzzle. First we are introduced to Jules Hartwick, who has hit the highest echelon of success in almost all aspect of his life. Being the president of the first National Bank in Blackstone, his career is one to be admired by many. He has a lovely daughter, whose wedding plans to another tycoon are still underway. But there’s one rub in Jules’ theoretical happy life—the Federal Reserve is on his neck and the disturbing audit comes as a bottleneck to all plans to finance the Blackstone Centre, slated to rise on the Old Asylum’s site.
Now on one fateful night, after relishing a lavishing dinner, another mysterious package is dropped at Hartwick’s doorstep. But this time the gift is a silver Locket; not a doll as with the McGuire. Who sent it and why? Jules can’t trace the root of his suspicions. But as it turns out, this second sinister gift is supposed to unleash a long chain of bloodcurdling events that will run all through to the last volume.
Book Series In Order » Authors »
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As a 11 y/o latch key kid, I spent a lot of time alone in our apartment while my mom and siblings were out doing their thing. One rainy afternoon, I was home alone and had nothing to do, so I picked up my mom’s (adult) book “Suffer The Children”. I started reading and 4 hours later my brother came home and slammed the door. Yep, I jumped out of my skin and heart pounding from the book and the sound. If a book could drag me that far into it to the point that I felt true fear of the kids behind the rock, was amazing, I became an avid reader. I have read all of John Saul books (some twice) as well as 10,000 other books. Now I have no time to read so I use ebooks. I have gone back as an adult and listened to his books and they are just as intriguing now as when I was a kid. John Saul is the reason I lone books and he taught me to “see” what I was reading instead of just reading. He has a true talent. I wish there were a 1000 more John Saul books. He is truly one of my favorites.
I am currently reading through the John Saul books.
I am now reading Nathaniel, and looking forward to much more good reading to come.
I am now a dedicated John Saul fan.
I read most of his books years ago and still have the hard backs ,,which I will read again,I always wondered why he stopped writing .
Well it’s 2022 and there hasn’t been any new books written by Mr John Saul since 2009 by lists of his total books of 37 ! What happened?? I have all of the 37 !
Read this on his Facebook site: Hi, In early November 2020, in the midst of COVID world I wrote to my fans, friends and family that I was, indeed, retired, however if Joe Biden won the 2020 election and was inaugurated, I was going to write something for everybody and send it off.
I wanted to write something that was John Saulish and I wanted it to be somewhat relevant to these times.
Well, I finally finished the project. It’s called “Home Sweet Home” and here is a link to a pdf. You can read it online or download it.
http://www.johnsaul.com/files/135944768.pdf
Happy Spring and stay safe.
John
After raising 5 children and then working nights for 26 years i never had time to read books. Then at a library old book sale i discover John Saul. What a thrill. I can’t get enough of him. But i discovered him so late i could get all his books without waiting for his next. I have read every one of his 30 books except I only have books 2,3,5,6 of Blackstone Chronicles. I am lookin for 1 and 4. He is the absolute GREATEST writer i have had the honor of reading. I will re-read his books for years to come. With all my heart Thank You Mr. Saul for sharing your talent with us.
I love all of his books. I am looking for m0re
i enjoy all of Saul’s work and have read most of it and plan on reading the ones i missed which isn’t many. i have read several more than once and will read them again. hopefully he puts many more books.