Devil in the Grass Read online

  PRAISE FOR

  DEVIL IN THE GRASS

  “A fast paced, action-packed thriller that is, at the same time, warm and exciting in a uniquely positive way. The somewhat unusual setting for a thriller-suspense novel—The Everglades—will provide particular entertainment for readers who have visited Florida. The novel is further enriched by the wide range of interesting and provocative characters and the cleverly intertwined plotlines involving romance, good vs. evil, southern politics, and regional issues. Highly recommended!”

  —The Columbia Review

  “Devil in the Grass is a brilliantly plotted and chilling read! With characters that you don’t want to meet in dark places, those that you won’t forget in a hurry popping off the pages. The book just grabs hold of you and does not let go until you reach the climax and hopefully remember to breathe. Highly recommended for lovers of fiction that has a darker edge to it, this entertains all the way.”

  —Booklover Catlady,

  Top Ranked Reviewer & Book Publicist.

  “Woah, what a crazy book! I’m not one for rehashing the plot (that’s what the summary is for on the book description page), but trust me when I say you’ve never read anything like this before! It starts off with some considerable backstory to set up the scene and ground the reader in the world-building, which the author Christopher Bowron does a wonderfully convincing job of creating a believable backdrop for Jack to meet his new ‘friends’. The story progresses when he meets Sarah, and continues to get creepier and more disturbing, but in the best way… Bowron has a great “voice” in spinning these complex and intelligent plotlines all together, and if you like thrillers with and edge, you’ll enjoy this one. It’s a pretty fast read and has some interesting philosophical discussion, something I wasn’t expecting. Would love to read more from Bowron in the future.” (5 stars)

  —Nicola Flood – Boundless Book Reviews

  “WOW—I couldn’t stop reading this book once I started, and I’m still haunted by the McFaddens, some of the best and most frightening bad guys I’ve ever encountered in a book. Bowron had me from the very beginning, and I turned many pages with a kind of horrified expression, fearing and eager to see what happens next. The book fit in well with my experiences of the Florida swamp, although it expanded and illuminated them in a way that will make me watch over my shoulder the next time I’m there. Highly recommended! Five STARS!”

  —Lori Stone, Goodreads – Amazon Reviewer

  “Devil in the Grass is an intense thriller filled with riveting suspense and chilling characters which quickly capture and a hold a readers attention from beginning to end.

  Jackson “Jack” Walker, is an ex-NFL player who, after a disgraceful fall from glory, is set on turning his life around. After landing a job with a prominent Republican Senator, Jack thinks he’s done just that however things aren’t always what they seem. Shortly after meeting Sarah, Jack’s life begins to spiral out of control. He tries to overlook her membership with The Brotherhood of the Set, but soon feels himself getting pulled into the satanic cult. Just when Jack decides enough is enough he wakes up in a pool of blood. It doesn’t take a genius to realize he’s been played, but for the life of him he doesn’t have a clue why. Until he can sort things out Jack must lay low and rely on his family and their strong Seminole roots to clear his name. But, those loyal to The Brotherhood of the Set don’t give up that easily and Jack finds himself in the fight of his life.

  I found Devil in the Grass to be an absolutely gripping novel. The complex characters are well-developed and credible, aiding in bringing the shocking plot to life. The author artfully spins this sinister tale through his appealing writing style and rich detail making Devil in the Grass a story worth reading.

  I highly recommend pre-ordering a copy.“ ( 5 Stars )

  —Stacie, Beach Bound Book Reviews

  “This book by Christopher Bowron was terrific! Once I started reading I didn’t want to stop until I’d finished the whole thing. It pulls you in from the beginning, and I enjoyed the author’s descriptive narrative and style of writing. The interweaving plotlines were well-developed and certainly not predictable, and the element of the Satan worshipping cult a new angle for me—never read any with this before and it was interesting how the author framed it as a “point of view” and made it feel authentic not come caricature-style plot device. The way this book was written grabbed me right from the beginning and kept my attention throughout. It was intelligent, weird, sad, dark, funny, deep, tragic . . . I thought the storyline and the character development to be very well done and thought out. I feel like this level of complexity could have easily ended up badly, but instead I darn near gobbled the whole book down in just a few evenings. There were some pretty shocking events that may upset some readers but I thought Bowron handled the sensitive subject matter well. This book will haunt me for a long time, but in a good way. I’d love to read more from this author in the future! Recommend for adults only.” (5 stars)

  —Anabella Johnson (BellaReadz)

  Goodreads; Indie Book Reviewers

  “Devil in the Grass by Christopher Bowron is one of the most original and well-crafted books I’ve read in a while, and I absolutely loved his descriptions of the different scenery and locales (felt like I was really there in Florida, gaters and all . . . ), and his attention to character detail and their personalities through their actions and conversation. Great “bad guys” and Jackson made for a good, solid lead. The story itself was fairly even-paced, but I thought the beginning was a bit slow until things started to pick up as it begins with backstory on his character and situation (and then repeats as new characters come into play) to set up the scene and ground the reader in the various perspectives, which the author does a wonderfully convincing job of creating as believable background for the plot to unfold. Then the action begins as a slow simmer, then a rolling boil, finally to an exciting explosion. This book does touch on some pretty heavy subject matters and there are shocking events. A powerful, mind-bending read that kept me captivated. Liked the characters but the ending was a head scratcher . . . is there more? Recommend for mature readers.” (4 stars)

