Consumed by Evil By John Durgin Review
It’s review time again. Having finished my MFA, I have been able to read for pleasure a lot more. So, when I was given the chance to read John Durgin’s new novel early I had to jump on it. I want to thank him for the ARC.
John Durgin’s New Novel Consumed by Evil comes out November 29th and let me tell you you’re all in for a treat. It is the sequel to his debut novel The Cursed Among Us which is being released on November 9th. Both titles are coming through the phenomenal Crystal Lake Publishing.
The Cursed Among Us is the first Indie Horror novel I read when I joined the Books of Horror Facebook group. (By the way join that group if you love horror novels.) It also inspired my novel that I wrote, and really hit me with the small-town feel. Now I will not talk a lot about it; that’ll be in a future review.
Consumed by Evil is everything you want from a sequel. It picks up in true Halloween two fashion right after the previous book ended. John proceeds to reintroduce us to Howie, Bethany, and Corey from the first book. We also get to meet their families and see their interpersonal connections with tons of people in town outside of their friend group.
All the characters are flushed out so well. Including the parents. A lot of people die in the first book to the possessed Jessica Black. However, the kills this time around are so much more brutal, and visceral. Making this entry so much darker than the original, and so much more emotional.
I loved seeing so deeply into the three friends and how much they care for each other, and how the dread of the novel comes from then trying to find each other. With us seeing to what limits friends will go to save each other from a murderous entity. Oddly the entity isn’t what scared me the most about this book, it was the dark forces behind it, and what is being done behind the scenes. Creating a gripping tale that I couldn’t put down.
As with most of John’s books it reads like a movie, which grips you and won’t let you go. Until the end you will be wanting to flip to the next page to uncover the next secret.
And these secrets must be uncovered. No mystery can be unsolved. You won’t regret picking this novel up. I truly think it is his best to date, from the atmosphere to the characters, truthfully, I would love to see a movie of this someday. John is just that good.
Five stars my friend. Can’t wait for your next book!
My goal moving forward is to post a review a week on here from now on. So, 52 a year if all goes well.
Next week I will be reentering the Exorcist House in Exorcist House: Genesis by Nick Roberts.
See you then.
Inside the Devil’s Nest by John Durgin Review.
This one was a long time coming. It took me a long time to read this book, not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because my MFA work put me behind on my reading. My TBR list had become incredibly long during my time in the program. Be aware that this review may contain some mild spoilers.
Anyway, let’s dive in, maybe avoid the pool, though. Inside the Devil’s Nest is Cinema in my mind. How can a book be cinema, you may ask? This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. The combination of tropes is incredibly interesting when put together. It is part Mafia crime, Part supernatural, part cult, and part broken family.
Because of this, there are a lot of moving parts for the novel, but John Durgin connects all moving parts expertly. His writing draws you in. I had previously read The Cursed Among Us, which was his debut novel. I can see how he has honed his craft. He had created fun compelling characters that keep you guessing till the end.
Anthony is a real estate agent who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Witnessing a murder that puts him on a crime families list. He flees with his family to a property he bought in New Hampshire called the Birds Nest. Which used to be a cult compound. A lot of craziness ensues, and the family is constantly put in danger. Even when there are slices of life scenes that break the tension. The sword of Damocles hanging over the family is always looming in the background.
From beginning to end, this kept me on edge, and I honestly think this novel would make an incredible movie. From the believable characters to the crazy plot line. It could be a horror blockbuster. Which it already is for the reader. I loved this book so much, and I can tell John is a big movie lover, which just makes the novel even better.
I would love to see a sequel to this. To see where things go after the novel ends, because Anthony and his family are completely broken, and I would love to see what could come next.
Y’all should go out and read this. Right now. It is so fun, and a great read heading into spooky season. Five stars, for sure. I will be reading John’s most recent novel Kosa soon and cannot wait to talk about it as well.
Until next time,
“It Waits on The Top Floor” By Ben Farthing Review.
Do you want a book with mystery and a huge dose of cosmic terror? “It Waits on The Top Floor” by Ben Farthing is the perfect book for you. It is the first in the ‘Horror Lurks Beneath’ trilogy. It follows Chris as he enters a skyscraper to save his foster son. You may ask what is scary about that?
Well, first the skyscraper appeared out of nowhere on a vacant lot. It becomes the focus of Richmond, Virginia, where the novel is set.
This is a strange tale of the lengths a man will go through to for his son. Chris is thrown into a contract with the mysterious Micah, who is looking for the secrets of the tower. Chris must race through the floors of various horrors to find his son. The question becomes, can he keep his sanity as his entire world is upturned around him? People disappear, monsters phase through the building’s walls, and attack the hero and Micah’s team. Monsters from beyond space and maybe even time. To the point where one can’t help but wonder what lurks just on the other side of the veil, or if there is anything, what shape does it take?
This is a thrill ride that is as high-octane as it is weird. With shades of Lovecraft’s weird fiction, and the fast-paced ride of a Jack Reacher novel. Farthing perfectly balanced this horror thrill ride. Around every turn is a new twist, and new terror.
Farthing’s writing is very compelling. He keeps you engaged from the moment you start reading. His prose is vivid, strange, and just dang fun. I can’t wait to read more from him in the future.
I highly recommend this novel. It is a wonderful beginning to what is sure to be an exciting trilogy.
Pick this up today. You won’t regret it.
Until next time.
K. Logan Patrick