This is not the horror story I was looking for. XD

I had been eagerly anticipating a spine-chilling, hair-raising horror story that would make my heart race and send shivers down my spine. But alas, what I found was far from what I had expected.

Instead of the intense and terrifying plot I had imagined, this story seemed rather平淡 and uneventful. It lacked the elements that typically make a horror story truly captivating, such as a menacing atmosphere, unexpected twists, and truly terrifying characters.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment as I read through it. However, I guess it's always possible that my expectations were simply too high. Maybe there are other horror stories out there that will satisfy my craving for a truly terrifying experience.

For now, though, I'll have to keep looking. XD

Stirs both your imagination and your heart.

Like McCammon’s other books, this story has an immediate allure that captures and captivates the reader. From the very beginning, you are drawn into the world he has created. As the characters develop and the engaging tale unfolds, the anticipation and the need to turn the next page continuously mounts. The story is masterfully written, with a narrative that is so vivid and believable that you never question the supernatural elements within it. It weaves a web of mystery and intrigue that keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, I did find the ending to be just a tiny bit predictable. This is the only reason I did not award 5 stars to what is otherwise a truly memorable book. Despite this small flaw, it still manages to leave a lasting impression and is well worth the read.

Stirs both your imagination and your heart

Mystery Walk, the second book penned by Robert McCammon and narrated by Nick Sullivan, is truly a captivating read. I am an ardent fan of both McCammon's writing and Sullivan's narration. I have relished other books narrated by Sullivan and am eager to explore more of McCammon's literary works.

The story of Mystery Walk delves into the age-old theme of good versus evil. Billy Creekmore, with his Choctaw heritage on his mother's side, possesses a unique ability to communicate with the dead and assist in laying them to rest. However, the locals, failing to understand this power, often fear what they don't comprehend. As a result, Billy's mom becomes an outcast, and when Billy discovers he shares the same ability, he too faces ostracism.

The arrival of Reverend JJ Falconer and his son Wayne with their tent revival further exacerbates the situation for the Creekmore family. Falconer labels Billy's mom as a witch and proclaims her to be evil. Interestingly, Wayne Falconer seems to have an ability of his own - he is a healer. This power manifested when his dog was hit by a truck, and he prayed for its recovery by laying his hands on it. After his father learned of this, he insisted that Wayne accompany him to the tent revivals.

When Wayne and Billy meet at the revival, they sense a mysterious connection that eludes their understanding. Under the influence of JJ Falconer, Wayne harbors hatred towards Billy and his mother. Billy, in an effort to support his family financially, joins a traveling circus. His new friend at the circus, Dr Miracle, suggests that he visit an institute for individuals with similar abilities. Initially reluctant, Billy eventually decides to go in the hope of finding answers about his powers. And then, there is a HUGE twist in the middle of the book that completely took me by surprise. It's truly a wow moment! But I won't spoil that surprise for you.

After reading Speaks the Nightbird, an historical novel, I was truly impressed. It led me to make the decision to take the plunge and explore one of McCammon's horror novels.

This particular horror novel isn't typically included in the list of his top tier works. However, since I had it sitting on my shelf, I thought, why not give it a try? So, I dived right in.

As I delved deeper into the story, I was pleasantly surprised. This novel turned out to be an absolute gem. It is a darn good novel, not just in the horror genre but in general. The characters are incredibly multi-dimensional, each with their own unique personalities and motives. The settings are vividly described, transporting the reader into a world filled with mystery and suspense. And the plot is well-thought out, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Now, having experienced the brilliance of this novel, I am greatly looking forward to reading more of McCammon's work. I can't wait to see what other masterpieces he has in store for us.

In another significant step of his growth as a writer, McCammon delves into the profound realms of theology, modern religion, and prejudice, presenting a character with ambiguous motives and ideas.

McCammon excels in the early development of his protagonist and antagonist. We come to understand that Billy Creekmore is a kind-hearted individual, driven solely by the desire to do what is right with the gift he has been given. On the other hand, Wayne Falconer is mired in confusion regarding his self-discovery, feeling ill-used and lacking in self-assurance. McCammon sets these two characters up to be pawns in the evil machinations of a more powerful force.

However, this aspect never fully materializes. While McCammon does a commendable job of guiding the respective boys on their Mystery Walks and allowing them to uncover aspects of themselves, the true nature and motivations of the shapeshifter remain shrouded in mystery. We are left wondering why he desires to manipulate these two boys and who he truly is.

It would have been an easy and perhaps even cliched choice for McCammon to make Christianity itself the instrument of evil. But he refrains from taking this path. The goodness of Christianity, as McCammon perceives it, can be seen in Billy's father. Although Billy and Romona's powers are abhorrent to him as a Christian, he never ceases to love and support them. He may be a weak man at times, but his faith never degenerates into a tool of malevolence.

Wayne Falconer's doubt further emphasizes that it was not Christianity itself that McCammon was putting on trial in this novel. Wayne is plagued by uncertainty regarding the faith healing he is supposed to be performing. He also questions in his own mind his father's hatred for the Creekmores.

Billy and Wayne are portrayed as adversaries throughout the book as they lead separate lives. McCammon provides us with ample information to understand how this rivalry developed and endured. He also gives us enough details to explain why the two should unite to combat the evil shape changer. Regrettably, that evil entity remains an enigma, with seemingly no motivation other than to be the malevolent force to be defeated. Greater development of the shapechanger would have undoubtedly elevated this book to a higher level.

Nevertheless, Robert McCammon's prose alone makes this an enjoyable read. He has the ability to craft phrases, sentences, and paragraphs that captivate the reader, inspiring them to want to read more. He is truly a gifted writer.

But when all the words have been read and the story has come to an end, the reader is left with the sense that they have read a good story, yet one that could have been even better had McCammon exerted just a bit more effort in defining the evil menace at the heart of his tale.

"La via oscura" is a horror novel written by the American author Robert McCammon. It is available in Italy, along with many other works of the same writer, thanks to the publishing house Gargoyle, which in 2008 released a new edition. In fact, the novel dates back to the 1980s, and I think this is quite noticeable during reading.

Many consider his work a sort of middle ground between the themes and style of Stephen King, and the atmospheres and characters beloved by the novels of Dean Koontz. If I had to judge from "La via oscura", I would say that I agree 90 percent with this description... except that McCammon cannot be considered even half the writer that King is, but he surpasses Koontz in terms of ability and talent at least a dozen times.

The story is rather classic, to be honest: a sort of coming-of-age novel that follows the childhood and adolescence of Billy, a boy of Indian origin (his mother's parents were Native Americans) endowed with paranormal powers, and of the baby preacher Wayne, raised by a money-hungry religious fanatic and trained to use his rare gift of healing to deceive and cheat people. Both will be called upon to face evil several times, in the incarnation represented by the Mutaforma, a creature of the ancient Indian legends, and to grow in the best possible way, within a social context that is anything but the best of those possible.

McCammon throws into his story a bit of everything and a bit of nothing: racism, violence, murders, war, first loves, disappointments, devils, conflicts with parents and haunted houses... In my opinion, the novel suffers from an episodic and fragmented structure that breaks the rhythm and never helps the reader to fully immerse himself in the atmosphere of the story.

Moreover, I consider McCammon's narrative choices anything but original and courageous... or perhaps, this supposed defect is to be attributed to the years that have actually passed since the first publication of the book. Undoubtedly, "La via oscura" is a novel that suffers from the weight of time; in some points I found it a bit dusty, dirty, and the sequences narrated from Wayne's point of view (boring beyond words) certainly did not contribute to dulling this feeling.

Overall, however, I really appreciated the character of Billy, the way the author decided to help him evolve and mature, and I loved Ramona, his mother, like crazy. The first chapters present an infinity of interesting reflection points, and I must confess that the old, insurmountable theme of "good VS evil" always manages to exercise its discreet load of fascination on my imagination...

A reading perhaps not essential, then, but certainly pleasant; for fans of horror in search of hidden little treasures, it could represent a valid option...

This book has been around for ages.

I know because I've glanced over the cover probably a thousand times. Always the same cover, a dark sky with a strange feline-esque face shrieking out of it.

Having never heard of McCammon until recently, I'd glance at the cover and shake my head, assuming the book was more over-hyped, badly written horror.

Magically, this book, whose cover had turned me off for so many years, appeared on my shelf. So, out of morbid curiosity, I began to read.

By the following evening, the book was finished, and I decided that this book was worthy of a review. I was impressed with the writer's skill. Even when discussing mundane details or goings on, it felt important, and the writing style was brilliant, artistic, and simplistic. McCammon was a genius without trying to jam down the reader's throat that he was a genius.

The story follows two boys, starting at a young age: Billy, the son of a Choctaw mother and her fervently Christian husband, and Wayne, the son of an evangelical minister. At young ages, their mysterious gifts become apparent. Billy can see the dead and help to send them on to their final resting place. Wayne can heal wounds and save the dying.

