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Who Holds The Devil
When a tragic accident topples an ancient oak onto the wall in front of his house, all Aaron Moody wants is for the city to repair the damage. Instead, he uncovers an underground world of spells, secrets, and, released from within that very oak, a demon who last walked the Earth in human form following the Civil War. Together with Evanora, a queer witch who’s attempting to visit some payback upon the demon, and a neighborhood cat that may or may not be offering Moody advice, they must battle an entity intent on dragging Moody, Evanora, and a thousand other souls straight to hell.
“An original tale indeed. Loved the cat! Well worth a read.” – Jeff Menapace, best-selling author of the Bad Games series
“A thrilling tale of ancient evil fighting for a foothold in the modern world. Dittman tells a vivid story, a perfect mix of horror, hubris, determination, and wit.” – Cailyn Lloyd, author of The Mill and The Elders Series.
“Michael Dittman paints a haunting picture of horror against the backdrop of the rust belt’s suburban decay in this taut, paranormal thriller. The author skillfully weaves the region’s history into this riveting tale of ancient evil resurrected, bolstering the fabric of each scene without overwhelming the reader. Dittman displays a steady hand at his craft, spinning a crisp narrative that jumps from past to present seamlessly, with multiple storylines that keep the reader hooked. Imaginative prose, vivid characters, and a menacing ambiance, make this supernatural saga one that will remain glued to your fingers.” – Stephen Paul Sayers, International best-selling author of The Taker of Morrows and The Immortal Force
“An original tale indeed. Loved the cat! Well worth a read.” – Jeff Menapace, best-selling author of the Bad Games series
“A thrilling tale of ancient evil fighting for a foothold in the modern world. Dittman tells a vivid story, a perfect mix of horror, hubris, determination, and wit.” – Cailyn Lloyd, author of The Mill and The Elders Series.
“Michael Dittman paints a haunting picture of horror against the backdrop of the rust belt’s suburban decay in this taut, paranormal thriller. The author skillfully weaves the region’s history into this riveting tale of ancient evil resurrected, bolstering the fabric of each scene without overwhelming the reader. Dittman displays a steady hand at his craft, spinning a crisp narrative that jumps from past to present seamlessly, with multiple storylines that keep the reader hooked. Imaginative prose, vivid characters, and a menacing ambiance, make this supernatural saga one that will remain glued to your fingers.” – Stephen Paul Sayers, International best-selling author of The Taker of Morrows and The Immortal Force
260 pages, Paperback
Published June 20, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 29, 2022
Phenomenal Lore Brought to Life
Dittman uses the same keen research skills as his main character, Aaron, to craft the western Pennsylvania setting that the reader easily walks into to watch the story unfold. This novel captures what happens when a mundane task, in this case repairing a stone wall, collides with the parallel supernatural happenings in the neighborhood. The writing flows between present day, the past and between characters smoothly without the confusion that sometimes crops up when making such jumps.
I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys suspense, local lore, and supernatural stories. And of course those with a soft spot for magnificent cats like Mr. B.
Dittman uses the same keen research skills as his main character, Aaron, to craft the western Pennsylvania setting that the reader easily walks into to watch the story unfold. This novel captures what happens when a mundane task, in this case repairing a stone wall, collides with the parallel supernatural happenings in the neighborhood. The writing flows between present day, the past and between characters smoothly without the confusion that sometimes crops up when making such jumps.
I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys suspense, local lore, and supernatural stories. And of course those with a soft spot for magnificent cats like Mr. B.
May 28, 2022
In Who Holds the Devil, Michael Dittman has concocted a thriller with precise ratios of history, suspense, brutality, humor, and resolution. The finished product is a delicious spell. Readers from Western Pennsylvania will be captivated by the crystal clear detail of their area. Readers from elsewhere can appreciated the skillful depictions.
The story’s pacing both builds suspense and allows recovery from the most intense episodes. Comic relief in such spaces is also much appreciated. Ultimately, it all fits, and it all works. Who Holds the Devil is an all-around great read.
The story’s pacing both builds suspense and allows recovery from the most intense episodes. Comic relief in such spaces is also much appreciated. Ultimately, it all fits, and it all works. Who Holds the Devil is an all-around great read.
June 20, 2022
Who Holds the Devil is a thrilling tale of an ancient evil fighting for a foothold in the modern world. Michael Dittman tells a vivid story, a perfect mix of horror, hubris, determination, and wit.
October 16, 2022
I was anxious to read this book after finding it was written by an author local to me and set in the town where I live. I obtained a copy at a book reading/signing and have gotten a chance to read it. The story had quite a few twists and turns and kept me in the edge of my seat. I am only giving it 4 stars however because it started off a little slow and I was having trouble following the different characters when it was bouncing back and forth. I'm glad Mr B played a large part in how it ended. Overall I recommend reading this book.
September 26, 2025
I always appreciate a good novel set in Western Pennsylvania because that is where I grew up. I don't usually write book reviews here, but I am glad to have the chance to finally read Michael Dittman's work. It is clear to me that he put a tremendous amount of research into his knowledge of Butler, Pennsylvania. It is a pity that people post one-star reviews of books without sharing anything they didn't like about them. Regardless, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys local history or paranormal stories.
March 18, 2025
A lovely dark tale.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews