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Willing Servants
March, 2000
Mara Singleton, ghost hunter, went pro when California real estate laws demanded that agents must disclose when a house is haunted. When the Halloways turn to her to examine the paranormal goings on in their home, Mara agrees—as a favor to old friends.
Everett, Mara’s father, has always had a talent for speaking with the dead. He reluctantly aids law enforcement when ten-year-old girls are targeted for kidnapping and murder—as a favor to an old friend.
Lieutenant Sam Bradford made his career on killing a serial rapist-murderer, the Predator Priest. Recent reports indicate a suspect with a similar MO stalking the city, and Bradford seeks help, both from a higher authority—and from an old friend.
Father Bill Tarter, Monsignor Francis Capelli and Reverend Holly Owen have experience exorcising personal, intelligent evil. Yet none have them have ever faced anything like this—the Ancient Enemy of all humanity.
Call it Satan, call it Legion, call it the devil—how can they stop a rampaging evil ravenous for bodies, for blood, for meat, for life, for souls? How can they recognize an eternal foe that clothes itself in the visages of Willing Servants?
Mara Singleton, ghost hunter, went pro when California real estate laws demanded that agents must disclose when a house is haunted. When the Halloways turn to her to examine the paranormal goings on in their home, Mara agrees—as a favor to old friends.
Everett, Mara’s father, has always had a talent for speaking with the dead. He reluctantly aids law enforcement when ten-year-old girls are targeted for kidnapping and murder—as a favor to an old friend.
Lieutenant Sam Bradford made his career on killing a serial rapist-murderer, the Predator Priest. Recent reports indicate a suspect with a similar MO stalking the city, and Bradford seeks help, both from a higher authority—and from an old friend.
Father Bill Tarter, Monsignor Francis Capelli and Reverend Holly Owen have experience exorcising personal, intelligent evil. Yet none have them have ever faced anything like this—the Ancient Enemy of all humanity.
Call it Satan, call it Legion, call it the devil—how can they stop a rampaging evil ravenous for bodies, for blood, for meat, for life, for souls? How can they recognize an eternal foe that clothes itself in the visages of Willing Servants?
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2013
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Eric Turowski
20 books64 followersEric Turowski is the author of Willing Servants, 21st Century Pulp, as well as numerous short stories. He is the general manager and part owner of the Alameda Sun newspaper in Alameda, California, as well as a resident of that fair city.
Interests are writing, fencing, anthropology, ghost hunting, painting, drawing, inventing things already invented, cryptozoology, dinosaurs, playing guitar and being an american "idle".
Like to write and play music, punk rock, for the most part. Influences are the Beatles, the Ramones, Blue Oyster Cult, David Bowie and the Buzzcocks.
Some favorite movies are Jaws, the Exorcist, Buckaroo Bonzai and Star Wars. Anything with zombies, big bugs and demons a big plus here, love the blood and gore of a horror flick. I can also appreciate a really bad B movie as well.
Television shows I enjoy are Eureka, Sesame Street, Josie &; The Pussycats, Scoobie Doo, X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Night Stalker, Lost, Murder and Ghost Hunters(to name a few).
Heroes besides my mother, father,and girlfriend... Darren McGavin, William Shatner and Stan (the man) Lee. Batman, of course...why? He can kick Supermans ass and he has no super powers! Plus he has all the cool toys!
Interests are writing, fencing, anthropology, ghost hunting, painting, drawing, inventing things already invented, cryptozoology, dinosaurs, playing guitar and being an american "idle".
Like to write and play music, punk rock, for the most part. Influences are the Beatles, the Ramones, Blue Oyster Cult, David Bowie and the Buzzcocks.
Some favorite movies are Jaws, the Exorcist, Buckaroo Bonzai and Star Wars. Anything with zombies, big bugs and demons a big plus here, love the blood and gore of a horror flick. I can also appreciate a really bad B movie as well.
Television shows I enjoy are Eureka, Sesame Street, Josie &; The Pussycats, Scoobie Doo, X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Night Stalker, Lost, Murder and Ghost Hunters(to name a few).
Heroes besides my mother, father,and girlfriend... Darren McGavin, William Shatner and Stan (the man) Lee. Batman, of course...why? He can kick Supermans ass and he has no super powers! Plus he has all the cool toys!
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 31, 2007
This book was written by a friend of mine. It was one of the most disturbing, frightening books I have ever read! The first night I started reading it, I had to put it away, and made sure that I only read it during the day time.
