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Exorcist Falls
Listening Length: 11 hours and 57 minutes
Chicago is gripped by terror. The Sweet Sixteen Killer is brutally murdering young women, and the authorities are baffled.
When the police are called to an affluent home in the middle of the night, they learn that a seemingly normal fourteen-year-old boy has attacked his family. The boy exhibits signs of demonic possession, and even more troublingly, he knows too much about the Sweet Sixteen killings. Father Jason Crowder, a young priest assigned to the case, must marshal his courage in order to save the boy and the entire city from the forces of evil.
But this is a darkness mankind has never encountered before. It craves more than blood. And it won’t rest until it possesses Father Crowder’s soul.
This volume brings together the original novella that started it all—Exorcist Road—and an all-new full-length novel (Exorcist Falls) for a shattering experience in supernatural terror.
Chicago is gripped by terror. The Sweet Sixteen Killer is brutally murdering young women, and the authorities are baffled.
When the police are called to an affluent home in the middle of the night, they learn that a seemingly normal fourteen-year-old boy has attacked his family. The boy exhibits signs of demonic possession, and even more troublingly, he knows too much about the Sweet Sixteen killings. Father Jason Crowder, a young priest assigned to the case, must marshal his courage in order to save the boy and the entire city from the forces of evil.
But this is a darkness mankind has never encountered before. It craves more than blood. And it won’t rest until it possesses Father Crowder’s soul.
This volume brings together the original novella that started it all—Exorcist Road—and an all-new full-length novel (Exorcist Falls) for a shattering experience in supernatural terror.
Audiobook
First published March 15, 2017
68 people are currently reading
1757 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Janz
60 books2,093 followersJonathan Janz is an author and public schoolteacher. His sci-fi horror novel VEIL is now available, and you can find his story "Lenora" in THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: NEW TALES OF STEPHEN KING'S THE STAND. He’s represented for Film & TV by Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment, and his literary agent is Lane Heymont. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Children of the Dark and The Dark Game were chosen by Booklist and Library Journal as Top Ten Horror Books of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter (http://jonathanjanz.us12.list-manage....), and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
November 2, 2018
4.5/5 stars!
EXORCIST FALLS was so much demonic fun, I don't even know where to begin!
Narrated by Matt Godfrey, this audiobook starts out with the novella EXORCIST ROAD. A completely off the wall story of demonic possession with so many twists and turns, this reader didn't know which way was up!
I'm not going to get into the plot-exorcism is involved- which is plain from the get-go. What makes this book exciting and different is the twists and the loads of action within. Not only do we have the demon and the priest, we have an extremely depraved serial killer-and perhaps more than one. Father Crowder, the protagonist, isn't a completely good guy either-he often gets a bit over- zealous, (over-righteous?), in his thinking, which leads him down some uncommonly sinful roads.
My only criticism is the fact that towards the end of the tale the twists began to feel contrived. Honestly, though? I was having so much fun by then that I really didn't care. The final scene was such a gleeful delight, I would have overlooked a LOT worse. I'm grinning just thinking about it!
As I mentioned above, Matt Godfrey narrated (the hell out of)this story, and his voice and pacing were perfect. There were a few hairy scenes that I'm sure must have been difficult to get through, but he made it sound easy. He also sounded like he was having a great time, which only added to MY enjoyment.
If demonic possession all mixed up with a mysterious serial killer and sketchy priests sounds good to you, I highly recommend you give EXORCIST FALLS a try. I've never read anything else quite like it!
You can get your copy here, (tell 'em Char sent you): https://amzn.to/2EZv54z
*I received this audiobook free of charge from Audiobook Boom! in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
EXORCIST FALLS was so much demonic fun, I don't even know where to begin!
Narrated by Matt Godfrey, this audiobook starts out with the novella EXORCIST ROAD. A completely off the wall story of demonic possession with so many twists and turns, this reader didn't know which way was up!
I'm not going to get into the plot-exorcism is involved- which is plain from the get-go. What makes this book exciting and different is the twists and the loads of action within. Not only do we have the demon and the priest, we have an extremely depraved serial killer-and perhaps more than one. Father Crowder, the protagonist, isn't a completely good guy either-he often gets a bit over- zealous, (over-righteous?), in his thinking, which leads him down some uncommonly sinful roads.
My only criticism is the fact that towards the end of the tale the twists began to feel contrived. Honestly, though? I was having so much fun by then that I really didn't care. The final scene was such a gleeful delight, I would have overlooked a LOT worse. I'm grinning just thinking about it!
As I mentioned above, Matt Godfrey narrated (the hell out of)this story, and his voice and pacing were perfect. There were a few hairy scenes that I'm sure must have been difficult to get through, but he made it sound easy. He also sounded like he was having a great time, which only added to MY enjoyment.
If demonic possession all mixed up with a mysterious serial killer and sketchy priests sounds good to you, I highly recommend you give EXORCIST FALLS a try. I've never read anything else quite like it!
You can get your copy here, (tell 'em Char sent you): https://amzn.to/2EZv54z
*I received this audiobook free of charge from Audiobook Boom! in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
September 10, 2019
3.5 stars.
I’d sensed a change in the entire city over the past three months. It was one thing to have a serial killer loose in Chicago. It was another thing entirely for the madman to prey exclusively on sixteen-year-old girls.
This book contains a prequel novella, Exorcist Road and the full length novel, Exorcist Falls.
The prequel novella was superior story, because it's filled with more tension and I wasn't quite able to predict the direction of the unfolding events.
The protagonist, Father Jason Crowder, a 29 year old priest, is summoned to the home of the Hartman family, because their 14 year old son Casey is exhibiting signs of violent demonic possession.
Father Crowder and his mentor, Father Sutherland, work together to exorcise Malephar, the demon, from the boy's body. Crowder's a priest who has his own burdens - the worst of which is his lustful infatuation with the teenage boy's mother.
Father Crowder is a tainted type of H. He struggles to be good but he's reluctant to eradicate his sexual fantasies from his mind. He never acts on those fantasies, with Liz Hartman, but that's mainly for lack of opportunity. He knows that he shouldn't give into temptation, yet he can't stay away from her.
In these 2 stories, there's human evil, in the form of the Sweet Sixteen Killer and demonic evil, represented by Malephar.
The prequel novella ends with the successful exorcism of the demon from Casey Hartman's body, but there's a dramatic plot twist that sets up the storyline for the second book.
That plot twist is based on the fact that Malephar entered Father Crowder's body, after being exorcised from Casey Hartman. This second novel, Exorcist Falls was campier, religious horror, without salvation or a redeemable ending for anyone. It's the kind of dramatic, sequel bait ending, where the evil continues to live and the reader knows that there'll be even greater depravity in the future.
This was an entertaining duology, but I preferred Janz's The Siren and the Specter, because there was closure and a relatively positive conclusion for those MC's. In this duology, the evil just comes full circle . Certain disgusting characters, like the Sweet Sixteen Killer, are murdered, but the very forces of Evil continue to prevail.
This isn't a full blown gore fest, but there's enough splatterpunk horror elements to entertain those who have a strong stomach. I enjoy Jonathan Janz's style of writing, because it's reminiscent of my favourites like Brian Keene and Richard Laymon. It's interesting to note that the author himself has often mentioned that he's a huge fan of Brian Keene's horror novels.
I’d sensed a change in the entire city over the past three months. It was one thing to have a serial killer loose in Chicago. It was another thing entirely for the madman to prey exclusively on sixteen-year-old girls.
This book contains a prequel novella, Exorcist Road and the full length novel, Exorcist Falls.
The prequel novella was superior story, because it's filled with more tension and I wasn't quite able to predict the direction of the unfolding events.
The protagonist, Father Jason Crowder, a 29 year old priest, is summoned to the home of the Hartman family, because their 14 year old son Casey is exhibiting signs of violent demonic possession.
Father Crowder and his mentor, Father Sutherland, work together to exorcise Malephar, the demon, from the boy's body. Crowder's a priest who has his own burdens - the worst of which is his lustful infatuation with the teenage boy's mother.
Father Crowder is a tainted type of H. He struggles to be good but he's reluctant to eradicate his sexual fantasies from his mind. He never acts on those fantasies, with Liz Hartman, but that's mainly for lack of opportunity. He knows that he shouldn't give into temptation, yet he can't stay away from her.
In these 2 stories, there's human evil, in the form of the Sweet Sixteen Killer and demonic evil, represented by Malephar.
The prequel novella ends with the successful exorcism of the demon from Casey Hartman's body, but there's a dramatic plot twist that sets up the storyline for the second book.
That plot twist is based on the fact that Malephar entered Father Crowder's body, after being exorcised from Casey Hartman. This second novel, Exorcist Falls was campier, religious horror, without salvation or a redeemable ending for anyone. It's the kind of dramatic, sequel bait ending, where the evil continues to live and the reader knows that there'll be even greater depravity in the future.
This was an entertaining duology, but I preferred Janz's The Siren and the Specter, because there was closure and a relatively positive conclusion for those MC's. In this duology, the evil just comes full circle . Certain disgusting characters, like the Sweet Sixteen Killer, are murdered, but the very forces of Evil continue to prevail.
This isn't a full blown gore fest, but there's enough splatterpunk horror elements to entertain those who have a strong stomach. I enjoy Jonathan Janz's style of writing, because it's reminiscent of my favourites like Brian Keene and Richard Laymon. It's interesting to note that the author himself has often mentioned that he's a huge fan of Brian Keene's horror novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2018
*EDIT: At first, I rated this five stars because it's easy to do that on technical ability alone. Janz is a phenomenally talented writer but after sitting here thinking about it, I think that I enjoy horror books more when I have a character I can invest in. Characters I fall in love with and that the story has some kind of hope to latch on to-something redeeming in the midst of overwhelming darkness. Exorcist Falls fell short on those counts. There were not any characters I fell in love with, they were all impossibly void of anything that caused my heart to swell. So I'm going with 4 stars.
Original Review: Exorcist Falls is my second Jonathan Janz book. I read, Children of the Dark earlier this year and was totally drawn in by Janz's storytelling style--very much in the vein of Stephen King and Robert McCammon; rich character development, natural dialog and a slow & steady build of tension and horror.
This book was *much* darker but there are some similarities here: Both books deal with this duality of threats: The supernatural and man. Which is scarier? The depravity of man or the unknown evil of monsters and demons?
In this book, a small town is under attack. The Sweet Sixteen killer is brutally murdering young girls. There is also a family under attack, a teenage boy is likely possessed by a powerful demon who has the supernatural ability to see man's deepest, darkest deeds and thoughts if its host touches you.
At first, I was suffering from culture shock, like when you go to a foreign country and everything is so new and so different, Exorcist Falls is in stark contrast to Children of the Dark, but I quickly got over it as Janz's compelling narrative swept me away.
The novella, Exorcist Road comes first which is a set up for the novel, Exorcist Falls. You really need to read both of them to have the full scope of the story (please read the synopsis for the perfect plot summary).
Much like William Peter Blatty's book, the Exorcist, there are some very disturbing scenes. Which makes recommending this book a little tricky so:
If you are a seasoned horror fan and you enjoy quality storytelling, intricate plot twists, rich character development, strong descriptive language and you don't mind being terrified, you can handle mature language and you like a good Light vs. Dark, demon possession book--you need to start buying Jonathan Janz's books (all of them) that's what I'm planning on doing.
But if you find yourself timidly skimming over dramatic, intense scenes in horror books because they're too scary for you--this book is not for you.
That's how I'm going to frame the disclaimer, so decide which kind of horror reader you are and then realize that it's MY favorite genre and that's why it's getting *four stars.
I can't wait to read my next Janz tale, The Siren and the Specter.
Original Review: Exorcist Falls is my second Jonathan Janz book. I read, Children of the Dark earlier this year and was totally drawn in by Janz's storytelling style--very much in the vein of Stephen King and Robert McCammon; rich character development, natural dialog and a slow & steady build of tension and horror.
This book was *much* darker but there are some similarities here: Both books deal with this duality of threats: The supernatural and man. Which is scarier? The depravity of man or the unknown evil of monsters and demons?
In this book, a small town is under attack. The Sweet Sixteen killer is brutally murdering young girls. There is also a family under attack, a teenage boy is likely possessed by a powerful demon who has the supernatural ability to see man's deepest, darkest deeds and thoughts if its host touches you.
At first, I was suffering from culture shock, like when you go to a foreign country and everything is so new and so different, Exorcist Falls is in stark contrast to Children of the Dark, but I quickly got over it as Janz's compelling narrative swept me away.
The novella, Exorcist Road comes first which is a set up for the novel, Exorcist Falls. You really need to read both of them to have the full scope of the story (please read the synopsis for the perfect plot summary).
Much like William Peter Blatty's book, the Exorcist, there are some very disturbing scenes. Which makes recommending this book a little tricky so:
If you are a seasoned horror fan and you enjoy quality storytelling, intricate plot twists, rich character development, strong descriptive language and you don't mind being terrified, you can handle mature language and you like a good Light vs. Dark, demon possession book--you need to start buying Jonathan Janz's books (all of them) that's what I'm planning on doing.
But if you find yourself timidly skimming over dramatic, intense scenes in horror books because they're too scary for you--this book is not for you.
That's how I'm going to frame the disclaimer, so decide which kind of horror reader you are and then realize that it's MY favorite genre and that's why it's getting *four stars.
I can't wait to read my next Janz tale, The Siren and the Specter.
Want to read
February 16, 2018This hrdcover is numbered 14 of 60 copies printed and is signed by Jonathan Janz.
November 14, 2018
This unabridged audio contains two excellent connected stories of demonic possession. One is a novella that sets the scene for the novel to follow. You’ll want to read/listen to them back to back because they’re both horrifyingly hard to put down.
EXORCIST ROAD sets everything up and is a pretty complete story on its own about a young teen being savaged by a demon and who is suspected of being a murderer. Is it all an act or is a true case of demon possession? Two priests are called in to investigate and perform an exorcism. The younger, inexperienced priest discovers some horrifying secrets about the family and nearly everyone soon becomes a suspect in the Sweet Sixteen Killings.
EXORCIST FALLS continues the story of the young priest who has been shaken but not destroyed by all he has experienced. He is now very haunted and conflicted but I can’t tell you why. The search for the Sweet Sixteen Killer continues and it’s pretty much non-stop action from here on out. There’s a little side of lust and a budding romance brought over from EXORCIST ROAD that I felt completely out of place in both storylines considering the trauma the woman recently experienced. Her character was woefully underdeveloped which probably explains my disbelief of her “romance” storyline. The last thing I’d be looking for after all of that was some love from a new guy. The reader is continually told that she is amazing but I didn’t feel her amazingness was ever shown which is kind of a shame. All of the men are very well developed though and she’s a bit player so it’s a minor nitpick, really. I loved the Jason Crowder character so much. A tormented priest with a horrible backstory and a demon ready to exploit all of his human weaknesses? Yep, you’ve got my attention.
Both stories are pitch black and ghoulish and very graphic. Terrible things are said and terrible deeds are done and I loved it but it may not be for everyone as the scenes are so realistically described you can pretty much picture it all going on very clearly. Maybe a little too clearly in some cases!
I can easily recommend the audiobook narrated by Matt Godfrey who has such a down to earth, calming voice he makes even the evilest of deeds go down a little easier. He does an excellent sinister demon voice too! Don’t miss it if you love this kind of story.
EXORCIST ROAD sets everything up and is a pretty complete story on its own about a young teen being savaged by a demon and who is suspected of being a murderer. Is it all an act or is a true case of demon possession? Two priests are called in to investigate and perform an exorcism. The younger, inexperienced priest discovers some horrifying secrets about the family and nearly everyone soon becomes a suspect in the Sweet Sixteen Killings.
EXORCIST FALLS continues the story of the young priest who has been shaken but not destroyed by all he has experienced. He is now very haunted and conflicted but I can’t tell you why. The search for the Sweet Sixteen Killer continues and it’s pretty much non-stop action from here on out. There’s a little side of lust and a budding romance brought over from EXORCIST ROAD that I felt completely out of place in both storylines considering the trauma the woman recently experienced. Her character was woefully underdeveloped which probably explains my disbelief of her “romance” storyline. The last thing I’d be looking for after all of that was some love from a new guy. The reader is continually told that she is amazing but I didn’t feel her amazingness was ever shown which is kind of a shame. All of the men are very well developed though and she’s a bit player so it’s a minor nitpick, really. I loved the Jason Crowder character so much. A tormented priest with a horrible backstory and a demon ready to exploit all of his human weaknesses? Yep, you’ve got my attention.
Both stories are pitch black and ghoulish and very graphic. Terrible things are said and terrible deeds are done and I loved it but it may not be for everyone as the scenes are so realistically described you can pretty much picture it all going on very clearly. Maybe a little too clearly in some cases!
I can easily recommend the audiobook narrated by Matt Godfrey who has such a down to earth, calming voice he makes even the evilest of deeds go down a little easier. He does an excellent sinister demon voice too! Don’t miss it if you love this kind of story.
March 26, 2017
4.5 stars!
EXORCIST FALLS, by Jonathan Janz, begins with his novella, EXORCIST ROAD, and immediately continues into the novel EXORCIST FALLS. Although I read the original novella when it was first released, I loved the convenience of having it included here in order to refresh my memory, as the novel takes place directly after those events.
The main location for EXORCIST ROAD is in the Hartman home, where a teenaged boy, Casey, is displaying indisputable signs of demonic possession. Father Sutherland and his protégée, Father Jason Crowder, have been summoned by the parents with the hope of exorcizing the evil. Linked to this timeline are the atrocities being committed to sixteen year old girls, by the "Sweet Sixteen Killer". It soon becomes evident that the force inside of young Casey knows all the details about the murders and mutilations that have been occurring.
". . . But it was the leer stretching his lips that did it, the soulless, mocking grin that erased all semblance of humanity from that horrid face."
The intricate details and confined setting suit this novella perfectly. Janz is able to fully develop each and every one of his characters here, without resorting to throwing random comments at the readers. He uses dialog, internal thoughts, and the dynamic relationships between the key players to give us that feeling of truly "knowing" these people.
". . . nothing in that face resembled human feeling. Or perhaps it was the horror we all wore beneath our carefully constructed masks."
Then we get to the full novel, EXORCIST FALLS. Taking place immediately afterward, the location changes constantly. While we still have the strong personalities that we are familiar with, I can't help but feel that the atmosphere seemed a little less intense due to the continuous shifts in both characters, and places. At the crux of this is Father Crowder--his struggle with his vows, beliefs, and desires that all people face.
". . . wasn't that another example of man's hubris? To believe he could manipulate the sinister forces that ruled the night? . . . "
EXORCIST FALLS is a more action driven book, whereas its predecessor was built up primarily upon the emotions and inner desires of its characters. Here, Janz treats us to scenes of unimaginable agony, gore, and depravity--showcasing his ability to diversify his writing focus, even within the same storyline.
"We all have secrets . . ."
With the wider "playing field", and additional roles added, there were some moments that I felt could have done with a bit more depth, and some of the characters that we got to know so well earlier seemed to lose focus completely. Although a few scenes came off as predictable, Janz still managed to throw me completely off guard towards the end.
". . . never doubt for an instant . . . that man does possess a shadow side, a tendency towards darkness . . . We desire control, and though we have been given free will, we seek to exert our will over others."
EXORCIST FALLS takes us much further than the events in EXORCIST ROAD, leaving the reader in shock through the very final pages. Nothing seemed to be off-limits in this nightmarish sequel.
Overall, I'm giving five stars to EXORCIST ROAD, and four stars to EXORCIST FALLS, for an average of 4.5 stars. Janz has already proven that he is an author on his way up--you don't want to miss out on this one!
Recommended!
EXORCIST FALLS, by Jonathan Janz, begins with his novella, EXORCIST ROAD, and immediately continues into the novel EXORCIST FALLS. Although I read the original novella when it was first released, I loved the convenience of having it included here in order to refresh my memory, as the novel takes place directly after those events.
The main location for EXORCIST ROAD is in the Hartman home, where a teenaged boy, Casey, is displaying indisputable signs of demonic possession. Father Sutherland and his protégée, Father Jason Crowder, have been summoned by the parents with the hope of exorcizing the evil. Linked to this timeline are the atrocities being committed to sixteen year old girls, by the "Sweet Sixteen Killer". It soon becomes evident that the force inside of young Casey knows all the details about the murders and mutilations that have been occurring.
". . . But it was the leer stretching his lips that did it, the soulless, mocking grin that erased all semblance of humanity from that horrid face."
The intricate details and confined setting suit this novella perfectly. Janz is able to fully develop each and every one of his characters here, without resorting to throwing random comments at the readers. He uses dialog, internal thoughts, and the dynamic relationships between the key players to give us that feeling of truly "knowing" these people.
". . . nothing in that face resembled human feeling. Or perhaps it was the horror we all wore beneath our carefully constructed masks."
Then we get to the full novel, EXORCIST FALLS. Taking place immediately afterward, the location changes constantly. While we still have the strong personalities that we are familiar with, I can't help but feel that the atmosphere seemed a little less intense due to the continuous shifts in both characters, and places. At the crux of this is Father Crowder--his struggle with his vows, beliefs, and desires that all people face.
". . . wasn't that another example of man's hubris? To believe he could manipulate the sinister forces that ruled the night? . . . "
EXORCIST FALLS is a more action driven book, whereas its predecessor was built up primarily upon the emotions and inner desires of its characters. Here, Janz treats us to scenes of unimaginable agony, gore, and depravity--showcasing his ability to diversify his writing focus, even within the same storyline.
"We all have secrets . . ."
With the wider "playing field", and additional roles added, there were some moments that I felt could have done with a bit more depth, and some of the characters that we got to know so well earlier seemed to lose focus completely. Although a few scenes came off as predictable, Janz still managed to throw me completely off guard towards the end.
". . . never doubt for an instant . . . that man does possess a shadow side, a tendency towards darkness . . . We desire control, and though we have been given free will, we seek to exert our will over others."
EXORCIST FALLS takes us much further than the events in EXORCIST ROAD, leaving the reader in shock through the very final pages. Nothing seemed to be off-limits in this nightmarish sequel.
Overall, I'm giving five stars to EXORCIST ROAD, and four stars to EXORCIST FALLS, for an average of 4.5 stars. Janz has already proven that he is an author on his way up--you don't want to miss out on this one!
Recommended!
March 30, 2017
Janz has done it again. I've been crowing about how great Exorcist Road was ever since I turned the last page two years ago. Much to my delight, Janz is continuing where he left off with Father Jason Crowder exercising young Casey Hartman's demon from his teenage body. Unfortuanately, the demon didn't go away. Neither did the Sweet Sixteen Killer. Now it's up to Father Crowder to finish what he started and bring the killer to justice and dispose of the demon once and for all.
Exorcist Falls also contains the first story, Exorcist Road, between it's covers. This makes it convenient for those that haven't read it yet or who would like to reacquaint themselves with it since it's original publisher, Samhain Publishing, closed it's horror doors earlier this year. Janz's writing is superb and you'll find yourself amazed at the vocabulary this guy has. I'm not too proud to admit that I used the DEFINE feature on Kindle many times and I'd like to think of myself as well read. Not only is word choice spot on, but his characters really make the story come to life. Danny Hartman is as despicable as they come and the demon, Malephar, is no cherub. I also enjoyed how the story had me guessing the whole way as it's evolution was revealed one page at a time. And lets not forget the red stuff because Janz sure didn't. There are definitely some scenes that will make even the strongest constitution weaken and cringe. All in all, an absolute blast to read and I'm happy to find out from the man himself that there will be a third installment in the Exorcist series. I'm all ready to hit the pre-order button just as soon as it pops up on Amazon.
5 Demons Controlling a Razor Blade out of 5
This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Exorcist Falls also contains the first story, Exorcist Road, between it's covers. This makes it convenient for those that haven't read it yet or who would like to reacquaint themselves with it since it's original publisher, Samhain Publishing, closed it's horror doors earlier this year. Janz's writing is superb and you'll find yourself amazed at the vocabulary this guy has. I'm not too proud to admit that I used the DEFINE feature on Kindle many times and I'd like to think of myself as well read. Not only is word choice spot on, but his characters really make the story come to life. Danny Hartman is as despicable as they come and the demon, Malephar, is no cherub. I also enjoyed how the story had me guessing the whole way as it's evolution was revealed one page at a time. And lets not forget the red stuff because Janz sure didn't. There are definitely some scenes that will make even the strongest constitution weaken and cringe. All in all, an absolute blast to read and I'm happy to find out from the man himself that there will be a third installment in the Exorcist series. I'm all ready to hit the pre-order button just as soon as it pops up on Amazon.
5 Demons Controlling a Razor Blade out of 5
This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
June 17, 2017
Really 3.5 stars.
This is a tough one. I find that I have no problem reviewing books that I love and no problem reviewing books that I hate. Books that don't push me in either direction, however--that simply produce a "Meh"--are much more difficult to write about.
Such is Exorcist Falls: it's not a bad book, and not a good book. I suspect it will be easier for me to review this if try to categorize the good and the bad, so here goes.
WHAT WORKED:
1) The opening novella was fantastic! Even though it wore its influences (and I use that term loosely, because basically what we have here is a rewriting of The Exorcist) on its sleeve, it was atmospheric, tense, and something I could not stop reading. If the end of Exorcist Road had been the end of the story, it would have been 5 stars. It was, in my opinion, perfect.
2) The secondary priests. Both Father Sutherland and Father Patterson were exceptional characters. Sutherland is warm and knowledgeable, while Patterson's character development was the best of the book....until the end, that is, when he takes a turn for the not-very-believable. In fact, most of the secondary characters in both sections were well-written and enjoyable, even the nasty ones.
2a) One quibble: the female characters were pretty one-dimensional overall.
3) The fact that this was not about vampires, werewolves, witches, zombies, or supernatural love triangles. I really appreciated that Janz was going for something more original (or at least different) in this novel.
4) I also LOVED that evil was evil and not just misunderstood or mistreated or lashing out after being bullied. The bad guys, both human and not, were truly bad and very clever.
WHAT DID NOT WORK:
1) Father Crowder. Hooooly cow, was this a terrible guy. Whiny, self-pitying, completely uninteresting, and not even flawed enough to make a good antihero, he is not a successful central character. If I had to read one more sentence about how much he loved women even though he was a priest, or how he always felt like a wimpy loser, or always WAS a wimpy loser, I might have lost my mind.
2) The tone of the second half was VERY different from that of the first. No one would be fooled into thinking they were written at the same time. In fact, at times the characters seemed like different people who just happened to have the same name. Liz, who barely appears in Exorcist Road, is secretly investigating the Sweet Sixteen Killer in Exorcist Falls? Huh? (And what purpose did that particular plot device serve, anyway? Maybe it was an attempt to deal with 2a above?)
3) The biggest issue for me was the continuous shift in writing style. Sometimes characters spoke and thought in completely normal, down-to-earth ways; at other times, they seemed to be trying to best Bulwer-Lytton for purpleness of prose. For example,
"My body spasmed, racked with peristaltic waves of geysering crimson,"
is an actual sentence in this book. As is,
"To say there's been an upheaval would be to trivialize the scope of your difficulties."
This mouthful is spoken by our good friend Father Crowder, who is in fact a human and not a shape-shifting alien or Star Trek android, during a conversation in which he is supposedly trying to express sympathy and empathy toward a woman he allegedly loves. It's as if every character occasionally turns into the Valeyard (Google "There's nothing you can do to prevent the catharsis of spurious morality!") and their speech patterns shift accordingly.
4) There are some repetitive things that are strange and distracting. Crowder, when eyeballing all of the women he desperately wants, frequently refers to the "mounds" of the female body. The trope of the "lustful priest/nun" was omnipresent in this book; every person of the cloth wanted every other person of the cloth and talked about it unceasingly. Also (minor spoiler), multiple characters have their eyes gouged out as they die. This was just weird.
5) The ending, which I suspect was meant to be shocking and pessimistic in a 70s horror flick kind of way, didn't really do much for me. In fact, it would have been more of a surprise if it hadn't happened.
5a) Likewise, the big reveal as to why the Sweet Sixteen Killer kills was pretty underwhelming.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's a quick, fun read. I'm certainly glad to have discovered Janz and will definitely seek out more that he wrote. I don't know if Exorcist Falls will be a memorable book for me, but I'm glad to have read it.
And, hey! It's my first time to say:
************
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is it.
************
This is a tough one. I find that I have no problem reviewing books that I love and no problem reviewing books that I hate. Books that don't push me in either direction, however--that simply produce a "Meh"--are much more difficult to write about.
Such is Exorcist Falls: it's not a bad book, and not a good book. I suspect it will be easier for me to review this if try to categorize the good and the bad, so here goes.
WHAT WORKED:
1) The opening novella was fantastic! Even though it wore its influences (and I use that term loosely, because basically what we have here is a rewriting of The Exorcist) on its sleeve, it was atmospheric, tense, and something I could not stop reading. If the end of Exorcist Road had been the end of the story, it would have been 5 stars. It was, in my opinion, perfect.
2) The secondary priests. Both Father Sutherland and Father Patterson were exceptional characters. Sutherland is warm and knowledgeable, while Patterson's character development was the best of the book....until the end, that is, when he takes a turn for the not-very-believable. In fact, most of the secondary characters in both sections were well-written and enjoyable, even the nasty ones.
2a) One quibble: the female characters were pretty one-dimensional overall.
3) The fact that this was not about vampires, werewolves, witches, zombies, or supernatural love triangles. I really appreciated that Janz was going for something more original (or at least different) in this novel.
4) I also LOVED that evil was evil and not just misunderstood or mistreated or lashing out after being bullied. The bad guys, both human and not, were truly bad and very clever.
WHAT DID NOT WORK:
1) Father Crowder. Hooooly cow, was this a terrible guy. Whiny, self-pitying, completely uninteresting, and not even flawed enough to make a good antihero, he is not a successful central character. If I had to read one more sentence about how much he loved women even though he was a priest, or how he always felt like a wimpy loser, or always WAS a wimpy loser, I might have lost my mind.
2) The tone of the second half was VERY different from that of the first. No one would be fooled into thinking they were written at the same time. In fact, at times the characters seemed like different people who just happened to have the same name. Liz, who barely appears in Exorcist Road, is secretly investigating the Sweet Sixteen Killer in Exorcist Falls? Huh? (And what purpose did that particular plot device serve, anyway? Maybe it was an attempt to deal with 2a above?)
3) The biggest issue for me was the continuous shift in writing style. Sometimes characters spoke and thought in completely normal, down-to-earth ways; at other times, they seemed to be trying to best Bulwer-Lytton for purpleness of prose. For example,
"My body spasmed, racked with peristaltic waves of geysering crimson,"
is an actual sentence in this book. As is,
"To say there's been an upheaval would be to trivialize the scope of your difficulties."
This mouthful is spoken by our good friend Father Crowder, who is in fact a human and not a shape-shifting alien or Star Trek android, during a conversation in which he is supposedly trying to express sympathy and empathy toward a woman he allegedly loves. It's as if every character occasionally turns into the Valeyard (Google "There's nothing you can do to prevent the catharsis of spurious morality!") and their speech patterns shift accordingly.
4) There are some repetitive things that are strange and distracting. Crowder, when eyeballing all of the women he desperately wants, frequently refers to the "mounds" of the female body. The trope of the "lustful priest/nun" was omnipresent in this book; every person of the cloth wanted every other person of the cloth and talked about it unceasingly. Also (minor spoiler), multiple characters have their eyes gouged out as they die. This was just weird.
5) The ending, which I suspect was meant to be shocking and pessimistic in a 70s horror flick kind of way, didn't really do much for me. In fact, it would have been more of a surprise if it hadn't happened.
5a) Likewise, the big reveal as to why the Sweet Sixteen Killer kills was pretty underwhelming.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's a quick, fun read. I'm certainly glad to have discovered Janz and will definitely seek out more that he wrote. I don't know if Exorcist Falls will be a memorable book for me, but I'm glad to have read it.
And, hey! It's my first time to say:
************
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is it.
************
February 21, 2017
Exorcist Falls, the latest from Jonathan Janz via Sinister Grin Press, is two books is one. The story kicks off in Exorcist Road, originally published by the now-defunct Samhain Publishing in 2014, and which gets a reprint here, leading up to the new material presented in Exorcist Falls.
I'm a pretty new fan of Janz's work, after discovering him with last year's release, Children of the Dark, and I hadn't gotten to Exorcist Road prior, so color me overjoyed to finally discover what all the raving about this particular novella was all about. Here, we're introduced to Father Jason Crowder, a priest about to serve his first exorcism, alongside his mentor, Father Sutherland. Young Casey Hartman has been seized by a malevolent force, distracting his policeman uncle, Danny, from the hunt for the savage Sweet Sixteen Killer.
Exorcist Road is a quickly paced novella and lays a lot of groundwork for the story to follow in Exorcist Falls. There's a lot of vividly portrayed harm, both physically and psychologically, against the Hartman family and the priests drawn into a battle of both spirituality and wits. If you're looking for a rock-solid story of exorcism, Exorcist Road is where it's at, and damn if this sucker isn't cinematic as all get-out.
Including both of Janz's Exorcist titles here is a bit of a double-edged sword. I loved Exorcist Road so much, that its follow-up couldn't help but pale in comparison, if only just a little. But make no mistake, Exorcist Falls is far from a bad novel. It's quite good in fact, and I'm at the point where Janz would have to make some seriously delirious missteps to produce a crap story (the dude's a natural pro, in my mind).
Exorcist Falls picks up just hours after the conclusion of Exorcist Road, and Janz pulls a huge 180 in his approach. The prior novella was a straight-forward, in your face, legit exorcism story. The sequel, however, feels at times more like a superhero horror story with Father Crowder taking on the role of crime-fighting priest. There's still plenty of gore and shocks, and a sublimely disturbing denouement, but it never quite reaches the highs of its predecessor. Still, it is a solid, gripping story of good versus evil, with some well-drawn characters and a few surprises.
And even though it didn't capture my attention as much as the sublime Exorcist Road, I have to give Janz credit for approaching the story in the way he did. The execution of the story in Falls is quite a bit different and it inhabits a larger world than its predecessor, which allows Janz to keep the story fresh and avoid repeating so much of the things that worked so well in the original. By opening up the world a little bit, Janz is able to give us more character beats, which are certainly welcome, and a climax that really ups the ante in terms of scope.
I also can't help but wonder if we'll eventually get a third book in this series. Janz leaves himself a good bit of wiggle room to return for more squirms, and I certainly wouldn't mind another go-round when all is said and done. Jonathan Janz is the real deal, and a wonderfully malevolent creator who, if his characters could speak to us, would admit he's possessed by something fierce.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, Sinister Grin Press, via Hook of a Book Media and Publicity.]
I'm a pretty new fan of Janz's work, after discovering him with last year's release, Children of the Dark, and I hadn't gotten to Exorcist Road prior, so color me overjoyed to finally discover what all the raving about this particular novella was all about. Here, we're introduced to Father Jason Crowder, a priest about to serve his first exorcism, alongside his mentor, Father Sutherland. Young Casey Hartman has been seized by a malevolent force, distracting his policeman uncle, Danny, from the hunt for the savage Sweet Sixteen Killer.
Exorcist Road is a quickly paced novella and lays a lot of groundwork for the story to follow in Exorcist Falls. There's a lot of vividly portrayed harm, both physically and psychologically, against the Hartman family and the priests drawn into a battle of both spirituality and wits. If you're looking for a rock-solid story of exorcism, Exorcist Road is where it's at, and damn if this sucker isn't cinematic as all get-out.
Including both of Janz's Exorcist titles here is a bit of a double-edged sword. I loved Exorcist Road so much, that its follow-up couldn't help but pale in comparison, if only just a little. But make no mistake, Exorcist Falls is far from a bad novel. It's quite good in fact, and I'm at the point where Janz would have to make some seriously delirious missteps to produce a crap story (the dude's a natural pro, in my mind).
Exorcist Falls picks up just hours after the conclusion of Exorcist Road, and Janz pulls a huge 180 in his approach. The prior novella was a straight-forward, in your face, legit exorcism story. The sequel, however, feels at times more like a superhero horror story with Father Crowder taking on the role of crime-fighting priest. There's still plenty of gore and shocks, and a sublimely disturbing denouement, but it never quite reaches the highs of its predecessor. Still, it is a solid, gripping story of good versus evil, with some well-drawn characters and a few surprises.
And even though it didn't capture my attention as much as the sublime Exorcist Road, I have to give Janz credit for approaching the story in the way he did. The execution of the story in Falls is quite a bit different and it inhabits a larger world than its predecessor, which allows Janz to keep the story fresh and avoid repeating so much of the things that worked so well in the original. By opening up the world a little bit, Janz is able to give us more character beats, which are certainly welcome, and a climax that really ups the ante in terms of scope.
I also can't help but wonder if we'll eventually get a third book in this series. Janz leaves himself a good bit of wiggle room to return for more squirms, and I certainly wouldn't mind another go-round when all is said and done. Jonathan Janz is the real deal, and a wonderfully malevolent creator who, if his characters could speak to us, would admit he's possessed by something fierce.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, Sinister Grin Press, via Hook of a Book Media and Publicity.]
March 6, 2017
Johnathan Janz is one of the rising talents in the horror genre. The man can do almost no wrong. He has already carved out a respected career releasing some amazing works (The Nightmare Girl Savage Species and Wolf Land) to name but a few; has caught the eye (and protective wing) of Brian Keene; and survived the recent demise of Samhain Publishing.
His latest novel - actually a collection of the previously released novella Exorcist Road and then its longer, direct sequel, Exorcist Falls - is genius marketing as it links his past catalogue at Samhain with this new deal at Sinister Grin Press. But is it any good? Can Janz keep the ball rolling?
Well, just about every fan of Exorcist Road is going to enjoy this continuation of Father Crowder's battles against a demonic spirit and a brutal serial killer of children. It is marked by Janz's same prosaic flair and his penchant for unexpected plot twists. It is also about as bloodthirsty as fans of his more recent works would expect.
But there was one way this did not quite live up to most of Janz's previous works for this reviewer, and that was his characterisations. Maybe it was just me, but I had real trouble getting behind and rooting for any of the characters in Exorcist Falls - especially given some of the developments that occur in Exorcist Road. (As this was an advanced review copy, I'll keep it deliberately vague.) This was especially the case for the POV character, Father Crowder. I lost count of the number of times his reasoning seemed to be so far removed from anything I could relate to, I found myself frowning in consternation.
But that was just my experience. Most of my fellow reviewers seem to love this as much as his previous releases, so take all that with a grain of salt. And for the love of all that is good horror, please don't interpret this as a negative review. It is, instead, a qualified one. I expect so much of Janz these days, that my issue here has likely been exacerbated by those expectations.
Janz is still a wonderful author - horror or otherwise. Here, he pulls no punches, and I think there will be some very surprised people by the time they close this latest release from him.
3.5 (Rounding Up to 4) Nasty Hitch-Hiking Demons for Exorcist Falls.
This review is based on an eARC made available by Johnathan Janz to the reviewers at Horror After Dark.
His latest novel - actually a collection of the previously released novella Exorcist Road and then its longer, direct sequel, Exorcist Falls - is genius marketing as it links his past catalogue at Samhain with this new deal at Sinister Grin Press. But is it any good? Can Janz keep the ball rolling?
Well, just about every fan of Exorcist Road is going to enjoy this continuation of Father Crowder's battles against a demonic spirit and a brutal serial killer of children. It is marked by Janz's same prosaic flair and his penchant for unexpected plot twists. It is also about as bloodthirsty as fans of his more recent works would expect.
But there was one way this did not quite live up to most of Janz's previous works for this reviewer, and that was his characterisations. Maybe it was just me, but I had real trouble getting behind and rooting for any of the characters in Exorcist Falls - especially given some of the developments that occur in Exorcist Road. (As this was an advanced review copy, I'll keep it deliberately vague.) This was especially the case for the POV character, Father Crowder. I lost count of the number of times his reasoning seemed to be so far removed from anything I could relate to, I found myself frowning in consternation.
But that was just my experience. Most of my fellow reviewers seem to love this as much as his previous releases, so take all that with a grain of salt. And for the love of all that is good horror, please don't interpret this as a negative review. It is, instead, a qualified one. I expect so much of Janz these days, that my issue here has likely been exacerbated by those expectations.
Janz is still a wonderful author - horror or otherwise. Here, he pulls no punches, and I think there will be some very surprised people by the time they close this latest release from him.
3.5 (Rounding Up to 4) Nasty Hitch-Hiking Demons for Exorcist Falls.
This review is based on an eARC made available by Johnathan Janz to the reviewers at Horror After Dark.
June 13, 2017
This book contains both the novella, Exorcist Road, and the follow-up story Exorcist Falls. I actually finished the book a few days ago, but have taken some time to reflect as I wasn't quite sure how to rate the overall package.
I'd previously read, enjoyed and reviewed the fast paced, twisty-turning plot of Exorcist Road, and my review for that novella can be read here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Exorcist Falls continues the story of the Sweet Sixteen killer, demonic possession and good versus evil. The pace is just as frenetic as it was in Road, and with plenty of spilled blood and plot-twists. However, I have to say that as much as I enjoyed Exorcist Road, I found Falls to be only an 'OK' read. It certainly wasn't a bad book, but I found it lacking when compared to the earlier novella.
I'm all for a few good 'curve balls', but I felt there were a few too many twists in Falls, and at times these felt a little contrived.
Jonathan Janz is a talented writer, and it is fair to say that characterization is usually one of his strong points, but again this was weaker in Falls than in Road. In fact, I found it difficult to care either way for any of the characters in Falls.
So, my overall assessment would be that Road was a really fun read, while Falls is 'Ok' but nowhere near as memorable an experience.
Exorcist Road 4 stars.
Exorcist Falls 3 stars
Rounded out to 3.5 stars
I'd previously read, enjoyed and reviewed the fast paced, twisty-turning plot of Exorcist Road, and my review for that novella can be read here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Exorcist Falls continues the story of the Sweet Sixteen killer, demonic possession and good versus evil. The pace is just as frenetic as it was in Road, and with plenty of spilled blood and plot-twists. However, I have to say that as much as I enjoyed Exorcist Road, I found Falls to be only an 'OK' read. It certainly wasn't a bad book, but I found it lacking when compared to the earlier novella.
I'm all for a few good 'curve balls', but I felt there were a few too many twists in Falls, and at times these felt a little contrived.
Jonathan Janz is a talented writer, and it is fair to say that characterization is usually one of his strong points, but again this was weaker in Falls than in Road. In fact, I found it difficult to care either way for any of the characters in Falls.
So, my overall assessment would be that Road was a really fun read, while Falls is 'Ok' but nowhere near as memorable an experience.
Exorcist Road 4 stars.
Exorcist Falls 3 stars
Rounded out to 3.5 stars
April 26, 2017
Exorcist Road
The Sweet Sixteen murders.
Exorcism gone wild.
It’s all spiraling out of control.
And nothing is what it seems.
Demons and killers and priests, oh my!
Excorcist Falls
Here we go…
The boys are back in town.
So is the demon.
Shit's about to get crazy up in here.
And nothing is what it seems.
Janz writing is solid. Very little fluff. Appropriate amounts of blood and a lot of action. And nothing is what it seems. Well done, Jonathan. Well done.
The Sweet Sixteen murders.
Exorcism gone wild.
It’s all spiraling out of control.
And nothing is what it seems.
Demons and killers and priests, oh my!
Excorcist Falls
Here we go…
The boys are back in town.
So is the demon.
Shit's about to get crazy up in here.
And nothing is what it seems.
Janz writing is solid. Very little fluff. Appropriate amounts of blood and a lot of action. And nothing is what it seems. Well done, Jonathan. Well done.
June 4, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review***
This story is intense, crazy and well written. The ending is just one shock right after another. However, it's a little more violent and graphically detailed than what i like. But other than that- wow! What a ride!
This story is intense, crazy and well written. The ending is just one shock right after another. However, it's a little more violent and graphically detailed than what i like. But other than that- wow! What a ride!
April 19, 2017
Jonathan Janz keeps writing amazing stuff. Although I enjoyed Exorcist Road more, I liked this one all the same.
It was an intriguing concept to know about: the coexistence of a man and a demon in one body; The end of Exorcist Road leaves us very eager to know more about that.
Exorcist falls is full of twists, although which leaves all the doors open for a sequel.
I thought that Father Crowder
One thing I thought was unnecessary though, was
I will finish up saying that Jonathan Janz definitely has a good writing style and is not afraid of big words. English is not my mothertongue, so maybe it's me, but I found a lot of uncommun words which I didn't know. It maybe has to do with Father Crowder background, since it's him talking all the time and he's probably a well educated priest.
It was an intriguing concept to know about: the coexistence of a man and a demon in one body; The end of Exorcist Road leaves us very eager to know more about that.
Exorcist falls is full of twists, although which leaves all the doors open for a sequel.
I thought that Father Crowder
One thing I thought was unnecessary though, was
I will finish up saying that Jonathan Janz definitely has a good writing style and is not afraid of big words. English is not my mothertongue, so maybe it's me, but I found a lot of uncommun words which I didn't know. It maybe has to do with Father Crowder background, since it's him talking all the time and he's probably a well educated priest.
Want to read
March 21, 2017In his new release titled "Exorcist Falls" Mr. Janz provides the reader two stories -
Contents:
006 - Authors Note
008 - Acknowledgments
011 - Dedication
015 - "Exorcist Road" (2014) originally published by Samhain in digital format
171 - "Exorcist Falls" (2017)
173 - Dedication
453 - About The Author
455 - Other Titles by Jonathan Janz - including 'Coming Soon'
457 -Coming Soon from Sinister Grin Press
Cover Art by Matthew Revert
Contents:
006 - Authors Note
008 - Acknowledgments
011 - Dedication
015 - "Exorcist Road" (2014) originally published by Samhain in digital format
171 - "Exorcist Falls" (2017)
173 - Dedication
453 - About The Author
455 - Other Titles by Jonathan Janz - including 'Coming Soon'
457 -Coming Soon from Sinister Grin Press
Cover Art by Matthew Revert
March 27, 2017
An excellent demonic possession novel with a fresh perspective. This sequel to Exorcist Road (which is also reprinted here) picks up with a freshly possessed Father Crowder, a flawed man of the cloth who has literally made a pact with the demon inside him. The Sweet Sixteen Killer is still at large, and its up to Father Crowder - battling the demon within - to stop him. A real page turner, Exorcist Falls is not to be missed. Jonathan Janz knows terror.
November 6, 2020
Unfortunately I am not finishing this book - the first part of the book was great which was the story of Exorcist Road and with that part I will leave a small review, but the story of Exorcist Falls just went off the rails and it became very strange. I have been struggling with that part of the story and I will put my thoughts about it in here on a spoiler so that readers can read the spoiler if needed to make a decision of how they want to proceed on reading the book.
So the review for Exorcist Road is as follows:
Women are being murdered across Chicago by a serial killer dubbed the "Sweet Sixteen Killer". While that is happening within the city something else begins to happen in the home of the Hartmans as their son Casey begins to attack his family. The parents called the police, but what they find is beyond their control and priests are called in to help Casey as it seems that he has become possessed by a demonic entity.
Priests Sutherland and Crowder try to assist the family with their son, but when Casey starts revealing things about the serial killer murders is when things go into overdrive in this story as the police along with the priests need to find out if Casey is behind the killings or is it all lies told by the demon.
Thoughts on Exorcist Road:
This story is saturated in demonic themes that I could feel it radiating off the pages along with very graphic descriptions of things that happen to the character Casey as the demon possesses his body. This first story is very fast paced and moves along at a high rate of speed to the very end of the story keeping the tension and suspense high with what was going to happen next.
Thoughts on Exorcist Falls which is contained within a spoiler:
Giving this book two stars for both stories.
So the review for Exorcist Road is as follows:
Women are being murdered across Chicago by a serial killer dubbed the "Sweet Sixteen Killer". While that is happening within the city something else begins to happen in the home of the Hartmans as their son Casey begins to attack his family. The parents called the police, but what they find is beyond their control and priests are called in to help Casey as it seems that he has become possessed by a demonic entity.
Priests Sutherland and Crowder try to assist the family with their son, but when Casey starts revealing things about the serial killer murders is when things go into overdrive in this story as the police along with the priests need to find out if Casey is behind the killings or is it all lies told by the demon.
Thoughts on Exorcist Road:
This story is saturated in demonic themes that I could feel it radiating off the pages along with very graphic descriptions of things that happen to the character Casey as the demon possesses his body. This first story is very fast paced and moves along at a high rate of speed to the very end of the story keeping the tension and suspense high with what was going to happen next.
Thoughts on Exorcist Falls which is contained within a spoiler:
Giving this book two stars for both stories.
March 27, 2017
The novella in this book introduced the characters who would be in the novel itself. It was a nice little addition that was fast, intense and kept the suspense going. It was tough for me to distinguish who the killer was til the very end. Exorcist Falls continues the story with Father Jason Crowder. Again, the novel was very fast paced and never got dull for me. I also enjoyed the many surprises that popped out throughout the book. Great characterization! The ending was like a rollercoaster ride. I had a feeling of how it would end but then, bam! It kind of slaps you in the face. I guess that's why I had to think about it. But in the end, it meshed well with me and I don't want to say too much about it other than the fact that's it's a pretty memorable ending. The violence in the book was very spot on, making me cringe in some places. I will definitely continue to read this author and am very pleased I started with this one. 5 stars for me!
February 22, 2022
While I did thoroughly enjoy this novel I do think the prequel novella is better. It had more of an OOMPH that really had me invested. But that’s not to say that the novel isn’t phenomenal as well, it just didn’t grab me in quite the same intense way. That being said, I do have to say I’m surprised by this story, it’s SO different from anything I’ve read by Janz before and I I’ve read everything by him except 1 novel now. It’s definitely his darkest and most brutal story and I loved that about it, it digs into deeper themes than any previous work. And while we’re on the topic of brutal, I do have to warn that this story is not for the faint of heart. It is gory as hell and there’s a lot of other potential triggers, all things I’m a fan of but I know not everyone is as limitless as me when it comes to horror. I love having my limits pushed and Janz definitely succeeded in doing that with this story!
June 30, 2018
I received this book from Sinister Grin Press in exchange for an honest review.
This is another buddy read with my friend Sadie. We read Children of the Dark with our group the Night Worms and absolutely loved it, so reading another book by Janz was totally going to happen. Erin (who is amazing) at Sinister Grin sent this one to both of us, and so we have been super excited to jump in. We had heard this one was darker, and I would say that is almost putting it mildly. This book is subterranean dark, like so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face dark. I loved it.
The book is actually two stories in one. The first part is a novella called Exorcist Road. The second is a longer novel length story that picks up at the end of Exorcist Road called Exorcist Falls. Obviously, both stories deal with demonic possession and exorcism.
In Exorcist Road the protagonist, Father Jason Crowder, is called to the home of a family in desperate need of spiritual help. It's the middle of the night, and young Casey Hartman is behaving in a very troubling way. Spewing obscenities and attacking his family with seemingly supernatural strength, the Hartmans send his Uncle Danny to ask Father Crowder for help. Danny is a police officer, and he showed up at the Hartman house first with his partner to try to help. Things go from bad to worse once Officer Jack Bittner arrives with Danny, because in Chicago (where the story takes place) residents are very uneasy after a an apparent serial killer starts killing 16-year-old girls. The demon in Casey knows a little too much about those killings, and Bittner, who doesn't buy into demonic possession, is convinced the teen himself is the killer.
Crowder, joined by his mentor Father Sutherland battle the demon together, and Janz writes some truly disturbing exchanges between the demon and everyone he comes in contact with. The demon tries to stop the exorcism multiple times by torturing Casey's body in increasingly gruesome ways. Sincerely, Exorcist Road and Exorcist falls both have truly squirm inducing gore. I was impressed. Reading Children of the Dark had not prepared me for the levels Janz was willing to go for this story.
Exorcist Falls picks up right where the Exorcist Road ended. Father Crowder is still battling the demon he encountered in the novella, and the Sweet Sixteen Killer is still murdering girls near his parish. I didn't think is was possible, but Janz makes Exorcist Falls even darker and more gruesome. There were scenes in the novel that had me gasping and squirming in my chair. The story takes a very different turn, and at first I wasn't really sure where Janz was going with it. But eventually everything falls into place, right up to the shocking ending. Janz takes demonic possession in a unique direction for the second story, and it pays off. I was shocked and surprised throughout the novel.
Horror fans, and especially fans of possession stories should definitely pick this one up. This is a unique and truly disturbing take on demonic possession.
This is another buddy read with my friend Sadie. We read Children of the Dark with our group the Night Worms and absolutely loved it, so reading another book by Janz was totally going to happen. Erin (who is amazing) at Sinister Grin sent this one to both of us, and so we have been super excited to jump in. We had heard this one was darker, and I would say that is almost putting it mildly. This book is subterranean dark, like so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face dark. I loved it.
The book is actually two stories in one. The first part is a novella called Exorcist Road. The second is a longer novel length story that picks up at the end of Exorcist Road called Exorcist Falls. Obviously, both stories deal with demonic possession and exorcism.
In Exorcist Road the protagonist, Father Jason Crowder, is called to the home of a family in desperate need of spiritual help. It's the middle of the night, and young Casey Hartman is behaving in a very troubling way. Spewing obscenities and attacking his family with seemingly supernatural strength, the Hartmans send his Uncle Danny to ask Father Crowder for help. Danny is a police officer, and he showed up at the Hartman house first with his partner to try to help. Things go from bad to worse once Officer Jack Bittner arrives with Danny, because in Chicago (where the story takes place) residents are very uneasy after a an apparent serial killer starts killing 16-year-old girls. The demon in Casey knows a little too much about those killings, and Bittner, who doesn't buy into demonic possession, is convinced the teen himself is the killer.
Crowder, joined by his mentor Father Sutherland battle the demon together, and Janz writes some truly disturbing exchanges between the demon and everyone he comes in contact with. The demon tries to stop the exorcism multiple times by torturing Casey's body in increasingly gruesome ways. Sincerely, Exorcist Road and Exorcist falls both have truly squirm inducing gore. I was impressed. Reading Children of the Dark had not prepared me for the levels Janz was willing to go for this story.
Exorcist Falls picks up right where the Exorcist Road ended. Father Crowder is still battling the demon he encountered in the novella, and the Sweet Sixteen Killer is still murdering girls near his parish. I didn't think is was possible, but Janz makes Exorcist Falls even darker and more gruesome. There were scenes in the novel that had me gasping and squirming in my chair. The story takes a very different turn, and at first I wasn't really sure where Janz was going with it. But eventually everything falls into place, right up to the shocking ending. Janz takes demonic possession in a unique direction for the second story, and it pays off. I was shocked and surprised throughout the novel.
Horror fans, and especially fans of possession stories should definitely pick this one up. This is a unique and truly disturbing take on demonic possession.
March 18, 2017
I had the joy of reading this as a Group Read along with the author himself. This was actually 2 reads in one: a novella from 2014 called Exorcist Road, followed by its sequel Exorcist Falls, all in one package. The reason I can only give this 3 stars is that while I LOVED the novella, the novel just didn't hit the right tones for me. It felt uneven and some of the actions did not seem to fit the characters doing them. I LOVED the main character, I LOVED the exorcism story of the novella, but the novel was only...OK. The person revealed to be a serial killer in Chicago did not make sense to me, as that character seemed unlikely to be the infamous killer terrorizing the city. The choices made by the main character (a priest) also did not make sense to me...I guess I had a hard time understanding their motivations. Still, they were both good reads. If I could rate them separately, I would give the novella 5 stars, probably! (Although, I DO love a good exorcism story...) --Jen from Quebec
April 4, 2017
This book combined the devil, a serial killer, an exorcism and more. It was nonstop horror and chills. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse (better!) it did!
This one combined a novella with a continuation into a book. The novella was about exorcising a demon and really set up all the characters. It was twisty, turny in the fact, you didn't know who to believe. It ended with a big reveal about a serial killer and went straight away into a continuation of the original novella.
The second part of the book was just pure evil. The author really got into the head of both the serial killer and the demon and the craziness just wouldn't stop. I thought it was fast paced and couldn't find a good part to set it down. The last 15% was excellent.
A 5 star read for me and I recommend it to anyone who likes things over the top, insanely intense. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
This one combined a novella with a continuation into a book. The novella was about exorcising a demon and really set up all the characters. It was twisty, turny in the fact, you didn't know who to believe. It ended with a big reveal about a serial killer and went straight away into a continuation of the original novella.
The second part of the book was just pure evil. The author really got into the head of both the serial killer and the demon and the craziness just wouldn't stop. I thought it was fast paced and couldn't find a good part to set it down. The last 15% was excellent.
A 5 star read for me and I recommend it to anyone who likes things over the top, insanely intense. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
October 25, 2018
Only reviewing the novella portion of this book, "Exorcist Road."
Not my cup of tea, as the scenes were too graphically violent with lot's of gross-me-out stuff that made my left eye twitch nervously. So not proceeding to the follow on book.
The book will suit those who like it very, very graphic.
Prose ok, narrative ok, intriguing ending - 3 stars.
Not my cup of tea, as the scenes were too graphically violent with lot's of gross-me-out stuff that made my left eye twitch nervously. So not proceeding to the follow on book.
The book will suit those who like it very, very graphic.
Prose ok, narrative ok, intriguing ending - 3 stars.
February 17, 2020
I loved this book!! The version I read had Exorcist Road as part one and excorcist falls as the second half of the book. I really enjoyed both although I feel the prequel part was better. Definitely going to read some more books from Jonathan Janz!!
February 22, 2018
4.5 stars!
EXORCIST FALLS, by Jonathan Janz, begins with his novella, EXORCIST ROAD, and immediately continues into the novel EXORCIST FALLS. Although I read the original novella when it was first released, I loved the convenience of having it included here in order to refresh my memory, as the novel takes place directly after those events.
The main location for EXORCIST ROAD is in the Hartman home, where a teenaged boy, Casey, is displaying indisputable signs of demonic possession. Father Sutherland and his protégée, Father Jason Crowder, have been summoned by the parents with the hope of exorcizing the evil. Linked to this timeline are the atrocities being committed to sixteen year old girls, by the "Sweet Sixteen Killer". It soon becomes evident that the force inside of young Casey knows all the details about the murders and mutilations that have been occurring.
". . . But it was the leer stretching his lips that did it, the soulless, mocking grin that erased all semblance of humanity from that horrid face."
The intricate details and confined setting suit this novella perfectly. Janz is able to fully develop each and every one of his characters here, without resorting to throwing random comments at the readers. He uses dialog, internal thoughts, and the dynamic relationships between the key players to give us that feeling of truly "knowing" these people.
". . . nothing in that face resembled human feeling. Or perhaps it was the horror we all wore beneath our carefully constructed masks."
Then we get to the full novel, EXORCIST FALLS. Taking place immediately afterward, the location changes constantly. While we still have the strong personalities that we are familiar with, I can't help but feel that the atmosphere seemed a little less intense due to the continuous shifts in both characters, and places. At the crux of this is Father Crowder--his struggle with his vows, beliefs, and desires that all people face.
". . . wasn't that another example of man's hubris? To believe he could manipulate the sinister forces that ruled the night? . . . "
EXORCIST FALLS is a more action driven book, whereas its predecessor was built up primarily upon the emotions and inner desires of its characters. Here, Janz treats us to scenes of unimaginable agony, gore, and depravity--showcasing his ability to diversify his writing focus, even within the same storyline.
"We all have secrets . . ."
With the wider "playing field", and additional roles added, there were some moments that I felt could have done with a bit more depth, and some of the characters that we got to know so well earlier seemed to lose focus completely. Although a few scenes came off as predictable, Janz still managed to throw me completely off guard towards the end.
". . . never doubt for an instant . . . that man does possess a shadow side, a tendency towards darkness . . . We desire control, and though we have been given free will, we seek to exert our will over others."
EXORCIST FALLS takes us much further than the events in EXORCIST ROAD, leaving the reader in shock through the very final pages. Nothing seemed to be off-limits in this nightmarish sequel.
Overall, I'm giving five stars to EXORCIST ROAD, and four stars to EXORCIST FALLS, for an average of 4.5 stars. Janz has already proven that he is an author on his way up--you don't want to miss out on this one!
Recommended!
**This is my re-read of the beautiful Thunderstorm edition, Shadow Side Series Book #10, #41/60. Review still stands. **
EXORCIST FALLS, by Jonathan Janz, begins with his novella, EXORCIST ROAD, and immediately continues into the novel EXORCIST FALLS. Although I read the original novella when it was first released, I loved the convenience of having it included here in order to refresh my memory, as the novel takes place directly after those events.
The main location for EXORCIST ROAD is in the Hartman home, where a teenaged boy, Casey, is displaying indisputable signs of demonic possession. Father Sutherland and his protégée, Father Jason Crowder, have been summoned by the parents with the hope of exorcizing the evil. Linked to this timeline are the atrocities being committed to sixteen year old girls, by the "Sweet Sixteen Killer". It soon becomes evident that the force inside of young Casey knows all the details about the murders and mutilations that have been occurring.
". . . But it was the leer stretching his lips that did it, the soulless, mocking grin that erased all semblance of humanity from that horrid face."
The intricate details and confined setting suit this novella perfectly. Janz is able to fully develop each and every one of his characters here, without resorting to throwing random comments at the readers. He uses dialog, internal thoughts, and the dynamic relationships between the key players to give us that feeling of truly "knowing" these people.
". . . nothing in that face resembled human feeling. Or perhaps it was the horror we all wore beneath our carefully constructed masks."
Then we get to the full novel, EXORCIST FALLS. Taking place immediately afterward, the location changes constantly. While we still have the strong personalities that we are familiar with, I can't help but feel that the atmosphere seemed a little less intense due to the continuous shifts in both characters, and places. At the crux of this is Father Crowder--his struggle with his vows, beliefs, and desires that all people face.
". . . wasn't that another example of man's hubris? To believe he could manipulate the sinister forces that ruled the night? . . . "
EXORCIST FALLS is a more action driven book, whereas its predecessor was built up primarily upon the emotions and inner desires of its characters. Here, Janz treats us to scenes of unimaginable agony, gore, and depravity--showcasing his ability to diversify his writing focus, even within the same storyline.
"We all have secrets . . ."
With the wider "playing field", and additional roles added, there were some moments that I felt could have done with a bit more depth, and some of the characters that we got to know so well earlier seemed to lose focus completely. Although a few scenes came off as predictable, Janz still managed to throw me completely off guard towards the end.
". . . never doubt for an instant . . . that man does possess a shadow side, a tendency towards darkness . . . We desire control, and though we have been given free will, we seek to exert our will over others."
EXORCIST FALLS takes us much further than the events in EXORCIST ROAD, leaving the reader in shock through the very final pages. Nothing seemed to be off-limits in this nightmarish sequel.
Overall, I'm giving five stars to EXORCIST ROAD, and four stars to EXORCIST FALLS, for an average of 4.5 stars. Janz has already proven that he is an author on his way up--you don't want to miss out on this one!
Recommended!
**This is my re-read of the beautiful Thunderstorm edition, Shadow Side Series Book #10, #41/60. Review still stands. **
January 5, 2021
Review of “Exorcist Falls by Jonathan Janz”
An exorcist novel with a wicked killer on the loose murdering girls on their sixth birthday. When the demon possesses a 14 year old boy, he knows more about the killer than he should but are the two connected? If so how? There are too many possible suspects to count…literally everyone is sus!
“𝐖𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬, 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭. 𝐖𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝.”
It started off as a perfect little novella “Exorcist Road” that was extended to explain more. The novella contains the most gruesome exorcism scene with so many dirty secrets to chew on and with a killer on the loose it just added to the excitement! The main character was relatable in wanting to question religion and thinking of the greater good. The added depth to the unlikable priest tugged at my heart strings a little. I can easily say this is the best exorcist book I’ve ever read but it was still missing a little something. The more I think about writing this review for “Exorcist Falls” the only thing I can find wrong with it is my impatience and my lack of love for the characters. I just wanted all the info and I wanted a character I cared about if they died. It didn’t lack in action of finding out who the sweet sixteen killer was. I was definitely stumped by who it was in the end but I think if I had more of that backstory that tugged at me it would have blown the top off for me. Also, that ending was just wow. It was something I’d find in an extreme horror book and I loved it! (*Sinister laughter inserted here*) Overall 4 ⭐️.
An exorcist novel with a wicked killer on the loose murdering girls on their sixth birthday. When the demon possesses a 14 year old boy, he knows more about the killer than he should but are the two connected? If so how? There are too many possible suspects to count…literally everyone is sus!
“𝐖𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬, 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭. 𝐖𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝.”
It started off as a perfect little novella “Exorcist Road” that was extended to explain more. The novella contains the most gruesome exorcism scene with so many dirty secrets to chew on and with a killer on the loose it just added to the excitement! The main character was relatable in wanting to question religion and thinking of the greater good. The added depth to the unlikable priest tugged at my heart strings a little. I can easily say this is the best exorcist book I’ve ever read but it was still missing a little something. The more I think about writing this review for “Exorcist Falls” the only thing I can find wrong with it is my impatience and my lack of love for the characters. I just wanted all the info and I wanted a character I cared about if they died. It didn’t lack in action of finding out who the sweet sixteen killer was. I was definitely stumped by who it was in the end but I think if I had more of that backstory that tugged at me it would have blown the top off for me. Also, that ending was just wow. It was something I’d find in an extreme horror book and I loved it! (*Sinister laughter inserted here*) Overall 4 ⭐️.
March 26, 2017
EXORCIST FALLS is two books. It starts with EXORCIST ROAD, previously published by the now defunct Samhain Publications and EXORCIST FALLS which Sinister Grin Press is now responsible for.
I loved 'ROAD'. I had read it previously (twice) and read it again to refresh my memory when I started this read 3 weeks ago. ROAD is reminiscent of THE EXORCIST and gets a full five stars.
You'll note that I said I started this 3 weeks ago. It could have been longer. FALLS, while only a couple hundred pages, dragged on and on and...you get the idea. It felt forced. It felt over-edited. It felt over-thought. And I hated the ending. I thought the ending was ridiculous. When I start smirking and rolling my eyes at a horror novel, I know that it's time to close it and move on. Fortunately, I had two pages left on my final eye roll then the book ended. Instead of laughing, I just sighed.
I'm sorry, Jonathan. I've liked many of your books. When you're good, you're great, when you're not, I have to tell people not to waste their time or money. 1 star for FALLS.
Averages to a 3 star overall.
I loved 'ROAD'. I had read it previously (twice) and read it again to refresh my memory when I started this read 3 weeks ago. ROAD is reminiscent of THE EXORCIST and gets a full five stars.
You'll note that I said I started this 3 weeks ago. It could have been longer. FALLS, while only a couple hundred pages, dragged on and on and...you get the idea. It felt forced. It felt over-edited. It felt over-thought. And I hated the ending. I thought the ending was ridiculous. When I start smirking and rolling my eyes at a horror novel, I know that it's time to close it and move on. Fortunately, I had two pages left on my final eye roll then the book ended. Instead of laughing, I just sighed.
I'm sorry, Jonathan. I've liked many of your books. When you're good, you're great, when you're not, I have to tell people not to waste their time or money. 1 star for FALLS.
Averages to a 3 star overall.
August 3, 2019
I've met Janz. I know Janz. Janz is an affable, easy-going guy, quick with a hello, how ya doin. He writes horror, but any fool knows that the stories that entertain us don't necessarily define us. I've read Janz's other novels, CHILDREN OF THE DARK and THE SIREN AND THE SPECTRE.
All that being said...EXORCIST FALLS is dark. Darkasfuck. It acknowledges its precedent--THE EXORCIST and god knows how many other religiously horror themes--and leans into them, subverting the tropes and fitting them into a murder-mystery-thriller. The structure--I read the novel in the edition that pairs it with the original novella EXORCIST ROAD--is wonky and it leaves the reader wondering how separate either of these pieces are (even series works have a definitive this-story-then-that-story feel to them), but none of that matters and it's more of a curiosity than a fault (I'm curious at the crucible this story was made in). The writing is gripping and propulsive and, again, the story itself gets dark as hell. I loved every second of it.
All that being said...EXORCIST FALLS is dark. Darkasfuck. It acknowledges its precedent--THE EXORCIST and god knows how many other religiously horror themes--and leans into them, subverting the tropes and fitting them into a murder-mystery-thriller. The structure--I read the novel in the edition that pairs it with the original novella EXORCIST ROAD--is wonky and it leaves the reader wondering how separate either of these pieces are (even series works have a definitive this-story-then-that-story feel to them), but none of that matters and it's more of a curiosity than a fault (I'm curious at the crucible this story was made in). The writing is gripping and propulsive and, again, the story itself gets dark as hell. I loved every second of it.
July 18, 2018
4.5 stars!! I could not put this book down thanks to the breakneck pace of horrific happenings or jaw-dropping revelations around every corner. Horror fans everywhere should read this book as it had the second most shocking scene I've read all year, due to its utterly skin-crawlingly horrifying, grisly detail. Keep the devil out of your mouth has now taken on a ghastly new meaning which will always haunt me.
What would possess you to read such a thing? The devil only knows. 😈😈😈
What would possess you to read such a thing? The devil only knows. 😈😈😈
April 8, 2017
Another quality work from Mr. Janz!
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