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The Calling
When eighteen-year-old Christopher Myers' parents are murdered, something is written on his bedroom door, a mark in his parents' blood that convinces the police the killer has targeted Christopher as the next victim. To keep him safe, he travels away with his estranged grandmother and uncle to the small town of Bridgton, New York. And it's in Bridgton that he meets an extraordinary young man who has come with his father to stop an unrelenting evil. Soon Christopher learns of the town's deep dark secret, and how his parents' murder was no accident, and how he has been brought to Bridgton by forces beyond his power -- forces that just may threaten the destruction of all mankind.
360 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2011
259 people are currently reading
802 people want to read
About the author
Robert Swartwood
62 books307 followersUSA Today bestselling and ITW Thriller Award–winning author of The Serial Killer's Wife, The Killing Room, Man of Wax, and several other novels. He created the term "hint fiction" and edited Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 9, 2022
This one was blahhhh. It started out ok and then just got to be too much for me. I guess I just didn't realize it was a book about God and it just went on and on and I found myself very bored. Lots of blood and gore but just no real substance behind it. I did like Joey. I didn't like the run around in the book. I give this 2 of 5 stars. Pass it.
February 26, 2013
The day after 18 year old Chris's high school graduation, he awakens to discover his parents have been brutally murdered, and the killer is now after him. Shipped off to Bridport to stay with relatives he has not seen in 10 years while local authorities hunt down the killer, he slowly gets to know the Grandmother and Uncle he has been estranged from all these years. There he meets 10 year old Joey, a young man with very special gifts.
But the relocation has not fooled the killer and soon dreadful things begin to occur in Bridport. Chris starts investigating the history of the town, and discovers a series of awful truths that has brought an evil power to Bridport, one that has the power to destroy the lives of everyone it comes into contact with.
Soon it becomes clear that Chris shares more with Joey than he ever thought possible, and that the killer is beyond the skill of the local authorities to capture. Joey and Chris must face it - alone.
Despite the fact that this is a "young adult" novel, I really enjoyed it. The supernatural plot starts subtly, but grows as you learn more about Chris's family and their history.
I enjoyed the growth of Chris's character. Even though the book runs over the course of only a couple of weeks, he grows up a little bit more with every "encounter" and you can see him change from a reticent teenager to a strong young man.
The Calling was well written, with strong characters and good sub plots. The merging of the slowly revealed history of Bridport and Chris's family with the current happenings of the town give you a real insight into the characters, and how they have all ended up in Bridport at this exact time when evil asserts itself.
If you can move past the fact that the major players are teenagers, I strongly recommend giving this one a go.
But the relocation has not fooled the killer and soon dreadful things begin to occur in Bridport. Chris starts investigating the history of the town, and discovers a series of awful truths that has brought an evil power to Bridport, one that has the power to destroy the lives of everyone it comes into contact with.
Soon it becomes clear that Chris shares more with Joey than he ever thought possible, and that the killer is beyond the skill of the local authorities to capture. Joey and Chris must face it - alone.
Despite the fact that this is a "young adult" novel, I really enjoyed it. The supernatural plot starts subtly, but grows as you learn more about Chris's family and their history.
I enjoyed the growth of Chris's character. Even though the book runs over the course of only a couple of weeks, he grows up a little bit more with every "encounter" and you can see him change from a reticent teenager to a strong young man.
The Calling was well written, with strong characters and good sub plots. The merging of the slowly revealed history of Bridport and Chris's family with the current happenings of the town give you a real insight into the characters, and how they have all ended up in Bridport at this exact time when evil asserts itself.
If you can move past the fact that the major players are teenagers, I strongly recommend giving this one a go.
February 9, 2013
After reading Robert Swartwood's short story, "Spooky Nook", I was eager to dive into "The Calling- A Supernatural Thriller".
If you're a reader of the Horror/Thriller genre, you'll recognize a few familiar plot themes; orphaned teen, unfamiliar surroundings, mysterious strangers, and family secrets.
I wanted to like this book. It received nothing but praise from most of the reviewers on this site.
My big complaint is that it felt a little preachy.
In "The Calling", our hero laments something selfish from his past. The selfish thing he did also happens to be something being hotly debated in the public forum at the moment. Unfortunately, it does little to help further the story along. Some might argue that Christopher only did what he did at the end because of the selfish thing he did in his past. I disagree. I think a trust developed between the two. It's that trust and a shared experience that help to form a bond between them. (Sorry to be so vague, but I really don't want to give it away.)
I wrestled with this. I wasn't sure if I was letting my own personal beliefs interfere with my opinion of the story, So I just set the unnecessary story subplot aside.
Robert Swartwood's character development is solid. I got the impression that Christopher was a relatively good kid, who made some mistakes as a young teen. (Who of us hasn't?)
I'm not going to let my disappointment in The Calling deter me from reading more of Robert Swartwood's books. "Man of Wax" is getting great reviews, so I added it to my "To Read" list.
If you're a reader of the Horror/Thriller genre, you'll recognize a few familiar plot themes; orphaned teen, unfamiliar surroundings, mysterious strangers, and family secrets.
I wanted to like this book. It received nothing but praise from most of the reviewers on this site.
My big complaint is that it felt a little preachy.
In "The Calling", our hero laments something selfish from his past. The selfish thing he did also happens to be something being hotly debated in the public forum at the moment. Unfortunately, it does little to help further the story along. Some might argue that Christopher only did what he did at the end because of the selfish thing he did in his past. I disagree. I think a trust developed between the two. It's that trust and a shared experience that help to form a bond between them. (Sorry to be so vague, but I really don't want to give it away.)
I wrestled with this. I wasn't sure if I was letting my own personal beliefs interfere with my opinion of the story, So I just set the unnecessary story subplot aside.
Robert Swartwood's character development is solid. I got the impression that Christopher was a relatively good kid, who made some mistakes as a young teen. (Who of us hasn't?)
I'm not going to let my disappointment in The Calling deter me from reading more of Robert Swartwood's books. "Man of Wax" is getting great reviews, so I added it to my "To Read" list.
October 9, 2012
Atmospheric and dreadful - in a good way. This is the first thing I have read by Swartwood but while doing so, it was apparent to me that he is pretty good at what he does. I got the feeling that this novel had exactly the tone and presented in exactly the way he intended it to. "The Calling" does that thing that I is most important in horror novels that do not rely overly much on gore or shock; it creates a sense of dread in the reader's mind about the underlying cause of all the conflicts presented in the story. It's a highly entertaining supernatural novel rendered by an author who has honed his craft to precision. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of the genre.
April 1, 2011
I enjoyed The Calling, and found the characters interesting and unpredictable. The main plot kept twisting and uncovering the character's secrets, and the end satisfied me. The dialogue was particularly readable, and the book's themes stayed with me after I'd finished.
Sluggish prose got in the way sometimes, and many characters' whole backstories were revealed, sometimes told in a single sitting. The book would be stronger if things were edited down.
But, if you want to read a compelling, chilling supernatural thriller with a teen protagonist, then The Calling is a great choice.
Sluggish prose got in the way sometimes, and many characters' whole backstories were revealed, sometimes told in a single sitting. The book would be stronger if things were edited down.
But, if you want to read a compelling, chilling supernatural thriller with a teen protagonist, then The Calling is a great choice.
October 20, 2016
I liked this book but yet it still wasn´t my favorite to read. It had a great plots and great characters but still didn´t spark my interest enough for me to want to read it non-stop. The Calling has a ton of exitement and suspense but somehow didn´t succeed to interest me. Otherwise, its a great book if you like horror but not cheesy movie horror. In a summary to the book, the main character, Christopher, his parents are murdered so he goes to live with his grandmother and learns about supernatural capabilites.
December 22, 2014
This book sounded fantastic. Sadly, I found it lacking in every area.
The characters are dull and the main character seems more concerned with chatting up the local pregnant girl that dealing with, or even having, any emotions he may be feeling about his parents murder two weeks prior.
Sadly, I got half way through and then it went on the Too Dull to Finish shelf.
The characters are dull and the main character seems more concerned with chatting up the local pregnant girl that dealing with, or even having, any emotions he may be feeling about his parents murder two weeks prior.
Sadly, I got half way through and then it went on the Too Dull to Finish shelf.
December 2, 2012
Excellent. Struck just the right balance between light and dark. This is self-publishing done the way it COULD be - by a season, excellent writer, with excellent formatting, attractive cover art, and credible blurbs. Well done.
July 5, 2015
A supernatural thriller
This was a great different book. It kept me guessing up to the end. Good slant on evil. Would recommend, good summer read.
This was a great different book. It kept me guessing up to the end. Good slant on evil. Would recommend, good summer read.
June 7, 2020
I only dip into horror occasionally, supernatural fiction a little more often, because I'm usually disappointed with the last third of the book. The rising action can be good, but the descent into the conclusion is usually irredeemably muddled in slipshod, popular morality. Such is the case in The Calling. I took a chance on this novel because it was a recommended read after finishing Koontz's first Jane Hawk novel and because of the title.
The first several chapters encouraged me to think that the protagonist was really going to wrestle with the fundamental questions of spiritual life. I put up with a lot of swearing and severe character missteps hoping to see him come to an understanding that would allow him to confront the evil with the allies and weapons that would offer success. NOPE. Good intentions, temporary resolutions, and a stubborn clinging to spiritual ignorance seem to be all he needs to win the day. The Christians in this story are spectacularly clueless and reticent in offering guidance. One, a pastor, even hopes that his suicide will win him redemption. (??!!)
The idea of "calling" implies a caller. In a spiritual context, it implies that the caller is God and that He has redemptive purpose in issuing the call. The protagonist's disdain for God and refusal to call on Him all the way to the end of the book was a major disappointment. I'd read through all that sinful muck of the book's characters for nothing: no redemption, no spiritual spark of understanding or curiosity, no desire to learn more about the Caller--no payoff.
I didn't need this story to be a blatantly Christian one, but I expected some spiritual sophistication. None here.
The first several chapters encouraged me to think that the protagonist was really going to wrestle with the fundamental questions of spiritual life. I put up with a lot of swearing and severe character missteps hoping to see him come to an understanding that would allow him to confront the evil with the allies and weapons that would offer success. NOPE. Good intentions, temporary resolutions, and a stubborn clinging to spiritual ignorance seem to be all he needs to win the day. The Christians in this story are spectacularly clueless and reticent in offering guidance. One, a pastor, even hopes that his suicide will win him redemption. (??!!)
The idea of "calling" implies a caller. In a spiritual context, it implies that the caller is God and that He has redemptive purpose in issuing the call. The protagonist's disdain for God and refusal to call on Him all the way to the end of the book was a major disappointment. I'd read through all that sinful muck of the book's characters for nothing: no redemption, no spiritual spark of understanding or curiosity, no desire to learn more about the Caller--no payoff.
I didn't need this story to be a blatantly Christian one, but I expected some spiritual sophistication. None here.
January 7, 2021
Interesting,.... But I kept reading, turning pages.
From the write up I imagined the plot being religiously supernatural; eye opening - an epiphany. My bust. I read the complete book. We all have a "choice" in everything we as humans do/achieve. Towards the greater good we should NOT be selfish, but need to realize there IS God-- the greater good Everywhere. Just BELIEVE and it shall be. Realize that 'choice' God has given all humans is what ensnares the horrid occurrences. What will your choice be? PottsvillePA_THU; 01072021. I know I am NOT as strong as the main character in this book. I am too low to be of any use to any thing, any one much less useful for the greater benefit of anything. I am nothing. Therefore I am useless. But I WILL choose GOD no matter what.
From the write up I imagined the plot being religiously supernatural; eye opening - an epiphany. My bust. I read the complete book. We all have a "choice" in everything we as humans do/achieve. Towards the greater good we should NOT be selfish, but need to realize there IS God-- the greater good Everywhere. Just BELIEVE and it shall be. Realize that 'choice' God has given all humans is what ensnares the horrid occurrences. What will your choice be? PottsvillePA_THU; 01072021. I know I am NOT as strong as the main character in this book. I am too low to be of any use to any thing, any one much less useful for the greater benefit of anything. I am nothing. Therefore I am useless. But I WILL choose GOD no matter what.
September 13, 2019
This book is about a young man who's family has been cursed by a Evil Angle of Death
This was a very good read this is the kind of book that I look for in this kind of genre I liked the main character he was very believable as a grief stricken teenager who has been thrown into a world of good verses evil . This was also a surprisingly deep plot I didn't know who too trust everyone was suspect even the main character Lol . I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes supernatural thrillers .
This was a very good read this is the kind of book that I look for in this kind of genre I liked the main character he was very believable as a grief stricken teenager who has been thrown into a world of good verses evil . This was also a surprisingly deep plot I didn't know who too trust everyone was suspect even the main character Lol . I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes supernatural thrillers .
March 3, 2021
Good book. Ending was a shock! The plot reminded me a lot of the movie Legion, however, was filled with new exciting details solely from the author's imagination. With all honesty, I had nightmares for the past two nights as the way the author writes and describes the evilness, scared the crap out me. A page turner indeed. I gave only 4 stars as I was a bit put off with how much details the author goes into describing a room, or any sitting area in a house - irritated me.
July 3, 2021
Fantastic plot and amazing characters!
Very Stephen King like in narrative and creativity. I enjoyed this novel enormously. He's a skilled writer and I will definitely read more. My only disappointment is the lack of complex description and a vocabulary which is fairly basic. Stephen King sets himself apart from other writers by incorporating these skills. I wish Swartwood would do this too.
Very Stephen King like in narrative and creativity. I enjoyed this novel enormously. He's a skilled writer and I will definitely read more. My only disappointment is the lack of complex description and a vocabulary which is fairly basic. Stephen King sets himself apart from other writers by incorporating these skills. I wish Swartwood would do this too.
June 20, 2019
Unexpected, original read
Good and evil are universal themes but the author certainly gives these a tremendous twist starting with an instantly unlikeable protagonist. No worries, he improves, albeit very slowly. No flowery philosophy here just straight up human nature at its worst and best.
Good and evil are universal themes but the author certainly gives these a tremendous twist starting with an instantly unlikeable protagonist. No worries, he improves, albeit very slowly. No flowery philosophy here just straight up human nature at its worst and best.
October 15, 2022
Riveting
Robert Smartwood just knows how to write a scary riveting story about imperfect people who are facing inexplicable things and what happens along the way. Even though I knew what choice Christopher's had been given I was so scared at what would happen at the end.
Robert Smartwood just knows how to write a scary riveting story about imperfect people who are facing inexplicable things and what happens along the way. Even though I knew what choice Christopher's had been given I was so scared at what would happen at the end.
June 23, 2024
Another OK read, but I found the main character a bit annoying at times. Enjoyable enough, but not a book that will live long in my memory. Some interesting characters, but overall neither here nor there with it.
November 27, 2018
Excellent! Slow starter but then I couldn't put it down. It is about the eternal struggle between good and evil. Well written and quite different than anything I have read before.
October 12, 2019
I thought this was a fine spooker of a book. It did what I wanted it to - entertain me and keep me interested throughout. A good horror/supernatural tale.
February 5, 2020
What a story
This was fun to read... I could barely put it down. Looking forward to reading another of your books. Great characters.
This was fun to read... I could barely put it down. Looking forward to reading another of your books. Great characters.
January 17, 2022
Barely competent, overlong, lacked credibility.
March 1, 2025
Chilling, tantalising and exciting
March 26, 2025
The end was a little confusing but otherwise a really enjoyable book :)
March 18, 2017
Interesting reading.
Slow and steady storyline. I wasn't sure if it was a thriller or religious story. This story was not predictable like many books that I've read.
Slow and steady storyline. I wasn't sure if it was a thriller or religious story. This story was not predictable like many books that I've read.
January 9, 2024
Apparently this was a reread of a book that I read several years ago. I'm not sure if it was because I listened to it on audio this time or if it was just the timing of it, but I think I enjoyed it better this time around. I didn't review it back then, so 'm just making a guess.
I actually didn't even realize that I had already read it until I got into a couple of chapters and started thinking, "Wait....this sounds familiar". So, I went to Goodreads and looked and yep, had already read it. But, I had no clue how it ended and honestly couldn't even really remember the plot, so I thought, "why not?" (That's actually kind of a big thing for me because I severely dislike re-reading books. My philosophy is that there are too many good books out there to be read to spend time rereading something you've already read...unless it was REALLY worth it. ) But I digress......
This is a book that deals with the supernatural. The REAL supernatural, not vampires and werewolves that we have come to think of as the supernatural recently. It deals with the Bible and certain forces of evil that exist if you believe in God. This has been a crazy couple of days for me because I was also reading the latest Charlie Parker ARC by John Connolly (which if you know Connolly, he SPECIALIZES in supernatural evil) So, yeah, a weird week.
We meet a young man - Christopher - whose parents are murdered at the beginning of the book. A cross is drawn in blood and left on his bedroom door signaling that he is next. That begins a really crazy journey for Christopher as he realizes that he is in the middle of events that started many, many years ago but now revolve around him. And there are some evil forces at work.
The reason I even started this book was that I recently read another book by Mr. Swartwood - in fact it was an ARC so it was his latest book - and it was really good. I mean REALLY good. That made me want to find more by him but unfortunately there were not too many of his books that were available in audio, so I chose one that was.
One thing that was very apparent to me was the huge improvement that has occurred in his writing, at least between these two books. While this book did hold my interest, his writing has gotten much more impactful with better character development as time has progressed. Regardless, they both were worth the time invested and I am going to continue to try to find more books by this author.
I actually didn't even realize that I had already read it until I got into a couple of chapters and started thinking, "Wait....this sounds familiar". So, I went to Goodreads and looked and yep, had already read it. But, I had no clue how it ended and honestly couldn't even really remember the plot, so I thought, "why not?" (That's actually kind of a big thing for me because I severely dislike re-reading books. My philosophy is that there are too many good books out there to be read to spend time rereading something you've already read...unless it was REALLY worth it. ) But I digress......
This is a book that deals with the supernatural. The REAL supernatural, not vampires and werewolves that we have come to think of as the supernatural recently. It deals with the Bible and certain forces of evil that exist if you believe in God. This has been a crazy couple of days for me because I was also reading the latest Charlie Parker ARC by John Connolly (which if you know Connolly, he SPECIALIZES in supernatural evil) So, yeah, a weird week.
We meet a young man - Christopher - whose parents are murdered at the beginning of the book. A cross is drawn in blood and left on his bedroom door signaling that he is next. That begins a really crazy journey for Christopher as he realizes that he is in the middle of events that started many, many years ago but now revolve around him. And there are some evil forces at work.
The reason I even started this book was that I recently read another book by Mr. Swartwood - in fact it was an ARC so it was his latest book - and it was really good. I mean REALLY good. That made me want to find more by him but unfortunately there were not too many of his books that were available in audio, so I chose one that was.
One thing that was very apparent to me was the huge improvement that has occurred in his writing, at least between these two books. While this book did hold my interest, his writing has gotten much more impactful with better character development as time has progressed. Regardless, they both were worth the time invested and I am going to continue to try to find more books by this author.
June 20, 2017
This is definitely one of the more interesting stories I've had a chance to read. The story kept me interested for the most part, there were a few times when I got bored and/or irritated with the content.
Most of my problems with the story came in the formatting. Chapters were too short and several could have even easily put together into one. (A story with 42 chapters does not sound too pleasant even with 329 pages.) The letter with several pages of italicized text was a bit hard on the eyes. There was also several things added to the story that could have Ben left out. I won't go into details to keep from spoilers, but for me they didn't add to the story at all. Also, there was a detail or two that wasn't explained until the connection was made, which seemed to be unnecessary to hold off of. I was confused by the door connection when it came up due to this.
The characters were fun, when it didn't seem like they were being cliched. Some were definitely better than others. Chris bothered me some, but that was mostly due to differing views. Joey might have been my favorite of them all.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. It did keep me guessing what was going to happen. It does have its faults, but what book doesn't? Some things could have been explained better, such as Chris's sudden new powers that seemed to appear out of nowhere. (This is, of course, unless I missed something which is always possible.) I did enjoy Moses and Joey's adventures and story and the telling of Samael. It was a fun, supernatural book and definitely not what I was expecting when first received it.
Most of my problems with the story came in the formatting. Chapters were too short and several could have even easily put together into one. (A story with 42 chapters does not sound too pleasant even with 329 pages.) The letter with several pages of italicized text was a bit hard on the eyes. There was also several things added to the story that could have Ben left out. I won't go into details to keep from spoilers, but for me they didn't add to the story at all. Also, there was a detail or two that wasn't explained until the connection was made, which seemed to be unnecessary to hold off of. I was confused by the door connection when it came up due to this.
The characters were fun, when it didn't seem like they were being cliched. Some were definitely better than others. Chris bothered me some, but that was mostly due to differing views. Joey might have been my favorite of them all.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. It did keep me guessing what was going to happen. It does have its faults, but what book doesn't? Some things could have been explained better, such as Chris's sudden new powers that seemed to appear out of nowhere. (This is, of course, unless I missed something which is always possible.) I did enjoy Moses and Joey's adventures and story and the telling of Samael. It was a fun, supernatural book and definitely not what I was expecting when first received it.
February 23, 2013
Review eof The Calling by Robert Swartwood
5 stars
“The Calling” is an exceptionally satisfying novel of the Supernatural. Set in one of the same locales as the “prequel,” “Spooky Nook,” this story is fine as a stand-alone (but I recommend, for the reader’s continued satisfaction, reading “Spooky Nook” as well). Author Robert Swartwood delves into some Supernatural venues not usually the purview of horror writers, makes that choice work excellently, and horrifies readers while keeping us thrilled with the novel’s progress and pace.
Christopher has just turned eighteen and graduated; like many adolescents, he acts out quite a bit and stays out late. The next morning, after oversleeping, he discovers he is the only person left alive in his home: his parents have been slaughtered. Initially suspected of the murders, he is eventually exonerated and sent from his Pennsylvania home town to upstate New York to live near his grandmother and detective uncle. On the surface, his life seems almost normal, but Christopher and his family members have already served a session in hades, so to speak, and as is gradually revealed, nothing is normal about him, his family, or his ancestors--or the town to which he relocates.
Robert Swartwood keeps the Supernatural heat turned up, yet at the same time we are given a perspective on Christopher’s coming of age, in the emotional, metaphoric, and metaphysical sense. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
5 stars
“The Calling” is an exceptionally satisfying novel of the Supernatural. Set in one of the same locales as the “prequel,” “Spooky Nook,” this story is fine as a stand-alone (but I recommend, for the reader’s continued satisfaction, reading “Spooky Nook” as well). Author Robert Swartwood delves into some Supernatural venues not usually the purview of horror writers, makes that choice work excellently, and horrifies readers while keeping us thrilled with the novel’s progress and pace.
Christopher has just turned eighteen and graduated; like many adolescents, he acts out quite a bit and stays out late. The next morning, after oversleeping, he discovers he is the only person left alive in his home: his parents have been slaughtered. Initially suspected of the murders, he is eventually exonerated and sent from his Pennsylvania home town to upstate New York to live near his grandmother and detective uncle. On the surface, his life seems almost normal, but Christopher and his family members have already served a session in hades, so to speak, and as is gradually revealed, nothing is normal about him, his family, or his ancestors--or the town to which he relocates.
Robert Swartwood keeps the Supernatural heat turned up, yet at the same time we are given a perspective on Christopher’s coming of age, in the emotional, metaphoric, and metaphysical sense. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
September 14, 2015
Somebody, or something, murdered Christopher’s parents. Years ago Christopher’s grandfather tried to kill Christopher. But Christopher’s grandfather loved him, so why the attempt at homicide? Grandfather even left Christopher a gift, a handwritten bible. There was even an additional chapter that did not appear in the original bible. This all leads to a base for the story involving a crisis of faith. Is there a God or not? Therefore, is there a Satan or not? What about angels, either good or bad? This story takes us on a road that Christopher follows in an attempt to answer these questions. But, it seems that everywhere Christopher travels, people die. Chris knows this, because he gets clues as to how many people will die, sometimes in places where he is and other times it seems he is invited to places where people will die. He gets hints about how many people will die and where, but no additional clues.
This is a fast paced story about the world of spirits. According to the story, they sometimes need human form for certain actions, but they discard the body once a purpose is achieved and then go on to new hosts. This is a pleasant fantasy that I will recommend to my high school reading classes as an optional reading assignment.
This is a fast paced story about the world of spirits. According to the story, they sometimes need human form for certain actions, but they discard the body once a purpose is achieved and then go on to new hosts. This is a pleasant fantasy that I will recommend to my high school reading classes as an optional reading assignment.
March 24, 2011
I actually got done reading this book yesterday, and had to think about it. I really liked the book, and will read it again, but for as few pages as it contains, Robert manages to get a lot of substance into a small space. Unlike some authors we all know, that use a lot of pages to say very little. Yes, the book is, technically, a horror, but the themes dealt with are not simplistic. They are (and this is just from the first time through, I'm sure I can find more with a second read)choices, consequences, growing up, loss and faith. He approaches these in an unusual, non-preachy way while definitely being thought provoking. If you are looking for a simple book with easy answers, go to the self help section. If you enjoy a book that reads like a good steak dinner and requires a little work on your part, you will enjoy this. I did.
January 24, 2017
This was a very hard book to put down. I really enjoyed it. 18-year-old Christopher Myers' parents were murdered & something written on his bedroom door in his parents' blood. Convinced that he is the next target, Chris travels away with his estranged uncle & stays with his estranged grandmother in the small town of Bridgton, New York. It is in Bridgton that he meets an extraordinary young boy who has come with his father to stop an unrelenting evil. Chris is sucked into the town's deep dark secrets and learns that his parents' murdered was no accident. He was brought to Bridgton by forces beyond his power-forces that just may threaten the destruction of all mankind. However, Chris was given a gift. His choice on how to use that gift & which path to follow will determine the fate of many. I'm looking forward to the next book by Swartwood.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews