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Messenger
An evil demonic force comes to town to possess one's body, soul, and mind, forcing its victim to perform horrific ritual murder and gruesome occult rites. By the author of Infernal Angel and Monstrosity. Original.
337 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2004
14 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Edward Lee
267 books1,450 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.
Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.
He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.
Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.
Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.
Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.
He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.
Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.
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October 25, 2023After reading about 50 pages of this, I decided to abandon ship. It was just too extreme for me.
August 14, 2020
A rather tame outing for Lee here, but tame for Lee still means a splatter punk gore fest. Something is going on in a small town in Central Florida; postal workers are going, well postal, and I mean seriously postal! Twenty years ago, a postal worker went on a rampage here, going door to door down a street and killing everyone (he had a package and message to deliver). Flash forward to the present. After the rampage 20 years ago, the town shut down the old office and built a new one, but the small town has grown enough to necessitate a new post office and they decide to revamp the old one. On the first day it is open, one postal employee goes into the basement to clear out the crap that has been sitting there for 20 years, and finds a strange package...
The Messenger has a lot of tie-ins to City Infernal and rides the heaven/hell theme all the way. Hell's minions are corrupting postal workers to get them to send various 'messages', which consist of gruesome mass murders and the like. The main character Jane is the manager of the new post office and cannot figure out why nominally sane workers she knows and likes are committing such horrible crimes. If you like splatter punk, this was a fun ride. 3.5 stars.
The Messenger has a lot of tie-ins to City Infernal and rides the heaven/hell theme all the way. Hell's minions are corrupting postal workers to get them to send various 'messages', which consist of gruesome mass murders and the like. The main character Jane is the manager of the new post office and cannot figure out why nominally sane workers she knows and likes are committing such horrible crimes. If you like splatter punk, this was a fun ride. 3.5 stars.
March 9, 2010
Disclaimer: the 4 stars I am giving this book is not on the same rating scale as all literature. This is so out there, you couldn't review it with the same rating system as say, Moby Dick. That would be like stacking up The Toxic Avenger against The Hurt Locker . The only thing these works have in common is their medium, so I've decided to rate this book on its merits as a work of Pulp Horror alone. And in that arena, this book kicks serious slimy demon butt.
Ed Lee has a reputation in the literary horror world as being the most intense, most grossest, most disgustingest writer there is. Apparently his mass market novels published under the Leisure Books imprint are somewhat toned down when compared to his small press, hard to find work. If this is Ed Lee toned down, I can't even fathom what his 'hardcore' stuff is like. I mean, how much more intense and nasty could fiction possibly be? Are his small press books printed on poisonous paper that burns your fingers when you turn the page? Is the copy printed in a font that eventually makes your eyes bleed? Does the book explode when you close it? The only way any book could be harder and nastier than this book is if it did those things.
Back in 2006, when my discovery of the works of Brian Keene, Jack Ketchum and Richard Laymon stoked my post Stephen King interest in horror fiction, I picked up Ed Lee's newest novel, The Backwoods . I figured 'hey, if all these authors I love love this guy, he must be awesome.' The book sucked. Really hard. In fact I couldn't even get more than about 80 pages into it. It was embarrassingly bad. Since then I've never picked up another book by Lee, until the other day when I was doing laundry. I forgot the book I was reading at that time at home, so on the way to the laundromat I stopped into the local library. I picked up this book, read the summary and the first page and decided to give old Mr. Lee a whirl. I read the first 70 pages in the laundromat. I wonder if the little Mexican kids there thought I was weird, this big bearded dude reading some creepy looking book with his eyes bugging out of his head, turning the pages as fast as he could.
The premise is pretty silly sounding: The Messenger, a mysterious demonic figure possesses postal workers in a small Florida town and uses them to carry out his heinous acts. Lee takes this idea, and basically pumps it full of steroids, LSD, crack and demon blood and lets it loose. This is one king-hell, rip-snortin' beast of a horror novel. Its also very well plotted and actually has a soft tender side that doesn't beat itself over your head, but is there enough so that you actually care about the main characters.
I think that's the book's greatest feat. Combining mayhem, gore and violence that goes as completely over the top as it definitely does here with characters you actually care about is not an easy feat, and Lee pulls it off seemingly without effort.
The Messenger is an amazing villain, as well. I don't want to go into too much detail into what he does and how he does it, as I don't want to give away too much and ruin this book for someone brave enough to read it. Lets just say that he's one of the most nefarious bad guys I've come across in a horror novel, and I read tons of horror fiction. The level of nastiness is cranked up to 11 here, and all because of this one bastard.
Also there are some deliciously clever twists towards the end that will seriously take you by surprise.
Basically, if you like pulpy horror, you have an iron stomach and are brave enough, give this book a try. You won't be disappointed. (But it may make you question your own sanity for reading these kinds of things.)
Ed Lee has a reputation in the literary horror world as being the most intense, most grossest, most disgustingest writer there is. Apparently his mass market novels published under the Leisure Books imprint are somewhat toned down when compared to his small press, hard to find work. If this is Ed Lee toned down, I can't even fathom what his 'hardcore' stuff is like. I mean, how much more intense and nasty could fiction possibly be? Are his small press books printed on poisonous paper that burns your fingers when you turn the page? Is the copy printed in a font that eventually makes your eyes bleed? Does the book explode when you close it? The only way any book could be harder and nastier than this book is if it did those things.
Back in 2006, when my discovery of the works of Brian Keene, Jack Ketchum and Richard Laymon stoked my post Stephen King interest in horror fiction, I picked up Ed Lee's newest novel, The Backwoods . I figured 'hey, if all these authors I love love this guy, he must be awesome.' The book sucked. Really hard. In fact I couldn't even get more than about 80 pages into it. It was embarrassingly bad. Since then I've never picked up another book by Lee, until the other day when I was doing laundry. I forgot the book I was reading at that time at home, so on the way to the laundromat I stopped into the local library. I picked up this book, read the summary and the first page and decided to give old Mr. Lee a whirl. I read the first 70 pages in the laundromat. I wonder if the little Mexican kids there thought I was weird, this big bearded dude reading some creepy looking book with his eyes bugging out of his head, turning the pages as fast as he could.
The premise is pretty silly sounding: The Messenger, a mysterious demonic figure possesses postal workers in a small Florida town and uses them to carry out his heinous acts. Lee takes this idea, and basically pumps it full of steroids, LSD, crack and demon blood and lets it loose. This is one king-hell, rip-snortin' beast of a horror novel. Its also very well plotted and actually has a soft tender side that doesn't beat itself over your head, but is there enough so that you actually care about the main characters.
I think that's the book's greatest feat. Combining mayhem, gore and violence that goes as completely over the top as it definitely does here with characters you actually care about is not an easy feat, and Lee pulls it off seemingly without effort.
The Messenger is an amazing villain, as well. I don't want to go into too much detail into what he does and how he does it, as I don't want to give away too much and ruin this book for someone brave enough to read it. Lets just say that he's one of the most nefarious bad guys I've come across in a horror novel, and I read tons of horror fiction. The level of nastiness is cranked up to 11 here, and all because of this one bastard.
Also there are some deliciously clever twists towards the end that will seriously take you by surprise.
Basically, if you like pulpy horror, you have an iron stomach and are brave enough, give this book a try. You won't be disappointed. (But it may make you question your own sanity for reading these kinds of things.)
January 3, 2023
A personal fave from The Lee, my 3rd read-thru, this book fucking rules. What a fucking bloodbath!
February 14, 2017
This one was pretty weak.
January 17, 2017
In 'Messenger', employees of a post office are suddenly committing mass murders before finally taking their own lives. Amidst the chaos and bloodbath, the residents are living in fear while the police can't figure out the connection shared by the killers. Unbeknownst to them, the Messenger has arrived and he will do anything to be heard..
Despite the promising premise, this book was incredibly boring - something that's completely unacceptable for a horror story. Why was it dull? Well the repetition resulted in predictability. When you can see what's coming next, it takes away the suspense and scare. Basically, whenever an unsuspecting character went to the basement of the post office, the Messenger would brainwash and possess the unlucky character. Subsequently, expect lots of demonic rape and sex (which truly wasn't as interesting as it sounds, trust me) as well as tons of gore (the aforementioned comment applies here too).
The idea of a normal person losing their minds and embarking on a murder spree is terrifying, right? Unfortunately, here it was just a snoozefest because the author didn't delve into the details. Everything happened offscreen or 'off page', in this case. It went something like this: Character A walked into the post office with a maniacal expression, wielding an axe. It was time to kill... -shifts to the next scene- Instead of showing what exactly the character did to each victim, the author instead devoted many pages to the dumb, dull main character Jane. It didn't help that her budding relationship with a cop was unconvincing and laughable.
Perhaps the worst thing was, the pivotal showdown scene simply didn't take place at all. It's like the author ran out of ideas or didn't care anymore and decided to wrap everything up in a few sentences. It's like waiting for hours on someone's doorstep only to have the door slammed in your face - that's how I felt about this lazy writing. There's no point trying to make the Messenger appear to be formidable only to dismiss him in the end. Nothing - not even the twist - could save this painfully mediocre story.
Overall, 'Messenger' should have been titled 'Mess' because that was what it was - from beginning to end. Don't waste your time on sloppy writing, repetitive content and barely even one-dimensional characters. If you're looking for something with a similar storyline, check out Bentley Little's 'The Mailman' which is far better than this.
Despite the promising premise, this book was incredibly boring - something that's completely unacceptable for a horror story. Why was it dull? Well the repetition resulted in predictability. When you can see what's coming next, it takes away the suspense and scare. Basically, whenever an unsuspecting character went to the basement of the post office, the Messenger would brainwash and possess the unlucky character. Subsequently, expect lots of demonic rape and sex (which truly wasn't as interesting as it sounds, trust me) as well as tons of gore (the aforementioned comment applies here too).
The idea of a normal person losing their minds and embarking on a murder spree is terrifying, right? Unfortunately, here it was just a snoozefest because the author didn't delve into the details. Everything happened offscreen or 'off page', in this case. It went something like this: Character A walked into the post office with a maniacal expression, wielding an axe. It was time to kill... -shifts to the next scene- Instead of showing what exactly the character did to each victim, the author instead devoted many pages to the dumb, dull main character Jane. It didn't help that her budding relationship with a cop was unconvincing and laughable.
Perhaps the worst thing was, the pivotal showdown scene simply didn't take place at all. It's like the author ran out of ideas or didn't care anymore and decided to wrap everything up in a few sentences. It's like waiting for hours on someone's doorstep only to have the door slammed in your face - that's how I felt about this lazy writing. There's no point trying to make the Messenger appear to be formidable only to dismiss him in the end. Nothing - not even the twist - could save this painfully mediocre story.
Overall, 'Messenger' should have been titled 'Mess' because that was what it was - from beginning to end. Don't waste your time on sloppy writing, repetitive content and barely even one-dimensional characters. If you're looking for something with a similar storyline, check out Bentley Little's 'The Mailman' which is far better than this.
March 16, 2011
You may not like his supernatural splatter-punk style, or his obsession with sex, but you've got to admire Lee's completely irreverent, insane take on... well, everything. This is a novel about about why some Postal Workers go Postal, and that's just hysterical. Hell's Infernal Messenger likes to occasionally ship unmarked boxes to Earth filled with such atrocious evil that it possesses the workers and propels them on killing sprees? Even better!
This is sort of a "side book" to Lee's brilliantly depraved Infernal Series, much in the same fashion that Flesh Gothic is. While we readers never directly deal with Mephistopolis, that's almost better. This is a more character driven tale (just like Flesh Gothic) yet still retains the unimaginable abominations dreamt up for those Infernal tales.
This is now the 8th book I've read and own by Edward Lee, and while I'll happily forget his boring Brides Of The Impaler or the awkwardly paced The Golemn, this particular book comes close to being my favorite of his.
