Cape Fear: A Novel

Name: Cape Fear: A Novel
Price: 12.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (1127 reviews)
Author: John D. MacDonald

by John D. MacDonald

Mystery Thriller Thriller

4.4 (1,127)

4.4 stars from 1,127 reviews. Top 89% of Mystery Thriller books we track.

208 pages~3.5 hr readPublished by Orion Publishing Group, LimitedPublished 1967-01-01

$12.99At peak price

Last checked: May 19, 2026

Price history: $1.99 – $12.99

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Price range: $1.99 – $12.99

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Perfect for you if...

You want to read the novel that inspired the cult classic film and understand why this 1957 thriller still feels shockingly modern.
You love psychological cat-and-mouse games where the antagonist is so methodical and patient that his presence alone becomes suffocating.
You're interested in how ordinary people respond when the legal system can't protect them, and what they're willing to do instead.

Maybe not for you if...

You're looking for a quick, action-packed page-turner. This builds dread through psychology rather than plot mechanics.
You need a clear moral framework where right and wrong are unambiguous. Bowden's choices become increasingly murky.
You prefer stories where the protagonist remains in control. Here, Cady orchestrates the terror from the moment he's released.

About this book

Sam Bowden is a lawyer with a successful career, a devoted wife, and three children. Fourteen years earlier, his testimony sent Max Cady, a convicted rapist, to prison. Since his incarceration, Cady has harbored an intense desire for revenge against Bowden, whom he blames for his imprisonment. Now released, Cady emerges from the shadows to torment Bowden's family and threaten to destroy his life. Faced with this threat, the Bowden family decides to take action themselves to protect what they have. The novel explores how far a family will go when confronted with danger from someone determined to exact vengeance.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$1.99 – $12.99

Price has dropped 6 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 310 days. Typically stays discounted for 9 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently #3,363 in the Kindle store — a top-10K bestseller.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.4★ from 1,127 reviews

Gaining approximately 8 new reviews per month. Rating has climbed from 4.3 to 4.4. Recent readers are rating it higher.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book goes on sale roughly every 310 days. Next drop estimated in about 42 weeks. Typical discount: 85% off.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.