A historical horror tale of demonic possession and heroic courage
The Demon of the Shadows
When his ex-wife, Margot asks to meet for dinner, Nick’s life had long been in a downward spiral. Plagued by hallucinations and voices that he attributed to his rather liberal use of alcohol, he was soon to discover something far more sinister has been at play. Through brilliant research, Margot has discovered that both she and Nick were possessed by a demon known only to a seventeenth century Indian tribe. She tells Nick of how the creature slips unnoticed through time and space and orchestrates its victims to enact hideous acts of violence upon loved ones and neighbors and that she and Nick are being beckoned. Its calling is inexorable, its powers of illusion commanding. Their only hope to break the spell is an obscure tribal rite discovered by Margot with the help of a discredited college professor and a tribal medicine man. But, before they can fully enact a plan, Margot disappears with their daughter Marissa, lost in the autumn festivals of Clarion. Nick follows, only to fall into the creature’s trap where, in a pitch-dark railroad tunnel, he makes his final stand against the beast.
Professional Reviews
The Demon of the Shadows
NET GALLEY
Mary Gordon
(Reviewer) has just reviewed The Demon of the Shadows.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Full Text:
The Demon of the Shadows is a totally fresh take on possession that I
enjoyed. There was no spewing of green vomit, no exorcisms, no tying
anyone to a bed. It was creepy in the way that the evil works it's
way in a subtle way so that no one really knows that the demon even
exists. This tactic is well explained in the book and makes one wonder
about things in our real life.
Nick and Margot meet in college in the town of Clarion. In Clarion Nick
stumbles upon an abandoned farm that fills him with dread. He takes
Margot there, and they also explore some dark tunnels, and these
activities sets the two on a troublesome course of dysfunction that
eventually ends their marriage. Reading through the verbal marital abuse
was harrowing.
Eventually Margot figures out what has been causing them so much pain and
causing them to act in such horrible says and she reaches out to Nick to
help. She believes that they can find a cure and rid themselves of this
evil. Margot insists that they must first return to where this all
began. The lair, so to speak, and she insists on bringing their innocent
13 year old daughter with them.
The reader and the Nick, our narrator, are never sure what actions are
influenced by the evil, by simply drinking too much, or by good or bad
human intentions. Again, much life real life.
As for the evil influence, the author impressed me here. You have to
pay attention as this is explained in the, book because it is not a
simple story of the devil and demonic possession. If you, like me,
enjoy such books then you will enjoy this one because it is so different.
It was refreshing to read a book on this subject that was totally unlike
the norm. There is a lot here about native american culture and
spiritual beliefs. Now that I've finished this novel I'm
curious about what Mr. Scala writes about here regarding the evil
influence which poisons Nick and Margot's lives. Excellent novel.
#Netgalley #TheDemonOfTheShadows
