Devil's Footsteps

by John Burke

From out of the bog alongside the ancient track to the fenland village of Hexney, a line of deep freshly-made footprints runs, trodden into the dry surface of the abandoned droveway. Are these footprints, or hoofprints, or what? Triangular, eight or nine inches long, they're set in a line one in front of another. And, each night, the footprints are advancing steadily towards the village. When a young boy's body is found in the marsh, the superstitious villagers' ire is directed at a young stranger who'd taken his picture before he'd disappeared. Photographer Bronwen Powys finds an ally in the mysterious Dr. Alexander Caspian, who's been investigating the footprints--and before long they'll be fighting the dark forces of evil for their very lives and souls. An absolutely chilling tale of horror and redemption!

Genres: Horror, Occult Detective, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

John Frederick Burke was an English writer of novels and short stories, specializing in film and tv tie-ins.

He wrote under the pen names J. F. Burke, Jonathan Burke, John Burke, Jonathan George, Robert Miall, Martin Sands, Owen Burke, Sara Morris, Russ Ames, Roger Rougiere, Joanna Jones and co-wrote with his wife Jean Burke under the pen name Harriet Esmond.

Note: There are several authors called John Burke. This author has two spaces in the name John^^Burke.

Reviews

[D'Ailleurs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Παροχημένο ήμι-κάλτ θριλεράκι β'διαλογής κατευείαν από τα λατρεμένα 70'ς που θυμίζει την εποχή της Hammer. Επιφανειακή σχέση με το μεταφυσικό (απλά πετάει δέκα ονόματα έτσι για το ρόκ) αλλά παρόλα αυτά διαβάζεται πολύ ευχάριστα. Η μετάφραση είναι πολύ καλύτερη από όσο περίμενα, όπως και η συνολική επιμέλεια δεδομένου ότι είναι παμπάλαιο βιβλίο. Θα ήταν ενδιαφέρον μια νέα σειρά τέτοιων vintage ανανγνωσμάτων (τα περισσότερα είναι πιο διασκεδαστικά από τα σημερινά). Αν βρω και τα άλλα σίγουρα θα τα τιμήσω.

[Adrienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a frequent consumer and reviewer of horror novels, I try to go in with as few preconceived notions as possible. Half of the joy is the moment of surprise that comes when you realize the book you’re reading is not what you expected. It’s fun.

But when I pick up a book with the word “devil” on the cover and with an incredible title treatment, I’ll be honest, I start to set a few internal expectations. I can’t help it.

So imagine my surprise when I finished John Burke’s (a.ka. Jonathan Burke, J. F. Burke, and Robert Miall) The Devil’s Footsteps (1976) without encountering the devil once.

No devil, you say? Then what the hell is it about? I’m glad you asked. Read the full review.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysterious British goings-on. Loved it!

[Bradi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too Midsommar for me. But Caspian was hot for sure