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Hell Beckons
Sandy's a beautiful and playful witch who violates the Wiccan Creed by casting harmful magic to satisfy her needs. Johnny's a part-time rock singer driven to fulfill his darkest fantasies. Together, they cut a bloody trail across the American landscape with the assistance of Ravagers - demonic entities that feed on human misery. Are they about to become heroes? After terrorists devastate the nation's children, the President turns to Sandy and her magic for help. He had known her years ago; they are former lovers forever joined by one unspeakable act. So Sandy and her murderous boyfriend are asked to come to the aid of America, to use their special gifts to battle terrorists on the streets of American cities and in a war-torn Middle East nation. But can the President trust the beautiful witch? Can Sandy do enough good to make amends for the evil she has caused? Does she even want to do so? And why does she involve Ravagers, who seem to have plans of their own? Sandy is part-demon and part-angel, a sensual woman desired by many and feared by all, and she takes anyone who will follow on a journey steeped in violence and lust, in which the destination is known only to her. The fate of humanity lies in her hands. And if Sandy has learned anything, it's that the use of magic can lead to unforeseen and tragic results.
386 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Richard Becker
8 books2 followersRichard L. Becker writes provocative fiction for readers hungry for current and topical events clothed in stories that dare you to turn the page because you never know the craziness or horror that awaits.
A Yale-educated family law attorney and youth hockey coach, he depicts the absurdity and corruption in America through imaginative, unconstrained tales of moral conflict.
His novels explore a just person fighting to do good in an unjust and corrupt world, where innocence battles immorality - or joins it.
Stories seize him; he sits at the computer with music playing and lets the characters lead. The result is powerful escapist fiction that reveals uncomfortable truths about love, greed, revenge, and redemption.
A Yale-educated family law attorney and youth hockey coach, he depicts the absurdity and corruption in America through imaginative, unconstrained tales of moral conflict.
His novels explore a just person fighting to do good in an unjust and corrupt world, where innocence battles immorality - or joins it.
Stories seize him; he sits at the computer with music playing and lets the characters lead. The result is powerful escapist fiction that reveals uncomfortable truths about love, greed, revenge, and redemption.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 10, 2015
This is a very dark, paranormal tale, in the spirit of a Steven King novel, though I might be even less inclined to let my kids near this one. This creepy, truly terrifying story starts to get under your skin from the first chapter. Even for full blown adults, really don’t recommend reading this one late at night.
Sandy, our hell cat, is both deliciously evil and sufficiently mysterious and engrossing to keep you turning the pages to see exactly what her hidden big picture agenda is. It’s like watching her lay down the painting one brush stroke at a time with each murder, or villainous act.
With Sandy’s ties to the government and to the President, and with mentions of the latest homeland security abuses and human rights violations being perpetrated in secret, one wonders if this horror genre story weren’t also an allegory or Aesop’s fable whose moral is: when it comes to our current reality and breaking headline news, horror may be the only truthful genre in which to try and depict it. And maybe because the author did choose the horror genre, one for which he has a clear knack, the message does seem to burn its way through our otherwise numbed reactions to the most terrifically shocking headlines.
I had few complaints with the author’s storytelling. His prose has a nice, muscular style and the copy-editing was pretty decent. I was a little confused at the onset of the story as to what was going on. I’m guessing that at least some of that was intentional, but I could still have used some additional clarity to avoid circling back and rereading sections. But without a doubt, the “just what is going on here?” is part of the allure of the story and with how he set it up. The problem with a tale constructed like this is it’s a fine line, and for me it was crossed, if just in a few places. Whether that owes more to me than the writer, I’ll have to leave for you to decide.
Sandy, our hell cat, is both deliciously evil and sufficiently mysterious and engrossing to keep you turning the pages to see exactly what her hidden big picture agenda is. It’s like watching her lay down the painting one brush stroke at a time with each murder, or villainous act.
With Sandy’s ties to the government and to the President, and with mentions of the latest homeland security abuses and human rights violations being perpetrated in secret, one wonders if this horror genre story weren’t also an allegory or Aesop’s fable whose moral is: when it comes to our current reality and breaking headline news, horror may be the only truthful genre in which to try and depict it. And maybe because the author did choose the horror genre, one for which he has a clear knack, the message does seem to burn its way through our otherwise numbed reactions to the most terrifically shocking headlines.
I had few complaints with the author’s storytelling. His prose has a nice, muscular style and the copy-editing was pretty decent. I was a little confused at the onset of the story as to what was going on. I’m guessing that at least some of that was intentional, but I could still have used some additional clarity to avoid circling back and rereading sections. But without a doubt, the “just what is going on here?” is part of the allure of the story and with how he set it up. The problem with a tale constructed like this is it’s a fine line, and for me it was crossed, if just in a few places. Whether that owes more to me than the writer, I’ll have to leave for you to decide.
December 21, 2014
Becker brings us a story of murder and intrigue, involving the White House, secret societies that employ the supernatural, and a fight against terrorism. It's dark and sexy, and embraces a bigger world than you can imagine.
The story does draw you along, keeping you guessing about hidden motives and threats. The characters are all firm and realistic. But the main appeal to this book was the world that Becker has created. The Hidden Realm and the Ravagers, the society of witches and just how much Sandy is capable of.
To be very honest, the story feels like it should be a tv series, rather than stuck between the pages of a book.
To begin with, it jumped from character to character, sometimes without any clues to whose head you are actually sitting in. Very confusing really. Which likely comes from Becker knowing his characters and world very well, and forgetting to introduce them to new readers.
It also jumps from memories to present, to thoughts, to illusions. I felt very lost at the changes of scene and situation, which made some of the scenes lose their effectiveness.
It gets better as it goes on, and the second half is stronger than the first.
The story does draw you along, keeping you guessing about hidden motives and threats. The characters are all firm and realistic. But the main appeal to this book was the world that Becker has created. The Hidden Realm and the Ravagers, the society of witches and just how much Sandy is capable of.
To be very honest, the story feels like it should be a tv series, rather than stuck between the pages of a book.
To begin with, it jumped from character to character, sometimes without any clues to whose head you are actually sitting in. Very confusing really. Which likely comes from Becker knowing his characters and world very well, and forgetting to introduce them to new readers.
It also jumps from memories to present, to thoughts, to illusions. I felt very lost at the changes of scene and situation, which made some of the scenes lose their effectiveness.
It gets better as it goes on, and the second half is stronger than the first.
Read
February 2, 2015America is under siege from terrorists and the White House has an unorthodox idea. They contact Sandy, a powerful witch who the president has known since college, to fight against those who would bring down America and all it stands for. Sandy’s no white witch, but steeped in the dark magicks of her dealings with the Ravagers. The Ravagers are creatures who feed on human suffering and pain, creatures who have their own plans for humanity. The threefold law will come to claim Sandy soon and she’s trying to make amends for all the pain she’s caused over the years. Can Sandy and her brand of witchcraft save America before the threefold law catches up to her? HELL BECKONS is a dark and horrifying tale of the paranormal. The author has a chilling way with words which draws you deeper into the world he’s created. HELL BECKONS is not for the squeamish, with graphic depictions of sex, violence, and truly dark magicks. In HELL BECKONS, the author drops you into the action and you pick up the background of the characters as the story unfolds. Read HELL BECKONS at your own risk!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews