The Lurking Man

Thanatology #2

by Keith Rommel

Cailean stands beneath a spotlight in a blinding snowstorm. She has no idea where she is or how she got there, but she senses something moving around her in the darkness outside the light.

When the ominous presence calling himself Sariel makes himself known, he declares that he is Death Incarnate and that Cailean has died. He has taken her to the Aperture, a place between the living and the dead, where he will force her to face the sins of her past in exchange for twenty-four hours of life to try and right her wrongs. But what she must do in return for this precious time is unthinkable.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Fiction

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Keith Rommel is a multi-award-winning author and screenwriter that has penned over a dozen novels and co-written three movies. Three of the four stories from the Shade of the Reaper series have been adapted to film. Rommel’s stories have been called “intelligent fiction”.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is about a woman who is forced to take a hard look at her life, and the choices that she made to get her to this point.

Cailean will never be nominated for Mother of the Year. She has taken to alcohol to ease the memory of a terrible thing that happened to her when she was a child (it's not what you think). She doesn't drink simply to get drunk; she drinks to pass out. She and Wilson, her husband, are separated. Her record for visiting her son, Beau, who simply wants his mother to love him, is not good. One day, Cailean shows up at Wilson's door, sober, and convinces him to let her take beau to her condo for just a few hours. The intention for Cailean is to show Beau and Wilson that she really can change. Things do not end well.

Existing somewhere between life and death, Cailean finds herself trapped in a cone of bright light in a snowstorm. She is being held there by a humanoid being named Sariel, who forces her to take a hard look at her life. She finds out just what it was that turned her into such a mean and rotten person, filled with self-hatred (again, it's not what you think). Cailean also sees what has happened to the "good" part of her. At the end, does Cailean have an Ebenezer Scrooge-like epiphany, and work to regain the confidence of Beau and Wilson? Does she even survive the encounter with Sariel?

This book will certainly get the reader to look inside themselves, to see if they have any Cailean-like behavior. It is recommended for everyone, especially those in the grip of alcoholism. Do you and Cailean share a similar reason for your actions?

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this novel thinking it would be fantasy-since it deals with “Death” personified-and so it is, but it is also much more than that. “The Lurking Man” is the story of a woman who has allowed her childhood to shadow her entire life, who uses it as an excuse when she hurts others-including her own child, and her estranged husband; a woman whose victim mentality is so entrenched that she “is” that childhood-rather than an adult survivor who can seek options to overcome.

This is a very thought-provoking novel. The premise, that “Sariel” (Death) can choose one individual at will, and give her a choice, an opportunity to redress wrongs that she has committed and to “make it right” as she might have chosen to do in the first place, is captivating. The reader will find herself racing to discover what choices Cailean makes, what options she follows, and whether she can put right what has been put wrong. So I call this fantasy with suspense, plus excellent deeply-drawn characterization; a story well worth reading. This is the second novel in author Keith Rommel’s “Thanatology Series,” and I intend to read the first as well because I am a convert.

[Hunter Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lurking Man is the second in Keith Rommel's thanatology series, an in-depth look at death and its consequences. I was a huge fan of The Cursed Man and was eager to delve into this one. Once again, Rommel delivers a chilling vision of death, this time focusing on an imperfect woman named Cailean. And when I say imperfect, I mean this is someone who has made choices so horrible, I almost had to read certain chapters between my fingers as I tried to cover my face. The Lurking Man is a raw character study wrapped in a paranormal mystery. As the story, and tension, builds during Cailean's gut wrenching life review, jaw dropping twists and turns will keep you from putting this one down. I wavered between hating Cailean and pitying her. It takes a lot to get me this emotionally invested in a character, but I was hooked, at points I was wishing I was Death itself, empowered to decide her fate. The best part of The Lurking Man is how it will force introspection, just as The Cursed Man did to me when I read it. Death comes for us all. Maybe these books aren't as far-fetched as we hope them to be.