This is sort of a "side book" to Lee's brilliantly depraved Infernal Series, much in the same fashion that Flesh Gothic is. While we readers never directly deal with Mephistopolis, that's almost better. This is a more character driven tale (just like Flesh Gothic) yet still retains the unimaginable abominations dreamt up for those Infernal tales.
This is now the 8th book I've read and own by Edward Lee, and while I'll happily forget his boring Brides Of The Impaler or the awkwardly paced The Golemn, this particular book comes close to being my favorite of his.
November 22, 2019
3.5 ⭐s! I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it enough to devour it within a day or two like I did his others.
July 14, 2023
Edward Lee has quickly become one of my favorite authors, his grasp on horror and the macabre is like no other, his work is demented, disgusting, and insane but most of all intelligent. His works make for really fun and engaging reads. Sometimes I do feel he can go too far, especially with stories such as Trolley No 1892 but that's just my opinion, but overall I really admire the man's work and he never fails to terrify me in the most thrilling of ways.
When a new post office opens in the small town of Danelleton, a disaster strikes the old post office, a worker goes mad killing everyone inside, but not before drawing a cult-like symbol in blood. Jane, the manager of the new post office, and Chief Higgins have a series of cult murders on their hands and it soon seems that a creature from the very bowels of hell is behind it, The Messenger has arrived...
Edward Lee's tie-in novel to his Infernal series is bloody brilliant. A messenger from hell using delivery workers to spread the message of Satan to others is a simple but ironic one that is executed really well. It's a bit more toned down from his usual work, but that doesn't mean it isn't without depictions of over-the-top violence and s*xual assault.
The Messager is a novel filled with some really horrific imagery, the scenes that unfold at a Christian school for girls, in particular, is spine chilling. The characterization is terrific, the idea is solid and the twists that unfold throughout the narrative have to be some of Lee's best and honestly, I didn't see them coming.
Overall: It's an outstanding novel that I feel gets overlooked by Lee fans, but if you're a fan of the Infernal series please give this one a go, it's a terrific read! 10/10
When a new post office opens in the small town of Danelleton, a disaster strikes the old post office, a worker goes mad killing everyone inside, but not before drawing a cult-like symbol in blood. Jane, the manager of the new post office, and Chief Higgins have a series of cult murders on their hands and it soon seems that a creature from the very bowels of hell is behind it, The Messenger has arrived...
Edward Lee's tie-in novel to his Infernal series is bloody brilliant. A messenger from hell using delivery workers to spread the message of Satan to others is a simple but ironic one that is executed really well. It's a bit more toned down from his usual work, but that doesn't mean it isn't without depictions of over-the-top violence and s*xual assault.
The Messager is a novel filled with some really horrific imagery, the scenes that unfold at a Christian school for girls, in particular, is spine chilling. The characterization is terrific, the idea is solid and the twists that unfold throughout the narrative have to be some of Lee's best and honestly, I didn't see them coming.
Overall: It's an outstanding novel that I feel gets overlooked by Lee fans, but if you're a fan of the Infernal series please give this one a go, it's a terrific read! 10/10
September 25, 2017
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Well, color me blood-red, red as the blood that splatters this book-Edward Lee CAN write a horror novel without oceans of needless sex! Sure, he does throw a bit in, but much tamer than usual. Bottom line-this is the first of his that I really enjoyed.
Plot-postal workers go postal with knives and guns, due to demonic influence. There is a talisman of the demon, that must be found to stop him. The end.
Hey, do you need a complex plot? Not really. This was good fun. First of all, if you like the gore aspect, Lee throws in a good amount. Also, I actually LIKED the protagonist this time, which was a first. Usually, all his characters are scumbags that you want to get whacked. One of the highlights is the hilarity that Lee throws in at times. The one that had me rolling around laughing was the animated dead guy about to rape a chick, and his dick drops off. This one actually had a few twists and turns in the plot-nothing major that you can't figure out, but it helped keep the story moving. This was a good, fast paced read that keeps you going to find out what happens. Overall, well done.
