The Devil's Doorway

by Steven Pajak

Kate Emerson returns to her childhood home in Chicago after her father's sudden stroke, only to awaken a malevolent force lurking within his unfinished painting. As the entity grows stronger, feeding off Kate's grief and despair, she must delve into the artwork's sinister history and confront the encroaching darkness that threatens to consume her.

With help from an old friend, James Nowak, and the enigmatic medium Tiqua Lovett, Kate navigates the blurred lines between reality and nightmare, desperate to seal the portal the demon has opened. In a harrowing battle against the relentless evil presence, Kate must confront her darkest fears to reclaim her life, her family, and her sanity.

"The Devil's Doorway" is a gripping supernatural thriller that explores the depths of grief, the power of family bonds, and the unyielding strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horror. Will Kate emerge victorious, or will she be forever lost in the twisted realm beyond the painting's frame? Step through "The Devil's Doorway" and confront the nightmare that awaits in this chilling tale of love, loss, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

Genres: Horror

254 pages, Paperback

Published August 3, 2024

About the author

Steven Pajak, a Chicago-based author, crafts stories that explore the depths of horror and the human psyche. With a pen that dances on the edges of darkness, Steven brings to life tales that challenge, terrify, and linger in the minds of readers. Drawing inspiration from the urban tapestry of Chicago, his work merges the pulse of city life with the eerie quiet of the shadows lurking within the darkest corners of our minds. Steven invites you into a world where fear meets courage, and the journey through his imagination proves as haunting as it is unforgettable.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Kind of Doorway Has Been Opened?

Small backstory:

Kate is called home to be with her father who seems to have had a stroke. She soon realizes that it is more than that as it seems her father was dabbling in the occult with trying to reach out to the spirit world to contact her mother who passed away.

Kate hooks up with an old friend, James and they both try to seek answers on what her father was doing and what has invaded his home. They find more than they bargained for when they realize that their father brought forth a demon and now they wonder what they will need to do to get rid of it!

That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!

Thoughts:

Wow! First time reading this author and it won't be last as I loved this book! The story was saturated in the occult/demon world but the writing style of this author drew me right into the story line quick and kept me there for the duration of the book!

I loved all the characters and there was quite a bit of raw emotion with this story as well that was centered around some life choices that the character Kate had to make concerning her father. I loved how quick the pace was set as well and I would find myself reading this book late into the night as I could not put it down! Looking forward to reading more books by this author as I have found another horror author to add to my ever growing horror list! Giving this book five "Demon Danger" stars!

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good. For me personally, this story was very cathartic. Some of the scenes with Kate and her father hit me really hard. No, we didn't mess with Quija boards together, and no, I haven't gone to hell and back to save his soul... but that raw emotion, the connection, the sense of loss.... I felt it deep in myself as I read this book.


Kate returns to her childhood home after her father suffers from a stroke. Unfortunately for her she won't be alone.  In the home is an unfinished painting of a doorway, and something within is lurking and feeding from her suffering. She's going to find herself in a literal fight not just for her life but for her soul.

This supernatural thriller ticks off all the boxes, honestly.  Creepy house, evil spirit,  quija boards, seance you name it, it's there and so much more. This was only my second book from Pajak, and I'm beating myself for not discovering his books sooner. His stories feel real to me. They are immersive and raw. You aren't just dealing with monsters.  In just two books, I've explored family trauma, grief,  friendship, and faith, just to name a few things. There are layers to these stories, and they are developed beautifully. 


I'm adding more Pajak to my tbr, and I truly think you should, too.

I did receive a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[MamaKate4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil's Doorway
Steven Pajak
This book is so good!!!! The main character is strong, capable, and also vulnerable. She is going through all of the emotions as she learns her father is ill, while also being terrorized and questioning her sanity. The world building and the vision of the story is superb- you can see every detail and you get sucked into the story, scene by. The last 1/3 really of the book really amps up and keeps racing you along all the way to the very last page! Even I finished, I immediately wanted to read More!!!!!!

There is tension, there is intrigue, and there is relatable plot with awe inspiring elements. I absolutely loved it!!!!

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steven Pajak's 'The Devil's Doorway' offers an outstanding tale of supernatural horror, showing how love and grief, if left unchecked, can create the worst kind of emotional and material mayhem - in this case, non-stop, wild, demonic, supernatural mayhem! Yet there's an undertone of hope throughout the story, which becomes even more apparent in hindsight, after the climactic conclusion. The light romance after the first third of the book really complements the darkness of the demonic attacks, showing that, in the midst of loss and self-doubt, the emotional support of a good partner can bring wonders. That's one heck of a lesson to take away from all this! It's so easy to get lost (both figuratively and literally) when you feel you're losing one thing after another, facing threats beyond the familiar and the ordinary. But Pajak paces himself in order to allow for several glimpses of light and salvation after each nightmare. All the necessary components of a good horror story are there: a ouija board, a medium, a seance gone wrong, a demon threatening to cross over and destroy the humanity of a sane human life - plus a painting that shouldn't be looked at for too long! But without Pajak's emotional insight and refined storytelling skills, this would be just another horror tale of no significance among so many currently flooding the market. Instead, we get a solid tale of high quality horror entertainment which I unreservedly recommend!

[Ben Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devil’s Doorway is one of those rare books that mixes all my favorite elements without diluting any of them. It’s deep but readable, there’s a great demon but the true horror comes from the well of emotions. It’s expertly paced without sacrificing character. A triumph of horror and heart.

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

168 pages
5👹👹👹👹👹
I loved this story. A oujia board, a demon, and a painting from hell all wrapped up in one fantastic little story. This is a paranormal lovers' dream. My only complaint is I want more.. please.

Something that wore darkness like a second skin and hungered for more than lost souls to slake its appetite.

"No one can save them now... just as no one can save you."

[Jen Ramsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Séances, demons, fights between light and darkness/good and evil? What more could you possibly want! Steven has an easy ro read style of writing, that hits the ground running and only intensifies in pace until you reach the dramatic conclusion. The characters are extremely likeable and you root for them from the very beginning, hoping they can survive against all odds. This was my first story by Steven Pajak, but it certainly won't be my last!

[Paul Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had everything that I love about horror; demons, Ouija, evil trying to break into this world, guilt, regret, and coming home after a long absence. Unfortunately it also had one of my pet peeves; answers revealed in dreams. I just don’t like it. It feels like a cop out. It seems to happen often in books so it might just be me that doesn’t like it.
There were a few other things that took me out of the book as well but I don’t want to give out possible spoilers. I’ll just say that a couple things seemed to really get a lot of attention and they didn’t feel like part of the story

[Lauren Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another banger from Steven pajak!! This author is quickly becoming a must read for me! His writing flows so well and his pacing is chefs kiss! This one was so fun any story involves someone messing with a ouija board will instantly have my attention. And the descriptions were so on point that I really felt like I was in the room with these characters! Highly recommend!

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! This author has the ability to write horror in a deeper and more emotional way than most. It is dark and creepy, but also touches on philosophical issues and makes you question who you are as a person, deep down. That’s what makes his writing different to me. The Devils Doorway is a fast paced and will keep you hooked from beginning to end!

[Nita Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you liked The Haunting of Elena Vera, you'll enjoy this one as well. This is a grief horror powerhouse with a pinch of haunted house spookiness. I loved not only the pain in the MFC's heart but also her sheer determination. The ending had me cheering and screaming and hyperventilating.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I did because the cover is killer and nicely done. It’s right up my alley and boy, it did not disappoint. The writing was spectacular and detailed. It pulls you right in. It was intense and a page turner. Kate is a total bada*** and a great main character. I loved this book and my only complaint, is that I wish it was longer. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome combination of grief and occult horror. Steven does a great job building the world and characters. From there, everything connects the prologue to the exciting end. They say Ojuja boards are bad news, this book shows why.

The beginning is actually pretty good and drew me into binge-reading the book. The middle and ending were even better. While this is a work of fiction, it almost reads like something that could happen in real life. The characters are relatable. I see lots of Kate's traits in me as I take care of my folks full time and would get into a deep depression if they were to ever pass away.

Such a fun read. For that, it gets 5/5 stars!

[Emily Peterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A roller coaster of emotions. I cried, I got angry, I got convicted. A true ride through human emotions and a unique story of supernatural horror.

[Christopher Sweet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a lot of fun with this one. The Devil’s Doorway is a quick tale of devils, dark beings, and doorways to hellish realms. It reads like a horror movie and at times is reminiscent of gems like Drag Me to Hell and The Conjuring. Solid read for a summer night on the patio with a cold drink within reach.

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this creepy grief-stricken read!! I would describe this as grief horror but with a demon who takes advantage of that grief! It was fast-paced with characters I came to love - I was invested in this story, my book peeps!

This was my first book by Steven, and it definitely won’t be my last!!!

[Lisa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/
The Devil’s Doorway by Steven Pajak is a powerful story of terror, sorrow, and devotion. This was my first novel by Pajak, and I was floored by his vivid and flowing style. The way he captures and conveys every moment is exquisite. The transitions are compelling. And then there’s the story itself.

This is an engrossing and evocative tale, rich with mystery, dread, and multiple aspects of the supernatural (occult practices, dark entities, a doorway to beyond . . .). It flows with suspense as the mystery of the demonic entity unfolds and the author affords the reader glimpses of things the characters don’t know. The prologue alone is poignant and enthralling, almost a short story in itself. But The Devil’s Doorway is also a deep and moving story about grief and loss and the despair that comes with them. It explores the horrors wrought from desperation right alongside the oft expressed sentiment: don’t mess with Ouija boards!

Steven Pajak uses disturbing imagery, engaging characters, and evocative language to tell a tale where real-world and otherworldly horrors come together to challenge both love and sanity. This combined with his mindful yet realistic handling of deep personal loss makes this a personal reading experience as well as an entertaining one. Cover art notwithstanding, 5 stars for an outstanding story masterfully told.

[Mark Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil’s Doorway is a great horror story that deals with the themes of love and loss brilliantly. Steven Pajak knows exactly how to write main characters and the relationship between them, that is both realistic and relatable. It brought to mind when my partner and I have faced bad times and how we‘ve been there for each other. And so for me, that alone, is enough to love this story. But there’s more.

One of the standout features of Pajak’s prose is his use of analogies and metaphors, particularly in the first half of the book. For my tastes, there could’ve been a few less as on occasion it slowed up the pace a little and in some places actions got lost. But where the author’s skill and imagination really flourishes and submerges us into the story is when he takes the reader on a journey of loss, parental love and the experience of having to make a decision about end of life care. He also lets us experience what it’s like to have the love and support of a partner - which, as I said earlier, is both realistic and relatable.

The second half is fast paced horror as our heroine (with the help of her support network) enters through “the devil’s doorway” to face the demon that has been haunting her and her late parents head on in an explosive finale.

Dark. Haunting. Written with compassion and depth. Highly recommended.

Bonus points award for the beautiful hand-drawn/painted artwork on the cover and inserts through out the book. Love it!

[Kristal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was suspenseful and creepy and the plot of the story was so good. It’s well written with great character development. I loved it and can’t wait to read the next one!

[Don Anelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, this was an immensely impressive and enjoyable effort. The central setup featured here, starting with the distressed phone call to alert her to her father's condition, the race to get to him, and the series of obstacles that emerge as the situation gets expanded upon to the point of being able to understand the details surrounding her father, create a harrowing scenario which is quite thrilling to play out. By the time the extent of the father's situation is known and the relationship that develops with her friend while trying to get everything with her father sorted out, there's a great baseline here that sets up the kind of slow-building discovery of supernatural beings to come into play. That everything is set up nicely not just with the opening prologue setting up everything with the traditional influx of shenanigans to let loose the later scenes.

This secondary series of supernatural events after the revelation that everything was released during a fateful seance session involving the father trying to contact the spirit of his dead wife which is wisely kept as a sinister presence bubbling under the surface of the interctions after the fact. As the hints of the crows come to pass and the discovery of the intent behind the seance comes to light, there's some fantastic work here involving the release of the supernatural entity haunting the property following the incident which is given a great boost in the second half when it finally gains enough power to start ramping up the encounters which keep things balanced incredibly well between thrilling and heartbreaking. As the secondary storyline involving how her grief has left her vulnerable to the demonic being and letting the emotional or physical support she receives from her friend being there to help her in the battle, this keeps everything moving along nicely for a well-rounded read in every regard.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dope thin boi of a novel. There’s nothing wildly unique another the plot, but between Pajak’s vivid imagery to his ability to convey a variety of emotions you end up with a well written tale of opening the wrong door.

Walter is still reeling from the death of his wife and seeks a way to contact her in the afterlife. This doesn’t go super great and his daughter, Kate is thrust into the mix.

Kate and Tiqua were well done, fleshed out characters. I struggled a bit with James and almost felt as if his character was included as convenience. If the book had been longer an expansion into the effects of his military service could’ve added an interesting element to the book. Walter made sense, but I didn’t quite understand the strength of Kate’s emotions to him in death since they seemed a bit detached in life. This could absolutely be influenced by my absolute lack of relationship with my own father, though.

The beginning of the book felt a bit on the nose at time where the author would tell us something directly rather than show with more subtlety. By the second half Pajak really hits his stride and some of his more evocative scenes played out so detailed in my mind. The ending was wild, and again, Pajak’s skills show in his imagery.

This is definitely a book I recommend. Not overly gory or dependent on gross out scenes and very well written. This easily could’ve been a much longer novel and I’d likely have loved every page even more.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 26/32 for the indie brawl.

What in the hallmark did I just read?

If you've read the synopsis, you've read the book. There's no surprises here. This book is about a man who has a major stroke after contacting a demon. His daughter, Kate, returns to her hometown following the stroke. She teams up with an old flame and a medium to stop the entity.

The only surprised was how much like a hallmark movie this was. Woman returns to her hometown to meet up with hold boyfriend who (this isn't exactly a spoiler but) is a handsome and caring veteran that now owns a small bookstore/cafe . This wasn't a long book, but if I took a shot for everytime James said some iteration of "I'm not going to leave you, you'll never be alone.." etc, I'd be dead. I was rolling my eyes so hard. This guys only personality trait was still being totally in love with his high school girlfriend. Disclaimer: I am not above hallmark movies, but it was weird juxtaposed against the doorway to hell or whatever.

I had high hopes for this book at first because the ratings were good. The cover was interesting but doesn't fit the story very well. I didn't dislike the actual writing, but the story itself was lacking. It was all so obvious to the point where I was just bored. The entity wasn't very scary and didn't really do much. The characters were mostly flat. I think the ending would have been more impactful if I felt that Walter and Kate had a really strong father/daughter relationship, but it had already been established that Kate doesn't visit and had no idea her dad was struggling with grief since her mom died. I also hated the psychic character. She sucked. She also seemed to have all the answers when it was convenient for the plot. I hated how Kate was talking about the bond between her, James, and the psychic at the end and how they were her people and such. Whut. This woman abandoned your father, then didn't go into the hellscape with you when you thought you were going to battle evil together. She didn't show up til Walter was dead and her only function was being an exposition dump of things the reader already knows.

I think I was just annoyed that there were no surprises in this book. Every little bit of information was spoon fed to us. There was no mystery and the ending felt rushed. The reader knows everything before the characters do which removes most tension. The more I think about this book, the less I like it. That being said, the author totally has potential.

[Jennifer Leonard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the idea was fun and different, and Walter was a great character. My issues were mainly with the characters and their behavior.

Katie seemed very much like a damsel in distress made to play up to James, who counter to small town boy falling back in love with his reappearing ex(whose whole story was very hallmark), seemed almost predatory at the start. He saw her grief and repeatedly had the approach of being there for her to get back with her. That’s not really how supporting someone you claim to have loved works.

Katie’s character was supposed to be a strong independent woman, a lawyer in an incredibly competitive firm in one of americas busiest cities. Throughout the book, she comes off many times like she’s totally incapable, until that last bit of action really.

Tiqua was a great character who I think I would have loved to have seen more from. What screen time she did get was great!

All in all, editing was great, dialogue wasn’t too stiff, but this just didn’t work for me. Between James seeming like a predator, to the flip flop of Katie, and the weird ways people just “knew” things, there was a lot of disjointed points. The ending also felt repetitive. 2.5 stars

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil’s Doorway is an exploration of grief and the occult. Unable to cope with the loss of his wife, Walter turns to medium Tiqua in an attempt to communicate with her from beyond the grave. But in his desperation, he unleashes a dangerous entity that is fixated on Walter’s sadness and pain. When his daughter, Kate, arrives after being called home, she is startled to learn of her father’s dabbling in the occult. Now, it is up to her to close the door he opened. Aided by an old friend and the medium, Kate must decipher the mysterious clues to save those she loves.

I love grief horror, so I really enjoyed this book. Walter’s pain was palpable, and the guilt Kate felt by not being there for him was heartbreaking. There was a true sense of evil with the unleashed entity and the descriptions were chilling. There were just a couple of things that I felt were a bit rushed but that didn’t detract from the story. If you’re a fan of grief horror or the author, you’ll definitely want to check this out!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. Kate hasn’t seen her father in a while but is called back to her hometown when he suffers a massive stroke. The longer she’s home, the more she starts to see the darkness that Walter has unleashed in his desperate attempts to contact his dead wife. My mom always told me growing up she would disown me if I ever touched an ouija board-and this book shows what happens a when you mess with those things.

Kate’s struggle with her fathers illness and the decision she has to make to take him off life support hit so hard for me, as I lost my dad to cancer and we thought we were going to have to make the same call. Pajak really hit what it’s like to lose a parent and the scene where she talks to her dad again was perfectly written. There’s always so much more I wish I had said to him, and Kate gets the chance to see her father one last time.

The demon is scary. The fact that it comes from a painting was creative, and this book was unique for a topic that has been overdone lately. Highly recommend.

[Kirsty Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story itself was ok but the characters were odd and some things in the story were a little convenient. The start was great and I was looking forward to how the story would develop, unfortunately the start was the stand out and the book as a whole was a little disappointing. James seemed very unbelievable to me and gave weird stalker type vibes and Katie, was she strong or was she in need of saving by James?
There was some good description around the characters' feelings and thoughts to give a creepy vibe but the description was lacking for me in what they were actually experiencing to really empathise with them.
I would try something else from the author as I think with some changes this could have been a different experience for me. Plenty of excellent reviews though so I'm definitely in the minority!

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the beginning this book draws you into the action. A medium goes against her better judgement and uses something that most consider dangerous to contact spirits. Of course they should have stuck with gut feelings because all hell breaks loose when something other than a missed loved one tries to come through. After that, nothing that happens in this book seems to go right. The description of what tried to come through a portal was insane. I think I would have done what the medium did put in a similar situation. The rest of the book is spent reading about what Kate must decide to do to close the portal. I really enjoyed the storytelling and would love to see more stories along this line.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Emerson unexpectedly gets a call about her father's health and needs to travel back home. He hasn't been the same since her mother's death, and is now in a comatose state from an apparent stroke. As she looks into what could have happened at his house, she finds a striking painting, one that seems impossible for him to have created. Between the painting and the terrifying dreams she's been having, Kate has much more to worry about than just her father's health. Can she, an old friend, and a medium figure things out before it's too late?

I loved the characters in this book, and I don't think it has anything to do with the fact that I love Kate Emerson and Tiqua Lovett in real life 😂 Steven really makes their emotions flow through the pages. It's also full of stressful, terrifying moments, and the story keeps you stuck to the pages.

And as always, Joe Hempel with Fright Night Audio narrates it spectacularly. But that isn't surprising at all.

Make sure you read this one!

[S. Policar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very well written. There's a lot of depth to it being the words on the pages too. It's got a slow build for about half the book, but once you hit part two it really takes off. So if you find yourself struggling a bit, keep going; you won't regret it.

I'm not sure if this is an error, but seems like an entire response from Kate is missing on page 20 (Kindle edition). Melissa calls and lets Kate know what happened complete with end dialogue quotations, then says in the beginning of the next paragraph "I understand" as if Kate had responded to a question that was never asked.  And Page 57 (Kindle edition) has a repeated line.

I give this book 4 of 5 Paws.

[Sarah Corwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just Another Demon Story

I almost feel like the description about this book did not really match what it turned out to be. I thought Walter and the paintings would’ve been in the story way more but the focus really seemed to be more on Kate and James. And Tiqua just kind of showed up when she was needed for the plot but there was nothing else about her where I connected with her. Got a little too cheesy for me at the end and the demon itself wasn’t really described in a way that I could easily picture it and be terrified. Overall this was just a little “meh” for me.