I have often felt that in books as well as movies the art of suspense has died. We now have story after story of overly used plots, boring predictable twist endings and characters so shallow we don’t even bother learning there name.

I long for the days of the classic who done it, or just any story really that locks me in for the ride and makes me wish it wouldn’t end. It seems today all I do is wait for the book to end just so I can say I read it and justified my 20 bucks I spent on the future book shelf decoration.

That’s why today when I was board and wanted something to read I dug in too my old books from way back when and I found my first book I ever read.

“The Monster at the End of this Book, starring lovable furry old Grover,” By Jon stone and illustrated by Mike Smolin.

Though written in 1971 I feel this book can teach today’s writers many things about the building of a story, the growth of a character and an creating an ending that not only shocks your audience but lets them finish the story with the feeling of satisfaction of time well spent .

The story starts out simple enough, the threat of oncoming doom. A monster waiting around the corner only a few pages away. Our hero a young but brave is faced with the realization that disaster waits only a few page turns away and must try to prevent it from happening at any cost.

And who is his enemy keeping him from his goal of protecting not just him self from the beast at the end of the book but also the reader. It is none other than you and I who stubbornly keep turning pages no matter how many times he begs us to quit.

Grover pulls out all the stops on this illustrated thrill ride and shows a depth of emotion one normally only sees in the more upscale children’s book actors such as the dry humored Paddington bear or the ever flamboyant pokey puppy.

The writer takes the beloved character of Grover and uses him as the perfect mix of legendary larger than live demigod and an all too human character with flaws and weaknesses.

The pages were our blue furry protagonist attempts to tie the pages shut wile holding both ends of the ropes with his own arms I am reminded great biblical heroes like Sampson.

And when he walls up the page with bricks, he shows us that he also can utilize human ingenuity.

We are also reminded of our own flaws when every time his heroic efforts are made useless by our own human self destructive nature.

And like a true savior he never gives up trying to prevent the unthinkable from happening and never gives up hope that we will come to our senses and help him to help us help our selves.

And the ending is so well thought out and executed that it will make you rethink every thing you knew about your self and Grover.

Now some of you mite be skeptical that a book that is rated G can not only be an excellent read but also a  necessity to any ones horror/ suspense collection.

But to doubters I only have one thing to say.

This book was brought to you by the letter T for thrilling!