I knew when I heard the title that I had to read this one. I
am a fan of the paranormal, whether ghosts or cryptids, haunted houses or urban
legends. The legend of the Jersey Devil has always been a popular one, and
being one of the bigger known cryptid there is much information to be found
about it. Still, it all boils down to a
story passed down along generations leaving us to tread in the murky waters of
its true origin. Author Hunter Shea takes this legend and breathes life into it
by way of tons of action, gore, lovable characters, the perfect setting, and a
story that won’t quit. In short, he gives us monster hunters what we want and
so much more.
This tale follows the Willet family and their connection to
the famed beast that spans generations. The elder patriarch has been waiting
for the chance to go head-to-head with the Jersey Devil, and the time has come.
He, along with his child and his grandchildren will venture into the Pine
Barrens in search of the monster to settle an old score, once and for all. Some
of the family members bear a strange symbol that connects them to the Devil
somehow.
“Even
if we do find it, do you think it’ll change anything?” Ben said.
April
sidled next to him, lifting his shirt to expose his side. A bright red
birthmark marred his pale flesh. The mark was in the shape of a cloven hoof.
“You mean like make this go away?”
She
dropped his shirt, lifting her own, revealing an identical birthmark. Daryl did
the same.
“I
don’t know,” Ben said. “At least we can find out what it means.”
Their
father also bore the same mark. They hadn’t seen it since they were kids, but
they knew it was there – a brand that had haunted them all their lives. Ben
knew it was more than that. Much more. They all knew Boompa’s story by heart,
how their grandmother was the first to bear it. He’d suspected there had to be
more, but if the old man hadn’t seen fit to tell them, he must have had a damn
good reason.
Maybe
the answer was somewhere out there in the Pine Barrens. And maybe the only way
to find it was through the barrel of a gun.
The Willets are driven to understand their curse and to
break it so that it no longer affects future generations. Others join in on the
adventure, and many, many more are unwitting victims as the Jersey Devil goes
on a murderous rampage.
Shea’s style fits this tale perfectly. He spins a tale that
grows bigger with each page, trailing along at speeds that seem to go faster,
never slowing. The cast of characters is huge, if you’re counting the victims
that the Devil piles up in droves. And believe it or not, in the midst of all
of this bloodshed, Shea manages to give the Devil himself his own type of
humanity. The best part is the unbelievable twist that Shea delivers. I won’t
say much more about it than that.
Shea’s personal interest in the paranormal shines in the way
he tells the story. He has other novels that highlight different creatures such
as The Montauk Monster and The
Dover Demon, and many others that contain monsters of his devising.
With each novel I’ve read by Mr. Shea, I have to say they’re
getting better and better. Die-hard fans of horror will rejoice with this
selection. The days of renting a good horror flick from the mom and pop video
store down the street are back – in print, that is. Grab a copy of The Jersey Devil today at Amazon for a fun and
filthy trip into the Barrens to meet the extraordinary beast.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
