A gripping, haunting journey into darkness…
MacArthur’s third installment in The Praetorius Agency Files series plunges readers into the eerie, fog-shrouded depths of supernatural horror and psychological suspense as a former intelligence agent becomes the target of a cult’s twisted ritual. Jack de Sombras thought he had escaped a life filled with danger and darkness when he and his clairvoyant partner, Tessa Lancing, founded an executive protection agency specializing in paranormal threats. Yet he finds himself thrown into a terrifying case that begins in the dark corridors of Shudderston Psychiatric Facility, a place haunted by unspeakable acts and dark rituals. When Tessa, cursed with unpredictable psychic visions, becomes entangled in the Surgeon’s fanatical quest involving reincarnation and ritual sacrifice, she and Jack must confront not only their fears but also the thin boundary separating madness from reality.
The horror in the book is visceral yet psychological: MacArthur avoids excessive gore in favor of a steadily mounting, deeply unsettling tension. The story blurs the line between myth and reality in a way that’s disorienting, immersive, and often deeply disturbing. Jack and Tessa’s relationship grounds the story. Their bond is tested not just by the horrors they face but by their own emotional baggage. Their arguments — philosophical, intense, and sometimes a little much — occasionally slow the pace, but they also make the connection between them feel raw and real. You believe in them, even when they’re falling apart. The hauntingly open-ended climax echoes classic horror, leaving readers unsettled yet fulfilled. Themes of fanaticism, obsession, and belief are woven throughout, elevating the tension into something both deeply psychological and disturbingly visceral. A potent fusion of intelligent horror and thrilling mystery. Guaranteed to captivate readers who crave atmospheric chills and cerebral scares.
Pub date May 31, 2025
ISBN 9781644568156
Price $2.99 Kobo ebook
