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Black Mass
An evil cult has risen in the bowels of New Orleans. Cole, the man who established this cult, directs his queen's efforts toward his goal, which is a fiery destruction followed by the establishment of a new order over which he and she will rule. Julie Williams is a witch, descended from a centuries old line of witches. Julie has learned through visions and ceremonies of the coming fire. She teams up with Dean Curtis, a construction site manager in Dallas, and Aaron White, a young deaf child whose parents are killed by the cult. The three of them travel to New Orleans to confront the cult and try to stop the coming destruction.
525 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2024
3 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Mark A. Daniel
11 books36 followersMark A. Daniel is a writer of the supernatural thriller genre including the recent release "Crossroads".
Taking the advice of his third-grade teacher to “pursue writing of some kind as a career,” he promptly wrote his first book From Six Feet to Two Inches. It was about 10 pages long. He never looked back.
He has since completed eight novels and two short story collections. Black Mass, Resurrection, The Gifted, Burial Grounds and The Threshold are available today, as are the short stories in Razor’s Edge 1 and Razor’s Edge 2.
Mark lives and writes on a small ranch in rural West Texas, accompanied by his wife of 30 years, a few dogs, several cats, and a varying number of chickens.
Taking the advice of his third-grade teacher to “pursue writing of some kind as a career,” he promptly wrote his first book From Six Feet to Two Inches. It was about 10 pages long. He never looked back.
He has since completed eight novels and two short story collections. Black Mass, Resurrection, The Gifted, Burial Grounds and The Threshold are available today, as are the short stories in Razor’s Edge 1 and Razor’s Edge 2.
Mark lives and writes on a small ranch in rural West Texas, accompanied by his wife of 30 years, a few dogs, several cats, and a varying number of chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 21, 2024
“Black Mass" by Mark A. Daniel is a gripping exploration of power of witches, betrayal, and darkness. The narrative is both intense and immersive, and sucked me into a world where loyalties come into question and danger lurks around every corner. Daniel's characters are well-developed, each with their own motivations and flaws, making them relatable yet unpredictable. This is a must read for anyone who likes dark thrillers.
December 2, 2024
As someone who was always fascinated by the atrocities done towards women during the Salem Witch trials, this book seems to take it a notch further and present to the readers on the idea of what if some women were indeed witches (as claimed during that time) and what happened to their powers afterwards. The antagonist Regina possessed the power of five such witches and planed nothing but evil (with mastermind being Cole). However, I would have loved to know whether these five witches were evil themselves or the power of the witches corrupted Regina. On reading the book it seemed to me they were not so I assume here that intentions are not governed by power.
Overall the book is a nice read and the story is interesting.
BONUS: The story ends in some sort of cliffhanger. Curious to see if the author comes up with a second part to this series. Would love to pick up a copy of the book.
Overall the book is a nice read and the story is interesting.
BONUS: The story ends in some sort of cliffhanger. Curious to see if the author comes up with a second part to this series. Would love to pick up a copy of the book.
May 16, 2025
Can 2 adults and a deaf child who have only met in there dreams prevent a black magic cult from "cleansing" the world via nuclear holocaust?
Prior to this, I had already read Resolution: Emmy's Story and loved it. Some of the characters have their origin story in Black Mass. Black Mass is the book where it all starts. Now I want to reread Resolution, but first I need to read Resurrection so that I can come full circle.
I loved the characters in this. Even the characters that I hated. Mark A. Daniel has a way of making it easy to picture and identify with his characters.
While this is a longer book, it is a book that you need to read and digest every word of. Every detail is important. There are no extraneous scenes to gloss over while getting to the "good parts". This book IS the good part!
Prior to this, I had already read Resolution: Emmy's Story and loved it. Some of the characters have their origin story in Black Mass. Black Mass is the book where it all starts. Now I want to reread Resolution, but first I need to read Resurrection so that I can come full circle.
I loved the characters in this. Even the characters that I hated. Mark A. Daniel has a way of making it easy to picture and identify with his characters.
While this is a longer book, it is a book that you need to read and digest every word of. Every detail is important. There are no extraneous scenes to gloss over while getting to the "good parts". This book IS the good part!
