Philip Fracassi

Philip Fracassi is quickly becoming one of my favorite new writers, and this book cements his place as THE up-and-coming novelist in the horror genre.

This book has the potential to be Fracassi's breakout and to hook a new generation of horror fans, just as Stephen King did with "Cujo", "Firestarter", or "The Dead Zone". Yes -- it's that good. It's that gory. It's that compelling, un-putdownable, and enjoyable in a can't look away, yet peering through hands covering your face type of way. If you are a horror fan, this book is great fun.

I won't re-hash the plot here (other reviews have certainly done a better job there than I could do), but the atmospherics and pacing were perfect, in my opinion. And I loved the Easter eggs (or tips of the hat) to so many horror landmarks scattered throughout the book.

Keep up the outstanding work, Philip, and congratulations on a superb modern classic horror novel!… (more)

Horror is very personal, but this may be one of the best horror books I've read in a long time. Maybe ever.

It's hard for me to give any horror 5 stars, because it's horror after all. But this one really deserves 4+. Let's call it...4.25.

The story takes place in the early 1900s in a Catholic boys' orphanage isolated in a rural area over a fairly short period of time. Trouble ensues after a man shot during the commission of a crime is brought to the orphanage by the sheriff and his men for prayer and healing.

Here's how to decide if this is for you:

- it deals with demonic possession
- Catholic / spiritual implications / priests who are morally complicated and/or compromised
- children are not only involved and die, but that's essential for and central to the plot

I like horror that is complex and layered and this is that. That is not always easy to find. I also strongly prefer horror that ends with a spark of hope (or humanity) vs. chaos and nihilism. For me, this was definitely the former, but that might depend on your stance and beliefs ingoing.

If you've read enough to think this is - or could be - for you, consider this a high recommendation.… (more)