Review – Devouring Dark by Alan Baxter
Doesn’t seem like five minutes ago I was writing my last review, a fine historical fiction piece. A big genre jump this time, as I delve into another favourite, this time horror. I reviewed Alan Baxter’s Manifest Recall not so long ago, and I loved it. I read today in an interview with Baxter that one of his main influences was Clive Barker. This may be so, but the author is more than someone trying to emulate his hero; Baxter can stand up there with the Barkers of the world, crafting supernatural tales of everyday (and some not so everyday) folk thrown into situations that beggar belief.
In Devouring Dark we meet Matt McLeod, a man afflicted by a dark presence that has lived within him since a childhood tragedy. Now in his twenties, he uses his power to deal with the people who evade the law – the likes of paedophiles, rapists and murderers. Call him a paranormal vigilante, if you will. Like all vigilantes, he is skirting the law, but Baxter makes Matt a sympathetic character (something the author does very well), and we root for him even as his own sad backstory unfolds. On Matt’s most recent encounter, a young man films him taking out his latest target, and brings it to the attention of his employer, a local hitman. Got all that? There’s more.
Amy Canvendish also has this inner darkness, although not to the degree as Matt. Amy is a palliative care nurse who uses her power to ease the passing of people dying alone, easing their way into, well, wherever. She also has a touch of the inner vigilante about her, taking out those who deserve it. Where Matt’s power is more like a nuclear bomb, Amy’s is more like a poisoner, slowly killing her prey. You know they’re destined to meet, and when they did, it was murder.
(Sorry for the eighties TV reference)
There are other characters with sizeable input. Vince Stratton is the Fagin-esque hitman who discovers Matt’s unique ability, and decides to use him for his own gain. Charlie Collins is a bent copper (surprised Baxter didn’t use this term) who wants to take down Stratton, but is also intrigued by Matt. All the major characters are well-rounded, with their good and bad points, another Baxter strength. The story is compelling and moves at a fast pace – I read this in a couple of days.
To finish, this was a great story. I think Manifest Recall appealed to me more, but this is no reflection on Devouring Dark, which definitely deserves 4-4.5 stars.
