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Children of Fire
A Man with Nothing Left
Former detective Landon Rowe has lost everything—his child, his wife, his career. He’s a man without purpose, but he’s always believed in doing what’s right, even helping his ex’s husband.
A Cop with Something to Prove
Rowe’s ex-wife has fled with her new son to a religious cult in western New York where a charismatic and dangerous zealot, Eamon Fischer, preaches not baptism by water but by flames. Unable to do anything for the infant son who died years ago, Rowe agrees to infiltrate the Children of Fire cult and rescue the boy.
A Detective Out of Practice
It should be simple—find the kid and leave—but Fischer and his followers are anything but simple. When events turn deadly, Rowe will have no choice but to take on the entire cult to save the boy and himself.
A Child of Fire
To rescue his ex-wife's child, Rowe will have to confront his own trauma, a crucible that will challenge everything he knows. What is the truth behind his broken career, his failed marriage, and his dead son? For Landon Rowe, it will be a baptism by fire and the consequences may be more than one soul can bear.
Former detective Landon Rowe has lost everything—his child, his wife, his career. He’s a man without purpose, but he’s always believed in doing what’s right, even helping his ex’s husband.
A Cop with Something to Prove
Rowe’s ex-wife has fled with her new son to a religious cult in western New York where a charismatic and dangerous zealot, Eamon Fischer, preaches not baptism by water but by flames. Unable to do anything for the infant son who died years ago, Rowe agrees to infiltrate the Children of Fire cult and rescue the boy.
A Detective Out of Practice
It should be simple—find the kid and leave—but Fischer and his followers are anything but simple. When events turn deadly, Rowe will have no choice but to take on the entire cult to save the boy and himself.
A Child of Fire
To rescue his ex-wife's child, Rowe will have to confront his own trauma, a crucible that will challenge everything he knows. What is the truth behind his broken career, his failed marriage, and his dead son? For Landon Rowe, it will be a baptism by fire and the consequences may be more than one soul can bear.
- GenresHorror
240 pages, Paperback
Published July 4, 2022
23 people want to read
About the author
Chris DiLeo
15 books67 followersDiLeo is a high school English teacher in New York's Hudson Valley, and a horror/thriller novelist—he also has two coffins in his office. You know, for decoration . . . (Check out his photos to see a picture.)
Amazon reviewers are saying, “DiLeo’s horror skills are undeniable. He’s a master of suspense and understands the parameters and power of the monsters he’s created . . . [DiLeo’s] prose is first-rate and engaging . . . [It’s] like reading a horror movie . . . [With] deftly blend[ed] suspense, action . . . Dark, dramatic, and thoroughly chilling . . . [You’ll be] grabbed by the first page until the very last word . . . Disturbing and perturbing, and rampantly unsettling . . . [There will be] nightmares for a lot of us . . . DiLeo is definitely on the very dark and disturbing side of the scale.”
Amazon reviewers are saying, “DiLeo’s horror skills are undeniable. He’s a master of suspense and understands the parameters and power of the monsters he’s created . . . [DiLeo’s] prose is first-rate and engaging . . . [It’s] like reading a horror movie . . . [With] deftly blend[ed] suspense, action . . . Dark, dramatic, and thoroughly chilling . . . [You’ll be] grabbed by the first page until the very last word . . . Disturbing and perturbing, and rampantly unsettling . . . [There will be] nightmares for a lot of us . . . DiLeo is definitely on the very dark and disturbing side of the scale.”
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 4, 2022
I don't believe I've ever read a book from this author, but I will be reading more of them in the future. This book has quirky characters, lots of sarcasm from the main character, but an underlying very rich and dark world. This is gritty noir without being unoriginal. Loved it.
July 25, 2022
Upstate cultists? A failed detective as our narrator? I’m a sucker for both. Fantastic read, that manages a surprising amount of twists within a smaller timeframe given the book length. Impressive. The story ties up perfectly, but there is definitely enough there to warrant a possible sequel. If that happens, sign me up straightaway. Pretty much loved it.
August 12, 2022
A former detective dealing with personal demons investigating a missing child in a cult. This roped me in and I plowed through in one sitting. A fast paced and suspenseful thriller. My first read from DiLeo, and definitely not my last.
August 14, 2022
Is it cheating to give my own book 5 stars?
Regardless, I love this book and I hope people give it a read. It came out of my love of crime stories, especially those narrated by grizzled, down-on-their-luck detectives, and my fear of religious zealots and how they cultivate groupthink.
My book moves fast, has a strong emotionally core, and goes in unexpected directions.
Regardless, I love this book and I hope people give it a read. It came out of my love of crime stories, especially those narrated by grizzled, down-on-their-luck detectives, and my fear of religious zealots and how they cultivate groupthink.
My book moves fast, has a strong emotionally core, and goes in unexpected directions.
February 4, 2025
I got to meet Chris at a barns and noble in Newburgh NY and I was immediately invested in this book when he told me the description. I love occult, cults, horror, thrillers etc. and this book checked alot of those boxes.
I want to say this book has a silent hill , meets MidSommar with a bit of True Detective at play. I really enjoyed the style of writing. The book tells its story, gives you insight but doesn't drag on at all which I appreciated alot. Great story, with an ending that I really appreciated
I want to say this book has a silent hill , meets MidSommar with a bit of True Detective at play. I really enjoyed the style of writing. The book tells its story, gives you insight but doesn't drag on at all which I appreciated alot. Great story, with an ending that I really appreciated
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews