Title: Baal
Author: Colville Young Jr. M.ED., M.B.E
Publisher: URLink Print and Media
ISBN: 978-1684866533
Pages: 134
Genre: Thriller, Murder-Mystery, Horror
Reviewed by: Dana Kennedy
Hollywood Book Reviews
Baal by author Colville Young Jr. is a murder mystery novel which artfully melds elements of horror into the mystery genre, resulting in a thrilling and unpredictable narrative. Seamlessly combining elements of the supernatural, murder-mystery, and thriller genres, the book keeps readers eagerly turning pages, offering a unique and gripping reading experience that transcends conventional genre boundaries.
The narrative centers around Walter, an ordinary math teacher yearning for a change in his life. His journey into the realm of mystery and horror commences when he reconnects with Jennifer, a high school friend who invites him to go to an art gallery. A pervasive sense of peculiarity surrounds D’Angelo, a feeling that intensifies when the shocking news breaks the next week – D’Angelo and two museum staff members have been found dead. Their demise is shrouded in mystery, marked by inexplicable ailments, eerie apparitions, and unsettling chants. Overwhelmed by grief for their lost friend, Walter and Jennifer embark on a quest to unearth the truth behind D’Angelo’s death, beginning with the enigmatic painting of the church from D’Angelo’s curated art room, “Dark Secrets.” Their journey leads them to David, a source of vital information about this mysterious artwork.
The plot deepens as David reveals the existence of a concealed painting beneath the surface, featuring dark and unsettling themes. Remnants of blood in the paint further escalate their unease, compelling them to pursue the art dealer responsible for selling the painting to D’Angelo. Their quest takes them to a church in Italy, depicted in the artwork, leading this trio of amateur detectives on an international adventure. Their relentless pursuit of answers and the anticipation of unraveling the enigma behind the strange deaths propel them to follow each new lead.
The novel stands out in the author’s use of easy, comprehensible language and dialogue. Fast-paced and to the point, the author successfully created an engrossing and thrilling read. A striking feature of the book is its reverence for art and philosophy. The book explores the themes of good, evil, and morality. Thought-provoking conversations between characters distinguish between right and wrong, as we would notice from the conversation between Walter and his old friend, Father Grayson. One of the book’s most interesting facts is its mythological exploration. Talks between the characters revealed the modern explanation of why people used to fear vampires back in the Middle Ages, the possible theory behind the myth of the Chinese dragon, and so on. What made it immersive was the straightforward and natural flow of conversation between each character, showing incredible compatibility.
Baal is a story that cleverly explores the themes of life’s many philosophies, but most importantly of good and evil through a mix of supernatural, murder-mystery, and thriller plots. The book is an absolute page-turner. It will leave the reader clutching onto the edge of their seat for more. This book is both a “trick” and a “treat” for readers with a taste for murder mysteries, amateur detectives, thrilling adventures, and chilling horror.