Book Review: Pact of the Fathers

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Pact of the Fathers     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Ramsey Campbell
Class/Genre:   Fantasy   Horror
Forge, Dec 2001, $26.95, 432 pp.

Many Hollywood insiders say that Oscar winning film producer Teddy Logan’s best production is his twenty years old daughter Daniella. He runs and owns Oxford Films along with his partner Alan Stanley until the day Teddy dies in a car accident. Daniella will inherit his half of the film company when she turns twenty-two.

However, just before her beloved father died, Daniella noticed a strange looking box inside Teddy’s safe. That item is no longer in the safe nor is a weird book entitled The Bible Decoded. Daniella looks for the missing two items but soon observes her father’s friends perform rituals at his gravesite. Apparently, this group of successful business moguls believe their success comes straight from the bible via the sacrifice of their first born. Though he made the pact, Teddy could not kill his cherished flesh and blood, but others try.

Though the plot seems obvious from almost the opening act and the twists are very few, readers will enjoy Ramsey Campbell’s latest thriller, PACT OF THE FATHERS. The story line is fast-paced and the heroine is an intrepid individual who the audience will find delightful. The support cast adds depth even though some of the villains are not the sharpest knife in the draw. Still, Mr. Campbell keeps his audience on edge throughout this action-packed tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner