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The Black Magic Murders: The Untold Story of Lucifer's Fork
WHEN THE SUMMER OF LOVE BECAME THE YEAR OF FEAR
In 1967, San Francisco was known the world over as home to the Summer of Love. Three years later, the city was paralyzed by fear as the Zodiac taunted the police with a series of threatening letters and brutal slayings. When prominent citizen Malcolm Dorrance is murdered, homicide inspectors Will Michalson and Frank Paducci eliminate the Zodiac as a suspect and narrow their focus to one man: self-professed devil-worshiper Ian Cuthgert. But instead of denying involvement, Cuthgert confesses, telling the cops he used witchcraft to murder Dorrance and he intends to kill again. Michalson dismisses this explanation as drug-induced delusion, but Paducci, a devout Catholic, is convinced Cuthgert is telling the truth. After the autopsy confirms an inexplicable cause of death, the partners race to prevent the next murder even as the conflict between their beliefs threatens to derail the entire investigation. Long overshadowed by the more prominent hunt for the Zodiac, the complete account of what would come to be known as the “Black Magic Murders” is told here for the first time by those who lived through it.
In 1967, San Francisco was known the world over as home to the Summer of Love. Three years later, the city was paralyzed by fear as the Zodiac taunted the police with a series of threatening letters and brutal slayings. When prominent citizen Malcolm Dorrance is murdered, homicide inspectors Will Michalson and Frank Paducci eliminate the Zodiac as a suspect and narrow their focus to one man: self-professed devil-worshiper Ian Cuthgert. But instead of denying involvement, Cuthgert confesses, telling the cops he used witchcraft to murder Dorrance and he intends to kill again. Michalson dismisses this explanation as drug-induced delusion, but Paducci, a devout Catholic, is convinced Cuthgert is telling the truth. After the autopsy confirms an inexplicable cause of death, the partners race to prevent the next murder even as the conflict between their beliefs threatens to derail the entire investigation. Long overshadowed by the more prominent hunt for the Zodiac, the complete account of what would come to be known as the “Black Magic Murders” is told here for the first time by those who lived through it.
- GenresHorrorTrue Crime
Paperback
Published December 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Mark Steensland
17 books65 followersMark Steensland self-published his first book while in fourth grade and has been telling stories ever since—some of them true. He became a professional journalist before graduating high school, writing about movies for such magazines as Prevue, Millimeter, and American Cinematographer. His award-winning films (including Peekers and The Ugly File) have played in festivals around the world. His first novel—Behind the Bookcase—was published in 2012 by Random House. A movie based on The Special, a novella co-written with James Newman, was released in 2020. Jakob's Wife, a film starring Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, and Bonnie Aarons, was released in 2021. His most recent novel, The Black Magic Murders, was released in December 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 30, 2025
One of my favorite niche sub-genres is fiction - usually horror - written as though it is non-fiction - usually true-crime. When I pulled this book out of my Night Worms package and looked it over I was giddy with happiness. Books like this make me feel as though the author is out there writing just for me.
1970, San Francisco. The perfect time and place for this kind of book, because if you're a true crime aficionado, you already know all about this neck of the woods from Zodiac. A man is killed in the early morning hours. That it's a homicide isn't in question, but the nature of the homicide - his lungs were burned, though there was no evidence of smoke inhalation, and no fire in the house itself - presents a huge mystery.
One detective is sure there's a reasonable explanation for all this; the other, a staunch Catholic, sees evidence of Satan at work. The tension between a believer and a skeptic always works so well. Steensland excels at walking the tightrope - too much one way or the other and one of your protagonists looks like an idiot, ignoring what's obvious. Both Will's skepticism and Frank's belief make total sense, and I tended to agree with whoever's POV I was reading at any particular time.
The footnotes, the photo spread in the middle, the biographical introductions of the various characters - all the little parts that make up a true crime book are here, to the extent that yes, I did once Google to see if this was actually fiction or not.
What a fun way to end my year's reading!
1970, San Francisco. The perfect time and place for this kind of book, because if you're a true crime aficionado, you already know all about this neck of the woods from Zodiac. A man is killed in the early morning hours. That it's a homicide isn't in question, but the nature of the homicide - his lungs were burned, though there was no evidence of smoke inhalation, and no fire in the house itself - presents a huge mystery.
One detective is sure there's a reasonable explanation for all this; the other, a staunch Catholic, sees evidence of Satan at work. The tension between a believer and a skeptic always works so well. Steensland excels at walking the tightrope - too much one way or the other and one of your protagonists looks like an idiot, ignoring what's obvious. Both Will's skepticism and Frank's belief make total sense, and I tended to agree with whoever's POV I was reading at any particular time.
The footnotes, the photo spread in the middle, the biographical introductions of the various characters - all the little parts that make up a true crime book are here, to the extent that yes, I did once Google to see if this was actually fiction or not.
What a fun way to end my year's reading!
January 3, 2026
This Night Worms exclusive (if you don't know Night Worms get a subscription going NOW) spins one of my favorite niche sub-genres: fictional horror written as non-fiction/true crime. Here Steensland takes late 1960's San Francisco and weaves in all sorts of real life situations as a pair of detectives risk it all to stop what appears to be a satanic cult's killing spree.
Dark, stark, and relentlessly readable.
Bonus points for the inclusion of a signed bookmark that resembles an SFPD evidence tag.
Thanks Night Worms!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Dark, stark, and relentlessly readable.
Bonus points for the inclusion of a signed bookmark that resembles an SFPD evidence tag.
Thanks Night Worms!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
December 6, 2025
The Black Magic Murders by Mark Steensland
Set in the early 1970s, inspector partners Will and Frank are working cases during the reign of the Zodiac killer. When a troubling homicide brings about more questions than answers, Will and Frank's opposing views on faith and spirituality are brought to the forefront in order to face off against Lucifer's Fork, a cult of otherworldly evil.
Fiction presented as true crime is such a good premise! That's what we get here with Steensland's latest novel, and the best thing I can say about this book is that those lines between fact and fiction are interwoven so effectively that those dividing lines are blurred.
I felt like I was reading up on something that really happened. The really neat thing about this reading experience is the plentiful footnotes of real points in history and facts that bring the story to life. For example, if something procedural is brought up, there is usually an accompanying footnote delineating when it became a law or tidbits on relevant pop culture. There is even a playlist on Spotify!
There are plenty of characters that weave in and out of the story in the way a documentary would. Even small players who become witnesses/accomplices get a bit of background information that feels pertinent to either the story or gives more insight into that period of time. I'm talking values, attitudes toward the government and religion, as well as economics. It's all done so well.
The strongest part of the novel is the dichotomy between Will, the staunch non-believer, and Frank, the devout Catholic. Steensland writes their banter that is realistic, contentious at times, but always in a way that is honest to the characters who have a brotherly bond. I really liked them both and I liked the subtlety in their mannerisms, especially when you see the chess game they have to play in the precinct and with the criminals.
There's also some pretty freaky and scary scenes here, complete with some pictures and a sense of suspense all the way to the end. Two thumbs way up, check it out!
https://www.instagram.com/rickysrocki...
Set in the early 1970s, inspector partners Will and Frank are working cases during the reign of the Zodiac killer. When a troubling homicide brings about more questions than answers, Will and Frank's opposing views on faith and spirituality are brought to the forefront in order to face off against Lucifer's Fork, a cult of otherworldly evil.
Fiction presented as true crime is such a good premise! That's what we get here with Steensland's latest novel, and the best thing I can say about this book is that those lines between fact and fiction are interwoven so effectively that those dividing lines are blurred.
I felt like I was reading up on something that really happened. The really neat thing about this reading experience is the plentiful footnotes of real points in history and facts that bring the story to life. For example, if something procedural is brought up, there is usually an accompanying footnote delineating when it became a law or tidbits on relevant pop culture. There is even a playlist on Spotify!
There are plenty of characters that weave in and out of the story in the way a documentary would. Even small players who become witnesses/accomplices get a bit of background information that feels pertinent to either the story or gives more insight into that period of time. I'm talking values, attitudes toward the government and religion, as well as economics. It's all done so well.
The strongest part of the novel is the dichotomy between Will, the staunch non-believer, and Frank, the devout Catholic. Steensland writes their banter that is realistic, contentious at times, but always in a way that is honest to the characters who have a brotherly bond. I really liked them both and I liked the subtlety in their mannerisms, especially when you see the chess game they have to play in the precinct and with the criminals.
There's also some pretty freaky and scary scenes here, complete with some pictures and a sense of suspense all the way to the end. Two thumbs way up, check it out!
https://www.instagram.com/rickysrocki...
November 8, 2025
This fictional true crime book was so complete and convincing that I had to double check multiple times that it was, indeed, fiction. It reminded me of other true crimes books from the era, such as Helter Skelter. A gallery of crime scene photos in the middle of the book and a track listing at the end of the book (with songs that were mentioned during the tale) added to the experience of feeling really immersed in the story. I also appreciated the footnotes throughout that added context to historical and cultural events of the time.
The book is about two cops (partners) tasked with solving murders a charismatic devil worshipper has admitted to commiting. The problem is, they can't prove it. The deaths appear to have no earthly explanation. More and more people are dying and the cops, one a devout Christian and the other an atheist, find themselves at odds with one another as the killing spree continues. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco counterculture and the rise in popularity of occult figures, the story leaves you wondering if the truth really is stranger than fiction. I nearly finished it in one sitting and I highly recommend this book.
The book is about two cops (partners) tasked with solving murders a charismatic devil worshipper has admitted to commiting. The problem is, they can't prove it. The deaths appear to have no earthly explanation. More and more people are dying and the cops, one a devout Christian and the other an atheist, find themselves at odds with one another as the killing spree continues. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco counterculture and the rise in popularity of occult figures, the story leaves you wondering if the truth really is stranger than fiction. I nearly finished it in one sitting and I highly recommend this book.
January 6, 2026
I liked this book more than I thought I would. I think it was the easy writing style of the author. He wrote clearly and the story was compelling. I couldn't tell if I was reading fiction of fact. The two main detectives, Will and Frank, were great characters. I liked getting to know them. I wish there was a little more explanation into the supernatural events, because we never really saw Cuthgert perform any rituals. Overall this was fun to read and held my interest.
December 24, 2025
I am changing my rating from 4 to 5 stars. I have not been able to stop thinking about it.
The writing is compelling and atmospheric, merging procedural detective work with eerie, unsettling spiritual themes. It is highly detailed and evocative enough that you could easily forget it’s fiction and not a real historical case.
I loved the blurred lines between detective work and supernatural speculation. It made me feel the same way the X-Files did.
Mark Steensland did paranormal-tinged crime beautifully. I already have another of his novels on my kindle ready to be read tonight.
The writing is compelling and atmospheric, merging procedural detective work with eerie, unsettling spiritual themes. It is highly detailed and evocative enough that you could easily forget it’s fiction and not a real historical case.
I loved the blurred lines between detective work and supernatural speculation. It made me feel the same way the X-Files did.
Mark Steensland did paranormal-tinged crime beautifully. I already have another of his novels on my kindle ready to be read tonight.
January 3, 2026
Got this in a book subscription and had high hopes for it. I love horror and true crime and this claims to bled the two together in this work of fiction. I think my biggest issue is it read more like a detective/cop novel, rather than true crime or horror. It wasn’t scary and it wasn’t that interesting so it just didn’t do it for me. If you like police/detective novels then you’d probably like this more than I did. As an aside; I found the footnotes helpful but nearly impossible to ID, the asterisks used were TINY and blended into the quotation marks.
July 20, 2025
When an avowed Satanist claims responsibility for an unusual murder, the skills and relationship of two investigating Inspectors are put to the test. Pitting faith against reason, The Black Magic Murders is mind-bending and trippy while also firmly rooted in an authentic, gritty San Francisco of the early 1970s. It’s an engaging, propulsive procedural that’ll leave you reworking the case long after the book’s closed. Highly recommended.
August 5, 2025
Two San Francisco detectives are tasked with solving a series of gruesome murders. The suspect freely admits his guilt but claims to have used black magic to commit the killings. Is he insane, or does he truly have the ability to manipulate demonic forces? The Black Magic Murders are a beautiful blend of 1970's police procedurals and arcane horror. I highly recommend this book to any fans of either genre.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews