John McCarty - Deadly Resurrection

[dem bones]

John McCarty - Deadly Resurrection (St Martins, 1990)

Blurb:
A GRUESOME KILLER
Brutal death stalks the quiet streets of Holbrook, Massachusetts. More viciously depraved than even London's "Saucy Jack," the Holbrook Ripper leaves behind no clues.
A MOTHER'S LOVE
Julie and Peter Hauser had come to Holbrook to start anew after their young son's death — a tragedy her dreams foretold. Now, to bring him back, Julie will resort to any means necessary — even the most forbidden.
A POWER FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE.
Julie's only hope is to summon a creature of the ancient occult, a dreadful ally long absent from this world. But hope soon turns to terror when Julie confronts the Ripper's savage thirst ... and calls forth an ageless, infernal power whose reign would crush the world.

In the wake of their only child's abduction and murder by person unknown, Peter and Julie Hauser move from Vermont to Holbrook, Massachusetts (pop. 8800). Him to take work as a DJ on the local radio station, drink heavily, hate his wife's best friend and suffer blackouts. Her to become assistant librarian and endure ever more distressing premonitions of violence and evil. Julie's psychic abilities have been a constant since she lost her mother at the age of ten. She has amassed an impressive library of occult titles and an unhealthy relationship with the Ouija board.

The Hauser's arrival in Holbrook coincides with the first Ripper murder. According to the coroner, whoever raped and murdered the three known victims (and counting) has an appendage "big as a nightstick." Sheriff Abe Winoma, dismissed from the Boston force for beating up a rape suspect, is so irked when the major insists on calling in the State police that he throws in his lot with Roger Sarris, hot-shot radio news reporter, who knows everyone and everything there is to know about the local bar scene. Sarris is also an incorrigible womanizer, though he's yet to have his way with the new gal in his life, Maria Renata, a self-confessed witch. When Sarris introduces Maria to his pal, Peter Hauser, she sets to work seducing him. Peter has had another angry bust up with Julia. "It's not what you do ... it's what you can't do. Christ, as if it's not frustrating enough trying to get somewhere in this stupid life — Hell, I can't even get a damn kid out of the deal!" Drunk, angry and randy as he is, Peter manfully resists Maria's come on, whereupon she sinks her teeth into his hand, drawing blood. Something to remember her by. Furious, Peter causes such a scene storming out of the bar that he's banned from drinking there.

Another black out. Another murder.

Peter swears to repay Maria for savaging his hand, she turns the tables, bewitching him to drink blood then sodomizing him with a king-size strap on. He flees screaming from the flat. Sarris, meanwhile, furious at being stood up, stalks Maria to another of her secret haunts, The Delphi — the lesbian hang-out, last known whereabouts of the Ripper's second victim. The reporter in Sarris takes over. Maybe Maria knew her? Maybe she knew the other victims? Maybe she'd like him to keep her name out of the story he's planning to write? That could be arranged ...

On friend Sheila's suggestion, Julia consults Adrian Stiles, a flamboyant, much-derided celebrity consultant in psychic phenomena. Stiles — whose library of rare occult titles dwarves her own — is also an art collector whose most treasured purchases include several nightmarish Austin Spare jungle landscapes. "Spare was an atavist ... [he] consorted with creatures thought long dead. He shared their world. Painted their power."

According to Stiles', Spare's life mission was to release Atavar, "the True God," from his prison beneath the sea. Stiles insists Spare was a direct descendant of the God, as is he himself, as is Julie, the most powerful telepath of the three. Could she be the one to bring about Atavar's return?

"According to legend, Atavar himself shall choose that individual. And upon his resurrection he shall grant that person his or her wish. Whatever it is."

Stiles owns the solitary copy of the book of ritual required to raise Atavar, composed by the God himself.

Another murder, though it's unlikely the police will learn of it in the near future ...

P. 125 of 264. Fair belts along this one.

TBC.

[andydecker]

She is the gate of damnation

Now that is a good blurb.

[helrunar]

Savage horror! I love that blurb.

Sounds perfect for Vault leisure reading. I love a good creature of the ancient occult summoned up by hellfire and brimstone to savor with my evening cuppa.

cheers, Steve

[dem bones]

All done now. While I wasn't much taken with the ending (though, in the context of this novel, it makes sense), something I will say in favour of Deadly Resurrection is it's never draggy and boring. The deaths are horrible, too.

Bloodied and drunk, Peter has no option but to confess his fling to Julie who, not unreasonably, wonders if there's any point attempting to save their marriage. And yet ... that name, Maria Renata, is familiar from something she read ... Sure enough, among her black magic titles, a copy of Lewton Keith's The Soiled Sisterhood: An Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Possession, and Religious Hysteria in the Eighteenth Century (Quade Press, 1965) includes an account of a nun, Maria Renata, sub-prioress of UnterZell convent, who, in 1749, was tortured and burnt at the stake for "consorting with devils." In truth, her "crime" was consorting with her fellow sisters, which so angered an infatuated priest that accused her of Satan worship. Maria died cursing the wretched Priest and threatening diabolical vengeance.

Is the present day Maria a reincarnation of the tragic nun, or is she just some vengeful misandrist who over-identifies with her namesake?

Julie Hauser determines to resurrect Atavar and have her murdered son returned unharmed as reward. Which is when an already appalling chain of events take a turn for the apocalyptic ....

[helrunar]

Juicy! You know that 

Lewton Keith's The Soiled Sisterhood: An Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Possession, and Religious Hysteria in the Eighteenth Century (Quade Press, 1965)

has just jumped to the top of my "want" list.

cheers, H.