It was a hot weekend and I picked this up as much for the shadowy tones of the cover as for the description. A suspense novel it was an engaging read due to the unique subject matter of people who investigate abandoned places. Today they are known as Ubexers, Legend Trekkers and several other names.
Creepers lends itself to the secret desire of people to look around in places forbidden, to reveal and discover that which is hidden, and to time travel even if only in their imagination. An abandoned hotel due for demolition makes the perfect setting.
Creepers has a solid cast of characters, story development is very good, clues are not too apparent to dissuade the armchair sleuth. The adventure is realistic and one can actually feel the light less, airless tunnels they tread through to enter the old abandoned hotel.
Readers hoping for something to go bump in the night will be disappointed, for all of Morrell's ability to craft atmosphere and suspense. The story is firmly grounded in the reality of this world with no visitations from the next. The reality in the present, however, is threatening enough to satisfy most readers looking for adventure, suspense, and mystery. Overall I can recommend the work as entertaining and one that will not leave you tossing the book against a wall as a vexed reader.
The characters are well constructed but a little two dimensional leaving the reader to wonder: "Do I care about this person or not?" If the book suffers from anything it is an over dependence on coincidence. The author may have been aiming for a jaunt into the Jungian sphere of synchronicity but maybe not.
