Review: Black House

Black House by Stephen King & Peter Straub
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This second installment in The Talisman series is quite different from, but every bit as good as, the first. It could be read as a standalone novel, but I suggest reading The Talisman first, to avoid spoilers and gain an understanding of The Territories and its connection to the Dark Tower. You can read my review of The Talisman here.

In Black House, the so-called Fisherman is hungry for children in the town of French Landing, Wisconsin, and retired LA police detective Jack Sawyer, who we first met during his cross-country trip to save his mother's life in The Talisman, wants nothing to do with the case. Jack refuses to get involved even in the face of requests from Dale Gilbertson, his friend and the local police chief. When yet another child disappears he reluctantly agrees to speak with the father and talk to the missing child's companions, and finally decides to help in the investigation. 

As Jack's involvement in the case deepens, memories of his childhood journey, and the many people - both good and evil - who he encountered on that journey, resurface. As they do, he begins to realize that there is more at stake than just the life of one child, and that there is little time left to prevent catastrophe. While he may no longer be as innocent as the twelve year-old he once was, he remains strongly determined to do everything in his power to oppose the evil that threatens the children and the worlds.

Black House is a supernatural crime thriller where Jack Sawyer and his allies are up against a truly evil killer who is supported/influenced by evil forces that seek much more than just the lives of innocent children. Unlike the Fisherman, they must also deal with an anxious and angry public, riled up by the incendiary writings of an unscrupulous journalist.

I will say that I wasn't a fan of the narration style that was so common in the first few chapters. For example:“Out Tyler’s window we go, away from Libertyville, flying southwest on a diagonal, not lingering now but really flapping those old wings.” It interrupted the story flow for me, although I noticed it less as I continued with the story. While I didn't care for it, it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story.

One thing I found surprising was that, unlike with The Talisman, there was no mention of ... consequences ... for flipping between worlds in Black House. In the earlier book, Jack hesitates to flip between worlds because of the potential impact. Perhaps it wasn't a concern in Black House because the barriers between worlds were thinner in the area around French Landing? Or maybe it just wasn't considered crucial to the story? 

When I started my recent re-read of The Talisman, although I didn't recall all the specifics, the scenes and characters felt very familiar to me because I have read it multiple times over the years. And if you had asked me before I started Black House earlier this month, I would have said I had read it at least once, if not twice. Yet as I got into the story I found that I didn't remember any of it at all. I'm not sure how this is possible, but I can only conclude that this was my very first read of this 25+ year old Stephen King/Peter Straub book. Color me flabbergasted! 

In any event, I think I'm as ready as I can be for the release of Other Worlds Than These on Oct 6, 2026. Black House has even deeper, and clearer, connections to The Dark Tower series, and I can't wait to find out what happens next, as the new book is reported to wrap up the entire Dark Tower story, revealing the fate of The Territories/Mid-world and all worlds. 

There will be water if God wills it.

-- Stephen King, The Dark Tower