Rick Hautala had a love for movies. He would gladly discuss his opinions on the latest horror series or stand alone film with just about anyone who brought the subject up, sometimes even with those who didn’t. Further discussions with Rick would invariably involve the screenplays he’d written or was writing as well as his numerous meetings and conversations with producers or others associated with the film industry. There could be no doubt about Rick’s passion for film and his desire to be part of the industry when you saw the gleam in his eyes and the smile on his face during these discussions. Which brings us to The Demon’s Wife. As I was reading The Demon’s Wife, I couldn’t help but think it may have been written with an eye toward turning the manuscript into a screenplay. I’ve got to say, that with its emphasis on a visual narrative along with its sense of humor, romantic interludes and moments of high tension, not only was The Demon’s Wife a wonderful read, it would have made one hell of a movie.
Claire and her friend Sally are out having a drink one evening in a local bar when they spot an extremely handsome man. The man comes over to them and it becomes evident that the man, Samael, takes a liking to Claire despite Sally’s obvious intention to claim him for herself. After the man gives Claire his phone number and leaves the bar, Claire decides to leave also, and she waits outside for Sally to join her. While Claire is waiting, a man attempts to abduct and rape her. Before she is seriously hurt, Claire is rescued by Samael, and from that moment on a serious relationship develops between the two. But the relationship is not without a major problem; it seems that Samael is a fallen angel. In fact, he’s one of Satan’s demons and it turns out that Satan doesn’t take too kindly to any of his minions falling in love.
What follows is an exciting but bizarre courtship between Claire and Samael. It seems that Samael has been keeping some of his issues secret from Claire, including his original motive for seducing her, the danger he is putting her in, and the fact that he has a tail. Claire’s love for Samael is deep so she is willing to put up with all of these issues and even embrace one of them (she surely loves that tail!). When Samael asks her to marry him only weeks after they have first met, Claire agrees, and that’s when all hell breaks loose.
One look at the cover of The Demon’s Wife leaves no doubt that the major focus of the plot is the love story between the demon and Claire, and I thought Hautala a master in getting the relationship portion of the story perfect. The love between the two is presented in an adult manner and it felt genuine; there’s no schmaltz to wade through, nor is there any manufactured or silly emotional angst to suffer over. You really believe these two characters are in love. As far as the horror aspects to the novel go, they are frightening, never gratuitous, and they are always effective (in other words, it’s business as usual for Hautala).
The Demon’s Wife is one of the most entertaining novels I have read this year. There are scenes in this book that will have you at turns laughing out loud then wide eyed at the terror Hautala throws at you. Readers will find themselves falling in love with Claire, admiring her strength, rooting for her in times of trouble, and hoping the relationship will work out. All in all, The Demon’s Wife is a damn fine novel, and if it were possible, I would tell Rick that it would make a damn fine movie.
I can easily recommend The Demon’s Wife to all lovers of dark fiction.
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- The Equinox - April 2, 2015
- The Nightmare Girl - March 9, 2015
- Intruder - February 12, 2015
- The Only Red Is Blood - February 12, 2015
- Insanity Tales - February 3, 2015
- Qualia Nous - January 28, 2015
- Once Upon An Apocalypse - November 25, 2014
- The Janus Demon - November 17, 2014
- Case White - November 7, 2014