[Jenn Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapter of The Lurking Man it grabs your attention. It’s the story of a woman who is forced to look back at her life to see the damage she did in the lives of those she loves. It is a contemporary horror and the two main characters are Cailean, an irresponsible woman who wasted her life as a drunk, and Sariel, a powerful, dark entity who tries to bring her sins to light.

Cailean suffers a lot of internal conflict. Looking back at her life, she couldn't believe all the wrongs she committed and didn't realize what kind of impact she had on her family. Even after Sariel proves to her that she had the chance to change things, he makes her relive her mistakes and the suffering she caused.

The main plot is clear and believable. Who wouldn’t want an opportunity to be able to look back on your life to see where you went wrong? She lives in denial and Sariel makes the attempt to get her to understand the turmoil she causes at every turn, but he uses sinister methods to justify his means.

I like how the story starts right into the conflict and the reader is taken to a dark place where Cailean’s worst fears present itself. You’re taken off guard and eager to know who is the cause of her distress. The author whisks you away to the place where the character is forced to face her demons. The conflict continues throughout the story and in the end, the resolution will surprise you.

There is lots of dialogue, which is used as a means of describing the characters, propelling the story forward and informing the reader with Cailean’s past and present fate. There is emotion and genuine care in the words chosen to create the conversations among the characters. The reader is given a good idea of the type of conflicting personalities between the two main characters.

The other existing characters of Emerson, Wilson and Beau make the story seem real. The Lurking Man depicts the life of a family fraught with suffering from a parent who falls apart due to an addiction. This type of situation is not far from us to understand as it frequently happens in our society. The author shows you how Cailean grows and develops as a character by the end of the story. She wallows in self-pity, as the dark guardian forces her to understand her circumstances. In the end, she performs the only sacrifice that will change her outcome.

It is a good book, easy to read and well worth the wait, if you read his first book “The Cursed Man”. Keith Rommel has the talent to bring your fears of death to the surface. Adding this novel to your collection of books is a good choice. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy what awaits you within the pages of The Lurking Man.

[Chris Torretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really interesting story. First of all, Death is always my favorite anthropomorphic personification. He HAS to be interesting, right? This Death leaves no doubt in my mind that he IS very interesting and you’re not sure exactly what he wants from Cailean until close to the end. Which I thought was masterful.

Death, his name is actually Sariel, takes Cailean on the ride of her life and I have to say whew… it was an emotional roller coaster. It’s almost spiritual the way you look at her and her choices. He doesn’t let her fool herself into thinking she’s a victim, to a point she was but then it was her. Wow, that really hit home for me. And Cailean, boy did she make some mistakes HUGE mistakes. You don’t realize when you first start reading and I know where my mind was going, Keith sets it up soooo perfectly to think, ohhh I know what’s going to happen. And then BAM!!! Nope, wrong, dead wrong. Totally out of left field and it was awesome. Horrifying, but awesome.

So, then we have the other people in her life that she constantly berates, her child Beau, her husband Wilson and then her boyfriend Emerson. She uses them all. It’s so sad to watch but she’s like a train wreck, I just couldn’t look away at any point!

Wilson and Beau are by far my favorites in this. Well unless you count Sariel, of course I love him! But Emerson… that guy. Ohhh he really irked me. You think he’s a nice guy but throughout the entire story he is enabling Cailean and at one point I wanted to throw him out of her house. You think he is also a victim, and to a point he is, but he is also an enabler to her horrid condition.

Yeah, wow. This is a really fast, easy read. Well, easy unless you count all the emotional trauma that goes with it! I have not read the first book but I plan to! If you like horror and more importantly if you like a personified Death, this book is seriously for you!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lurking Man is the second book in the thanatoloy series (Study of Death and Dying)  by Keith Rommel (the first was The Cursed Man). The series does not need to be read in order. After I read The Cursed Man I couldn't wait to see what was next. I was not disappointed. The Lurking Man started as a sit on the edge of your seat and leave the lights on type of story but quickly evolved into an unpredictable story of judgment of one woman's life. Keith Rommel is one of the few writers that can keep me off balance by leading me down a familiar path and yet I end up somewhere completely unexpected.

Some peoples worst nightmare: being forced to take an honest and brutal look at who and what they are and how their actions have affected those around them. This is the story of The Lurking Man. The protagonist, Cailean , is sitting at a table facing death, a reaper named Sariel. She must relive moments of her past and face her demons.

Keith Rommel takes you on a perplexing ride where you go from despising Cailean and being disgusted with the things she has done to feeling sympathy for her and hoping there is some type of redemption for her. The Lurking Man is a masterpiece of one woman's judgment day.

Keith Rommel is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Two books, five stars each. Now waiting for Book 3.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lurking Man tells of the ability of one woman to create pain and suffering since she was a child, in the lives of all the people that care about her. It makes you think about people who you may consider mentally ill, or have no conscience to speak of, that spend their lives selfishly hurting themselves and other people and always see themselves as victims.
What could possibly be so strong that it could make a person look at themselves and really see the harm they have done? Even if it were able to go that far, would that person give the ultimate sacrifice to prove they were in a sense a victim and didn't mean to cause so much damage? Can this person actually love? Very thought provoking and intense. I highly recommend this book. I received this book free as a Goodreads First Read.

[Dre J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cailean needs some extreme help. She is a terrible mother. I gave it three stars because I have read books similar about looking over one's life and while this was not one of my favorites in that category, it still was a good read (<---see what I did there). There are one or two big twists in this novel that are revealed close to the end...but throughout we are walking with Cailean through her past and present (which she has died)...She treats everyone wrong, but none of its her fault. The most haunting part of the story is how she treats her son. Terrible...overall its a quick read and worth looking at in depth and analyzing one's own self struggles.

[Jaimie Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a unique book. I can't share too much without giving it all away, but I can see why Keith is a gifted script writer as well as a novelist with his true to life dialogue and visual scenes. It's a very moving story with several moments that made me cry. I look forward to the next book in this series.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lurking Man is the second book in the Thanatology series by Keith Rommel (the first book being the Cursed Man).

The first bit of writing we get is a description of what exactly thanatology is. Here is the excerpt from the book;

" Thanatology- study of death and dying and the practices associated with it, including the study of the needs of the terminally ill and their families."

So now that that's explained, let's get into the actual story. It starts with a woman named Cailean, who finds herself outside in the middle of an apparent snowstorm, with nothing but a circle of bright light surrounding her and complete darkness beyond it. She has no memory of how she got there or who she is. There she meets Sariel, a shadowy figure who hides in the dark. He is literally Death and brings people to an enclosed world of his making to show them their past sins and give them a chance at redemption.

The story is told by alternating between flashbacks of her past and her realisations in the present. She is made to watch key moments of her life, that formed her as a person and ultimately led her to where she is. What Cailean discovers is an agressive, destructive alcoholic who hurts everything around her. Deeply unhappy, she was a time-bomb waiting to go off. As the story progresses, she learns more and more about the person she was.

From the start of the book, we know Cailean is dead. As the flashbacks proceed, we get slightly closer to what we know from the beginning is inevitable. We don't know how she died, or what she did that was so bad, but through brief snippets the sense of dread increases and a little niggle forms in the back of your mind telling you what must be coming up.

The plot is fascinating. What must it be like to discover the person you were? It brings me back to that age old question- if you met yourself, would you like what you saw? Not only that, but there was a clever little subtlety worked in that I'm not sure was even intentional. Remember another old saying, "when you die your life flashes before your eyes"? Well that's exactly what happens here. The whole plot is Cailean watching flashes of her life. A nice little bonus (I thought), even if it wasn't intended.

Another possibly unintentional aspect of the plot, was its similarity to that of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". It may seem an odd connection to make, but both books centre on unpleasant, cruel people who are visited by spectres who try to get them to see the error of their ways (through flashbacks of their lives) and give them one final choice and a chance to redeem themselves.