Well, color me blood-red, red as the blood that splatters this book-Edward Lee CAN write a horror novel without oceans of needless sex! Sure, he does throw a bit in, but much tamer than usual. Bottom line-this is the first of his that I really enjoyed.
Plot-postal workers go postal with knives and guns, due to demonic influence. There is a talisman of the demon, that must be found to stop him. The end.
Hey, do you need a complex plot? Not really. This was good fun. First of all, if you like the gore aspect, Lee throws in a good amount. Also, I actually LIKED the protagonist this time, which was a first. Usually, all his characters are scumbags that you want to get whacked. One of the highlights is the hilarity that Lee throws in at times. The one that had me rolling around laughing was the animated dead guy about to rape a chick, and his dick drops off. This one actually had a few twists and turns in the plot-nothing major that you can't figure out, but it helped keep the story moving. This was a good, fast paced read that keeps you going to find out what happens. Overall, well done.
September 1, 2023
Good exciting read
You always know your going on an amazing adventure with one of Mr Lee's novels. This is out there with the rest, and evil has come over a small idyllic town that is known for its non crime rate over the last 20yrs. When things start to change. The town is growing and changes have to heed to the growing town. Little do they know an evil presence is being awakened and has a message to spread and what better way to spread them than through the town's growing postal service, the town's own messenger service. This is a brutal, bloody and violent story of evil spreading its word. But can the love of a post manager or the help of God's own helper or even the police chief do anything to help save this town and the people within it? Only one way to find out! An exciting compelling enjoyable experience that keeps you drawn into the little town and all its characters, of which there are plenty. Loved the addition of Mel the toad. A non stop, nicely paced novel that you won't want to put down til the end. Definitely worth checking out! Recommended 100%
You always know your going on an amazing adventure with one of Mr Lee's novels. This is out there with the rest, and evil has come over a small idyllic town that is known for its non crime rate over the last 20yrs. When things start to change. The town is growing and changes have to heed to the growing town. Little do they know an evil presence is being awakened and has a message to spread and what better way to spread them than through the town's growing postal service, the town's own messenger service. This is a brutal, bloody and violent story of evil spreading its word. But can the love of a post manager or the help of God's own helper or even the police chief do anything to help save this town and the people within it? Only one way to find out! An exciting compelling enjoyable experience that keeps you drawn into the little town and all its characters, of which there are plenty. Loved the addition of Mel the toad. A non stop, nicely paced novel that you won't want to put down til the end. Definitely worth checking out! Recommended 100%
April 13, 2023
Postal workers going postal? Who can make an entertaining story out of that?
Edward Lee, naturally.
Seems like a number of mass murders - truly gruesome ones - keep occurring in town. The only connecting thread is that every one of these killers seem to be working at the same place, a Post Office that was recently reopened.
We mostly follow the police chief and the woman who is running said Post Office. Naturally, they become intimate (It's an Ed Lee book after all). All signs keep pointing to something occult. Sigils drawn in blood at the scene of the massacres and some deaths appearing more like meticulously planned religious sacrifices than the seemingly random attacks.
For Edward Lee, it's somewhat restrained, but don't get too worried, restrained Lee is still pulpy madness. The villain of the tale is interesting and unique, and if you, like me, enjoy occult horror tales, it will likely scratch that itch nicely.
Edward Lee, naturally.
Seems like a number of mass murders - truly gruesome ones - keep occurring in town. The only connecting thread is that every one of these killers seem to be working at the same place, a Post Office that was recently reopened.
We mostly follow the police chief and the woman who is running said Post Office. Naturally, they become intimate (It's an Ed Lee book after all). All signs keep pointing to something occult. Sigils drawn in blood at the scene of the massacres and some deaths appearing more like meticulously planned religious sacrifices than the seemingly random attacks.
For Edward Lee, it's somewhat restrained, but don't get too worried, restrained Lee is still pulpy madness. The villain of the tale is interesting and unique, and if you, like me, enjoy occult horror tales, it will likely scratch that itch nicely.
July 19, 2023
Sort of fizzles out towards the end, but this really goes hard with the violence and dare I say it’s hellscapes are even more vivid and macabre than the actual Infernal novels, of which this is a sort of spinoff. I wanna go to the sex grotto in Hell !
November 4, 2025
Some classic Edward Lee that ties a lot into his City Infernal and Infernal Angel books. Lots of fun, some who dun its in here that do give themselves away (along with the final twist) but still a read I recommend.
November 30, 2025
Edward tells a story about a small town, that's getting overrun by Satins messenger. He is making these orderinarly good people do horrendous acts. The body count is high in this book and this is one horny messenger. It was a really fun read, I just wish the ending was alittle tighter.
June 11, 2017
It was an enjoyable read. It really was not as controversial as Lee's other books. But for me it was a nie relaxing read.
January 19, 2019
Edward Lee's novels are always entertaining if nothing else. I wasn't fond of the ending for this.
June 21, 2021
A good book to read while suffering from a migraine.
November 18, 2021
Für mich zusammen mit Incubus einer seiner schlechtesten Werke. Da waren sogar die wirklichen extrem Hardcore Bücher besser als das. Eine absolute Enttäuschung von einen Lee Roman.
April 4, 2023
A passable story about a demonic presence with a message to deliver to the world.
April 22, 2023
This was one of my favorite Edward Lee books. It has a wonderful plot with amazing horror. I haven't read the book in years and still remember it well.
June 21, 2024
This book makes the Taliban look like a basket full of kittens. This is horror at its finest. Edward Lee paints a very graphic narrative in this one.
October 21, 2025
A very sold 4 - 4.5 star read. I wanted to call in sick to work to stay home and read this, it pulled me in right from the beginning. Even the prologue was intriguing.
If you're looking for blood, gore, orgies, demons, etc., this is the book for you.
If you're looking for blood, gore, orgies, demons, etc., this is the book for you.
July 10, 2014
Short Take: When did sex and violence get so boring?
I can’t remember when I first heard of this book. I could’ve sworn it was recommended by Stephen King in Danse Macabre, but when I double-checked, nope. Perhaps it was on one of those “Best Horror Novels EVER!!” lists. In any case, for some reason, I was dying to read it. A glance at the long list of books Edward Lee has published hinted at a new author-crush with the potential for a long-term reader relationship. I had convinced myself that I was in for a capital-T Treat.
Instead, I got tricked.
Messenger is advertised as a “work of erotic horror”. There’s plenty of sex and gore, no question, but the “shocking” scenes are repetitive, and lose their impact quickly. “Oh, someone just hung themselves with their own intestines? Again? Another demon-rape, too. How many pages do I have left in this thing, anyway?”
The first two-thirds of Messenger follows a pretty simple formula. A postal employee goes down into the basement, is possessed by the titular Messenger, then goes on to commit mass murder and mutilation. Then either the chief of police (Steve) or the manager of the post office (Jane) tries to figure out what is happening. Then someone else goes to the basement, and the cycle repeats.
A demonologist named Dhevic is familiar with the Messenger, and is trying to end the atrocities; however, Steve believes he is involved, so Dhevic must work in secret. Dhevic is European and has an accent, some psychic abilities, and an irregular income from shadowy “benefactors”. That’s really all we learn of him, a completely wasted opportunity. Of all the characters, he had the most potential to be interesting, had Lee gone for character development instead of page after page of “Blood! Guts!! NAKED WOMEN!!!!”
I don’t know which half of this book was worse. The gruesome murders and depictions of Hell could have been horrific, if any of the characters had been fleshed-out enough for me to care about. The sex scenes were either of the loving vanilla type, or the demon-rape, which, incidentally, every woman on the receiving end loved. I don’t need to tell you how gross that is. Speaking of the women, every woman in this book is described as having a perfect body, tan, shiny hair, etc. Flawless is boring.
