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Blood Oath
Discover the secret they swore not to tell—from the “bestselling old-school horror author” of the “twisted, bizarre, and sometimes terrifying” (The Lineup). In 1973, thirteen kids with an appetite for something different went out to play. First came the ritual and the dare . . . then the screaming and the blood. Before the night was over, only eleven children survived to share a terrible secret. Twenty-six years later, the small town of Denton, Missouri, has been rocked by three brutal murders—each victim bound by a childhood friendship stained with blood. Far from the shadow of suspicion, far from the memories of an unforgivable crime, the past has returned with a vengeance. And this time, the fun and games are just beginning.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1999
27 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,040 books1,390 followersWilliam W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 18, 2016
This was an excellent read! Even though it is considered horror - it's not really. It is more of a murder mystery with some graphic gore thrown in to liven things up. I could not put it down and stayed up late at night reading it. Oh and it is not just one murder - there are quite a few. In my opinion this is a five star read.
May 5, 2014
This is very grotesque book in that the descriptions of what the "bad guy" does is extremely graphic. Especially when realizing this book was written in 1982. I have to wonder why this wasn't edited more to cut out what is clearly x-rated material. It's not just one description. The crimes are repeated and the graphic description gets more and more horrid. This book is not for the squeamish. It is definitely not for children.
I need to judge this book's story and how the above mixes with the plot. With that in mind I find the book to be good. As can be the case of Johnstone novels, the main characters are well drawn or drawn as needed to make the story more interesting or exciting.
This is a book early in Johnstone's production that has me wondering, based on how it was written, if Johnstone was using ghost writers that early. 'Blood Oath' does not read at all like other books of that time with the Johnstone name on it. Similar crimes done in the books at this time, that I've read, have none of the extreme detail illustrated in 'Blood Oath'. I believe he did use a ghost writer.
Something else different about this Johsntone book is that the ending is very well paced and satisfying. The ending is often wrapped very quickly in the Johnstone books I've read.
Botom line: I recommend it with the warning that this book is very graphic and not for children.
I need to judge this book's story and how the above mixes with the plot. With that in mind I find the book to be good. As can be the case of Johnstone novels, the main characters are well drawn or drawn as needed to make the story more interesting or exciting.
This is a book early in Johnstone's production that has me wondering, based on how it was written, if Johnstone was using ghost writers that early. 'Blood Oath' does not read at all like other books of that time with the Johnstone name on it. Similar crimes done in the books at this time, that I've read, have none of the extreme detail illustrated in 'Blood Oath'. I believe he did use a ghost writer.
Something else different about this Johsntone book is that the ending is very well paced and satisfying. The ending is often wrapped very quickly in the Johnstone books I've read.
Botom line: I recommend it with the warning that this book is very graphic and not for children.
February 23, 2022
Excellent
Excellent book and writing despite the fact it had absolutely nothing to do with the previous book in this "series". Kept me guessing the entire time.
Excellent book and writing despite the fact it had absolutely nothing to do with the previous book in this "series". Kept me guessing the entire time.
August 13, 2020
This has NOT aged well (because it’s not great despite the obvious problems.
From looking at the dates on the book it appears that it was originally written and published in 1982 and there were a lot of these gory sex and murder books at around that time. However the author has made this a bit confusing by renewing his copyright in 1999, then going back into the text and changing one thing - the current date, so that it appears the action in the book is taking place in 1999, not 1982.
Why does this matter? Well, there are no cell phones, etc, for one and second, the way women are treated in this book is absolutely vile. The “hero” of our tale, officer Joe Davis, immediately sexually harasses the hell out of Erica Johanson, whom he chooses to work on the case with him. I mean, to the point that Johanson would own that jail and most of the rest of the county. This is in the first ten minutes. And what is unlawful, thank god in 1999 would still have been disgusting in 1982. And we haven’t even gotten to the torture/murder yet, so read at your own risk.
If you care, in 1973 Paul and Judy Evans, thirteen year old siblings attend the initiation for the Elite Eleven, the richest and most powerful kids in town. As you might guess, it’s horrific, there’s a murder and cover up, then cut to a missing teen in 1982 (now 1999.)
It’s not a complicated plot, the bodies pile up, it’s not especially badly written, but not good either. This isn’t a great enough book that I would say to try to set aside all the bad things about it. Quarantine read, currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
From looking at the dates on the book it appears that it was originally written and published in 1982 and there were a lot of these gory sex and murder books at around that time. However the author has made this a bit confusing by renewing his copyright in 1999, then going back into the text and changing one thing - the current date, so that it appears the action in the book is taking place in 1999, not 1982.
Why does this matter? Well, there are no cell phones, etc, for one and second, the way women are treated in this book is absolutely vile. The “hero” of our tale, officer Joe Davis, immediately sexually harasses the hell out of Erica Johanson, whom he chooses to work on the case with him. I mean, to the point that Johanson would own that jail and most of the rest of the county. This is in the first ten minutes. And what is unlawful, thank god in 1999 would still have been disgusting in 1982. And we haven’t even gotten to the torture/murder yet, so read at your own risk.
If you care, in 1973 Paul and Judy Evans, thirteen year old siblings attend the initiation for the Elite Eleven, the richest and most powerful kids in town. As you might guess, it’s horrific, there’s a murder and cover up, then cut to a missing teen in 1982 (now 1999.)
It’s not a complicated plot, the bodies pile up, it’s not especially badly written, but not good either. This isn’t a great enough book that I would say to try to set aside all the bad things about it. Quarantine read, currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
January 17, 2021
A great horror thriller
I am a huge fan of books like this from the time when horror books where huge and you could always find them when you were checking out at the grocery store. This one sure didn’t let me down. It is like a horror, thriller, who done it all in one.
A brother and sister try to get into a group of kids to be accepted. What happens is something of nightmares. Years later the kids that caused the nightmares are all grown up and start having to pay for what they did in the most terrible and horrific means.
William W Johnstone always had a way of writing that made it to where I could not put it down. Good luck figuring this out and the ending blew me away . Absolutely loved this one!! This is one a good horror fan needs to check out!!!!!
I am a huge fan of books like this from the time when horror books where huge and you could always find them when you were checking out at the grocery store. This one sure didn’t let me down. It is like a horror, thriller, who done it all in one.
A brother and sister try to get into a group of kids to be accepted. What happens is something of nightmares. Years later the kids that caused the nightmares are all grown up and start having to pay for what they did in the most terrible and horrific means.
William W Johnstone always had a way of writing that made it to where I could not put it down. Good luck figuring this out and the ending blew me away . Absolutely loved this one!! This is one a good horror fan needs to check out!!!!!
January 30, 2014
In 1973, a secret clique of rich kids gang rape and accidentally kill a thirteen year old girl, then attack her brother and leave him for dead.
Twenty six years later someone is raping and killing the children of the clique. The crime is investigated by a Sheriff's deputy, a Johnstone standby, who doesn't so much investigate as has hunches and fails to do much to protect the obvious future victims until the killer is revealed.
There's a twist that's ridiculous even for Johnstone that pretty much no reader will swallow, and some not especially graphic sleaziness. A lesser effort.
More reviews at Trash Menace.
Twenty six years later someone is raping and killing the children of the clique. The crime is investigated by a Sheriff's deputy, a Johnstone standby, who doesn't so much investigate as has hunches and fails to do much to protect the obvious future victims until the killer is revealed.
There's a twist that's ridiculous even for Johnstone that pretty much no reader will swallow, and some not especially graphic sleaziness. A lesser effort.
More reviews at Trash Menace.
August 15, 2017
Blood Oath
Twenty five years have past since the time a group of wealthy teenaged kids who thought themselves entitled to everything, in moments of boredom, have taken the lives of 2 other students. Now SOMEONE HAS COME BACK AND IS TAKING REVENGE. KILLING NOT THE CULPRITS IN THE SLAYINGS, BUT THEIR CHILDREN. CAN THESE KILLINGS BE STOPPED, AND ARE THEY CONNECTED. HIS SUPERNATURAL THRILLER SHOULD NOT BE MISSED. I RECOMMEND!
Twenty five years have past since the time a group of wealthy teenaged kids who thought themselves entitled to everything, in moments of boredom, have taken the lives of 2 other students. Now SOMEONE HAS COME BACK AND IS TAKING REVENGE. KILLING NOT THE CULPRITS IN THE SLAYINGS, BUT THEIR CHILDREN. CAN THESE KILLINGS BE STOPPED, AND ARE THEY CONNECTED. HIS SUPERNATURAL THRILLER SHOULD NOT BE MISSED. I RECOMMEND!
August 3, 2017
Really liked this story. It had some gory parts to it but the the story was quite good. It had a little bit of everything...
December 13, 2017
I loved it read it in one day!
This books keeps you guessing.It's not hard at all to get interested in
You definitely will enjoy reading this book
This books keeps you guessing.It's not hard at all to get interested in
You definitely will enjoy reading this book
August 16, 2019
Typical William W. Johnstone, not the best writer in the world, but highly entertaining. Always pick up some of his horror when I have the chance.
September 14, 2022
That was one of the more swift reads I have done, gobbling it up in less than 24 hours. Most apt description would be one hell of a gory and violent crime novel. Just switch off the ole grey matter and let the author lead you down an icky, appalling rabbit hole. Not exactly a sophisticated thinking mans novel and that is often more than fine with me. It is my first Johnstone novel, and he reminded me by a large margin of Richard Laymon with how graphic, not to mention juvenile things get. The men would practically drool around every tightly clad woman they encountered. I loved how utterly un-pc the whole experience was. The kills were most delightful where the victim deserved the revenge dished out on them, which the author should have stuck with rather than kill so many innocent bystanders. But I realize sins visited upon sinner's offspring does echo reality. I could have done without the rape victims in their early teens, but anything for shock value, I suppose.
Definitively not for everyone, but if gratuitous sex and violence does not sour the palate, read it.
Definitively not for everyone, but if gratuitous sex and violence does not sour the palate, read it.
August 2, 2022
Miss him
William W Johnstone was, is and always will be my favourite horror author of all time! Was devastated when he died. I've read and re-read ALL his horror books MULTIPLE times!
William W Johnstone was, is and always will be my favourite horror author of all time! Was devastated when he died. I've read and re-read ALL his horror books MULTIPLE times!
October 30, 2023
William W. Johnstone.....the W stands for Wild
July 4, 2024
4.5 stars. Easy read. Wickedly-macabre. Sick, twisted... If you're into that stuff, an absolute hit!
February 28, 2013
First horror book I've read from Mr. Johnstone excellent who fun it twist.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews