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The Dead Man #7
The Beast Within
Matt Cahill was an ordinary man leading a simple life until a shocking accident changed everything. Now he can see a nightmarish netherworld that exists within our own. Now he's on a dangerous quest for the answers to who he is and what he has become...and engaged in an epic battle to save us, and his soul, from the clutches of pure evil.
Matt Cahill journeys deep into the Northern Michigan woods searching for a militaristic community that's led by a paranoid visionary... a man who claims to have defeated an entity eerily similar to Mr. Dark. This could be Matt's chance to solve the riddle of his nightmarish quest. But things go very wrong very fast... and soon he's trapped in a bloody siege between warring factions. The only way to escape from an unstoppable advance of mayhem, carnage and black magic is to trust his instincts, grab his ax, and unleash the ferocity of the Beast Within.
Matt Cahill journeys deep into the Northern Michigan woods searching for a militaristic community that's led by a paranoid visionary... a man who claims to have defeated an entity eerily similar to Mr. Dark. This could be Matt's chance to solve the riddle of his nightmarish quest. But things go very wrong very fast... and soon he's trapped in a bloody siege between warring factions. The only way to escape from an unstoppable advance of mayhem, carnage and black magic is to trust his instincts, grab his ax, and unleash the ferocity of the Beast Within.
- GenresHorror
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2011
8 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
James Daniels
5 books5 followersI was reader from a really young age. My grandmother let me sleep overnight at her country home in the attic. This also happened to be where she kept her personal library. I was introduced to Stephen King and the methods of his particular brand of marketed madness. I also read Anne Rice before Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.
I have always thought of myself as a writer. I think the litmus test for that is if you write even if you're not told to do it let alone paid to do it. I write because I want to and very few things make me happier than coffee, a comfortable chair and a blank page waiting to be filled with whatever dragon is roaming in my brain that day.
Btw, I find it slight disconcerting that profile here requests a date of DEATH. I'm fortunate if I remember some manager holidays. I don't have a date to die planned yet. There's no expiration date on my birth certificate. I'm not a gallon of milk with a "sell by" date, but I appreciate the thought. :>
I am a private person by nature. Some things are better left unsaid. But when it comes to reading, to writing, to the craft of telling tale, I am open to all topics.
I have always thought of myself as a writer. I think the litmus test for that is if you write even if you're not told to do it let alone paid to do it. I write because I want to and very few things make me happier than coffee, a comfortable chair and a blank page waiting to be filled with whatever dragon is roaming in my brain that day.
Btw, I find it slight disconcerting that profile here requests a date of DEATH. I'm fortunate if I remember some manager holidays. I don't have a date to die planned yet. There's no expiration date on my birth certificate. I'm not a gallon of milk with a "sell by" date, but I appreciate the thought. :>
I am a private person by nature. Some things are better left unsaid. But when it comes to reading, to writing, to the craft of telling tale, I am open to all topics.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 16, 2012
This book was horrible. I really like the series and had only found one other book that wasn't great. But this one is just terrible. It doesn't make any sense. There is no Mr. Dark, no rotting corpses, it is very different from the rest of the books in the series (you would think that by the seventh book a little different would be good). I don't want to spoil it but there are other supernatural forces at work in this one (when you get to the Kodiak Bear just remember you were warned that this was one to skip). This should have been a short story by itself and not part of the Dead Man series (so I wouldn't have read it). One page even talks about a shadow that moves by itself. Never mentioned again, just the one time. Guess everything worked out with that.
Just terrible. There wasn't one page of this book that I enjoyed reading it.
I hope #8 redeems the series or it may have been better if Mr. Cahill hadn't woken up after the avalanche.
Just terrible. There wasn't one page of this book that I enjoyed reading it.
I hope #8 redeems the series or it may have been better if Mr. Cahill hadn't woken up after the avalanche.
October 13, 2013
THE BEAST WITHIN Reads like a men's magazine adventure pulp with a supernatural twist. Cahill is cast as a commando of sorts, taking down soldiers with ease and rescuing the inhabitants of the compound with little regard for his own safety. The action is high octane and more akin to blockbuster action than supernatural drama of pervious instalments. The nature of the episodic novellas is more prevalent here with the plot coming together as a once off read - knowledge of what came before isn't essential but will provide context to Cahill's plight.
THE BEAST WITHIN surprised me. I didn't expect the type of story author James Daniels concocted for the series - and that's a good thing.
Read more on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
THE BEAST WITHIN surprised me. I didn't expect the type of story author James Daniels concocted for the series - and that's a good thing.
Read more on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
December 29, 2012
I'm finally getting myself caught up in the Goldberg/Rabkin creation, The Dead Man. It's coming up on a year since I read the sixth episode in the adventures of Matt Cahill, the man who came back from the dead after being frozen under an avalanche. Just too many books on my review pile, and this series kind of fell to the wayside.
In the seventh installment, A Beast Within, Matt is in Michigan to find an author he hopes holds the key to better understanding his terrible gift. Seeing the evil lurking in people physically depicted on their flesh after they've been corrupted by Matt's nemesis, Mr. Dark, is hardly something to be considered a gift, but he's made good use of it so far in his adventures. But if there's a way to put a stop to it all, it's worth looking into. What Matt finds, however, is a white-supremacist militia set to implode--and Matt's caught right in the middle.
Turns out the leader of this Aryan crackpot parade is the same guy Matt's been looking for, but he had no idea how far into crazytown the guy had gone. And things have come to a boil with the guy's Russian mail-order bride serving as the catalyst for a revolt among his followers.
Out of all the Dead Man books I've read so far, this one veered from the main narrative the most. Once inside the compound and finding out he's been on a wild goose chase for answers, Matt breaks out his trusty ax and literally fends off the barbarians at the gates. The Dead Man series has developed its own kind of mythos through each novella, but this one really struck its own chord with creepy shadows, a mythical Russian bear, and even a bit of the Insane Clown Posse.
The book certainly has exciting moments, but I wound up underwhelmed, and even a little disappointed by it. It didn't propel the over-arching storyline as much as I had hoped, and the introduction of new supernatural elements felt like they went against the grain of what's already been established. Maybe as I read the next two novellas in the series, pieces of this one will become clearer, but for now I'm just glad Matt Cahill is getting the heck out of Michigan.
In the seventh installment, A Beast Within, Matt is in Michigan to find an author he hopes holds the key to better understanding his terrible gift. Seeing the evil lurking in people physically depicted on their flesh after they've been corrupted by Matt's nemesis, Mr. Dark, is hardly something to be considered a gift, but he's made good use of it so far in his adventures. But if there's a way to put a stop to it all, it's worth looking into. What Matt finds, however, is a white-supremacist militia set to implode--and Matt's caught right in the middle.
Turns out the leader of this Aryan crackpot parade is the same guy Matt's been looking for, but he had no idea how far into crazytown the guy had gone. And things have come to a boil with the guy's Russian mail-order bride serving as the catalyst for a revolt among his followers.
Out of all the Dead Man books I've read so far, this one veered from the main narrative the most. Once inside the compound and finding out he's been on a wild goose chase for answers, Matt breaks out his trusty ax and literally fends off the barbarians at the gates. The Dead Man series has developed its own kind of mythos through each novella, but this one really struck its own chord with creepy shadows, a mythical Russian bear, and even a bit of the Insane Clown Posse.
The book certainly has exciting moments, but I wound up underwhelmed, and even a little disappointed by it. It didn't propel the over-arching storyline as much as I had hoped, and the introduction of new supernatural elements felt like they went against the grain of what's already been established. Maybe as I read the next two novellas in the series, pieces of this one will become clearer, but for now I'm just glad Matt Cahill is getting the heck out of Michigan.
December 22, 2011
It was just accident that Matt Cahill, The Dead Man, helped the attractive young woman outside the convenience mart when some racist survivalists were messing with her. He'd come 3,000 miles to see a writer about his book and the young woman turned out to be his wife.
The book was a load of racist bullshit, but one section had caught his eye. The parallels with his problems were close and there was a possibility he might find what he needed to beat Mr. Dark.
Matt Cahill had been caught in an avalanche and was missing for three months before his frozen body had turned up. When it thawed, Matt came back to life.
He was different though.
He suddenly was able to see evil in certain people where others didn't, in the form of rotting flesh, horrific smells. And there was the evil Mr. Dark, who seemed to be behind it all. His travels usually ended up with him rescuing people caught up in that "devil's" machinations.
This time was no different.
The author was bat shit crazy and surrounded by his own army that had turned on him for marrying one of the "inferior" races.
But the young woman and her two brothers were different as well.
Recommended.
The book was a load of racist bullshit, but one section had caught his eye. The parallels with his problems were close and there was a possibility he might find what he needed to beat Mr. Dark.
Matt Cahill had been caught in an avalanche and was missing for three months before his frozen body had turned up. When it thawed, Matt came back to life.
He was different though.
He suddenly was able to see evil in certain people where others didn't, in the form of rotting flesh, horrific smells. And there was the evil Mr. Dark, who seemed to be behind it all. His travels usually ended up with him rescuing people caught up in that "devil's" machinations.
This time was no different.
The author was bat shit crazy and surrounded by his own army that had turned on him for marrying one of the "inferior" races.
But the young woman and her two brothers were different as well.
Recommended.
October 5, 2014
So let's see...I took a bit of a reprieve from the Dead Man series for a while. The story of Matt Cahill, buried in an avalanche, and yet comes back from the grave (not as a zombie) to be the hero to stop the chaotic happenings of Mr. Dark. Onto book (or episode 7 - as these read more like made for TV shorts at ~ 100 pages or so each). I can't realy say too much without spoilers, but let's just say Matt ends up in a pro-aryan nation militia type compound where a civil war is brewing over a woman. This is a very special woman you will find out. And she has some very special friends. However, for me, this book was a lower point in the series. I just didn't click with the characters as much, and maybe I'm just not into reading about Aryan nation militia people...much of the excitement didn't occur til the very end, and there was no appearance by Mr. Dark to further the plot, really. I don't think that's a spoiler to say that. I think if you missed this book in the series, you wouldn't really notice.
February 11, 2012
Matt is pursuing a lead to an ancient rite that he read about in a book when he stumbles across an inter-militia war in rural Michigan. He saves the wife of the leader of the militia – who, coincidentally, happens to be the author whom he is seeking – and thereby makes himself an enemy to the members of the militia who have deserted over the fact that they believe the woman is not Aryan enough. Can Matt find out what he needs to know to finally rid himself of the influence of Mr. Dark? Can he survive the RAHOWA?
A most interesting chapter in Matt Cahill’s chronicles puts him up against racists and has him meeting up with some very mysterious people. I can’t mention more than that without spoiling things, but this book really wanders into the paranormal. I like the style of this author and will be searching out additional books by him. Recommended by fans of dark suspense/thrillers and horror.
A most interesting chapter in Matt Cahill’s chronicles puts him up against racists and has him meeting up with some very mysterious people. I can’t mention more than that without spoiling things, but this book really wanders into the paranormal. I like the style of this author and will be searching out additional books by him. Recommended by fans of dark suspense/thrillers and horror.
September 5, 2012
The general consensus from previous reviewers, appeared to be that The Beast Within was the weakest of The Dead Man series and could be skipped over. So I expected the worst.
However, The Beast Within was fine - nothing wrong with it at all. Sure, it branches off and tries something new. Mr. Dark isn't really in the story - but his presence is well and truly felt. And the story opens up a whole new world of possibilities for The Dead Man series. It implies Matt Cahill's journey to discover the secret of his power, and his running battle with Mr.Dark, is just the tip of a dark magical underworld that spans the globe.
On top of that, you get the usual mayhem - this time, evil white supremacists, rampaging bears, dangling from a chairlift, exploding trucks, flaming crossbows - of course a damsel in distress - and Cahill's usual axe wielding form of justice. No complaints from me - a solid evenings entertainment.
However, The Beast Within was fine - nothing wrong with it at all. Sure, it branches off and tries something new. Mr. Dark isn't really in the story - but his presence is well and truly felt. And the story opens up a whole new world of possibilities for The Dead Man series. It implies Matt Cahill's journey to discover the secret of his power, and his running battle with Mr.Dark, is just the tip of a dark magical underworld that spans the globe.
On top of that, you get the usual mayhem - this time, evil white supremacists, rampaging bears, dangling from a chairlift, exploding trucks, flaming crossbows - of course a damsel in distress - and Cahill's usual axe wielding form of justice. No complaints from me - a solid evenings entertainment.
June 15, 2012
Our ax-wielding hero/drifter Matt Cahill is back for another tangle with evil in the seventh installment of the DEAD MAN series. This time, rescuing a damsel in distress leads Cahill into the middle of a turf war between two survivalist factions. Like all the DEAD MAN books this is a fast read and it's packed with action and some great humor, too (one of the supporting characters is obsessed with Insane Clown Posse) not to mention a little extra supernatural. Interesting mentions of EXECUTIONER #38 in a couple spots led me to pick up that book (and a few other Pendelton Bolan's from the same era) off eBay.
January 6, 2012
This was a difficult episode to rate. As a standalone item, it would be a good fun read. As a part of the Dead Man, though, it seemed out of key with the other stories. This is probably supposed to be part of the joy of having many authors, but because this episode is so much different, it couldn't lean on the preceding stories to get the credibility it needed. I chuckled, I giggled, and I went ick a few times, but never was I drawn into the story.
February 21, 2012
I think some of the reviewers were less supportive of this episode, but I enjoyed it. #7 finds Matt in Michigan, hoping to find some answers. Unfortunately the answer Matt hopes to find (how to rid himself of Mr. Dark) is kept by an Aryan supremist leader living in a guarded compound, surrounded by his members that have turned against him. Shockingly, violence ensues...
January 28, 2014
This is not one of my favorite "episodes" of the series. Some spooky moments, however, give breath to an otherwise lackluster tale. But at least Matt is given a valuable clue to how to defeat, or at least aggravate, Mr. Dark. This one was just "okay".
June 1, 2012
Another solid episode to advance the story line.
June 8, 2013
Weird weapons, neo-Nazis, more than a hint of the supernatural. Yup.
July 31, 2013
Kind of a mess, and doesn't jibe with the rest of the series. Also, bigger logic issues than most of the instalments.
November 27, 2013
Not a clue what was going on what happened
October 29, 2014
Not the best entry in the series, but still fun
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews