I first came across this book around the mid-1980s. At that time, I hadn't yet read McCammon's later and more remarkable works. As a result, I couldn't recall much about this particular book. To be frank, there isn't a whole lot that is truly memorable about it. It's just another ordinary horror novel in the style of the 1970s and 1980s.

The prose in this book is overly elaborate, and the dialogue is overly dramatic. The story doesn't really start to gain momentum until more than halfway through. The character development is weak and full of clichés. The protagonist seems to possess psychic powers merely to add premonitions and suspense to what is otherwise a dull plot, as these powers don't have any real impact on the narrative.

Overall, this book fails to stand out among the众多 horror novels of its era. It lacks the depth, originality, and engaging storytelling that would make it a truly memorable read.

My first encounter with a Robert R. McCammon book was a tattered paperback copy of Bethany's Sin.

The cover art was simply amazing. It depicted a pale-ghost white horse being ridden by a mysterious rider, with a vast valley silhouetted behind and a full moon hanging in the sky like some dead-milky painted eyeball. It sure was a doozy!

I was more intrigued by the mystery than the actual reveal of things. The suspense and tension of what was exactly going on in this awesomely titled town kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked the slow-burn details about the town, the essential evil that loomed ahead, and the deaths of certain citizens. I thought our main protagonist was quite solid.

However, there were a couple of prime characters that I truly didn't care for, and the end reveal just didn't work for me. Nevertheless, everything else was pretty great, and I look forward to reading more McCammon in the future.

Troubled Vietnam vet is losing his wife and daughter to ancient Amazon man-killers; can he man up?

McCannon apparently disavowed the work as juvenalia. (Funny, Yan Ge did the same in a November reading group I was invited to, discussing her book, Strange Beasts of China.)

But the student of the craft wants to know why certain elements work or don’t work. Here are a few that occurred to me:

Dialogue in this novel

Dialogues are crucial for building tension and driving the action of scenes. In chapter 17, the opening features a conversation between protagonist Evan and his wife, Kay. Evan asks about an argument he witnessed, and as the conversation progresses, the intensity ratchets up. Kay becomes increasingly frustrated with Evan's paranoia, and their exchange ends in conflict. This example shows how dialogue can be used to create drama and move the story forward. However, in this book, there are relatively few such examples, and McCammon often relies on internal monologues instead.

Internal monologues and characters that don't come together

Poor Neely Ames, the "other guy," is doomed from the start. He drinks the women's tea, has sex with them, and is cursed. His subplot reaches an end when he meets Evan and goes to the landfill with him. Even Neely seems confused by his actions, as he was planning to leave town the next morning. The lack of development in Neely's character makes it difficult for the reader to fully engage with his story.

Participle phrases in triplets

McCammon makes use of thrice-repeated participles for effect, such as "engine grinding grinding grinding" and "fire leaping now, leaping, leaping." While this can add emphasis and create a sense of rhythm, there may not be enough variation to prevent a certain hokey quaintness from seeping in.

Action: The death of the other guy

If thrilling the audience is the goal, action is necessary. In this book, there are some action-packed scenes, but they may lack dynamism. For example, the death of Neely is described briefly, and while it is graphic, it may not have the impact it could have had with more detailed description.

Horror Motifs: Consider the Spider

Spiders are a common horror motif, and in Bethany's Sin, there is a strange connection between the arachnoid and the vaginal. The description of the spider crawling on Evan's body is both disturbing and erotic, adding to the overall sense of unease in the story.

Conservative Theme: Feminism's Threat

The Amazons in this story are presented as a threat to traditional masculinity and the family. They brainwash wives and daughters and kill off boys and men. However, the story also suggests that these threats can be overcome with traditional masculine qualities such as fidelity, thirst for knowledge, and winning at sword fights. This conservative theme may have been popular in the Reagan-era 80s, but it may feel dated today.

His second book was published in 1988.

It is not one of my personal favorites. However, if you are a McCammon fan just like I am, then it is still worth a read.

McCammon has a unique writing style that can draw readers in and keep them engaged.

