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Chapel Street
THE CONJURING meets HEREDITARY
Rick Bakos never had a chance at happiness. After enduring the tragic death of his father in a car accident, Rick grew up to helplessly watch both his older brother Lenny and his mother Agnes succumb to madness and suicide. Nor were they the first members of his family to kill themselves. Suicide has steadily stalked the Bakos family since they first arrived in Baltimore from Bohemia at the turn of the 20th Century.
Turning to genealogy to better understand his self-destructive family, Rick works as a volunteer for the website RestingPlace. After photographing the grave of Betty Kostek for the webpage, Rick finds himself drawn into a maelstrom of horror. Each night he finds himself inexorably drawn closer to self-destruction.
Rick’s only ally is a fellow volunteer named Teri Poskocil. She, too, has fallen under the suicidal spell of the late Betty Kostek. The couple soon discovers their pairing wasn’t a coincidence. Their great-grandparents were next door neighbors on Chapel Street nearly a century earlier. So were Betty’s grandparents.
Together Rick and Teri must solve the mystery of Chapel Street before they find death at their own hands.
PRAISE FOR CHAPEL STREET
“Horror story, metaphysical mystery, romance – Chapel Street is a spine-tingling supernatural thriller mixing family history, religion, dark secrets and a demonic presence into a fantastical yarn. Sean Paul Murphy is a powerful storyteller with a compelling imagination. Warning! Don’t read this battle between good and evil late at night. It’s unputdownable.” —K.A. Hitchens, Author, The Girl at the End of the Road, The Key of All Unknown, and The Gardener’s Daughter
“Fun and frightening. Balancing on a wire's edge between sane and insane, dead and undead, Chapel Street draws you into a world where demonic doings are passed down from generation to generation. Invested in the struggle, I desperately wanted the main characters to prevail. My only course of action was to continue reading until the last word.” —Sydnye White, Executive Producer, Discovery Communications
“Chapel Street is a wonderfully written and frightening book. I see this easily transformed into a haunting movie or streaming series.” —John Molli, Producer, Anesthesia and Cabin Fever (2016)
“I finished Chapel Street in three sittings. I looked forward to picking it up every time because there was constant suspense and movement. The great thing about this horror story is that it perfectly melds creepy with a nod to faith. That’s often difficult to implement – creating a horror novel with elements of faith without it being cheesy or too over the top.” —Jamie Hope, Author/Contributor, American Thinker
Rick Bakos never had a chance at happiness. After enduring the tragic death of his father in a car accident, Rick grew up to helplessly watch both his older brother Lenny and his mother Agnes succumb to madness and suicide. Nor were they the first members of his family to kill themselves. Suicide has steadily stalked the Bakos family since they first arrived in Baltimore from Bohemia at the turn of the 20th Century.
Turning to genealogy to better understand his self-destructive family, Rick works as a volunteer for the website RestingPlace. After photographing the grave of Betty Kostek for the webpage, Rick finds himself drawn into a maelstrom of horror. Each night he finds himself inexorably drawn closer to self-destruction.
Rick’s only ally is a fellow volunteer named Teri Poskocil. She, too, has fallen under the suicidal spell of the late Betty Kostek. The couple soon discovers their pairing wasn’t a coincidence. Their great-grandparents were next door neighbors on Chapel Street nearly a century earlier. So were Betty’s grandparents.
Together Rick and Teri must solve the mystery of Chapel Street before they find death at their own hands.
PRAISE FOR CHAPEL STREET
“Horror story, metaphysical mystery, romance – Chapel Street is a spine-tingling supernatural thriller mixing family history, religion, dark secrets and a demonic presence into a fantastical yarn. Sean Paul Murphy is a powerful storyteller with a compelling imagination. Warning! Don’t read this battle between good and evil late at night. It’s unputdownable.” —K.A. Hitchens, Author, The Girl at the End of the Road, The Key of All Unknown, and The Gardener’s Daughter
“Fun and frightening. Balancing on a wire's edge between sane and insane, dead and undead, Chapel Street draws you into a world where demonic doings are passed down from generation to generation. Invested in the struggle, I desperately wanted the main characters to prevail. My only course of action was to continue reading until the last word.” —Sydnye White, Executive Producer, Discovery Communications
“Chapel Street is a wonderfully written and frightening book. I see this easily transformed into a haunting movie or streaming series.” —John Molli, Producer, Anesthesia and Cabin Fever (2016)
“I finished Chapel Street in three sittings. I looked forward to picking it up every time because there was constant suspense and movement. The great thing about this horror story is that it perfectly melds creepy with a nod to faith. That’s often difficult to implement – creating a horror novel with elements of faith without it being cheesy or too over the top.” —Jamie Hope, Author/Contributor, American Thinker
- GenresHorror
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2020
2 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 19, 2021
Chapel Street is a harrowing tale of good against evil as a demon stalks a family through several generations. Rick has struggled after the loss of multiple family members, but it may have been the guilt at not having been home when his mother killed herself that made Rick vulnerable to this supernatural attack. He is first visited by what seems to be the spirit of his dead brother after taking a photograph at the cemetery where one woman's final resting place is overloaded with fresh flowers while so many others are bare and forgotten. When he looks into the reasoning behind such an ongoing tribute he uncovers a creepy link between this deceased woman and his family, including her horrifying prediction about his own life. When Rick meets Teri, who has also been photographing graves for the RestingPlace website he learns that he is not alone in these strange happenings and ghostly visitations. As time goes on these occurrences become more frequent and more dangerous.
This is one of my favorite types of horror. It's straight up scary and full of family secrets and the consequences and cost of inviting evil into your life whether unknowingly, or for personal gain.
If you enjoy books like The Exorcist or you watch tv shows like A Haunting or Paranormal Survivor this book is meant for you.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
This is one of my favorite types of horror. It's straight up scary and full of family secrets and the consequences and cost of inviting evil into your life whether unknowingly, or for personal gain.
If you enjoy books like The Exorcist or you watch tv shows like A Haunting or Paranormal Survivor this book is meant for you.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
January 21, 2021
Chapel Street is a horror novel that explores so many elements: religion, evil, romance, mystery - all threaded together into a fascinating tale of good and evil. (My favorite)
Sean Paul Murphy is a writing instructor at Towson University and has written several feature films as well as being the 2012 winner of the Kairos Prize for Screenwriting. He even wrote a series of short crimes films for the FBI and won a combined six Emmys on the Pentagon Channel. Even though this was my first introduction to Murphy's writing, with a resume like that, I trusted his ability to craft a fantastic and compelling story.
The premise of this story is one of my favorites - good versus evil in spiritual warfare. I've been a fan of this ever since I read Frank Peretti as a youngster. I *love* the religious aspect of this story and Rick's (main character) journey as he explored his beliefs (or lack thereof). I found myself relating to Rick in so many ways and I appreciated the honest way he was written and developed over time. Rick felt like a real person to me, which I absolutely loved since I am such a character driven reader.
This story starts where every good horror story does - in truth. The author lived in a haunted house for years and later suffered the grievous loss of several members due to suicide. Chapel Street explores its own story of history of suicide in the families of our two main characters....and what they awaken in order to come to the conclusion that what they previously thought was suicide....was something else.
Nothing in this story is coincidence - every event has a meaning. Murphy has a writing style that is easy to read and flows so smoothly that you honestly won't want to put this book down once you start, especially because the story just gets you in its grips and you just HAVE to know what happens next.
If you enjoy horror that is seeded in truth, I would definitely recommend picking this one up!
Sean Paul Murphy is a writing instructor at Towson University and has written several feature films as well as being the 2012 winner of the Kairos Prize for Screenwriting. He even wrote a series of short crimes films for the FBI and won a combined six Emmys on the Pentagon Channel. Even though this was my first introduction to Murphy's writing, with a resume like that, I trusted his ability to craft a fantastic and compelling story.
The premise of this story is one of my favorites - good versus evil in spiritual warfare. I've been a fan of this ever since I read Frank Peretti as a youngster. I *love* the religious aspect of this story and Rick's (main character) journey as he explored his beliefs (or lack thereof). I found myself relating to Rick in so many ways and I appreciated the honest way he was written and developed over time. Rick felt like a real person to me, which I absolutely loved since I am such a character driven reader.
This story starts where every good horror story does - in truth. The author lived in a haunted house for years and later suffered the grievous loss of several members due to suicide. Chapel Street explores its own story of history of suicide in the families of our two main characters....and what they awaken in order to come to the conclusion that what they previously thought was suicide....was something else.
Nothing in this story is coincidence - every event has a meaning. Murphy has a writing style that is easy to read and flows so smoothly that you honestly won't want to put this book down once you start, especially because the story just gets you in its grips and you just HAVE to know what happens next.
If you enjoy horror that is seeded in truth, I would definitely recommend picking this one up!
August 2, 2020
Chapel Street. What can I say? I loved this book so much. If I could, I'd give it another half star but alas, Goodreads and it's restrictions. The only reason that this wasn't 5 stars is because there were a few very minor editing mistakes. And I stress very minor.
Chapel Street is Exorcism meets Stir Of Echoes. The story centers around a couple of genealogists that find their lives are more intertwined than they had previously expected and an old Bohemian neighborhood that has a dark history laced with tragic deaths and suicides. I don't want to spoil any of the story but I will also mention that there is witchcraft and demonic attacks all throughout the book.
What I would like to point out is that, initially, I was worried that this book would lean too heavily on Catholicism and thus ruin the story for me (I am Wiccan). Instead, I found a wonderful story with Catholic roots but written in a way that didn't force beliefs on the reader. Everything made sense and was very well explained. I felt like nothing was left unresolved and even the history of the demon was sufficiently addressed. I can actually see this book becoming a movie and it was no surprise to me when I saw that the author is also a screenwriter. I have no doubts that other people will like this book and it's become a side-mission of mine to introduce it to as many readers as possible.
I received a physical copy of this book for my honest review and I can whole-heartedly and honestly say that I highly recommend this book. I absolutely loved it and would love to read more from this author in the future.
Chapel Street is Exorcism meets Stir Of Echoes. The story centers around a couple of genealogists that find their lives are more intertwined than they had previously expected and an old Bohemian neighborhood that has a dark history laced with tragic deaths and suicides. I don't want to spoil any of the story but I will also mention that there is witchcraft and demonic attacks all throughout the book.
What I would like to point out is that, initially, I was worried that this book would lean too heavily on Catholicism and thus ruin the story for me (I am Wiccan). Instead, I found a wonderful story with Catholic roots but written in a way that didn't force beliefs on the reader. Everything made sense and was very well explained. I felt like nothing was left unresolved and even the history of the demon was sufficiently addressed. I can actually see this book becoming a movie and it was no surprise to me when I saw that the author is also a screenwriter. I have no doubts that other people will like this book and it's become a side-mission of mine to introduce it to as many readers as possible.
I received a physical copy of this book for my honest review and I can whole-heartedly and honestly say that I highly recommend this book. I absolutely loved it and would love to read more from this author in the future.
October 7, 2020
3.5 stars.
I've always felt that writers have a tendency to bring something true to themselves into their work... and nothing is more true than it is for this author. This book is loosely based on the author growing up in a haunted house while also living through suicides within his own family. This caught my attention right away and I couldn't wait to see how this was explored.
The author brings us Rick Bakos, our MC, who has lived through a series of suicides within his family. Through his hobby of genealogy and updating his website of graves, he ends up meeting Betty Kostek, whose grave haunts him from the get go. From here we see the culmination of strange events that lead him to find odd coincidences and strange occurrences stemming from Chapel Street. Oh Betty, you are doing a number on everyone. Thank God (?) for Tombstone Teri, who curiously enough, has the same hobby as Rick. Perhaps their fateful meeting and joint venture will get them to the otherside..
Full transparency, the first few chapters were a bit of a struggle to get through. I almost considered DNFing it altogether. But something compelled me to continue (was that you, Betty?!). And I'm truly glad that I did. Rick, the boring good guy, really worms his way into your heart and you're rooting for him throughout the read. I did find some lulls within the read but overall, the book just gets better and better as you go... and quite frankly I loved it when Rick lost it a bit every once in a while... 😉.
I do wish that books wouldn't be compared to such big movies ... this one is "The Conjuring meets Hereditary". This brings big expectations from the reader that might not be met. Especially for two such big movies within the horror realm whether you loved or hated them. I can see where the comparison is but hate that I had that in the back of my head the whole time.
This is fantastic read if you love a demonic storyline that spans generations. The gloomy, dark feels really resonate from these pages and I could absolutely see this adapted to film. I look forward to seeing what else the author brings to us.
I've always felt that writers have a tendency to bring something true to themselves into their work... and nothing is more true than it is for this author. This book is loosely based on the author growing up in a haunted house while also living through suicides within his own family. This caught my attention right away and I couldn't wait to see how this was explored.
