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The 3 Gates of the Dead #1
3 Gates of the Dead
Sometimes, the most evil things come from the most holy…
Conflicted with his faith in God and the hypocrisy of the church, Aidan Schaeffer, a young assistant pastor, is in a constant state of spiritual turmoil. When Aidan learns that his ex-fiancée is the first victim in a string of ritualistic killings, he finds himself in the middle of an even deeper fight. Tormented by demonic threats and haunted by spirits, Aidan throws himself into investigating Amanda’s death; all the while supernatural forces have begun to attack the people around him. The more questions he asks, the more he is drawn into the world of a mysterious Anglican priest, a paranormal investigation group and a rogue female detective investigating the murders. As the gruesome rituals escalate, ancient hidden secrets and an evil long buried threaten to rip Aidan’s world apart.
Conflicted with his faith in God and the hypocrisy of the church, Aidan Schaeffer, a young assistant pastor, is in a constant state of spiritual turmoil. When Aidan learns that his ex-fiancée is the first victim in a string of ritualistic killings, he finds himself in the middle of an even deeper fight. Tormented by demonic threats and haunted by spirits, Aidan throws himself into investigating Amanda’s death; all the while supernatural forces have begun to attack the people around him. The more questions he asks, the more he is drawn into the world of a mysterious Anglican priest, a paranormal investigation group and a rogue female detective investigating the murders. As the gruesome rituals escalate, ancient hidden secrets and an evil long buried threaten to rip Aidan’s world apart.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2013
36 people are currently reading
785 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Ryan
15 books78 followersJonathan Ryan is an author, columnist, blogger and speaker. The Library Journal called his debut paranormal thriller, 3 Gates of the Dead (Open Road Media), “a real attraction for fans of The Exorcist and the darker fiction of C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams.” Book two in the series, Dark Bride (Open Road Media), was released in April 2015.
Along with his novel writing, Ryan has written for Christianity Today, Quantum Fairy Tales, Huffington Post and Notre Dame Magazine. In 2013, he started The Rogue on the interfaith site, Patheos, where he interviewed Kirk Cameron, Ken Ham, Vera Faminga, and director James Wan. He produced live coverage of the Ken Ham/Bill Nye the Science Guy Creation Museum debate that went viral with the hashtag “HamonNye.”
Recently, he co-founded the blog, Sick Pilgrim, with Jessica Mesman Griffith as a way to explore the edge of faith, reason and doubt.
Jonathan was asked by the Charles Williams estate to write an introduction for the famous Inkling’s novels on e-book through Open Road, the first person since the renowned poet, T.S. Eliot, to introduce Williams’s work to the world.
He has spoken to a wide variety of crowds about writing, faith, religion, and the weird. His audiences have included The CCO Jubilee conference, Salt Lake City Comic Con, Teen Author Boot Camp, Get Inked Writer’s Conference, Women in Publishing (Chicago), and the Festival of Faith and Writing.
Jonathan currently lives in South Bend, Indiana, where he is an editor at Ave Maria Press. He is represented by Amy Jameson of A plus B Works Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 25, 2016
Review is also available on my blog The Shameful Narcissist Speaks.
Jonathan Ryan's 3 Gates of the Dead came recommended to me by an old high school friend whose opinion I value highly, and I was not disappointed. I am not usually one for mysteries or thrillers, though I have dabbled in them before (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo of The Millennium Series for one); my usual staple is of the fantasy and fairy tale ilk, but I'm more than happy to step out of my boundaries for a good, rousing tale, and Ryan blows this out of the water. I finished it in two days.
This novel introduces Aidan Schaeffer, an assistant pastor for the Knox church in Columbus, OH. The story opens with Aidan dealing with the aftermath of his ex-fiancee Amanda's desertion and his subsequent crisis of faith, which was exacerbated by that event along with his parents' death in a house fire. It becomes very clear that these tragedies were not the cause of his doubts, but merely a catalyst to bring them to the forefront. I was immediately drawn to Aidan because of this as I have had similar issues, and the questions he was bringing up to his friend Brian were the same ones I've brought up to my husband (who is oddly enough also named Brian). Aidan is in a far more delicate position than the average Doubting Thomas since his business is to believe and to be a source of unshakeable faith for the congregation. Despite knowing what will happen he brings his issues to Mike, the head pastor and his boss, fulling expecting to be fired on the spot, but Mike who has also been his mentor for many years, takes this news in stride and tells Aidan that he'll help him on his journey to regain his faith. Aidan pursued a biology degree in college so he's very level headed and turned to theology because he saw it as a rational step. The doubts had always been there fueled by indulging in Dawkins and Hitchens, but he'd always been able to keep them at bay until the double whammy of his fiancee and parents.
As most mysteries go, things are never going to remain so "simple" as a crisis of faith and Aidan soon discovers that Amanda has been murdered in a highly ritualistic and frankly eerie way. He is initially a suspect, but his innocence is soon proven, but this heartbreaking wrench just throws him deeper into territory he is not prepared for. Both he and the detective who suspected him, Jennifer Brown, are baffled by Amanda's murder as there were strange markings found on her body. Adding to this is the strange supernatural events that have been occurring: the footprints found in the snow with no forensic evidence to indicate who made them, the findings by a "ghost hunting" group that Aidan is led to, and the cryptic note left by Amanda charging to him to find "Father Neal" and what horrors will happen if he does not. Aidan Schaeffer is literally a man chased by the dead and haunted by the ghosts of his guilt.
This book gave me goosebumps. I had to stop reading at around the half way point the night before and do something else before going to sleep. Aidan is such a well written and relate-able character. All of the doubts and contradictions he brought up about the nature of God were things that I myself have pondered still without satisfactory answer. I liked how Ryan was not trying to force religion down our throats, which is an amazing feat in a story about a preacher who has been thrust into a world of supernatural phenomenon. Usually crisis of faith stories end with the character having an amazing revelation and finding God again. It's trite; it's boring; it's expected. This story did none of those. Aidan's journey back to his faith is still in question by the end, but he has made progress. While there were a few things I did figure out on my own, they didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story, and far more revelations were utterly shocking. There were a few things Aidan references that I believe I might have had a better grasp on if I were more familiar with contemporary Christian culture, but these were few and far between. Ryan did an excellent job explaining most things that weren't common knowledge, but in a way that wasn't presumptuous and that didn't take me out of the story. Once I started reading I was in. He wove in the love aspect of the novel very well. It was an expected angle, too, but came off in a perfectly natural way. For a pastor Aidan is is very witty and snarky, which I chalk up to his fiery Irish blood. I also loved the nerd culture references. In a way that contributed to the creepiness of the tale, because these were so seamless that when the kooky stuff started happening it really got to you because you start thinking, "Oh my God...this is happening in the real world with real people who know about Star Wars and Harry Potter. Ahhh *chils*"
Aidan's struggle does a lot to present pastors in a different light and this is not a bad thing. It makes one feel less awful for doubting if people who are in the upper echelons do so it makes it okay for the rest of us. Most of all, it shows that they're human with human failings and human questions. It makes me think that faith is not necessarily unshakeable even for those who seem constantly unshaken. It's more mutable and wavering like the tide, but above all of it really was the message of hope. The people that really mattered never gave up on Aidan, and I think that says a lot about what true Christianity should be about.
I give this book four and a half stars, but as Goodreads doesn't allow half ratings, I rounded it up to 5. The second book in the series Dark Bride looks just as good.
Jonathan Ryan's 3 Gates of the Dead came recommended to me by an old high school friend whose opinion I value highly, and I was not disappointed. I am not usually one for mysteries or thrillers, though I have dabbled in them before (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo of The Millennium Series for one); my usual staple is of the fantasy and fairy tale ilk, but I'm more than happy to step out of my boundaries for a good, rousing tale, and Ryan blows this out of the water. I finished it in two days.
This novel introduces Aidan Schaeffer, an assistant pastor for the Knox church in Columbus, OH. The story opens with Aidan dealing with the aftermath of his ex-fiancee Amanda's desertion and his subsequent crisis of faith, which was exacerbated by that event along with his parents' death in a house fire. It becomes very clear that these tragedies were not the cause of his doubts, but merely a catalyst to bring them to the forefront. I was immediately drawn to Aidan because of this as I have had similar issues, and the questions he was bringing up to his friend Brian were the same ones I've brought up to my husband (who is oddly enough also named Brian). Aidan is in a far more delicate position than the average Doubting Thomas since his business is to believe and to be a source of unshakeable faith for the congregation. Despite knowing what will happen he brings his issues to Mike, the head pastor and his boss, fulling expecting to be fired on the spot, but Mike who has also been his mentor for many years, takes this news in stride and tells Aidan that he'll help him on his journey to regain his faith. Aidan pursued a biology degree in college so he's very level headed and turned to theology because he saw it as a rational step. The doubts had always been there fueled by indulging in Dawkins and Hitchens, but he'd always been able to keep them at bay until the double whammy of his fiancee and parents.
As most mysteries go, things are never going to remain so "simple" as a crisis of faith and Aidan soon discovers that Amanda has been murdered in a highly ritualistic and frankly eerie way. He is initially a suspect, but his innocence is soon proven, but this heartbreaking wrench just throws him deeper into territory he is not prepared for. Both he and the detective who suspected him, Jennifer Brown, are baffled by Amanda's murder as there were strange markings found on her body. Adding to this is the strange supernatural events that have been occurring: the footprints found in the snow with no forensic evidence to indicate who made them, the findings by a "ghost hunting" group that Aidan is led to, and the cryptic note left by Amanda charging to him to find "Father Neal" and what horrors will happen if he does not. Aidan Schaeffer is literally a man chased by the dead and haunted by the ghosts of his guilt.
This book gave me goosebumps. I had to stop reading at around the half way point the night before and do something else before going to sleep. Aidan is such a well written and relate-able character. All of the doubts and contradictions he brought up about the nature of God were things that I myself have pondered still without satisfactory answer. I liked how Ryan was not trying to force religion down our throats, which is an amazing feat in a story about a preacher who has been thrust into a world of supernatural phenomenon. Usually crisis of faith stories end with the character having an amazing revelation and finding God again. It's trite; it's boring; it's expected. This story did none of those. Aidan's journey back to his faith is still in question by the end, but he has made progress. While there were a few things I did figure out on my own, they didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story, and far more revelations were utterly shocking. There were a few things Aidan references that I believe I might have had a better grasp on if I were more familiar with contemporary Christian culture, but these were few and far between. Ryan did an excellent job explaining most things that weren't common knowledge, but in a way that wasn't presumptuous and that didn't take me out of the story. Once I started reading I was in. He wove in the love aspect of the novel very well. It was an expected angle, too, but came off in a perfectly natural way. For a pastor Aidan is is very witty and snarky, which I chalk up to his fiery Irish blood. I also loved the nerd culture references. In a way that contributed to the creepiness of the tale, because these were so seamless that when the kooky stuff started happening it really got to you because you start thinking, "Oh my God...this is happening in the real world with real people who know about Star Wars and Harry Potter. Ahhh *chils*"
Aidan's struggle does a lot to present pastors in a different light and this is not a bad thing. It makes one feel less awful for doubting if people who are in the upper echelons do so it makes it okay for the rest of us. Most of all, it shows that they're human with human failings and human questions. It makes me think that faith is not necessarily unshakeable even for those who seem constantly unshaken. It's more mutable and wavering like the tide, but above all of it really was the message of hope. The people that really mattered never gave up on Aidan, and I think that says a lot about what true Christianity should be about.
