256 pages

5 stars

I had a little difficulty in determining how I wanted to talk about this book and what rating I wanted to give it. While basically, it is a horror novel, it also made me think a great deal: about how well we can ever know other people, the nature of religion and the supernatural experiences of ghosts and near death experiences.

Father Raul is an Episcopalian priest. He is on his way home in the driving rain when he calls his wife. They chat and then suddenly, sounds of violence are echoed over the phone. His car quits, so he exits the car and runs almost six miles home. The police are already there. With the aid of neighbors, he bullies his way into the house. His wife Bella and children Lizzy and Abel are dead. Horribly stabbed to death.

Raul is in a deep dive. He quits the priesthood and moves to an isolated cabin that was owned by his grandmother Ida. She bequeathed it to him in her will. He also develops a huge alcohol and pill problem.

A cat he names Bruiser adopts him and he/she (?) feels right at home.

Strange happenings start to occur. He hears Lizzie and Abel’s voices. He hears Bella’s voice. She seems angry at him. It makes him feel worse - even more guilty for not protecting them.

His childhood friend Felix drops in on his Harley. He and Raul commiserate, they argue and Felix witnesses the voices and strange happenings too. Felix decides that his mission is to track down the scum that murdered Raul’s family - and kill them.

Felix goes on a journey that finally results in astounding information. He and Raul’s friend Sampson head to the cabin to tell Raul what they found out.

This lead results in a dramatic and revealing confrontation with pure evil. While the story did not end as I had hoped, I believe it was appropriate.

This book is written and plotted with Mr. Shea’s usual competence. The transitions are wonderfully done and smooth. I really like Raul. I just wish he didn’t have a drinking problem. I really liked Felix. And Bruiser was a winner, too. I have read nearly all of Mr. Shea’s novels and I will continue to do so. He is a wonderful author.

I want to thank NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for forwarding to me the wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.