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Six Devils In The San Fernando Valley
When Truman Morrow decides that he's had enough of the movie business, a near-death encounter with a mysterious stranger reveals that this former Hollywood insider has been chosen for a dangerous mission, one far more important than fame and fortune.
Six Devils In The San Fernando Valley, is a novel about the mysterious land behind the Hollywood sign. From the historic mission of its patron saint, to the soul-crushing chief executive of a movie studio, Truman Morrow romances and fights his way through the dark shadows of the valley, weaving danger, love, mystery and history into a romantic thriller that will leave you questioning the very foundations of the entertainment business.
A word from the author:
What would you do if one day you were chosen to help clean up a dirty town, a town infamous for destroying souls and robbing countless young dreamers of their better years? I'm talking about Hollywood, California and this is where Truman Morrow, the hero in my debut novel, Six Devils In The San Fernando Valley, begins his incredible journey into the depths of the entertainment business.
Hollywood is filled with tales of bad behavior, ruined careers, suicides, and overdoses—but these are all just the ugly dividends of a much deeper problem, a problem both terrifying and fascinating at the same time—a problem that makes one hell of a good setting for a romantic thriller.
What if show business is in fact an evil enterprise? What if evil spirits are thriving on human misery like vampires thrives on blood? Is it then too hard to imagine that they've built an entire industry around keeping themselves fed?
This is the world Truman encounters and what he discovers will startle you. — Ernie Mannix
Six Devils In The San Fernando Valley, is a novel about the mysterious land behind the Hollywood sign. From the historic mission of its patron saint, to the soul-crushing chief executive of a movie studio, Truman Morrow romances and fights his way through the dark shadows of the valley, weaving danger, love, mystery and history into a romantic thriller that will leave you questioning the very foundations of the entertainment business.
A word from the author:
What would you do if one day you were chosen to help clean up a dirty town, a town infamous for destroying souls and robbing countless young dreamers of their better years? I'm talking about Hollywood, California and this is where Truman Morrow, the hero in my debut novel, Six Devils In The San Fernando Valley, begins his incredible journey into the depths of the entertainment business.
Hollywood is filled with tales of bad behavior, ruined careers, suicides, and overdoses—but these are all just the ugly dividends of a much deeper problem, a problem both terrifying and fascinating at the same time—a problem that makes one hell of a good setting for a romantic thriller.
What if show business is in fact an evil enterprise? What if evil spirits are thriving on human misery like vampires thrives on blood? Is it then too hard to imagine that they've built an entire industry around keeping themselves fed?
This is the world Truman encounters and what he discovers will startle you. — Ernie Mannix
236 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 31, 2015
Beneath the glitter and glitz of Hollywood is a world fueled by greed, lust, and power in this well written romantic thriller, with a neo-noir style, and an enticing plot. The seedy underbelly of the entertainment industry serves as the backdrop for a dark and alluring tale filled with supernatural elements, and intriguing characters.
Moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding an otherworldly journey explore the darker side of human nature -- desire, and an all-consuming quest for power -- in a world that will chew you up and spit you out before you know what hit you. Think Gregor Samsa in Sin City, but instead we have Truman Morrow in Tinseltown. And things are about to get very strange.
When Truman Morrow embarks on a journey to the West Coast, he is captivated by the glamorous lifestyle of Hollywood's inner circle, and quickly becomes a fixture among the industry's elite. However, he soon finds himself disillusioned with the superficiality of those around him, and we watch as his rise to fame begins to fall. Still looking over his shoulder for Erica, the one woman who could offer him hope and comfort, he instead meets up with Roberto. What happens next will bring Truman through a labyrinthian realm where one decision could change the course of his life forever.
Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down! I was transfixed by the plot, and with the author's writing style. Despite the dark themes, there was hope, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. With so many layers to the plot, I was impressed with the way the story came together, seamlessly, and the manner in which the characters' lives coalesced. This story will stay with me for a long time, and I'm thrilled to know the next installment is in the works!
Moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding an otherworldly journey explore the darker side of human nature -- desire, and an all-consuming quest for power -- in a world that will chew you up and spit you out before you know what hit you. Think Gregor Samsa in Sin City, but instead we have Truman Morrow in Tinseltown. And things are about to get very strange.
When Truman Morrow embarks on a journey to the West Coast, he is captivated by the glamorous lifestyle of Hollywood's inner circle, and quickly becomes a fixture among the industry's elite. However, he soon finds himself disillusioned with the superficiality of those around him, and we watch as his rise to fame begins to fall. Still looking over his shoulder for Erica, the one woman who could offer him hope and comfort, he instead meets up with Roberto. What happens next will bring Truman through a labyrinthian realm where one decision could change the course of his life forever.
Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down! I was transfixed by the plot, and with the author's writing style. Despite the dark themes, there was hope, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. With so many layers to the plot, I was impressed with the way the story came together, seamlessly, and the manner in which the characters' lives coalesced. This story will stay with me for a long time, and I'm thrilled to know the next installment is in the works!
March 23, 2014
It’s pretty common knowledge at this point that Hollywood is sick, as evidenced by the people and product that come out of our modern-day Gomorrah. “By their fruits ye shall know them,” and all that. Mannix’s fascinating debut novel looks at the WHY of the situation. Why are beautiful, ambitious, positive, young people drawn to this place, only to become twisted, demoralized, drug-addicted shells? What is happening here?
Mannix has a very interesting theory about that, and he has written a haunting work of fiction around it. Perhaps Hollywood is so damaging to the soul because it is, quite literally, an evil place. Mannix writes with an outsider’s informed interest in the Valley itself, its physical geography and history, as he seeks to explain what’s going on. Turns out, the San Fernando Valley is home to a bit of hell on earth. People are imperfect and there are some who will do just about anything to achieve fame and fortune. Knowing this, some truly evil creatures have set up shop to welcome them and cater to their desires. The “shop” is the film industry, and the fees charged are the highest.
I love the prose in this book. It reminded me of one of the greatest creepy tales of all time, “Ghost Story,” by Peter Straub. “Six Devils” is my absolute favorite kind of thriller: dreamy, full of visions and longing, psychologically twisted, and destabilizing of one’s certainty in reality itself. The supernatural is woven in so artfully that the seam between reality and the uncanny is all but invisible. The battle for souls isn’t the over-the-top, angels-versus-devils action so trendy today. Rather, it’s almost pedestrian, making it all the more relatable and believable. Nicely done!
And most of all, I love the premise of this book. We've all watched in horror as promising young people (Amy, Miley, River, Marilyn…the list could go on for pages) are taken in by this monster and destroyed. We don’t understand why that happens. Mannix’s theory is as good as any.
Mannix has a very interesting theory about that, and he has written a haunting work of fiction around it. Perhaps Hollywood is so damaging to the soul because it is, quite literally, an evil place. Mannix writes with an outsider’s informed interest in the Valley itself, its physical geography and history, as he seeks to explain what’s going on. Turns out, the San Fernando Valley is home to a bit of hell on earth. People are imperfect and there are some who will do just about anything to achieve fame and fortune. Knowing this, some truly evil creatures have set up shop to welcome them and cater to their desires. The “shop” is the film industry, and the fees charged are the highest.
I love the prose in this book. It reminded me of one of the greatest creepy tales of all time, “Ghost Story,” by Peter Straub. “Six Devils” is my absolute favorite kind of thriller: dreamy, full of visions and longing, psychologically twisted, and destabilizing of one’s certainty in reality itself. The supernatural is woven in so artfully that the seam between reality and the uncanny is all but invisible. The battle for souls isn’t the over-the-top, angels-versus-devils action so trendy today. Rather, it’s almost pedestrian, making it all the more relatable and believable. Nicely done!
And most of all, I love the premise of this book. We've all watched in horror as promising young people (Amy, Miley, River, Marilyn…the list could go on for pages) are taken in by this monster and destroyed. We don’t understand why that happens. Mannix’s theory is as good as any.
July 19, 2021
What if Stephen King wrote the Screwtape Letters?
February 3, 2020
Six Devils is my all time favorite book about the dark, seedy, underbelly of show biz. This story gets more and more relevant and potent as the #MeToo era unfolds and we see victim after victim come forward with horrifying tales of how the gate-keepers to fame have established a network of sexual abuse and dehumanizing that keeps the power players in power like Vampires - and it's all wrapped up in a love story. Read Six Devils and you'll never think about Hollywood the same.
July 18, 2017
I don't believe in devils, or anything like them, but they certainly made this story interesting. However, I do believe in darkness, the kind that our minds create when we sell out for fame and fortune. I cringed at the examples the author gives of this in this tale. I imagine they are not too far off.
Pros: full of surprises
sustains interest throughout
good detail in describing places and settings
compelling characters
good prose
Cons: the story definitely presents a dualistic view of the world.
Pros: full of surprises
sustains interest throughout
good detail in describing places and settings
compelling characters
good prose
Cons: the story definitely presents a dualistic view of the world.
March 17, 2015
good read. waiting for the next one.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews