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Earl Marcus #2
In the Valley of the Devil
Private investigator Earl Marcus thought he'd conquered his demons after vanquishing the malevolent spirit of his fundamentalist preacher father-but now, he must face something much more terrifying than the devil he knew.
Earl Marcus found new hope after confronting the unspeakable evil unleashed by his father’s fundamentalist Church of the Holy Flame. Now plying his trade as a private investigator in the North Georgia mountains, he’s drawn once again into a dark abyss of depravity, and murder.
Tasked with what seems like a routine job, Earl stumbles into a mysterious cornfield where an old mountain legend appears to have awakened. Just as he begins to hear rumors of a place in the woods behind a dark cornfield where a killer collects human skulls, his partner Mary Hawkins vanishes.
As the litany of terror grows, the poisoned spirits of Earl’s past return to claim their final victims. And on an old train trestle over a swift-running river at the edge of a cornfield Earl will confront his worst fears. Time is running out for Mary—and unless Earl can wrest her from the control of a secretive cabal comprised of some of the area’s most elite—and wealthiest—citizens, she could be lost to him forever in In the Valley of the Devil, the second harrowing installment of the Earl Marcus mysteries by Hank Early.
Earl Marcus found new hope after confronting the unspeakable evil unleashed by his father’s fundamentalist Church of the Holy Flame. Now plying his trade as a private investigator in the North Georgia mountains, he’s drawn once again into a dark abyss of depravity, and murder.
Tasked with what seems like a routine job, Earl stumbles into a mysterious cornfield where an old mountain legend appears to have awakened. Just as he begins to hear rumors of a place in the woods behind a dark cornfield where a killer collects human skulls, his partner Mary Hawkins vanishes.
As the litany of terror grows, the poisoned spirits of Earl’s past return to claim their final victims. And on an old train trestle over a swift-running river at the edge of a cornfield Earl will confront his worst fears. Time is running out for Mary—and unless Earl can wrest her from the control of a secretive cabal comprised of some of the area’s most elite—and wealthiest—citizens, she could be lost to him forever in In the Valley of the Devil, the second harrowing installment of the Earl Marcus mysteries by Hank Early.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2018
21 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Hank Early
5 books126 followersHank Early spent much of his youth in the mountains of North Georgia, but he never held a snake or got struck by lightning. These days, he lives in central Alabama with his wife and two kids. He writes crime, watches too much basketball, and rarely sleeps. Heaven's Crooked Finger is his first novel. He's represented by Alec Shane of Writers House.
In a previous life, he published some books as John Mantooth. Check them out here:
https://www.amazon.com/John-Mantooth/...
In a previous life, he published some books as John Mantooth. Check them out here:
https://www.amazon.com/John-Mantooth/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 10, 2018
NOW AVAILABLE!!!!
this is book two of the southern crime series featuring private investigator earl marcus, and i liked it just slightly less than the first, Heaven's Crooked Finger. the debut was stuffed to the rafters with plot - detailing earl marcus’ unpleasantly necessary homecoming and the backstory about what drove him away; all old wounds and spectacularly bad daddy issues, while readers were also being taken through the intricate web of connections in these north georgia mountains - between religion, law enforcement, families, criminals, the gritty world of rednecks and snake handlers with as many betrayals as unexpected allies. plus a little dusting of the supernatural. and some romance, to offset the gloom.
by comparison, this one is much more spare.
although marcus managed to take care of many evildoers in Heaven's Crooked Finger, the nature of the north georgia mountains abhors a vacuum of evil, and when a high-profile minister comes to town to promote his new book and his racist, sexist beliefs, the leftover evil seems ignited with new energy, causing that palpable buzzy unease that comes before a storm, and strange things start happening; human skulls are found, sightings of old nathaniel - a baddie from local mountain folklore - are reported, and while co-investigating rumors of criminal activity in a funhouse of a cornfield, marcus’ detective girlfriend mary vanishes amidst the stalks, presumably kidnapped by racists for whom a black female in a position of authority is a triple threat to their worldview.
from there on out, earl marcus has one goal - find mary, and one strategy - crack skulls. i applaud the single-mindedness of this, but for a PI, marcus doesn’t have much game. he's very much a self-destructive-bull-in-china-shop, frequently ending up in situations where death seems inevitable, and instead of getting fighty, he'll just lean into it with a shrug. you can't be that blasé mid-mission, when your lady's life is on the line. fortunately, he’s also the luckiest sumbitch around and he extricates himself from these circumstances more through chance than skill, although he does get peed on once, which is unfortunate. but back to fortunate is that he seems to have far more blood than the average man, and a resilience of body allowing him to function through assaults that would defeat an ordinary person.
in between these assaults, he has time for reflection on the nature of evil:
he’s not always great at his job this time out, perhaps affected by blood and girlfriend-loss, but luck and endurance go a long way, along with the assistance of prophetic dreams and apparitions and the sustaining bellyfire of rage. it may weaken his impulse control and cause him to react unprofessionally, but i think it's always considered justifiable to punch a racist. and at least he’s aware of his tendency to cave to anger and violence: I could control it better and sometimes even direct it for good, but I was always susceptible to losing my shit.
spoiler alert - that quote is from the beginning of the book, before mary is kidnapped, and this "control" is not much in evidence.
it's less fully-developed than Heaven's Crooked Finger, but a lot of the work that was done there pays off here - rufus is back, ronnie thrash is back, and there have been several major changes in the town after those events played out that continue to develop here. and a lot of what happens here, which is a somewhat introspective journey addressing personal shortcomings, ruminating on evil, understanding the history of the region and how the different social, racial, economic cogs interlock, seems to be setting up what comes next for earl marcus, a future which i hope includes the return of the man with the strawberry tattoo.
here are two things that cheesed me off:
PI-fail - marcus gets an exposition-heavy phone message from the sheriff about a number of important developments before he gets around to:
although that sounds like a really important message that might concern the fate of the woman he has spent 228 pages searching for, he doesn't call back, he doesn't pursue it any further. he goes to sleep. has a dream. wakes up. goes to the hardware store. it's true he's on a mission and he's got a plan, but i still think you'd want to check in and see about that skull.
