Perhaps because this second of The Night Stalker series books was based upon the Richard Matheson screenplay (before changes were made for the second telefilm) it is actually more fun than the original book in the series by Jeff Rice. While keeping most of the pulp style elements of his original book, the tone is a bit less norish, and a little leaner and less meandering. It also has a fabulous ending, and a nice little love story for Kolchak. There are some interesting facts about the history of alchemy too, and some thrills near the end, when our favorite rumpled and grumpy reporter confronts a madman the police refuse — al always — to admit exists. This one is simply pure fun, the only caveat being a technical one, which is the horrendous Kindle version. Nothing has been justified, and incorrect words pop up now an again, and in a few cases are missing (usually a preposition). Proofing errors exist in all books, mainstream and independent, and if minimal, are no biggie. This however, is ridiculous, the frequency staggering. Fortunately, it’s such a fun story to read, it’s a small caveat. I refuse to knock off a star, because this is about the transfer to Kindle, and lack of attention to detail, rather than Richard Matheson’s fabulous fabulous story itself, as adapted by Jeff Rice. Fun stuff! ( )