Customer Reviews

The Evil Returns

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The Evil Returns seems to be a sequel, judging by the brief backstory given in the novel's opening pages, but don't let that discourage you from picking this up, you'll be missing a real treat. Margal (the returning evil) kidnaps a young American girl and sneaks her into Florida, but for what? Finding out is a lot of fun. Judging by the list of awards and high praise blurbs Hugh B. Cave receives on the book jacket, the man is a well known and respected writer in the horror genre. I have been reading horror for well over twenty years and Cave's name is new to me, but discovering this writer late is way better than never, believe me. The Evil Returns features the kind of tight plotting, strong characters, and brisk pace that many contemporary writers seems incapable of providing. Highly recommended.

Hugh B. Cave has an intimate knowledge of Haiti and voodoo and this shows in his novels. The story follows the exploits of an evil bocor (sorcerer) who has a plan to gain influence the US President. The sorcerer uses his powers to control the minds of others, including a little girls who he kidnaps and takes with him to Florida. I enjoyed the creepier aspects of the novel but thought that some of the subplots were a drag, including a perfunctory romance. But all in all if you want a voodoo story that uses authenic details to come alive-this is it!

Much better than The Dawning, another Leisure line novel. Cave creates a good plot, believeable characters, and the story flows smoothly until the climax

I am a new reader of Cave's and enjoy his writing style which is simple but powerful. Unlike so many writers, he does not overwrite and uses a clear and concise voice to express his thoughts.

He uses words like darts and creates intense imagery that lets you see the action as it unfolds and is a good dialogue writer as well. Cave is simply a writer with a vision and knows how to detail his research of the occult and witchcraft.

Keep it up, Mr Cave. Two thumbs way way up!

This novel -as its title may suggest -is actually a sequel ,the original work being called The Evil .
but not having read the original should not pose a major barrier to enjoying this book as Cave quickly and efficiently sketches in the back story in the opening chapter .It opens in Haiti -a country in which Cave lived for 5 years and he brings a knowledge and respect for the country and its traditions which is helpful to the reader .A powerful sorceror named Margal is presumed dead but has in fact survived the events of the preceeding novel albeit with the loss of his legs .He sets out to regain and expand his earlier power and sets out to influence the mind of a 10 year old American child ,the daughter of an official employed in the US embassy in Haiti .Her father just happens to be the son of the US presidents most trusted advisor .By exerting mind control over both the child (Merry Dawson )and her father Brian he seeks to eventually control the actions of the president and assume the power that such would give him .Trying to stop his plans -by resuing the girl from his clutches are the child's mother,Sandra and an old flame of hers the intrepid and rugged pilot Ken Forrest .Margai impedes them by mind control and sending hallucinations as well as through a network of helpers and hirelings .The chase takes them to Florida wher events reach their conclusion

Cave was a much decorated writer ;he garnered Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Horror Writers Guild and the World Fantasy Association but never broke through to mass readership,He is something therefore of a fringe writer to all but the truly dedicated horror writer and there is a slightly old fashioned air to some of his writings as they are relatively non-gory and by no means explicit in their violence .They are none the worse for this and the book is recommended to those who like well crafted horror tales