Customer Reviews

The Demonologist (Leisure Horror)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Michael Laimo's third novel reads like an attempt to imitate Edward Lee. It lacks the quality of his second and the originality of his first. It also shows he doesn't know what year this is.

The story concerns an aging rocker who has recently hit the big time. He has a daughter but his wife was killed in a car accident. After a long tour, he returns home and starts having episodes where he is disconnected and hears voices. He is afraid he may be cracking up and sees a doctor.

But eventually we learn that demons and possession are real and our protagonist is going to have to confront the title bad guy. The Demonologist took control of the demons known as Legion that Jesus cast out into some pigs. This occurs long after Jesus cast them out and the author states that it was over two thousand years ago (say what?).

In the end the reader is subjected to scenes of perversion that Edward Lee would probably never have used. We also feel a lack of a certain element from the story which is unusual considering its nature. All in all it seemed pointless, careless and rushed. It could have been much better with a little more work.

I've never read this author before, and am kinda regretting my decision. This book started out mildly intriguing, but after a few chapters it became obvious that Laimo's attempt at grue falls hideously short. He tries so hard to make this novel disturbing, and in doing so, neglects to expand on the plot, which in itself is quite elementary. Even the gore is boring, being too repetitive and, while mildly disgusting, does not make up for the lack of plot. Coupled with his chauvinistic attitude towards women, this so-called 'horror' book reads like a fecal-encrusted romance novel.

This is just amateur hour. This book must hold the world record for containing the most adverbs. Characters stand up "nervously" and "gaze helplessly" "staggered clumsily" etc. etc. page after page, painful adverb after painful adverb. It reads like something a mildy talented high school freshman would come up with. I'll admit there are some wildly entertaining descriptions of filth and perversion but that dosen't make the novel enteresting. The language is so overblown and florid that I found myself laughing several times. And if Mr. Laimo is going to use a story from the bible to base his novel on he should at least bother to read that story and get it straight. I love good horror novels but this isn't one of them, in fact it is one of the most inept attempts I have ever suffered through.

The Demonologist does not thrive on original material. Instead, it chooses to bring forth an old, familiar tale and breathe new life into it. It's not often you see the Devil working against Evil, and I have to admit I'm a sucker for black magic and cult details. Must be the dark side of me, I dunno. Either way, this isn't exactly a been there, done that before kind of deal. While some of the details aren't anything fresh, I didn't even notice as I absorbed the violent new additions.

On the down side of the plot, at times it was a little cheesy. The ending, especially, was a pisser the last few pages were a mistake from Laimo. It left me with a depressed and stunned feeling, but regrettably not in the good depressed, sucker punched way.

Now, to recount for all that - It begins fairly quickly and doesn't take too much sweet time to pick up the pace. The scenes are full of action, mystery and suspense are present, and the atmosphere is thick with dread, confusion, and delirium. The climax is tight, strong, and suspenseful.

Thankfully the pages practically drip blood. Laimoisn't a party pooper who keeps all the goodies locked away. Instead he displays them and even hands them out we have deaths galore, wicked masturbation/fellatio scenes, oozing fluids, gushing nasties, and all the extra good stuff that makes a person with a queasy stomach wish he/she hadn't read past the first page.

One complaint I do hold is some of the characters are a bit weak. Bev is the rock n roll star that's burnt out, grieving over his wife, and determined to save his sanity. His daughter isn't as well sketched out but doesn't come off as unlikable. Laimo did an admirable job with the preacher, but overall in the character department he could use some practice.

The writing style is short and strong. Laimo doesn't numb the novel with useless words that serve no purpose. Because of this, his style greatly compliments the suspense scenes. The book is written in third person, mainly told through the eyes of Bev.

Overall The Demonologist is an enjoyable book but by far not a perfect one. The plot is creepy and holds mucho potential; however, some of the scenes wound up being too cheesy for their own good. The characters were all likable and easy to follow, yet none of them were sketched out to be as believable as they could have been. The pacing and atmosphere are right on, though, and gore fans have reason to celebrate. Whip out that wallet if you're in the mood for some super cool demon battle scenes.

I had never read anything by Michael Laimo before, so I bought this book based on a recommendation I read stating he might be "The new Stephen King". Well, judging by this book, that sure ain't gonna happen! This book was a big disappointment to me. I had to force myself to keep reading it because all the flowery language (too many adjectives!) was boring! The characters were not likeable at all. And the story borrowed very heavily from the Exorcist (an excellent book by the way). The graphic descriptions of cannibalism, murder, mutilations, demons, etc., are probably what gives this book its' horror rating; but it was very predictable (especially the ending, which was DUMB!!)and didn't thrill or scare me in the least! I really wanted to like this author, but based on this novel, I didn't.

"The Demonologist" is the first Michael Laimo book I have read. Though it is not a groundbreaking hit, it is good if you're starving for a quick book to read. It is a relatively fast, light read, with enough action to entertain you for a few days. Here is a list of the pros and cons:

PROS: Good, graphic, gory descriptions; Nice build-up of mystery

CONS: Not the smartest plot; Disappointing ending; Cliché

"The Demonologist" won't covert non-horror fans to hardcore fanatics, it will provide a entertaining experience.

Here's the newest novel from a writer who consistently delivers big scares packed into tight plots narrated in an elegantly muscular prose style that rivals the best fiction Stephen King has ever produced. Allow Mr. Laimo to send you on a dark ride with aging rock star Bev Mathers, who thinks he might be losing his mind. Why? Because he's hearing terrible voices in his head and experiencing horrifying visions so graphic and depraved that they could not possibly be real. But they are real, and Bev discovers that the voices and visions are just the beginning of a nightmare come true. Could there possibly be a power so evil that God must join forces with Satan to defeat it? Bev Mathers will find out, because he is unlucky enough to have been selected as an essential player in a drama of terrors directed by the boundless dark powers of...The Demonologist! This is wicked good fun for hardcore horror fans, so be warned: The explicit imagery contained in this novel is most definitely NOT for the rainbow and unicorn crowd. This is kicked-up supernatural horror, folks! Go get it!

Michael Laimo had a lot to live up to after his stellar Bram Stoker nominated second novel, "Deep In The Darkness". Mix a little of "Legion: Exorcist 3", "Angel Heart", and "Eyes Wide Shut" and you have "The Demonologist". A very interesting first 100 pages creates an atmosphere of solid paranoia and suspense. Pieces of the puzzle begin to fall nicely into place until the priest explains for over 20 pages everything that is going on, leaving most of the mystery solved by the middle of the book. At that point, information is given to our protagonist (and the audience) a little too easily. The ending, as well, seemed rushed and tacked on too nonchalantly. However, the idea of God fighting along side of Satan to fight an even greater evil was fascinating and should stir up a little controversy. Overall, this book was well written and had a few chilling moments, but I would still recommend "Deep In The Darkness" to highlight the author's impressive talents.

SPOILER: When the characters reach the motel, it is four o'clock in the morning. The desk clerk apparently recognized them from the news reports earilier that night and informed the police. However, the characters slept until nine thirty before they were apprehended at the motel by the authorities -- meaning that the police took 5 and 1/2 hours to get there!

Right out of the gate this book grabs you, possesses you, and then spits out your soul... I like!! The story itself isn't necessarily new - demonic possession, demons trying to escape Hell, yadda yadda - but the mythos Laimo used, combined with the style of possession, rejuvenated this old idea with gusto. These characters are immediately familiar. Richly described, and thoroughly drowned in heart ache and hardships, you expect to see their wounds, instead you see their Band-Aids. The scars are there, but they don't dwell on them as much as try to learn from them.

Whether running in the rain, tolerating Hell, or facing the demons of sins past, the atmosphere is thick, oppressive, fearful, yet with a glimmer of hope and just enough empathy left to carry forward and see what happens. And forward you go. The pace carries the characters and story, with that atmosphere hanging over them, like the last runner in a marathon. Frantic, sporadic, but determined to cross that finish line.

And then he crossed the finish line... and kept running. He didn't stop and breathe, get a drink, or even have the courtesy to drop unconscious to the floor. No, he had to add those last four pages. And in one swift kick to my groin, he ruined what was a perfectly good ride. Deep? Eh, maybe on some theological level you will be left thinking, perhaps even reflecting on your beliefs, if you don't read the end. I've always been a believer in the `beginning will grab you, the ending will keep you' theory. The end itself was fine, it was the after thought denouement that pulled this book down into the pits of its own Hell.

Rating 3.5 It's a good book, and one that fans of religious horror will enjoy... but I'm angry, hurt, disappointed and still a little bitter about that end to let it have the 4 it so nearly was... but it's inexpensive, so go ahead and get it if you don't mind being slapped by Mickey after you get off Space Mountain.

I have been a fan of Mr. Laimo's work for the past year now. His use of the descriptive language and personalization of characters is always a joy to read. His novels transport you to a different time and place and keep you there. I find when I pick up one of his books I never want to put it down. The Demonologist proved no exception to this rule. As his most gruesome book to date I found myself sucked into a world of rock and roll, demons, and the human condition. All of his main characters came more and more alive with each page I turned. True to form, Michael's novel did not end with a "sissy or predictable" Hollywood ending but rather kept it open for readers to use their own imagination. I find that so few authors offer us this option so I always appreciate when one does. Well done Michael...Well Done!