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Scars on the Face of God: The Devil's Bible
"Scars on the Face of God is a brilliant novel. Congratulations on hitting one out of the park, Chris." -Jonathan Maberry, multiple Bram Stoker Award winner "C. G. Bauer writes with passion and intensity, tackling the mysteries of faith and fear. Hotter than the flames of hell." -Scott Nicholson, author of Scattered Ashes Hex signs protect every barn and outbuilding. The local tannery spews its poison on the land and in the river. And babies disappear at birth. An orphan and one-time felon who earned his nickname "from the sound a crowbar makes when it hits a man's head," Johannes "Wump" Hozer is now the custodian of Our Lady of the Innocents parish in Three Bridges, PA. Wump is old and tired. He's fought all his life against the tannery's waste, against God, and against the blind eyes of his good neighbors. Nowadays he tries to ignore the old priest's exploits with the young women of the parish and the strangeness surrounding the local orphanage, and does what good he can for his wife, the church, the sisters who run the orphanage, and the poor orphans themselves. Then childhood memories and strange presentments begin to plague Wump when a brick wall unearthed at the site of a new restaurant collapses, and raw sewage carries hundreds of baby bones into the pit left behind. Looks like the devil's made Three Bridges his playground, and Wump needs to find out why; the babies keep screaming and he has to make it stop.
266 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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February 2, 2012
Scars on the Face of God was originally published by Drollerie Press in 2008. It is now available as an e-book, which is lucky for us, because hopefully more people will have the chance to read this well-crafted, atmospheric and completely engaging horror story.
Scars takes place in 1964 when Wump, our feisty main character, is 65 years old and living a fairly quiet life as a church handy-man in the small town of Three Bridges, PA. Quiet that is, until an accident at a construction site reveals the skeletons of babies at the bottom of a sink hole, and Wump’s past comes rushing back. Wump, you see, has seen one of these skeletons before, back in 1909 when he was a ten-year-old orphan living at St. Jerome’s Home for Foundlings. Bauer gleefully details this gruesome encounter in his prologue, and the stage is set for the horrors to come.
Wump is surrounded by interesting characters that are crucial to the outcome of the story, and two of my favorites are Leo and Raymond, orphaned boys that live in the same St. Jerome’s that Wump lived in as a child. Leo is a happy, but slow, boy whose greatest joys are running errands for Wump and pushing his best friend Raymond around in his wheelchair. Raymond is not only unable to walk, but is blind and mute as well. As damaged as Leo and Raymond appear, though, we soon learn that they are eerily aware of just what is happening in Three Bridges, and both can communicate in unusual ways.
Wump befriends the new Parish priest Father Duncan, a former pro baseball player, and together they uncover a strange book in the convent library during a visit to see one of the orphans. The Codex Gigas, or the Devil’s Bible as it is also known, was reputedly written by a monk in one night with the help of the devil, and inside the book Wump and Father Duncan discover the ghastly meaning behind the remains of the babies in the sink hole, involving the birth of the antichrist. Pitted against the archaic beliefs of the Catholic Church, Wump sets out to stop the evil that seems to be rising in Three Bridges.
Creepiness abounds in Scars on the Face of God, and it’s not all supernatural. One of these elements is the Volkheimer Tannery, which has been operating in Three Bridges since Wump was a boy. Many years of poisonous chemicals seeping into the ground and air have made Three Bridges a dangerous place to live, evident in the number of deformed and handicapped children that live there. Many families in the town have been affected in one way or another by its poisonous presence, including Wump, whose son has died from leukemia. The malignant pall of the tannery lurks beneath the surface throughout the story, and indeed it plays an important part by the end of the book.
As Good Friday approaches and the church prepares to reenact the Way of the Cross, the forces of good and evil are about to clash head-on. Wump, Father Duncan, Leo and Raymond, after discovering that there is indeed an antichrist among them, must fight for their lives and diffuse the evil before it takes over. There are some surprising transformations of several characters, a terrible choice involving Wump’s wife Viola, and Wump’s discovery of his birth mother, not to mention the final showdown that is as good as anything written by Stephen King. The book’s pacing is immaculate, and the dreaded feeling that the devil is about to appear made this a truly scary and unsettling read.
Many thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
Scars takes place in 1964 when Wump, our feisty main character, is 65 years old and living a fairly quiet life as a church handy-man in the small town of Three Bridges, PA. Quiet that is, until an accident at a construction site reveals the skeletons of babies at the bottom of a sink hole, and Wump’s past comes rushing back. Wump, you see, has seen one of these skeletons before, back in 1909 when he was a ten-year-old orphan living at St. Jerome’s Home for Foundlings. Bauer gleefully details this gruesome encounter in his prologue, and the stage is set for the horrors to come.
Wump is surrounded by interesting characters that are crucial to the outcome of the story, and two of my favorites are Leo and Raymond, orphaned boys that live in the same St. Jerome’s that Wump lived in as a child. Leo is a happy, but slow, boy whose greatest joys are running errands for Wump and pushing his best friend Raymond around in his wheelchair. Raymond is not only unable to walk, but is blind and mute as well. As damaged as Leo and Raymond appear, though, we soon learn that they are eerily aware of just what is happening in Three Bridges, and both can communicate in unusual ways.
Wump befriends the new Parish priest Father Duncan, a former pro baseball player, and together they uncover a strange book in the convent library during a visit to see one of the orphans. The Codex Gigas, or the Devil’s Bible as it is also known, was reputedly written by a monk in one night with the help of the devil, and inside the book Wump and Father Duncan discover the ghastly meaning behind the remains of the babies in the sink hole, involving the birth of the antichrist. Pitted against the archaic beliefs of the Catholic Church, Wump sets out to stop the evil that seems to be rising in Three Bridges.
Creepiness abounds in Scars on the Face of God, and it’s not all supernatural. One of these elements is the Volkheimer Tannery, which has been operating in Three Bridges since Wump was a boy. Many years of poisonous chemicals seeping into the ground and air have made Three Bridges a dangerous place to live, evident in the number of deformed and handicapped children that live there. Many families in the town have been affected in one way or another by its poisonous presence, including Wump, whose son has died from leukemia. The malignant pall of the tannery lurks beneath the surface throughout the story, and indeed it plays an important part by the end of the book.
As Good Friday approaches and the church prepares to reenact the Way of the Cross, the forces of good and evil are about to clash head-on. Wump, Father Duncan, Leo and Raymond, after discovering that there is indeed an antichrist among them, must fight for their lives and diffuse the evil before it takes over. There are some surprising transformations of several characters, a terrible choice involving Wump’s wife Viola, and Wump’s discovery of his birth mother, not to mention the final showdown that is as good as anything written by Stephen King. The book’s pacing is immaculate, and the dreaded feeling that the devil is about to appear made this a truly scary and unsettling read.
Many thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
January 19, 2012
I hate most first person narratives. I mean, I'm a grammar junkie and a style stick-up-my-assist, and first person POV means you're going to get a character that talks like a real person, warts and all. Plus, they're really hard to do right - characters are forever using metaphors and comparisons that don't make sense, using words in a register they wouldn't use, etc. So when it's done right, I often don't like it - and when it's wrong, I want to go on kitten-punching spree.
Scars on the Face of God, by C.G. Bauer, was a really pleasant surprise in that (and many other) respects. For some reason, it took me four or five tries to actually get into the novel. Something about the first paragraph really didn't grab me, and I was having a lot of trouble pushing myself to read further. Boy, am I glad I did.
Within five percent of the way through, SFG really starts to heat up, quickly becoming eerie and making you wonder - hey, exactly what kind of novel is this thing going to be?!
Structurally, the novel is quite sound. It starts in an old-timer's golden years and rounds out our understanding of him through a use of flashbacks - flashbacks that also take us deeper and deeper into town history and a rich backstory. Bauer makes excellent use of the first person narrative, creating a full character that is incredibly well-rounded - a less than educated once-criminal that has fought, sinned, and loved - and makes us wonder how much we can trust him at times. On one hand, his past is dark and sometimes violent - on the other hand, he is comfortable with - and kind to- the disabled. Any issues with grammar or punctuation suddenly make sense when attributed to our narrator, a smart move on Bauer's part.
Bauer is great at making the most of his tools; one can tell he's clearly no novice to his trade. The usage of setting is spectacular, moving the book from warm nostalgia to spooky and back in a matter of pages. Much of the imagery comes from the Catholic faith, a choice that somehow enhances the gritty imagery. Best of all, as far as I could see, none of the characters ever "broke character" - every metaphor from our narrator is both sizzingly apt and remarkably appropriate - enough so that one wonders how much of himself Bauer has written into our hero. Pacing is great, with a gradual reveal that keeps us on our toes, and the mood is suspenseful and chilling without a lot of out and out gore. Finally, the author has done a great job of resolving both internal and external conflict arcs.
The only real warning I want to give readers is that novel is probably not appropriate for young teenagers, the easily offended, the highly religious, or those that have issues with suspension of belief.
Overall Rating: 5 Solid Stars. Wonderfully written and had me reading long into the night.
Scars on the Face of God, by C.G. Bauer, was a really pleasant surprise in that (and many other) respects. For some reason, it took me four or five tries to actually get into the novel. Something about the first paragraph really didn't grab me, and I was having a lot of trouble pushing myself to read further. Boy, am I glad I did.
Within five percent of the way through, SFG really starts to heat up, quickly becoming eerie and making you wonder - hey, exactly what kind of novel is this thing going to be?!
Structurally, the novel is quite sound. It starts in an old-timer's golden years and rounds out our understanding of him through a use of flashbacks - flashbacks that also take us deeper and deeper into town history and a rich backstory. Bauer makes excellent use of the first person narrative, creating a full character that is incredibly well-rounded - a less than educated once-criminal that has fought, sinned, and loved - and makes us wonder how much we can trust him at times. On one hand, his past is dark and sometimes violent - on the other hand, he is comfortable with - and kind to- the disabled. Any issues with grammar or punctuation suddenly make sense when attributed to our narrator, a smart move on Bauer's part.
Bauer is great at making the most of his tools; one can tell he's clearly no novice to his trade. The usage of setting is spectacular, moving the book from warm nostalgia to spooky and back in a matter of pages. Much of the imagery comes from the Catholic faith, a choice that somehow enhances the gritty imagery. Best of all, as far as I could see, none of the characters ever "broke character" - every metaphor from our narrator is both sizzingly apt and remarkably appropriate - enough so that one wonders how much of himself Bauer has written into our hero. Pacing is great, with a gradual reveal that keeps us on our toes, and the mood is suspenseful and chilling without a lot of out and out gore. Finally, the author has done a great job of resolving both internal and external conflict arcs.
The only real warning I want to give readers is that novel is probably not appropriate for young teenagers, the easily offended, the highly religious, or those that have issues with suspension of belief.
Overall Rating: 5 Solid Stars. Wonderfully written and had me reading long into the night.
June 30, 2018
This novel of suspense is set in a small rural town, outside of Pittsburg, during the 1960s with flashbacks to the 1910s. The town is populated by hard-working, Roman Catholic, ethnic Germans. The narrative explores the relationship between fear and faith. There's a Catholic Church, a convent, an orphanage, a lecherous monsignor, the death-by-train of a nun, a murdered cardinal, an active 20th century tannery, polluted groundwater, a leukemia cluster, and Michael the Archangel. Suspense is constructed around a handwritten copy of the Codex Gigas (the Giant Book) or 'The Devil's Bible' written in the German language. Previously unknown to me, the original 'Devil's Bible' written in pre-Vulgate Latin (pig latin?) was a 13th century manuscript prepared as a penance in Bohemia (now Czech Republic) by a Benedictine monk who, according to legend, finished it in a single night by summoning the Devil to help him. Frequently critical of the Church; though in the end, this novel is a win for Church teachings.
June 17, 2019
I gave up for a day at 25% progress reading it but decided to persist with it. I got to 50% and then it snowballed and the horror arrived. I don't believe any reader has to wait for half the novel for the action to start and this first half being slow and almost boring.
I enjoyed it better in the second half where it all happened. Bauer has done a great job with the horror/satanic elements, well done and the writing style is very personal and relational to the main character.
Would I read another Bauer novel? Only if the first half of any of his are not slow and mundane like this one!
I enjoyed it better in the second half where it all happened. Bauer has done a great job with the horror/satanic elements, well done and the writing style is very personal and relational to the main character.
Would I read another Bauer novel? Only if the first half of any of his are not slow and mundane like this one!
March 24, 2025
Romanul îmbină elemente de horror și mister, explorând teme precum credința, corupția și lupta dintre bine și rău. Stilul narativ al lui Bauer este apreciat pentru autenticitatea sa, iar personajul Wump este considerat un narator puternic, cu un limbaj vernacular care adaugă profunzime și credibilitate poveștii.
December 10, 2010
Review copy from author
I have wanted to read this book for a long, long time. I spent uncountable hours searcheing bookstore shelves, library sales, used book sales... all for nothing. It seemed like this book and I were just not meant to be.
Until, on a whim, I reached out to it's author and asked for a copy to review here on the blog. A huge thank you must go out to C.G. Bauer for suppling me with a copy of his elusive novel!
Initally set in Pennsylvania at the turn of the century, two young boys from the local orphange are out in the early morning collecting frozen piles of dog crap (oh yes, they were) when they spy a woman carrying a small , squirming bundle across an enclosed bridge. As they watch, the woman throws the bundle into the river, followed by a gunshot. One of the boys, Johnny, dives in after the drowning baby, and believing he has retrieved it, carries it back to the shore, where it hands it over to his friend. As they unwrap the bundle.... They realize that what they had just witnessed has happened before - many many times before.
Foward 50+ years in the same town, and Johnny, known to most as "Wump", finds himself reliving the horror of that morning all over again when tiny baby skeletons are found floating in the sewer-water that has suddenly flowed into a hole that's been dug out for the foundation of a new restaurant.
In the midst of this, the town acquires a new priest, Father Duncan. He and Wump, along with two disabled boys, Leo - a mentally handicapped boy - and his blind, mute, wheelchair-ridden best friend Raymond, launch their own personal investigation into the town's deep dark secret regarding the dead babies, and the mysterious Devil Bible which they find in the possesion of one of the nun's in the orphanage.
Scars on the Face of God is a slow, southern-style gothic tale that manages to creep and crawl deep under your skin. Author C.G. Bauer tears religion apart and attempts to put it back together using the conflicting beliefs of Wump and Father Duncan - two men with very different views on God, and God's part in creation and the suffering of human kind.
Creating characters with incredibly flawed personalities, Bauer used their damaged pasts to show why each man felt the way they did about the Catholic Church. Father Duncan, an ex-proffesional baseball player, heard the call to religion and puts his faith unquestionably in God and the church. Wump, on the other hand, lived life according the rules of the church and lost his faith after watching his son needlessly suffer and die of Lukemia.
A powerfully chilling novel of what the power of religion can do to a small, poor town. And what faith, or the lack thereof, can do to each of it's inhabitants.
I thoroughly lost myself in this novel, and I strongly urge you to do the same!
I have wanted to read this book for a long, long time. I spent uncountable hours searcheing bookstore shelves, library sales, used book sales... all for nothing. It seemed like this book and I were just not meant to be.
Until, on a whim, I reached out to it's author and asked for a copy to review here on the blog. A huge thank you must go out to C.G. Bauer for suppling me with a copy of his elusive novel!
Initally set in Pennsylvania at the turn of the century, two young boys from the local orphange are out in the early morning collecting frozen piles of dog crap (oh yes, they were) when they spy a woman carrying a small , squirming bundle across an enclosed bridge. As they watch, the woman throws the bundle into the river, followed by a gunshot. One of the boys, Johnny, dives in after the drowning baby, and believing he has retrieved it, carries it back to the shore, where it hands it over to his friend. As they unwrap the bundle.... They realize that what they had just witnessed has happened before - many many times before.
Foward 50+ years in the same town, and Johnny, known to most as "Wump", finds himself reliving the horror of that morning all over again when tiny baby skeletons are found floating in the sewer-water that has suddenly flowed into a hole that's been dug out for the foundation of a new restaurant.
In the midst of this, the town acquires a new priest, Father Duncan. He and Wump, along with two disabled boys, Leo - a mentally handicapped boy - and his blind, mute, wheelchair-ridden best friend Raymond, launch their own personal investigation into the town's deep dark secret regarding the dead babies, and the mysterious Devil Bible which they find in the possesion of one of the nun's in the orphanage.
Scars on the Face of God is a slow, southern-style gothic tale that manages to creep and crawl deep under your skin. Author C.G. Bauer tears religion apart and attempts to put it back together using the conflicting beliefs of Wump and Father Duncan - two men with very different views on God, and God's part in creation and the suffering of human kind.
Creating characters with incredibly flawed personalities, Bauer used their damaged pasts to show why each man felt the way they did about the Catholic Church. Father Duncan, an ex-proffesional baseball player, heard the call to religion and puts his faith unquestionably in God and the church. Wump, on the other hand, lived life according the rules of the church and lost his faith after watching his son needlessly suffer and die of Lukemia.
A powerfully chilling novel of what the power of religion can do to a small, poor town. And what faith, or the lack thereof, can do to each of it's inhabitants.
I thoroughly lost myself in this novel, and I strongly urge you to do the same!
February 4, 2012
Scars on the Face of God: The Devil's Bible is a pacey urban fantasy/horror novel set in a village north-east of Philadelphia. Bauer expertly builds suspense with unsettling supernatural occurrences and drip feeds enough clues to keep the reader engrossed in the scandalous past and present of Three Bridges, formerly known as Schuetten.
The residents live in the shadow of the Volkheimer legacy and the Catholic church. A host of unwanted secrets bubble under the surface of the narrative. More specifically, in the sewer system. The construction of a new restaurant disturbs the long buried secrets of Three Bridges. Debris floating amongst the abject waste of the sewers sets the tone of a dark narrative.
C.G. Bauer writes from the point of view of Johnny Hozer, later known as “Wump” due to a very specific event in his early adulthood. The narrative is in first person and heavily colloquial. Being English this did present a few problems with certain brands and phrases having no meaning for me at all. However the voice of Hozer was so strong and fully formed that these quirks only served to add to the character of Hozer.
The narrative holds the attention of the reader with expert timing of the supernatural. Sparse and explainable events sow the seeds of doubt and flash backs fill in the gaps of knowledge that combine to expose the criminal neglect of the Volkheimer Tannery and unravel the horrific truth about the Monsignor.
Bauer ploughs straight into action in the prologue where Hozer witnesses the extremely short life-span of a newborn child. The contrast with Hozer's bewildered twelve-year old voice to his hardened sixty-five year old voice sets the precedence for a narrative that swings from horror to investigation. Hozer's perception is deeply embedded in the past and his desperation to seek justice drives the plot forward with well paced momentum.
In this novel Bauer raises questions about responsibility. The main dominant male positions in society put in jeopardy the safety and morality of all of the villagers. Each of the superior figures harbour clear ambitions to which they will spare no cost in order to achieve. Their disregard for the well-being of people is as harrowing as the physical horrors that occur. A misguided perception on the value of human life propagates a dangerous backdrop for this dark horror story.
At times the plot begs incredulity but the character and plot development swallows the more fantastical scenes with a well earned sympathy for the characters and a deep seated need to resolve all the mysteries of The Three Bridges.
Bauer is the author of several short stories, the latest of which is to be published in the anthology 100 Horrors in the very near future. A promising new voice in Horror, this book comes highly recommended for readers seeking a new author.
The residents live in the shadow of the Volkheimer legacy and the Catholic church. A host of unwanted secrets bubble under the surface of the narrative. More specifically, in the sewer system. The construction of a new restaurant disturbs the long buried secrets of Three Bridges. Debris floating amongst the abject waste of the sewers sets the tone of a dark narrative.
C.G. Bauer writes from the point of view of Johnny Hozer, later known as “Wump” due to a very specific event in his early adulthood. The narrative is in first person and heavily colloquial. Being English this did present a few problems with certain brands and phrases having no meaning for me at all. However the voice of Hozer was so strong and fully formed that these quirks only served to add to the character of Hozer.
The narrative holds the attention of the reader with expert timing of the supernatural. Sparse and explainable events sow the seeds of doubt and flash backs fill in the gaps of knowledge that combine to expose the criminal neglect of the Volkheimer Tannery and unravel the horrific truth about the Monsignor.
Bauer ploughs straight into action in the prologue where Hozer witnesses the extremely short life-span of a newborn child. The contrast with Hozer's bewildered twelve-year old voice to his hardened sixty-five year old voice sets the precedence for a narrative that swings from horror to investigation. Hozer's perception is deeply embedded in the past and his desperation to seek justice drives the plot forward with well paced momentum.
In this novel Bauer raises questions about responsibility. The main dominant male positions in society put in jeopardy the safety and morality of all of the villagers. Each of the superior figures harbour clear ambitions to which they will spare no cost in order to achieve. Their disregard for the well-being of people is as harrowing as the physical horrors that occur. A misguided perception on the value of human life propagates a dangerous backdrop for this dark horror story.
At times the plot begs incredulity but the character and plot development swallows the more fantastical scenes with a well earned sympathy for the characters and a deep seated need to resolve all the mysteries of The Three Bridges.
Bauer is the author of several short stories, the latest of which is to be published in the anthology 100 Horrors in the very near future. A promising new voice in Horror, this book comes highly recommended for readers seeking a new author.
December 15, 2013
Scars on the Face of God is a chilling turn-of-the-20th Century mystery set in blue-collar Three Bridges, a town of German immigrants outside Philadelphia. Author Chris Bauer wastes no time getting the suspense going with hundreds of infant bodies surfacing in sewer pipes that dump into the Wissaquessing River. Wump, a maintenance worker who grew up in the local orphanage, begins to snoop around. What unfolds is a terrifying tale of an order of religious and church gone wrong.
Bauer places the reader in the era of his story with an astute eye to detail, from the infrastructure, architecture and decor to the customs, behaviors and church policies. Wump has a soft spot for the orphans, especially Leo, a slow, dim-witted kid, and his buddy Raymond, a sweet wheel-chair bound and challenged boy. Wump senses Raymond is special beyond comprehension, and his senses don’t fail him. Father Duncan joins Wump on a quest for the truth, which leads to discovery of a copy of the Devil’s Bible, which says that, the devil return.
Bauer is a masterful story teller with a knack for pulling the reader into the story with emotional hooks—empathy and love as well as, hate and rage. The warm spot felt for the orphans is balanced by complex characters like Monsignor Krause, a 19th Century doomsday prophet, and his replacement Monsignor Fassnacht, predator, demonic lunatic, and filthy murderer who makes pact with Lucifer, the devil, evoke rage.
There are enough intricate twists and turns in the story to keep the reader guessing—the Monsignor who convinced poor and faithful immigrants to drown their first-born baby boys, misguiding a faithful congregation, Wump’s dedication to his wife Viola, and a grand cover up by the church. When things begin to go awry at a church procession, the Stations of the Cross, and the kid playing Pilot, blurts out blasphemy, sets off a frightful series of events—blood oozing from the kid playing Christ, dimming lights, candle smoke spiraling, and shocked parishioners running out of the church. The mural of God the Father fades on ceiling.
The story is a classic struggle of good against evil, ultimately Lucifer vs. Michael the Archangel. Wump has to choose between good and evil, and with the inspiration of Raymond, strength he draws from his dying Viola, he chooses good and his faith is restored, to a degree.
Scars on the Face of God is a charmingly chilling tale that will warm your heart.
Bauer places the reader in the era of his story with an astute eye to detail, from the infrastructure, architecture and decor to the customs, behaviors and church policies. Wump has a soft spot for the orphans, especially Leo, a slow, dim-witted kid, and his buddy Raymond, a sweet wheel-chair bound and challenged boy. Wump senses Raymond is special beyond comprehension, and his senses don’t fail him. Father Duncan joins Wump on a quest for the truth, which leads to discovery of a copy of the Devil’s Bible, which says that, the devil return.
Bauer is a masterful story teller with a knack for pulling the reader into the story with emotional hooks—empathy and love as well as, hate and rage. The warm spot felt for the orphans is balanced by complex characters like Monsignor Krause, a 19th Century doomsday prophet, and his replacement Monsignor Fassnacht, predator, demonic lunatic, and filthy murderer who makes pact with Lucifer, the devil, evoke rage.
There are enough intricate twists and turns in the story to keep the reader guessing—the Monsignor who convinced poor and faithful immigrants to drown their first-born baby boys, misguiding a faithful congregation, Wump’s dedication to his wife Viola, and a grand cover up by the church. When things begin to go awry at a church procession, the Stations of the Cross, and the kid playing Pilot, blurts out blasphemy, sets off a frightful series of events—blood oozing from the kid playing Christ, dimming lights, candle smoke spiraling, and shocked parishioners running out of the church. The mural of God the Father fades on ceiling.
The story is a classic struggle of good against evil, ultimately Lucifer vs. Michael the Archangel. Wump has to choose between good and evil, and with the inspiration of Raymond, strength he draws from his dying Viola, he chooses good and his faith is restored, to a degree.
Scars on the Face of God is a charmingly chilling tale that will warm your heart.
February 9, 2012
C.G. Bauer has written a tale that is a little bit horror, a little bit mystery, a little bit surprise, a little bit history lesson. That is the simplest way I can think to describe 'Scars'. It took me a bit to get past the first 5 chapters but then after that I couldn't stop reading! I was sucked in. The story is written in Wump's point of view, which I loved. I felt like I knew him and couldn't help but feel bad for the hard knocks he had endured through his life. Being abandoned and having to live in an orphanage, taking the wrong path as a young man and doing prison time, loosing his 24 year old son to leukemia, the things he had seen over the course of his life, just to name a few (hey, I don't want to give everything away, right?). Set in the 60's, with glimpses of past times via Wump's recollections, in a small town where families with money influence just about everything equals skeleton's in almost every closet. And skeleton's in closets means a great story for the reader!!
The cast of characters all work together very well, from orphaned best buddies Leo and Raymond, to a nun Leo calls Sister Dimples, a priest who was a former MLB player, a priest with all the wrong intentions to old Mrs. V. whose husband went missing many many years ago. When one of the Sister's dies strange things start happening and a mysterious book appears, The Devil's Bible, with a prophecy that has been passed on from generation to generation. A deep dark secret has been kept and as Wump, with the help of Father Duncan, puts the pieces together he is in for the shock of his life. With Good Friday approaching, the prophecy is about to come true and it's a fight for their souls...literally.
One thing I love about a good book is the element of realization. Bauer gave that to me on a silver platter. I did not see the ending coming and a perfect ending it was. Only one complaint, and it is a personal one but nothing that would affect my love of this novel. The book is centered around the Catholic church. I grew up Baptist so many of the terms were unknown to me. Scars on the Face of God: The Devil's Bible is a must read...just with the lights on ;)
The cast of characters all work together very well, from orphaned best buddies Leo and Raymond, to a nun Leo calls Sister Dimples, a priest who was a former MLB player, a priest with all the wrong intentions to old Mrs. V. whose husband went missing many many years ago. When one of the Sister's dies strange things start happening and a mysterious book appears, The Devil's Bible, with a prophecy that has been passed on from generation to generation. A deep dark secret has been kept and as Wump, with the help of Father Duncan, puts the pieces together he is in for the shock of his life. With Good Friday approaching, the prophecy is about to come true and it's a fight for their souls...literally.
One thing I love about a good book is the element of realization. Bauer gave that to me on a silver platter. I did not see the ending coming and a perfect ending it was. Only one complaint, and it is a personal one but nothing that would affect my love of this novel. The book is centered around the Catholic church. I grew up Baptist so many of the terms were unknown to me. Scars on the Face of God: The Devil's Bible is a must read...just with the lights on ;)
April 28, 2011
As a lover of books, reading, and technology, you would think I would have been an e-book reader for long time. That has not been the case with me. I want to feel the pages in my hand. I want to be able to lie in bed and read until I fall asleep. Well, for the first time I have read a book completely in digital format.
C.G. Bauer was kind enough to send me a copy of his e-book for review. Despite my protest of reading a book in its entirety on my laptop, I started reading this one.
What I found is that a great story will draw you in and make you do things you didn’t want to do. This book definitely did that for me. I couldn’t wait to learn more about Wump, the Devil’s Book, and the town of Three Bridges even if that meant sitting for hours at my computer. This is a VERY well written book about discovery, faith, and secrets.
Wump was an orphan living in Three Bridges. When he was about twelve years old, he found a dead baby floating in the river and its screams haunted him for years afterward. Forty years later, the town’s deepest darkest secrets are revealed when old sewage drains are knocked loose spilling out the skeletons of over one hundred babies. Why is this happening? Is it because of toxic chemicals being dumped by the local tannery? Is it because of corrupt church leaders? Is there a dark force working through a book?
I don’t want to put too many of the plot details here, but I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. It is a page turner for sure!
http://www.romancing-the-book.com/200...
C.G. Bauer was kind enough to send me a copy of his e-book for review. Despite my protest of reading a book in its entirety on my laptop, I started reading this one.
What I found is that a great story will draw you in and make you do things you didn’t want to do. This book definitely did that for me. I couldn’t wait to learn more about Wump, the Devil’s Book, and the town of Three Bridges even if that meant sitting for hours at my computer. This is a VERY well written book about discovery, faith, and secrets.
Wump was an orphan living in Three Bridges. When he was about twelve years old, he found a dead baby floating in the river and its screams haunted him for years afterward. Forty years later, the town’s deepest darkest secrets are revealed when old sewage drains are knocked loose spilling out the skeletons of over one hundred babies. Why is this happening? Is it because of toxic chemicals being dumped by the local tannery? Is it because of corrupt church leaders? Is there a dark force working through a book?
I don’t want to put too many of the plot details here, but I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. It is a page turner for sure!
http://www.romancing-the-book.com/200...
August 10, 2009
This is one of those books where I did that thing where I build something up to be so incredible that when I finally get to read it (or watch it or hear it depending on the media) I've managed to set myself up to be let down. When I first heard of this book, it was only available electronically and I'm not in the market for a Kindle. Fortunately, they make Kindle for iPhone/iTouch so I loaded it up on my Touch. Unfortunately, Amazon.com's records indicated that I did not own a Kindle so they couldn't download the book but hey, would I like to purchase one? On sale now for $299! By now, I was in quite the tizzy wondering how I would possibly be able to read what would undoubtably turn out to be the unquestionably greatest piece of fiction ever written. Then, the book showed up in print and I got it from B&N. I just feel sorry for any book, movie or cd that appears under those circumstances.
Oddly enough, I didn't expect this book to contain so much preacher talk. Given the title, I should have known better. Fortunately, (unlike The Shack), it wasn't so in-your-face that it prevented me from reading the book. In spite of the post-acquisition letdown and the Jesus-loves-you stuff, I enjoyed this book. I read it in two days. I liked Wump and the way he told his story. Using Satan to build a monster seemed a little like the easy way out but all-in-all it was a good book and I would be glad to read something else by this author.
Oddly enough, I didn't expect this book to contain so much preacher talk. Given the title, I should have known better. Fortunately, (unlike The Shack), it wasn't so in-your-face that it prevented me from reading the book. In spite of the post-acquisition letdown and the Jesus-loves-you stuff, I enjoyed this book. I read it in two days. I liked Wump and the way he told his story. Using Satan to build a monster seemed a little like the easy way out but all-in-all it was a good book and I would be glad to read something else by this author.
December 20, 2011
Every town has its secrets, and Schuetten, PA (later renamed Three Bridges) is no different. From infanticide to all out war between the forces of good and evil, this book explores the darkness that is residing over this small town.
While the end of the book was good, I was completely lost and confused for the entire first half of the book. The story jumped from topic to topic, and I almost gave up on the book completely because it just didn't make sense. Even when some of it started to click, other parts never really got explained and just seemed to be there for no good reason. Because of that, I wasn't a huge fan of this book. There's just too much jumbled nonsense to really get into the book, and the ending was just so-so which hardly made it worth it. However, the concept was interesting enough to warrant two stars - I think if it were written better, the concept could really be used to turn this story into a 5 star story.
While the end of the book was good, I was completely lost and confused for the entire first half of the book. The story jumped from topic to topic, and I almost gave up on the book completely because it just didn't make sense. Even when some of it started to click, other parts never really got explained and just seemed to be there for no good reason. Because of that, I wasn't a huge fan of this book. There's just too much jumbled nonsense to really get into the book, and the ending was just so-so which hardly made it worth it. However, the concept was interesting enough to warrant two stars - I think if it were written better, the concept could really be used to turn this story into a 5 star story.
January 4, 2013
2 1/2 stars
The story was part historical fiction, part horror and part murder mystery and started of great telling the story from the viewpoint of the church curator who tried his best to show that the cancer and birth defects of the town people is caused by the poisoned water of the town.
And when an underwater drainpipe eventually burst hundreds of baby skeletons floated out….All seemingly male infants… Eerie right? The pace of the book was slow but good with just enough odd and weird things thrown in to make you want to read on…. But then about 2/3 into the book it went all Exorcist on me! Should have known that a book challenging the Catholic belief system would have this in because if there is one thing that the Catholic church seem to love more than touching young boys then it’s a good old fashioned exorcism.
It was not a bad book but the ending left me cold and disappointed. Not sure if I want to recommend this.
The story was part historical fiction, part horror and part murder mystery and started of great telling the story from the viewpoint of the church curator who tried his best to show that the cancer and birth defects of the town people is caused by the poisoned water of the town.
And when an underwater drainpipe eventually burst hundreds of baby skeletons floated out….All seemingly male infants… Eerie right? The pace of the book was slow but good with just enough odd and weird things thrown in to make you want to read on…. But then about 2/3 into the book it went all Exorcist on me! Should have known that a book challenging the Catholic belief system would have this in because if there is one thing that the Catholic church seem to love more than touching young boys then it’s a good old fashioned exorcism.
It was not a bad book but the ending left me cold and disappointed. Not sure if I want to recommend this.
December 19, 2020
As a Catholic, I have a love/hate relationship with Catholic based horror. I guess I'm also a sucker for punishment, because based on some of the reviews I read, I was expecting something hard-core anti-Catholic. However, I trusted Jonathan Maberry's comment on the cover and went for it. I'm glad I did.
This was great. Very atmospheric, well-researched with regard to the setting, well written, with largely likable and realistic characters (even if the scenarios they found themselves in were not). I didn't even hate the possible "uh oh" twist at the end. The mystery aspect was solid and well plotted, and the horror aspect, well, it wasn't exactly scary, but it felt appropriate.
As for the anti-Catholic thing, I actually thought it was very fair, with depictions of evil within the church, but also depictions of good. I was pleasantly surprised.
This was great. Very atmospheric, well-researched with regard to the setting, well written, with largely likable and realistic characters (even if the scenarios they found themselves in were not). I didn't even hate the possible "uh oh" twist at the end. The mystery aspect was solid and well plotted, and the horror aspect, well, it wasn't exactly scary, but it felt appropriate.
As for the anti-Catholic thing, I actually thought it was very fair, with depictions of evil within the church, but also depictions of good. I was pleasantly surprised.
September 17, 2012
Engaging theme, brilliant story, wonderfully written and a pleasure to get lost in. What an amazing tale! This is one book that you must read. And what makes it even better is that this one will cross many genre's; horror, historical fiction, drama, supernatural and more.
The beauty in this book is the horror is there but it is so subtle, so ethereal, so nebulous, you can almost miss it, but it weaves it's icy fingers throughout its pages and into your thoughts. Each chapter brings out a little more of the story, about a Priest trying to save a town, an ex con befriending a disabled boy, and a bitter past involving the interpretation of the Bible.
Clever, warm, thoughtful. This should have been snapped up by a mainstream publisher a long time ago.
The beauty in this book is the horror is there but it is so subtle, so ethereal, so nebulous, you can almost miss it, but it weaves it's icy fingers throughout its pages and into your thoughts. Each chapter brings out a little more of the story, about a Priest trying to save a town, an ex con befriending a disabled boy, and a bitter past involving the interpretation of the Bible.
Clever, warm, thoughtful. This should have been snapped up by a mainstream publisher a long time ago.
April 7, 2009
A dark, paranormal story of evil lurking in a catholic community is narrated by Wump, the old caretaker at the parish orphanage, in a matter of fact way that makes the tale even more poignant.
The past and the present collide when a wall collapses during construction revealing the broken skeletons of several infants in the Pennsylvania town of Three Bridges where Wump grew up as an orphan. The finding stirs long forgotten memories which telling alternates with the account of current events in this powerful story that involves a bible written by the devil, a dead man thought missing and a prophecy about to be fulfilled.
Well paced and unpredictable. A haunting story.
The past and the present collide when a wall collapses during construction revealing the broken skeletons of several infants in the Pennsylvania town of Three Bridges where Wump grew up as an orphan. The finding stirs long forgotten memories which telling alternates with the account of current events in this powerful story that involves a bible written by the devil, a dead man thought missing and a prophecy about to be fulfilled.
Well paced and unpredictable. A haunting story.
August 11, 2009
If you like your horror old-school, with a hint of Rosemary’s Baby and a side helping of Omen, you’ll probably groove for this. I quite liked the dual-layer story involving our protagonist both as a boy and as an old man who must root out the nasty cause of why settlers in Three Bridges, Pennsylvania used to murder their babies–and why his parish’s own bishop seems to be batting for the other team. Four stars.
February 3, 2016
Strange happenings in the town of Three Bridges. Decomposing babies bodies, lots of them, are found in the sewer line. They seem to date back many years. There seems to be a connection to the orphanage & the Catholic church. Wump, an adult now was raised in the orphanage & now works as the maintenance man for the church. When the new pastor, Duncan arrives together they piece together a very strange tale.
July 1, 2013
I really liked this one, well right up to the end. It's a Rosemary's Baby sort of story (but not) set in 1965 and 1913. The characters and the unfolding of the plot are masterful. It was a great read.
While I didn't really care for the ending, I don't see how this book could have ended any other way.
I highly recommend this book.
While I didn't really care for the ending, I don't see how this book could have ended any other way.
I highly recommend this book.
January 29, 2009
C.G. Bauer is amazing. This book has it all: the eerie mood, the gripping story, the beautiful imagery and fascinating, yet terrifying moments. It all centers around the Devil's Bible, which really exists. Writing is stellar. Don't miss this.
November 21, 2009
C.G. Bauer is amazing. This book has it all: the eerie mood, the gripping story, the beautiful imagery and fascinating, yet terrifying moments. It all centers around the Devil's Bible, which really exists. Writing is stellar. Don't miss this.
June 7, 2009
I liked it a lot.
January 21, 2012
It was great, dark, secretive small town old...i wasnt sure if i was going to like this book at first, but i enjoyed it very much
March 10, 2009
Absolutely great book!! Well on par with anything that Stephen King has wrote. Highly recommended.
July 6, 2020
With a bit of ruthless editing, this book could be great. In the beginning I thought I was getting a lesson on sewage, then bibles, then corporate greed in the illegal disposal of waste with a bit of horror thrown in. I was somewhat perplexed and only persevered because having read Chris Bauer's Binge Killer, which was great. I know this chap can write. It kind of all worked itself out and there were some flashes of excellent writing. It's a shame that Mr Bauer covered so many interesting topics all in the same book, which made for some confusion.
November 18, 2018
I couldn't put this down. The author brings his characters to life so well. Wump (yes, that's the main character's name) is so down-to-earth, and written with so much detail, I felt like I was a part of his life, learning buried truths along with him. He shows compassion for all, and extraordinary courage when he faces his greatest challenge. I don't want to give too much away or I'd write more. I recommend this book highly.
October 6, 2020
Audible:This was an excellent book!In the 1960's baby skeletons and bodies are discovered in a secret cemetary,after a hole opens up during a construction project.What happened to these children is horrible,what comes next is more amazing.What a story! Harry Roger Williams lll was a terrific narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
September 5, 2025
I really liked this one, well right up to the end. It's a Rosemary's Baby sort of story (but not) set in 1965 and 1913. The characters and the unfolding of the plot are masterful. It was a great read.
While I didn't really care for the ending, I don't see how this book could have ended any other way.
I highly recommend this book.
While I didn't really care for the ending, I don't see how this book could have ended any other way.
I highly recommend this book.
June 19, 2017
very good!
It took me awhile to get into this book. seemed a bit slow and i wasnt quite sure what the story was going to be. then all of a suddwn it took off, and started making sense to me. Maybe I was just a bit slow. All in all i did enjoy reading this book.
It took me awhile to get into this book. seemed a bit slow and i wasnt quite sure what the story was going to be. then all of a suddwn it took off, and started making sense to me. Maybe I was just a bit slow. All in all i did enjoy reading this book.
January 11, 2021
Took longer than usual to finish reading this book. This one wasn’t doing it for me. Decent build-up bizarre right turn with the supernatural/demons & angels deal. Was sort of just rolling with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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