“Equal parts engaging and creepy, this twisty tale deftly examines how secrets and regret can continue to reverberate through generations. A suspenseful story that examines how families haunt each other in life and death; possibly too creepy for late-night reading.” —Kirkus Reviews
Will Connor returns to his hometown, a village north of Boston, to care for his injured mother. He’s kept his distance from the town since high school, but once home he finds himself reexamining a horrific incident that took place during one of his mother’s “spirit circles.” His mother had embraced the hippie generation’s fascination with New Age and the arcane, but the unexpected death of a close friend put an end to the meetings of the modern-day coven.
Or did it?
As Will looks deeper into his family’s history he discovers that her practices weren’t so much a passing fad but the latest link in a long tradition of New England witchcraft, which still seems to hold a strange power over the town. Will hopes that unearthing the facts about the death will put his questions to rest, but there are those willing to resort to violence to keep those secrets buried.
PRAISE FOR BEFORE THE DEVIL FELL
“Hauntingly atmospheric and relentlessly suspenseful, this dark and compelling mystery reveals a shocking bedrock of buried secrets—and shows what can happen when traditional New England witchcraft meets the light of modern day. Before the Devil Fell will keep you guessing on every unpredictable—and unsettling—page.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of The Murder List
"Before the Devil Fell is a suspenseful, atmospheric and eerie tale of small-town secrets and a dangerous bond that links families through the centuries." —Megan Chance, author of A Drop of Ink
“Neil Olson is an unassumingly subtle writer, and Before the Devil Fell is not the kind of thriller that goes boo, but the kind that makes you think—about human nature, daemonic nature, and a lot that lies between.” —Madison Smartt Bell, author of Behind the Moon
"Heavy with foreboding from the very first page, Before the Devil Fell is a novel you'll want to read with the lights on! Like most truly terrifying novels, this book is as much about the evil of which mankind is capable as it is about the supernatural. Don't miss this tense, dark, deftly written novel - it's a perfect addition to fall reading lists!" —Alyssa Palombo, author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel
“The paranormal elements are subtle, gradually creeping in around the edges with unsettling effect. Both mystery and weird fiction fans will be pleased.” —Publishers Weekly
“An appealing, atmospheric yarn.” —Booklist