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Veritas Project #1
Hangman's Curse
One of the most popular Christian fiction titles ever written for teens, this riveting book addresses the topic of peer abuse and its devastating effects. The message of Hangman's Curse on the wounded spirit is one that teens will never forget. In this gripping mystery/adventure a mysterious curse appears to be spreading throughout Baker High, attacking popular student athletes and immobilizing the student body with fear while Elijah and Elisha, teenage twins, must work to uncover the truth.
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2001
238 people are currently reading
4294 people want to read
About the author
Frank E. Peretti
85 books3,843 followersFROM HIS WEBSITE:
With more than 12 million novels in print, Frank Peretti is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon and has been called “America’s hottest Christian novelist.”
Peretti is a natural storyteller who, as a youngster in Seattle, regularly gathered the neighborhood children for animated storytelling sessions. After graduating from high school, he began playing banjo with a local bluegrass group. He and his wife were married in 1972, and Peretti soon moved from touring with a pop band to launching a modest Christian music ministry. Peretti later spent time studying English, screen writing and film at UCLA and then assisted his father in pastoring a small Assembly of God church. In 1983, he gave up his pastoring position and began taking construction jobs to make ends meet. While working at a local ski factory, he began writing This Present Darkness, the book that would catapult him into the public eye. After numerous rejections from publishers and a slow start in sales, word-of-mouth enthusiasm finally lifted This Present Darkness onto a tidal wave of interest in spiritual warfare. The book appeared on Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list every month for more than eight years. Peretti’s two spiritual warfare novels, This Present Darkness (1998) and Piercing the Darkness (1989), captivated readers, together selling more than 3.5 million copies. The Oath was awarded the 1996 Gold Medallion Award for best fiction.
For kids, Peretti wrote The Cooper Kids Adventure Series (Crossways and Tommy Nelson), which remains a best-selling series for children with sales exceeding 1 million copies. In August 2000, Peretti released the hilarious children’s audiocassette series titled Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories, reprising his role as Mr. Henry, the offbeat substitute Sunday School teacher found in two Visual Bible for Kids videos.
Peretti released his first-ever non-fiction book, The Wounded Spirit in 2000, which quickly became a best-seller. The book addresses the pain of “wounded spirits” and was written as a result of painful childhood experiences.
Frank Peretti and his wife, Barbara Jean, live in the Western U.S. In spite of sudden fame and notoriety, Frank still lives a simple, well-rounded life that includes carpentry, banjo making, sculpturing, bicycling and hiking. He is also an avid pilot.
With more than 12 million novels in print, Frank Peretti is nothing short of a publishing phenomenon and has been called “America’s hottest Christian novelist.”
Peretti is a natural storyteller who, as a youngster in Seattle, regularly gathered the neighborhood children for animated storytelling sessions. After graduating from high school, he began playing banjo with a local bluegrass group. He and his wife were married in 1972, and Peretti soon moved from touring with a pop band to launching a modest Christian music ministry. Peretti later spent time studying English, screen writing and film at UCLA and then assisted his father in pastoring a small Assembly of God church. In 1983, he gave up his pastoring position and began taking construction jobs to make ends meet. While working at a local ski factory, he began writing This Present Darkness, the book that would catapult him into the public eye. After numerous rejections from publishers and a slow start in sales, word-of-mouth enthusiasm finally lifted This Present Darkness onto a tidal wave of interest in spiritual warfare. The book appeared on Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list every month for more than eight years. Peretti’s two spiritual warfare novels, This Present Darkness (1998) and Piercing the Darkness (1989), captivated readers, together selling more than 3.5 million copies. The Oath was awarded the 1996 Gold Medallion Award for best fiction.
For kids, Peretti wrote The Cooper Kids Adventure Series (Crossways and Tommy Nelson), which remains a best-selling series for children with sales exceeding 1 million copies. In August 2000, Peretti released the hilarious children’s audiocassette series titled Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories, reprising his role as Mr. Henry, the offbeat substitute Sunday School teacher found in two Visual Bible for Kids videos.
Peretti released his first-ever non-fiction book, The Wounded Spirit in 2000, which quickly became a best-seller. The book addresses the pain of “wounded spirits” and was written as a result of painful childhood experiences.
Frank Peretti and his wife, Barbara Jean, live in the Western U.S. In spite of sudden fame and notoriety, Frank still lives a simple, well-rounded life that includes carpentry, banjo making, sculpturing, bicycling and hiking. He is also an avid pilot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews
March 4, 2024
I'm giving Hangman's Curse a positive review, but, frankly, I think I'm a bit biased. Why? Well, the book was one of the few that I enjoyed during my middle and early high school years, and reading it again a few years ago as well as a third time this week has made me love it again. In many ways, it was my introduction to not only Frank Peretti, but Christian fiction in general. Teens and even adults will find enjoyment in Hangman's Curse; an elderly friend from church even told me she read it and liked it.
As good as this is, I remember the second Veritas Project novel, Nightmare Academy, being even better. I just wish the series had more than two books; it would have been great to see where the Springfield family ended up later on, but I guess we'll never know.
EDIT: I've lost count of how many times I've read this book...but it stands the test of time. Even if you're well past your high school years, this novel is worth a read.
As good as this is, I remember the second Veritas Project novel, Nightmare Academy, being even better. I just wish the series had more than two books; it would have been great to see where the Springfield family ended up later on, but I guess we'll never know.
EDIT: I've lost count of how many times I've read this book...but it stands the test of time. Even if you're well past your high school years, this novel is worth a read.
April 4, 2023
All the way back in 2001, my mom bought me a book called Hangman's Curse by Frank Peretti. I wasn't much of a reader at the time; I mostly only had my face in a book when it was required--i.e., for school--though I did spent a lot of time browsing reviews and other written content online, as our dial-up Internet was too slow for videos and such, not to mention that YouTube and Facebook hadn't been invented yet. Still, I enjoyed the book, and I was excited that they made it into a movie, though I only got to see it thanks to it being aired on television; on ABC Family, of all places. Though I had read Christian fiction before--such as Bill Myers' My Life As... series--this book was sort of my introduction to that genre as well as to Frank Peretti, whose other books I have read--sometimes more than once--and who I've even heard speak on the radio, including one performance where his rapid-fire imitations made me feel like I was listening to Robin Williams.
So...how does it stack up now? Though I graduated from high school well over a decade ago, I still enjoy stories involving children and teenagers; after all, I watch at least one Disney Channel or Disney XD sitcom episode every week. So, this was fun, though it is kind of heartbreaking to read about what happens in schools; makes me glad my school years are over. Still, the formatting here is the kind I've rarely seen in other books: illustrations that look like photos, and sidebars that reprint words from the actual text. The latter I've only seen before in one novel--a garbage one, at that--and in magazines. I hate it when books waste space with repetitive images or other needless content. Maybe later printings of the book did away with that; I hope they did, but I don't know, as every copy I've read has been the original 2001 release. Still, like an episode of Lizzie McGuire or a dc Talk song, it brings back memories of when there was much more quality in media. I'd much rather read this again than sit through some of the dreck that's found its way into cinemas, television screens, and streaming services in recent years.
EDIT: Though I still love this book, I actually now find the different formatting style rather charming.
So...how does it stack up now? Though I graduated from high school well over a decade ago, I still enjoy stories involving children and teenagers; after all, I watch at least one Disney Channel or Disney XD sitcom episode every week. So, this was fun, though it is kind of heartbreaking to read about what happens in schools; makes me glad my school years are over. Still, the formatting here is the kind I've rarely seen in other books: illustrations that look like photos, and sidebars that reprint words from the actual text. The latter I've only seen before in one novel--a garbage one, at that--and in magazines. I hate it when books waste space with repetitive images or other needless content. Maybe later printings of the book did away with that; I hope they did, but I don't know, as every copy I've read has been the original 2001 release. Still, like an episode of Lizzie McGuire or a dc Talk song, it brings back memories of when there was much more quality in media. I'd much rather read this again than sit through some of the dreck that's found its way into cinemas, television screens, and streaming services in recent years.
EDIT: Though I still love this book, I actually now find the different formatting style rather charming.
November 28, 2009
I'm gonna say it. I don't like this book because it is touted as a "Christian" book. What it means by Christian is limited to right wing concepts of Christianity.
The author has no respect for real science, true diversity (read the chapter entitled The Forbidden Hallway)and probably would agree with, ""When I said during my presidential bid that I would only bring Christians and Jews into the government, I hit a firestorm. `What do you mean?' the media challenged me. `You're not going to bring atheists into the government? How dare you maintain that those who believe in the Judeo Christian values are better qualified to govern America than Hindus and Muslims?' My simple answer is, `Yes, they are.'" --from Pat Robertson's "The New World Order," page 218.
The great problem with "Christian" anything is that it's so hard to see Christ in it.
This book is aimed at teenagers and is disguised as an adventure. I would suggest they would be better served by reading some of the great Church theologians, or great secular philosophers, including both Plato and Aristotle.
The author has no respect for real science, true diversity (read the chapter entitled The Forbidden Hallway)and probably would agree with, ""When I said during my presidential bid that I would only bring Christians and Jews into the government, I hit a firestorm. `What do you mean?' the media challenged me. `You're not going to bring atheists into the government? How dare you maintain that those who believe in the Judeo Christian values are better qualified to govern America than Hindus and Muslims?' My simple answer is, `Yes, they are.'" --from Pat Robertson's "The New World Order," page 218.
The great problem with "Christian" anything is that it's so hard to see Christ in it.
This book is aimed at teenagers and is disguised as an adventure. I would suggest they would be better served by reading some of the great Church theologians, or great secular philosophers, including both Plato and Aristotle.
April 2, 2022
All the way back when I was in middle school, my mom bought me a book titled Hangman's Curse by Frank Peretti. At the time, I was unfamiliar with the author's works; I had no idea that he had written multiple bestselling Christian novels. So, I read it, and I enjoyed it; a year or two later, my mom bought me the sequel, and I had a blast with it, too. When I heard there was going to be a celluloid adaptation of Hangman's Curse, I was excited...but I didn't know how I'd be able to see it, as going pretty much anywhere with my mom was a chore back then, because I had a severely disabled older sister who needed constant care, and we always had to find a sitter in order for us to go somewhere together. Thankfully, the film aired on ABC Family--which is surprising, considering what ended up happening to that network--and, I taped it and watched it in more than one session; ironically, the same way I prefer to watch movies now. I enjoyed it, but I remember the climax of the flick upset my cat, and probably would have scared the pants off of my aforementioned sibling had she been awake. (Seriously: She was scared so easily, even Jim Carrey's portrayal of the Grinch frightened her; no joke.)
Since then, I've read countless Christian novels, including almost every one Mr. Peretti has written. However, this one--as well as its sequel--still stands as an old favorite, and probably always will. Just like the music of dc Talk and Audio Adrenaline, or Disney Channel shows such as Lizzie McGuire or That's So Raven, the Veritas Project series was a very influential part of my teenage years...and still packs a punch to this day.
You may wonder: With such a glowing review...why only four stars? Easy: Though the heart of the story still shines through quite brightly, the different formatting of the edition I recently purchased from eBay was disappointing. The photo-esque illustrations, along with the three icons shown throughout, made the book feel more realistic and gripping; unfortunately, those are missing here, as they were from Apple's e-book edition. If you have the option, see if you can find one of the original print editions of this novel; while formatting may not sound like a big deal, in this case, it is.
Since then, I've read countless Christian novels, including almost every one Mr. Peretti has written. However, this one--as well as its sequel--still stands as an old favorite, and probably always will. Just like the music of dc Talk and Audio Adrenaline, or Disney Channel shows such as Lizzie McGuire or That's So Raven, the Veritas Project series was a very influential part of my teenage years...and still packs a punch to this day.
You may wonder: With such a glowing review...why only four stars? Easy: Though the heart of the story still shines through quite brightly, the different formatting of the edition I recently purchased from eBay was disappointing. The photo-esque illustrations, along with the three icons shown throughout, made the book feel more realistic and gripping; unfortunately, those are missing here, as they were from Apple's e-book edition. If you have the option, see if you can find one of the original print editions of this novel; while formatting may not sound like a big deal, in this case, it is.
September 17, 2018
I LOVE PERETTI BOOKS. This felt so much like the Cooper kids books I used to listen to but with different characters + setting and I LOVED IT.
. I love this family - all secret agents and working together. Elijah + Elisha were really cool good kids and I appreciate that. I know most of the books we read are about kids coming to grips with themselves + sorting out their own problems, so for once it was great to have teen protagonists who actually spent the entire book helping + doing good stuff. Some folks may think it slightly unrealistic but HELLO it's still inspiring and perfect material for this thriller style novel.
. I really liked the creep vibes. I usually do not feel spooked reading a book (vs listening) but this one did a good job. I was just skimming pages in order to get to the RESULTS.
. MYSTERY ASPECTS ANYONE? This book was a YA thriller/mystery - there's the creepiest curse going round that has to have a logical explanation but no one knows what it is. And it's getting worse and we can't quite guess who the culprit is.
. The setting is this "ordinary" school that's haunted by a ghost and a curse and there are so many jerks + weird people + good people in there and it's so hard to tell them apart and generally it all felt both sad and spooky and the perfect place for the MCs to spread some light XD
. I loved the message. It's a mix of absolute truth + being good to others and like I said, it's good for a change? To see strong teen characters standing up to injustice in an ordinary (maybe?) setting.
. I actually got fond of some of the other characters even though they were ... weird?? Or suspicious? Not sure how to describe them. You started to see they were human and that you want them to have it better.
. I just had a lot of fun reading this? It was good and exciting and reminded me of some important things.
I SUPER HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR TEENS WHO LOVE THRILLER + GHOST STORIES.
. I love this family - all secret agents and working together. Elijah + Elisha were really cool good kids and I appreciate that. I know most of the books we read are about kids coming to grips with themselves + sorting out their own problems, so for once it was great to have teen protagonists who actually spent the entire book helping + doing good stuff. Some folks may think it slightly unrealistic but HELLO it's still inspiring and perfect material for this thriller style novel.
. I really liked the creep vibes. I usually do not feel spooked reading a book (vs listening) but this one did a good job. I was just skimming pages in order to get to the RESULTS.
. MYSTERY ASPECTS ANYONE? This book was a YA thriller/mystery - there's the creepiest curse going round that has to have a logical explanation but no one knows what it is. And it's getting worse and we can't quite guess who the culprit is.
. The setting is this "ordinary" school that's haunted by a ghost and a curse and there are so many jerks + weird people + good people in there and it's so hard to tell them apart and generally it all felt both sad and spooky and the perfect place for the MCs to spread some light XD
. I loved the message. It's a mix of absolute truth + being good to others and like I said, it's good for a change? To see strong teen characters standing up to injustice in an ordinary (maybe?) setting.
. I actually got fond of some of the other characters even though they were ... weird?? Or suspicious? Not sure how to describe them. You started to see they were human and that you want them to have it better.
. I just had a lot of fun reading this? It was good and exciting and reminded me of some important things.
I SUPER HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR TEENS WHO LOVE THRILLER + GHOST STORIES.
December 9, 2017
Did you hear that? That was the sound of my eyes rolling.
The author’s idea of cliques and what young people are like is elementary-level stereotyping. Beefy jocks, math nerds, the “weird” kids whom not even adults are able to find other adjectives for. Most frustratingly, the main characters are portrayed as perfect.
The teenagers voice arguments with teachers on their first (second?) day of school about topics of morality and evolution, an unnecessary, transparent attempt by the author to soapbox. The teachers were “schooled” by these perfect teens who have it all figured out, and were portrayed as brainless followers, relying on their egos and textbooks. Give me a break.
Essentially, the author paints his characters two-dimensionally, perhaps as a way to show us who’s good and bad. Lack of complexity made the characters dull. The plot itself was a fun ride, but the details made it an unspectacular read. I could’ve dealt with the Jesus stuff if it’d been done tastefully, but the evolution argument was ridiculous and turned me off.
The author’s idea of cliques and what young people are like is elementary-level stereotyping. Beefy jocks, math nerds, the “weird” kids whom not even adults are able to find other adjectives for. Most frustratingly, the main characters are portrayed as perfect.
The teenagers voice arguments with teachers on their first (second?) day of school about topics of morality and evolution, an unnecessary, transparent attempt by the author to soapbox. The teachers were “schooled” by these perfect teens who have it all figured out, and were portrayed as brainless followers, relying on their egos and textbooks. Give me a break.
Essentially, the author paints his characters two-dimensionally, perhaps as a way to show us who’s good and bad. Lack of complexity made the characters dull. The plot itself was a fun ride, but the details made it an unspectacular read. I could’ve dealt with the Jesus stuff if it’d been done tastefully, but the evolution argument was ridiculous and turned me off.
October 28, 2018
"I can't be sure of anything at this point. We need more data-"
"Gessber, would you just spit it out?" Carrillo barked.
"Mr. Springfield, we have a ghost."
I remember the first time I read this book, it terrified me, but in the best way. I was freaked out but also I loved it. I decided to re-read it because I was recommending it in a YouTube video and I wanted to make sure it was still as good as I remembered. It was, just in case you were wondering.
I love the characters in this book. If I could be friends with Elijah and Elisha please that'd be great. They're so cool. They'd be full-grown adults now but that's okay they'd probably still be cool. I mean, they work undercover with the government, they've got amazing parents, they have such strong faith, they're so crazy brave, they're just THE COOLEST and I want to hang out with them.
The science-y stuff was awesome and I have to appreciate how much research Frank Peretti clearly put into this. Which is part of what makes it so terrifying because hoLY COW
So all in all, it lived up to my memories of it, and that's always a great feeling. I can recommend this to people who like a little light in their scary books, people who like a Christian viewpoint on things that are not ghosts, and books that you can't put down until you've figured out what the heck is going on.
4 stars from me.
"Gessber, would you just spit it out?" Carrillo barked.
"Mr. Springfield, we have a ghost."
I remember the first time I read this book, it terrified me, but in the best way. I was freaked out but also I loved it. I decided to re-read it because I was recommending it in a YouTube video and I wanted to make sure it was still as good as I remembered. It was, just in case you were wondering.
I love the characters in this book. If I could be friends with Elijah and Elisha please that'd be great. They're so cool. They'd be full-grown adults now but that's okay they'd probably still be cool. I mean, they work undercover with the government, they've got amazing parents, they have such strong faith, they're so crazy brave, they're just THE COOLEST and I want to hang out with them.
The science-y stuff was awesome and I have to appreciate how much research Frank Peretti clearly put into this. Which is part of what makes it so terrifying because hoLY COW
So all in all, it lived up to my memories of it, and that's always a great feeling. I can recommend this to people who like a little light in their scary books, people who like a Christian viewpoint on things that are not ghosts, and books that you can't put down until you've figured out what the heck is going on.
4 stars from me.
January 29, 2008
Very very good. I wish there was more to the series than just 2 books! No fair, Frank Peretti!
October 26, 2017
This book was very good! I highly recommend it.
December 5, 2008
In Baker, Washington, three football stars fall into mysterious, hallucinating comas. Rumor is they are victims of Abel Frye, a dead student’s ghost who curses those who would pick on the less popular. Enter the Springfields, an undercover family of four who are secretly commissioned by the president to investigate strange mysteries, crimes, and unusual occurrences. They are The Veritas Project.
Elijah and Elisha, teenage twins, go undercover at the school but what they find only leads to more questions. All the victims are school bullies. Abel Frye was a high school student who hung himself in the 1930s. A stick figure hangman was etched into each victim’s locker. Is it really his ghost casting judgment or a secretive form of revenge? And what exactly goes on in the sectioned-off old basement of the high school?
Wow! Peretti is a genius writer, as usual, crafting the most amazing and original ideas. This is the kind of mystery you can’t put down until you read the very last word, then you spend the next week thinking over the story and everything that was in it. An amazing plot, intriguing characters…fantastic! Bring on book two. Highly recommended.
Elijah and Elisha, teenage twins, go undercover at the school but what they find only leads to more questions. All the victims are school bullies. Abel Frye was a high school student who hung himself in the 1930s. A stick figure hangman was etched into each victim’s locker. Is it really his ghost casting judgment or a secretive form of revenge? And what exactly goes on in the sectioned-off old basement of the high school?
Wow! Peretti is a genius writer, as usual, crafting the most amazing and original ideas. This is the kind of mystery you can’t put down until you read the very last word, then you spend the next week thinking over the story and everything that was in it. An amazing plot, intriguing characters…fantastic! Bring on book two. Highly recommended.
Read
February 19, 2016Reading this book again for the second time. :) I love it!
December 12, 2016
SO AWESOME. AH gosh.
March 30, 2025
SUCH a good thriller/suspense, and I don’t say that lightly as this is one of the few genres I find I very, VERY rarely like or connect with at all, but this one is so good even after several rereads! And to tell you the first time I read this on a whim I was SHOCKED and seriously freaked by what goes down by the end is an understatement! (and why I will NEVER watch the movie despite being a tiny bit morbidly curious, lol)
The topics covered—bullying, teens practicing witchcraft, drug dealing, etc.—are all so hard and intense, but the author handles it all in such a way that they’re addressed without going overboard or end up being TOO detailed and I really appreciate that.
The main characters have pretty much zero development but that lack doesn’t detract from the story or make them dull in any way, which is really hard to do or even advised to try, clearly showing how a good author can bend or break conventional rules and still write a compelling story.
I throughly enjoy this book every time I read it and this most recent time (2025) doesn’t disappoint!
Oh, and one final note without going into spoilers: if you’re afraid of spiders AVOID THIS BOOK. Seriously, just do it. Trust me.
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: spiders; bullying; a school legend about a boy stabbing a girl to death and then committing suicide by hanging himself (not shown or detailed); talk about suicide; teens identify as witches and practice witchcraft (never shown and not painted in a positive light); discussions about cursing people, ghosts, practicing seances, using Ouija boards, and having power over spirits
Language: hell (as a place)
Violence: a gun is pointed at a teen; a boy smacks another; boys get into a fight (not detailed); a school legend about a boy stabbing a girl to death and then committing suicide by hanging himself (not shown or detailed); mention that female spiders eat the males
Sexual: a girl’s called a chick
Alcohol/Drugs: breaking up a drug dealer/ring; teens sell drugs; spider bites poison people
Other: people experience hallucinations/seizures/panic attacks; a “ghost”; bullying; a hallucination of a dead decaying body of a boy with a broken neck (not detailed); talk about suicide; teens identify as witches and practice witchcraft (never shown and not painted in a positive light); evolution is discussed in class; a ritual chamber (semi detailed on what’s inside but nothing is used); a hex symbol is put on lockers; death; discussions about cursing people, ghosts, practicing seances, using Ouija boards, and having power over spirits; spiders
The topics covered—bullying, teens practicing witchcraft, drug dealing, etc.—are all so hard and intense, but the author handles it all in such a way that they’re addressed without going overboard or end up being TOO detailed and I really appreciate that.
The main characters have pretty much zero development but that lack doesn’t detract from the story or make them dull in any way, which is really hard to do or even advised to try, clearly showing how a good author can bend or break conventional rules and still write a compelling story.
I throughly enjoy this book every time I read it and this most recent time (2025) doesn’t disappoint!
Oh, and one final note without going into spoilers: if you’re afraid of spiders AVOID THIS BOOK. Seriously, just do it. Trust me.
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: spiders; bullying; a school legend about a boy stabbing a girl to death and then committing suicide by hanging himself (not shown or detailed); talk about suicide; teens identify as witches and practice witchcraft (never shown and not painted in a positive light); discussions about cursing people, ghosts, practicing seances, using Ouija boards, and having power over spirits
Language: hell (as a place)
Violence: a gun is pointed at a teen; a boy smacks another; boys get into a fight (not detailed); a school legend about a boy stabbing a girl to death and then committing suicide by hanging himself (not shown or detailed); mention that female spiders eat the males
Sexual: a girl’s called a chick
Alcohol/Drugs: breaking up a drug dealer/ring; teens sell drugs; spider bites poison people
Other: people experience hallucinations/seizures/panic attacks; a “ghost”; bullying; a hallucination of a dead decaying body of a boy with a broken neck (not detailed); talk about suicide; teens identify as witches and practice witchcraft (never shown and not painted in a positive light); evolution is discussed in class; a ritual chamber (semi detailed on what’s inside but nothing is used); a hex symbol is put on lockers; death; discussions about cursing people, ghosts, practicing seances, using Ouija boards, and having power over spirits; spiders
August 25, 2011
Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. And, if anyone knows me really well, they know I am NOT a big fan of creepy-crawlies so...yeah...there were parts where I was officially creeped out. Reading this book late into the night, there were times that I stopped and checked around me to make sure there wasn't any spiders crawling out from under my bed or door. :-P lol!
I love the Vertas project! Elijah and Elisha and their parents make an awesome team. While I think the next in the series, Nightmare Academy, is my favorite, Hangman's Curse was REALLY good!! :-D
I love the Vertas project! Elijah and Elisha and their parents make an awesome team. While I think the next in the series, Nightmare Academy, is my favorite, Hangman's Curse was REALLY good!! :-D
December 29, 2023
I remember having my dad read this to me as a child and it was spooky! It definitely helped me fall in love with everything spooky.
Reading it now (as a 30 year old) does have it's differences. It is still a fun and slightly spooky story. Frank Peretti does a great job of putting you right in the middle of the action.
Reading it now (as a 30 year old) does have it's differences. It is still a fun and slightly spooky story. Frank Peretti does a great job of putting you right in the middle of the action.
July 26, 2015
I finished this book in less than a day. I could not put it down until just a while ago and had no clue it was after 4am! Love the final couple chapters to draw this young adult novel to a close. . .moving!
August 2, 2017
An AMAZING book! Had me on the edge of my seat, even made me jump once! SOOO GOOD!
October 12, 2010
I love anything by Frank Peretti. The Oath, The Prophet, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness are all terrific reads and excellent books. As you can guess, I was pretty excited to read Hangman’s Curse. Specifically written for teenagers and the first book in The Veritas Project series, it turned out to be quite different from what I expected.
Elijah and Elisha (pronounced E-lee-sha) Springfield are not your average teenage twins. Along with their parents, they are the Veritas Project Team, a group secretly commissioned by the president of the United States to solve bizarre and unusual or mysterious occurrences. Using Judeo-Christian values, they are instructed not only to find out the how, but the why.
The bizarre has certainly hit hard at Baker High School in what appears to be an epidemic of…insanity. Three football players are struck down with hallucinations, incoherent coma, and severe paranoia. Despite drug searches, strong security measures, and numerous attempts by the school to prevent it, nothing seems to be able to stop the “Abel Fry Syndrome.” School rumor has it that years ago a young man named Abel Fry hung himself after being bullied, and that he continues to haunt the school and seek his revenge.
Elijah and Elisha enroll at Baker High School, fascinatingly portrayed during the lunch period as “one big noisy crowd” with “its subgroups and tribes”: the jocks, geeks, artists, bullies and “dark-clothed, bizarre-looking outcasts…formed a group by being different from everyone except each other.” Elijah gets into frequent debates with his teacher, especially over apologetics and truth. He stands up the bullies, and fits right in with the math geeks. Elisha gets involved with the artistic bunch, but also debates her teacher during class.
Bullying, satanic rituals, and relative truth all go head to head in this fascinating story. What is truth and where can it be found? Hunting for clues, keeping grades up, and watching helplessly as more victims fall to the curse of Abel Fry, the Springfields’ have a mystery to solve that just might be their last.
Hangman’s Curse has several interesting themes interwoven. In particular, redemption and courage, as the Springfields enter a world where survival of the fittest is the ruling order. Another theme is summed up by Elisha near the end, “People are precious and sometimes we forget that. They’re precious because God made them, and they need friends, they need love.”
Normally, I love Frank Peretti. His work is spell-binding, action packed, and spiritually revealing. Hangman’s Curse, though, seems to fall short of the mark with the plot. Perhaps because he was writing for teenagers, Peretti tried to water things down. Protagonists Elijah and Elisha are almost perfect, smart and popular, who quickly fit in and are liked by everyone, two Christian Hardy Boys.
Another thing that bugged me was the lack of demonic influence over the school. Some of the Goth kids confess to being witches, a fact that is simply down played. Most of the characters, though round, lack dynamic.
There were various things I did like, though. The writing was beautiful, and, though simple, the plot was not cliché or predictable. Peretti does not waver from the truth in God’s Word. I also enjoyed every time Elijah debated with his teacher, or stood up to a bully. The debates were a neat way to learn apologetics in an applicable, respectful way.
Frank Peretti has written over 23 books, fiction and nonfiction. He frequently deals with the issues of bullying and fitting in, something he struggled with in his childhood, as he reveals in The Wounded Spirit. Peretti was born in Canada, raised in Washington, and now lives in Idaho with his wife. He plays the banjo in a bluegrass band, writes “supernatural thrillers”, and has over twelve million copies of his work in print.
Hangman’s Curse is an excellent book that was washed down for teenagers. Consequently, older teenagers and adults will probably find it lacking, but it is perfect for pre-teen and young teenagers. I will always recommend Peretti for a good read, but Hangman’s Curse is definitely for the younger audience.
Elijah and Elisha (pronounced E-lee-sha) Springfield are not your average teenage twins. Along with their parents, they are the Veritas Project Team, a group secretly commissioned by the president of the United States to solve bizarre and unusual or mysterious occurrences. Using Judeo-Christian values, they are instructed not only to find out the how, but the why.
The bizarre has certainly hit hard at Baker High School in what appears to be an epidemic of…insanity. Three football players are struck down with hallucinations, incoherent coma, and severe paranoia. Despite drug searches, strong security measures, and numerous attempts by the school to prevent it, nothing seems to be able to stop the “Abel Fry Syndrome.” School rumor has it that years ago a young man named Abel Fry hung himself after being bullied, and that he continues to haunt the school and seek his revenge.
Elijah and Elisha enroll at Baker High School, fascinatingly portrayed during the lunch period as “one big noisy crowd” with “its subgroups and tribes”: the jocks, geeks, artists, bullies and “dark-clothed, bizarre-looking outcasts…formed a group by being different from everyone except each other.” Elijah gets into frequent debates with his teacher, especially over apologetics and truth. He stands up the bullies, and fits right in with the math geeks. Elisha gets involved with the artistic bunch, but also debates her teacher during class.
Bullying, satanic rituals, and relative truth all go head to head in this fascinating story. What is truth and where can it be found? Hunting for clues, keeping grades up, and watching helplessly as more victims fall to the curse of Abel Fry, the Springfields’ have a mystery to solve that just might be their last.
Hangman’s Curse has several interesting themes interwoven. In particular, redemption and courage, as the Springfields enter a world where survival of the fittest is the ruling order. Another theme is summed up by Elisha near the end, “People are precious and sometimes we forget that. They’re precious because God made them, and they need friends, they need love.”
Normally, I love Frank Peretti. His work is spell-binding, action packed, and spiritually revealing. Hangman’s Curse, though, seems to fall short of the mark with the plot. Perhaps because he was writing for teenagers, Peretti tried to water things down. Protagonists Elijah and Elisha are almost perfect, smart and popular, who quickly fit in and are liked by everyone, two Christian Hardy Boys.
Another thing that bugged me was the lack of demonic influence over the school. Some of the Goth kids confess to being witches, a fact that is simply down played. Most of the characters, though round, lack dynamic.
There were various things I did like, though. The writing was beautiful, and, though simple, the plot was not cliché or predictable. Peretti does not waver from the truth in God’s Word. I also enjoyed every time Elijah debated with his teacher, or stood up to a bully. The debates were a neat way to learn apologetics in an applicable, respectful way.
Frank Peretti has written over 23 books, fiction and nonfiction. He frequently deals with the issues of bullying and fitting in, something he struggled with in his childhood, as he reveals in The Wounded Spirit. Peretti was born in Canada, raised in Washington, and now lives in Idaho with his wife. He plays the banjo in a bluegrass band, writes “supernatural thrillers”, and has over twelve million copies of his work in print.
Hangman’s Curse is an excellent book that was washed down for teenagers. Consequently, older teenagers and adults will probably find it lacking, but it is perfect for pre-teen and young teenagers. I will always recommend Peretti for a good read, but Hangman’s Curse is definitely for the younger audience.
November 5, 2015
I saw the movie version of this a long time ago and wasn't very impressed. Thankfully, the book is much better. If you can get past how completely dumb the initial set-up is, you'll find yourself absorbed in one of the better YA mysteries around.