The author brings us Rick Bakos, our MC, who has lived through a series of suicides within his family. Through his hobby of genealogy and updating his website of graves, he ends up meeting Betty Kostek, whose grave haunts him from the get go. From here we see the culmination of strange events that lead him to find odd coincidences and strange occurrences stemming from Chapel Street. Oh Betty, you are doing a number on everyone. Thank God (?) for Tombstone Teri, who curiously enough, has the same hobby as Rick. Perhaps their fateful meeting and joint venture will get them to the otherside..
Full transparency, the first few chapters were a bit of a struggle to get through. I almost considered DNFing it altogether. But something compelled me to continue (was that you, Betty?!). And I'm truly glad that I did. Rick, the boring good guy, really worms his way into your heart and you're rooting for him throughout the read. I did find some lulls within the read but overall, the book just gets better and better as you go... and quite frankly I loved it when Rick lost it a bit every once in a while... 😉.
I do wish that books wouldn't be compared to such big movies ... this one is "The Conjuring meets Hereditary". This brings big expectations from the reader that might not be met. Especially for two such big movies within the horror realm whether you loved or hated them. I can see where the comparison is but hate that I had that in the back of my head the whole time.
This is fantastic read if you love a demonic storyline that spans generations. The gloomy, dark feels really resonate from these pages and I could absolutely see this adapted to film. I look forward to seeing what else the author brings to us.
July 31, 2020
This was one of those books that I didn't want to read too quickly because I was enjoying it so much. I wanted the feelings that the narrative produced to linger. Although I absolutely loved the book's stunning conclusion, I am equally sad that I no longer have it to escape to each night.
I was interested in this book well before it came out after learning the history of the true haunting it was based on. I've always had an interest in the supernatural, and the true story behind this tale is riveting and absolutely frightening.
The book certainly did not let me down. Rick Bakos, our main character, is a bit of a tortured soul. With a history of suicide in his family, he begins to research the dark history of his lineage. In doing so, he will awaken the very terrifying entity that drove his family into madness.
From the first scene that Rick visits Betty Kostek's grave, I was hooked. It was such an atmospheric and creepy scene. Betty not only followed Rick from that graveyard; she followed me too. I don't scare easily, but Betty and her chilling smile were certainly able to raise the hairs on the back of my neck throughout the entire book. I also really enjoyed the elements of spirituality interwoven within in the narrative.
Sean Paul Murphy is a gifted writer. His story is deeper with far more layers than most horror stories I've read. The character development was phenomenal, there were twists, turns, screams, and even romance. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. If you are in the mood for a good scare, look no further than Chapel Street.
I was interested in this book well before it came out after learning the history of the true haunting it was based on. I've always had an interest in the supernatural, and the true story behind this tale is riveting and absolutely frightening.
The book certainly did not let me down. Rick Bakos, our main character, is a bit of a tortured soul. With a history of suicide in his family, he begins to research the dark history of his lineage. In doing so, he will awaken the very terrifying entity that drove his family into madness.
From the first scene that Rick visits Betty Kostek's grave, I was hooked. It was such an atmospheric and creepy scene. Betty not only followed Rick from that graveyard; she followed me too. I don't scare easily, but Betty and her chilling smile were certainly able to raise the hairs on the back of my neck throughout the entire book. I also really enjoyed the elements of spirituality interwoven within in the narrative.
Sean Paul Murphy is a gifted writer. His story is deeper with far more layers than most horror stories I've read. The character development was phenomenal, there were twists, turns, screams, and even romance. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. If you are in the mood for a good scare, look no further than Chapel Street.
September 2, 2020
The Bakos family is covered by a shroud of utter misfortune as its members tragically take their own lives after periods of insanity.
The flames of the story ignite when Rick Bakos, the only male living member of the family, returns home to discover his mother Agnes dead. What initially appears to be natural death that follows a prolonged period of dementia, is soon revealed to be a suicide.
Another suicide that plagues the Bakos family and leaves its tragic imprint on Rick who while growing up, had to endure his brother’s Lenny series of manic episodes that ended with him taking his own life.
Rick; grief stricken, on a rocky relationship with his sister, on a broken relationship with his ex lover, seeks refuge and console in an otherwise odd hobby. He turns to genealogy as a mean to get to know the origins of his family’s history with suicides; a thing that gives him purpose and sparks his interest in helping more families track their genealogy.
Signing up as a volunteer at Restingplace.com, a website dedicated to family genealogies, Rick soon contributes with photographic material from graveyards to recreate the bloodlines of other families and help people. He even has some healthy competition by a fellow contributor to keep him going.
This is where the story really shows its sharp sharp teeth, as one day Rick photographs the grave of Betty Kostek for Restingplace.com. This leads to a fast-paced unfolding of a series of events that take Rick through hell.
From sanity to insanity, from dreams to nightmares, from questioning his own reality and conferencing with dead family members, Rick’s life takes a wild wild turn. As the story unfolds it is revealed that unspeakable evil has a hold on the Bakos family.
An evil so strong that goes back to the origins of the family’s Bohemian roots. An evil hungry for power, that is now unleashed to the world claiming one victim after the other. An evil that Rick has to fight while maintaining his own grips with reality and sanity..
This book is one hell of a wild ride. Sean Paul Murphy can really craft a beast of a story by artfully blending mystery, horror of the metaphysical kind, fast paced action and even romance.
This is a real page turner as it makes you eagerly want to discover the source of the unspeakable evil that plagues the Bakos family. It is written in such a way that feels like watching a movie; a really good movie (one that i hope Chapel Street will be adapted to soon).
With huge doses of horror, truly frightening moments that made me look around in the room, this battle between good and evil will stay with you for a long time. The balance between what is real and what is mind games that threaten the characters’ own sanity is so blurry at times that keep you wondering what if ….
Bringing to mind the ‘Fight Club’ when it comes to the romance aspect, ‘Chapel Street’ had the eerie feeling that Roman Polanski’s horror films possess, and I couldn’t but bring to mind ‘Night Film’ by Marisha Pessl.
This is a perfect read for the upcoming autumn months leading up to Halloween. Spooky, fast paced, packed with spine tingling moments and mystery, Chapel Street is a must have.
What amplifies the horror is that the book was inspired by the real haunting the author’s family experienced and the suicides of two of his siblings…
The flames of the story ignite when Rick Bakos, the only male living member of the family, returns home to discover his mother Agnes dead. What initially appears to be natural death that follows a prolonged period of dementia, is soon revealed to be a suicide.
Another suicide that plagues the Bakos family and leaves its tragic imprint on Rick who while growing up, had to endure his brother’s Lenny series of manic episodes that ended with him taking his own life.
Rick; grief stricken, on a rocky relationship with his sister, on a broken relationship with his ex lover, seeks refuge and console in an otherwise odd hobby. He turns to genealogy as a mean to get to know the origins of his family’s history with suicides; a thing that gives him purpose and sparks his interest in helping more families track their genealogy.
Signing up as a volunteer at Restingplace.com, a website dedicated to family genealogies, Rick soon contributes with photographic material from graveyards to recreate the bloodlines of other families and help people. He even has some healthy competition by a fellow contributor to keep him going.
This is where the story really shows its sharp sharp teeth, as one day Rick photographs the grave of Betty Kostek for Restingplace.com. This leads to a fast-paced unfolding of a series of events that take Rick through hell.
From sanity to insanity, from dreams to nightmares, from questioning his own reality and conferencing with dead family members, Rick’s life takes a wild wild turn. As the story unfolds it is revealed that unspeakable evil has a hold on the Bakos family.
An evil so strong that goes back to the origins of the family’s Bohemian roots. An evil hungry for power, that is now unleashed to the world claiming one victim after the other. An evil that Rick has to fight while maintaining his own grips with reality and sanity..
This book is one hell of a wild ride. Sean Paul Murphy can really craft a beast of a story by artfully blending mystery, horror of the metaphysical kind, fast paced action and even romance.
This is a real page turner as it makes you eagerly want to discover the source of the unspeakable evil that plagues the Bakos family. It is written in such a way that feels like watching a movie; a really good movie (one that i hope Chapel Street will be adapted to soon).
With huge doses of horror, truly frightening moments that made me look around in the room, this battle between good and evil will stay with you for a long time. The balance between what is real and what is mind games that threaten the characters’ own sanity is so blurry at times that keep you wondering what if ….
Bringing to mind the ‘Fight Club’ when it comes to the romance aspect, ‘Chapel Street’ had the eerie feeling that Roman Polanski’s horror films possess, and I couldn’t but bring to mind ‘Night Film’ by Marisha Pessl.
This is a perfect read for the upcoming autumn months leading up to Halloween. Spooky, fast paced, packed with spine tingling moments and mystery, Chapel Street is a must have.
What amplifies the horror is that the book was inspired by the real haunting the author’s family experienced and the suicides of two of his siblings…
November 24, 2020
I do like a right proper ghost story, if the ghost ends being a demon? Even better! Rick lives a mostly quiet life, a corporate drone by day to a self taught genealogist by hobby he runs a memorial website based on his research that brings him to graveyards and libraries so he can write biographies for the deceased. He enters a mausoleum on the search for information from a new request when he realizes something is wrong in there.. something not of this world.
Skeptical of it all, his life is already riddled with a family history of heartache and suicides, including his mother and brother only recently but after that day in the mausoleum, he begins to be haunted by both.
Rick is joined by another amateur genealogist, rival and future love interest as they begin to find out their lives, their past is intertwined with a demon who has stalked their families for years! Now they have drawn it out into open and it’s plans have been brought to light, the revelation of its quest to destroy their lives just like it’s ruined the lives of their ancestors before, revenge style!
No spoilers, the creepy introduction of this entity into Rick’s life is unique and insidious, Is he becoming insane like his older brother Lenny who eventually died by suicide or is the ghost demon finally taking over?
What I did like was the story got set up for the battle of good over evil, what I didn’t expect was the doctrine of The Catholic Church is very much a part of this story, just so you know you get a Bible lesson here or there.
It took a long time and several pages of not much going on after Rick’s release from the hospital (you’ll see why)until the finally confrontation with the demon. The ending was well executed and just about every horror story element is thrown at you (minus blood and gore) that was fun but the developing love story with Rick and Teri was too predictable and it’s part at the end of the book seemed out of place.
Not quite the fire or brimstone story I was anticipating but the author gives you a solid story with ghosts galore, humor and characters you care about. The story presents rich fictional historical details that are some of my favorite parts. This is my first book with Sean Paul Murphy and it won’t be my last! Highly recommended!
Amended:
After reading the afterward I’m am sorry for the real life trials the author has had in his life. As a reviewer? I didn’t know the Christian themes at the start, I am pleased to say in no way does this alienate any reader. We find comfort in all things that bring us peace.
Skeptical of it all, his life is already riddled with a family history of heartache and suicides, including his mother and brother only recently but after that day in the mausoleum, he begins to be haunted by both.
Rick is joined by another amateur genealogist, rival and future love interest as they begin to find out their lives, their past is intertwined with a demon who has stalked their families for years! Now they have drawn it out into open and it’s plans have been brought to light, the revelation of its quest to destroy their lives just like it’s ruined the lives of their ancestors before, revenge style!
No spoilers, the creepy introduction of this entity into Rick’s life is unique and insidious, Is he becoming insane like his older brother Lenny who eventually died by suicide or is the ghost demon finally taking over?
What I did like was the story got set up for the battle of good over evil, what I didn’t expect was the doctrine of The Catholic Church is very much a part of this story, just so you know you get a Bible lesson here or there.
It took a long time and several pages of not much going on after Rick’s release from the hospital (you’ll see why)until the finally confrontation with the demon. The ending was well executed and just about every horror story element is thrown at you (minus blood and gore) that was fun but the developing love story with Rick and Teri was too predictable and it’s part at the end of the book seemed out of place.
Not quite the fire or brimstone story I was anticipating but the author gives you a solid story with ghosts galore, humor and characters you care about. The story presents rich fictional historical details that are some of my favorite parts. This is my first book with Sean Paul Murphy and it won’t be my last! Highly recommended!
Amended:
After reading the afterward I’m am sorry for the real life trials the author has had in his life. As a reviewer? I didn’t know the Christian themes at the start, I am pleased to say in no way does this alienate any reader. We find comfort in all things that bring us peace.
October 13, 2020
Chapel Street , by Sean Paul Murphy, was a paranormal thriller based on the authors experiences.
The main character, Rick Bakos, is a tortured soul that lost family members to suicide. As a result he begins to research his lineage. After his job as a hospital clerk, he volunteered for a website called “Resting Place.” Part of his volunteer work includes visiting graves and in doing so he awakens a demon. Rick befriends a fellow volunteer, Teri Poscocil, and they find themselves growing closer to the horror.
Although it took me a few
chapters to get into the book, it was an extremely well-written story. I could feel Rick’s loneliness and grief in the beginning of the book. The story begins to pick up for me after Rick photographs the grave of Betty Kostek. At that point the reader begins to see the evil that has a hold on this family. Sean Paul Murphy has a way of writing which made me want to turn the pages and dins out more.
Chapel Street has many religious undertones but most stories consisting of possession and demons are intertwined with religion. I feel that the author had a good balance of faith and horror which made the story suspenseful
May 16, 2021
Chapel Street is a horror, mystery romance story about Rick Bakos and his life story. He is accustomed to losing loved ones, all of which to suicide. He has lost his older brother, mother, father, and so many more losses that he becomes a genealogist in order to understand his family. Rick Bakos begins the story in September 2011 when he arrives home at her beautiful five-bedroom Victoria house.
The author wrote this book in a very chilling way. The slow and long paces of descriptive lingerings were skillfully designed. The narrative was in the first person, and that induced an individual perspective for the storytelling.
The characters were all very well synced together. There were elements of romance embodied into the story, which was a delightful addition. The descriptive scenes and character development were written with skills. I really enjoyed the book.
The author wrote this book in a very chilling way. The slow and long paces of descriptive lingerings were skillfully designed. The narrative was in the first person, and that induced an individual perspective for the storytelling.
The characters were all very well synced together. There were elements of romance embodied into the story, which was a delightful addition. The descriptive scenes and character development were written with skills. I really enjoyed the book.
October 25, 2020
I admit I wasn't hooked from the start with this book, as the beginning contains a fair amount of build-up, but after a few chapters, I was hooked. I found myself excited to get back to the story each night. This is a fun, supernatural (or is it....?) story that has you rooting for the main characters. Check it out!
November 22, 2020
This kept me on the edge of my seat, especially towards the end. Murphy's pacing is spot-on, and his descriptions were intense. I was scared out of my gourd. Very fun read.
March 29, 2021
Grear read! Unexpected, and couldn't remotely forsee what was to come. Very excited to read more from Sean Paul Murphy.
April 14, 2023
“Chapel Street” is a horror novel that lives up to the “Hereditary meets The Conjuring” tagline, though it shares some similarities with “Jacob’s Ladder,” “The Haunting of Hill House,” and “Fallen” as well. Some criticize comparing books to movies, but in the case of “Chapel Street,” the truth is that it could easily be adapted into one. There’s a lot to love about this story, but above all the characters, Rick and Teri, keep you coming back for more.
As they battle this charismatic and conniving otherworldly force, it’s easy to root for their success, and hope for more. That’s actually why I couldn’t give it a full 5/5. While the plot is complete and the character arcs are resolved appropriately, an epilogue to tie up a few of the loose ends would’ve been preferable. Still, lots to love, especially if you’re a fan of any of the aforementioned movies/shows above, or the works of Frank Peretti.
As they battle this charismatic and conniving otherworldly force, it’s easy to root for their success, and hope for more. That’s actually why I couldn’t give it a full 5/5. While the plot is complete and the character arcs are resolved appropriately, an epilogue to tie up a few of the loose ends would’ve been preferable. Still, lots to love, especially if you’re a fan of any of the aforementioned movies/shows above, or the works of Frank Peretti.
August 12, 2020
What can I say? This book is well written, a page turner, and feels eerily realistic even though it deals with the supernatural and demons. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun read that has a solid main character who is really just trying to understand what is happening around him. I loved seeing the world through Rick Bakos’s own thoughts and at times wished I could jump into the story to help him out! I definitely recommend this book. Also, fun fact for anyone familiar with the Baltimore area- there are many local references!
December 11, 2020
Sean Paul Murphy is an excellent writer. Both his story and his characters were well thought out. The story line is gloomy and spooky, and I enjoyed the demonic storyline that spanned several generations. Rick is a character you will feel for and root for his happy ending.
I love the idea of an entire neighborhood being connected to something demonic and evil. What an awesome concept.
If I have to be honest, I felt the book started a bit slow, but it truly made up for that after the first few chapters. I’m sure glad I stuck with it and want to thank the author for the copy!
I love the idea of an entire neighborhood being connected to something demonic and evil. What an awesome concept.
If I have to be honest, I felt the book started a bit slow, but it truly made up for that after the first few chapters. I’m sure glad I stuck with it and want to thank the author for the copy!
December 30, 2022
Did not enjoy very much.
Christian supernatural horror, I thought I'd give it a try. But although the plot was fairly engaging, I spent a lot of time picking apart the faulty Catholic spiritual cosmology. How are holy water and crucifixes categorically different to witchcraft? It has a couple immoral scenes that would not be PG on film, which is a no in my book from Christians.
Also did not give me nightmares.
Christian supernatural horror, I thought I'd give it a try. But although the plot was fairly engaging, I spent a lot of time picking apart the faulty Catholic spiritual cosmology. How are holy water and crucifixes categorically different to witchcraft? It has a couple immoral scenes that would not be PG on film, which is a no in my book from Christians.
Also did not give me nightmares.
August 11, 2020
Just finished this book written by my friend, Sean Murphy. It was awesome, kept me on the edge of my seat. It also has some religious components that really hit home. Could easily be made into a movie! Great job, Sean!
September 15, 2020
Intriguing novel about an internet and supernatural devil who haunts a family and community. I thought the novel was a little laborious at times adding details that were unnecessary as in "Where did you get that broom?.... In the broom closet." Nonetheless, if you like horror novels this book is for you.
Read
August 21, 2020Received my copy on Tuesday, Finished it on Wednesday! It was very exciting from start to finish and I couldn't put it down. Easy read!
July 3, 2021
TW: Suicide is mentioned frequently in this novel as are aspects of mental health disorders.
Rick Bakos wanted a normal life. After the tragic death of his father when Rick was a child, he was left to grow up with a mentally unstable mother and brother who succumbed to suicide, and an absent younger sister. Suicide had long been a family trait in the Bakos family, with Rick’s mother and brother not being the first members to die by their own hand. To make sense of his family's tragic history, Rick set out to work as a volunteer with the website RestingPlace, a genealogy website, cataloging the final resting places of people around Baltimore where he lives.
Inexplicably drawn to the grave of Betty Kostek, Rick begins to experience incidents of paranormal activity as soon as he uploads her grave to the RestingPlace website. When Rick realizes that all the occurrences are connected to Betty, he attempts to take down her photo and information from the website, only to have his account frozen so that he cannot remove it. His only ally, Terri Poskocil, another genealogist on RestingPlace who is having her own issues with paranormal occurrences. Terri attempts to help Rick find out the answers to the question of who Betty was and how she is connected to both of their families’ pasts. The pair work together with priests from the school where Terri works to find out the answers before it costs both them and their loved ones their lives.
Reading a book that focused on horror and religion was something new for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mixing horror, romance, religion, and demonic entities together wasn’t a trope that I had explored previously, and Mr. Murphy blended them all seamlessly. Murphy builds an instantly immersive world for his characters so that you feel like you are with them on their search. I would love to see this novel, with Mr. Murphy as head writer, see this as a feature-length film.
4 out of 5 Stars
Rick Bakos wanted a normal life. After the tragic death of his father when Rick was a child, he was left to grow up with a mentally unstable mother and brother who succumbed to suicide, and an absent younger sister. Suicide had long been a family trait in the Bakos family, with Rick’s mother and brother not being the first members to die by their own hand. To make sense of his family's tragic history, Rick set out to work as a volunteer with the website RestingPlace, a genealogy website, cataloging the final resting places of people around Baltimore where he lives.
Inexplicably drawn to the grave of Betty Kostek, Rick begins to experience incidents of paranormal activity as soon as he uploads her grave to the RestingPlace website. When Rick realizes that all the occurrences are connected to Betty, he attempts to take down her photo and information from the website, only to have his account frozen so that he cannot remove it. His only ally, Terri Poskocil, another genealogist on RestingPlace who is having her own issues with paranormal occurrences. Terri attempts to help Rick find out the answers to the question of who Betty was and how she is connected to both of their families’ pasts. The pair work together with priests from the school where Terri works to find out the answers before it costs both them and their loved ones their lives.
Reading a book that focused on horror and religion was something new for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mixing horror, romance, religion, and demonic entities together wasn’t a trope that I had explored previously, and Mr. Murphy blended them all seamlessly. Murphy builds an instantly immersive world for his characters so that you feel like you are with them on their search. I would love to see this novel, with Mr. Murphy as head writer, see this as a feature-length film.
4 out of 5 Stars
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