Review: Best of the two
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 27, 2014
It’s not often that a sequel exceeds its predecessor, but THE NARROW GATE does so in spades.In this second installment, Nicholson introduces us to the entire community of Solom, baring its flaws and secrets, and characters that I was able to relate.  Characters with different motivations always enhance a story and that includes the supernatural entities.  The characters are well presented to the reader as lively, interesting, memorable people from the Appalachians, which Nicholson knows so well.Jett and her mother from the first book are back having stayed in Solom after Gordon’s death, convinced that they were now safe from that evil influence and a need to maintain a presence on their inherited property.  The goats were back to being goats and the headless ghost of Rebecka, apparently appeased with the death of her abusive husband Gordon, has taken a hike.Nothing is so simple in Solom.  Harmon, the Preacher is still around claiming a victim every so often and Solom has accepted the fact over the years.  But Harmon doesn’t seem happy with just one victim and there seems to be a different reason for his return.The tension begins early and builds throughout the book as Nicholson’s prose propels the reader to a satisfying climax involving the entire community, the Preacher, and the Scarecrow.  Oh, you thought he was gone?  Ha.  What further horror can these two evil entities inflict on Solom that is worse than the murder of a Solom resident?THE SCARROW is good, THE NARROW GATE is superb.