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The Devil Crept In  By  cover art

The Devil Crept In

By: Ania Ahlborn
Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
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Publisher's summary

Young Jude Brighton has been missing for three days, and while the search for him is in full swing in the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon, the locals are starting to lose hope. They're well aware that the first 48 hours are critical and after that, the odds usually point to a worst-case scenario. And despite Stevie Clark's youth, he knows that, too; he's seen the cop shows. He knows what each ticking moment may mean for Jude, his cousin and best friend.

That, and there was that boy, Max Larsen - the one from years ago, found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes...and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. Now, fear is reborn - and for Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth may be too horrifying to imagine.

©2017 Ania Ahlborn (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A beautiful and deftly wrought horror story...Readers will be engrossed and thrilled right through to the chewy final twist." ( Publishers Weekly starred review)

What listeners say about The Devil Crept In

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent New Horror

I'm always on the look out for a new horror author like Nick Cutter for example. there are way too many horror titles being released that are simply put, crap!

This book however did not disappoint. it is the best new horror title I've read since HEX. it has some similarities to a few other titles released in the past year bit the writing is much better. This book really did remind me of old King yarns like IT and Salem's Lot.

If you are a fan of scary stories with some decent character development and excellent word pictures, give this one a try. it is absolutely worth the credit!

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • SD
  • 03-06-17

Devil Crept In

I keep looking for a writer I can turn to now that I've pretty much read all the Stephen King books, but I'm still looking. I found this book to be not very different from others of the genre, nothing new or horrifying, or maybe I'm just jaded after reading horror and mystery for decades. There was nothing out of the ordinary in this book and several times I was annoyed by the main character, rather than feeling sympathy. The writer did seem to catch sibling interaction fairly well, and the reader managed to get the edge in those interactions. The reader was good and handled the material well.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another 5 Star For Ahlborn

Any additional comments?

This is a well told, unique story. I'm a fan of Ania Ahlborn because there is no particular formula to her stories. This one is no exception. It is somewhat creepy and disturbing, not so much scary, but I really enjoyed it. I didn't want it to end. If you like a good story, are good with being a bit disturbed and don't need warm fuzzies when you complete a novel, give this one a go.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

I found myself yelling at my car speakers.

It dragged. I couldn't wait for it to be over.
The beginning held my interest, but it lost me in the third part.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional horror!!!

This is the second book I've read by Ahlborn & now I'll be searching out my third!
"The Devil Crept In" grabs you from chapter one and doesn't set you free until the very end. I couldn't stop until I finished it!
I read a lot of horror fiction and it's rare that something moves me enough to leave a review.
For me, it was one of those rare stories that flow so well you burn right through it but wish you hadn't because you're sad when it ends.
I thought there was a good balance of everything it takes to make a good horror story: plot, scene, character development...emotion, suspense, mystery, gore.
Ahlborn knows how to make her readers care about the characters -- one of the many elements she knows how to bend & manipulate to make a good horror story work.
If you're teetering back-and-forth on what to add to your library next, I highly recommend this one, it's well worth the credit!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

yes but NO

The narrator was a good fit. The story was very interesting up until the end... I was let down by a quickly wrapped up not well thought out/open ended finish.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Suspenseful!

For those who love the dark stories that keep you reading to the next chapter, this one drags you in quickly. First time to read this author and I’ll definitely be reading more.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Don't waste your time

Way too long. Not scary. Annoying characters. Inane plot. Repetitive. Derivative . Look elsewhere for good horror. The end.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

This book is garbage

Would you try another book from Ania Ahlborn and/or Eric Michael Summerer?

From Ania Ahlborn, no, narrated by Eric Michael Summerer, absolutely.

What could Ania Ahlborn have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The book is not just of a missing boy, it goes off on a tangent about an ugly woman and how she mourns the death of her husband. I didn't make it much further after that garbage.

What about Eric Michael Summerer’s performance did you like?

Powerful voice, great accents, an enjoyable listen except for the crap content. Male and female voices along with a stuttering child.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

The story line sparked anger in me in the beginning, as a book is suppose to do, I found myself getting angry at the characters which is usually a sign of an intriguing story line. But then the story makes a 180 and goes off on a rant that has nothing to do with the original story line.

Any additional comments?

Avoid this rubbish.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • R
  • 05-23-17

Truely scary!

The story is one of the best in recent memory. The performance captured each character and horrifying scene perfectly.

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1 person found this helpful