The ridiculous set-up is this: The sitting U.S. President establishes a task force, called the Veritas Project, to investigate situations that normal law enforcement would not involve themselves in. Despite the fact that the services of this task force are advertised publicly, and that the President selects each of the missions personally, the Commander-in-Chief's involvement remains top secret. The task force is mandated to investigate strictly from a Judeo-Christian perspective, and they should always be mindful of the root causes and existential truth behind the country's problems. This hand-picked task force is composed solely of a married couple and their sixteen-year-old twins, along with an office secretary and a project overseer who provide support from Washington D.C.
If, as an adult, any of this sounds even remotely plausible to you, then I know a Saudi prince who could really use your help with making a routine bank transfer.
Fortunately, all this info about the Veritas Project is done away with after the Prologue, and the rest of the novel makes it much easier to suspend your disbelief.
HANGMAN'S CURSE explores a lot of familiar Peretti themes: strange creatures (THE OATH, MONSTER), the occult (THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, PIERCING THE DARKNESS), school bullying (THE WOUNDED SPIRIT, NO MORE BULLIES)--heck, there's even a family of adventurers (THE COOPER KIDS ADVENTURE SERIES).
It's an exciting YA mystery/thriller from start to finish, though some readers might roll their eyes at how perfect a Christian family the main characters are. The sixteen-year-old twins are so bright, they can out-debate their teachers on such subjects as moral relativism and evolutionary theory. These debates are amusing (albeit unrealistic), but they feel very out of place and unnecesary in terms of story.
The threat uncovered in the final chapters becomes way too over-the-top (in terms of sheer numbers) to be taken seriously, but it certainly makes for a rousing conclusion.
Adults may find a lot to criticize about HANGMAN'S CURSE...but I guarantee kids will love it.
The ridiculous set-up is this: The sitting U.S. President establishes a task force, called the Veritas Project, to investigate situations that normal law enforcement would not involve themselves in. Despite the fact that the services of this task force are advertised publicly, and that the President selects each of the missions personally, the Commander-in-Chief's involvement remains top secret. The task force is mandated to investigate strictly from a Judeo-Christian perspective, and they should always be mindful of the root causes and existential truth behind the country's problems. This hand-picked task force is composed solely of a married couple and their sixteen-year-old twins, along with an office secretary and a project overseer who provide support from Washington D.C.
If, as an adult, any of this sounds even remotely plausible to you, then I know a Saudi prince who could really use your help with making a routine bank transfer.
Fortunately, all this info about the Veritas Project is done away with after the Prologue, and the rest of the novel makes it much easier to suspend your disbelief.
HANGMAN'S CURSE explores a lot of familiar Peretti themes: strange creatures (THE OATH, MONSTER), the occult (THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, PIERCING THE DARKNESS), school bullying (THE WOUNDED SPIRIT, NO MORE BULLIES)--heck, there's even a family of adventurers (THE COOPER KIDS ADVENTURE SERIES).
It's an exciting YA mystery/thriller from start to finish, though some readers might roll their eyes at how perfect a Christian family the main characters are. The sixteen-year-old twins are so bright, they can out-debate their teachers on such subjects as moral relativism and evolutionary theory. These debates are amusing (albeit unrealistic), but they feel very out of place and unnecesary in terms of story.
The threat uncovered in the final chapters becomes way too over-the-top (in terms of sheer numbers) to be taken seriously, but it certainly makes for a rousing conclusion.
Adults may find a lot to criticize about HANGMAN'S CURSE...but I guarantee kids will love it.
January 30, 2015
Even from the start it's creepy: Jim Boltz, star quarterback for Baker High School suddenly freaking out on the playing field. Bizarre hex signs scratched on the lockers of other jocks gone crazy. And the legendary Abel Frye, the ghost of a guy who killed himself in the 30's, the whispered cause of it all.
In Peretti's masterful style you'll follow the mysterious Veritas project, a family investigative team, as they attempt to unravel the secrets surrounding the strange Baker High events. Undercover, they dig for the truth as to why three jocks have become completely disabled, strapped to hospital beds in different stages of coma muttering odd syllables and "Abel Frye". Things only get uglier as more students are struck with the crippling disease, and when someone dies it becomes a race against time for the team to save the lives of the rest of the students and themselves.
If you've ever been bullied for being different, felt like you don't fit in, or are simply thirsty for a spine-tingling mystery, this book is for you. With tantalizing clues (and some strange creatures) scattered throughout, it'll keep you page turning into the wee hours. And trust me, you'll never guess the ending.
In Peretti's masterful style you'll follow the mysterious Veritas project, a family investigative team, as they attempt to unravel the secrets surrounding the strange Baker High events. Undercover, they dig for the truth as to why three jocks have become completely disabled, strapped to hospital beds in different stages of coma muttering odd syllables and "Abel Frye". Things only get uglier as more students are struck with the crippling disease, and when someone dies it becomes a race against time for the team to save the lives of the rest of the students and themselves.
If you've ever been bullied for being different, felt like you don't fit in, or are simply thirsty for a spine-tingling mystery, this book is for you. With tantalizing clues (and some strange creatures) scattered throughout, it'll keep you page turning into the wee hours. And trust me, you'll never guess the ending.
October 30, 2018
This was cute, and parts were hard to put down. It was a little on the childish side and something about the tone bothered me. I saw someone commenting on it being like Scooby-Doo, and that’s what it was! It had the same goody two shoes feel. It was a little odd how they kept saying something to the effect of we should all act like Christians but we don’t have to be Christian. I liked the anti-bullying theme. And I love suspected ghost and curse turning out to be something even more frightening. I was on the edge of my seat worried about Elisha.
May 27, 2008
This messege was a great messege for teens, the overall book was great! I did cheat and see the movie first, but I think it was pretty good compared to what the book said verses the movie. I wouldn't say it was scary just more like a little freaky.
October 2, 2008
Well done, young adult book. A slightly different approach than his "darkness" books. It worked for me; it may not for others.
September 2, 2025
Good stuff, as always, given that it is Peretti. As it’s a smaller teen/tween book, I won’t go into too much detail for fear of spoilers, but it was an interesting foray away from the powerfully religious writings her normally does. It’s still there, but I think the more covert pieces of it would make the series more palatable to secular audiences, though after reading some people’s analysis of it lately, good grief I never knew people could misrepresent so well. Some of those reviews take effort, man.
3.3 🌟
3.3 🌟
December 23, 2022
Enjoyed it as a teen and enjoyed it even more this time around!! The paranormal elements keep you guessing. The second half of the book was very exciting and suspenseful. A very fun and easy read. I forgot how much I like Frank Peretti as an author.
My only critiques are that the dialogue was sometimes cheesy/forced and for "christian fiction" it lacked justice and leaned on moralism instead of Godly virtues.
My only critiques are that the dialogue was sometimes cheesy/forced and for "christian fiction" it lacked justice and leaned on moralism instead of Godly virtues.
August 18, 2022
Okay if you're wondering why I'm suddenly reviewing a whole bunch of books, I sorta abandoned Goodreads but now I'm back! Oh yeah this book was creepy and just great!
October 30, 2009
Hangman’s Curse
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, it is a good book to read if you are looking for a thrill. My least favorite character in “The Hangman’s Curse”, was Abel Frye. I thought that he was really mean, and he just tried to go around and haunt people. My favorite character of the book is, Elijah. He is the best one at investigating, and he is cool. He isn’t scared of anything, and that’s how I am so I can relate to him. This book hooked me in because I like to read the scary kind of books, and they make me scared sometimes. The author wrote this book to try and let people know what haunting are. It is a thriller, so the author wrote it to try and scare you. The reason I kept reading it was because it kept doing things that wanted to make me read more. If this book were to be made into a movie, I think Addam and Me. Addam I think would be good at acting, and good at getting people scared. The ending of the book was pretty predictable, it could have been a better ending I think. I felt scared whenever I read this book, which I don’t usually feel. That’s The Hangman’s Curse. You should read it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, it is a good book to read if you are looking for a thrill. My least favorite character in “The Hangman’s Curse”, was Abel Frye. I thought that he was really mean, and he just tried to go around and haunt people. My favorite character of the book is, Elijah. He is the best one at investigating, and he is cool. He isn’t scared of anything, and that’s how I am so I can relate to him. This book hooked me in because I like to read the scary kind of books, and they make me scared sometimes. The author wrote this book to try and let people know what haunting are. It is a thriller, so the author wrote it to try and scare you. The reason I kept reading it was because it kept doing things that wanted to make me read more. If this book were to be made into a movie, I think Addam and Me. Addam I think would be good at acting, and good at getting people scared. The ending of the book was pretty predictable, it could have been a better ending I think. I felt scared whenever I read this book, which I don’t usually feel. That’s The Hangman’s Curse. You should read it.
March 12, 2012
Photina Haumschilt
Mystery
The Springfield's are a family who go undercover to find the Truth. Tom and Sarah, with their twin children Elisha and Elijah, are part of a privately-funded group called The Veritas Project. They are sent on assignment to different places to find the Truth about what is really going on. They end up in Baker, WA where some students have mysteriously gone crazy and are slowly dying. The students think it's the ghost of Abel Frye getting revenge. Is it really the curse Abel Frye or something else? The Springfield's are sent in to find out what is really going on. Will they find the Truth in time or will they become victims of it themselves? Peretti combines mystery and religion in a way that will keep you reading to find out who-done-it with a twist at the end that may surprise you. Readers who enjoyed this will want to follow the Springfield's on their next assignment in The Veritas Project series, Nightmare Academy.
Mystery
The Springfield's are a family who go undercover to find the Truth. Tom and Sarah, with their twin children Elisha and Elijah, are part of a privately-funded group called The Veritas Project. They are sent on assignment to different places to find the Truth about what is really going on. They end up in Baker, WA where some students have mysteriously gone crazy and are slowly dying. The students think it's the ghost of Abel Frye getting revenge. Is it really the curse Abel Frye or something else? The Springfield's are sent in to find out what is really going on. Will they find the Truth in time or will they become victims of it themselves? Peretti combines mystery and religion in a way that will keep you reading to find out who-done-it with a twist at the end that may surprise you. Readers who enjoyed this will want to follow the Springfield's on their next assignment in The Veritas Project series, Nightmare Academy.
January 11, 2016
POPSUGAR's 2016 Reading Challenge: A book from the library.
Characters were meh but it was easy to read. High school sucks. And people can be so mean. The best part about reading this book is the fact that there's been a spider lounging on my living room ceiling for a couple weeks now. Am I worried? Umm only a little bit after reading this story. Also, my library book actually fell apart when I began reading it. Farewell, ole copy.
Characters were meh but it was easy to read. High school sucks. And people can be so mean. The best part about reading this book is the fact that there's been a spider lounging on my living room ceiling for a couple weeks now. Am I worried? Umm only a little bit after reading this story. Also, my library book actually fell apart when I began reading it. Farewell, ole copy.
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