Dark Debts

By Karen Hall and Karen Hall

Book Overview

In Dark Debts , Karen Hall masterfully combines southern gothic, romantic comedy, and mystery in a wildly original theological thriller that has become a cult favorite since being published twenty years ago. In this new anniversary edition, the author has reimagined her work. The result is a suspenseful, irreverent, and deeply spiritual novel that captivates from the very beginning and doesn't let go. When Randa, a reporter for an alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, receives an urgent phone call from her estranged lover, Cam, she rushes to his apartment. She arrives to discover that he's leapt from the building to his death. Police believe that before committing suicide, Cam also murdered someone in a convenience store, but Randa does not believe Cam is capable of such an act. She seeks out Cam's brother, Jack, who is living off the grid, somewhere near Atlanta, in hope of figuring out what really happened. Meanwhile, a Jesuit priest named Michael Kinney has been exiled from New York City to the boondocks of Georgia after making controversial public statements. He has said things that educated people of faith are not supposed to express. Even more problematically, he has fallen in love with a woman, and the last surviving member of his family has kept a shocking family secret from him. How these characters converge is part of the thrilling mystery of Dark Debts , a cult favorite first published twenty years ago. In this new edition, author Karen Hall has reimaged her southern gothic tale and the result is a work of even greater power--a brilliantly realized and suspenseful evocation of the conflict between good and evil.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1501104128
• ISBN13: 9781501104121
• Release Date: September 2017
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Best First Novel I've Ever Read

Karen Hall makes a wonderful contribution to horror and the Demonic-possesion/family-curse sub-genre. The Dialogue in this novel is wonderfully written, rings true, and is often humorous. This story contains the sadness of losing someone you love, a new budding romance, a curse of insanity on a southern family, and painful past memories. I won't give any more away than the basics--I'll leave the good stuff to be discovered by those of you who actually read the book.I wouldn't pass by on this one.. it is a great piece, and I only wish Ms. Hall would return with another book.

The Rat, The Other, and The Choice

Dark Debts by Karen Hall is the most captivating book I have read in years. I would rate this book a 10 because of the wide array of fascinating topics. Not only are there controversial subjects included, but there is romance, comedy, drama, and horror. This gripping novel discusses good versus evil, and the role the Catholic church has in the struggle. The characters Hall created were strong and unpredictable. Each character had a different type of life and outlook on life, which makes it easy for the reader to relate to one or another. The main subject of demons and evil in general is often avoided by society, and Hall does a wonderful job of speaking about the unspoken. The romantic tendencies between the characters often gets quite steamy, while not being trashy; and Hall's subtle humor will sometimes even cause you to laugh out loud. The suspensefulness of the book is definitely what makes this a page turner and, therefore, extremely hard to put down. Hall makes readers contemplate their own faiths and beliefs unconsciously, as they guess and look forward to what will happen. It truly gets readers to examine their own spirituality. The symbolism in the novel of the supernatural forces in our world are exceptionally well used and really get the feelings across. All of the research put into this book is very evident by the way Hall teaches you about demons, exorcisms, and the Jesuits. The plot takes the reader through some major twists and turns. Just when you think you have an explanation for something, Hall manages to come up with something completely different and logical. Dark Debts is a can't miss, chilling story that will take you on the ride of your life.

Excellent!

Dark Debts is a modern parable of the human condition striving for the more in the future but mired in the mud of the past. Fr.Michael is the new Adam finding that he has no helpmate in his religious Eden he links up with Tess the new Eve a writer who doesn't know what she believes. With her support he strives to overcome the plight of the human condition and the evil choices of his ancestors. Question that arises, "Is anyone responsible for sin other than the forebears from which they come

Wonderful first book by Hall!

This is an amazing book despite the fact that it is Hall's first book. The characters are well developed, which leads the reader to render true emotions from the actions of each. If you like classic good vs. evil, man vs. demon/devil novels you are in for a definite treat with this book! A must summer read!

Best read of the summer

A witty, imaginitive novel unlike anything I've read ever read. The writing is crisp and sharp, the characters are unusual and well-developed. It crosses several genres to invent one of its own. Hall is a terrific writer. This is clearly the best read of the summer and if you've tried and failed (as I did) to slog through The Last Don, because you wanted to be swept away by a good story, this is the book for you.