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Deliver Us from Evil
Supernatural evil plagues the small Georgia town of Lucerne and an ostracized young newcomer to the backwoods town seems to be the only person who can stop the nightmarish reign of horror
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 15, 2023
In a little country town like Lucerne, there was nothing to cushion the fall of darkness. When night came, it was with a darkness pure and undiluted, seeming less like the absence of light than like the presence of something more powerful, more elemental than the day, something that returned to take its own, to take possession of what the light had merely usurped from it. Vast in its sweep and current, the night carried before it all it had come up against, leaving in its wake only a flotsam of dim porch lights and gasping fireflies. For darkness did not fall on Lucerne so much as engulf it, pouring over roofs and treetops, swirling down chimneys and smashing through windows, submerging everything into the darkness of the surrounding woods, leaving the streets as dark and empty as those of a city the sea had swallowed. (p. 158)
Yeah. And this from a midlist paperback horror title from the 80s. For most of it, I had no doubt that this was going to be a 5-star read, and I was kept entirely spellbound throughout. But it all became a bit too...Biblical for me towards the end. It did have religious connotations throughout, due to the fact that it takes place in a small Christian community in rural Georgia, but it eventually gets taken to over-the-top levels. I guess I just prefer it when there's not a religious bent to the nature of the "evil" in a horror novel. It's not a dealbreaker, I'd just rather the author come up with his own terrors. Still, the writing was so impressive that it rarely bothered me.
The novel is yet another "small town invaded by supernatural threat"-type story that I'm always drawn to. An evil force is growing, slowly taking over Lucerne's citizens, and only two 14 year-old boys, one the son of the town sheriff, the other a mysterious orphan boy recently adopted by a local lady, really see what's happening to their community, and they must figure out a way to stop it before it consumes the entire town. It all may be tied to an incident from the Lucerne's past that everyone would just as soon forget. Someone who should be long dead, buried in quicksand 15 years ago, has seemingly come back. And the doom that's coming may be inevitable, as this was all prophesied to happen many years ago.
Pretty typical setup, but the many well-drawn characters and top-notch prose elevate this well above the typical horror novel of the era. Author Harris has an uncanny ear for dialogue as well, which really helped in keeping me absorbed in the story. Even the well-worn "magical negro" trope is used to excellent effect here (I shamefully admit to loving that trope, more so just magical old people in general). Oh, and maybe most importantly, it's scary. Anyone into the southern gothic horror of Michael McDowell should dig the hell out of this. I know I'll be reading Harris' only other novel, Let There Be Dark (1994), as soon as I can get my hands on it.
4.0 Stars.
(Since there's no author info anywhere in internetland, I figured I'd post his interesting little bio that's at the end of the book: "Allen Lee Harris lives in Georgia with his eight cats. He began college when he was 14, graduated at 19, then attended Harvard Divinity School before getting a Masters in Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He returned to Georgia, where he was working toward his Ph.D when he began writing full-time. While writing he supported himself at various jobs, including tending an all-night gas station where he wrote some of the more frightening parts of Deliver Us From Evil.")
*ETA: It's been recently brought to my attention (thanks Eric Hoheisel) that Harris is still writing today, as Lee Harris (not the mystery writer, who's actually a woman). Seems he writes ultra-right-wing nonfiction with titles like The Next American Civil War and The Suicide of Reason: Radical Islam's Threat to Enlightenment. Ahh well, it's nice that he's still writing, too bad it's not something a little....not that. Seems like a very smart dude though, based on a couple interviews I just watched/read.
Yeah. And this from a midlist paperback horror title from the 80s. For most of it, I had no doubt that this was going to be a 5-star read, and I was kept entirely spellbound throughout. But it all became a bit too...Biblical for me towards the end. It did have religious connotations throughout, due to the fact that it takes place in a small Christian community in rural Georgia, but it eventually gets taken to over-the-top levels. I guess I just prefer it when there's not a religious bent to the nature of the "evil" in a horror novel. It's not a dealbreaker, I'd just rather the author come up with his own terrors. Still, the writing was so impressive that it rarely bothered me.
