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Hell To Pay
A man who thinks he’s losing his soul, meets a man who has.
Detective Michael Bailey is a seasoned homicide detective who can’t escape the deaths of twin girls that happened on his watch. Over the years, it had slashed at his sanity and sobriety, and now he stands at the crossroads of his life. The murder investigation of a young woman sends him over the edge.
George Graham is an antique store owner who has fallen for the wrong woman. When rejected and berated in public, George runs home to find a strange old man with an antique box wanting to make a deal. George buys the box and inside finds a matted scalp, a relic of untold power.
“Hell to Pay” is a haunting story about the loss of one’s life, redemption, and personal sacrifice. This supernatural thriller is strongly based in Joseph Campbell’s epic storytelling and mythology.
Detective Michael Bailey is a seasoned homicide detective who can’t escape the deaths of twin girls that happened on his watch. Over the years, it had slashed at his sanity and sobriety, and now he stands at the crossroads of his life. The murder investigation of a young woman sends him over the edge.
George Graham is an antique store owner who has fallen for the wrong woman. When rejected and berated in public, George runs home to find a strange old man with an antique box wanting to make a deal. George buys the box and inside finds a matted scalp, a relic of untold power.
“Hell to Pay” is a haunting story about the loss of one’s life, redemption, and personal sacrifice. This supernatural thriller is strongly based in Joseph Campbell’s epic storytelling and mythology.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2011
21 people want to read
About the author
William Brian Johnson
7 books19 followersLike a crow in a field of glass.
Brian Johnson is a storm photographer, writer, teacher, adventurer. He's kind of an evil version of Robert Fulghum.
Brian Johnson is a storm photographer, writer, teacher, adventurer. He's kind of an evil version of Robert Fulghum.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 16, 2011
This was a really great read, from beginning to end. Usually, I'm an avid reader and fan of horror stories by one particular writer, Stephen King. I have always found it hard to like or even become interested in other writers'work, but Mr. Johnson was able to pull me out of my narrow-minded ways quite easily.
While reading "Hell to Pay", I never became bored. This novel has a very nice flow to it. All of the characters, even the not-so-nice ones, were very well described, as was the setting in which the story took place.
I will be patiently - well, maybe impatiently - for another book from Mr. Johnson. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long.
Thank you Mr. Johnson for sharing your writing talents with us. I will definitely recommend this book to all of my horror fan friends.
While reading "Hell to Pay", I never became bored. This novel has a very nice flow to it. All of the characters, even the not-so-nice ones, were very well described, as was the setting in which the story took place.
I will be patiently - well, maybe impatiently - for another book from Mr. Johnson. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long.
Thank you Mr. Johnson for sharing your writing talents with us. I will definitely recommend this book to all of my horror fan friends.
November 21, 2011
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This book reads like a gritty cop novel, only it has a paranormal twist to it. The content itself is not exactly rainbows and sunshine, it definitely has a seriously dark tone throughout the novel. The characters within the book are rather tortured, and really it's quite easy to feel bad for them. They all seem to have gone through some hard time, and are struggling just to get by.
The main character is Bailey, he's a homicide detective, although its clear from the very beginning he is a broken man. While working a case a few years back, Bailey failed to save two young twin girls, and their murders weighed on him so heavily he lost a bit of his sanity, along with his marriage, and delved into serious alcohol use. While Bailey is sober when this story starts, it's clear that the rest of the force believes he is a joke or is trying to get him fired. It's really not hard to want to pull for Bailey to get a couple of successes.
The other character is George, and he is just a regular guy who owns an antique shop. Well that is until a box shows up with a scalp in it, and everything for George changes. He is suddenly a suspect in a homicide, his body is changing over night, and quite honestly when the novel is being told in his point of view, it reads like he is having some kind of psychotic break. The reader is aware from pretty early on that something supernatural is happening to George, something he doesn't understand. I think this is why it doesn't bother me that sometimes when I was reading from George's POV and I felt confused, it was okay and authentic because George was pretty confused about what the heck was happening to him.
So I'll start with the things I liked about the book. The writing in the book is pretty good. There are few typos or grammatical errors if any, and generally speaking the flow of the words is pretty good. It doesn't jump around unnecessarily, the characters are genuine to themselves, and the plot progresses at a good rate. The tone is like a said, like a gritty cop drama, it literally almost reads exactly the way you would expect a dark cop movie or tv show's tone to be.
The paranormal elements in this book is kind of a heaven and hell, good versus evil theme. There are most ghosts or apparitions, I'm not really sure what to call them, but they keep popping up around the two main characters. It's very clear from early on in the book that's it's a heaven and hell type situation, and that stays pretty consistent until suddenly almost out of no where there is a mention to ancient mythology. For me that felt unnecessary and kind of almost made me question all the build up through most of the story.
The was one scene in the book I felt was both unnecessary, strange, and gratuitous. This scene I refer to is a sex scene, and a rather violent one at that. I don't feel it did anything for the story line, or rather that it could have been accomplished some other way. The scene just felt out of place, like the author thought to himself, there should be sex in this book, and through this one in.
Overall the book was pretty good, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the ending, but that's something that is up to reader to decide. I think this is a book more for people who like books about cops and murder investigation, and have an interest in the paranormal. There is no romance, so if you are looking for romance this isn't your book. This is also not the run of the mill urban fantasy either, like a said before, it really is a cop book first with a paranormal element in it. It's also a book that's fairly long, so this is probably not a book that is going to be read in one sitting, but it is good enough to keep your attention and want to know what happens, which is a good thing.
This book reads like a gritty cop novel, only it has a paranormal twist to it. The content itself is not exactly rainbows and sunshine, it definitely has a seriously dark tone throughout the novel. The characters within the book are rather tortured, and really it's quite easy to feel bad for them. They all seem to have gone through some hard time, and are struggling just to get by.
The main character is Bailey, he's a homicide detective, although its clear from the very beginning he is a broken man. While working a case a few years back, Bailey failed to save two young twin girls, and their murders weighed on him so heavily he lost a bit of his sanity, along with his marriage, and delved into serious alcohol use. While Bailey is sober when this story starts, it's clear that the rest of the force believes he is a joke or is trying to get him fired. It's really not hard to want to pull for Bailey to get a couple of successes.
The other character is George, and he is just a regular guy who owns an antique shop. Well that is until a box shows up with a scalp in it, and everything for George changes. He is suddenly a suspect in a homicide, his body is changing over night, and quite honestly when the novel is being told in his point of view, it reads like he is having some kind of psychotic break. The reader is aware from pretty early on that something supernatural is happening to George, something he doesn't understand. I think this is why it doesn't bother me that sometimes when I was reading from George's POV and I felt confused, it was okay and authentic because George was pretty confused about what the heck was happening to him.
So I'll start with the things I liked about the book. The writing in the book is pretty good. There are few typos or grammatical errors if any, and generally speaking the flow of the words is pretty good. It doesn't jump around unnecessarily, the characters are genuine to themselves, and the plot progresses at a good rate. The tone is like a said, like a gritty cop drama, it literally almost reads exactly the way you would expect a dark cop movie or tv show's tone to be.
The paranormal elements in this book is kind of a heaven and hell, good versus evil theme. There are most ghosts or apparitions, I'm not really sure what to call them, but they keep popping up around the two main characters. It's very clear from early on in the book that's it's a heaven and hell type situation, and that stays pretty consistent until suddenly almost out of no where there is a mention to ancient mythology. For me that felt unnecessary and kind of almost made me question all the build up through most of the story.
The was one scene in the book I felt was both unnecessary, strange, and gratuitous. This scene I refer to is a sex scene, and a rather violent one at that. I don't feel it did anything for the story line, or rather that it could have been accomplished some other way. The scene just felt out of place, like the author thought to himself, there should be sex in this book, and through this one in.
Overall the book was pretty good, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the ending, but that's something that is up to reader to decide. I think this is a book more for people who like books about cops and murder investigation, and have an interest in the paranormal. There is no romance, so if you are looking for romance this isn't your book. This is also not the run of the mill urban fantasy either, like a said before, it really is a cop book first with a paranormal element in it. It's also a book that's fairly long, so this is probably not a book that is going to be read in one sitting, but it is good enough to keep your attention and want to know what happens, which is a good thing.
August 11, 2012
In this riveting suspense thriller, the next corner you turn might just lead straight to hell…
Teaser: Detective Michael Bailey is a man haunted by the past and tormented by the present. As an officer of the law it’s his job to protect those in his city. Then why have things gone array? Failures tend to find Bailey at every turn and each crime he cannot bring to justice, each life he is unable to save, becomes another nail in his coffin. The only thing that seems to be left is the bottle, but even alcohol has long become something Bailey can’t handle. As the murders continue to pile up one man, George Graham, keeps ending up on the short list of suspects. Is he really just a middle aged shop owner living out his days in solitude after the death of his mother? Or is it more likely that George simply can’t control himself, can’t take the agony of his rejections and shortcomings? Something is lurking beneath his exterior and it’s more sinister than anyone can imagine…
Why you’ll Love it: “Hell to Pay” is a story that skips the flowery lead in and dives right in. It’s a lengthier read and well worth spending a few afternoons with. A suspense thriller intricately weaved with supernatural; the novel will have you questioning everything you think you know about reality. “Hell to Pay” is frightening, with demons, and ghosts and shadows lurking around each corner. It is heavy on all of its aspects, drama, tension, and action, which truly make this into a memorable tale.
Did I like it? : I found the novel particularly enjoyable as a suspense, thriller buff myself, “Hell to Pay” makes an excellent addition to my book collection. I felt like the author really knew where he was going with the story from beginning to end and each part left me wanting for the next. The stranger the story became the more I found myself wanting to know more. Bailey is a fantastic lead, and I felt that author made good use of the supporting characters. Antagonist, George, was perhaps my favorite; I could figure him out in the beginning, and I was completely enthralled with what he developed into.
Favorite Quotes:
“Yes. That God is dead and this is it. I‘ve heard junkies talking about how this is really Hell and that straight people are too stupid to realize it.”
“Be good boy, the devil‘s looking for you . . . and sent his hound to find you.”
Caveats: This book is for adults, contains adult situations, and violence.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Teaser: Detective Michael Bailey is a man haunted by the past and tormented by the present. As an officer of the law it’s his job to protect those in his city. Then why have things gone array? Failures tend to find Bailey at every turn and each crime he cannot bring to justice, each life he is unable to save, becomes another nail in his coffin. The only thing that seems to be left is the bottle, but even alcohol has long become something Bailey can’t handle. As the murders continue to pile up one man, George Graham, keeps ending up on the short list of suspects. Is he really just a middle aged shop owner living out his days in solitude after the death of his mother? Or is it more likely that George simply can’t control himself, can’t take the agony of his rejections and shortcomings? Something is lurking beneath his exterior and it’s more sinister than anyone can imagine…
Why you’ll Love it: “Hell to Pay” is a story that skips the flowery lead in and dives right in. It’s a lengthier read and well worth spending a few afternoons with. A suspense thriller intricately weaved with supernatural; the novel will have you questioning everything you think you know about reality. “Hell to Pay” is frightening, with demons, and ghosts and shadows lurking around each corner. It is heavy on all of its aspects, drama, tension, and action, which truly make this into a memorable tale.
Did I like it? : I found the novel particularly enjoyable as a suspense, thriller buff myself, “Hell to Pay” makes an excellent addition to my book collection. I felt like the author really knew where he was going with the story from beginning to end and each part left me wanting for the next. The stranger the story became the more I found myself wanting to know more. Bailey is a fantastic lead, and I felt that author made good use of the supporting characters. Antagonist, George, was perhaps my favorite; I could figure him out in the beginning, and I was completely enthralled with what he developed into.
Favorite Quotes:
“Yes. That God is dead and this is it. I‘ve heard junkies talking about how this is really Hell and that straight people are too stupid to realize it.”
“Be good boy, the devil‘s looking for you . . . and sent his hound to find you.”
Caveats: This book is for adults, contains adult situations, and violence.
Overall Rating: 5/5
December 4, 2011
I started this book not sure what to expect as new authors are often plodding and unsure of their characters. The first couple of chapters were reminiscent of a Mickey Spillane paperback. A detective story full of adjectives and description, but by chapter 3 the author found his voice and the story took off. The detective, Bailey, was a character that you couldn't help but like. George, the other main character, is the underdog that most of us have buried inside of us. Unsure of ourselves and wanting to be different. Soon both characters are connected thru a supernatural link that both have trouble believing at first. Bailey is not only drawn into the world of the supernatura, but personal and professional troubles as well. As he tries to deal with suspicions of crooked fellow police officers and the death of close friend he soon falls into old habits. As you watch Bailey spin into his own personal hell of memories and past failures, you find yourself rooting for him to do the right thing. George, also spins into his own hell, becoming the vessel for a form of evil with desires to return to power. Although the ending seems a bit rushed, Hell to Pay is a fun read with interesting and tragic characters. If you like a fun supernatural story woven with dark humor, current social problems, and characters you can relate to don't miss this one.
October 2, 2012
As a lover of all kinds of horror fiction, I leapt at the opportunity to review this book. It really did not disappoint, with a nicely handled plot and memorable characters.
The pacing is something that I have to mention here. It is so crucial to get that right in thrillers and horror novels, and the author had no real problems with that. The novel jumps right into the action, drawing the reader in from the first page. It does slow down a bit too much for my liking about halfway through, but it picks right back up towards the end.
Bailey is a cop trying to get his life back together, trying to leave the past behind and his alcohol problems with it. We’ve seen this before in other books, but for some reason, Bailey stands out from the crowd. He is a three-dimensional character that you can’t help but like and root for. George, though, the “villain”, was my favorite. He is just one cool guy. It was fascinating watching his development throughout the book.
This book has a bit of everything. Yes, there’s action and violence, but there’s lots of supernatural beings as well. A perfect read now that Halloween is around the corner!
The pacing is something that I have to mention here. It is so crucial to get that right in thrillers and horror novels, and the author had no real problems with that. The novel jumps right into the action, drawing the reader in from the first page. It does slow down a bit too much for my liking about halfway through, but it picks right back up towards the end.
Bailey is a cop trying to get his life back together, trying to leave the past behind and his alcohol problems with it. We’ve seen this before in other books, but for some reason, Bailey stands out from the crowd. He is a three-dimensional character that you can’t help but like and root for. George, though, the “villain”, was my favorite. He is just one cool guy. It was fascinating watching his development throughout the book.
This book has a bit of everything. Yes, there’s action and violence, but there’s lots of supernatural beings as well. A perfect read now that Halloween is around the corner!
November 17, 2011
Though at times the events horrify - wait a minute. It is a horror novel, after all.
The twists and turns keep you guessing how this will culminate. The hellhound - freaky, the sucubus - well, you'll have to read it to appreciate that section.
The events keep pushing the plot forward ever so quickly until you feel as if your head will spin. I felt sorry for both Bailey and George at times and then wanted to kick them in the pants. Very engrossing and engaging.
Check it out, if you dare!
The twists and turns keep you guessing how this will culminate. The hellhound - freaky, the sucubus - well, you'll have to read it to appreciate that section.
The events keep pushing the plot forward ever so quickly until you feel as if your head will spin. I felt sorry for both Bailey and George at times and then wanted to kick them in the pants. Very engrossing and engaging.
Check it out, if you dare!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews