Michael R. Hagan

Demiurge involves a police detective investigating horrendous murders of a serial killer. A sign painted on the walls at the killings brings together the police detective with an archeologist working on the find of a lifetime. A tomb discovered in Iran with multiple prophesies written at different times, but all ending with the same one. An "Entity" views the world through multiple ages and through many people's minds. How does it affect the world, what is it's purpose? What does a small show more child have to do with this? This was a very intricate book, losing me a couple times, but always keeping my interest. Very thought provoking right to the very satisfying ending. i highly recommend it! show less

This is a horror thriller with pseudo-mystical trappings that the author outlines in a broad-brush introduction of the ancient myths of a mysterious entity called the Demiurge. The novel opens with Detective William Hasson called to a grisly murder of a family. The trail of blood leads to a mental institution where the inmates have slaughtered the staff and left their severed skulls piled in an unusual formation and a peculiar symbol on the walls. Concurrently Professor McKenzie Sorts show more through inscriptions in his archeological digs and uncovers vague but foreboding prophecies and the “Seer” symbol. The professor and the detective eventually cross paths and join in the search to solve the mystery of the continuing murders apparently under the influence of the Demi-urge. At times the author gets lost in the mystical fog of the “entity” but fresh blood and intrigue puts him back on track. In the end “free will” is the key to thwart the “entity”. Not a book you want to read on a dark and stormy night.

This was free copy awarded by Bookkus and reflects my honest review. show less

Part crime mystery, part religious fantasy, this is a little like the Dan Brown stories but with more emphasis on the crime than the religion - not entirely surprising as the main character is a police detective. In keeping with our expectations of the genre, Detective Hassom is estranged from his wife and child and is prone to beating himself up over how he allows his job to get in the way of his relationship with his child. Although something of a cliche, this does at least have some show more relevance to the story and can be forgiven.

The plot is an interesting one and the story begins with Hassom investigating a horrific multiple murder. We follow Hassom in his investigation as he comes to understand the enormity of what he is dealing with and, eventually, his own role in it.

The characterisation is very good and most of the main characters develop in believable ways in response to events. All of the characters remain consistent and most of them are distinct (with the exception of the two main female characters who I thought were a little too similar and not really sufficiently developed).

However, at times the narrative became unnecessarily wordy. I realise that this was almost certainly deliberately done and restricted to the chapters that dealt with historic and mythical events but I found it quite annoying and skipped through much of these parts of the book. I also skipped through much of the sex scene which was far too long and seemed quite out of place, serving only to interrupt the flow of the story.

There are also a few too many editing oversights, including the occasional use of the wrong word (the repeated use of the word incredulous instead of incredible was particularly irritating).

On the whole there is more to like about it than not to like so I’d say it’s worth a read. show less

Archeologists discover an ancient text that turns out to b a prophecy. A young boy with mysterious powers emerges, as does a threat. When a dangerous psychopath is released from the mental hospital and kills children in an orphanage, it is up to Detective William Hassom to put the pieces together.

At times I felt like there were too many characters and too many plots lines to keep up with, while at other times, I felt like this book was a roller-coaster thrill ride.