September 15, 2019
So... I often claim that I don't like horror stories, and most of the time that is true, but...
For some reason or another, I still read them now and then, and sometimes I kinda like them.
One thing that makes me dislike some types of horror is if it actually makes me scared or gives me nightmares, that is also a sign of it being good in some way, but not to my taste.
This book was close, for a while I considered to stop reading it because it was just on the edge of making my brain freak out, but I kept reading and it stayed on the right side.
Am I writing a review or just a confession that I get scared by books?
Who knows.
Anyway, what we get here is a good mix of psychological horror, religious mumbo jumbo, police thriller, detective story, gory-sex-splatter, and family drama.
And most of all, a really good story that kept me reading.
I kinda like it, and I do consider reading something else by the same author.
For some reason or another, I still read them now and then, and sometimes I kinda like them.
One thing that makes me dislike some types of horror is if it actually makes me scared or gives me nightmares, that is also a sign of it being good in some way, but not to my taste.
This book was close, for a while I considered to stop reading it because it was just on the edge of making my brain freak out, but I kept reading and it stayed on the right side.
Am I writing a review or just a confession that I get scared by books?
Who knows.
Anyway, what we get here is a good mix of psychological horror, religious mumbo jumbo, police thriller, detective story, gory-sex-splatter, and family drama.
And most of all, a really good story that kept me reading.
I kinda like it, and I do consider reading something else by the same author.
May 25, 2020
Demonic possession novel that goes way beyond The Exorcist. Horrific imagery and rape scenes. Overall, though, it was very well written and it kept my attention.
Received in a Humble Bundle at some point.
Received in a Humble Bundle at some point.
August 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this book - demon horror and those who hunt them. Kind of a modern take on an Exorcist type of story.
Prospective readers should know there is plenty of blood and guts, and some graphic sexual abuse (you've been warned).
Prospective readers should know there is plenty of blood and guts, and some graphic sexual abuse (you've been warned).
December 24, 2017
Not my usual genre but proved to be an enjoyable, and properly scary read. Interesting storyline, the pace kept me turning pages.
September 1, 2016
It's definitely a horror novel and it’s much better than most books of this genre.
First of all it has a sophisticated plot, which despite its complexity is consistent and logical, with all details fitting perfectly together. This is not a typical trait of horror novels. Another original characteristic is that the book features a number of characters, some of whom never meet each other, but whose actions interlace in an intricate way to form a captivating story. The characters themselves are very well defined, authentic, easy to remember, and quite likeable.
The explicit moments in "Willing Servants" are initially sparsely woven into the plot, but as the story progresses they become more frequent, gruesome and obscene. Eventually the author breaks all possible taboos with descriptions of perverted atrocities, but he never overdoes it beyond the point where it would become grotesque and could no longer be treated seriously. Consequently, a reader has to endure the hideous and repulsive scenes without ever getting desensitized to them.
The ending is yet another strength of this book, fitting perfectly both in terms of the plot and the overall style of writing.
"Willing Servants" is a book everyone would appreciate, but not everyone would enjoy. I personally don’t regret reading it, but I don’t plan to touch it ever again. However, those who are not faint at heart and like the horror genre will definitely like it.
First of all it has a sophisticated plot, which despite its complexity is consistent and logical, with all details fitting perfectly together. This is not a typical trait of horror novels. Another original characteristic is that the book features a number of characters, some of whom never meet each other, but whose actions interlace in an intricate way to form a captivating story. The characters themselves are very well defined, authentic, easy to remember, and quite likeable.
The explicit moments in "Willing Servants" are initially sparsely woven into the plot, but as the story progresses they become more frequent, gruesome and obscene. Eventually the author breaks all possible taboos with descriptions of perverted atrocities, but he never overdoes it beyond the point where it would become grotesque and could no longer be treated seriously. Consequently, a reader has to endure the hideous and repulsive scenes without ever getting desensitized to them.
The ending is yet another strength of this book, fitting perfectly both in terms of the plot and the overall style of writing.
"Willing Servants" is a book everyone would appreciate, but not everyone would enjoy. I personally don’t regret reading it, but I don’t plan to touch it ever again. However, those who are not faint at heart and like the horror genre will definitely like it.
April 30, 2016
Woosh... while this was well written... it's also pretty horrific... besides the blood and gore there are some horrible rape scenes and I know I won't be rereading this book or more by the author. This just isn't my type of book.
September 2, 2015
I wrote it! Check out about me to read the prologue of the book!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews