Karen Hall

There is a malevolent entity which derives its power from the corruption of the innocent. Such an infestation of body and spirit drives its victims to the brink of insanity, suicide, and acts of murderous brutality. For the Landry family from Georgia, this demonic entity has seemingly been targeting its members for generations. And subsequently the demon has apparently claimed its latest victim: Cam Landry.

Generally thought to be the sanest member of the Landry family, Cam's sudden suicide comes as an unexpected shock to his longtime love, Randa Phillips. Determined to find out why the man she loved would ever take his own life, Randa - a columnist for an alternative Los Angeles newspaper - begins to investigate the rumors of an alleged Landry family curse. As she continues her search, Randa vows to herself that she will do whatever she can to protect Cam's brother Jack - the last surviving member of the family from the generational curse.

Michael Kinney is an outspoken Jesuit priest who has recently been disciplined by his superiors for voicing some very public sentiments. Struggling with a personal crisis of faith and questioning the strength of his desire to continue on in his vocation, Father Kinney suddenly finds himself tempted by the attractive editor of the New Yorker Magazine. As he wrestles with his faith in the face of his inappropriate feelings of lust, Father Kinney will soon find himself at the center of supernatural storm.

The reluctant demonologist will eventually take a frightening journey into the heart and soul of the tormented Landry family. As he begins unraveling three generations of secrets and battles for Jack Landry's very soul, Father Kinney will soon find himself a target of the dark forces hell-bent on his destruction. Brilliantly imagined and compulsively readable, Dark Debts is a pulse-pounding supernatural thriller - a remarkable novel that will grip you with its nightmare vision of evil and hold you spellbound until the very last page.

First of all, let me say that I can remember reading this book for the first time approximately ten or fifteen years ago. It was an intriguing story then and in my opinion, moved along at a relatively quick pace. Reading it for the second time though, I couldn't help but feel slightly unsatified by some elements of the story.

Don't get me wrong, I still found this to be an intriguing story and enjoyed it immensely, I just noticed that certain elements seemed slightly forced. Nevertheless, I would still give this book a definite A! Having said that, I was delighted to learn that Ms. Hall has recently released a heavily-revised Twentieth Anniversary edition of Dark Debts in March of 2016!… (más)

Michael is a Jesuit priest, intelligent, committed to his church in spite of his doubts about Catholic policies and politics. He's also in love with a woman, having doubts about his vocation and confronted with a mystery involving his family that he feels compelled to solve. Randa is a newspaper reporter, disillusioned and cynical. She has lost the man she loved first to desertion and then to a puzzling suicide. Jack is a bitter, frightened loner, living with the legacy of a tragic family history. In a confrontation with the face of evil, these people come together and find that their connection is more than chance.

Hall's book is compelling and very witty. Each of her main characters is bright, well-informed and full of wisecracks, which makes the book entertaining to read. The story itself is compelling. There is e a vein of underlying faith and belief in Christian principles and dogma that runs through the boook that will be heartening to some readers and off-putting to others.… (más)