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Cades Cove #2

The Raven Mocker

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Something evil has awakened beneath a forgotten ravine in the Great Smoky Mountains. After lying in peace for centuries, an ancient deity watches….

David and Miriam Hobbs celebrate their fifteenth anniversary in Gatlinburg, unaware that a violent wraith, Allie Mae, will follow them home on a determined quest for vengeance. After surviving this harrowing experience, David’s new friend, John Running Deer, unwittingly aids the desecration of an ancient burial site while recovering Allie Mae’s remains from a sacred Cades Cove ravine.

What John hoped would be the final gesture of peace in giving her a proper burial turns out to be a terrible mistake. Now something much worse than Allie Mae is on the loose. Teutates, the ancient Gallic entity unearthed, sets out on a murderous rampage. David is called upon once more to find a way to stop the angry demon before it leaves a trail of bloodshed from Denver to the sacred ancient hills of Tennessee.


Acclaim for Aiden

“Aiden James has written a deeply psychological, gripping tale that keeps the readers hooked from page one.”
—Bookfinds review for THE FORGOTTEN EDEN

“Not only is Aiden James a storyteller par excellence, but his material for his story is riveting.”
—Huntress Reviews

“The hook to this excellent suspense thriller is the twists that will keep readers wondering what is going on as nothing is quite what it seems. Adding to the excitement is that the audience will wonder whether the terror is an evil supernatural creature or an amoral human…Aiden James provides a dark thriller that grips fans from the opening.”
—Harriet Klausner, Amazon’s #1 book reviewer for THE FORGOTTEN EDEN

“Aiden James writing style flows very easily and I found that CADES COVE snowballed into a very gripping tale. Clearly the strengths in the piece were as the spirit's interaction became prevalent with the family… The Indian lore and ceremonies and the flashbacks to Allie Mae's (earthly) demise were very powerful. I think those aspects separated the work from what we've seen before in horror and ghost tales.”
—Evelyn Klebert, author of A GHOST OF A CHANCE and DRAGONFLIES

“Aiden James is insanely talented!”
—J.R. Rain, author of MOON DANCE and THE BODY DEPARTED

404 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2010

448 people are currently reading
1645 people want to read

About the author

Aiden James

84 books309 followers

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Biography
Aiden James is the bestselling author of "Cades Cove: the curse of Allie Mae", "The Judas Chronicles", and the "Nick Caine Adventures" (with J.R. Rain). The author has published over forty books and a new series is set to begin in the fall of 2022 (The BloodStar Chronicles). At present, he resides in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Fiona, and an ornery little dog named Pepper.

To learn more about Aiden James and his latest books, please visit AidenJamesNovelist.com, or look for him on Facebook (Aiden James, Paranormal Adventure Author) and Twitter (@AidenJames3).

You can also learn more about Aiden and Fiona, and their interests, at the links below:

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/ManorHousePu...