I give this book four and a half stars, but as Goodreads doesn't allow half ratings, I rounded it up to 5. The second book in the series Dark Bride looks just as good.
September 14, 2013
Spine-tingling, seductive and sinister! Jonathan Ryan has taken theological thrillers to new depths and depravities.
No matter what your typical literary fare, this novel is a feast for theological thriller, mystery and horror fans alike. Exquisitely written, and objectively handled, Ryan’s story leaps off the page in a break-neck and terror fueled pace.
Fiction and fantasy, for myself at least, must always have an anchor. Something that ties the fantastic or the mythological to the mundane, the real and tangible world. Ryan chose the setting perfectly for this title, in central Ohio. As an Ohio native, I was not only familiar with the locations that he had chosen, but familiar with some of the folklore surrounding those areas, and had spent many occasions during my childhood visiting these places. This further intensified my reading experience.
3 Gates of the Dead has mystery, horror, romance, and betrayal. It is not for the faint hearted or those that fear anything that goes “bump” in the night. It will grab you with unseen icy hands, and grip you tightly til the very end, then leave you begging for a sequel.
No matter what your typical literary fare, this novel is a feast for theological thriller, mystery and horror fans alike. Exquisitely written, and objectively handled, Ryan’s story leaps off the page in a break-neck and terror fueled pace.
Fiction and fantasy, for myself at least, must always have an anchor. Something that ties the fantastic or the mythological to the mundane, the real and tangible world. Ryan chose the setting perfectly for this title, in central Ohio. As an Ohio native, I was not only familiar with the locations that he had chosen, but familiar with some of the folklore surrounding those areas, and had spent many occasions during my childhood visiting these places. This further intensified my reading experience.
3 Gates of the Dead has mystery, horror, romance, and betrayal. It is not for the faint hearted or those that fear anything that goes “bump” in the night. It will grab you with unseen icy hands, and grip you tightly til the very end, then leave you begging for a sequel.
October 28, 2013
“3 Gates of the Dead” by Jonathan Ryan is a gripping supernatural thriller. The story begins harmlessly with a man of the cloth who is having a hard time personally and with his faith but it soon turns into something much darker and sinister. Father Aidan, our protagonist is called to hospital where a friend is suffering with heart problems. Said friend’s wife has had a dream or premonition, brought to her in form of her dead son about the awakening of some evil forces. Unsure what to believe he dismisses her account at first but soon hears voices himself and has to face that the spiritual world is alive and very active, stirring further thoughts about heaven and hell and his beliefs.
He becomes a murder suspect in the ritualistic killing of his ex-girlfriend ends up investigating together with a female detective, Jennifer.
The book turns into a suspenseful thriller with a continuous underlying threatening atmosphere and an eerie feel to it. The dark forces have planned this disturbing chain of events and the question is whether Aidan and Jennifer can stop them in time. There is a lot of theological discussion in this book since the main characters are church members and elders and are dealing with demons and there is the chemistry between Aidan and Jennifer.
This is a well-crafted novel and the beginning to a promising series that should be a big success amongst the fans of the genre.
He becomes a murder suspect in the ritualistic killing of his ex-girlfriend ends up investigating together with a female detective, Jennifer.
The book turns into a suspenseful thriller with a continuous underlying threatening atmosphere and an eerie feel to it. The dark forces have planned this disturbing chain of events and the question is whether Aidan and Jennifer can stop them in time. There is a lot of theological discussion in this book since the main characters are church members and elders and are dealing with demons and there is the chemistry between Aidan and Jennifer.
This is a well-crafted novel and the beginning to a promising series that should be a big success amongst the fans of the genre.
September 4, 2013
This was a bonechilling book. I liked how Aiden was going through a identity crises and showed that we are all flawed but can find our way.
the story of faith and murder testing the boundaries of what we all believe and see is something we all relate to.
Aiden is a sweet and kind man who struggles within about issues we all do. He is flawed but kind and that is what the reader relates to. Jennifer is the tough cop who all roots for to stop evil.
Mike was evil wrapped in disguise of trustworthy. he shows us the wolf in sheep's clothing.
Father Neal helps all with his comfort and faith. He is a healer of all kinds and the grandfather like figure we all relate to. His strength is drawn upon to help Aiden and the others with their issues of faith and questions of things.
this is a book of ritualistic murder to further one's power where faith and belief in not only ourselves but something is questioned and brought to the open and drawn upon. A nice bonechilling read.
the story of faith and murder testing the boundaries of what we all believe and see is something we all relate to.
Aiden is a sweet and kind man who struggles within about issues we all do. He is flawed but kind and that is what the reader relates to. Jennifer is the tough cop who all roots for to stop evil.
Mike was evil wrapped in disguise of trustworthy. he shows us the wolf in sheep's clothing.
Father Neal helps all with his comfort and faith. He is a healer of all kinds and the grandfather like figure we all relate to. His strength is drawn upon to help Aiden and the others with their issues of faith and questions of things.
this is a book of ritualistic murder to further one's power where faith and belief in not only ourselves but something is questioned and brought to the open and drawn upon. A nice bonechilling read.
September 15, 2013
Assistant pastor Aidan Schaeffer is questioning his faith and those around him. During this turmoil, he is drawn into a supernatural serial murder investigation.
The flaws of the characters, in part, make them more realistic and more likeable or unlikeable, as the character and situation dictate. Also watching the characters deal with their flaws, and as at least in the example of the main character, try to deal and come to terms with his crisis/flaws, character development is presented.
The dialogue is varied and typically rich in personality.
Narrative is vividly detailed with thrilling action.
Overall, an exciting ride!
The flaws of the characters, in part, make them more realistic and more likeable or unlikeable, as the character and situation dictate. Also watching the characters deal with their flaws, and as at least in the example of the main character, try to deal and come to terms with his crisis/flaws, character development is presented.
The dialogue is varied and typically rich in personality.
Narrative is vividly detailed with thrilling action.
Overall, an exciting ride!
August 1, 2024
I really enjoyed the premise of this book (three stars means "I liked it"). However, there were several factors that detracted from it, for myself.
The last quarter of the book was fast paced and filled with everything I thought this would be about. However, the first 3/4 was quite slow in comparison. When I put it down, I'd have to force myself to pick it up again. The biggest issue I found was that it often read like a religious manual--the concept of faith and lack thereof was gone into with great depth, using scientific books and biblical ones to back up arguments for either side. I expect some religious scenes with any book of this nature, but this seemed to be THE point of the novel for that first 3/4.
Overall, if you go into this expecting mostly talk about faith, you'll probably enjoy the entire novel much more than I did. The ending was great, in my opinion, and elevated my rating.
The last quarter of the book was fast paced and filled with everything I thought this would be about. However, the first 3/4 was quite slow in comparison. When I put it down, I'd have to force myself to pick it up again. The biggest issue I found was that it often read like a religious manual--the concept of faith and lack thereof was gone into with great depth, using scientific books and biblical ones to back up arguments for either side. I expect some religious scenes with any book of this nature, but this seemed to be THE point of the novel for that first 3/4.
Overall, if you go into this expecting mostly talk about faith, you'll probably enjoy the entire novel much more than I did. The ending was great, in my opinion, and elevated my rating.
August 7, 2013
3 Gates of the Dead, by Jonathan Ryan is a roller coaster ride of a horror story – the suspense keeps building and you know when you hit the other side you are going to come out screaming – but you can’t help turning the pages anyway.
I was caught up in this book almost immediately. I liked the main character and really identified with what he was going through. I didn’t see the twists along the way coming and I found the story to be engrossing and some of the characters, especially Father Neil and Zoe to be particularly memorable. Detective Brown was also a really great character.
Pastor Aidan Schaeffer is going through a crisis of faith. An Associate Pastor at an Ohio church he is tormented by the fact he no longer believes in God. He then becomes a murder suspect in the death of his ex-fiancée Amanda. Even when he is cleared, he remains involved in the investigation because of its ritualistic nature and supernatural elements. Will Pastor Schaeffer resolve his crisis of faith in time to save himself and those he cares for? Is the killer a sick serial killer or is there something more behind Amanda's death? Can Aidan figure out the clue Amanda has left behind in enough time to prevent the next killing and what is with the letters carved into Amanda's forehead?
This book falls in with the tradition of the Exorcist and with Stephen King’s supernatural thrillers. There is a quality to the story that reminds me of Poe’s short stories at their best with their unforeseen macabre twists.
This is a complete stand-alone book, but there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end that means we will be seeing more books involving Pastor Schaeffer, Father Neal and the supernatural world from this promising new horror writer.
I highly recommend this book to all readers of horror, suspense and the mysterious. It really is excellent.
I was caught up in this book almost immediately. I liked the main character and really identified with what he was going through. I didn’t see the twists along the way coming and I found the story to be engrossing and some of the characters, especially Father Neil and Zoe to be particularly memorable. Detective Brown was also a really great character.
Pastor Aidan Schaeffer is going through a crisis of faith. An Associate Pastor at an Ohio church he is tormented by the fact he no longer believes in God. He then becomes a murder suspect in the death of his ex-fiancée Amanda. Even when he is cleared, he remains involved in the investigation because of its ritualistic nature and supernatural elements. Will Pastor Schaeffer resolve his crisis of faith in time to save himself and those he cares for? Is the killer a sick serial killer or is there something more behind Amanda's death? Can Aidan figure out the clue Amanda has left behind in enough time to prevent the next killing and what is with the letters carved into Amanda's forehead?
This book falls in with the tradition of the Exorcist and with Stephen King’s supernatural thrillers. There is a quality to the story that reminds me of Poe’s short stories at their best with their unforeseen macabre twists.
This is a complete stand-alone book, but there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end that means we will be seeing more books involving Pastor Schaeffer, Father Neal and the supernatural world from this promising new horror writer.
I highly recommend this book to all readers of horror, suspense and the mysterious. It really is excellent.
January 3, 2014
It has been far too long since I've read just for fun. I came across author, Jonathan Ryan online and decided to try out his recently released and much lauded thriller novel, 3 Gates of the Dead. Sooo glad I did! I was entertained, and creeped out, and thrilled... but I also felt like I had received something.
Ryan is not only a good story teller, he's very insightful and adept at "showing", in a gently didactic way, some deeply human dilemmas and opposing philosophies that truly resonated with me. I read it quickly, due to his smooth and interesting narrative, and enjoyed it very much. I love a book that is fun to read but also makes me think.
The characters are well drawn and the suspenseful story crescendos into a big, scary finish that you won't want to miss. This is the first in a series and I totally look forward to seeing what happens next in this spooky world that Ryan has created.
Ryan is not only a good story teller, he's very insightful and adept at "showing", in a gently didactic way, some deeply human dilemmas and opposing philosophies that truly resonated with me. I read it quickly, due to his smooth and interesting narrative, and enjoyed it very much. I love a book that is fun to read but also makes me think.
The characters are well drawn and the suspenseful story crescendos into a big, scary finish that you won't want to miss. This is the first in a series and I totally look forward to seeing what happens next in this spooky world that Ryan has created.
August 7, 2015
Religious book first, paranormal second
This book has soo much potential but falls short. There is a lot of religious debate and philosophical discussions in this book. So much so that I stopped half way through to see if I had picked up a Christian book by mistake. Even if you put that aside, the story itself is lacking. I have never uttered 'oh my gosh', 'oh whatever!', and 'seriously?' so much while reading a single book. I was rolling my eyes at plot lines and laughing in spots that I'm sure the author did not intend. I would give examples but I don't want to spoil things for those who have not read. I was really looking forward to reading this and was hoping it would fall in line with something like The Exorcist or others. It doesn't. By the end of the book, I was skimming. I recommend skipping this one.
This book has soo much potential but falls short. There is a lot of religious debate and philosophical discussions in this book. So much so that I stopped half way through to see if I had picked up a Christian book by mistake. Even if you put that aside, the story itself is lacking. I have never uttered 'oh my gosh', 'oh whatever!', and 'seriously?' so much while reading a single book. I was rolling my eyes at plot lines and laughing in spots that I'm sure the author did not intend. I would give examples but I don't want to spoil things for those who have not read. I was really looking forward to reading this and was hoping it would fall in line with something like The Exorcist or others. It doesn't. By the end of the book, I was skimming. I recommend skipping this one.
August 11, 2015
This was a decent book, VERY religious so if that's not your thing, just be warned. Interesting plot and it kept me engaged (I listed to the audio version). That being said while it had a distinct ending, it didn't (you'll understand if you read) and cliffhanger endings are a peeve of mine. I did enjoy the characters and storyline enough that I will get the next book in the series.
January 8, 2014
For a very cheap download this was an excellent read, at the heart of the story was a priests quest to rediscover his faith and love in Jesus...but don't be fooled it was also a great fantasy read for all Harry Potter fans...but with a bit more bite!
October 27, 2013
3 Gates of the Dead by Jonathan Ryan is a tour-de-force unstoppable horror fantasy that grips you by the scruff of the neck and won't let go until the final page. I could not put the book down, but I did have to eat and sleep, which became an annoyance, interrupting my need to get back to this astonishing novel.
Aidan is a young pastor who is suspected of killing his ex-fiancé in a brutal ritualistic fashion. After being cleared by the police, he forms a bond with Jennifer, the lead detective on the case. Also, Aidan is having serious doubts about God and is tormented daily. Ryan expertly uses theological information as a buffer between the horrific murders and Aidan's own confusion over his religious beliefs. The deeper Aidan questions his doubts and the further he investigates the murders the more he comes to understand there is more to the killings. He and Jennifer must seek out a priest, Father Neal, for he alone may know the deadly secrets hidden within the Bible and certain historical sites of Ohio.
As the investigations progress so more supernatural events occur that will tingle the spine of every reader, no matter how disbelieving they may be. The story picks up pace when a paranormal research team become involved and here we are entertained with ghost and demon hunting. Shocks are delivered with sheer panache, skilfully blended with humour and theological discussion, which not at any time appears dry, but is actually though-provoking.
This supernatural thriller is a must read FIVE STAR worthy of competing with Stephen King.
Aidan is a young pastor who is suspected of killing his ex-fiancé in a brutal ritualistic fashion. After being cleared by the police, he forms a bond with Jennifer, the lead detective on the case. Also, Aidan is having serious doubts about God and is tormented daily. Ryan expertly uses theological information as a buffer between the horrific murders and Aidan's own confusion over his religious beliefs. The deeper Aidan questions his doubts and the further he investigates the murders the more he comes to understand there is more to the killings. He and Jennifer must seek out a priest, Father Neal, for he alone may know the deadly secrets hidden within the Bible and certain historical sites of Ohio.
As the investigations progress so more supernatural events occur that will tingle the spine of every reader, no matter how disbelieving they may be. The story picks up pace when a paranormal research team become involved and here we are entertained with ghost and demon hunting. Shocks are delivered with sheer panache, skilfully blended with humour and theological discussion, which not at any time appears dry, but is actually though-provoking.
This supernatural thriller is a must read FIVE STAR worthy of competing with Stephen King.
January 18, 2014
Let me preface my review by stating, I don't mind a little bit of religion in books, especially those that deal with demons but what I can't stand is when characters constantly talk about the Bible, quote the Bible and all of that. So when I first began this book I was less than impressed by the constant blasts of Christianity from the characters but as the story went along I was able to overlook some of it enough to be able to continue reading what turned out to be a pretty good, not great, supernatural mystery. What i did like was the author being able to at least show that religion has its faults and those who supposedly are religious can be just as bad as anyone else and tend to be quite hypocritical actually which I've always found to be the case which is why I don't attend any kind of church. Too many people stabbing each other in the back while smiling to their respective faces.
I also enjoyed the slowly unfolding mystery behind Father Neal that added another layer to the mystery. I did enjoy the characters; they weren't all flat as a board but had real depth to them, they had their own doubts, beliefs rather than just being "good" or "evil". The constant debate with Aidan about his faith, him wanting to learn the truth about what was going on and not resolving it all in half a book's worth of chapters were great. As much as the endless religious overtones, quotes, etc bother me, I think I'll have to pick up the next book in this "series" for the lack of a better term.
I also enjoyed the slowly unfolding mystery behind Father Neal that added another layer to the mystery. I did enjoy the characters; they weren't all flat as a board but had real depth to them, they had their own doubts, beliefs rather than just being "good" or "evil". The constant debate with Aidan about his faith, him wanting to learn the truth about what was going on and not resolving it all in half a book's worth of chapters were great. As much as the endless religious overtones, quotes, etc bother me, I think I'll have to pick up the next book in this "series" for the lack of a better term.
January 12, 2020
Life is too short for bad books, and this is a stinker.
February 25, 2020
This was a fast and entertaining read; it reminded me a bit of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with a lot more religion.
While I appreciate that the ending did not wrap up in a perfectly neat and implausible bow, I would have appreciated it more if I had known in advance that this was intended to be the first book in a series. That should be clearly labeled somewhere. And if the next book doesn't answer most of my many questions, I will probably be angry. (I will admit now that I have my doubts.)
On a side note, wow, I did not expect the mouth on that pastor.
While I appreciate that the ending did not wrap up in a perfectly neat and implausible bow, I would have appreciated it more if I had known in advance that this was intended to be the first book in a series. That should be clearly labeled somewhere. And if the next book doesn't answer most of my many questions, I will probably be angry. (I will admit now that I have my doubts.)
On a side note, wow, I did not expect the mouth on that pastor.
April 12, 2017
I am not a fan of supernatural stuff when it comes to battles of powers and principalities, but this book was not as disturbing as I imagined. I heard the author speak and about the influence of Inkling Charles Williams and thought I would check out his book. I appreciated the distinction between Protestant and Catholic beliefs and the exploration, to some extent, of doubt. Other parts were quite predictable. I'm not sure if I will read the sequels.
September 10, 2017
This book wasn't quiet what I was expecting when I read the words "priest" and "evil" on the back cover. Sure the main conflict involves both of those things but the dilemma of the protagonist went further than surface issues of pea soup and spinning heads. Questions of faith and religious lifestyle were much deeper than I had planned for. Unfortunately the ending left much to be desired going too quickly and leaving unanswered questions. But the journey to that point was enjoyable.
December 13, 2014
Book 1 of a series: reading and reviewing this one now, preparatory to reviewing Book 2 via NetGalley (received Nov. 24 2014).
January 6, 2014
Flat writing, wooden characters, and a plot for Sunday school. A Doubting Thomas story that--gasp!--"proves" that all you need is faith.
June 20, 2014
This is the best horror thriller I have read in a long long time. I highly recommend this book to all.
July 22, 2014
Very different story. Brings theology, nephilim, and magick all together in one awesome plot. The characters are great to follow also. Can't wait to read book two!
May 8, 2015
This book was really good but I was really bothered by the swearing. Almost put it down because of this.
December 15, 2021
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
This book has the cheesiest cover I have ever seen on a horror novel. It was like looking at a teenage Goth girl’s room. I honestly picked up the book because it sounded awful and the cover made it look worse. I was shocked at how into the story I got. The characters were very deep and fascinating. I was guessing until the very end who was committing the ritualistic murders and why. I AM STILL GUESSING. I NEED THE SEQUEL NOW!
The main character is a religious figure that is having issues with his faith. He is having a really terrible year and is not sure where his life is going anymore. How can you get cooler than that for a main character? I have not seen a religious figure this well fleshed out in a novel ever even in the novels where it is focused around a church or the Vatican. I loved that he called his dog Bishop. It was a great joke that kept me smiling for no reason. Everything about this book was wonderful.
The general plot of ritualistic murder investigation normally isn’t my thing, but this book did so much more with that plot that I couldn’t help get involved. There was a scientific ghost hunt, a female detective who was not gay (or trigger happy or completely interested in a man to the point that she has no other character traits), it had an array of personalities for the church. There was so much character development and world building. WHO IS THE GRINNING MAN?
If you don’t normally read mystery or horror, this book is still a safe bet. There is so much to the world that it reads like a Christian fiction as well. There is a lot of talk of faith and bible verses. This is a book that if it were made into a movie I would watch it with my grandmother who is obsessed with Christianity, westerns, and mysteries. It was a great lore book too. There is a lot of Christianity that is then used to create a cult horror mess. It is just fantastic.
This book has the cheesiest cover I have ever seen on a horror novel. It was like looking at a teenage Goth girl’s room. I honestly picked up the book because it sounded awful and the cover made it look worse. I was shocked at how into the story I got. The characters were very deep and fascinating. I was guessing until the very end who was committing the ritualistic murders and why. I AM STILL GUESSING. I NEED THE SEQUEL NOW!
The main character is a religious figure that is having issues with his faith. He is having a really terrible year and is not sure where his life is going anymore. How can you get cooler than that for a main character? I have not seen a religious figure this well fleshed out in a novel ever even in the novels where it is focused around a church or the Vatican. I loved that he called his dog Bishop. It was a great joke that kept me smiling for no reason. Everything about this book was wonderful.
The general plot of ritualistic murder investigation normally isn’t my thing, but this book did so much more with that plot that I couldn’t help get involved. There was a scientific ghost hunt, a female detective who was not gay (or trigger happy or completely interested in a man to the point that she has no other character traits), it had an array of personalities for the church. There was so much character development and world building. WHO IS THE GRINNING MAN?
If you don’t normally read mystery or horror, this book is still a safe bet. There is so much to the world that it reads like a Christian fiction as well. There is a lot of talk of faith and bible verses. This is a book that if it were made into a movie I would watch it with my grandmother who is obsessed with Christianity, westerns, and mysteries. It was a great lore book too. There is a lot of Christianity that is then used to create a cult horror mess. It is just fantastic.
