My third entry in spooky reads for October can be succinctly described as the X-Files set in post-Civil War America. In the Eidola Project Series by Robert Herold, a ragtag band of paranormal investigators expose hoaxes, face down monsters, and solve mysteries using a combination of science, grit, and mystical visions.
The Eidola Project
The series begins with The Eidola Project, which introduces us to the ragtag group of investigators, including a Harvard physicist, his female second in command, a young psychic, a black physics professor, and a Confederate Civil War veteran. As you can imagine, the group's makeup creates ample drama as they expose hoaxes and hunt down monsters.
I've written an extensive review of the book here.
Moonlight Becomes You
If anything, the second installment of the series is even better than the first. This time, our motley crew of investigators hunts a werewolf and confronts the Klu Klux Clan. Once again, interpersonal drama and social commentary add spice to a classic monster tale.
You can find an expansive review of Moonlight Becomes You here.
Totem of Terror
Totem of Terror brings our investigators to the wild Pacific Northwest to investigate a string of bizarre deaths in the Native American community. Herold really pulls out the stops in this one. Several times, I was shocked and dismayed in a good way by the plot twists. By the novel's end I was pleasantly surprised to discover a fourth book is forthcoming.
These books aren't so much scary as they are plain fun. This series is a collection of monster tales harkening back to the classic horror movies of the 50s, 60s, and maybe even earlier. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in reading incredibly fun monster yarns that are, at times, creepy and chock-full of perfectly imperfect characters.
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