Evil Intent

by Bernard Taylor

John Callow hated the people of Valley Green. For years, Callow waited while the townsfolk spurned him, insulted him, and cheated him. But with an ancient curse, he'd visit misery on everyone who had ever slighted him. And Callow's grim reaping could be stopped only by a power born of the same wicked domain. From the author of Charmed Life.

Genres: Horror

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 1995

About the author

Bernard Taylor was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, and now lives in London. Following active service in Egypt in the Royal Air Force, he studied Fine Arts in Swindon, then at Chelsea School of Art and Birmingham University. On graduation he worked as a teacher, painter and book illustrator before going as a teacher to the United States. While there, he took up acting and writing and continued with both after his return to England. He has published ten novels under his own name, including The Godsend (1976), which was adapted for a major film, and Sweetheart, Sweetheart (1977), which Charles L. Grant has hailed as one of the finest ghost stories ever written. He has also written novels under the pseudonym Jess Foley, as well as several works of nonfiction. He has won awards for his true crime writing and also for his work as a playwright. It was during his year as resident playwright at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch that he wrote The Godsend. There Must Be Evil, his latest true crime study, is to be published in England in September.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars.

I have to say that I am a fan of Bernard Taylor's work, since discovering him recently through Valancourt's re-releases of some of his novels. EVIL INTENT, unfortunately, is not up there with the others that I've read.

The characterization in this one was very thin to begin with, and I never did get a clear picture in my head of what Jack, one of the main characters, looked like. The plot was very straightforward and extremely predictable. There was another book I'd read by him that was fairly predictable, as well--but in that case, the rich atmosphere and emotions of the characters pulled it off. Even when faced with unthinkable tragedies, these characters failed to show the depth of emotion that I felt would be a natural reaction. The story just plodded on its predetermined pace.

I still believe that Bernard Taylor is an incredible writer; however, for those new to him, I would recommend starting with his phenomenal SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART, or THE GODSEND, instead.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Bernard Taylor. Evil Intent, is not up to par, with the likes of The Godsend and The Reaping. The plot was straight forward and was very predictable. The characters and the level of intensity was very weak. The storyline just seems to drag on and on.

[Matthew Bielawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Bernard Taylor's style so much. For me, a perfect blend of atmosphere, character development, and most important, a constant sense of growing dread. In this book, Taylor gets to the point of the story much sooner than in some of his earlier works (like "Sweetheart, Sweetheart" and "Moorstone Sickness"), which took a little away from that wonderful feeling of being kept in the dark right along with the characters, where only little by little do things come to light. And though I didn't feel all the nostalgic atmosphere in this book's setting of Valley Green ( the village just didn't attract me like his other locales have), I still thoroughly enjoyed myself.

My passion for horror, especially in Taylor's atmosphere and own style of "quiet, but not too quiet" horror is echoed in the thoughts of the main character Jack: "Touched by memories, the ghosts of familiarity reached out to him and briefly he saw himself as a small boy again".

Taylor dedicates his book "In acknowledgment of the debt I owe M.R. James, without whose talents this story would not exist." Well, I owe Bernard Taylor for my love of sitting up late at night reading stories filled with atmospheric dread.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entranceing, and at times truly horrifying, novel that doesn't do us the injustice of overexplanation/origins, and reminds me of a film favorite "Curse of the Demon".

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it seems to be based on the same premise of the 50's movie Night of the Demon, this book was still fairly enjoyable if predictable. This time instead of a single person being the victim of the runic curse there's an entire family.

[Mario Le Grange]

I won't write a review, just tell you something about this book that scared the piss out of me.
For context, the killer in this book leaves the victims notes, in unsuspecting spots/areas with ruins on them that kill. Okay?


So I got this book from our second hand store, and I was streaking it one night, my imagination was pumped, on a roll. And I turn the page, and the previous owner used a folded up pink sticky note sized sheet as a bookmark three quarter of the way into the book...yeah.


I sat there for probably 5 minutes staring at that bookmark, too scared to close the book because my mind already made the conclusion that the book just became real, jumanji, it was the Devil out to get me, this book is evil, there are no other prints in the world, I have the only one and I'm about the see one of the killer ruins from the story.

Eventually, I nervously chuckled and left the bookmark there for future victims.


I told my mom to read it when I was done. When I asked her what she thought of the book, I also told her about the bookmark. She said she also paused for a moment, too creeped out to go on.


If the previous owner did that on purpose, whoever you are, well played my friend🤣

[Anthony · Rating 2 out of 5]

So so attempt by Bernard Taylor to create a thriller story. I would not classify this as horror at all, even though there are a few nasty accidents that happen here to a innocent family who piss off a old man who use RUNES to get revenge on them and anyone else who has what he wants. Nothing special here.