Good...But WAY Too Routine...

PITCH by William Ollie (2012 Dark Regions Press / 252 pp / tp)


In 1903, the Devil himself supernaturally saved William Pitch from an angry mob, bent on hanging him for an act of adultry.  The catch?  Every 13 years, Pitch must sacrifice a group of young boys to his Dark Master at an isolated mansion in a small West Virginian mining town.


Flash forward to 1968: Sheriff Nathan Hayes is still dealing with the death of his twin brother, as well as his dwindling police force.  A group of junior high students are dealing with a nasty old teacher, and the town is once again dealing with a new outbreak of murders, kidnappings, and other strange happenings.


And we, the readers, are asked to deal with a by-the-numbers, cliched horror novel that offers nothing new to the "ancient-evil-returns / deal-with-the-devil" thing.  Ollie (who is no slouch when it comes to occultic horror) pens his latest offering with gusto, passion, and at a quick pace, but seasoned genre fans have read this a thousand times already.


Recommended ONLY for those who can't get enough of Old Scratch...