Bad Paths [Paperback]

Justin Behrens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 22, 2008

Greg Dameron doesn't remember his familyback in Lost Haven, Iowa. Separated fromthem at a young age, Greg is emotionallytorn as he flies back to the Midwest afterthe sudden news of his mother's death.Upon his arrival in Lost Haven, Greg issurprised by the power and prestige theDameron name carries in the strangelittle town. Some people seem oddly waryof Greg while others are outright hostile,and he begins to suspect that all is notquite right in this town as dark shadowslurk in the woods behind the Dameronhome.Bad Paths is the story of an estranged sonwho returns to an unknown home toreclaim his birthright and redeem his familyname. Filled with intriguing characters whoappear to be pleasant Midwestern folk,it's the story of a family hiding a host ofdemons below their amiable demeanor.As the dark legacy of the Damerons beginsto come into focus, tensions heighten andold secrets turn deadly.As Greg struggles to overcome his deceptivefamily heritage, he must ultimately choosebetween doing the right thing and savinghis own life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

After living on both coasts of the UnitedStates and holding various occupationsfrom stained-glass window restoration tocomputer programming, Justin Behrenscurrently resides in his home state of Iowa.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (February 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595475701
• ISBN-13: 978-0595475704
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,267,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaks the mold of traditional supernatural thrillers, May 7, 2008

By 

Mary Menzel "Reviewer - www.AllTheseBooks.com" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bad Paths (Paperback)

"Bad Paths" starts slowly and innocently drawing you in until you are hooked. Greg Dameron returns to his hometown for his estranged mother's funereal only to discover his family is involved in many shocking and horrifying traditions. Struggling to break free from his shameful legacy, Dameron finds that good can come from what seemingly is all evil. With descriptive detail and well-placed revelations, Justin Behrens has written an entertaining novel that breaks the mold of the traditional supernatural thriller and reads like the writing of a veteran novelist.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes, you have to go home again, July 16, 2008

By 

Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bad Paths (Paperback)

The horror genre is always in need of fresh new blood, and Justin Behrens seems to fit the bill quite nicely. At first glance, I thought Bad Paths, Behrens' debut novel, would be a good but somewhat derivative read, but I was wrong on that last point, as there's an unquantifiable freshness about the story as it unfolds. There's no ultimate battle of good vs. evil here, which isn't to say there's not plenty of action in the end, and the main character's family's legacy is not just another case of pure evil or Faustian bargains for power. In the end, Bad Paths is the story of a young man coming to terms with a special gift and a family history he had never known. Perhaps best of all, the whole story doesn't even revolve around the main character so much as it does a remarkable canine, and I love that about this novel.

In life, Greg Dameron's mother sheltered her son from his own family, leading a nomadic life that led anywhere but home in Iowa. Perhaps inevitably, his mother's reticence to talk about her past and her oftentimes odd, overprotective behavior created a distance between mother and son that could not be bridged before her death. Ironically enough, that death leads Greg back to the very place she isolated him from in life. He's in for quite an awakening in terms of his family history, as it doesn't take long for him to discover that the Dameron name is both feared and revered in this small town - or that his mother wasn't the only strange member of the family. His Aunt Claire is as nice as can be when he first arrives, but her oddities begin to surface once he gets settled in. His Uncle Ron seems like a harmless old drunk - until Ron takes it upon himself to warn Greg of the danger coming his way if he doesn't leave town within a couple of days. He says there are mysterious, frightening creatures lurking in the surrounding woods, but his attempt to capture security camera footage of one of them fails to move Greg, who does predictably acquiesce to his aunt's plea to stick around a few extra days. The best character by far in the novel is Spooky, a huge mastiff dog who enjoys watching The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock on TV, has quite a knack for getting into locked rooms (especially Greg's), and seems more human than canine sometimes. Greg is noticeably wary of the huge family pet initially, but Spooky becomes his greatest protector as he pushes forward to discover the truth about his highly dysfunctional family.

The novel can be jarring at times, as Aunt Claire has a few tricks up her sleeve and sometimes does the most shocking things right out of the blue. Two scenes stand out in particular, but I won't describe them here - I daresay the future reader will recognize them rather easily. I know some reviewers have mentioned the story's level of violence and gore, but I actually met with less than I expected of both - I certainly wouldn't consider it excessive. As for the ending, I must admit that I found it somewhat anti-climactic, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It does wrap up the story quite well and avoids taking the easy way out. Had Behrens grafted a thoroughly clichéd and predictable ending on to the novel, it would have nullified much of the satisfaction the reader derives from everything that precedes it. Perhaps the best thing about Bad Paths, though, is the evidence it provides for bigger and better things to come from this young author. Justin Behrens is a name that bears watching.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars creepy, and creeps up on you..., August 6, 2011

By 

Dr. John M. (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bad Paths (Kindle Edition)

I really did not want to like this book. I was underwhelmed in the beginning, but you sort of latch on to the characters. The action had some intense moments, but it was not very scary for the most part. When they get into the house and start seeing things, it raised a few hairs! I thought the inclusion of the Dog as a protagonist was very unique, and I could have enjoyed the book just for that.
I would say that at the price point, it was an above average read!