June 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I'm looking forward to reading the second book. It kept me invested all the way through.
January 9, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! “Black Mass” is a must-read if you enjoy stories involving evil cults and witchcraft. The detailed, imaginative writing reminded me of a darker Dean Koontz. It was a good vs evil story that had magic, suspense and mystery. The lead characters Julie, Dean and Aaron were well-constructed and likable. I would enjoy reading more stories about them. The main cult members were unforgettable. I do love a good villain, and this story has several. Pick up this book if you want to read a dark, thrilling tale! I’m looking forward to reading more by Mark A. Daniel!
November 6, 2024
I loved, loved, loved the call back to the days of witch burning in the beginning of the book! This sets the stage for the rest of the story, and it's a thrill! The story line and the characters are well-developed, and you are taken into both the long ago past and the 1990's with details that build a picture for you. The book itself (or page number) might look daunting to those that like quick reads, but you won't be sorry you dove into this one. You will find incredible historical information, the occult and the influence it has or can have, action, suspense, and more! I was hooked from the beginning and look forward to reading his other books!
November 9, 2024
I LOVED this book! It was beautifully written and had me hooked from the beginning. If you like creepy cult books this one is for you! I couldn't put it down! I'll definitely be reading more from this author
May 2, 2024
An action-packed thriller that is meticulously written with an intricate plot pulls you from the very first page. Mark is a gifted writer, creating accurate minute detail with his extensive research, immersing the reader in a gripping story. I have read all the authors' books. His books never disappoint. The ending, I was surprised by the revelations. Highly recommend. It's one of my favorite books of all time.
November 9, 2024
Prepare to be swept away on a thrilling journey through the dark and mystical streets of New Orleans in this captivating tale of courage, magic, and redemption.
I was completely entranced by the vivid world crafted by the author. The sinister presence of the evil cult lurking in the shadows of New Orleans adds an intense layer of suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
The characters, especially Julie Williams, Dean Curtis, and the brave Aaron White, are flawlessly developed, each bringing their own unique strengths and vulnerabilities to the forefront as they embark on a daring quest to confront the forces of darkness threatening their world.
The author's masterful storytelling skillfully weaves together elements of magic, mystery, and suspense, creating a spellbinding tale that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page!
I was completely entranced by the vivid world crafted by the author. The sinister presence of the evil cult lurking in the shadows of New Orleans adds an intense layer of suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
The characters, especially Julie Williams, Dean Curtis, and the brave Aaron White, are flawlessly developed, each bringing their own unique strengths and vulnerabilities to the forefront as they embark on a daring quest to confront the forces of darkness threatening their world.
The author's masterful storytelling skillfully weaves together elements of magic, mystery, and suspense, creating a spellbinding tale that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page!
January 4, 2025
This book, what I could get through it, was not good. I stuck with it in an attempt to give it an honest chance, but I couldn't get past the first 100 pages.
Spoilers for the first 100 pages.
My first issue with this book is that there is so much written here that we just do not need at all. The summary states that this book takes place in New Orleans, but we begin in old Europe (question mark, we simply know it's Lorraine in a time when the church is in power) with a character whose background has no significant bearing on the story, and yet we are given it all, along with multiple gratuitous torture scenes. Then we have a further myriad of politics and characters that are not at all going to matter because, theoretically, this story takes place in New Orleans in a time closer to the modern day. The long intro sequence could have been summed up with much more mystery and suspense for the reader by cutting out almost all of it. It takes us a long, drawn-out read to get to the actual time period the story actually takes place in.
My second issue with this book is that all violence that takes place in what I read is gratuitous. I'd argue there's only a handful of moments where the violence is justified in what I read. Much of it seems to just be for shock value, or because the author thinks it's cool (I suppose, there's no other reason I could find). None of it comes with any content warnings, which I can understand for non-sexual violence because of the nature of the genre. However, a character who is the long line of those we've been set up to believe is the main character is raped at knife-point, and is then tossed aside to be saved for a cult ritual. Then we get another scene where the aggressor is then beaten by an acquaintance, all to explain that she loves violence. There are so many other ways we could have gotten to the point that this person was rotten, disgusting, a villain, etc., without openly having a rape scene in the book. Almost every instance of violence left me wondering, "Just what is the point of having this scene? What did the story get from this scene? What did I, the reader, get from this scene?" And nearly every time, the answer was, "This was here to shock and disgust me." A good story is not built on shock and disgust alone.