The novel is yet another "small town invaded by supernatural threat"-type story that I'm always drawn to. An evil force is growing, slowly taking over Lucerne's citizens, and only two 14 year-old boys, one the son of the town sheriff, the other a mysterious orphan boy recently adopted by a local lady, really see what's happening to their community, and they must figure out a way to stop it before it consumes the entire town. It all may be tied to an incident from the Lucerne's past that everyone would just as soon forget. Someone who should be long dead, buried in quicksand 15 years ago, has seemingly come back. And the doom that's coming may be inevitable, as this was all prophesied to happen many years ago.
Pretty typical setup, but the many well-drawn characters and top-notch prose elevate this well above the typical horror novel of the era. Author Harris has an uncanny ear for dialogue as well, which really helped in keeping me absorbed in the story. Even the well-worn "magical negro" trope is used to excellent effect here (I shamefully admit to loving that trope, more so just magical old people in general). Oh, and maybe most importantly, it's scary. Anyone into the southern gothic horror of Michael McDowell should dig the hell out of this. I know I'll be reading Harris' only other novel, Let There Be Dark (1994), as soon as I can get my hands on it.
4.0 Stars.
(Since there's no author info anywhere in internetland, I figured I'd post his interesting little bio that's at the end of the book: "Allen Lee Harris lives in Georgia with his eight cats. He began college when he was 14, graduated at 19, then attended Harvard Divinity School before getting a Masters in Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He returned to Georgia, where he was working toward his Ph.D when he began writing full-time. While writing he supported himself at various jobs, including tending an all-night gas station where he wrote some of the more frightening parts of Deliver Us From Evil.")
*ETA: It's been recently brought to my attention (thanks Eric Hoheisel) that Harris is still writing today, as Lee Harris (not the mystery writer, who's actually a woman). Seems he writes ultra-right-wing nonfiction with titles like The Next American Civil War and The Suicide of Reason: Radical Islam's Threat to Enlightenment. Ahh well, it's nice that he's still writing, too bad it's not something a little....not that. Seems like a very smart dude though, based on a couple interviews I just watched/read.
December 4, 2019
What a blast from the past! Catherine Kline, a little girl, is disfigured by Luther, a man who escaped an asylum. She soon after dies from her wounds. Luther dies in quicksand chased by Sheriff Charlie and Old Doc. Some years later Jamey, an orphan, turns up. Whose son is it? Where is the connection between Simon, the Randolph house, Old Doc, Luther, Hank (an imbecile) and Catherine? What about the talk of Newjesus, the Secondcoming or the Antichrist? What hides in the darkness and tries to manipulate the people in that small Georgian town? Larry, Charlies son, tries to solve the mystery and is drawn into a nightmarish story with no escape. Will there be any survivors? Great Southern tale with lots of Biblical allusions and one of the eeriest conflicts between Good and Evil I've come across for a long time (the showdown is nailbiting). There are so many uncanny scenes and very disturbing settings (the old well or the Randolph house). The characters are described in an excellent way too. At some passages I had to think about The Omen or The Hungry Moon when reading this creepy classic. Many twists, a sinister plot and slow burning tension. Highly recommended!
March 11, 2023
No fueron las cinco estrellas, pero considerando que últimamente le doy tres a casi todo, está más que bien. Es un libro de terror sobrenatural muy cinematográfico que se queda corto en el desarrollo psicológico de los personajes, pero que resulta entretenido. Juega mucho con la religión de Jesús, cosa que no me encantó (predecible), sin embargo, si te gusta el horror y las pelis sobre posesiones, seguramente te gustará este libro.
May 25, 2023
Set in a small town in Georgia, Deliver Us from Evil in many ways packs a real creepy punch, but the biblical musings at times overpowered the narrative, as did the at time didactic dialogues. The obligatory prologue takes place about 14 years before the real story starts and it is a nasty one for sure, involving the mutilation of a young girl by some kind of madman; she survived, at least for a few months, but her parents and several others involved would never be the same (or maybe, even sane).
Hard to pinpoint a main protagonist here, but the story centers on Charlie, the local sheriff, and his son Larry. Larry is 14 or so and a popular boy. One day, a bus drops off an orphan in town who was adopted by a nasty lady. Why? Big mystery, but it seems the orphan came with an expense account; the how and why will only be resolved much later. Rumors are the orphan is some kind of retard, but they are only rumors. Eventually, Larry befriends him and actually, Jamey is kinda special.
Some kind of deep, dark foo is going on in town, however. At first, many people seem to be having nightmares. In this tense atmosphere, Harris spends the first half of the novel developing a wide range of characters and a bit of the history of the town, focusing on the lives that were damaged/changed as a result of the incidents in the prologue. Along with this, Harris develops Larry and Jamey. Jamey is definitely a strange one; he seems almost haunted and generally refuses to discuss his life in the orphanage, but you know some bad foo went down there...
The backflap states that Harris went to a seminary, and then proceeded to get a Masters in Philosophy and both play a major role in the story, usually expressed in long, didactic dialogues among the major characters. You could say this story was a riff on the religious horror trope, but it aims to be a bit more than that for sure. What is the nature of good or evil? What will happen on 'judgement day'? Questions like this motivate the novel and if I was more interested in theological debates, I might have liked this more. In any case, a good read that packs in some good creeps along the way, but a bit too heavy handed with religious musings. 3 stars!
Hard to pinpoint a main protagonist here, but the story centers on Charlie, the local sheriff, and his son Larry. Larry is 14 or so and a popular boy. One day, a bus drops off an orphan in town who was adopted by a nasty lady. Why? Big mystery, but it seems the orphan came with an expense account; the how and why will only be resolved much later. Rumors are the orphan is some kind of retard, but they are only rumors. Eventually, Larry befriends him and actually, Jamey is kinda special.
Some kind of deep, dark foo is going on in town, however. At first, many people seem to be having nightmares. In this tense atmosphere, Harris spends the first half of the novel developing a wide range of characters and a bit of the history of the town, focusing on the lives that were damaged/changed as a result of the incidents in the prologue. Along with this, Harris develops Larry and Jamey. Jamey is definitely a strange one; he seems almost haunted and generally refuses to discuss his life in the orphanage, but you know some bad foo went down there...
The backflap states that Harris went to a seminary, and then proceeded to get a Masters in Philosophy and both play a major role in the story, usually expressed in long, didactic dialogues among the major characters. You could say this story was a riff on the religious horror trope, but it aims to be a bit more than that for sure. What is the nature of good or evil? What will happen on 'judgement day'? Questions like this motivate the novel and if I was more interested in theological debates, I might have liked this more. In any case, a good read that packs in some good creeps along the way, but a bit too heavy handed with religious musings. 3 stars!
September 1, 2020
A big thank you to Capricorn Literary for sending me an audiobook download in exchange for an honest review!
When I read a vintage horror novel, I am in it for one thing and one thing alone: to be entertained. I'm not looking for beautiful writing or poignancy or characters that will stay with me because vintage horror rarely portrays those qualities. I mean, there are exceptions of course, don't get me wrong. But what you'll usually find in these pages is a bonkers, violent story with over-the-top scenes that are meant to keep the reader's jaw on the floor. I like the unpredictable nature of vintage horror for that reason, the feeling of not knowing what to expect. These books are from a different time and have been mostly forgotten, so one can never be certain of what they're stepping into. Which is why it is so shocking when I discover a book like Deliver Us from Evil by Allen Lee Harris.
Deliver Us from Evil was originally published in 1988 by Bantam Books, but the vintage horror savior that is Capricorn Literary has resurrected this gem of a novel with brand new paperback, ebook, and audiobook editions. I was sent the audiobook for review (narrated by Jeffery Lynn Hutchins) and before I say anything else about the novel itself, I will say that the audiobook is a great way to go if you're interested in the story. The narrator is fantastic, especially when it comes to the creepier scenes (of which there are many). His voice gave me chills during those scenes. Check it out!
SYNOPSIS: Deep in the steamy backwoods of Georgia, in a place called 'the snake well' by the locals, a twelve-year-old girl is bound and ritually tortured. The details of the crime are bizarre, and the few citizens of Lucerne who know the shocking truth of the crime keep it secret... Now, a young orphan boy arrives in the sleepy town...and in the dark woods something inhuman stirs in the 'snake well.' An ancient hunger has awakened. Soft voices call out from the dark forest, drifting over the bayou, echoing in the crawlspaces. The townsfolk's darkest nightmares stalk the moonlit streets. And two young boys must face an evil that has been waiting for millennia to bring humanity an everlasting night.
Allen Lee Harris weaves an epic, chilling tale of small town life, small town minds, and finding your own place as a growing teen in said small town. If you like coming of age tales, this is a must for your TBR. While the novel follows many characters, the majority of the focus is on Larry the sheriff's son and Jamey, the young orphan boy who has come to Lucerne. Being a quiet child with possible learning disabilities, Jamey is verbally abused by his peers and is the talk among locals. Even though Larry tends to go along with the crowd, he decides to befriend Jamey even if it means losing his other "friends". What follows is the most touching friendship between two boys I have read about in a long time. I dare you to not tear up from time to time while reading this book, especially toward the end.
Aside from the interesting characters and heartwarming friendship to carry the story along, Deliver Us from Evil also has some of the absolute creepiest friggin' scenes, scenes that sent shivers up and down my skin. This is quiet, psychological horror that will get inside your head and play on your fears. Is that really your tiny son whispering from the darkness, telling you its alright, that you can come closer? And what about the old woman you look after? If she was calling you from a dark closet, saying that she was hurt, would you go inside the closet to help because it's your job? Or would you run away knowing deep down that whatever is inside that closet isn't an old woman at all?
I don't know how Deliver Us from Evil isn't a modern classic, or at least well-known by readers of horror. It is dark, eerie, hypnotic, surprisingly poignant, and absolutely heartbreaking. Don't go into this expecting a pulpy '80s horror story, but do pick this up if you want something a little more literary but still creepy as hell.
Overall, 4.5 stars.
When I read a vintage horror novel, I am in it for one thing and one thing alone: to be entertained. I'm not looking for beautiful writing or poignancy or characters that will stay with me because vintage horror rarely portrays those qualities. I mean, there are exceptions of course, don't get me wrong. But what you'll usually find in these pages is a bonkers, violent story with over-the-top scenes that are meant to keep the reader's jaw on the floor. I like the unpredictable nature of vintage horror for that reason, the feeling of not knowing what to expect. These books are from a different time and have been mostly forgotten, so one can never be certain of what they're stepping into. Which is why it is so shocking when I discover a book like Deliver Us from Evil by Allen Lee Harris.
Deliver Us from Evil was originally published in 1988 by Bantam Books, but the vintage horror savior that is Capricorn Literary has resurrected this gem of a novel with brand new paperback, ebook, and audiobook editions. I was sent the audiobook for review (narrated by Jeffery Lynn Hutchins) and before I say anything else about the novel itself, I will say that the audiobook is a great way to go if you're interested in the story. The narrator is fantastic, especially when it comes to the creepier scenes (of which there are many). His voice gave me chills during those scenes. Check it out!
SYNOPSIS: Deep in the steamy backwoods of Georgia, in a place called 'the snake well' by the locals, a twelve-year-old girl is bound and ritually tortured. The details of the crime are bizarre, and the few citizens of Lucerne who know the shocking truth of the crime keep it secret... Now, a young orphan boy arrives in the sleepy town...and in the dark woods something inhuman stirs in the 'snake well.' An ancient hunger has awakened. Soft voices call out from the dark forest, drifting over the bayou, echoing in the crawlspaces. The townsfolk's darkest nightmares stalk the moonlit streets. And two young boys must face an evil that has been waiting for millennia to bring humanity an everlasting night.
Allen Lee Harris weaves an epic, chilling tale of small town life, small town minds, and finding your own place as a growing teen in said small town. If you like coming of age tales, this is a must for your TBR. While the novel follows many characters, the majority of the focus is on Larry the sheriff's son and Jamey, the young orphan boy who has come to Lucerne. Being a quiet child with possible learning disabilities, Jamey is verbally abused by his peers and is the talk among locals. Even though Larry tends to go along with the crowd, he decides to befriend Jamey even if it means losing his other "friends". What follows is the most touching friendship between two boys I have read about in a long time. I dare you to not tear up from time to time while reading this book, especially toward the end.
Aside from the interesting characters and heartwarming friendship to carry the story along, Deliver Us from Evil also has some of the absolute creepiest friggin' scenes, scenes that sent shivers up and down my skin. This is quiet, psychological horror that will get inside your head and play on your fears. Is that really your tiny son whispering from the darkness, telling you its alright, that you can come closer? And what about the old woman you look after? If she was calling you from a dark closet, saying that she was hurt, would you go inside the closet to help because it's your job? Or would you run away knowing deep down that whatever is inside that closet isn't an old woman at all?
