Book Review: The Altar Stone

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Altar Stone     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Robert Hackman
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Archaeology   Horror
Goodfellow, Sep 2001, $22.00, 352 pp.

Professor Arthur Tomas of Arizona State University is a highly regarded archeologist whose mind remembers every detail and fact involving his work. Perhaps he is so good at total recall because Arthur has a great void. He cannot recollect one thing about his childhood including who his parents were. His memories about his preadolescent life consists of the police finding him wandering around in bad shape, placing him in a hospital, and then sending him to a boarding school when efforts to find his family failed.

Arthur looks forward to an upcoming expedition led by the renowned Dr. Lansing to the Peruvian Amazon rain forest. Also going on the trip to the Rio Perra location is Arthur’s lover, Dr. Millie Holtz. However, Arthur is going to find more than just a few broken pieces of pottery and some skeletal remains. He is going to confront his own unknown childhood through creatures who once ruled and plan to do so again by possessing humans in THE ALTAR STONE.

Robert Hackman is no hack when it comes to writing a frightening yet entertaining horror novel. THE ALTAR STONE is filled with action, intrigue, and a powerful supernatural cast that exploits humans as host bodies to regain what they lost. Arthur is a strong hero, but has too many diverse adventures on his Amazon trek. Still, in spite of the unnecessary sidebars, Mr. Hackman gains possession of the minds of his readers who will enjoy this powerful one sitting tale.

Harriet Klausner

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