My third issue is the handling of delicate topics. While I completely understand that writing of horrible events is very rarely an advocation for these events, it just wasn't handled well. There's a scene where a man goes to have sex with a transwoman, finds that she is trans, then throws up, and the next day through both narration and dialogue, the idea of being with a transwoman is vilified and seen as a disgusting act. Again, there are a million other ways to write this without it coming off as insensitive and childish.
I truly, truly wanted to like this book, but there were so many straws that it only took ~15% of the book to break my back.
Spoilers for the first 100 pages.
My first issue with this book is that there is so much written here that we just do not need at all. The summary states that this book takes place in New Orleans, but we begin in old Europe (question mark, we simply know it's Lorraine in a time when the church is in power) with a character whose background has no significant bearing on the story, and yet we are given it all, along with multiple gratuitous torture scenes. Then we have a further myriad of politics and characters that are not at all going to matter because, theoretically, this story takes place in New Orleans in a time closer to the modern day. The long intro sequence could have been summed up with much more mystery and suspense for the reader by cutting out almost all of it. It takes us a long, drawn-out read to get to the actual time period the story actually takes place in.
My second issue with this book is that all violence that takes place in what I read is gratuitous. I'd argue there's only a handful of moments where the violence is justified in what I read. Much of it seems to just be for shock value, or because the author thinks it's cool (I suppose, there's no other reason I could find). None of it comes with any content warnings, which I can understand for non-sexual violence because of the nature of the genre. However, a character who is the long line of those we've been set up to believe is the main character is raped at knife-point, and is then tossed aside to be saved for a cult ritual. Then we get another scene where the aggressor is then beaten by an acquaintance, all to explain that she loves violence. There are so many other ways we could have gotten to the point that this person was rotten, disgusting, a villain, etc., without openly having a rape scene in the book. Almost every instance of violence left me wondering, "Just what is the point of having this scene? What did the story get from this scene? What did I, the reader, get from this scene?" And nearly every time, the answer was, "This was here to shock and disgust me." A good story is not built on shock and disgust alone.
My third issue is the handling of delicate topics. While I completely understand that writing of horrible events is very rarely an advocation for these events, it just wasn't handled well. There's a scene where a man goes to have sex with a transwoman, finds that she is trans, then throws up, and the next day through both narration and dialogue, the idea of being with a transwoman is vilified and seen as a disgusting act. Again, there are a million other ways to write this without it coming off as insensitive and childish.
I truly, truly wanted to like this book, but there were so many straws that it only took ~15% of the book to break my back.
April 2, 2025
Daniel’s epic horror opus begins in Western Europe, centuries ago when witch hunts were far more literal than the campaign catchphrases they’ve become today. The flames of hysterical paranoia are being flamed by men seeking power, and innocent people are being caught in the crossfire.
Maybe it’s not so different after all—but I digress.
While many are being accused of witchery and sentenced to death, Abigail Bourrier is an elite, wealthy woman who, in fact, happens to actually be a powerful witch. She’s never used her sorcery for anything remotely evil, nor have most of her followers, and she’s considered herself insulated from the mania sweeping the countryside due to the prestige afforded her by virtue of her father’s status. When she suddenly finds herself among the accused, it doesn’t take long to recognize the imminent danger to herself and her small coven of gifted women. With their own survival in jeopardy, they are determined to find a way to preserve the legacy of their otherworldly powers before they are little more than smoldering carcasses burned to death at the behest of a jeering and gleeful murderous mob.
Fast forward to Dallas, Texas, 1990.
Dean Curtis is just an average guy, trying to make ends meet as a site manager with a construction firm, overseeing a steady stream of project plans that would reshape the Dallas skyline over time. It helps to keep his mind off a past that still haunts him. Three years ago, Dean’s wife was the victim of a robbery gone wrong that made him a bereaved widower when most men are only just starting their families. It’s a void he’s not in the market to fill, but when he begins seeing visions of a mysterious woman in his dreams, he starts to suspect the choice may not be solely his to make.
Elsewhere, the woman in question, Julie Williams, is having visions of her own. She senses a malevolent power unifying a cult of anarchists who are being led like cattle by a madman and his secret weapon, a young woman capable of harnessing the dark magic needed to make their vision of Armageddon a reality. If they aren’t stopped—and soon—an all-encompassing fire will end the world as we know it. Julie senses she’ll need her own limited powers as well as Dean’s assistance if she is to succeed.
The story is deeply engrossing from the onset, effortlessly pulling you into the darkest of paths before shifting to almost-present day to play out. The characters are well-drawn and empathetic, and the bad guys are truly loathsome as they work to eliminate any obstacles impeding their path to a New World Order. The first half of the book is tense and exciting, although the momentum seems to falter a bit in the back half with maybe just a little more detail than is absolutely necessary before things ramp back up for a satisfying and explosive finale—pardon the pun.
Intriguing premise from a promising storyteller.
Maybe it’s not so different after all—but I digress.
While many are being accused of witchery and sentenced to death, Abigail Bourrier is an elite, wealthy woman who, in fact, happens to actually be a powerful witch. She’s never used her sorcery for anything remotely evil, nor have most of her followers, and she’s considered herself insulated from the mania sweeping the countryside due to the prestige afforded her by virtue of her father’s status. When she suddenly finds herself among the accused, it doesn’t take long to recognize the imminent danger to herself and her small coven of gifted women. With their own survival in jeopardy, they are determined to find a way to preserve the legacy of their otherworldly powers before they are little more than smoldering carcasses burned to death at the behest of a jeering and gleeful murderous mob.
Fast forward to Dallas, Texas, 1990.
Dean Curtis is just an average guy, trying to make ends meet as a site manager with a construction firm, overseeing a steady stream of project plans that would reshape the Dallas skyline over time. It helps to keep his mind off a past that still haunts him. Three years ago, Dean’s wife was the victim of a robbery gone wrong that made him a bereaved widower when most men are only just starting their families. It’s a void he’s not in the market to fill, but when he begins seeing visions of a mysterious woman in his dreams, he starts to suspect the choice may not be solely his to make.
Elsewhere, the woman in question, Julie Williams, is having visions of her own. She senses a malevolent power unifying a cult of anarchists who are being led like cattle by a madman and his secret weapon, a young woman capable of harnessing the dark magic needed to make their vision of Armageddon a reality. If they aren’t stopped—and soon—an all-encompassing fire will end the world as we know it. Julie senses she’ll need her own limited powers as well as Dean’s assistance if she is to succeed.
The story is deeply engrossing from the onset, effortlessly pulling you into the darkest of paths before shifting to almost-present day to play out. The characters are well-drawn and empathetic, and the bad guys are truly loathsome as they work to eliminate any obstacles impeding their path to a New World Order. The first half of the book is tense and exciting, although the momentum seems to falter a bit in the back half with maybe just a little more detail than is absolutely necessary before things ramp back up for a satisfying and explosive finale—pardon the pun.
Intriguing premise from a promising storyteller.
December 21, 2024
It was a pleasure to adopt author Mark A. Daniel. As a new author to me, I'm thrilled to have been linked with him! Thank you Billy Jean!
I picked up his book Black Mass, a spine-tingling thrill ride through the dark streets of New Orleans. Excitingly, there's also a sequel named Resurrection!
The story begins in the early 1600s, when women were often accused of witchcraft. This instantly captivated me as I love anything related to witches.
The plot then shifts to more recent times, focusing on a malevolent cult led by the sinister Cole, taking us on an intense journey filled with suspense and supernatural intrigue.
What sets this book apart for me is its well-drawn characters. Julie, with her witchcraft heritage, offers a unique perspective in battling the impending doom. Her alliance with Dean and young Aaron adds emotional depth and resilience to the story.
Mark blends a creepy atmosphere with fast-paced action, seamlessly. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was right there with the characters, fighting against the dark forces.
The twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the themes of power and betrayal add depth to the story.
Overall, this book is a must-read if you're into witchcraft, cults, and action-packed storylines!
I picked up his book Black Mass, a spine-tingling thrill ride through the dark streets of New Orleans. Excitingly, there's also a sequel named Resurrection!
The story begins in the early 1600s, when women were often accused of witchcraft. This instantly captivated me as I love anything related to witches.
The plot then shifts to more recent times, focusing on a malevolent cult led by the sinister Cole, taking us on an intense journey filled with suspense and supernatural intrigue.
What sets this book apart for me is its well-drawn characters. Julie, with her witchcraft heritage, offers a unique perspective in battling the impending doom. Her alliance with Dean and young Aaron adds emotional depth and resilience to the story.
Mark blends a creepy atmosphere with fast-paced action, seamlessly. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was right there with the characters, fighting against the dark forces.
The twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the themes of power and betrayal add depth to the story.
Overall, this book is a must-read if you're into witchcraft, cults, and action-packed storylines!
December 3, 2024
This is a 4 rounded up to 4.5 because honestly I'm splitting hairs here.
I received this in exchange for a honesty review, and if you follow my reviews , I'm not reading something that sucks and telling you otherwise lol
This was such a good thriller, I love thrillers but don't dabble much in the area because they all seem the same. Nothing wrong with that, I'm just bored.
This was not a boring read, we had a cult, and actual witches and then one of my small little favorite things about thrillers I love, we have people that are not detectives doing the absolute most!
A witch, a construction worker and a deaf orphan walk into the scene..
And Mark made these characters real, not just a helpless damsel, a macho manly man and a helpless kid, the built these characters, he made them real and I was invested. Would they destroy the cult or would they die, like every other opposition for "The Family"
This to me was a fast paced read, and while the page number might seem large, I'm telling you, i devoured it, during my work week no less.
Absolutely a reccomend from me!
I received this in exchange for a honesty review, and if you follow my reviews , I'm not reading something that sucks and telling you otherwise lol
This was such a good thriller, I love thrillers but don't dabble much in the area because they all seem the same. Nothing wrong with that, I'm just bored.
This was not a boring read, we had a cult, and actual witches and then one of my small little favorite things about thrillers I love, we have people that are not detectives doing the absolute most!
A witch, a construction worker and a deaf orphan walk into the scene..
And Mark made these characters real, not just a helpless damsel, a macho manly man and a helpless kid, the built these characters, he made them real and I was invested. Would they destroy the cult or would they die, like every other opposition for "The Family"
This to me was a fast paced read, and while the page number might seem large, I'm telling you, i devoured it, during my work week no less.
Absolutely a reccomend from me!
June 1, 2024
Black Mass by Mark A. Daniel
Wow! What did I just read? This book was great! It is a long read, but it moves along at a great pace and totally kept my attention
This novel is a combination of thriller, mystery and supernatural in just the right amounts.
Not for the faint of heart in some spots as there is aome gruesome gory, but not too much. It's a great story line told mostly present day but some events occur in the past. The characters were awesome, as I started reading and we meet different characters in several states, I wondered what the connection was, but be parient it all comes together
The story reads well, good flow to how its written, I never got bored. Great plot
It's the first book I've read by this author and would absolutely read more
Wow! What did I just read? This book was great! It is a long read, but it moves along at a great pace and totally kept my attention
This novel is a combination of thriller, mystery and supernatural in just the right amounts.
Not for the faint of heart in some spots as there is aome gruesome gory, but not too much. It's a great story line told mostly present day but some events occur in the past. The characters were awesome, as I started reading and we meet different characters in several states, I wondered what the connection was, but be parient it all comes together
The story reads well, good flow to how its written, I never got bored. Great plot
It's the first book I've read by this author and would absolutely read more
October 5, 2025
This was a long book and had us introduced to a lot of different people in the beginning This all wove together to bring us from the past when witches were burned at the stake in Salem, MA, to present times. Julie Williams, a witch, has had visions that connect her to Dean Curtis, a construction site manager in Dallas, TX. He’s had similar visions and didn’t understand them. The two of them connect with Aaron Whie, a young deaf child, to bring down a cult before the cult causes nationwide terror and destruction. Will the three of them be able to stop the evil coming their way?
A very interesting, enjoyable story.
A very interesting, enjoyable story.
June 10, 2024
Mark A. Daniel has a unique writing style which he has perfected in Black Mass. Don't be put off by the number of pages because you are in for a thrill ride unlike any other. Nothing can be cut from this book without compromising its integrity. There are so many facets to a puzzle that fit together to form a tightly woven plot from the witches in 1613 to 1990's witches in New Orleans. And hang on to your seat. Just when you think it's over, guess again. It deserves more than a five star rating. I highly recommend this book for any horror/thriller fans. You won't be disappointed.
March 29, 2024
Black Mass is one of my new favorite reads…and I read for a living. Mark’s attention to detail, his in-depth research of the settings in the book, and his dark and gory depictions of his characters’ plotting and actions all make for a robust and engaging tale. Then he throws in some twists, and things get truly intense. This is a must-read for occult horror readers, but also fans of thrillers, action works, and a span of other genres.
April 15, 2025
Perfect dark thriller
I actually started this because I read book 3 as a stand alone and knew I needed to read the first two as well! Mark is so very thorough in this book that it draws you right into all of the characters and all of the sides of the story. I grew up reading King and Koontz and I definitely put Mark A Daniel in their category! I can not wait to dive right into book 2 Ressurection! Absolutely recommend!
I actually started this because I read book 3 as a stand alone and knew I needed to read the first two as well! Mark is so very thorough in this book that it draws you right into all of the characters and all of the sides of the story. I grew up reading King and Koontz and I definitely put Mark A Daniel in their category! I can not wait to dive right into book 2 Ressurection! Absolutely recommend!
May 19, 2025
Scary and imaginative! Loved it! Get ready to immerse yourself in the dark world of witches. You'll definitely need to carve out some time to read this one. There are triggers in this book with rituals of violence that are not for the faint-hearted. This is a good vs. evil where having too much power will corrupt anyone in its path. The horrors in this book await as you settle in to read and enjoy the ride.
July 8, 2025
This was a great book!
It was a little slow getting started. It took me a while to get into the story. That may have been because I listened to the audible version. This was my first time listening to an AI narrator, and it took me a minute to get used to it. It's definitely different because there is no fluctuation.
Having said that, I feel in love with the characters. I felt like I was on this journey with them. I am going to start the next book immediately!
It was a little slow getting started. It took me a while to get into the story. That may have been because I listened to the audible version. This was my first time listening to an AI narrator, and it took me a minute to get used to it. It's definitely different because there is no fluctuation.
Having said that, I feel in love with the characters. I felt like I was on this journey with them. I am going to start the next book immediately!
August 2, 2025
This novel takes it a step further than the Salem Witch Trials, which I always found fascinating. Can 2 people and a boy who is deaf prevent a cult of destroying the world? every page had me hooked, the background of each. character wasn't overdone and necessary. witches, death, betrayal and loyalty is everything you will find in this!
August 23, 2025
Witches, Cults, sacrifices, betrayals, and jump scares. What more could you ask for. A gripping and intriguing journey to beat evil at its own game.
The descriptions, explanations, and storyline .. You will have no problem sinking into this world. If you've never been to these places (NY, TX, LA), you'll be able to imagine them clearly. Do you like jump scares? You'll know when the music changes. Get ready for it. And then the scare, you'll never be prepared.
Such an immersive experience. The first in what is sure to become a great group/series of intertwining characters and experiences.
I would highly recommend this read.
The descriptions, explanations, and storyline .. You will have no problem sinking into this world. If you've never been to these places (NY, TX, LA), you'll be able to imagine them clearly. Do you like jump scares? You'll know when the music changes. Get ready for it. And then the scare, you'll never be prepared.
Such an immersive experience. The first in what is sure to become a great group/series of intertwining characters and experiences.
I would highly recommend this read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews