In the novel 'The Summoning' by Bentley Little, a small Arizona town, Rio Verde, becomes the setting for a series of mysterious deaths with bodies found drained of fluids. As Pastor Dan Wheeler starts receiving visions from Jesus urging him to build a special church, it becomes clear that the town is being preyed upon by an ancient evil disguised as a religious figure. The story follows the local police chief, Robert Carter, as he resists the rumors of a vampire until he has no choice but to accept the truth. Along with other characters like Rich, his brother, and Sue Wing, a young woman of Chinese descent, they uncover the dark forces at play and must confront them to save the town.

The narrative weaves together elements of horror, blind religious fanaticism, and Chinese folklore to create a unique vampire story that challenges traditional vampire lore. Bentley Little's writing style introduces a sense of menace with the lurking evil, building suspense as the characters navigate through the escalating supernatural events towards a dizzying conclusion that tests their beliefs and fortitude.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, featuring relatable protagonists and a diverse cast that includes the police chief and a link to folklore.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style effectively combines crisp pacing with engaging narrative that fuses traditional horror themes and social critique.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a small Arizona town dealing with drained bodies, rethinking vampire mythology, and exploring the dark influences of evil within the community.

Setting:

The setting in the small town of Rio Verde, Arizona, enhances the horror dynamics, highlighting isolation and community responses to dark influences.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with a slow start but increasing momentum, though some parts could be tightened for a more fluid experience.

SUE WING tried to be as unobtrusive as possible as she stood behind the restaurant's cash register, folding the newly printed take-out menus. Behind her, in the kitchen, she heard her parents arguing ...

Notes:

The story is set in a small town called Rio Verde, Arizona.

Bodies in the town are found drained of all their fluids, leading to rumors of a vampire.

While a vampire is the central figure of evil, the book explores deeper themes of how evil affects the townspeople.

The vampire lore in the book is influenced by Chinese folklore, where traditional vampire repellents like garlic and crosses do not work.

The character of Pastor Dan Wheeler embodies extreme religious views and becomes an instrument of the lurking evil.

Sue Wing, of Chinese descent, acts as a bridge between the Carters and her grandmother, who knows important local legends.

Elements in the book blend horror with social commentary on blind religious fanaticism and its dangers.

The novel's climax delivers well, even if the overall ending has been critiqued as unsatisfactory.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains content warnings for graphic violence, death, and themes of religious extremism.

From The Publisher:

Darkness is descending on the small town of Rio Verde, Arizona. An evil older than time is rising from the desert, waiting for night to fall and a reign of terror to begin...

Brad Woods had performed a lot of autopsies, but never one like this. The body was purged of all blood. And something told Brad this was only the beginning of a nightmare. Fear made Sue Wing run from the darkened school that night, fear she could only name in the Cantonese of her grandmother: Cup-hu-girngsi...corsope-who-drinks-blood...

Vampires. The Devil, incarnate, stalking the streets of Rio Verde. Small-town reporters like Rich Carter didn't believe in such things. But he would come to believe with a faith borne of horror after horror...

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The Summoning

Bentley Little