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5 stars
360 (35%)
4 stars
295 (29%)
3 stars
250 (24%)
2 stars
80 (7%)
1 star
32 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Bob.
Author 3 books7 followers
June 28, 2016
I read the first book in this series a while ago and found it enjoyable. A good ghost story with sympathetic characters and a native american twist. This sequel, however, did nothing for me. It took me forever to get through. It was like reading through quicksand. The characters are all still there, but the plot went way too bizarre a twist when super villain spirits and buried temples started popping up. The believability of the first book turned into an Indiana Jones movie. I think this may be the last book i read by this author.
Profile Image for Rhonda.
Author 20 books396 followers
January 28, 2012
I had never read anything by Aiden James prior to reading Cades Cove. I downloaded the novel and read it almost in one sitting. I started The Raven Mocker almost immediately after that. The characters are well developed and you care about what's happening to them from the beginning. I was on the edge of my seat quit a bit as both books are spooky good! I was able to completely lose myself in the plot and fast-paced action. I highly recommend both books.
Profile Image for Beth Knowles.
56 reviews
April 4, 2015
I just couldn't finish. It was a tough decision too since I already put in so much time with the first book and more than half of this one. I was so hopeful the writing would improve because I thought the premise was so good. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. There was the same overuse of words, repetition, and general lack of understanding regarding sentence structure and the use of past and present tense. The author doesn't seem to understand appropriate emotions and timing either. I can't take another "Don't you know" from Aunt Ruth, sly smile, Miriam being a bitch just for the sake of being a bitch, or David looking at her with love at the most inopportune time.
Profile Image for Carol Bosselman.
Author 8 books17 followers
October 16, 2016
Enjoyed the first book, so looked forward to this, but it went so far off the rails that I nearly didn't finish it. Also, been a while since I read the first one, so maybe it had some of the same problems, but there was a bad need for editing here, including simple errors like "you're" for "your", etc. Also all things considered, I think the characters were hasty, and almost downright stupid, considering what they'd gone through with the first ghost.
4 reviews
August 26, 2020
After reading the first book, I was excited to dive into this one, but I couldn't get past the first 10 chapters. I don't usually give up, but after trying to read and then deciding to just listen to it, I gave into my frustrations. The writing has went downhill and to me left everything to be desired. From the first book he has resulted to using fowl language, over using descriptions, which are horrible to say the least, the characters seemed to get dumbed down to the point of not resembling what they were in the first book, and just down right bad writing. I couldn't bring myself to waste anymore time.
Profile Image for J.S..
Author 1 book67 followers
April 11, 2025
I'm actually embarrassed that I gave the first book in this series 4 stars (I might have rounded up and been a little generous). This second book, however, is not good. I should have listened to my gut and quit reading a long time ago, but... maybe you know how that goes.

The author desperately needs an editor, or he should have at least gone through it a few more times himself. As it is, it almost sounds like it was written in a single draft. It is so wordy and full of excess description and irrelevant details that do nothing to move the story along. And the characters, who aren't really very likeable, are constantly crying or smirking or some other overused word. The romantic elements seem thrown in and are cringy. What started out as a promising ghost story tried to turn into a disgusting and gory horror story with an episode of 'torture-porn,' which leaves all the women catatonic but the men handle it okay, even "chuckling" on the way out. (Then the women go back to work after two days.) Like I said: the author should have at least gone through it a few more times. He might have realized it wasn't good enough to publish. (And I wish I'd just given up and marked it DNF.)
Profile Image for William Bitner Jr..
600 reviews33 followers
June 4, 2016
Just finished reading "The Raven Mocker: Evil Returns to Cades Cove (Cades Cove Series Book 2), by Aiden James. Ghost, demons and spirits oh my. This series just gets better and scarier with each new book. Fast-paced and exciting from start to finish. Another great read by a brilliant author...looking forward to book 3.
Synopsis: "Something evil has awakened beneath a forgotten ravine in the Great Smoky Mountains. After lying in peace for centuries, an ancient deity watches….
David and Miriam Hobbs celebrate their fifteenth anniversary in Gatlinburg, unaware that a violent wraith, Allie Mae, will follow them home on a determined quest for vengeance. Having survived this harrowing experience, David’s new friend, John Running Deer, unwittingly aids the desecration of an ancient burial site while recovering Allie Mae’s remains from a sacred Cades Cove ravine.
What John hoped would be the final gesture of peace in giving her a proper burial turns out to be a terrible mistake. Now something much worse than Allie Mae is on the loose. Teutates, the ancient Gallic entity unearthed, sets out on a murderous rampage. David is called upon once more to find a way to stop the angry demon before it leaves a trail of bloodshed from Denver to the sacred ancient hills of Tennessee."
Profile Image for Dana.
91 reviews4 followers
August 7, 2012
After Reading Cades Cove I wasn't sure how Aiden James could "better" that truly terrifying Ghost Story BUT he did! The Raven Mockers takes us back to the Hobbs Family and David's Great Friend John Running Deer, In Cades Cove Allie Mae's Grave is dug up and just destroyed by Greedy People finding "treasures" inside and while doing this they uncover an unspeakable Evil Known as The Raven Mocker He makes Allie Mae seem like Casper! This story holds back no evil acts. The Hobbs Family is once again drawn into this terrifying evil when "Auntie Ruth" comes to visit and brings gems handed down thru the family. With a lot of twists and turns , I got mad , sad I wanted to scream and I wanted to help I really felt a part of this story.And mostly It terrified me I LOVED it !!! WEll done Aiden Well Done I give this Book 5 haunted gems and cannot WAIT until the next one!
26 reviews1 follower
November 15, 2020
Thrilling gory evil story!

