Ratings6
Average rating4.2
Whenever accused child murderer (and defrocked priest) Bill Ryan is near a telephone, it wails a continuous ring. As soon as somebody answers it, the caller, a long-dead boy, begs to be rescued from the psycho who killed him. A fugitive from the law, Ryan (using the alias Will Ryerson) is stalked by a primeval and malevolent force across America in this successfully formulaic installment of the horror series begun in The Keep.
Detective Sergeant Renaldo Augustino is also hunting Ryan, and plans to torture Ryan before arresting him. Meanwhile, the evil entity is settling an old grudge with Ryan by killing his loved ones. However, the fugitive’s fear is neither of apprehension nor death, but of the child whom he buried five years ago in an unmarked grave. A large cast of characters fleshes out the ranks in Wilson’s stagy battle pitting good against evil.
Series
6 primary books7 released booksAdversary Cycle is a 7-book series with 6 released primary works first released in 1981 with contributions by F. Paul Wilson.
Reviews with the most likes.
WOW.
Best book in the series by a long shot.
FPW is at his best when weaving tales of psychological horror, and goddamn does he absolutely crush it in this novel.
Between orchestrating Bill's loss of faith, Lisl's manipulation into cruelty and egoism, and the absolutely devastating final temptations, Rafe kept me both horrified and completely enthralled.
Also probably the most accurate depiction of how people fall into abusive relationships I've ever read.
So. Fucking. Good.