Then there’s what I consider to be the “plot” half of the book, in which Jane and Steve have to figure out what’s going on in the small town of Dannelleton. Unfortunately, they are both idiots. Even though every horrible crime involves someone associated with the post office, nobody thinks to check the basement. The chief of police of a small town, faced with multiple mass murderers and a body count well over forty, spends a lovely evening making pizza with his girlfriend instead of, y’know, investigating.
The girlfriend. Good grief. Jane falls in love with Steve with the speed of a Disney princess. She’s lived in Dannelleton for years, but somehow never heard of the mass murderer that a fellow postman committed 20 years ago. She’s a young widow with two kids who seem to conveniently disappear whenever the plot calls for it.
And the town. We’re told several times that Dannelleton is such a nice place, there’s never any crime, but at the same time, the police are familiar with the multitude of strip clubs featuring drug-addicted strippers/hookers. There’s also the incident mentioned above, in which a postal worker slaughters roughly two dozen people, and twenty years later, everyone has forgotten all about it. Let me tell you, I live in a small town, and nobody forgets anything. Ever. And even if Jane was a transplant from elsewhere (it never really clarifies that), someone would’ve filled her in. She’s managing the post office where the guy was working for crying out loud!
There’s the obligatory twist ending, and a quick wrap-up – you know, the kind you get when an author has written himself into a corner and has no idea how to get out of it.
Maybe it’s not you, Edward Lee, maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m overthinking things. I do that sometimes. But I just don’t think this relationship was meant to be.
I can’t remember when I first heard of this book. I could’ve sworn it was recommended by Stephen King in Danse Macabre, but when I double-checked, nope. Perhaps it was on one of those “Best Horror Novels EVER!!” lists. In any case, for some reason, I was dying to read it. A glance at the long list of books Edward Lee has published hinted at a new author-crush with the potential for a long-term reader relationship. I had convinced myself that I was in for a capital-T Treat.
Instead, I got tricked.
Messenger is advertised as a “work of erotic horror”. There’s plenty of sex and gore, no question, but the “shocking” scenes are repetitive, and lose their impact quickly. “Oh, someone just hung themselves with their own intestines? Again? Another demon-rape, too. How many pages do I have left in this thing, anyway?”
The first two-thirds of Messenger follows a pretty simple formula. A postal employee goes down into the basement, is possessed by the titular Messenger, then goes on to commit mass murder and mutilation. Then either the chief of police (Steve) or the manager of the post office (Jane) tries to figure out what is happening. Then someone else goes to the basement, and the cycle repeats.
A demonologist named Dhevic is familiar with the Messenger, and is trying to end the atrocities; however, Steve believes he is involved, so Dhevic must work in secret. Dhevic is European and has an accent, some psychic abilities, and an irregular income from shadowy “benefactors”. That’s really all we learn of him, a completely wasted opportunity. Of all the characters, he had the most potential to be interesting, had Lee gone for character development instead of page after page of “Blood! Guts!! NAKED WOMEN!!!!”
I don’t know which half of this book was worse. The gruesome murders and depictions of Hell could have been horrific, if any of the characters had been fleshed-out enough for me to care about. The sex scenes were either of the loving vanilla type, or the demon-rape, which, incidentally, every woman on the receiving end loved. I don’t need to tell you how gross that is. Speaking of the women, every woman in this book is described as having a perfect body, tan, shiny hair, etc. Flawless is boring.
Then there’s what I consider to be the “plot” half of the book, in which Jane and Steve have to figure out what’s going on in the small town of Dannelleton. Unfortunately, they are both idiots. Even though every horrible crime involves someone associated with the post office, nobody thinks to check the basement. The chief of police of a small town, faced with multiple mass murderers and a body count well over forty, spends a lovely evening making pizza with his girlfriend instead of, y’know, investigating.
The girlfriend. Good grief. Jane falls in love with Steve with the speed of a Disney princess. She’s lived in Dannelleton for years, but somehow never heard of the mass murderer that a fellow postman committed 20 years ago. She’s a young widow with two kids who seem to conveniently disappear whenever the plot calls for it.
And the town. We’re told several times that Dannelleton is such a nice place, there’s never any crime, but at the same time, the police are familiar with the multitude of strip clubs featuring drug-addicted strippers/hookers. There’s also the incident mentioned above, in which a postal worker slaughters roughly two dozen people, and twenty years later, everyone has forgotten all about it. Let me tell you, I live in a small town, and nobody forgets anything. Ever. And even if Jane was a transplant from elsewhere (it never really clarifies that), someone would’ve filled her in. She’s managing the post office where the guy was working for crying out loud!
There’s the obligatory twist ending, and a quick wrap-up – you know, the kind you get when an author has written himself into a corner and has no idea how to get out of it.
Maybe it’s not you, Edward Lee, maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m overthinking things. I do that sometimes. But I just don’t think this relationship was meant to be.
February 12, 2017
Terrifyingly terrific
A fun romp of murder and mayhem. A look into hell and it's messenger. If you like gore this is for you.
A fun romp of murder and mayhem. A look into hell and it's messenger. If you like gore this is for you.
October 9, 2012
Not bad, but not of one Edward Lee's best.
I felt like there were no rules to the messenger. In fantasy, there are supposed to be rules that the world abides by. But the messenger is able to possess some people and not others. Why? No real hint of an explanation is given, which makes one of the "twists" at the end not very twisty at all.
Another problem is that the end feels very quick. Suddenly it's just over. Edward Lee tries to draw out the ending a bit by cheating, but it feels forced and, like I said, it was a cheat.
A quick, fun read like most Edward Lee stories, but the lack of rules left it feeling empty. It's like Edward Lee had a plot he wanted to follow and he made the characters and monster fit that mold without any direction to guide the journey.
I felt like there were no rules to the messenger. In fantasy, there are supposed to be rules that the world abides by. But the messenger is able to possess some people and not others. Why? No real hint of an explanation is given, which makes one of the "twists" at the end not very twisty at all.
Another problem is that the end feels very quick. Suddenly it's just over. Edward Lee tries to draw out the ending a bit by cheating, but it feels forced and, like I said, it was a cheat.
A quick, fun read like most Edward Lee stories, but the lack of rules left it feeling empty. It's like Edward Lee had a plot he wanted to follow and he made the characters and monster fit that mold without any direction to guide the journey.
January 27, 2015
Now this was a much better offering from Edward Lee. A postal worker opens up a package addressed to the depot, which is an unusual thing and when he opens it he becomes infected, going on an immediate killing spree in the neighbourhood. Now years later to meet demand, the old depot is reopening and something lurks inside waiting to possess again...
This book has the sex, violent and horror that you expect in an Edward Lee story. The big difference here is that there is also a good story to tie it in together, with plenty of tension and a few twists. There is decent character development as well which is a bonus though not required in this type of horror novel.
This book has the sex, violent and horror that you expect in an Edward Lee story. The big difference here is that there is also a good story to tie it in together, with plenty of tension and a few twists. There is decent character development as well which is a bonus though not required in this type of horror novel.
December 19, 2014
Another excellent tale from the master of Hell-type stories. The concept is kind of silly: demons using the U.S. Postal Service as messengers of rape and death. Yet I totally bought into it. Lee does not pull punches; he goes all out, including a particularly hurtful betrayal that ends with no simple solution. Also, I kind of hope Lee gets together with Brian Keene so they can write a story in which Lee's Dhevic meets up with Keene's Levi Stoltzfus for an adventure. I don't know if Dhevic is a recurring character, but I hope he is and that I run into him again in the future.
August 20, 2014
Am Anfang machte mir die übertriebene Gewalt und der viele Sex irgendwie spaß weil man sowas in Büchern selten hat aber nach einer Weile wurde genau das sehr langweilig und eintönig ... die Geschichte an sich ist nicht schlecht aber in genau dieser Form auch in unzähligen Büchern und Filmen zu erleben ... mein Fazit: nettes Buch für Gorehounds aber nicht wirklich sehr interessant auf Dauer
March 28, 2007
This novel takes no prisoners. The body count is obscenely high. The plot has a wonderful hell-based twist. Great interpretation of post office shootings! Quick and fun read.
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