Down a Dark Hall
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Down a Dark Hall |
| Publisher: | |
| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | Emmie Busch |
| Cover Artist(s): | |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1996 |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Starsky and Hutch |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | part one; part two; part three |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Down a Dark Hall is a gen Starsky and Hutch 160-page novel by Emmie Busch.
Summaries
Summary 1996 from the author:
The investigation of a series of murders on campus of an exclusive women's college takes on a sinister twist, confronting S&H with an evil force that threatens their lives and their very souls. Some h/c and buddy moments.
Another summary from the author in 1996:
An S&H novella set in 1980, with the guys on active duty in their usual jobs. What would appear to be a routine, through grisly, murder investigation on the campus of an exclusive women's college unearths a very sinister force at work. Faced with evidence that will not fit neatly into a police investigation, Starsky and Hutch are often forced to operate outside the department and without back-up hunting for a ruthless killer. Warning: this novella contains supernatural 'scary stuff'! Read with the lights on... [1]
From a flyer:
HAVE YOU HEARD ANY STRANGE NOISES IN THE HALL LATELY?
IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO THE ABOVE QUESTION, YOU MAY WISH TO READ THIS NOVELLA BEFORE YOU DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO BOLDLY THROW OPEN YOUR DOOR AMD INVESTIGATE...
What would appear to be a routine, though grisly, murder investigation on the campus of an exclusive women's college unearths a very sinister force at work. Faced with evidence that will not fit neatly into a police investigation, Starsky and Hutch are forced to often operate outside the department and without back up in hunting for a ruthless killer. In the process, they find their lives, their partnership and their very souls at risk.
YOU MAY WANT TO LEAVE A LIGHT ON IN YOUR HALL TONIGHT...
Reactions and Reviews
1996
Down a Long Hall (sic) is a big step up from Busch's previous two novellas, both in style and characterization, though it is vaguely reminiscent of her short story, 'The Gate.' Taking some place some time after 'Sweet Revenge.' it revolves around a women's college with a nasty secret -- people tend to get slashed to death late at night in one of its buildings. Starsky is sent in undercover as a Judaism course teacher, which he actually pulls off very believably, but his cover quickly becomes unnecessary as it becomes clear that the two detectives are not dealing with an ordinary murderer. From there on, the story is not for the faint of heart, as the murders get progressively more gruesome, and possession, exorcism, and Satanism all enter the picture. There are some story-lines, particularly two relationships Starsky is juggling, that are left curiously unresolved at the end, and the supernatural elements, particularly the possession scenes may turn some off before the end. However, story-wise, the novella is fairly strong and easy to follow, definitely a page-turner. Starsky & Hutch's chemistry also works much better than in any of Busch's previous works. In all, the zine is a fun and worthwhile read. [2]
2006
You know how sometimes you can't explain why you like a story, but you just like it? I'm that way with Down a Dark Hall. I don't usually go for horror stories, spooky stuff, etc. But this one is really nicely done, with a good level of intimacy between the boys, and some interesting casework as they investigate murders at a prestigious college.
It's a nice Sunday afternoon read if you have the stomach for some soul-stealing horror (imagine a spooky cackle inserted here...). [3]
References
- ^ from Black Bean Soup v.2 n.26 (July 1996)
- ^ from v.2 n.34 (September 1996)
- ^ a 2006 comment at Crack Van