I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Three survivors of a cult reunite after losing a fellow survivor, and old memories of what they endured lead to another fight for survival in author Craig DiLouie’s “The Children of Red Peak”.
The Synopsis
Bram Stoker Award-nominated author Craig DiLouie brings a new twist to the cult horror story in a heart-pounding novel of psychological suspense.
David Young, Deacon Price, and Beth Harris live with a dark secret. As children, they survived a religious group’s horrific last days at the isolated mountain Red Peak. Years later, the trauma of what they experienced never feels far behind.
When a fellow survivor commits suicide, they finally reunite and share their stories. Long-repressed memories surface, defying understanding and belief. Why did their families go down such a dark road? What really happened on that final night?
The answers lie buried at Red Peak. But truth has a price, and escaping a second time may demand the ultimate sacrifice.
The Review
A remarkably haunting novel, author Craig DiLouie does an amazing job of capturing the raw horror of surviving a doomsday cult. The novel explores the horrors of the cult and the power that changed the path the cult was originally on, but the true heart of this story comes in the characters themselves.
The characters are the gateways into the heart of this story, exploring how the actions of the cult impacted them each in their own ways. While the powerful and supernatural elements of the story that kicks in towards the climax of the story are fascinating, the true horror that comes into this narrative is the cult itself.
As someone who is fascinated and interested in cults and how they come to form, it was engaging to see the character’s own experiences, as they seem so similar to horror stories that have happened in real life. From the change in the cult’s practice from peaceful worship to blind faith to the insistence of obedience to the cult overall and the chilling actions that resulted in murder, mutilation and cultists disappearing, the true scares and spine-chilling atmosphere explored in this novel comes from the cult, something many readers will be drawn to in this novel.
The Verdict
A powerful, emotional, and horrific modern-day horror novel, author Craig DiLouie’s “The Children of Red Peak” is a marvelous read. The shocking events of the past collide with the horrific truth of the future in this novel, and protagonist David, his sister Angela and the other survivors immediately draw the reader in with their own coping skills in the wake of the cult and their bonds with one another. It’s a perfect read as the holiday season approaches, and the book’s final confrontation will have readers thinking critically about the nature of the universe itself. Be sure to grab your copy of this amazing read today.
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Craig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
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