Evil once controlled the 13th Month and is looking to do so again!
Evil once controlled the 13th month and wants to again. A holy man, a shaman, a psychiatrist, and a professor are on a mission: to fight parasitic creatures waiting inside moments of time to warp reality and take control of their host. As the group approaches a house in a quiet neighborhood, they suspect something evil is about to happen. Unfortunately it is too late by the time they enter. A teenager has already killed his parents and sister, thanks to an evil force that now controls him.
When Father Frank Keller is contacted by the group to help prevent the once banished shadows from gaining a foothold, he is thrust into a covert battle between forces of good and evil. The only way to stop the forces is to enter a portal where the shadows come from and turn the tide. As Father Keller struggles to find the faith to combat the evil and help the group, he has no idea that he is about to be led straight to the gates of hell.
The 13th Month is the suspenseful tale of a priest’s courageous journey into a dark world where he sacrifices more than he ever imagines in an effort to stop evil forces before they strike again.
Excerpt
“That isn’t the only reason I called you here,” Bishop Tafoya said. “What if I were to tell you that what happened wasn’t just a young teenager acting out? That evil was interacting with humans? That it influenced David’s behavior and attacked his family?”
“Are you asking me to believe demons are real?”
“That evil is real.” Bishop Tafoya looked around the office until his eyes stopped at the clock. “You are right in what you say—that evil is opportunistic and preys on us in our weak moments. It’s in those moments you will learn to defend yourself and the others you protect. I would love to spend all day talking to you, debating and discussing philosophy with you. But we don’t have the time. What I need to tell you is that evil is among us, but it is not in a place where we can find it, but hidden in time.”
Professional Reviews
Blue Ink Press
The 13th Month Louis Paul DeGrado iUniverse, 208 pages, (ebook), $3.99, 978-1-4917-6467-1 (Reviewed: June 2015)
In his page-turning Christian-themed novel, The 13th Month, Louis Paul DeGrado offers a fresh
take on the theme of demonic powers among us.
This compelling saga begins with a horrific scene where a teenage boy has murdered his own parents. A diverse team consisting of “a holy man from India, a Native American shaman, a
psychiatrist, and a university professor” is at the scene. Their investigation is anything but normal, however, as evidenced by their search for portals, shadows and electronic signals.
The incoherent teenage boy manages to babble only four words before he is whisked away:
“Father Frank, save me.” Enter Father Frank Keller, well-loved Catholic priest who has an uncanny power to fight darkness. He soon joins the team in their quest to fight the evil shadows
that were in physical form during a period of time, ages past, called the 13th month but that are now hidden in time.
DeGrado explores the nature of evil in a new way: how we attract it by our intent, unintentionally
opening portals, and how it can be defeated. His book has a science fiction feel as the team attempts to locate these portals where the evil resides.
Relatable characters in The 13th Month struggle with real issues—the difficulty of quitting
smoking, the temptation of a beautiful woman—but use their faith and belief to overcome them. Minor character subplots are wound up with aplomb.
A handful of copyediting issues remain, including: a bag of snack[s] ; “wondering” instead of
”wandering”; “farther and farther” instead of “further and further”; “Chic” instead of ”Chick”; and the overuse of the words “began” and “started.” But these are minor and don’t detract from the
story.
With its unusual theme, colorful characters and nail-biting plot, this book is sure to please anyone who appreciates a different take on evil or who loves Christian science fiction.
BlueInk Heads-Up: The Star designation is given with the recognition that minor copyediting
issues remain in need of attention.
Also available in hardcover and paperback.
Clarion
Clarion Review
Christian
The 13th Month
Louis Paul DeGrado
iUniverse
978-1-4917-6467-1
Four Stars (out of Five)
Religious fiction meets thriller as a priest and a group of supernatural investigators
battle the evil that plagues a town.
Evil exists. Despite mankind‘s efforts to address the world‘s wrongs—crime, abuse,
poverty, hatred, war—they remain. And in a supernatural thriller with a spiritual basis, author
Louis Paul DeGrado poses the question, What if something is causing the evil, something near
impossible to fight? And it’s winning.
When a teen boy brutally kills his family, a team of investigators dig into the truth of
what happened. They call in the young man‘s priest, Father Frank Keller, to assist, and it soon
becomes apparent to Father Frank that these aren‘t average detectives. They seek to uncover and
destroy the forces behind the evil that plagues the city and the world. Father Frank, a decorated
war veteran, is drawn into a fight against unseen spiritual powers. As they study the teen’s case,
they find a possible key to battling the nefarious entities. But those powers will seek to destroy
everyone on the team and all they love. Father Frank and the team must risk everything before they lose all chance of stopping evil. Forever.
After a slow start introducing the main character, DeGrado keeps the pages turning. The plot, however, doesn‘t quite hit the high adrenaline rush most thrillers aspire to. The roller
coaster is there, and is worth riding, but everything seems too safe. For example, when Father
Frank steps into danger before being properly trained, his nonchalance overrides any suspense:
“He thought he’d be afraid, but instead, confidence built in him and told him to stand strong.”
Nevertheless, the plot keeps interest up and offers several creative twists.
The characters are intriguing and well varied, which makes it pleasant to “join” them in their quests. Since the book is plot driven DeGrado’s chilling book asks what causes evil and, more importantly, what can overcome it. He attributes the various evils in the world—from war to brutality on the streets
and in homes—to a simple lack of love and understanding. He stresses the value of religious and
moral people uniting to make a difference. And he highlights the impact one person can have.
He suggests that the time to act is now, or our world may be overcome. And he wraps it all in a
thriller filled with intrigue.
The book is presented in the Christian fiction category. However, for traditional Christian readers, it should be noted that this book does not come from a classic theological
tradition, but blends Christian teaching with new age beliefs and a philosophy of the equality of
all religious faiths.
Overall, the book is worth recommending to thriller fans and to spiritually minded readers who seek an adventurous book. It will offer an enjoyable diversion.
Diane Gardner
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