and i am mad about goose! that poor dog! earl marcus'll stop off at home to eat some food and he'll remember to feed goose with "big bowls," and then he'll be gone for like 16 hours at a time. poor goose all cooped up and lonesome. i hope he pooped big bowls of food all over the bed.
also, susan monroe is the nicest, prettiest librarian of all time and you'd better be planning on fixing her car, earl marcus!
come to my blog!
this is book two of the southern crime series featuring private investigator earl marcus, and i liked it just slightly less than the first, Heaven's Crooked Finger. the debut was stuffed to the rafters with plot - detailing earl marcus’ unpleasantly necessary homecoming and the backstory about what drove him away; all old wounds and spectacularly bad daddy issues, while readers were also being taken through the intricate web of connections in these north georgia mountains - between religion, law enforcement, families, criminals, the gritty world of rednecks and snake handlers with as many betrayals as unexpected allies. plus a little dusting of the supernatural. and some romance, to offset the gloom.
by comparison, this one is much more spare.
although marcus managed to take care of many evildoers in Heaven's Crooked Finger, the nature of the north georgia mountains abhors a vacuum of evil, and when a high-profile minister comes to town to promote his new book and his racist, sexist beliefs, the leftover evil seems ignited with new energy, causing that palpable buzzy unease that comes before a storm, and strange things start happening; human skulls are found, sightings of old nathaniel - a baddie from local mountain folklore - are reported, and while co-investigating rumors of criminal activity in a funhouse of a cornfield, marcus’ detective girlfriend mary vanishes amidst the stalks, presumably kidnapped by racists for whom a black female in a position of authority is a triple threat to their worldview.
from there on out, earl marcus has one goal - find mary, and one strategy - crack skulls. i applaud the single-mindedness of this, but for a PI, marcus doesn’t have much game. he's very much a self-destructive-bull-in-china-shop, frequently ending up in situations where death seems inevitable, and instead of getting fighty, he'll just lean into it with a shrug. you can't be that blasé mid-mission, when your lady's life is on the line. fortunately, he’s also the luckiest sumbitch around and he extricates himself from these circumstances more through chance than skill, although he does get peed on once, which is unfortunate. but back to fortunate is that he seems to have far more blood than the average man, and a resilience of body allowing him to function through assaults that would defeat an ordinary person.
in between these assaults, he has time for reflection on the nature of evil:
When I’d come up in these mountains over thirty years ago, the racism and misogyny had had as much to do with ignorance and poor education as it had with pure hatred. Sure, it was still vile, and men like my father who perpetuated it and capitalized on it were beyond reprehensible. Yet, what seemed to be happening now…felt meaner, more despicable somehow, as if it were an extension - or maybe a better word was a symptom - of the corrosion of goodwill and basic decency that seemed to be pervading so many parts of our country.
Of course, there were some who would always follow a persuasive leader, but I couldn’t help but draw a distinction between folks who didn’t have the worldly experience and education to know better and those that did. The latter seemed unspeakably vile to me.
he’s not always great at his job this time out, perhaps affected by blood and girlfriend-loss, but luck and endurance go a long way, along with the assistance of prophetic dreams and apparitions and the sustaining bellyfire of rage. it may weaken his impulse control and cause him to react unprofessionally, but i think it's always considered justifiable to punch a racist. and at least he’s aware of his tendency to cave to anger and violence: I could control it better and sometimes even direct it for good, but I was always susceptible to losing my shit.
spoiler alert - that quote is from the beginning of the book, before mary is kidnapped, and this "control" is not much in evidence.
it's less fully-developed than Heaven's Crooked Finger, but a lot of the work that was done there pays off here - rufus is back, ronnie thrash is back, and there have been several major changes in the town after those events played out that continue to develop here. and a lot of what happens here, which is a somewhat introspective journey addressing personal shortcomings, ruminating on evil, understanding the history of the region and how the different social, racial, economic cogs interlock, seems to be setting up what comes next for earl marcus, a future which i hope includes the return of the man with the strawberry tattoo.
here are two things that cheesed me off:
PI-fail - marcus gets an exposition-heavy phone message from the sheriff about a number of important developments before he gets around to:
"The real news is what one of my deputies found over near the cornfield. It was a human skull. Well, it was a head, but a lot of the skull was exposed. Shit, it looked like the face had been ripped clean off. It's going to be a bit before forensics can get back to us, but I have to tell you it look--"
The phone beeped and a female voice said, "End of messages."
although that sounds like a really important message that might concern the fate of the woman he has spent 228 pages searching for, he doesn't call back, he doesn't pursue it any further. he goes to sleep. has a dream. wakes up. goes to the hardware store. it's true he's on a mission and he's got a plan, but i still think you'd want to check in and see about that skull.
and i am mad about goose! that poor dog! earl marcus'll stop off at home to eat some food and he'll remember to feed goose with "big bowls," and then he'll be gone for like 16 hours at a time. poor goose all cooped up and lonesome. i hope he pooped big bowls of food all over the bed.
also, susan monroe is the nicest, prettiest librarian of all time and you'd better be planning on fixing her car, earl marcus!
come to my blog!
June 14, 2018
3.5 I was quite taken with the first book in this series. in this, the second Earl Marcus, now a private investigator is in a long distance relationship with his girlfriend Mary, when she goes missing. He thought he had dispelled the evil, in his own father, but it seems there is an unending amount of evil in those hills. As Early tries to find out what happened to Mary, he encounters a strange corn field, extreme racial prejudice, and an old folk legend come to life.
I like the mix of different elements in this series. Old friends, old secrets, old fears and unending hate are all part of this story. It was quite long, I felt it could have been shorter, there was quite a bit of running around, with Marcus managing to escape dangerous situations again and again. Beat up quite badly many times. Strained credibility. So while entertaining, it wasn't as tightly plotted as the first.
A likable series, gritty with interesting characters, I will definitely read the third.
ARC from Netgalley.
I like the mix of different elements in this series. Old friends, old secrets, old fears and unending hate are all part of this story. It was quite long, I felt it could have been shorter, there was quite a bit of running around, with Marcus managing to escape dangerous situations again and again. Beat up quite badly many times. Strained credibility. So while entertaining, it wasn't as tightly plotted as the first.
A likable series, gritty with interesting characters, I will definitely read the third.
ARC from Netgalley.
June 30, 2018
I absolutely adored Heaven’s Crooked Finger, Early’s first book in this series. So, it’s an understatement to say I was anxious for book two.
The writing here is just as descriptive. “He was like a gnat at dusk that won’t stop chewing on your skin, or a hangnail you can’t ever get rid of because it cut too deep.”
The plot grabbed me from the get go. Earl was changed at an early age by a snakebite handling rattlers in his father’s church. Since then, he’s had premonitions and vivid dreams. This sort of thing, in the hands of a lesser writer, would not play well with me. But here, it works. “It was the dream. I didn’t want to admit it, but that was what was behind my fear, my hesitation, and I hated myself for it. I didn’t want to be the kind of man who believed his own visions.” And the rest of the characters are wonderful. Ronnie and Rufus, each in their own way, have great insight into the human condition. All the characters are fully drawn.
You have no problems envisioning the scenes or the people. This is more than your standard mystery when someone goes missing. Much more. It’s not a fast paced book. It’s not a book you’re going to be tearing through the pages. Nor would you want to. Because then you’d miss the writing and the great descriptions and dialog.
This is a timely book. It deals with re-emerging racism, both overt and covert. And I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I kept feeling like there was a sub-text to the book. “Of course, there were some that would always follow a persuasive leader, but I couldn’t help but draw a distinction between folks who didn’t have worldly experience and education to know better and those that did.”
My thanks to netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of this novel.
June 24, 2018
I read this book while on a trip to the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia so the stage was set for me. I really loved the first in the series, this one was good but didn't live up to the "edge of your seat" like the first one did. But there was quite a bit of mystery, angst, hatred and bigotry in this one. When Earl's girlfriend is kidnapped and things unravel to reveal a deep hatred and bigotry running through the area Earl isn't sure if either of them will make it out of there alive.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
February 16, 2018
This book wrestles with the concept of evil in our world. Where does it come from and why are some people affected by it and others not? There are no answers and Hank Early doesn't give out platitudes which I was glad of. There are evil people, and if we knew how they were created we could look for a cure. But it is nebulous and unfathomable. But focusing on the good helps. I read a lot of crime fiction. I think it warps my view of the world. Sometimes I have to stop and notice the kindness of others to balance it all. Hank Early gets my vote as not only being able to entertain with a story, but to go deeper and delve into the mystery of our hidden selves.
February 7, 2018
Whoa! Hank Early has found his perfect niche in this series. It does NOT get better than this. Oozing atmosphere, this perfect blend of gothic horror, combined with a heavy dose of classic noir,is as addictive as any drug. I'm dying to see where Earl Marcus goes from Here. Wherever it is, I'm going right along with him!
June 25, 2018
There's nothing better than discovering a new author and watching them grow better as a writer with each successive book. Hank Early's first Earl Marcus novel, Heaven's Crooked Finger, was a startling debut, but this novel tops it. Somehow the prose is even tighter and more beautiful, the plot is more focused, and having set the world in motion, Early has the ability to give depth to characters that were immensely deep to begin with. No doubt this will be at the top of my "Best of" list at the end of the year.
July 12, 2018
“The world never ran out of monsters.” Earl Marcus is back fighting them In the Valley of the Devil.
In the rural Georgia mountain countryside, a new preacher has arrived. Jeb Walsh is running for the Senate, pushing his book and preaching his version of hate and intolerence at his town square rally. In the meantime, racist graffiti is turning up all over town. A rumor about Old Nathaniel, a hooded racist killer, has resurfaced after several African-Americans are reported missing.
Earl has recovered from the incidents in Heaven’s Crooked Finger. He is now a private detective. When his African-American Atlanta police officer girlfriend, Mary, is kidnapped, Earl pulls out all the stops to find her.
In the Valley of the Devil really lives up to the thriller label. It is an exhilarating pulse-pounding ride to the finish. Highly recommended but I cannot overemphasize the need to read Heaven’s Crooked Finger first. Events in the first book continue to impact the characters in this book plus there are major spoilers in here. Luckily, both the first book and this one are excellent and earn 5 stars!
Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
In the rural Georgia mountain countryside, a new preacher has arrived. Jeb Walsh is running for the Senate, pushing his book and preaching his version of hate and intolerence at his town square rally. In the meantime, racist graffiti is turning up all over town. A rumor about Old Nathaniel, a hooded racist killer, has resurfaced after several African-Americans are reported missing.
Earl has recovered from the incidents in Heaven’s Crooked Finger. He is now a private detective. When his African-American Atlanta police officer girlfriend, Mary, is kidnapped, Earl pulls out all the stops to find her.
In the Valley of the Devil really lives up to the thriller label. It is an exhilarating pulse-pounding ride to the finish. Highly recommended but I cannot overemphasize the need to read Heaven’s Crooked Finger first. Events in the first book continue to impact the characters in this book plus there are major spoilers in here. Luckily, both the first book and this one are excellent and earn 5 stars!
Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
January 24, 2023
What a complete and TOTAL surprise this book was!!
When I had seen 'A Mystery' on the cover....I thought; 'Well i don't usually read a mystery, I am more Horror' but it sounded so creepy that I started to listen to it. Once the narrator started to tell the story of private investigator Earl Marcus being raised around the evil and wrong doings of his fathers fundamentalist church in the Georgia Mtns. I was HOOKED!! Years later Earl Marcus is back in this creepy assed town and comes upon a very scary corn field where rumors of a Dark Soul who murders and collects skulls for a pasttime, makes him stop. And this is when and where Earl's partner/girlfriend (who just happens to be black...) suddenly disappears in the cornfield!!
With this being the second part and book to "Heavens Crooked Finger" you KNOW i will be looking up this one next to listen to!
Highly recommended, I LOVED this book and the writing.
5 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
When I had seen 'A Mystery' on the cover....I thought; 'Well i don't usually read a mystery, I am more Horror' but it sounded so creepy that I started to listen to it. Once the narrator started to tell the story of private investigator Earl Marcus being raised around the evil and wrong doings of his fathers fundamentalist church in the Georgia Mtns. I was HOOKED!! Years later Earl Marcus is back in this creepy assed town and comes upon a very scary corn field where rumors of a Dark Soul who murders and collects skulls for a pasttime, makes him stop. And this is when and where Earl's partner/girlfriend (who just happens to be black...) suddenly disappears in the cornfield!!
With this being the second part and book to "Heavens Crooked Finger" you KNOW i will be looking up this one next to listen to!
Highly recommended, I LOVED this book and the writing.
5 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
April 21, 2022
i knocked off a star b/c there is no way that mary (atlanta cop) could disappear without a full scale investigation & media blitz. instead crickets & finally (towards the end of the book, page 286) a single sentence:
He managed to get the Atlanta police to finally stop sniffing around when he showed them the skull.
and that skull? earl never followed up on it.
He managed to get the Atlanta police to finally stop sniffing around when he showed them the skull.
and that skull? earl never followed up on it.
July 9, 2021
This book was interesting. Talked about the devil, and faith and believing in God. And how each situation relates to each. It’s a self refectory book.
April 28, 2023
**Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review, sorry it took me so long.**
This is the second book in the Earl Marcus trilogy. This series is what I’ll call Southern Gothic Noir. Earl has a lot of personal demons but remains a decent person trying to do the right thing. Sadly, there’s too many evil bastards out there getting in his way. But that’s makes for an excellent experience for the reader. I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Craig Jessen, does a fantastic job with his soothing deep voice he captures the feel and heart of Earl. Plus his southern accent is excellent.
I recommend reading the first book in the trilogy, Heaven’s Crooked Finger, before reading or listening to this one.
I highly recommend this series for fans of John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series. Very similar feel abd tone to both series. I can’t wait to read the 3rd book in the trilogy though I’m sad it’s not available on audio.
This is the second book in the Earl Marcus trilogy. This series is what I’ll call Southern Gothic Noir. Earl has a lot of personal demons but remains a decent person trying to do the right thing. Sadly, there’s too many evil bastards out there getting in his way. But that’s makes for an excellent experience for the reader. I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Craig Jessen, does a fantastic job with his soothing deep voice he captures the feel and heart of Earl. Plus his southern accent is excellent.
I recommend reading the first book in the trilogy, Heaven’s Crooked Finger, before reading or listening to this one.
I highly recommend this series for fans of John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series. Very similar feel abd tone to both series. I can’t wait to read the 3rd book in the trilogy though I’m sad it’s not available on audio.
December 11, 2023
Ughh, this had the most unsatisfying ending! The worst is, I'm sure these questions are answered in the next book but Scribd, Everand, whatever, has only made audiobooks of the first two!!! AGHHHHHHHHHHHH
But otherwise, this is a really good underrated book. I can't believe how few people have read it. If you like Justified, this is the series for you.
But otherwise, this is a really good underrated book. I can't believe how few people have read it. If you like Justified, this is the series for you.
April 29, 2018
Private investigator Earl Marcus is at war with the white supremacists infesting his rural Georgia town. With the assistance of his blind best friend, an angelically patient library director, a man he'd rather have nothing to do with, a girl whose brother has also disappeared, and a raft of other allies, he races against the clock to save his girlfriend, a black homicide cop who went missing in a spooky cornfield — allegedly captured by Old Nathaniel, the devilish mythical figure that haunts the valley. Earl, still reeling from his traumatic relationship with his fire-and-brimstone preacher father and disturbed by his latest prophetic dream, battles both powerful enemies and a shadowy bogeyman.
While the basic message it champions (racism = bad) can only be praised, sadly this book tests the tensile strength of its readers' credulity to such an extent that the facepalms detract from any good intentions it may have. Earl's escapades as he runs from point A to point B to point C with little apparent rhyme or reason, liberally distributing punches, pointing his gun with predictable regularity, getting knocked around, then setting off again on his wild pursuit, left me thoroughly exhausted and bewildered. What saves this novel, in my opinion, is the weaving of local folklore and criminal history into Old Nathaniel as an instrument of racist violence.
If you're looking for a novel featuring an impressively lucky yet spectacularly unlucky character with poor impulse control, frequent memory lapses, quasi-superhuman resistance to pain, and chronic phone charging issues, this comedy of errors is for you.
I was provided with a free electronic copy of this book through NetGalley by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, in exchange for an honest review.
While the basic message it champions (racism = bad) can only be praised, sadly this book tests the tensile strength of its readers' credulity to such an extent that the facepalms detract from any good intentions it may have. Earl's escapades as he runs from point A to point B to point C with little apparent rhyme or reason, liberally distributing punches, pointing his gun with predictable regularity, getting knocked around, then setting off again on his wild pursuit, left me thoroughly exhausted and bewildered. What saves this novel, in my opinion, is the weaving of local folklore and criminal history into Old Nathaniel as an instrument of racist violence.
If you're looking for a novel featuring an impressively lucky yet spectacularly unlucky character with poor impulse control, frequent memory lapses, quasi-superhuman resistance to pain, and chronic phone charging issues, this comedy of errors is for you.
I was provided with a free electronic copy of this book through NetGalley by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2020
I enjoyed the first Earl Marcus book so much, and was so impressed with the writing, that as soon as I finished Heaven's Crooked Finger, I immedioately went online and ordered the next book in the series, this book: In the Valley of the Devil. Last nght I literally stayed up until almost 5am reading, I couldn't put it down until I finished it. I could not stop turning the pages! I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
I think Hank Early is a remarkable writer, and his books should be getting a lot more attention than they are. The characters are real and the background struggles that many of them have that tie them together is as fascinating as it is horrible. As someone with an abusive childhood myself, although not anything to do with religion, I could relate to so much of the anger and dysfunction that Earl and his friend Rufus, and his cousin all struggled with over the years trying to overcome the abuse and ugliness they were raised in. They aren't perfect people, but they feel real. People aren't all good. They make mistakes and act stupid sometimes, and they can do evil as well as good. That comes through in spades as Hank Eary allows Earl to grow and evolve as he tries to come to terms with his psychological and emotional pain. Growth is life, and working through a past filled with anger is difficult, and can go a lot of different ways as people make choices in their lives. As Earl notes in the book, it's easy to believe that someone who does horrific things is born evil. It's easier to see the world in black and white.
Earl's blind friend Rufus is a good balance to Earl, and shows him that even when the problems are too big for one lone man to fight, it's still worth doing ... it's still worth speaking out, even if it just makes a few people think. There are plenty of dangerous, selfish and greedy people in the world who care more about making a buck or hurting others than anything else, but Earl realizes that people who you care about are worth fighting for, even when it would be easier to write them off and give up. I really liked the emotional growth that happened with Earl in this book, and his thoughts on happiness and love. The writing was powerful and moving, and stood out as so genuine and stark.
The social commentary on social classes and privilege, and the lack of empathy and compassion in so many people these days is spot on. The anger and aching heart that Earl and his friend Rufus feel, especially when they are looking at young children born into poverty and an abusive situation... it's a stark reminder of how some children seem born with so many obstacles in front of them, and too many just don't seem to care as they fall between the cracks.
A lot of racism and xenophobia and ignorance has been on the rise lately, and this book really looks at what that can be like in a small town where the rich and powerful have a lot of ugly beliefs and feelings buried just under the surface of their public faces. I highly recommend it! In fact, I plan to immediately go order the next book in the series, and I hope that Early keeps writing.
I think Hank Early is a remarkable writer, and his books should be getting a lot more attention than they are. The characters are real and the background struggles that many of them have that tie them together is as fascinating as it is horrible. As someone with an abusive childhood myself, although not anything to do with religion, I could relate to so much of the anger and dysfunction that Earl and his friend Rufus, and his cousin all struggled with over the years trying to overcome the abuse and ugliness they were raised in. They aren't perfect people, but they feel real. People aren't all good. They make mistakes and act stupid sometimes, and they can do evil as well as good. That comes through in spades as Hank Eary allows Earl to grow and evolve as he tries to come to terms with his psychological and emotional pain. Growth is life, and working through a past filled with anger is difficult, and can go a lot of different ways as people make choices in their lives. As Earl notes in the book, it's easy to believe that someone who does horrific things is born evil. It's easier to see the world in black and white.
Earl's blind friend Rufus is a good balance to Earl, and shows him that even when the problems are too big for one lone man to fight, it's still worth doing ... it's still worth speaking out, even if it just makes a few people think. There are plenty of dangerous, selfish and greedy people in the world who care more about making a buck or hurting others than anything else, but Earl realizes that people who you care about are worth fighting for, even when it would be easier to write them off and give up. I really liked the emotional growth that happened with Earl in this book, and his thoughts on happiness and love. The writing was powerful and moving, and stood out as so genuine and stark.
The social commentary on social classes and privilege, and the lack of empathy and compassion in so many people these days is spot on. The anger and aching heart that Earl and his friend Rufus feel, especially when they are looking at young children born into poverty and an abusive situation... it's a stark reminder of how some children seem born with so many obstacles in front of them, and too many just don't seem to care as they fall between the cracks.
A lot of racism and xenophobia and ignorance has been on the rise lately, and this book really looks at what that can be like in a small town where the rich and powerful have a lot of ugly beliefs and feelings buried just under the surface of their public faces. I highly recommend it! In fact, I plan to immediately go order the next book in the series, and I hope that Early keeps writing.
February 4, 2022
8Can't review this one without spoilers.
Like the first in the series, this was impossible to put down. I listened to it in one sitting/work shift. The pacing is great. The author notes that one of his proof readers kept reminding him "I'm waiting for something to happen...' to stop him from going on and on. It worked. It really was hard to pause.
The writing was solid, the narration was solid (if perhaps a touch exaggerated- ha-white, for example), and we did get some nice character development. The story was monstrous, and while not quite as realistic as the first installment, it was still believable. Instead of straight-up religious extremism, here we had white supremacy supported by religious extremism. Toxic combination. The plot took a page from The Most Dangerous Game, and added a bunch of neo-nazis and an figure of urban legend known for killing black people who get too close to the white part of town.
Yeah, it wasn't subtle in any way, but it still worked.
Mary is absent for most of the book, having been captured by the aforementioned neo-nazis. Her role was filled by Ronnie, a disaffected former member of the Church of Light.
So here's the spoiler, I guess. Ronnie ends up being a really compelling character. There was this one line where he's trying to explain how much sometimes there is no right thing or wrong thing, just two wrong things and you still have to pick one. That kind of summed him up. The guy was a petty criminal and recovering addict, living in a shack by the river. He has massive unresolved issues relating to his traumatic upbringing. He's not ok, but because he's functional throughout the story, because we see him try to help his niece and nephew, and we see how hard he tries to help (and gain the respect of) the protagonist, we forget it. Until the end, where he saves the day before driving his truck into a corn field where a white supremacist snuff film crew are about to kill Earl and Mary. Someone was run over and he was put away for manslaughter despite all the evidence and the vociferous protests of the people he saved. It sent him over the edge, and his kindred love of Earl turned into suspicion, paranoia and rage. It was so sad.
So yeah, that was a huge bummer. I'm concerned that if he is revisited later, it's going to be a tragic storyline instead of a redemptive one.
The other thing was, of course, the main villains get away. Aaargh. But also probably the most realistic part of the story. If you're rich and white...
I enjoyed it. Again, it was quite a bit more fantastical than the first book, and you do have to suspend your disbelief a bit (poor Earl makes some really bad decisions, and he somehow manages to defy death a number of times when he really shouldn't have) but it was still very compelling.
Like the first in the series, this was impossible to put down. I listened to it in one sitting/work shift. The pacing is great. The author notes that one of his proof readers kept reminding him "I'm waiting for something to happen...' to stop him from going on and on. It worked. It really was hard to pause.
The writing was solid, the narration was solid (if perhaps a touch exaggerated- ha-white, for example), and we did get some nice character development. The story was monstrous, and while not quite as realistic as the first installment, it was still believable. Instead of straight-up religious extremism, here we had white supremacy supported by religious extremism. Toxic combination. The plot took a page from The Most Dangerous Game, and added a bunch of neo-nazis and an figure of urban legend known for killing black people who get too close to the white part of town.
Yeah, it wasn't subtle in any way, but it still worked.
Mary is absent for most of the book, having been captured by the aforementioned neo-nazis. Her role was filled by Ronnie, a disaffected former member of the Church of Light.
So here's the spoiler, I guess. Ronnie ends up being a really compelling character. There was this one line where he's trying to explain how much sometimes there is no right thing or wrong thing, just two wrong things and you still have to pick one. That kind of summed him up. The guy was a petty criminal and recovering addict, living in a shack by the river. He has massive unresolved issues relating to his traumatic upbringing. He's not ok, but because he's functional throughout the story, because we see him try to help his niece and nephew, and we see how hard he tries to help (and gain the respect of) the protagonist, we forget it. Until the end, where he saves the day before driving his truck into a corn field where a white supremacist snuff film crew are about to kill Earl and Mary. Someone was run over and he was put away for manslaughter despite all the evidence and the vociferous protests of the people he saved. It sent him over the edge, and his kindred love of Earl turned into suspicion, paranoia and rage. It was so sad.
So yeah, that was a huge bummer. I'm concerned that if he is revisited later, it's going to be a tragic storyline instead of a redemptive one.
The other thing was, of course, the main villains get away. Aaargh. But also probably the most realistic part of the story. If you're rich and white...
I enjoyed it. Again, it was quite a bit more fantastical than the first book, and you do have to suspend your disbelief a bit (poor Earl makes some really bad decisions, and he somehow manages to defy death a number of times when he really shouldn't have) but it was still very compelling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2018
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the free review copy!
After Private Investigator Earl Marcus confronted his father the leader of the fundamentalist Church of the Holy Flame, he finds himself confronting more corruption and wickedness in his hometown of Northern Georgia. The old story of Old Nathaniel a man with a burlap sack dressed in Confederate soldier outfit, haunts and murders African Americans that roam in the cornfields. When Earl and his police officer girlfriend Mary go near the cornfield to help their friend Ronnie, Mary ends up disappearing.
Earl searches long and hard for his girlfriend with help of his blind friend Rufus, Ronnie and others that was to help find her even though they’re spooked of the tales of Old Nathaniel. What Earl doesn’t know is that there is a dark secret world within the cornfields and that the racism in others is closer than he thinks.
The plot was pretty suspenseful despite the fact that it revolves around racism and murder. It shows the ugly side to bigotry which got hard for me. I still keep an open mind because it’s a story, but racism in the south still occurs as I know from first hand being from the south. Racism aside, the story was really good and a bit scary that people can be so ugly. The love Earl has for Mary and his strength to get to her was what kept me hoping he found her. My favorite character though had to be Ronnie. Ronnie’s troublesome friend who kept one of Earl’s secrets, but still was the most loyal to him and risked his life to help find Mary. Ronnie wasn’t smart, had a track record of getting in trouble but he had me laughing sometimes. Don’t we all have a friend that we scratch our heads and wonder why we’re friends with them sometimes?
In the Valley of the Devil is the second installment of the Earl Marcus series (the first installment was Heaven’s Crooked Finger). I like how open Hank Early was with writing a sensitive topic and I’m definitely going to read the first installment and any afterwards. This was a 4 out of 5 stars for me!
After Private Investigator Earl Marcus confronted his father the leader of the fundamentalist Church of the Holy Flame, he finds himself confronting more corruption and wickedness in his hometown of Northern Georgia. The old story of Old Nathaniel a man with a burlap sack dressed in Confederate soldier outfit, haunts and murders African Americans that roam in the cornfields. When Earl and his police officer girlfriend Mary go near the cornfield to help their friend Ronnie, Mary ends up disappearing.
Earl searches long and hard for his girlfriend with help of his blind friend Rufus, Ronnie and others that was to help find her even though they’re spooked of the tales of Old Nathaniel. What Earl doesn’t know is that there is a dark secret world within the cornfields and that the racism in others is closer than he thinks.
The plot was pretty suspenseful despite the fact that it revolves around racism and murder. It shows the ugly side to bigotry which got hard for me. I still keep an open mind because it’s a story, but racism in the south still occurs as I know from first hand being from the south. Racism aside, the story was really good and a bit scary that people can be so ugly. The love Earl has for Mary and his strength to get to her was what kept me hoping he found her. My favorite character though had to be Ronnie. Ronnie’s troublesome friend who kept one of Earl’s secrets, but still was the most loyal to him and risked his life to help find Mary. Ronnie wasn’t smart, had a track record of getting in trouble but he had me laughing sometimes. Don’t we all have a friend that we scratch our heads and wonder why we’re friends with them sometimes?
In the Valley of the Devil is the second installment of the Earl Marcus series (the first installment was Heaven’s Crooked Finger). I like how open Hank Early was with writing a sensitive topic and I’m definitely going to read the first installment and any afterwards. This was a 4 out of 5 stars for me!
July 19, 2018
The Valley of the Devil by Hank Early
Earl Marcus Mystery #2
Earl Marcus has found himself working as a PI in the small town Georgia. It is a place he never thought he would return to due to the many rather negative memories he has of growing up under the influence of his father’s rigid church but there he is again. He has a motley assortment of “friends” and a new guy in town to stir things up. Never having lived in the South I am only able to relate to what is written about it through history, books and movies I have seen. It is not a town I would choose to live in.
Earl’s girlfriend goes missing near the beginning of the book and most of the book he is looking for leads that will help him find her before something bad happens…and something bad is definitely on the horizon for her if she is not found. The area has a mythical being that kills and he is front and center in this story…along with racists and bigots and movie makers and others that really are rather despicable.
A lot happens in the book as Earl deals with his beliefs about good and evil and thinks back to the way he was raised. He would like to believe in something but has trouble doing so.
The story is dark and disturbing and not for the faint of heart. I did not read the first book in the series and have a feeling it might have given background information about Earl and others that would have given insight that might have been nice to have though it was not essential for this book to make sense. I did have trouble relating to some parts of the book but felt it was an overall good story and it did keep my interest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
Earl Marcus Mystery #2
Earl Marcus has found himself working as a PI in the small town Georgia. It is a place he never thought he would return to due to the many rather negative memories he has of growing up under the influence of his father’s rigid church but there he is again. He has a motley assortment of “friends” and a new guy in town to stir things up. Never having lived in the South I am only able to relate to what is written about it through history, books and movies I have seen. It is not a town I would choose to live in.
Earl’s girlfriend goes missing near the beginning of the book and most of the book he is looking for leads that will help him find her before something bad happens…and something bad is definitely on the horizon for her if she is not found. The area has a mythical being that kills and he is front and center in this story…along with racists and bigots and movie makers and others that really are rather despicable.
A lot happens in the book as Earl deals with his beliefs about good and evil and thinks back to the way he was raised. He would like to believe in something but has trouble doing so.
The story is dark and disturbing and not for the faint of heart. I did not read the first book in the series and have a feeling it might have given background information about Earl and others that would have given insight that might have been nice to have though it was not essential for this book to make sense. I did have trouble relating to some parts of the book but felt it was an overall good story and it did keep my interest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
November 11, 2018
I loved this book - here's a section of my review from the Ink Heist site:
I do not want to say too much about the sequel In the Valley of the Devil except that is continues Earl’s story with a new mystery, which also has elements of horror thrown in. When you read our interview with Hank Early it’s evident that the author is a horror fan, the Earl Marcus novels are most certainly thrillers, but they both have a very undiagnosed whiff of the supernatural lurking in the background. This is very cleverly done and is a real highlight which threads through both novels, it tickles, but never dominates.
However, a new character Old Nathaniel has a major part in the second novel. Part boogie-man, part local legend, the locals believe this supernatural being (if he exists) is behind the disappearance of several local black people. The author has a lot of fun with this story, both on a potentially supernatural level, but also on a more serious one. This area of Georgia is mainly white and there is still a lot of racism, which is threaded into the novel via Earl’s black girlfriend, a policewoman from a local city who gets sucked into the mystery. At its heart In the Valley of the Devil is an outstanding thriller with a complex character driven plot. It also ends with a wonderful teaser at the end about what we might expect in the next book in the series.
At the moment the quality of crime, noir and dark thrillers is quite simply outstanding, from reliable household names to new kids on the literary block. Hank Early pushes himself to the top of the pile with these great books and if you’ve never tried Hillbilly Noir then Heaven’s Crooked Finger is an exceptionally fine place to start.
I do not want to say too much about the sequel In the Valley of the Devil except that is continues Earl’s story with a new mystery, which also has elements of horror thrown in. When you read our interview with Hank Early it’s evident that the author is a horror fan, the Earl Marcus novels are most certainly thrillers, but they both have a very undiagnosed whiff of the supernatural lurking in the background. This is very cleverly done and is a real highlight which threads through both novels, it tickles, but never dominates.
However, a new character Old Nathaniel has a major part in the second novel. Part boogie-man, part local legend, the locals believe this supernatural being (if he exists) is behind the disappearance of several local black people. The author has a lot of fun with this story, both on a potentially supernatural level, but also on a more serious one. This area of Georgia is mainly white and there is still a lot of racism, which is threaded into the novel via Earl’s black girlfriend, a policewoman from a local city who gets sucked into the mystery. At its heart In the Valley of the Devil is an outstanding thriller with a complex character driven plot. It also ends with a wonderful teaser at the end about what we might expect in the next book in the series.
At the moment the quality of crime, noir and dark thrillers is quite simply outstanding, from reliable household names to new kids on the literary block. Hank Early pushes himself to the top of the pile with these great books and if you’ve never tried Hillbilly Noir then Heaven’s Crooked Finger is an exceptionally fine place to start.
June 4, 2018
I loved the idea of Old Nathaniel, an urban legend based in the mountains, as a villain in this novel. It's creepy and could have been chill inducing. I wanted to be spooked.
However, while Old Nathaniel is creepy, there was no atmosphere in this novel to set the stage. Earl ran around trying to find Mary, but there was so little description of the setting (or it was described so blandly) that it was hard to be fearful. A forest isn't scary on its own. Even the cornfield that was revisited multiple times seemed more annoying to navigate than otherworldly or terrifying.
In addition, everything was too convenient and seemed to happen because the plot needed it to. When not using his fists (which usually backfired on him), Earl was using his 'feelings' or instincts. For a private investigator he used shockingly little logic. Instead, seeming to luck into information, or just so happen to remember that bit now of all times. The villains were just as bad. Running when they had an opportunity to take Earl out, not tracking him down to his home when he returned (a known location!) - it seemed as if the villains were being held back by an invisible string. They'd do bad things, but they'd only go so far. After I read of all the terrible things that they have done and wanted to do, I didn't buy them restraining themselves like they did at other times.
This novel gets a two because I did read to the end to find out what happened to Mary. However, the constant racism and the lack of sense made this difficult to read and I wouldn't recommend doing so.
I received a review copy.
However, while Old Nathaniel is creepy, there was no atmosphere in this novel to set the stage. Earl ran around trying to find Mary, but there was so little description of the setting (or it was described so blandly) that it was hard to be fearful. A forest isn't scary on its own. Even the cornfield that was revisited multiple times seemed more annoying to navigate than otherworldly or terrifying.
In addition, everything was too convenient and seemed to happen because the plot needed it to. When not using his fists (which usually backfired on him), Earl was using his 'feelings' or instincts. For a private investigator he used shockingly little logic. Instead, seeming to luck into information, or just so happen to remember that bit now of all times. The villains were just as bad. Running when they had an opportunity to take Earl out, not tracking him down to his home when he returned (a known location!) - it seemed as if the villains were being held back by an invisible string. They'd do bad things, but they'd only go so far. After I read of all the terrible things that they have done and wanted to do, I didn't buy them restraining themselves like they did at other times.