Although this particular book may not have reached the same level of excellence as some of his other works, it still contains elements that are characteristic of his talent.

The story may have its own charm and interesting plot twists that can make it an enjoyable read for fans.

Even if it doesn't become your absolute favorite, it can still provide some entertainment and give you a better understanding of McCammon's body of work.

So, if you are a McCammon enthusiast, don't overlook this book. Give it a chance and see what it has to offer.

You might be surprised by how much you end up enjoying it.

Great Imagination


Evan and his family have stumbled upon what appears to be the idyllic little village of Bethany's Sin. Throughout his life, Evan has been haunted by what he refers to as premonitions. And in this seemingly peaceful hamlet, his "premonitions" are reaching an all-time high. Kay, Evan's wife, has endured this before with her husband but is convinced that his "premonitions" are mere figments of his imagination.


However, sometimes a nice, quiet village can be too quiet, and the residents can seem overly happy. When Evan attempts to uncover the mystery behind why the village is named Bethany's Sin, the truth he discovers might just prove fatal... or perhaps it's all just a product of his overactive imagination.


I truly enjoyed this story. If you're seeking something unique in the horror genre, something that goes beyond the typical tropes, then this is definitely for you! It keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering if Evan's premonitions are real or if he's simply imagining things. The atmosphere of the village adds to the sense of unease, making it a truly captivating read.

Well, this is an earlier book in Mr. McCammon's writing.

It's quite interesting to see his progression as an author. I'm glad he kept working on it.

Although there are some good parts in this book, it's important to note that this isn't his best work.

Perhaps it was a stepping stone for him to reach greater heights in his writing career.

The story may have had its moments of excitement and intrigue, but it didn't quite have the same impact as some of his later novels.

Nevertheless, it's still worth reading to get a sense of his early style and ideas.

Overall, while it may not be a masterpiece, it's a part of Mr. McCammon's literary journey and has its own charm.

After absolutely adoring Boy's Life, I was eager to explore more of Robert McCammon's work. I was initially drawn to his writing because he is not only a horror writer but also a historical storyteller. So, I decided to pick up Bethany's Sin, which was actually the third novel he had written at the time but his second published. I was aware that this might not necessarily be as good as his later work, but the synopsis intrigued me enough that I was still excited to give it a read!

Bethany's Sin is a rather melancholic and depressing horror story set in the eponymous village. The Reid Family arrives, hoping to start a new and happy life together. However, while the town may seem perfect at first glance, it holds a dark and terrifying secret that could shatter their lives forever. I found it to be a more simplistic story compared to Boy's Life, but don't let that concern you because it is terrifying to the core.

Although this is a quite depressing story, it is also very violent and gruesome. The village, mostly populated by females, has turned into an ancient cult dating back to the dark ages of Greek mythology, while also dealing with guilt and trauma from the Vietnam War. Evan Reid emerges as a strong main character in this novel, with the hidden but terrifying ability to predict future and terrible events. Watching the trials and tribulations he endures in this story to protect not only himself but also his family from the dark forces is at times absolutely harrowing, and you can't help but root for him until the very end, which may just surprise you.

Overall, it's a really great novel full of suspense and terrifying moments of horror. It may not be as good as Boy's Life, but it makes for a fantastic read that truly embodies what 80's horror was all about in the world of the printed word. I definitely recommend it. 9/10

**Title: 3.5⭐️ Review**

I recently had an experience that I would rate as 3.5⭐️.

At first, I was quite impressed with certain aspects. The initial presentation was appealing, and there were some亮点 that caught my attention.

However, as I delved deeper, I noticed a few areas that could use improvement. There were some minor glitches in the functionality, which slightly hindered my overall experience.

Despite these drawbacks, I still believe there is potential for this to be an even better offering. With a bit of refinement and attention to detail, it could easily reach a higher rating.

I would recommend this to others with the caveat that they should be aware of the areas that need work. Overall, it's a solid 3.5⭐️, and I look forward to seeing how it evolves in the future.

A good and claustrophobic story with some truly stand out horror moments. The atmosphere it creates is palpable, making the reader feel as if they are trapped within the pages. However, the ending was a bit contrived. It was so obvious that I spotted it from a mile away. Additionally, some of the characters are rather flat and lack depth. I can understand why it was popular when it first came out, which is when I initially read it. At that time, I didn't remember all that much about it except the reason for the name Bethany's sin. So, when I reread it, it was almost like reading the book for the first time! Mccammon himself says that his first books aren't up to the same standard as his later works. And when comparing this one with masterpieces like The Wolf's Hour, Swan Song, and Speaks the Nightbird, it's easy to see exactly what he means. Nevertheless, it was still interesting to go back and see where he started his writing journey.

McCammon's second novel, which was penned in the 70s, indeed has a few rough spots. The prose lacks the smooth, almost trance-inducing quality of his later works. However, it was still an enjoyable read and showcases some of McCammon's storytelling prowess.

The story kicks off with a bang, featuring two short story arcs that you know will connect later on. First, there's an archaeological dig near the Black Sea in Turkey around 1965. A female archaeologist crawls into a newly discovered cavern beneath a mountain and finds strange things. Second, an American GI is being tortured by the VC in 1970. When the story begins in the "now" (1980), the poor GI, Evan, becomes our main protagonist.

Evan has some sort of precognition that manifests in his dreams. His wife, Kay, doesn't believe it, which has led to numerous "disagreements" between them. In any case, Evan often wakes up screaming from nightmares since his return from Vietnam, and their marriage has suffered as a result. Seeking a fresh start, Evan, Kay, and their 6-year-old daughter move from LaGrange (a dirty mill town in PA) to Bethany's Sin, a small town in PA where they got a great deal on a house and Kay has a new job as a math teacher. Evan, a struggling author mainly of short stories, hopes the move will also boost his career. So, it's a classic small town horror setup, but McCammon does justice to the "small town horror" motif with this one.

Of course, there's something strange about Bethany's Sin. On the first night there, Evan has some really odd dreams. But McCammon builds the tension and mystery skillfully here, using suggestions and hints from the locals and also a hired town handyman to help uncover the mystery. I don't want to go into the plot in more detail to avoid spoilers, but can you say ghostly Amazon warriors? Oh boy! 3.5 stars!

"They'll come for you! Oh, yes they'll come for you just like they came for me!" A thread of saliva had broken from the man's lip, and now it hung down over his chin onto his shirt. "In the night! They'll come in the night when the moon's strong and full and they'll take you to that place -- God, that awful place!"

Evan and Kay have relocated to the seemingly idyllic Bethany's Sin in an attempt to salvage their deteriorating marriage. (Well, perhaps I'm exaggerating a bit, but it's obvious these two aren't meant to be together!) The town is eerily quiet. Far too quiet. Where does everyone vanish to after dark? And why do so many of the men lack limbs? Are those the sounds of hoofbeats I'm hearing?

Dun-dun-duh!

This marks the first time I've been let down by a McCammon title. The mystery simply wasn't captivating enough to hold my attention spellbound. Additionally, the fact that I truly didn't have any investment in whether the main characters lived or died didn't help. The pacing was excruciatingly slow. While slow pacing can sometimes build suspense, in this instance, the payoff was not only not worth the wait but was actually laughable rather than horrific.

Oh, well... there are still numerous great reading days ahead before Halloween.

Good Story

It has been quite a while since I managed to breeze through a novel within a single day. I have always had a deep affection for McCammon's works. However, I hadn't delved into anything written by him for some time. Then, I came across this particular book at a great deal on Kindle. While it may not be his absolute best, with a rating that's more around 3.25, the story truly had a hold on me. I found myself constantly turning the pages, which clearly indicates that it was a good story.

It was almost like reconnecting with an old friend. As a result, I have made a plan. I intend to not only re-read this book but also explore more of Mr. McCammon's literary creations for the first time. I am looking forward to immersing myself in his unique storytelling once again and uncovering the hidden gems within his other works.

I believe that each of his books has the potential to offer a new and exciting experience, and I can't wait to embark on this literary journey.