Customer Reviews

Wind Cave

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On Saturday, June 14, 1969, John Ellison, age 13, and his stepfather were exploring Wind Cave, a segment of the Arnold Lava Tube System in Bend, Oregon. Shortly after entering the cave, John had a sudden, overwhelming feeling of dread and a premonition that something was terribly wrong. John convinced his stepfather to leave the cave as quickly as possible. About a half hour later, two other men in the cave discovered the badly decomposed body of Mrs. Beverly Gayley. The body was wrapped in bedding and hastily buried under rocks near the entrance. She had an electrical cord around her neck and severe head trauma. Gayley, age 54, had been reported missing from her home since mid-April. An autopsy reported her death was due to "combined acts of violence." For young John Ellison, the memories of that trip and the ensuing murder investigation would have a profound effect on him for years to come. So profound in fact that as an adult, "the need to purge his soul of disturbing memories" would inspire him to write Wind Cave.
In Wind Cave, Ellison (NSS# 50750) has relived the events of his youth through the eyes of Ronny Hazelwood and his young companions. When a woman's body is found in Wind Cave, the kids begin their own murder investigation and unintentionally get caught between supernatural forces of good and evil, culminating deep underground where the known laws of nature seem to have disappeared. It is the perfect book to read aloud the next time you find yourself trapped underground with a bunch of scouts.
Anyone wishing to explore Wind Cave after reading this book should be reminded that the murderer of Beverly Gayley was never found. And you know what they say: the guilty always return to the scene of the crime.

John Eric Ellison's new book takes a nod to horror and the supernatural. Although the writing is as refined as Desecending Circles, John takes a different step and concentrates more on characterization this time, as opposed to historical detail. The result is a more enjoyable book in my humble opinion. It's obvious that Mr. Ellison has remembered his childhood; many people forget that children's problems can be as agonizing in their minds as the problems adult's have. This concept is brought home with striking ability as the story unfolds. The reader begins to race along with the novel's events towards the conclusion, where the philosophical ramifications of life after death, spaced throughout the book, are brought into play.
In many ways similar to Dean Koontz' novels from the 1980's and 1990's, this novel takes murder and the supernatural, and combines them with humanity and philosophy.
The result is a complex and deep novel you will read again.
(Additional note: my high school aged son read this book in record time, also enjoying it immensely.)

I found Wind Cave an insightful work based on the following observations. First, I enjoyed the way the author depicted different character types in the teenager heroes of the story. Moreover, in the course of the story it is the innocent soul of a teenager that is the key to help the restless spirit of the victim of a horrible murder to find her murderer and bring him to justice. The other aspect of the story, which I found commendable, was that the author touched on one of the most fundamental questions of human beings - life after death.

In Wind Cave every reader can find him/herself in the image of one of the teenager heroes of the story. Meanwhile, the thrilling nature of the murder mystery keeps the reader attached to the story. Wind Cave is a work that will be remembered long after it has been read because of its originality.

Hello Eric: I've reserved "Wind Cave" at local public lib & am anxious to read it. Good luck with book! I'm a PA author with my "Passing the Baton..." in pre-publication stage. Am not going to Convention at Ft. Detrich Holiday Inn, are you? How was your book signing at Willow Grove? I'd like to communicate with you, if you're so inclined---to compare notes, etc. William J. Hirsch, 150 Strafford Ave., Suite 115, Wayne, PA 19087, voice 610-687-7792, fax 610 687-7704.