The book takes place from the 1950's through the 1970's, and there is much going on in the world during those times. The two boys are soon pitted against each other by the evil Shape Shifter... perhaps Satan himself, who leads his prey down the wrong path by exploiting their weaknesses and by evil trickery of the mind.

There are some who might say that the ending is a bit too clean, but to be honest, it is so skillfully written that when you are done reading, your mind tells you that it couldn't have ended any other way.

I honestly can't recommend this book enough. I imagine that even those who don't read horror will find much to appreciate in this story. Needless to say, after having read it, there are now several other McCammon books in my inventory that have been bumped up on the reading list. If his writing skill holds true, then he could write about grass growing for 400 pages, and readers will thank him for it. Ignore the cheesy looking cover and pick this up. It's a wonderful read.

Wayne Falconer has the ability to heal people. He is the son of a preacher who desires to use Wayne for his own purposes,坚信 God赋予了他这种治愈的力量。Billy Creekmore, the main character, is a young man with the power to interact with spirits and help them move on. This book explores the concept of belonging, even among peers who may not have one's best interests at heart.

The story contains elements of horror, but not as much as one might expect based on the cover. In my experience, books that exceed 8 hours often like to explore human emotions, which takes time. For the average reader, especially those who are slow, casual readers with families and full-time jobs, this is a good book, but it may take some time to get through.

I didn't think this book needed a prologue. In my opinion, most books don't. It just slows down the beginning of the reading process. If you're a McCammon purist, this is a must-read. If you're a casual horror reader, I would say this one is passable. If you want to read something that offers more than just nonstop horror, such as dark fantasy, romance, and more, this is a good choice.

Personally, I always thought Billy and Wayne would have a showdown. That's what I wanted the ending to be, but we get something different. Once Billy starts working at the carnival, things start to pick up. Billy notices that a certain ride is not what it seems, and a shape changer is causing chaos and playing with the emotions of Billy and Wayne.

I thought this was probably the least memorable of all of the McCammon books I've read.

It's quite well written and tightly put together. The author has a great command of language, and the story flows smoothly from one scene to the next.

However, I thought it was a little familiar and predictable. The good versus evil and revivalist/evangelical theme has been done many times before, and I felt like I had seen it all before.

The symbolic dreams were also a bit overdone. While they added some depth to the story, I thought they were a bit too obvious and didn't really offer anything new.

Despite all of this, I should probably give it another try one of these days. Maybe I was just in the wrong mood when I read it, or maybe I missed something the first time around.

I do think that McCammon is a talented writer, and I'm sure there are other books of his that I would enjoy more.

Full review coming soon!

This is truly a remarkable piece with a fantastic narration. The way the story unfolds is captivating and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The details are vividly described, painting a clear picture in the mind of the audience.

The narrator's voice is engaging and draws the listener in from the very beginning. It has a unique charm that makes the whole experience even more enjoyable.

Overall, this is a work that shows great promise and I can't wait to provide a full and in-depth review. Stay tuned for more!

Overall, this is not a weak book. However, I had higher expectations for the ending. The characters are still very strong, the atmosphere is good, and the dialogues are engaging. In short, the author knows how to write and impress the reader.

Sometimes, the pacing is a bit slow, which may not suit the tastes of many people. But for me, it didn't have a significant impact.

This novel has a special tone, similar to many of McCammon's works. Therefore, it is a must-read not only for his fans but also for those readers who want a smart and well-crafted book.

The author's writing style is captivating, and the story keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. Although the ending may not be as impressive as expected, the overall quality of the book makes it worth reading.

Whether you are a fan of McCammon or simply looking for a good read, this novel is definitely worth considering.

Spooktober 2022 Book 5

Even though Mystery Walk has received a 4-star rating, it remains an outstanding novel.

Just like all of McCammon's works before and after it, this book features a perfect combination of thriller, romance, and, of course, horror. And, in true McCammon style, all these elements blend together almost seamlessly.

However, unlike some of his other masterpieces from the 80s and early 90s, Mystery Walk didn't completely capture my attention or hold it throughout the entire reading experience. Some of McCammon's signature elements, such as emotion and personal connection, seemed to be lacking...at least for me.

But then again, even a less than perfect McCammon is still far superior to a perfect King or Koontz. His writing style and ability to create a sense of atmosphere and dread are truly remarkable. Despite its minor flaws, Mystery Walk is still a must-read for any horror fan.