Edgar Allan Poe's chilling examination of the descent into evil is reinterpreted in this riveting story of murder and witchcraft in a small town. Guided by a secret cache of papers left to him, town journalist John Charles Poe, descendent of Edgar Allan, sets out to discover what is behind an outbreak of evil in his town. Author Robert Poe is actually a distant relative of Edgar Allan Poe .
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews
Poe, a distant relative of Edgar Allan, follows up his debut psychological thriller, Return to the House of Usher (1996), with another variation on a classic Poe story, again set in Crowley Creek, Virginia. Returning as protagonist is John Charles Poe, also a distant relative of Edgar Allan, who writes a ``barely syndicated'' column for Fannie Boynton's Crowley Creek Sentinel and who's inherited a brassbound oak casket bearing the papers of the great dead writer. It appears that Margaret Cully, the wife of the veterinarian, has vanished under mysterious circumstances; Julie Noir, a waifish raven-haired girl with a tiny gold stud in her nose, shows up and quickly replaces Margaret in Dr. Cully's clinic; and John Charles seems to be haunted by a small black shape that follows him around. Julie, who carries her black cat Asmodeus about on her shoulder, advertises the fact that she fancies herself a witch. After John Charles helps Dr. Cully deliver a two-headed calf (in the best scene here), the bad omens begin piling up. When Poe's story of ``The Black Cat'' seems to be coming to pass in Dr. Cully's own person, John Charles opens his cache of Poe letters and notes, looking for insight. Julie holds moonlit rites and dances naked, and the Reverend Rollie Fairchild whips up the town's antiwitch fever. Finally, Julie discovers a buried ax, seemingly having the missing Margaret's hair and blood on it. A town meeting is called, and some demand that Julie be arrested--or at least run out of Crowley Creek. (The town's rabid feelings are the plot's most feeble device.) Then Dr. Cully starts hearing rats in his cellar behind a freshly bricked wall. John Charles has a drinking habit meant to mimic Poe's, but Poe had an allergy to, not a craving for, alcohol. Gentlemanly, undemanding variation on the master's work. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Review
"Retains much of the dark magic spun by the master of macabre."--The Chicago Sun-Times
"Engaging....It's a veritable Poe-pourri....Keep you porch light one, and don't look behind you."--The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia)
"A modern-day gothic tale that would please his namesake....Brilliantly written."--Amazon.com
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"Engaging....It's a veritable Poe-pourri....Keep you porch light one, and don't look behind you."--The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia)
"A modern-day gothic tale that would please his namesake....Brilliantly written."--Amazon.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Edgar Allen Poe himself would be proud.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Black Cat (Hardcover)
When I found out that a relative of the great Edgar Allen Poe was writing books, I just had to read them. The Black Cat is a wonderful story of how horrible humans can be. You can't help but want to help Julie and try to help her. Ultimately this book shows how inhuman humans can be and that you should always listen to others before passing judgement.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A modern day thriller,
By K (Virginia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Black Cat (Hardcover)
This book, although based upon a fairly old story, is exciting even now. I'm not easily disturbed, but this book had me on the edge. I had to read it through a couple of times to get the full effect, because after the first time so many things near the beginning of the story made sense. I would reccomend this book to anyone that likes thrillers and definately to a Poe fan.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a must read,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Black Cat (Hardcover)
i loved this book. it kept me wondering if what society thought was right, or if it was all a massive cover-up of some sort. i felt very into it as i heard the conversations. some of the themes in the book may not be appropriate (to some people) for a 14 year old like myself, but i would still recommend it to anyone that wants a fast reader that they could finish in a week.
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