Past Sins [Paperback]

Don Ecker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2004

America was fighting a Cold War against the Soviets. It was the CIA versus the KGB, a covert war fought to contain the struggle so that real war would never break out. The year was 1965, just three years after the nation had retreated from the nuclear nightmare that almost occurred over Soviet missiles in Cuba. When the CIA found a supernatural creature (thought to be mythological) in Hungary, they thought they had won. It was a creature they thought could be contained and controlled... one they thought they could bend to their will... a creature so horrifying, it was only spoken about in whispers, so even the walls wouldn't hear. But, they forgot one important thing ... they forgot that you can never dance with the Devil unless he calls the tune. Now, at the dawn of the 21st Century, it has escaped... and the real nightmare has only just begun. "Try to run away from Don Ecker's pulse-pounding new novel Past Sins and it will rip your throat out. Submit! Read it! And you might survive! There are horror novels and then there is Past Sins. Ecker has obviously been in the middle of a moment so horrific that one's senses cease to operate, and the dance of death begins. You can thank him or curse him, but he has now decided to personally share that moment with you in his epic Past Sins. Drink or feed at your own risk!" (Dwight Schultz, television and film star.)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Don Ecker is the Director of Research for UFO Magazine and is married to the Editor-in-Chief of UFO Magazine, Vicki C. Ecker. A medically retired law enforcement officer, he puts a skeptical and honest eye on UFO and paranormal subjects. Ecker hosted the critically acclaimed radio programs "UFOs Tonite!" and "Strange Daze" for six years, interviewing the important personalities in the UFO and paranormal research fields and discussing on-going cases.

Today, along with television and film star Dwight Schultz, he hosts "Dark Matters" on the Reality Radio Network. Acknowledged as an international expert on UFOs, Don has appeared at UFO conferences both in the United States and Europe, and on television nationally in the U.S., Japan, Europe, Australia and the Russian CIS.

In 1981-82, while a detective, he was lead investigator on two cattle mutilation cases. Intrigued by the fact the animals were drained of blood, and always interested in legends and mythological tales, he began researching the vampire myths. This was the first step in the writing of Past Sins.

Product Details

• Paperback: 332 pages
• Publisher: Dark Realm Press (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975264508
• ISBN-13: 978-0975264508
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,072,927 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Looking for just vampires? Go else where, this book is so much more., September 6, 2005

By 

vampress.net (Toronto Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Past Sins (Paperback)

We've all heard the adage, don't judge a book by it's cover, and it has never rung more true than in the case of Don Ecker's debut novel Past Sins. It's tagline reads "A a novel of supernatural horror" and the cover art insights images of Transylvanian Counts and the same tired old vampire cliche retold again and again. But don't judge a book by it's cover, tired Counts it thankfully lacks. While there are certainly acts of unspeakable horror depicted in this novel, it doesn't fall neatly into the horror genre. Past Sins is certainly more of an epic action thriller laced with sweat-soaked gun-wielding law enforcement and top secret government...vampires!

We follow a group of characters through the present day battle with the undead and witness the true story unfold through vivid flashbacks to the 60's. It is here we learn of the CIA's top secret special weapon, a Hungarian vampire. But when the project goes awry and vampire converts escape their ultra guarded CIA housings, Hell comes to America as local and national law enforcement embark on the enormous and maybe impossible task of controlling the spread.

This is one novel that begs for, if not needs, a sequel. It's apparent the events in this novel are only the tip of the iceberg. Ecker breaks many barriers in Past Sins. He focused on the magnitude of the situation and not the life histories of every character introduced. He didn't shy away from shifting points of view, allowing the events to be seen through the eyes of several characters almost seamlessly and in turn further amplifying the danger present. And he certainly wasn't afraid to kill off a likable character. Sorry folks, but this is reality, no happy endings here.

But overall, Ecker has produced an original vampire story and twist on the Lilith myth. You won't find any latex clad half-vampire superheroes here, just real people in ultra realistic combat with a supernatural entity brought to life. Remove the vampire and the story still has immeasureable impact on a world where government conspiracy and the fear of terrorism are our reality. It's a gritty epic fueled by the scent of fear, testosterone, blood, sweat and the tears for the fallen.

If you're a vampire enthusiast or just an action junky, you'll enjoy the new life breathed on both genres. Don, bring on the sequel!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Past Sins- A Great Twist On the Vampire Tale, September 22, 2004

By 

Robert T. Leach - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Past Sins (Paperback)

"Write what you know," is the mantra of countless creative writing instructors. Don Ecker has taken this advice to heart. Mr. Ecker's background as a cop, special ops member in Viet Nam and researcher of all things strange for UFO Magazine, one of the top publications of its kind, has well prepared him for his debut novel.

Past Sins is a multi-layered pager turner for several reasons. Mr. Ecker's portrayal of elite soldiers and weary cops has the authenticity that comes from someone who understands both the hardware and the unique cultures, the way only an insider could. There are no cardboard super sleuths or indestructible Rambos to be found. Set in contemporary Los Angeles, the story is populated by characters the reader comes to care about, people that doubt, bleed and sometimes die.

What Past Sins shares with many classic stories we remember long after the last page has been turned is an underlying allegory. This story suggests the sins of an individual or a government may return to haunt the sinner. Mr. Ecker has chosen a timely theme indeed. Our government's marriage of convenience to flesh and blood monsters, from Nazis to dictators to drug lords and terrorists is a matter of historical record. The results of some of those unholy couplings are painfully obvious to even the most casual observer of current events.

This bitter little pill is wrapped in a sweet, action-rich vampire vs. cop/soldier thriller that leaves you unsure of the outcome until the last page.

I can hardly wait to see what Mr. Ecker comes up with next.

Robb Leach is a Sergeant/Supervisor with the Maywood, California Police Department, and is a prolific free-lance writer in his spare time.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A scary tale of Black Ops, tough cops, and vampires!, July 1, 2004

By 

John E. Brandenburg (Cape Canaveral, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Past Sins (Paperback)

Past Sins is a superb scary tale of black ops, tough cops, and vampires, but is also much more than that. Past Sins is a scary book that gave me nightmares galore as I plowed through it compulsively. It is a page-turner, but for me one I could not read at night, and I don't even believe in vampires! It delves deeply into the folklore and history surrounding vampirism, and blends this seamlessly in the story line, but it is also a portrait of good and evil, evil of the vilest kind, and this is found not only in the undead. In this novel it is debatable who was more evil and ruthless, the vampires, or those who tried to wield them as a weapon.

Past Sins is an allegory in addition to being a horrifying page-turner: it is fable for our time, because the title refers not to the sins of the undead but those of our own government. The premise, that the US government, in absolute secrecy, discovered and employed a vampire during the Cold War, is chillingly reminiscent of the historical record, were the US intelligence community showed itself willing to employ former nazis, Mafiosi, assorted homicidal despots, Ussama Bin Laden , reportedly little gray aliens , and finally even the French. The noble end of defeating Communism supposedly justified all of these "means." But as the US has learned painfully, the devils you support and employ you ultimately cannot control. In Past Sins , all hell literally breaks loose.

However, Past Sins functions not just as a horrifying tale, and not just as an allegory, but also as a vivid story with engaging characters. Don Ecker's fertile imagination has produced a wide cast of veteran soldiers, nervous Intel operatives, and hard-boiled cops all woven together in the cosmos that is LA. I was especially smitten by his portrait of the LA police, who deal with such horror and danger daily that even the appearance of vampirism barely provokes raised eyebrows among them. As one reads the book , one is soon involved with the characters and swept up in the wild train ride that finally ends with a shattering conclusion. For the US government, once fully aware that its horrid secret weapon has escaped, pulls out all stops to try to contain the evil is has unwittingly unleashed. I say : read this book!