The Lucifer Messiah [Mass Market Paperback]

Frank Cavallo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2006

Sean Mulcahy answered Uncle Sam's call. In the autumn of 1917, he left his home, his friends, and the girl he loved. On the killing fields of the Western Front, he vanished without a trace. Thirty years later his best friend Vince Sicario is a broken man. Split from his wife, run off the NYPD, his world swirls in the bottom of a bottle. Until Sean comes clawing at his door. Bleeding. Delirious. And looking not a single day older. Vince turns to the only person he trusts, his wife Maggie—the woman Sean left behind three decades earlier. Together they hit the streets of Hell's Kitchen, seeking answers to Sean's disappearance and mysterious return. But others are on the same trail, and something terrible is lurking in the dark alleys and dirty corners of the West Side. Wise guys are disappearing. Mutilated corpses are turning up. The cops are baffled and gangsters are running scared. Rumors abound of strange gatherings in the shadows, of ancient horrors reborn, of blood feasts and pagan rites rekindled. Some say the savior of the damned has come. Sean may be in terrible danger. Or the greatest danger of all—the Lucifer Messiah.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dark fantasy fans will cherish this urban thriller."  —Book Crossing

"Fans of monster-infested tales will enjoy the strange ones on display here, several who would fit perfectly in a Lovecraft story."  —The Horror Fiction Review

"Great style and originality . . . a compelling story that keeps you guessing until the very end."  —EternalNight

About the Author

Frank Cavallo was born in New Jersey in 1972. He is a criminal defense attorney at the Cuyahoga County Public Defender Office, and lives in Lakewood, Ohio.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 388 pages
• Publisher: Medallion Press (July 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932815872
• ISBN-13: 978-1932815870
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,943,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a girl in love with this "boy" book, July 7, 2006

By 

Gina (nyc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lucifer Messiah (Mass Market Paperback)

a friend gave me an advanced copy of this book with a disclaimer, "it's a "boy" book but you'll love it b/c of the old new york feel"... well, he was right. i don't know if it's fair to call it a "boy" book but it's totally fair to say that the author sets up midcentury new york with such vivid details that, as another reviewer put it, feels like you are watching a movie. totally recommended for boys and girls!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Odd and Different, August 29, 2006

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lucifer Messiah (Mass Market Paperback)

Sean Mulcahy went off to war in 1917 and disappeared. Now, decades later, he has returned, wounded, to the doorstep of the childhood friend who stole his girl. Vince and his estranged wife Maggie try to nurse the wounded friend back to health despite an obvious bullet wound. Sean's condition seems to be related to the changing criminal element in the neighborhood (Hell's Kitchen).

But there is more going on than just a change in criminal bosses. Strange creatures have fled Europe and taken refuge in the city. They usually look like men or women but are very different indeed. Sean might be one of them. A prophesy and a power struggle put Sean in a position he refuses to accept. Meanwhile, Vince tries to make sense of it all. Eventually it all comes to a boil and gets worked out to some degree.

This is a strange and confusing book. The real problem is that we seldom see things from a human viewpoint. For the most part we are stuck watching the action through the eyes of creatures we cannot connect with. Because their nature is kept secret to build tension, understanding their views is pretty much impossible. There are some interesting ideas buried in the confusion. There is also some oddities in the timeline. The time scale seems to be off like a change was made during writing but it wasn't completely changed. All in all I am not sure I recommend the book. The title and back description are very misleading and the execution is off. Still, you may see something in it I missed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars loved it, so will you!, July 7, 2006

By 

Helen of Troy (new york, ny) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lucifer Messiah (Mass Market Paperback)

I rarely read fantasy books but this has intrigued me and peaked my interest for more, especially if they are going to be more written by Frank Cavallo. I was surprised to learn that this is first book. I found myself staying up late so I could read one more chapter but it never seemed like enough. I actually had to force myself to put the book down and go to sleep! The details and the imagination are impeccable! Great read, looking forward to more!