This novel gets a two because I did read to the end to find out what happened to Mary. However, the constant racism and the lack of sense made this difficult to read and I wouldn't recommend doing so.
I received a review copy.
July 10, 2018
So often the case with follow-ups or sequels is that they end up not being nearly as good as the first book, so I wasn't sure how In the Valley of the Devil, the second book in the Earl Marcus series, was going to fare or how the author was going to follow a book as good as the first one. I'm happy to say that this novel was just as interesting as the first one, and in some cases, even more interesting. It revealed a sinister organization within the small town the protagonist is from that goes way deeper than he thought, and similarly to the first book, I could not put this one down. It was a thrill ride all the way through but with the same attention to detail and in-depth characterization as the first one. I can't really say much else without getting spoilery or revealing too much about the plot, but this is one of the absolute best horror/thriller series out there right now and I highly encourage fans of Tom Piccirilli to pick up the books in this series if they haven't already. For fans of Southern and small town horror, this will also tickle your fancy. I can't wait to see what the author does next!
August 19, 2018
Another fantastic, gritty north Georgia mystery from Hank Early, the second in his Earl Marcus series. Earl’s mix-raced girlfriend, Mary, disappears and he encounters some extremely dangerous people with sinister intentions in his quest for her return.
What I love about this series are the descriptions of the north Georgia mountains and the colorful characters (with their many secrets) that inhabit this area. Early successfully tackles current issues of racism and immigration, while maintaining suspense and mystery. The ending indicates that book #3 will be soon to follow. For those who have not read this series, I would definitely recommend starting at the beginning with Heaven’s Crooked Finger.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for for providing me with a complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I love about this series are the descriptions of the north Georgia mountains and the colorful characters (with their many secrets) that inhabit this area. Early successfully tackles current issues of racism and immigration, while maintaining suspense and mystery. The ending indicates that book #3 will be soon to follow. For those who have not read this series, I would definitely recommend starting at the beginning with Heaven’s Crooked Finger.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for for providing me with a complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2019
Read a few pages in the evening & decided this wasn't a book to take to bed, so started reading more of it the next day. Second book in an interesting series, very different characters & kind of setting. Often horrendous people & situations. I'll be looking forward the the next book in the series. It looks like PI Earl Marcus may be persuaded to run for Sheriff, after his experiences with 2 very corrupt ones since he came back to his "home town" after leaving it 30 years ago. The 2 people who are running for the position are also quite corrupt & have only their own & "bad guys" interests at heart. It will be a switch for someone who has worked as a PI for many years.
January 16, 2021
Second novel in the Earl Marcus series. Most of the heavy lifting in terms of character development was done in the first book so this one dove into plot relatively fast. We're talking a dark and compelling plot that plays with Appalachian folklore and a variety of urban legends masking real world horrors of the murderous and racist varieties. The setting, the people, all of it stays just on the right side of caricature, it's believable while also being extreme enough to feel like a foreign world, but really it's mountain communities in rural Georgia. I liked it a lot.
July 9, 2018
Earl's girlfriend Mary has gone missing- has she been taken by white supremacists? Why? This mixes several genres but at root is a thriller where a damaged man searches for the truth. Specifically, Earl has visions and a back story with a really out there father. North Georgia can't possibly be this rife with bad people but that's how the novel reads. The prose was occasionally a bit too purple for me but it is a page turner. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
August 24, 2018
Good solid follow up God's Crooked Finger. Earl is in love with Mary the detective out of Atlanta and he's living in her house. But their idyllic time together is limited when an old horror story of old Nathaniel who murders black children seems to come to life. Mary is kidnapped and Earl spends the entire book finding her with his crazy cousin's help. The racism in the story is jarring and sickening so that really kept me from giving it 5 stars.
January 13, 2021
grit lit, rural noir, Southern mystery
Not as good as the first in the series, this one makes Earl, the main character, even more of a loose cannon, and there isn't much attention to detail. The whole book feels like a boulder rolling down a mountain--lots of momentum, but crushing things as it moves forward, while other things are left untouched. I do want to read the next one, but hope for a stronger story and tighter writing.
Not as good as the first in the series, this one makes Earl, the main character, even more of a loose cannon, and there isn't much attention to detail. The whole book feels like a boulder rolling down a mountain--lots of momentum, but crushing things as it moves forward, while other things are left untouched. I do want to read the next one, but hope for a stronger story and tighter writing.
January 2, 2022
grit lit, rural noir, Southern mystery
Not as good as the first in the series, this one makes Earl, the main character, even more of a loose cannon, and there isn't much attention to detail. The whole book feels like a boulder rolling down a mountain--lots of momentum, but crushing things as it moves forward, while other things are left untouched. I do want to read the next one, but hope for a stronger story and tighter writing.
Not as good as the first in the series, this one makes Earl, the main character, even more of a loose cannon, and there isn't much attention to detail. The whole book feels like a boulder rolling down a mountain--lots of momentum, but crushing things as it moves forward, while other things are left untouched. I do want to read the next one, but hope for a stronger story and tighter writing.
August 16, 2024
The second installment of the Earl Marcus series sucks the reader deeper into the protagonist's world. The character relationships deepen, and so does the evil in Earl's hometown. A combination of a corrupt cabal and a local supernatural legend put the citizenry in peril, and it's difficult to tell where the lore ends and the true horror begins. If you thought the first one was dark, wait until you read this one.
July 9, 2018
Earl Marcus is now working as a private investigator in the North Georgia mountains. At the request of his 'friend' Ronnie he and girlfriend Mary arrange to meet him at night in the cornfields belonging to Lane Jefferson. But Mary goes missing.
Couldn't take to the story or any of the characters. It might have been better if I had read Book 1 in the series.
A NetGalley Book
Couldn't take to the story or any of the characters. It might have been better if I had read Book 1 in the series.
A NetGalley Book
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