  —Steph Coleman – Goodreads; Indie Book Reviewers

  “Wow, Devil in the grass by Christopher Bowron was awesome! I haven’t read anything like that in a long time, if ever. For once it seemed like the characters were anything but the stock, ordinary typical hero/protag guys, but instead all had demons (literally – ha!), motivations, secrets, and I don’t want to focus too much on it, but I thought the satanic aspect was pretty cool too. I loved the plot line, as it was really original and unlike anything I’ve read before. I was really invested in the character’s fates, and was surprised more than once. I thought the ending was perfect, and overall it was a genuinely good book. All came together to create a fresh-feeling novel that was out of the ordinary and kept me hooked throughout. This was a standalone novel (not a part of any series, it appears), but I hope Mr. Bowron writes more like this in the future. I’d be reading it! A well-written and compelling read, and one that will definitely appeal to fans of thriller/mystery/suspense novels.” (5 stars)

  —Darlene Cupp – Goodreads; Indie Book Reviewers

  “This was the first book I’ve read by this author Christopher Bowron, but I certainly hope it’s not the last. He has a gift for writing descriptive and life-like scenes that make us feel like we are really there inside the story, as opposed to it all just being “told” to us, as so many rookie authors make the mistake of doing. I like that this book didn’t feel stale or derivative, but instead like a new niche of suspense that serves well to help diversify a somewhat cookie-cutter genre (in my opinion). Great editing (I notice things like that) but the frequent
italics were a bit annoying. Started off a bit slow, and there was a lack of tension at times where I though could be more – things were just sort of glossed over on occasion, but overall the entire novel was one that I thought was nicely developed and delivered a wild ride of unexpected twists and turns. I like the darker element, and there were some pretty sexy scenes as well, but I wasn’t sure about the ending. Best suited for mature fans of thriller/suspense who’d like a new twist.” (4 stars)

  —Cory Banyan – Goodreads; Indie Book Reviewers

  “From the opening pages of Devil in the Grass I knew it would be different from the books I’ve been reading lately and I was right! Christopher Bowron sets of the scene and characterizations in a skillful way that not only pulls us in, but creates great visualizations and elicits emotional investments. I truly cared about the characters’ fates, and was shocked and saddened at certain things (no spoilers). I think Mr. Bowron writes very well . . . very descriptive and strong and we feel like we are there almost like watching a David Lynch movie or something. There were some slow parts where I thought there was too much dialogue and conversation that did little to advance the forward progression of the plot, and at times was bit too ‘telling’ when would have preferred more action. But it all came together in the end in a shocking way. Overall a unique, if not surreal novel that pushes the boundaries of typical suspense/thrillers. An interesting and diverse cast of characters, along with several intriguing plotlines interwoven against unique, diabolical setting makes this a memorable read for me. Highly recommend. Warning—only for mature readers as has some graphic subject matter and language.” (4-5 stars)

  —Carla Biggins – Goodreads; Indie Book Reviewers

  I love a well written mystery/thriller novel and this one fills the bill perfectly. Devil in the Grass by Christopher Bowron is a riveting book with a complex storyline and consistently excellent action.

  The story’s constant twists and turns engage the reader up to the end. Best of all, the book is so skillfully written that I felt I was there watching each event unfold.

  Every character in Devil in the Grass has such depth and their quirks and agendas are so well described that they are no longer characters in a book, but real people. The good guys had my sympathy and the bad guys made me cringe. I wondered if I’d ever met anyone capable of doing the things that the bad guys in this book do. You may find yourself wondering the same thing, because really, who does these things? Devil in the Grass is an outstanding example of the mystery/thriller genre. It’s definitely a 5 star read.

  —Susan Phend, Goodreads – Amazon Reviewer

  “Move over Randy Wayne White and Carl Hiaasen. Chris Bowron has arrived!”

  —Betsy Ashton,

  author of Mad Max Unintended Consequences

  “A snappy, scary premise executed with skill against the backdrop of the Florida Everglades...Chris Bowron’s debut novel is a gripping read that promises even better things to come.”

  —Ron Base – Author of The Sanibel Sunset Detective Series

  Jack is a young man who used to be a football player. He gets mixed up with drugs and gets booted out. He soon finds a job and a woman. This woman is not who she seems to be and soon he is in a big downfall spiraling ever further down.

  This book was really good. It had me on page one and kept me enthralled the entire book. You see a man with a promising future get sucked, unbeknownst to him, into a world full of cult magic.

  This book was definitely different, but it was a great, fast paced, action filled read. I hated putting this book down.

  —Stormi – Boundless Book Reviews

  Satanic rituals, a beautiful young woman, and a former NFL quarterback all come together to form the heart of this sensational mystery, carved out of the Florida Everglades and woven tightly with spellbinding suspense. This is an exceptional piece of first-class fiction, with a strong dose of Stephen King horror thrown in for good measure.

  Jack Walker is just looking for a quiet restart to his life when he meets Sarah, a petite twenty-something who promises Jack a very good time if he can just accept one little thing about her -- she’s a devil worshipper, a devout member of the Brotherhood of Set.

  Jack doesn’t want to jeopardize his job working for a prominent state senator, but the flesh is oh-so-weak, and he winds up agreeing to deliver a packet stuffed with hundred-dollar bills to an old plantation house late one night.

  What he finds there is a bloody knife, two dead bodies, and a frame-up custom-made to indict him. To make matters worse, his new girlfriend has disappeared, and he has to kill someone who is at her apartment waiting for him. The police quickly start pursuing Jack and, out of options, he flees to the Seminole reservation nearby, where he enlists the help of his family -- native Americans with the ability to hide him in the trackless swamps.

  Meanwhile, Jack’s luck is about to run out as both police and the Satanists begin closing in on him. The McFadden’s -- deranged good old boys in deep with the Devil worshippers -- are seeking revenge for the brother who was killed when Jack fled Sarah’s apartment. They are the creepiest characters in the book and if they don’t produce at least one nightmare from you as you read this, you are either on high doses of Valium or not paying attention.

  The author does an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension as one event after another spiral things out of control. A hundred-year-old witch named Henrietta LePley figures prominently in the growing and grisly death toll, and characters for whom you’ve developed a strong emotional attachment begin falling under her spell -- and worse. Much, much worse.

  The story builds inexorably from its well-drawn beginning to its heart-stopping finish. Indeed, the entire last one-third of the novel will keep you riveted to the action as blood-thirsty gators and ten-foot-long bull sharks join in a feeding frenzy with one terrible objective -- the painful death of Jack Walker and anyone who helps him.

  Five sterling stars to Devil In the Grass, a stunning debut novel by Christopher Bowron, a talented writer with tremendous authorial expertise. We look forward eagerly to the sequel, and perhaps an action-packed movie as well.

  —Publishers Daily Reviews

  Devil in the Grass

  by Christopher Bowron

  © Copyright 2016 Christopher Bowron

  ISBN 978-1-63393-206-7

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters are both actual and fictitious. With the exception of verified historical events and persons, all incidents, descriptions, dialogue and opinions expressed are the products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

  Published by

  210 60th Street

  Virginia Beach, VA 23451

  212-574-7939

  www.koehlerbooks.com

  Dedication

  For Helen

  Stands of trees, miles of cutting grass

  Whispered stories in the wind too old to tell

  Blue skies, the sun, blooms of billowing cloud

  There is fear to be found in its vastness

  If the ancient swamp could take its due

  Like the devil she would . . . if she could

  She sits and waits

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1 Purgatory

  2 The Intern

  3 The McFaddens

  4 Fishing

  5 Satanic Rites

  6 Business

  7 Clewiston

  8 Escape

  9 Janie

  10 The Police

  11 Henrietta LePley

  12 The Swamp House

  13 Storm

  14 Senator Hunter

  15 Clues

  16 The Hunt

  17 All In

  18
Hell

  19 Swapping Stories

  20 Henrietta LePley

  21 Carly Henderson

  22 Gramps

  23 Hunter

  24 The Delivery

  25 The Everglades

  26 Chances

  27 Vengeance

  Acknowledgments

  1

  Purgatory

  JACK THANKED THE STOCKY Seminole woman with a nod as she handed him his coffee in a tin can. She had been sent by his grandfather to look after him while he was in hiding. The can burned the tips of his fingers as he held it gingerly. No coffee cups? He reminded himself this was a hunt camp in the middle of nowhere. He stirred in some sugar and watched the woman as she left through a tattered drape that half-covered the only doorway. The room contained nothing more than a cot, a table, and two chairs. The plank-board floors and walls were a collage of warped paneling and narrow horizontal logs. The room smelled musty, with a slight undertone of rotting wood. The lone window looked out over the grass plain and wetlands of the Big Cyprus Swamp. A rusty piece of bug screen attached to the frame was covered with duct tape. The hot breeze did little to change the oppressive, stifling heat pressing down on Jack’s already sagging shoulders.

  Jack took a sip of the strong coffee, careful not to burn his lips on the hot tin. He set the drink down on the table and leaned forward, running his hands through his sweat-drenched hair, his mind churning. He’d become a shell of the man he had once been. Perhaps it was the fact that he was sober, or perhaps it was the reality of his dire situation, that allowed him to lay a finger on the truth for the first time in years. He breathed a heavy sigh. His mother’s death during his senior year in college had hit him harder than he’d been willing to admit. He blamed himself in part, and had a hard time dealing with his guilt. He’d buried his emotions, trying his best to be the strong guy. But then he’d cracked. His fall from grace had been steady, including substance abuse and the demise of his professional football career. He’d allowed himself to slide into despair, to the point where he felt he didn’t know himself anymore.