I don't know how Deliver Us from Evil isn't a modern classic, or at least well-known by readers of horror. It is dark, eerie, hypnotic, surprisingly poignant, and absolutely heartbreaking. Don't go into this expecting a pulpy '80s horror story, but do pick this up if you want something a little more literary but still creepy as hell.
Overall, 4.5 stars.
July 14, 2020
In the small town of Lucerne, Georgia, a young girl has gone missing and is found some days later in an abandoned mansion by the sheriff, Charlie, and the local doctor. She is near death following kidnap and abuse. The story then picks up fourteen years later. Charlie is still the sheriff and his son, Larry, who was a baby at the beginning of the novel is now a teenager. Another young teenage boy, Jamey, arrives in town taken in by a crotchety local lady. Who is Jamey and why is he here?
It's hard to give a concise and spoiler-free overview of the story since there is a lot going on but that's not a bad thing. The story is complex and layered and all the better for it. I will say it involves a lot of snakes and a lot of religion and a lot of creepiness.
I loved Harris's writing and the atmosphere he creates is palpable. The characters of the town are all well written and interesting, and there are plenty of secrets hidden behind their closed doors.
Religion plays a big role in this story and as an atheist I thought it was really well done. I don't particularly like when a novel turns preachy and thankfully this one did not.
There were multiple scenes in this novel that genuinely gave me the creeps. It's not often that happens to me so this was a treat. The 'snake well' alone is nightmare material. I also found the book to have heart and emotion, especially with regards to the blossoming friendship between Larry and Jamey, and I might have even cried a little bit at one point.
Overall this was an excellent read! There is an element of mystery which sucked me in right from the beginning and I thought the reveals throughout the book were very well done. Also, this book gets DARK. Some squirmily unsettling things happen here. They were great.
A couple of other things I wanted to mention: There are a couple of racist characters that use the n-word. There are also a couple of characters with possible learning difficulties who are referred to by the r-word. I felt that these were somewhat authentic for the characters and the setting, although still awkward to read so I wanted to point them out.
I was sent a copy of this book by Capricorn Literary and my only criticism is that there were a lot of typos. Mostly it was words spelled with one incorrect letter so you could tell what they supposed to be, or there were quotation marks missing at times. It didn't spoil my reading experience but the amount of them throughout the book was quite disappointing.
Deliver Us From Evil is a real hidden gem and I highly recommend it. It appears the author only had one other horror novel published (Let There Be Dark) and while I definitely want to give that a read it's a shame to know there are no more.
It's hard to give a concise and spoiler-free overview of the story since there is a lot going on but that's not a bad thing. The story is complex and layered and all the better for it. I will say it involves a lot of snakes and a lot of religion and a lot of creepiness.
I loved Harris's writing and the atmosphere he creates is palpable. The characters of the town are all well written and interesting, and there are plenty of secrets hidden behind their closed doors.
Religion plays a big role in this story and as an atheist I thought it was really well done. I don't particularly like when a novel turns preachy and thankfully this one did not.
There were multiple scenes in this novel that genuinely gave me the creeps. It's not often that happens to me so this was a treat. The 'snake well' alone is nightmare material. I also found the book to have heart and emotion, especially with regards to the blossoming friendship between Larry and Jamey, and I might have even cried a little bit at one point.
Overall this was an excellent read! There is an element of mystery which sucked me in right from the beginning and I thought the reveals throughout the book were very well done. Also, this book gets DARK. Some squirmily unsettling things happen here. They were great.
A couple of other things I wanted to mention: There are a couple of racist characters that use the n-word. There are also a couple of characters with possible learning difficulties who are referred to by the r-word. I felt that these were somewhat authentic for the characters and the setting, although still awkward to read so I wanted to point them out.
I was sent a copy of this book by Capricorn Literary and my only criticism is that there were a lot of typos. Mostly it was words spelled with one incorrect letter so you could tell what they supposed to be, or there were quotation marks missing at times. It didn't spoil my reading experience but the amount of them throughout the book was quite disappointing.
Deliver Us From Evil is a real hidden gem and I highly recommend it. It appears the author only had one other horror novel published (Let There Be Dark) and while I definitely want to give that a read it's a shame to know there are no more.
June 4, 2022
3,5 estrellas.
October 24, 2019
Fourteen years ago, in the small rural town of Lucerne, Georgia, a horrible even occurred: the rape of a young insane girl by a mentally defective man. The offspring was abandoned, orphaned, and spends his childhood bouncing through the foster care system. His name is Jamey. And now, 14 years later, there’s something about Jamey that makes people believe he just might be the anti-Christ.
Thanks to the good folks at Capricorn Literary, this horror novel from 1988 has been resurrected, as it were. The author, Allen Lee Harris, attended Harvard Divinity school as well as studied for a PhD in Philosophy so it’s hardly surprising that this is a smartly written novel with deep philosophical themes. The plot surrounds several key players in Lucerne who act as POV characters, including the sheriff, his 14-year-old son, his wife, and several members of the local church. It is through their eyes that we meet Jamey and slowly work out what is transpiring. The author’s background in divinity studies serves him well as a means to write about an alternate view of the Book of Revelations.
The writing is excellent and exudes atmosphere of small-town southern America. It was interesting to see the way the writing style changed here and there depending on which POV character was active at the moment. Not just in dialog but in the actual style of the prose. It was subtle, but very effective. As for the horror element, it built slowly through the entire book, creepy at times, scary at others, and downright horrific during the climactic scenes.
Overall, I do wish that the prose had been tightened up a bit. Some scenes dragged out too long and some of the dialog was repetitive in what seemed to be an attempt to build up the suspense over a longer span. I’m not a big fan of the religious fervor that some characters demonstrated so perhaps that made me wish it had moved along a little quicker. But overall, this is a quality read.
Thanks to the good folks at Capricorn Literary, this horror novel from 1988 has been resurrected, as it were. The author, Allen Lee Harris, attended Harvard Divinity school as well as studied for a PhD in Philosophy so it’s hardly surprising that this is a smartly written novel with deep philosophical themes. The plot surrounds several key players in Lucerne who act as POV characters, including the sheriff, his 14-year-old son, his wife, and several members of the local church. It is through their eyes that we meet Jamey and slowly work out what is transpiring. The author’s background in divinity studies serves him well as a means to write about an alternate view of the Book of Revelations.
The writing is excellent and exudes atmosphere of small-town southern America. It was interesting to see the way the writing style changed here and there depending on which POV character was active at the moment. Not just in dialog but in the actual style of the prose. It was subtle, but very effective. As for the horror element, it built slowly through the entire book, creepy at times, scary at others, and downright horrific during the climactic scenes.
Overall, I do wish that the prose had been tightened up a bit. Some scenes dragged out too long and some of the dialog was repetitive in what seemed to be an attempt to build up the suspense over a longer span. I’m not a big fan of the religious fervor that some characters demonstrated so perhaps that made me wish it had moved along a little quicker. But overall, this is a quality read.
September 10, 2020
a delightfully (and surprisingly) well-written novel, this isn’t your typical pulpy ‘80s horror story. perfect for fans of michael mcdowell or robert mccammon, deliver us from evil lowkey stunned me, at times, with its vivid and poetic prose capturing evil in a small southern town.
where i struggled with this novel, though, was its length—it felt a bit too long, and i was becoming anxious for the story to wrap up. i’ve had that problem a lot lately, though, and i think it’s more issues with my own attention span than the book itself. maybe?
i also couldn’t become attached to any of the characters. though they’re all fine i feel the author included maybe a couple too many, and i really wanted to spend more time with larry and jamey. this could have been a memorable and horrifying coming-of-age sorry—and it occasionally comes close—but i’m coming away from this feeling a bit overwhelmed by just how many people make up this book’s relatively large cast. the novel is only 320-ish pages, too, so there isn’t a lot of room for excessive characters.
i must give this author credit for some exquisitely creepy scenes, often catching me off guard and sticking in my mind. allen lee harris’s ability to get under my skin is what kept me reading, really—and isn’t getting scared one of the main reasons one reads horror?
better than i could have hoped yet still not as great as i would’ve liked, deliver us from evil gets a solid 3 stars and a soft recommendation from me.
where i struggled with this novel, though, was its length—it felt a bit too long, and i was becoming anxious for the story to wrap up. i’ve had that problem a lot lately, though, and i think it’s more issues with my own attention span than the book itself. maybe?
i also couldn’t become attached to any of the characters. though they’re all fine i feel the author included maybe a couple too many, and i really wanted to spend more time with larry and jamey. this could have been a memorable and horrifying coming-of-age sorry—and it occasionally comes close—but i’m coming away from this feeling a bit overwhelmed by just how many people make up this book’s relatively large cast. the novel is only 320-ish pages, too, so there isn’t a lot of room for excessive characters.
i must give this author credit for some exquisitely creepy scenes, often catching me off guard and sticking in my mind. allen lee harris’s ability to get under my skin is what kept me reading, really—and isn’t getting scared one of the main reasons one reads horror?
better than i could have hoped yet still not as great as i would’ve liked, deliver us from evil gets a solid 3 stars and a soft recommendation from me.
November 18, 2019
This! This is the type of southern gothic horror novel I love!
The type I read so many of in the early days of Stephen King, John Saul and so many others...
An absolute horror classic!
The story was fun, intense and creepy. Amusement park, roller coaster, fast car, haunted house type of fun, intense and creepy.
The writing was extremely well done... I became engrossed from page 1 and I stayed engrossed for the rest of the book.
You don't read this story, you experience it, you feel it seeping into your pores, a true you are there experience.
If you are a horror fan, this is a must read.
The type I read so many of in the early days of Stephen King, John Saul and so many others...
An absolute horror classic!
The story was fun, intense and creepy. Amusement park, roller coaster, fast car, haunted house type of fun, intense and creepy.
The writing was extremely well done... I became engrossed from page 1 and I stayed engrossed for the rest of the book.
You don't read this story, you experience it, you feel it seeping into your pores, a true you are there experience.
If you are a horror fan, this is a must read.
July 10, 2021
Me encanta pasar miedo con los libros de terror que leo, y éste es uno de esos... No es un miedo continúo, pero sí es un libro muy "visual", con unas descripciones muchas veces escalofriantes y con una trama que te engancha desde el principio... Y el giro del final es alucinante, sí queréis leer algo interesante y pasar miedo con un libro, leedlo, merece mucho la pena.
June 4, 2022
Esa portada que te dice que esto será como una película ochentera de terror, con sus monstruos sangrientos y sobreactuaciones de chavales jovenes en sus insituto... Que lástima que nada tenga que ver y nos hable de un pasado oscuro que vuelve en forma de huerfano que da de vez en cuando una pincelada de algo que podríamos llamar erroneamente "terror".
Demasiado light para que nos quiere ofrecer visualmente.
Demasiado light para que nos quiere ofrecer visualmente.
August 24, 2021
3.5. Decent writing, good story. I just found it harder to get into than I would have liked. Seemed a little bit slow moving at times, and the font was small lol. Loved the setting, since it was written closer to the time it was made to be, it was more accurate it felt, like you could feel yourself in that era. Simpler times for sure.
April 13, 2022
I discovered this book as a fourteen year-old and it piqued all my adolescent interests while giving me a good scare. It has all the hallmarks of horror: an asylum escapee, child torture, magick, and a paranormal snake portal. I found it tantalizing, shocking, and thought provoking, owing mostly to the rich tapestry of prose that Harris has woven for the reader. Now, as a middle-aged man, I see the book through a different filter. The book is rife with what can best be described as “extra-cinematic coding” in film. The stereotypes utilized by Harris revolving around African-Americans, mental illness, the south, and the occult are fairly shocking to me as an adult, and not for the reasons the author intended. Despite its follies it remains a worthwhile read, though don’t expect much more from it than you would Dean Koontz’s “Phantoms”.
October 19, 2019
I won this book on Goodreads (kindle version) for an honest review.
This is thoroughly a creepy book and highly recommended for those that can handle a truly scary and horrific tale. This author spins a story that chills you to the bone. The characters are well thought out and the scenery is appropriate for the story. I could not put this one down but when I did I had to sleep with the lights on and it stayed on my mind for a few days. Well written and very very creepy. This author is one I will continue to follow and watch for future books as I believe they know how to write a story that truly gets to you.
This is thoroughly a creepy book and highly recommended for those that can handle a truly scary and horrific tale. This author spins a story that chills you to the bone. The characters are well thought out and the scenery is appropriate for the story. I could not put this one down but when I did I had to sleep with the lights on and it stayed on my mind for a few days. Well written and very very creepy. This author is one I will continue to follow and watch for future books as I believe they know how to write a story that truly gets to you.
July 28, 2012
One of the best I ever read!
January 29, 2020
This was a tough read. The story was all over the place and the amount of typos was distracting. I never could fully immerse myself in it.
July 17, 2020
*This book was given to me by the author at my request, and I provided this voluntary, unbiased review.*
5/5
WOW. This book was an absolute stunner! I couldn't put this thing down. Even though it took a little bit to get going, it definitely got going... and it was SO GOOD! I really loved that the author painted the setting of two different time periods in deep South Georgia so well that not only did I know what it was, I could picture it perfectly in my head. He gave us a window into the real past with a fictional story, and even blended in religious themes seamlessly. There was such deep character development throughout the book, it tied into the suspense of the thrill and horror of the events that transpired; it worked so well. This is A+ quality writing: this book reads just like a Steven King book; without all of the Steven King baggage and silliness.
Go out and buy this book NOW!
5/5
WOW. This book was an absolute stunner! I couldn't put this thing down. Even though it took a little bit to get going, it definitely got going... and it was SO GOOD! I really loved that the author painted the setting of two different time periods in deep South Georgia so well that not only did I know what it was, I could picture it perfectly in my head. He gave us a window into the real past with a fictional story, and even blended in religious themes seamlessly. There was such deep character development throughout the book, it tied into the suspense of the thrill and horror of the events that transpired; it worked so well. This is A+ quality writing: this book reads just like a Steven King book; without all of the Steven King baggage and silliness.
Go out and buy this book NOW!
November 8, 2024
An escaped lunatic abducts the preacher's daughter and does unspeakable things to her at the old snake well. Fourteen years later, a young orphan boy shows up in town with some strange quirks and special abilities. Strange dreams, murmurs about Newjesus and the locals start dying in horrific fashion. Is the boy a savior or the anti-Christ?
An 80s religious horror story, considering it was the first novel by Harris, it was written well, and had his own spin on the theme common to that era. Though I mostly liked it, the story did get much too religious for my tastes, and I chose the wrong period of time to read it, when I wasn't in the right mindset. 3.5 rounded to 4*.
An 80s religious horror story, considering it was the first novel by Harris, it was written well, and had his own spin on the theme common to that era. Though I mostly liked it, the story did get much too religious for my tastes, and I chose the wrong period of time to read it, when I wasn't in the right mindset. 3.5 rounded to 4*.
January 12, 2020
OMG... Deliver us from this book
I love to read and I spent more than 5 hours reading this book but it just rambled on and on and on making no damn sense at all and just when you thought that it was going to give you something concrete to figure out it went a different way. I had to stop on page 198 because I felt like I was not enjoying it at all
I love to read and I spent more than 5 hours reading this book but it just rambled on and on and on making no damn sense at all and just when you thought that it was going to give you something concrete to figure out it went a different way. I had to stop on page 198 because I felt like I was not enjoying it at all
March 17, 2020
Scary stuff!
This one is best first book to truly give me the jitters in a long time. I am 67 years and I have always loved horror. It has been years since I have read a book that made me jump out of my skin just because the house made a sound when it settled. Awesome stuff, this book.
This one is best first book to truly give me the jitters in a long time. I am 67 years and I have always loved horror. It has been years since I have read a book that made me jump out of my skin just because the house made a sound when it settled. Awesome stuff, this book.
dnf
February 11, 2020Life is too short to waste on a book with that many slurs and typos in the first 10 pages.
May 15, 2020
A fantastic classic southern horror that utilizes religious imagery well
A slow burn with excellent narration highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
A slow burn with excellent narration highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
February 8, 2021
Excellent book kept me turning pages. It was a tad over religious though. A bit preachy. IMHO
November 19, 2023
One of the first "scary" books I read as a teenager (many moons ago). This book is probably the reason why I eagerly ventured into the "horror" genre of literature.
September 5, 2016
El mejor libro de terror que he leído en mi vida. Desde la primera página me ha perturbado. Una lectura tan brutal como desconocida. 10/10.
September 14, 2019
A good solid read, that gets better toward the end. Impressed with the age of the author at the time of the writing.
February 12, 2020
A really good, really creepy story. A few minor spelling errors, but well worth reading.
January 25, 2020
¿Quieres leer una buena historia de terror? Esta es de las buenas. Merece ser más conocida.
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