The Boy Who Killed Demons
Mysterious Book Report No 215
by John Dwaine McKenna
Our Halloween Freak-fest continues this week with a YA (Young Adult) novel whose title says it all. His name is Henry Dudlow. He’s “fifteen and a half and cursed. Or damned. Take your pick.” The reason? “I see demons,” in Henry’s own words.
And so begins, The Boy Who Killed Demons, (Overlook Press, Peter Mayer Publishers Inc., $24.95, 288 pages, ISBN 978-1-4683-0960-7) by Dave Zeltserman. It’s the story of an ordinary kid named Henry, age fifteen and a half, who’s been seeing demons since he turned thirteen. Henry lives in an ordinary town, Newton, Massachusetts, where nothing ever happens. Well, until he noticed that one of the neighbors, Mr. Hanley, looked . . . different. Really different. He sounded different too. When he spoke, Henry heard Mr. Hanley’s words as series of growls and hisses as well as English. If Henry looked at him, Hanley had yellow eyes, bright red skin and razor sharp claws instead of hands, like every other human being on the planet. After he thought about it for a while, Henry decided to make a survey, to see if there were other demons out there, masquerading as humans. He finds that there are, but they’re few and far between and he often goes for days without spotting any. One trouble is, no one else can see demons like Henry does. His searching takes up more and more of his time, forcing him to give up friends, sports and even his budding romance with the love of his life, the most beautiful and lovely girl in the world, Sally Freeman. Soon, Henry’s spending most of his time hunting demons or researching them in ancient texts he finds in an obscure little Boston bookstore. With his grades slipping, his parents on his case demanding improvement and small children disappearing all over the city, Henry has more problems than any kid should have to deal with. But that’s exactly when he finds out that the demons are hunting for him . . . and they’re determined to kill him when they meet up.
The novel is exciting, full of surprises and has enough danger to entertain young and old alike. Zeltserman is a multiple award-winning master of the horror genre who’ll captivate a whole new audience with this compelling and fresh character, so full of teenage angst.
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I enjoyed this book. Very suspenseful, and the amalgam of peripheral kid with unusual abilities, who has an awful responsibility, and yet is no superhero is satisfying and appealing. That said, even after finishing it I was unclear as to the target age of the intended reader—YA? Adult? The hero is fifteen and a half. The sex and violence, while limited, is fairly graphic, even while a sense of humor still runs throughout the book. Last, I wasn't sure till the very end whether the story was a psychological thriller with a twist or a depiction of fictional "actual" events. For me, that uncertainty gave the book extra depth, but I'm not sure I didn't add that to it myself! ( )

This was a quick read and I really liked the journal style it was written in. It was interesting enough to keep me going to find out what happens next, however I was a bit disappointed because there were really major moments where I was thinking to myself that this would not have panned out the way it was written. The protagonist was really in situations that just should have had a bit more complexity to them and the ending was really a letdown as well. Character development was not very good as the other characters except the protagonist seeming to be unintelligent. I’m not sure if this was intentional or not. So the only thing this story has going for it is that it was a quick read and style it was written was easy to follow and it can keep your interest to the end hoping that there is something better coming. ( )

This was really fun. I haven't read a book that felt so compulsively readable for quite some time (and, like most LibraryThing members, I read a lot). The title pretty much tells you what to expect content-wise. Stylistically, the writing seemed excellent. Fans of Stephen King will very likely enjoy this one, although the tone felt a little lighter. Recommended for horror fans looking for something fun to devour in a couple of days. ( )

It is hard being a teenager. Even worse when you see a neighbor down the way mowing his lawn and the guy appears to you as a demon. Henry Dudlow was thirteen when his special talent became evident. A talent that he considers a curse and it is easy to see why. He sees demons. Not figuratively, but literally in the flesh and blood. Or at least in whatever they have body wise. Some of those who walk among us and appear to be human are actually demons in flaming red skin, yellow eyes, jaws full of glistening teeth, talons for hands, and more. They are among us and Henry Dudlow can see them.

It isn't like he can talk to anyone about what he sees as his parents, his teachers, and anyone else he told would think he was nuts. What he can do, because he is very smart, is to learn all he can about them so that he can eliminate them. One of the many problems he faces is the fact that the demons could figure out who he is before he is ready and do very bad things to him, his parents, and anyone he cares about. Hiding the fact that he can see them is one of the many challenges he faces.

Billed as a young adult novel, The Boy Who Killed Demons instead reads very much like an adult novel. Written in a journal style as the days and months pass, the book is Henry’s recounting of events and explanations for why he did what he did when he did it. Henry is smart, gifted even in some aspects, and experiences things at a level far above his age. The fight against the demons allows for nothing else and it is a battle that for the most part he experiences alone and shares with no one outside his journal. Those familiar with author Dave Zeltserman's numerous crime novels will detect a noir feel that runs the gamut of the book.

That being said this is a good book that features an interesting story line and a character that evolves over the length of the read. He frequently pushes boundaries in the course of learning how to go about dealing with, not only his ability to see demons, but the consequences of that talent and other actions. As result he does some very adult things that may not be legal and yet, with the fate of the world at stake, who is to judge? Language is, at times, graphic though the occasions are few.

As far as the horror angle goes, it was not horrific at all. There are some moments of violence and references to ancient evil and what demons can do and are trying to do now, but it isn’t a horror novel. Much like his very good The Caretaker of Lorne Field that was much more mystery than horror, that is the case here with a novel that is much more science fiction or fantasy like than horror. Not matter how your personally would classify it The Boy Who Killed Demons is a good read.

The Boy Who Killed Demons
Dave Zeltserman
http://www.hardluckstories.com
Overlook Press
http://www.overlookpress.com
October 2014
ISBN# 978-1468309607
Hardback (also available as an e-book)
288 Pages
$24.95

E-book review copy supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014 ( )