Mr. X is a 1999 horror novel written by Peter Straub.
Ned Dunstan returns to his hometown after many years once he has a premonition of his mother Star's death. Ned has suffered seizures on his birthday every year of his life, and during these seizures has seen visions a mysterious figure named Mr. X commit horrific crimes. His visit back leads Ned to investigate his hometown and family's history to find the identity of his absent father... and leads him right into the crosshairs of Mr. X.
List of tropes applying to this novel:
- Ax-Crazy: Mr. X is violently homicidal at the best of times, and brutally murders people with no provocation.
- Faux Affably Evil: Mr. X is quite sophisticated, polite, and upbeat, but it's all a mask for how much of a violent, homicidal sadist he really is.
- Friendless Background: Downplayed. It's never indicated Ned was friendless as a child, but during college he quickly found himself isolated and friendless, which caused him to become increasingly depressed.
- Parents as People: Star is a loving mother to Ned, but she's also deeply irresponsible and unsuited to parenthood. She leaves him in the care of his foster parents and only visits him occasionally throughout his childhood, despite loving him deeply.
- Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: As a child, Mr. X murdered animals and tortured a teenage girl, all of which his wealthy family covered up.
- Would Hurt a Child: Mr. X, in his first POV chapter, murders a baby in a fit of spite. He makes it clear he's more than willing to kill other children too.
