The Devil Crept In

By: Ania Ahlborn

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins

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)

So good…

There is a lot of character development in the beginning, but the characters are so well developed, and interesting, that it’s not a chore to get through. It speeds up quickly and doesn’t slow down. It is reminiscent of early Stephen King. I loved this book. The narration was wonderful. This is horror at its best. Ania Ahlborn is a master! This is my second book of hers and I’m on to my third. I believe I’ve found my new favorite horror writer.

I wanted to give it 5 stars, but...

This was a great and original story with a terrible yet wonderful sense of dread. Well written and performed. It was difficult to pause at times, and kept me engrossed until the last minute. It’s an unexpectedly poignant and emotional dark tale. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time with the way the protagonist, who is potentially on the autism spectrum although it’s never explicitly made clear, was treated by literally everyone including his own family. I won’t get into it beyond that to avoid spoilers, and I’m aware it’s an integral part of the story and character(s). It was really unsettling to me personally though, so I’m inclined to put the info out there for those triggered by child abuse, neglect, and the like.

Scary!

Creepy story. A good imagination. Written well and kept my attention all through. Narration was very good .

Sad Beginning

Stories that involve domestic violence, or even hint at child abuse, are extremely difficult for me. I didn't know this would be a theme here. I know it's fiction, but there's some degree of truth or borrowing from real life in many stories. Poor Stevie, a child existing in a world of so much abuse. A mother paralyzed to do anything. The women in this story are sad, weak and stuck.

LOVED THE CHARACTERS

Love the story line and characters. Kept my interest and made me think about it.

Speechless!

Its like when you first start you don't know what your getting into then WOW! THIS IS A THRILL RIDE!

Love how it came together

The way it all came together in the end was very well done. This is a great slow burn book

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!

Perfect story

The best book by Ania so far! I didn't think she could write any better!

Forest Adventures in the Pacific Northwest

Can something be described as both enjoyable and gruesome? Why yes, yes it can, and that's how I'd best describe this latest book by Ania Ahlborn. This woman has an incredibly macabre imagination and the writing chops to share that gift with fans of the horror genre. I found Stevie, our young hero with serious issues and many verbal ticks, sympathetic, intelligent, and completely screwed up. It turned out to be a winning combination when paired with his dysfunctional family and something sinister in the woods. This is sort of like the unholy love child of Ahlborn's books Seed and The Shuddering with a shout out to Within These Walls. Totally worth the time and credit. The narrator did a great job and I would have loved to give him 5 stars, but as a native to the PNW I know how to pronounce Tillamook and that wasn't it.