Dead Light by Mike Pace Review

…a matter of light and death…

In the sleepy college town of Cumberton, MD, an old cemetery must be moved to make room for a new dormitory, and an ungodly Light, buried for centuries, escapes. A rash of gruesome student suicides rocks the town. Sheriff Estin Booker teams up with former Baltimore homicide detective Anna Tucci to investigate the deaths. What neither expects is to have all roads point to a 2000-year-old legend which, if true, could lead to the destruction of mankind.

The most frightening account of the power of evil breaching our world since The Exorcist, DEAD LIGHT will teach you the most improbable lesson you will ever learn:

Excerpt:

With Jill’s help, and using his previous foothold, it didn’t take long for him to crawl out of the grave. He took a couple of deep breaths and tested his ankle. Still hurt, but not as bad. Definitely just a sprain.

She pointed the light beam at the box. Looked about five inches square and maybe three or four inches high. At one time it probably had been painted red, but now was more the shade of rust. Curious. It was made of wood, yet unlike the casket, had remained intact. He shook the box. Nothing.

Jill took the box and shook it. “Empty.”

“Why would they bury a locked empty box?” he asked.

She aimed the light on the headstone, which lay on its side nearby. The letters were barely legible.

                            Father William Cumber

                                     1645-1713

“The guy they named the town after?” she asked.

“Maybe it’s some religious relic. When we get back, I’ll get a screwdriver and pry it open.”

“What if there’s something valuable inside?” She turned. Momentarily, the flashlight beam moved away from the path. In that instant, Tony tripped again.

“Shit.”

They both fell, sending the flashlight flying out of Jill’s hand.

Pain from his ankle shot up Tony’s leg. “Find the flashlight,” he said through clenched teeth. He rolled over onto his stomach and tried his best to get to his knees.

Jill crawled in a short radius, groped around for the light while still holding tight to the box.

“Got it.” She turned on the flashlight, pointing the beam upwards as she slowly rose to her feet.

Tony thought he felt something brush against his skin; probably a moth. And a sweet odor. Familiar, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Must be from opening all the graves after hundreds of years.

From behind them, a deep, gravelly whisper. “Give me the box.”

Jill’s shriek reverberated throughout the entire cemetery. She turned, and the edge of the light beam caught the face of a wild-haired, crazy-eyed old man. She screamed again and dropped the flashlight; the light went out. Though he was as scared as she was, Tony hobbled back to insert himself between Jill and the old man. The man grabbed for the box. Tony flailed out with his right arm, the box flew out of the old man’s hand, smacking into a headstone. The soft wood cracked, splitting the box open along its seams. Instantly, a searing light from inside the box flashed, then disappeared.

Tony thought, how could that be possible? He must've been seeing stars from hitting his head. Frantic, he looked around but the old man had disappeared. Jill knelt in the soil, her face buried in her arms. She must’ve tripped, too. He helped her to her feet.

“You okay?” she asked, then brushed her arm.

“Moths,” he said. “They’re all over the place.”

“Tony, think I saw a flash of light coming from the box.”

              Tony glanced down at the broken box. Of course there was no light inside. “From hitting your head when you fell, that’s all.”

“But I didn’t—”

The cough interrupted her. They both froze. He was still there.

My Thoughts:

College kids are committing suicide, or are they?? A teenage couple have a tryst in the towns cemetery one night. They  fall into an open grave from the 1600's where they find an old box...that is when their nightmare begins. A clever take of good against evil and which faction will win in the end. The characters were written with compassion, I loved Detective Tucci the best though. A hard talking woman sent for a little vacation by her boss because she had shot a perp. What starts as just a ride along with the local cop for her turns out to be one scary ride. I love a good thriller and this book did not disappoint. Reminded me of Stephen King in his older books. Read it with all the lights on though, very spooky indeed!!

I received this book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.