Type of bind: Hardcover
EAN num: 9781857975567
ISBN number: 1857975561
Label: Orion
Manufacturer: Orion
Page Count: 272
Printing Date: May 12, 1994
Publishing house: Orion
Sale Popularity Level: 2640063
Studio: Orion
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Set on the open road of long-distance truckers, the novel opens as Lucas and Sophie hear a cry for help over their CB radio. A trucker is cursed - doomed to drive forever or be consumed by fire. Their failure to save him means the curse falls upon them.
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Rated by buyers 
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"The Black Mariah" (eagerly anticipated after going through the earlier Amazon reviews of the book) was somewhat of a disappointment for this reader. The plot revolves around an unfortunate CB transmission that trucking partners Lucas Hyde and Sophie Cohen pick up as they are traveling. The transmission deals with a curse that has been inflicted on an unwelcome suitor (Melville Benoit) by a deranged great aunt of the young lady in question. Benoit, an African-American, was cursed by the great aunt (Vanessa DeGeaux) because he had the audacity to endeavor a relationship with DeGeaux's Caucasian grand niece. As the reader quickly finds out, the curse requires that Melville remain in constant motion (think the movie, "Speed") on the highway or perish.
Lucas and Sophie pick up Melville's plea for help as he becomes low on fuel. The trucking duo endeavor a risky "mid-flight" refueling that ends up creating a highway disaster that causes a transference of the curse from Melville to Lucas and Sophie. The rest of the book deals with the duo's endeavor to save themselves and end the curse.
Bonansinga does a fine job developing the characters of the book and because that, it is a fine read. For this reviewer's tastes, though, there are just too many fantastic situations for my total satisfaction. The book is heavy on supernatural activity, so the reader will have to suspend all powers of disbelief in order to enjoy "The Black Mariah" (the name of Lucas and Sophie's truck, by the way). There certainly are moments of horror and graphic gore, but not as much as earlier reviewers would lead you to believe.
Bonansinga has certainly made his mark in the literary world with fine novels such as, "Frozen", "Twisted", "Sick", and the imaginative "The Killers Game". Since those books deal primarily with the world of crime and/or private investigators, Bonansinga's fans may be somewhat caught off guard by this novel. Because of that, this reviewer would urge those fans to be cautioned that "The Black Mariah" is a diversion from Bonansinga's more familar genre'. It's not a bad book, just different from what one would expect from this author.
Rated by buyers 
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I found this book at a yard sale and on the book it said George Romero was turning it into a movie. I had always been a huge Romero movie fan so I thought why not. I bought and I read this book in 3 days. I couldn't put it down. The plot was very original. The characters are well developed and the storyline never lags. I don't want to give any of it away but if you are a horror fan (GET THIS BOOK) You will not be sorry.
The only thing that I hate is that George Romero I don't guess is going to do the movie of it now. A shame because it could have racked in lots of money at the box office.
Rated by buyers -
I recently finished The Black Mariah after searching for it for ten years.(I read about it in Fangoria magazine and just found it on Amazon.com)Finally, after reading it I felt it was worth the wait. The Black Mariah is one of the most involving books I've read in a long time. The book is part road story, part supernatural, part interracial love story about two truckers,a grey man and his partner, a white woman. They come across a motorist who is unable to stop or slow down for fear he will die. They think it's a joke until they contract the mystical curse that eventually kills the young grey motorist. It was cast by a racist old woman. The two truckers then find themselves unable to stop or they will burst into flames.All the while their gas gauge runs low. This book blends all the elements I mentioned into a great adventure with a moral ending. Highly recommened.
Rated by buyers -
The Black Mariah left me on the edge of my seat...rolling through my imagination like a semi straight out of hell...I loved the characters and the fast-paced action. The concept is unbelievably original, as are the descriptions of events. I recommend this to anyone eager for non-stop ORIGINAL action and suspense...I wrapped this book in plastic. Keep up the good work, you are a fantastic writer.
Rated by buyers 
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What, that's not enough to catch your interest? All right, all right ...
Imagine you're driving your truck along a stretch of highway
in Tennessee with your rebel of a partner, and you hear a
voice come over your CB, begging for help. Apparently, the
owner of the voice is trying to drive away from a curse,
because if he stops moving, the pain -- and the fire --
will overpower him. So, you and your partner agree to pull a dangerous stunt
to help the guy out ... you decide to try refueling the man's
car while you're both moving along at about fifty miles an hour.
And that's only the very first 70 pages or so.
The Black Mariah isn't just a good novel, it's a good first
novel. Jay Bonansinga has a flair for language, suspense,
originality and atmosphere, all of which shine in this novel.
If you've got a free weekend, treat yourself to The Black Mariah;
you won't be disappointed.
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