Having said that, the two stories are very different and I would not mistake one for the other. I just thought it was an interesting thing to note.

Cailean is one of the most unpleasant characters I've ever come across. She is violent and abusive, blaming everyone but herself, while drowning her life away in alcohol. Not that she's unrealistic, but as a person she is very hard to like. At the start we may feel sympathy towards her, but it turns to disbelief and even anger when more of her is revealed. However, everyone deserves a second chance and, as Sariel said, she is there for a chance at redemption.

Sariel himself is an interesting portrayal of Death. He lurks in the shadows and provides an eerie presence. A commanding figure, who is not necessarily unkind, but a little too happy messing with people to be comfortable with. It's clear he is a cold, unapproachable figure. Though whether that is because of Cailean's past actions or just because he's Death is not. Throughout the book, we see more and more of him, until he reveals himself in full and I can't help but wonder if leaving him shrouded in darkness would've had a greater effect. Imagination is a powerful thing and giving it free reign can prove more powerful than description. Though the symbolism of his physical form is undeniable and does play an important role.

The symbolism increases later, when two characters are introduced, representing the good and evil in all of us. Some people nurture the good side and it grows, matures and holds back the evil. Some people feed the evil side and it fattens and abuses the good until it submits. The larger the evil gets, the harder it will be to hear the voice of goodness and ignore the taunting of the bad. This is used to explain why people do the things they do. Everyone has a conscience, some people's are just harder to hear over the more destructive voice within.

The conclusion is done very well. From the very beginning we already know what will happen, but it still manages to surprise. When all the pieces are tied together and all the truths are revealed, they clash, causing sparks to fly and resulting in a great ending.

I haven't read the first book in the series, but plan to now. Each book can be read as a stand alone or as part of the series, so starting in an unusual order won't lessen your enjoyment of the books. An amazing read, good for people who don't mind a lot of dialogue or little action or just want a good book that it a great example of less-is-more.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, curse is better

[Mirchil27 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for The Lurking Man, Keith Rommel
By Miranda Childe, Library Thing
Horror for the Curious Mind

In the beginning of The Lurking Man, by Keith Rommel, we meet Cailean and Sariel. Cailean is seated in the middle of a dark room with a circle of light around only her; Sariel stays in the shadows, unseen but heard. He offers her a choice of two doors, with no explanation of where they lead, or indeed, of where she is. Cailean is angry and scared. Soon we learn that Cailean has been dead less than a minute, and she is in this eerie room so Sariel can make her understand what she did in life and the consequences of her actions. The book is structured as a series of conversations between Cailean and Sariel, but this conversation is never static. Who is this Sariel? The answer to this question lies at the heart of the book.
Through a series of flashbacks, Rommel fills us in on the backstory, slowly revealing Cailean’s life to us. She is plunged into these painful journeys by Sariel, who says she must face the truth about herself and understand the hurtful consequences of her actions. Cailean’s fear grows with every vision. Sariel says, “If you allow your fear to control you, it will only hamper your ability to understand the things you must know about yourself in order to move on.” We know where she is moving to, or we think we do; she, on the other hand does not yet know that she is dead.
The author’s description of the room adds fire to our fear; he writes that “…she is in a fog…”, and cannot see what lurks near her. The room “…fills with snow…swirling over the black veil.” When Sariel comes near to her, she can smell his foul breath and hear the groan of the wind and ugly guttural sounds.
The novel moves at a brisk pace; Rommel keeps us turning the pages because now we want to know what Cailean did to get herself into this unthinkable predicament. This is a cruel Last Judgment; no St. Peter at The Pearly Gates for Cailean. As early as page 28, we have watched Cailean experience a series of traumas that will determine the twisted wreck of the life she lived. She hears voices saying, “I was selfish, an abuser, and a drunk.
We have traveled with Cailean through some of the key events in her life that are slowly letting her, and us, see the truth of what she was. Her life was spent in denial; she could not allow herself to face her demons. Now she is facing tough justice for such self-delusion. The past and the present begin to conflate in her mind. During a vision of her last fight with her lover, Emerson, “…the wind howled and heavy snow fell…”, just as they do in her private hell. After Emerson leaves, “she was lost and completely alone.” She was trapped inside four thick walls made of self-pity…”there were no doors to allow her passage and the walls were too tall to climb.” I will not reveal Cailean’s fate in the end, only to say that we learn what a steep price we must pay to save our souls.
Improbable as the premise of this book may seem, the sensations of horror it evokes - yes, horror, became more believable to me than my own disbelief. The mystery of her past sins and the answer to why Sariel calls her “a virus”, keeps readers turning pages, eager to know the final outcome of this hellish trial. A good part of the fear I felt was imagining myself in Cailean’s shoes. I think anyone reading this book would feel the same. None of us is blameless; we all keep hidden secrets about ourselves and feel guilty for our less than noble actions. These thoughts come to the forefront of our minds while we read on in dread. Our greatest fear is that someday we will face a Sariel of our own.
The last 60 pages, open a well of sorrow and deep regret for Cailean and us. No one close to her emerges unscathed here. I cried for all the characters, the evil ones and the good ones. I felt deep sadness for their pain and the pain I feel and see all around me – so futile, so soul-destroying. The Lurking Man touched me deeply. I will not soon forget it.
Full disclosure: I received my copy of The LurkingMan through the Early Reviewer program at LibraryThing. This book is the second in Rommel’s Thanatology Series, books that study death. The idea is fiendishly clever; we’re all afraid of death, the fear factor is built in to these books right off the bat. His first book in the series, The Cursed Man, is being made into a feature film with an expected release date in 2015. I am very grateful to have received this book because it introduced me to Keith Rommel, a talented writer and a true gentleman with an open and generous heart. I recently watched a YouTube video of an interview of Keith by The Monster Men, I learned a lot about the author. If you are interested in the writer’s process, look for Monster Men #59 on YouTube to see this interview.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every once in a while, a book will come along that not only grabs your attention, but also has one thinking of the story for days to come. The Lurking Man by Kieth Rommel is just such a book.
The Genre is a fantasy/Horror/ Psychological Thriller, as the story deals heavily in psychology, the science of addiction, as well as child abuse issues.
The Lurking man (Death), revolves around a young woman, named Cailean, who is a textbook alcoholic, who uses bottles of wine as a crutch in dealing with childhood traumas she has suffered, and cannot escape. This explanation of her past will be flipped upside down in the end, giving the reader an unexpected twist. Her drinking has impacted her child, as well as her marriage, along with everyone she comes into personal contact with.
Most of the story jumps back and forth between Cailean standing before Death , answering for her actions, and flashbacks of important events which have brought her there.
My favorite aspect of the book would have to be the character development of Death. This is by far, one of the best literary depictions of Death that I have ever read. Unlike the stoic, silent sentinel which snatches humans from life without feeling, Death has been written as a tortured, sad persona who is capable of feelings such as compassion, and hope. It really is a breath of fresh air.
More than anything else, this is a story of addiction, abuse, self-deception and finally, redemption. The final chapters introduce some thrilling twists and turns, culminating in a truly unexpected ending.
I highly recommend The Lurking Man to anyone interested in the study of addiction, psychological thrillers, and all-around engrossing stories.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given this book by the author in return for a review.

Cailean, an alcoholic haunted by inner demons, wakes to finds herself trapped and questioned by a mysterious stranger hidden away in the dark. It soon becomes apparent that this stranger, Sariel, is Death himself. Cailean is then forced to relive moments from her past to help discover her true self and perhaps find redemption. The story made me think of a much darker, modern day 'A Christmas Carol'.

I really enjoyed 'The Lurking Man'. It grabs your attention right from the start and holds your interest till the end. It really makes you think and that's what i liked most about it. It is, however, a very dark book and not always easy reading. It shows how one persons tragedy and mistakes can affect and even destroy the lives around them. The whole book is like the car crash of a persons life and you just can't turn away.

I did find some of the dialogue didn't feel quite right, especially with Caileans young son Beau who's just a little too understanding and articulate. I also found some of the many arguments the main character has with others in her life, although realistic, became a bit tedious after a while. Cailean is not a very sympathetic character at all. Sariel really steals the show and perhaps ironically, i felt the book really came alive the most whenever Death was present.

I'd recommend this book to anyone. It isn't perfect but really makes you think and is more than the sum of its parts. I should also note that it is book 2 in the 'Thanatology' series. I hadn't read book 1 (although i will) and that didn't affect my enjoyment or understanding of the story at all.

[Carol-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real little gem of a read. I could not put down the book and had to read it in one sitting. The ideas put forth in this book certainly give one pause for thought, especially as to how you treat others and why you do so. The approach was entirely fresh and new, at times frustrating, relentless and painful. A person trapped by circumstances and the choices she makes must all be confronted when death comes calling at her door. The torment and heartache experienced in this brief state between life and death are touching, and at times shocking, to both the reader and the woman. Not going to give away the entire story though! Well written, well paced and completely engrossing, I would certainly recommend this to everyone, as it is so thought provoking and real. I am on my way to buy the first book by this author and will no doubt be unavailable for the duration!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on vacation and I was very glad with the selection I made! I loved this book! It was a great story. It was unique, exciting, and a little creepy. It not only held my interest but kept me turning "just one more page" before bed. I don't give away plot twists, and I don't describe the whole book and story line in my reviews. I figure if you want to know what the story is about, you can just bring up the book's page here or on Amazon for a summary. What I do state in my reviews is how interesting or boring I find the story. And this one was a page-turner. I brought both of Mr. Rommel's books with me on vacation, but I have not had a chance to start reading "The Cursed Man" yet. Now that I am home again, I will definitely make time to read this one, because if it is as good as the one I just finished, my time will be well spent.

[Bruce McNair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cailean wakes in a strange place, where she starts talking to someone lurking in the darkness. Eventually he tells her that she has been brought here to reveal her sins & offer her redemption. Cailean is an unbearable drunk who has a haunted past that she drinks to forget. This is a sobering story that reflects on man's inhumanity, although it suggests that supernatural agents have something to do with it. Cailean is a very bad person with a devil inside & has a deserved ending. Horror is not my preferred genre, but, in my opinion, this is a fine story without reaching great heights. I was a little distracted by some grammatical issues - although this may be a consequence of US grammar usage. So for me this is a 3 star story.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keith Rommel is an author I have read before. The first adjective that came to mind when reading this, and his other book that dealt with the murder of a brother, was dark…very very dark. This book explores what happens between in the interim between the time a person dies and the person’s soul leaves the body. A time that in this story is given to retracing what has occurred during a lifetime. Rommel has not chosen a sweet kind loving person to go into this place near death and the twists and turns and evil that lurks in the story is fast paced, entertaining and kept me reading until I had finished the entire story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it made me feel and think in ways I usually don’t consider.

[Amy Siggelow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from the Member Giveaways on Library Thing. I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of The Shack by William Paul Young. It is the story of a uncaring, mean woman who is dying and is given the chance to redeem herself with her estranged husband and her disabled son. This book looks back upon her life and all the wrongs she has done to those close to her, and her chance to change things for the better. Very interesting book!

[Linie Sherrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gifted writer! In this book, Keith Rommel
has achieved the feat of taking Death and weaving it back
into Life. The main character is hedonistic, self centered
and self destructive. She ignores the voice of reason
for many years. What started out, for me, as a very dark
story, became an intricate series of colorful connected stories.
Reading this book, made me feel that :
“You need to get past the darkness to get to the Light”.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, again, not my usual read, but I bought both The Cursed Man and this one at a meet the author's book fair. He lives near where I work, and I since my daughter is a children's book author and illustrator, I believe in supporting local talent.

[Erin Al-Mehairi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to read