Laura Benedict brings us another winner with Devil's Oven. This story is set in the Appalachian Mountains, a place that is full of all kinds of legends and possible creepy scenarios. It begins by talking about Thora and Ivy, two very different sisters who live together on Devil's Oven. Ivy, the youngest, is a seamstress. Thora is now on disability.
Strange things are happening in and around this region. Years before, a woman went mad and murdered her husband and two children. The bodies, except for that of the daughter, were found.
This is kind of a modern-day Frankenstein. Instead of a mad scientist making a monster from the stolen parts of several different dead men, Ivy finds the pieces of a man who has been cut up on top of Devil's Oven. She takes him back to the trailer and carefully sews him back together. This is the first time she has seen a naked man, and the first time she has ever touched one. She even buys clothes for him because she is so sure that he will come back to life. One day, he does. And Ivy is alright with this. She is pleased when she finds out he really has come alive again, but not so pleased when she realize what a monster he is. Still, she protects him as best she can.
She is looking for someone who will treat her better than her sister does. She believes that the mountain gave Anthony to her, and that he is the answer to her prayers. She knows when he has murdered a man, yet she doesn't turn him in. She doesn't even turn him in when he kills her sister, Thora. She just wraps her up and hides her in the freezer.
As if a dead man cut up into pieces coming back to life after he has been sewn back together isn't creepy enough, it becomes even creepier when you realize that he is purposefully seeking out certain people to kill. And he isn't the only 'dead' person walking around.
This book is sure to suck you in if you are a fan of horror fiction. Ms. Benedict's characters are well-developed and completely creepy. The creepiness and suspense begin very gradually,but only get more intense with every page you turned.
If you don't like horror fiction, or if you are not a fan of blood and gore in the books you read, then you might not want to read this one. But if you are addicted to thrillers and books that keep you on the edge of your seat, you will love this one. If you delight in reading books that would keep most people awake all night and afraid to turn out the light, then this is a book you definitely want to read.
I bought my copy of Devil's Oven from Amazon. If you would like your own copy to read and enjoy, I have provided an Amazon link below.
