Jeffrey Konvitz’s New York Times-bestselling horror novel about a young woman descending into demonic madness who discovers it’s not simply in her mind Aspiring model Allison Parker finally moves into her dream apartment: a brownstone on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. But her perfect home quickly turns hellish. The building is filled with a cast of sinister tenants, including a reclusive blind … tenants, including a reclusive blind priest, who seems to watch her day and night through an upstairs window. Eventually, Allison starts hearing strange noises from the empty apartment above hers. Before long, she uncovers the building’s demonic secret and is plunged into a nightmare of sinful misdeeds and boundless evil.
In the tradition of Rosemary’s Baby, this gripping novel was adapted into a feature film starring Ava Gardner, Cristina Raines, and Chris Sarandon. The Sentinel is classic horror at its best.
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Great twists in this classic horror novel!
The Sentinel, Jeffrey Konvitz, 1974
My favorite quote: “My dear Miss Parker, aside from the old priest, and now you, no one has lived in that building for three years!”
Notable characters: Alison Parker, the new tenant; Michael, her boyfriend; Charles Chazen, her strangle little neighbor; Gatz, the detective; Miss Logan, the realtor; Father Halliran, the mysterious priest
Most memorable scene: The surprise masturbation scene. Followed closely by the cat’s birthday party, of course. But first, the surprise masturbation scene …
Greatest strengths: The spook factor. Hands down
Standout achievements: Published at a time when horror fiction was rising to unprecedented heights, this book manages to stand out from the crowd, earning a rightful place next to unforgettable classics like Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist
Fun Facts: My collaborator, Tamara Thorne, and I met Jeffrey Konvitz a few years ago and were able to talk to him about this book and it’s follow-up, the Guardian. Truly fascinating stuff. He remains one of the most interesting writers I’ve have the joy of knowing
Other media: The 1977 film of the same name starring Cristina Raines, Ava Gardner, Chris Sarandon, and Burgess Meredith
What it taught me: So much — but most notably, the power of building intrigue
How it inspired me: Because this is one of the books I teethed on, it felt appropriate that I pay it some kind of homage in my own work. I did, in my murder mystery, Sleep Savannah Sleep, when I named a school teacher Mr. Chazen, after Alison Parker’s strange little neighbor in the Sentinel. The similarities end at the name, but I enjoyed tipping my hat this creepy little classic
Additional thoughts: Though strange, dated, and perhaps relying a bit too heavily on shock value, this book has that “cozy vintage horror” vibe that always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. For that reason, I overlook a lot of its flaws
My rating: 4 of 5
Haunt me: alistaircross.com