January 27, 2019
Awesome Read....
I chose this book because of it's premise and outline. It's a story about an associate pastor who has lost his faith due to what he sees going on in his church with the people's behavior as a person and to one another, as well as his girlfriend, Amanda, breaking up with him a few months ago and his parent's getting killed in a car accident the year before. With him losing his faith, all of these horrible incidents seem to start happening with him and in his life with the supernatural. He meets some very interesting characters before, during and after the events occur. I would like to say mor, but that would just give away too many spoilers. I will say this book should be read by adults due to content and out doors end on a cliffhanger.....I can't wait for the sequel!! IMO, it was "that" good.
I chose this book because of it's premise and outline. It's a story about an associate pastor who has lost his faith due to what he sees going on in his church with the people's behavior as a person and to one another, as well as his girlfriend, Amanda, breaking up with him a few months ago and his parent's getting killed in a car accident the year before. With him losing his faith, all of these horrible incidents seem to start happening with him and in his life with the supernatural. He meets some very interesting characters before, during and after the events occur. I would like to say mor, but that would just give away too many spoilers. I will say this book should be read by adults due to content and out doors end on a cliffhanger.....I can't wait for the sequel!! IMO, it was "that" good.
January 5, 2019
This book was out of my norm big time due to the heavy religious aspects of it. However, moving out of my norm ended up being great because I really enjoyed the book and the characters immensely. The only complaint that I had was that I was not surprised by any of the "twists" and had it figured out pretty early on.
December 12, 2019
It’s been a long while since I’ve read a book in this genre and I am now seriously wondering why I waited so long. I really enjoyed this book. Well written and spooky, as soon as I finished it I immediately purchased the next one in the series.
March 25, 2020
A good read- great pacing, likable (if squeaky clean lol) characters. I found the wrestling-with-faith issue a little tedious after all, but overall an entertaining read.
March 15, 2017
Outstanding...this book had gotten my attention and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend you should read this book. Can't wait for the next book to come out. 3 Gates Series Book 2....The Dark Bride. I just know it's going to be so good.
January 13, 2014
I for one, was not expecting at all what I read in 3 Gates of the Dead. Usually with first time authors, you tend not to expect so much in terms of a complex story or writing style. At least, in my amateur experience as a professional reader, I've never come across something so well written in a debut book. However, Jonathan Ryan sets out to prove me wrong, and I'm sure countless others, by writing a superb tale of the supernatural. Aidan Schaeffer is a doubting, but unconsciously faithful pastor who we find at one of the worst times of his life. Automatically, Aidan is a character that almost any reader can identify with because of the questions he asks about life, religious or not. After going through a lot prior to the story, our main character finds out that there is much more that he has yet to learn.
What I found so unbelievable about this book was how well the main character was written. Constantly throughout the book, I found myself relating to Aidan and understanding his inner turmoil with God. This book focuses a lot on Aidan's relationship with a higher power, obviously because he is a pastor. But he's a pastor with questions, to which the answers only cloud his beliefs further. I feel that no matter what side of the religious debate you're on, there is something endearing about a person struggling to figure out where they stand on life. Not only that, but to continuously push themselves into finding their true self a midst a handful of issues that would cause most to fold under pressure. Even though we find our protagonist at a crossroads in his life, as soon as the book starts, Mr. Ryan immediately hooks the reader into caring about Aidan and his troubles. It also was neat to read a book that takes place not that far from home for me, and has a lot of material that I can relate to personally (like the argument over whether Ohio State is a good football team or not).
There are obviously a lot of reasons I would like this book. The horror elements like ghosts, the supernatural, and the occult. Also, the mystery elements like shocking twists and a reason for our character to further torment, and examine his outlook on the world. But the reason I could not put this book down was because of Ryan's excellent writing. I was astounded that this was his first book, and as I was reading I kept asking myself "how is this possible?" Sure you could say that maybe I wasn't expecting much so I was more easily impressed, but I think I could easily compare this to some of the greater works of horror fiction. The characterization is on point from Aidan to Mike, his troubled partner at the church, to Jennifer, the girl he finds himself swooning over, and right down to the dead people at the bottom of the credits. 3 Gates of the Dead is damn near as perfect of a first book that one could read, and certainly leaves me wanting more.
I would hope to see that if this book is turned into a movie, which I read is a possibility, that the filmmakers take good care of this subject material. It's such an amazing story on the page, that it would be a shame to see it go to waste on B-movie talent and more than likely focus on the supernatural, and not the human aspects of it. It's a perfect story about the main character Aidan, and his journey through reality and the supernatural, in finding his true beliefs and opinions of the world and greater. This book is so much more than a ghost story, and it's so much more than a murder mystery. This is a grade A novel of suspense, intrigue, and self-discovery that will leave any reader, no matter what preference, asking for book two as soon as possible. Bravo Jonathan Ryan, you have gained a loyal fan and I'm sure countless others, who are eagerly awaiting more of your wonderfully crafted tales. As a human constantly learning for himself what it means to be on this planet, I can certainly appreciate a fictional story that you almost believe is real until you hit the last page... or is it?
Originally posted at sixthreezy at the movies & more!
What I found so unbelievable about this book was how well the main character was written. Constantly throughout the book, I found myself relating to Aidan and understanding his inner turmoil with God. This book focuses a lot on Aidan's relationship with a higher power, obviously because he is a pastor. But he's a pastor with questions, to which the answers only cloud his beliefs further. I feel that no matter what side of the religious debate you're on, there is something endearing about a person struggling to figure out where they stand on life. Not only that, but to continuously push themselves into finding their true self a midst a handful of issues that would cause most to fold under pressure. Even though we find our protagonist at a crossroads in his life, as soon as the book starts, Mr. Ryan immediately hooks the reader into caring about Aidan and his troubles. It also was neat to read a book that takes place not that far from home for me, and has a lot of material that I can relate to personally (like the argument over whether Ohio State is a good football team or not).
There are obviously a lot of reasons I would like this book. The horror elements like ghosts, the supernatural, and the occult. Also, the mystery elements like shocking twists and a reason for our character to further torment, and examine his outlook on the world. But the reason I could not put this book down was because of Ryan's excellent writing. I was astounded that this was his first book, and as I was reading I kept asking myself "how is this possible?" Sure you could say that maybe I wasn't expecting much so I was more easily impressed, but I think I could easily compare this to some of the greater works of horror fiction. The characterization is on point from Aidan to Mike, his troubled partner at the church, to Jennifer, the girl he finds himself swooning over, and right down to the dead people at the bottom of the credits. 3 Gates of the Dead is damn near as perfect of a first book that one could read, and certainly leaves me wanting more.
I would hope to see that if this book is turned into a movie, which I read is a possibility, that the filmmakers take good care of this subject material. It's such an amazing story on the page, that it would be a shame to see it go to waste on B-movie talent and more than likely focus on the supernatural, and not the human aspects of it. It's a perfect story about the main character Aidan, and his journey through reality and the supernatural, in finding his true beliefs and opinions of the world and greater. This book is so much more than a ghost story, and it's so much more than a murder mystery. This is a grade A novel of suspense, intrigue, and self-discovery that will leave any reader, no matter what preference, asking for book two as soon as possible. Bravo Jonathan Ryan, you have gained a loyal fan and I'm sure countless others, who are eagerly awaiting more of your wonderfully crafted tales. As a human constantly learning for himself what it means to be on this planet, I can certainly appreciate a fictional story that you almost believe is real until you hit the last page... or is it?
Originally posted at sixthreezy at the movies & more!
October 28, 2013
In 3 Gates of the Dead, I was immediately drawn in by Jonathan Ryan's unique ability to tell an articulate, thought-provoking, and exhilarating story about a young pastor in a crisis of faith. That plot alone would have probably been enough to fill up the pages of an entertaining novel. However, Ryan doesn't stop there. He takes us into the world of the unknown to most people. The things right behind "the veil" that cannot be seen or heard (again, to most). And sometimes, the things that CAN be seen and heard are just as terrifying as those that cannot.
Pastor Aidan Schaeffer's life is not one to envy. Not only is his faith in the God about whom he preaches virtually non-existent, but he's also recently lost his parents in a tragic accident, and then his fiancee Amanda, the love of his life, dumps him. As if this were all not enough to drive even the sanest person mad, he soon learns that Amanda has been murdered in a blood-chilling demonic ritual. And oh yes, he becomes a suspect in her death. What follows in Aidan's attempts to clear his name and uncover the truth behind Amanda's horrific killing is a spine-tingling journey into the very spiritual areas that we may pray don't exist, but might just be surrounding us at every moment.
Not only are Ryan's descriptions vivid and terrifyingly clear, but the relationships described in this novel are beautifully played out and not at all forced. The emotions and dialogue are entirely realistic. These are characters done so well that you can't help but to love or hate them. At the heart of it all, this novel, written in first person, puts you in the driver's seat, enabling you to follow along with Aidan, see what he sees and experience what he experiences. Along the ride, I couldn't help but to laugh, cry, scoff, and feel the depths of his love, the burn of his anger, and his heart-pounding terror as he takes us through this riveting journey. Make no mistake, this book is not straight up horror (though that's in there). This is, more accurately, a paranormal thriller that will not only get your blood pumping, but shatter your heart as well as you uncover the many diverse layers that make up Aidan's personality and his difficult journey.
Best of all, this book is only the first of a 5 book series. I have no doubt each one will leave readers salivating for more the way we all did at the conclusion of each Harry Potter novel.
Pastor Aidan Schaeffer's life is not one to envy. Not only is his faith in the God about whom he preaches virtually non-existent, but he's also recently lost his parents in a tragic accident, and then his fiancee Amanda, the love of his life, dumps him. As if this were all not enough to drive even the sanest person mad, he soon learns that Amanda has been murdered in a blood-chilling demonic ritual. And oh yes, he becomes a suspect in her death. What follows in Aidan's attempts to clear his name and uncover the truth behind Amanda's horrific killing is a spine-tingling journey into the very spiritual areas that we may pray don't exist, but might just be surrounding us at every moment.
Not only are Ryan's descriptions vivid and terrifyingly clear, but the relationships described in this novel are beautifully played out and not at all forced. The emotions and dialogue are entirely realistic. These are characters done so well that you can't help but to love or hate them. At the heart of it all, this novel, written in first person, puts you in the driver's seat, enabling you to follow along with Aidan, see what he sees and experience what he experiences. Along the ride, I couldn't help but to laugh, cry, scoff, and feel the depths of his love, the burn of his anger, and his heart-pounding terror as he takes us through this riveting journey. Make no mistake, this book is not straight up horror (though that's in there). This is, more accurately, a paranormal thriller that will not only get your blood pumping, but shatter your heart as well as you uncover the many diverse layers that make up Aidan's personality and his difficult journey.
Best of all, this book is only the first of a 5 book series. I have no doubt each one will leave readers salivating for more the way we all did at the conclusion of each Harry Potter novel.
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