The Keepers
by Tan Van Huizen
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Pub Date May 19 2022 | Archive Date May 30 2022
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Description
Everyone in Titicut Township knew Carl Jenkins suffered from paranoid delusions, but what truly haunted him was far darker in nature. Whatever the small-town talk, only Carl and the shadow force of keepers (headed by Chief of Police, Elias Hicks) knew the truth. There is evil in the swamp—the place where spirits dwell.
When outsider and city reporter, Don Williams, arrives to investigate a 1973 cold case involving Carl Jenkins and the disappearance of three men, Hicks knew time was running out. The secret order he swore to protect was under threat of exposure. As chief of police and head of The Keepers, his charge was two-fold: appease the warring spirits in the realm of the dead and protect the faithful against God's adversary.
Hicks ordered Titicut locked down and called a meeting beneath the old meeting house, but something went wrong. It was the first time in the order's dark history a member would violate their oath of secrecy placing all within the township at risk. What only Hicks and the order knew is there were some secrets so grave, that if ever unearthed, not even God himself could save them.
A Note From the Publisher
When Tan's not writing, he enjoys researching family history, hiking, travel, driving “The Beast” his souped-up F-150 truck, and hanging out with his best friend and wife, Ann Stewart Burns. He and Ann live in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Advance Praise
"Out of horror-rich New England comes a unique and original voice in Tan Van Huizen and his debut novel, The Keepers. A blend of visceral and folk horror, its characters are well developed through the author's capable hands, penning gritty dialogue and tension-building action. Van Huizen is a gifted storyteller and an author to watch." -Andi Marchal, author of Vykup: A Novel of the Koldun
"Van Huizen has mastered the art of portraying visceral horror juxtaposed against his rich and fully developed cast of unique characters. This novel will keep you in your seat until you finish and stick with you long after the last page is turned. I highly recommend The Keepers, even for those that are not fans of horror. This book is so smooth and ingenious, it is a complete delight to read." -Deborah Wynne, Award-winning author of OPening Act: Pirouettes and Promises: Book One
"The Keepers is an amazing novel that centers around the Hockomock Swamp. From the rich background of even his minor characters such as the bereaved mother Priscilla Hooke, to the centrally cast and pathologically cruel chief of police, Elias Hicks, the reader can't help but feel everything from wrenching compassion to horrific revulsion. The Keepers certainly contains enough horror to satisfy the fans of that genre but with a compelling plot and well-rounded characters it should also appeal to fans of mystery, paranormal activity, history and spirituality." -Jill De Burgh, author
"The strength and chilling intensity of The Keepers is in the characterization. Individuals are well-observed, oddly sinister, and teetering on the brink of lunacy like Henry James, or defeated, world-weary specimens with a touch of low, animal cunning, such as Cam and Darrah. The Keepers is an excellently written horror story, absorbing the reader into a gripping and darkly atmospheric story with an old-school Stephen King vibe. It has a cast of wonderfully realized characters, making this a horribly compelling read." -Ryan L., The Book Review Directory
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781684339525 |
| PRICE | $5.99 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Brittany B, Educator
Strange things are happening in the New England town of Titicut. Reporter Don Williams finds himself in the middle of uncovering the town’s secrets that dates back to its founding settlement era of the 1600s.
Overall I’m giving this book 3 stars. I enjoyed the premise and it was a quick read. Even though it is tagged as horror, I think this book would also interest people who enjoy the mystery genre. I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Educator 914048
Such a good book. I really did love this book. I am a lover of archaeology, history and theology. This book encompassed all of those and more. I stayed interested the entire time. I would love to use the book in my classes and think my students would absolutely love reading it and researching a great many of the topics contained there in. 5 stars! Great job!
Jeffrey W, Reviewer
The Keepers by Tan Van Huizen was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. I had never read this author's work before but I must say I like his writing style. This style is straight to the punch, very little inane dialogue that drags on for pages, and it kept me reading with no skimming. Skimming is a surefire way to cost points when I review. This book is apparently the first in a series, I did not know that until I finished the book, which DID NOT leave a cliffhanger for the next book. As always, I will not delve into the plot of the book except townsfolk protect beings (or are they protecting the townsfolk), rituals, dark woods, etc, you get the basics. If you, or someone you buy gifts for, likes that short description, give this book a read.
4 Stars
Aria H, Reviewer
This was a really enjoyable read that was infused with historical aspects and theological aspects which I found really interesting. I also liked the archeological aspects of this book which added extra layers to it. I didn't know what to expect from this book but I really enjoyed it.
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