My first experience with L.H. Maynard and M.P.N. Sims was with their second novel they wrote together titled DEMON EYES. A novel that I read least year and really enjoyed it a lot. So when this book hit my doorstep I put it ahead of the litter of books I’ve been trying to read. Even though the book is not set to be released until January of next year, I was so impressed with DEMON EYES that I really wanted to dive into BLACK CATHEDRAL right away.
On the book cover itself it says that BLACK CATHEDRAL is “Department 18 Novel”. At first I was wondering the hell that meant until I started reading the book and realized it was the name of the paranormal organization created by the British government to explore and document all signs of the paranormal that has been reported throughout Europe. BLACK CATHEDRAL seems to be the first in a series of book planned by the two authors that include the people who work for Department 18.
BLACK CATHEDRAL starts off with a group of executives who are interacting in a motivational seminar of sorts on a place called Kulsay Island, a small island off the coast of Scotland that seems to have a mysterious background to it. On the island is an abandoned community as well as a mansion that is now rarely used. But being that the place is still in rather good shape; high powered executives use it as a getaway or in this case a retreat to help their high ranked employees bond with one another. But there is a reason behind why the island’s residents abandoned the place so long ago. There is a supernatural presence that dwells there and when the executives suddenly disappear into thin air, the high powered corporation responsible for them invest money in Department 18 to get together a crew to investigate the mysterious disappearance. But what the crew will soon discover is a lot more than just your typical supernatural ghost haunting, a greater power is at work, and evil that has been organizing itself for a long time, and the crew must find a way to stop it.
I found BLACK CATHEDRAL to be more of an introduction to Department 18, the characters involved in the organization and what they are all about. Sure there is a story to follow, but I felt that this book was more about developing the characters first and that the story took a back seat. The good thing however is that each character in the book is very interesting and each has his or her own unique personality. Don’t get me wrong the story is there, and it’s good. But this book novel seems to be the introduction, the stepping stone to other novels to come that involve the characters that make up Department 18.
Overall, I don’t want to get to deep into the story and give away key points that make this book great. The evil that Department 18 is dealing with is out of control in the book and really will do anything to anyone it comes across. They deal with a very sinister and evil presence in the book, so don’t let me review fool you as some ghost busters like story. The evil in the book does some really disgusting things to people and it really does pump up the fear levels. L.H. Maynard and M.P.N. Sims have themselves a winner here and I think that they have themselves a franchise in the works with the characters that make up Department 18. This is a book to watch out for, and one that really grabs you from the first chapter on. L.H. Maynard and M.P.N. Sims are a horror duo that know how to scare the reader and suck them down into their horrific stories. Pick this one up when it hits book shelves in January and get ready for a whole new paranormal experience with Department 18.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