Amazing book! After reading the 1st book I was anxious to read this one. It is definitely not a boring book and keeps you on your edge! The gory details did get to me for a minute & I was thinking about not reading anymore but my curiosity got the best of me & I had to finish it! I am so happy I finished it! Aiden James done a fantastic job!
Profile Image for Karen.
1,311 reviews41 followers
December 13, 2021
I read the first book in this series a long time ago but I really liked it at the time and the next books because I wanted to continue the story. But other books intervened and it took me a while to get back here, and I can say that though it took a while the story was firmly enough in my mind that it was easy to pick up the threads where I had left off before. I like the characters because they react the way that anyone would if placed in a similar situation, at least if they are being honest about who they are. The locations are very well defined and are places that exist for the part as far as I can tell, though a few are created.

David and Miriam Hobbs celebrated their 15th anniversary in Gatlinburg. The downside of that is that a wraith by the name of Allie Mae followed them home looking for vengeance. They managed to survive that experience with the help of John Running Deer, who unwittingly help desecrate an ancient burial site to recover Allie Mae's remains from a sacred Cade Cove ravine.

John had hoped that burying Allie Mae would bring peace, but that was not to be. Something even worse was released, Teutates, a Gallic entity, sets out on a rampage to find those who disturbed it. David, who thought it was all over must return to the state of his birth with his family; while John and his granddaughter, Evelyn, fight to stop the angry demon before it leaves a trail of bloodshed from Denver to the ancient hills of Tennesse.

Timothy McKean narrated the audiobook and did a great job of bringing things to life. The characters as well as the atmosphere surrounding them are more alive with his narration.

Really good!
Profile Image for Laurie.
14 reviews1 follower
December 11, 2022
The Raven Mocker

I loved the action, and the story told at breakneck speed. It held my attention from page one. The development of the characters, and the healing of a rift between David and his auntie was great. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Angie Anderson.
584 reviews7 followers
November 22, 2022
Wow.....just Wow!

Aiden James has caused me to lose sleep with this series. The feeling of fear is palpable as you read the story. I only wish, when reading books like this, that my imagination wasn't so vivid.
Be prepared to have your mind blown.
Profile Image for Thom Swennes.
1,822 reviews57 followers
November 30, 2017
Ghosts and stories about them are not strange bedfellows during the Yuletide season. Some of these once living entities have achieved almost pop star popularity. Some are bound to the Christmas season as much as balls, wreaths, holly, and mistletoe. The misty critters in this tome may never be as popular as the aforementioned, but I assure you that once you’ve read the last chapter, you will never forget them.
The recent desecration of an Indian burial site is the catalyst that powers this tale of the departed soul’s revolt and retribution. The spirits make their displeasure painfully evident. Copious numbers of characters and subplots lead the reader along a road of thrills and spiritual horrors.
I am a firm advocate for an old fashion séance to powwow with the ancient Indian spirits to clear (and hopefully warm) the air before things get completely out of hand. Of course, as a mere reader of this tale, I have no say in the matter. Prepared to be shocked, prepare to be scared, this is a story you will want to read in the light of day, or in a house filled with light, dissipating every shadow. A reading companion is also highly recommended.

The characters are complete, well developed, and as memorable as any produced by Charles Dickens and Stephen King, two of the premier ghost authors is literary history. I will never look at the Smoky Mountains in the same way. Essences of The Raven Mocker are sure to follow me forever more. Although this is the second book in the Cades Cove Series, it serves as my introduction to Aiden James. This slight oversight doesn’t seem to have an adverse effect, as the books are complete and self-standing. I tend to look for and read Christmas tales as another reading year comes to an end. This book is far from traditional holiday literature but is nevertheless well worth the time and effort, whatever the season.

Profile Image for grundoon.
623 reviews12 followers
April 8, 2015
I sometimes have this awesome problem where there are a ton of books in the immediate queue I know will be great, or just things which for any of a variety of reasons deserve a fresh mind. That's when I turn to bubblegum - when I need a reset - and I kinda wanted to see where this sequel would go. I knew it'd feature the same screwed up marriage, an inability to only include words which advance the story, and little respect for English grammar. I also assumed it would follow the basic tenet of horror, in that it has to be plausible, no matter how far fetched. I mean, the first one did and... it's, you know, the basic tenet. So the Oh Come On! moment was a bit of a surprise and, oh lord, it just kept sinking lower. A complete waste of a perfectly mediocre start.
32 reviews19 followers
April 19, 2020
And the story continues!! Still do not want to read it without a light on and my hikes to Cades Cove will forever be more exciting. Did not see the story taking this turn. Starting book 3 today! Cant wait to see what happens. I am already looking for more books by Aiden James to add to my reading list.
Profile Image for Julene Jefferson.
7 reviews4 followers
February 11, 2012
Excellent book well written, lots of detail that makes you feel like you are right there. Picked up right after the 1st in the series without any hesitation. The ending definitely leaves it open to a 3rd in the series (hope hope hope) :-)
Profile Image for Diane Paules.
14 reviews
August 29, 2014
Edge of my seat scary!

Edge of my seat scary!

I couldn't put it down. This is a non-stop thriller. with believable characters and locations. you won't be sorry if you choose to read this.
Profile Image for Steve Rush.
Author 10 books228 followers
October 4, 2016
Disappointed

The beginning gave me hope of reading a good sequel until the story turned into an unappealing scramble to hold my attention. Too many misused words. Will not read any other works by this author.
Profile Image for Jim Kratzok.
1,070 reviews3 followers
August 2, 2018
Seemed endless

The basic premise of the story was good but the characterization and dialogue was horrible. The story could have been half as long and would have been a better story if half the extraneous words were left out.
Profile Image for Greg Inman.
81 reviews
February 15, 2020
The Raven Mocker

The author has put a very great series together and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading about the ancient times of Cade’s Cove and the Cherokee Indians. Fiction or not it’s a must read.
Profile Image for Scott Gaskin.
25 reviews1 follower
April 4, 2022
Grabs you from the first page and never lets up

This one will keep you up reading. by the time you reach the end you will be exhausted from the roller coaster of events, twist and turns
9 reviews
July 21, 2012


Falls short of the first book in the series Cade's Cove
Profile Image for Audrey.
535 reviews10 followers
November 5, 2012
Better than the first cant wait for the third.
Profile Image for Kyle H.
128 reviews4 followers
October 22, 2013
Scariest book I've read since "The Shining". In fact, it's the only other book I've thought was scary.
Profile Image for Destiny Causby.
111 reviews2 followers
September 7, 2014
Overall a good book but I didn't care for how no one seemed to have learned anything from the events in the previous book. Some of the people even seemed to have gotten dumber
Profile Image for Bryan Ericson.
359 reviews
May 23, 2017
Unlike the first book in this series this plot goes off on a tangent and drags on. Reads like a bad horror movie.
170 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2019
Excellent

One of the best books I've read of this genre.. I'm sure that if you try it you'll like it..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews

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