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Father of Lies #1-3
The Complete 'Father of Lies' Series
THE COMPLETE 'FATHER OF LIES' SERIES. BOOKS 1- 3
BOOK 1 - FATHER OF LIES
Ruby is the most violently disturbed patient ever admitted to Drummersgate Asylum, high on the bleak moors of northern England. With no improvement after two years, Dr. Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk and hypnotises her. With terrifying consequences.
A horrific dark force is now unleashed on the entire medical team, as each in turn attempts to unlock Ruby's shocking and sinister past. Who is this girl? And how did she manage to survive such unimaginable evil? Set in a desolate ex-mining village, where secrets are tightly kept and intruders hounded out, their questions soon lead to a haunted mill, the heart of darkness...and The Father of Lies.
BOOK 2 - TANNERS DELL
Following the hypnosis of violently disturbed psychiatric patient, Ruby Dean, an unholy dark force was unleashed on the medical staff who tried to help her. Now only one of the original team remains - Ward Sister, Becky.
Despite her fiancé, D.I. Ross, being unconscious and many of her colleagues either dead or critically ill, Becky is determined to rescue Ruby's twelve year old daughter from a similar fate to her mother. But no one asking questions in the desolate mining village Ruby descends from ever comes to a good end. And as the diabolical history of the area is gradually revealed, it seems the evil invoked is now both real and contagious.
BOOK 3 - MAGDA
The dark and twisted community of Woodsend harbours a terrible secret – one tracing back to the age of the Elizabethan witch hunts, when many innocent women were persecuted and hanged.
But there is a far deeper vein of horror running through this village; an evil that once invoked has no intention of relinquishing its grip on the modern world. Rather it watches and waits with a focused intelligence, leaving Ward Sister, Becky, and Police Officer, Toby, constantly checking over their shoulders and jumping at shadows.
Just who invited in this malevolent presence? And is the demonic woman who possessed Magda back in the sixteenth century, the same one now gazing at Becky whenever she looks in the mirror?
You may need to sleep with the lights on after reading this…Are you ready to meet Magda in this final instalment to the trilogy? Are you sure?
BOOK 1 - FATHER OF LIES
Ruby is the most violently disturbed patient ever admitted to Drummersgate Asylum, high on the bleak moors of northern England. With no improvement after two years, Dr. Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk and hypnotises her. With terrifying consequences.
A horrific dark force is now unleashed on the entire medical team, as each in turn attempts to unlock Ruby's shocking and sinister past. Who is this girl? And how did she manage to survive such unimaginable evil? Set in a desolate ex-mining village, where secrets are tightly kept and intruders hounded out, their questions soon lead to a haunted mill, the heart of darkness...and The Father of Lies.
BOOK 2 - TANNERS DELL
Following the hypnosis of violently disturbed psychiatric patient, Ruby Dean, an unholy dark force was unleashed on the medical staff who tried to help her. Now only one of the original team remains - Ward Sister, Becky.
Despite her fiancé, D.I. Ross, being unconscious and many of her colleagues either dead or critically ill, Becky is determined to rescue Ruby's twelve year old daughter from a similar fate to her mother. But no one asking questions in the desolate mining village Ruby descends from ever comes to a good end. And as the diabolical history of the area is gradually revealed, it seems the evil invoked is now both real and contagious.
BOOK 3 - MAGDA
The dark and twisted community of Woodsend harbours a terrible secret – one tracing back to the age of the Elizabethan witch hunts, when many innocent women were persecuted and hanged.
But there is a far deeper vein of horror running through this village; an evil that once invoked has no intention of relinquishing its grip on the modern world. Rather it watches and waits with a focused intelligence, leaving Ward Sister, Becky, and Police Officer, Toby, constantly checking over their shoulders and jumping at shadows.
Just who invited in this malevolent presence? And is the demonic woman who possessed Magda back in the sixteenth century, the same one now gazing at Becky whenever she looks in the mirror?
You may need to sleep with the lights on after reading this…Are you ready to meet Magda in this final instalment to the trilogy? Are you sure?
- GenresHorror
789 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2016
38 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 2, 2022
Father of Lies
The start of of a triology and I am well and truly hooked. Occult horror at it's best. It all starts with Ruby a youg girl who has been at Drummers Asylum for two years with no improvement. Dr. Jack McGowan decides to take the risk of using hypnosis. What is the worst that can happen? Little do they realise that a dark and horrific force has been unleashed. As each member of the team assigned to help Ruby begin to suffer dark and and terrifying consequences. Who is this girl and where did she come from? Atmospheric, chilling and at times bloody terrifying. After reading the first book I am now off to Tanners Dell.
Tanners Dell.
An old mining town is the centre of the second book. Beth the mental health nurse from Drummers Asylum is the only member of the care team left and she is the only one who can help Ruby. In Ruby's lucid moments and with the help of her alters which she uses to protect herself, Beth and her friends piece together a life of satanic rights, murder, child abuse and devil worship. I love the way this author writes, so descriptive and believable. I was being taken as an invisible bystander to Tanners Dell and it is not for the faint hearted. Very atmospheric, chilling with plenty of heart in your mouth moments. When my heart rate is back to normal I will read the last book in this amazing series.
Magda
This is my favourite book of the three and now I know why this author has been named the Queen of Horror. The way this author writes literally brings the story to life. I have enjoyed this trilogy so much. I have always loved this genre of horror. Using your imagination to go wild. As for Magda who only wanted to be loved but instead was lead down a dark and destructive path with no return.
This series deserves more than five stars and is a MUST READ for all readers of this genre. A tour de force of occult horror. Loved loved it !!!!
The start of of a triology and I am well and truly hooked. Occult horror at it's best. It all starts with Ruby a youg girl who has been at Drummers Asylum for two years with no improvement. Dr. Jack McGowan decides to take the risk of using hypnosis. What is the worst that can happen? Little do they realise that a dark and horrific force has been unleashed. As each member of the team assigned to help Ruby begin to suffer dark and and terrifying consequences. Who is this girl and where did she come from? Atmospheric, chilling and at times bloody terrifying. After reading the first book I am now off to Tanners Dell.
Tanners Dell.
An old mining town is the centre of the second book. Beth the mental health nurse from Drummers Asylum is the only member of the care team left and she is the only one who can help Ruby. In Ruby's lucid moments and with the help of her alters which she uses to protect herself, Beth and her friends piece together a life of satanic rights, murder, child abuse and devil worship. I love the way this author writes, so descriptive and believable. I was being taken as an invisible bystander to Tanners Dell and it is not for the faint hearted. Very atmospheric, chilling with plenty of heart in your mouth moments. When my heart rate is back to normal I will read the last book in this amazing series.
Magda
This is my favourite book of the three and now I know why this author has been named the Queen of Horror. The way this author writes literally brings the story to life. I have enjoyed this trilogy so much. I have always loved this genre of horror. Using your imagination to go wild. As for Magda who only wanted to be loved but instead was lead down a dark and destructive path with no return.
This series deserves more than five stars and is a MUST READ for all readers of this genre. A tour de force of occult horror. Loved loved it !!!!
November 29, 2018
Not Bad for a Screenplay
I read the trilogy in a single go which seemed to make the most sense. There really aren't three books. I found the starts and stops of each to be quite arbitrary, like taking a Stephen King 2000 pager and hacking it into thirds. There is also only one plot. There is only one arc of a storyline. It would have made much more sense if the backstory of Magda had been introduced from the beginning instead of being held until the last third. All the spooky imagery would have worked better as film direction than as book description. The book needed more action from its protagonists. The author mostly just introduced them then killed them off. What's the fun of going up against the devil if you can't fight him off? The author wouldn't let her characters call on God and His angels and kick the devil's ass. Boring! In the end all this was was a "G" rated version of of a really slow 'Exorcist'.
I read the trilogy in a single go which seemed to make the most sense. There really aren't three books. I found the starts and stops of each to be quite arbitrary, like taking a Stephen King 2000 pager and hacking it into thirds. There is also only one plot. There is only one arc of a storyline. It would have made much more sense if the backstory of Magda had been introduced from the beginning instead of being held until the last third. All the spooky imagery would have worked better as film direction than as book description. The book needed more action from its protagonists. The author mostly just introduced them then killed them off. What's the fun of going up against the devil if you can't fight him off? The author wouldn't let her characters call on God and His angels and kick the devil's ass. Boring! In the end all this was was a "G" rated version of of a really slow 'Exorcist'.
July 2, 2024
Father of Lies was the first book that I stumbled across from Sarah England while on my never ending quest to discover new horror, and since that time, I went on to read seven of her books in six months! Yeah, she's THAT good! Although I read the three books independently, I'll review the story here for the sake of ease since it's an option.
Father of Lies, like many of Sarah's books, are tagged as "pure occult horror" and they are just that. A wonderful blend of magick, witchcraft, demonic possession and gut-wrenching terror all cleverly woven in together into a tale of well developed characters in a story that just doesn't let up.
I'm amazed that in the horror circles I move in that not many people talk about Sarah's work, but from someone who has almost exclusively read horror for more than 40 years, I cannot recommend this series highly enough. 5/5 all the way!
Father of Lies, like many of Sarah's books, are tagged as "pure occult horror" and they are just that. A wonderful blend of magick, witchcraft, demonic possession and gut-wrenching terror all cleverly woven in together into a tale of well developed characters in a story that just doesn't let up.
I'm amazed that in the horror circles I move in that not many people talk about Sarah's work, but from someone who has almost exclusively read horror for more than 40 years, I cannot recommend this series highly enough. 5/5 all the way!
June 16, 2019
Gave it 4 n 3/4
The first two books really had me on different levels which will quickly make up a review.id really like to write a longer on as there is so much in these books. I can't do it justice.
No I am an RMN and u found the insight inrlto mental health and possession frighteningly accurate and has opened a whole new topic of conversation.
Not. Scared witless I held on to my black tormaline and covered myself in white light just to read the first two books
No3 story and characters were believable and swept me along.
Now for the stars at 4 3/4 I just felt book 3 was a bit disjointed after the ending of book 2 and tbh felt it was unessesary. It was OK. Only read to the end because 1 and 2 were brilliant. Sorry 3 didn't like.
The first two books really had me on different levels which will quickly make up a review.id really like to write a longer on as there is so much in these books. I can't do it justice.
No I am an RMN and u found the insight inrlto mental health and possession frighteningly accurate and has opened a whole new topic of conversation.
Not. Scared witless I held on to my black tormaline and covered myself in white light just to read the first two books
No3 story and characters were believable and swept me along.
Now for the stars at 4 3/4 I just felt book 3 was a bit disjointed after the ending of book 2 and tbh felt it was unessesary. It was OK. Only read to the end because 1 and 2 were brilliant. Sorry 3 didn't like.
January 16, 2022
One of the best occult horror stories I have read in a good while. I was instantly hooked on it, and read all 3 practically in one sitting, so to say, it was that engaging for me. This ranged from creepy, dark, psychological, suspense to complete dark twists that you might even question yourself... My reaction was "Holy Sh*t!" You can tell the author did A LOT of research for this.
I would like to recommend this to anyone that loves this type of genre, and, must definitely be, mentally strong... because it is not for the faint of heart. This contains A LOT of topics and themes that could be extremely triggering to some.
I would like to recommend this to anyone that loves this type of genre, and, must definitely be, mentally strong... because it is not for the faint of heart. This contains A LOT of topics and themes that could be extremely triggering to some.
June 7, 2022
A good read
These three books are very well written . There is consistent flow to the words as they unfold into an imaginative story. I did the story was put together in an understandable way. There is an unpalatable side to digest, but it is presented in way that both is explicit and compassionate, for the reader. I enjoyed reading this dark tale.
These three books are very well written . There is consistent flow to the words as they unfold into an imaginative story. I did the story was put together in an understandable way. There is an unpalatable side to digest, but it is presented in way that both is explicit and compassionate, for the reader. I enjoyed reading this dark tale.
February 16, 2020
What A Shame!
Having read Hidden Company I rated that particular book and author as 5 stars; however I struggled with this trilogy. The author's writing style and subject knowledge is superb but the trilogy is overlong (I feel by a factor of 2) and becomes quite a slog by the time the third book is reached. However I finished and felt the three star rating justified, mainly in support of an extremely competent author.
Having read Hidden Company I rated that particular book and author as 5 stars; however I struggled with this trilogy. The author's writing style and subject knowledge is superb but the trilogy is overlong (I feel by a factor of 2) and becomes quite a slog by the time the third book is reached. However I finished and felt the three star rating justified, mainly in support of an extremely competent author.
May 10, 2019
I am totally hooked on this writer. This is a great series. up my alley, I plan to readall of her books. Now on tto the next one.
December 8, 2024
Was a fine set of novels, just predictable.
June 24, 2019
Unfortunately, the whole trilogy was a big disappointment for me! I hoped it’d be good, which is why I persevered reading all three books, even though, especially first two books (Father of Lies and Tanners Dell) were not scary, just a combinations of chaotic story lines of different characters with Satanism and child abuse thrown into the mix.
There were some things in the last book (Magda), which were scary, however, the ending of this book and the whole trilogy was a huge let down. Very hurried, quite far-fetched and with lots of loose ends.
I was a bit annoyed about reading this, but at least I only paid about £5.49 for Kindle version (and not £7.99 for each paperback), but even that is a waste of money.
There were some things in the last book (Magda), which were scary, however, the ending of this book and the whole trilogy was a huge let down. Very hurried, quite far-fetched and with lots of loose ends.
I was a bit annoyed about reading this, but at least I only paid about £5.49 for Kindle version (and not £7.99 for each paperback), but even that is a waste of money.
January 30, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable
Other people have mentioned that there are some of the old cliche horror things in this book , the reason they have been used so much is that when dome properly , they work ! This trilogy kept me reading right to the last page . it was interesting , disturbing , and very well written . loved the plot , the characters , the dialogue , the setting ......... Need I go on ? Try it , I did on a whim and I am delighted I took a chance .
Other people have mentioned that there are some of the old cliche horror things in this book , the reason they have been used so much is that when dome properly , they work ! This trilogy kept me reading right to the last page . it was interesting , disturbing , and very well written . loved the plot , the characters , the dialogue , the setting ......... Need I go on ? Try it , I did on a whim and I am delighted I took a chance .
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews