The Book of Paul -- A Paranormal Thriller [Kindle Edition]

Richard Long (Author)

Book Description

"Everything you've ever believed about yourself...about the description of reality you've
clung to so stubbornly all your life...all of it...every bit of it...is an illusion." 

 In the rubble-strewn wasteland of Alphabet City, a squalid tenement conceals a treasure "beyond all imagining"-- an immaculately preserved, fifth century codex. The sole repository of ancient Hermetic lore, it contains the alchemical rituals for transforming thought into substance, transmuting matter at will...and attaining eternal life.

When Rose, a sex and pain addicted East Village tattoo artist has a torrid encounter with Martin, a battle-hardened loner, they discover they are unwitting pawns on opposing sides of a battle that has shaped the course of human history. At the center of the conflict is Paul, the villainous overlord of an underground feudal society, who guards the book's occult secrets in preparation for the fulfillment of an apocalyptic prophecy. 

 The action is relentless as Rose and Martin fight to escape Paul's clutches and Martin's destiny as the chosen recipient of Paul's sinister legacy.  Science and magic, mythology and technology converge in a monumental battle where the stakes couldn't be higher: control of the ultimate power in the universe--the Maelstrom.

The Book of Paul is the first of seven volumes in a sweeping mythological narrative tracing the mystical connections between Hermes Trismegistus in ancient Egypt, Sophia, the female counterpart of Christ, and the Celtic druids of Clan Kelly.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Long's prose is deft and clear, transporting the reader from one character's psyche to the next...this tale is a compelling one. A psychological thriller for readers who are bored with run-of-the-mill horror...Those who embrace the genre will eagerly anticipate a second installment in the series." - Kirkus Reviews
 
"Intelligent, self-aware, and often amusing...hitting all the markers for sadistic, salacious, and scary. Long is doubtless going to build a large and loyal fan base composed of people just like him: literate folks with a bizarre sense of humor who prefer a bucket of blood to a bath filled with rose petals." - ForeWord Clarion Reviews
 
"Totally absorbing! The Book of Paul is moving, profound, funny, terrifying and never lets you go. The prose is swift and sharp...at times, even poetic. Masterful storytelling. Hats off!!" - Henry Bean, writer/director of The Believer
 
"Completely outstanding...an ingenious mixture of all things intriguing! The Book of Paul is truly an enchanting tale that will leave you spellbound. I can't wait to read more of this series! The only thing I can say is...wow! Hats of to Richard Long for creating a truly worthy and delightful read." -- Close Encounters with the Night Kind

From the Author

The Book of Paul crosses a number of genres. Sometimes when I'm asked what kind of book it is, I'll say it's a dark, paranormal thriller with occult horror themes, mystery, suspense, erotica and black humor. Other times, I just say, "It'll really curl your toes." 
 
Written is short, titled chapters, the story is extremely cinematic. Think The Omen meets Pulp Fiction. The momentum is relentlessly driving, yet it's as much a psychological exploration as a rollercoaster ride. When I write, I submerge myself in the characters. I want to feel their fears and cravings, truly inhabit them. I keep descriptive narrative to a minimum and write from multiple perspectives, which hopefully allows readers to project their own perspective and participate more directly in the experience. I want people to feel more intensely -- more afraid, more amused, more curious, perplexed, horrified, awed and aroused -- to climb inside these characters and walk down all the dark alleyways.
 
I've always been drawn to the scary side of the street. Science, religion and mythology are other big interests. The Book of Paul and the six volumes of sequels and prequels trace the history of Hermetic and Gnostic philosophy, alchemy, druidism and pagan mythology - particularly the Egyptian, Greek and Celtic traditions. There's also a strong science fiction element involving quantum physics, artificial intelligence, life extension and what's known as The Singularity.
 
Propelled by the prophecy of a fast-approaching apocalypse, the story rides a crest of dark suspense above an undercurrent of arcane mystery. Nothing is as it seems. Very gradually, the mythological tapestry is revealed through the narrator's secret journals and the ancient codex guarded by Paul. Only as the climax approaches does he fully grasp his own significance in the labyrinth of Paul's nefarious scheme. 
 
The Book of Paul is not for the faint-hearted. There is graphic sex, sadomasochism and gore. There are also plenty of laughs along the way, often sucker punches that ease the tension only long enough to make the revelations even more thrilling and chilling. The aim of it all? Question everything.Magic and mystery and wonder are everywhere. So are cruelty, sadness and terror. 
 
As Hunter Thompson said, "Buy the ticket, take the ride."

For fans who sign up for my newsletter at TheBookofPaul.com, I offer exclusive content like deleted or extended chapters, previews of the forthcoming volumes in the series and other fun surprises.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 1460 KB
• Print Length: 491 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615648649
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: CreateSpace (June 3, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0088QYXGA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,980 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #19 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Dark Fantasy
  • #37 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy > Dark Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Well-Crafted Psychological Character Study June 5, 2012

By Stephen Elliott

Format:Kindle Edition

If you are looking for a standard summer read, then I would not recommend The Book of Paul. But if you are looking for a most unusual read, one that not only won't you be able to put down, but one that will stay with you long after you are finished, then I highly recommend this debut novel from the very talented Richard Long. The Book of Paul is difficult to categorize: it is part mystery, part thriller, part erotica, and part horror...and 100% engrossing. A well-crafted psychological character study told in a cinematic style, The Book of Paul begins innocently (and humorously) enough with the line "He practiced smiling", but quickly the reader realizes that there is more to this line than would first appear. This line is, in fact, revelatory. Richard Long has chosen his words carefully. Not one single word, and certainly no single character, in The Book of Paul can be taken at face value. Nothing is as it appears. And yet, every character and action is masterfully crafted as part of the puzzle that is The Book of Paul. Mr. Long has numerous talents as a writer: he is certainly one of the more creative storytellers of today, but for my money, his real talent lies in the fact that he commands a psychological savvy that few writers do. Richard Long's characters are richly drawn, possessing a complexity of personality traits that mesh with their histories and with their actions. You will understand these characters, you will understand what motivates them, you will like them and you will hate them, but most importantly you will believe them.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrifying yet exquisitely balanced cocktail of horror, thriller, and the supernatural October 3, 2012

By Anna Holmes

Format:Paperback

From start to finish Richard Long's "The Book of Paul" is an exciting, fast-paced and undeniably shocking read.

The characters are full-blooded, whimsical yet scarily believeable. The antagonist, Paul, is unusual in every respect: an unstoppable, malodorous, and deadly evil genius whom the reader hates to love, but cannot quite prevent themselves from doing so.

The short punchy chapters keep one's adrenalin pumping, while the narrative leapfrogs from one crisis to another, creating a spine-chilling atmosphere on a par with any of the very best classic noir thrillers.

In particular, I loved the elegant way the story unfolds, with the author feeding us teasing tidbits of the puzzle without slowing the narrative's gallop by a single hoof-fall. The amount of research which must have gone into weaving the history and mythology in this book is staggering and the backstory Richard Long creates from that body of investigation lends the story additional depths of both intrigue and credibility.

In the final analysis, the novel is very nearly impossible to catagorise, since it incorporates so many genres. But rather than dilute the work or lessen the impact, it adds to the novel as a whole, rendering the narrative as a terrifying yet exquisitely balanced cocktail of horror, thriller, and the supernatural, with additional shocks being supplied by irreverent humour and a wealth of lurid detail.

Less of an Alice-Down-The-Rabbit-Hole experience than a Locomotive-Plunging-Down-A-Mineshaft-With-The-Reader-Hanging-Out-A-Compartment-Window ride, this immensely entertaining book was not just straightforwardly an absolutely compelling read from cover to cover, but left me feeling oddly anxious, desperate... and not a little impatient for the next instalment!

The Book of Paul

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A sexy book with a muscular imagination June 7, 2012

By Claudia

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

WOW!

A wild ride. The first three chapters had me a little nervous and then...it was an amusement park ride to end them all! Want to forget your problems at work, get away from the elections, take a little wicked fantasy vacation? Then this book is for you. Allow your eyes to glide over the words and transport you into a very different and strangely familiar world.

Can't wait for the second installment.

More About the Author

Richard Long writes to exorcize the demons of his past and manifest the dreams of his future.

His debut novel, The Book of Paul, is a dark, thrilling, and psychologically rich supernatural horror/thriller that blends mythology, science and mystery into a page-turning addiction.

Richard is also writing a YA novel, The Dream Palace, primarily so that his children can read his books.

He lives in Manhattan with his wife, two amazing children and their wicked black cat, Merlin.