Review: The Skeptic by Aaron Niz
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 7, 2012
I purchased "The Skeptic" by Aaron Niz on a whim' I didn't even ask for an example which amazon.com is happy to send. This gives the reader a chance to read a few chapters to get the feel of book. Amazon.com offers many services to the public such as this That really make buying a pleasure.This book has all the ingredients necessary for a great read. Unfortunately I didn't like Mr. Niz style of writing. His use of course language was a bit of a turn off. Also, at times the reading became tedious and drawn out. I suppose in an effort to prolong the thrill. I skimmed through many pages as much of it was redundant as he explains things over and over. I gave it only three stars I think it could have been much better writtenThe story takes place in upper New England. Our principal character, Harry Dobbs is with his brother, Gus, who is waiting to see Dr. Marco a Brazilian Dr.? or probably a shaman. The place is a hot, dirty room with little light. Harry who epitomizes the skeptic is there at his brother's request. Gus is dying of cancer and hopes this Dr. Marco will be able to help him. The whole scene is more than Harry can bear and he becomes quite vociferous to the point that the good Doctor and his musclemen are asking him to leave.Harry Dobbs is a man with a continious roving eye and just has to look over every female he sees. He has to imagine her naked and isn't always discreet about it which causes trouble between he and his wife, Angie, who, by the way, had an affair not long ago and Harry is still angry and resentfull and shows it. He is a confirmed atheist with a higher than average I.Q. who is not shy about talking about his beliefs. In fact he has had several debates about his beliefs versus that of Alfred Perkins a Catholic Priest. He doesn't hold back on his pronouncements but the Catholic Priest takes it all good-naturedly. After the last debate Alfred Perkins even asks Harry if he would join him for a drink. Harry declines the invitation as he has something pressing to take care of: The relationship with his wife.He receives an urgent call from his parents who are at the hospital with his brother Gus. While there he talks to his brother and realizes that he probably does not have much longer to live. The doctor who is treating Gus tells Harry that his brother is in a lot of pain and there isn't much that can be done. Well, maybe surgery but this will cost a great deal of money, money his parents don't have and may have to sell their house. Harry is appalled by the idea but he doesn't have the money either.In the meantime Father Alfred Perkins gets in touch with Harry and finally meets him in a hotel lobby and the have a drink together. Father Perkins offers Harry a job. A very peculiar and, quite possiby, dangerous. The whole thing is shrouded in secrecy. Harry's first instinct is to say no but the good Father then tells him he will pay him Two hundred thousand dollars. Harry then takes an interest as this money will pay for the operation Gus needs.Father Perkins explains that in the small town of Helena, New Hampshire there are very strange things going on and he suspects the Priest has gone rogue. He is almost certain that it involves Satin Worship but he has not been able to prove anything. Harry asks if the Church has sent anyone else to investigate and Father Perkins tells him that yes. However, just that morning the person sent in undercover committed suicide. Father Perkins is desperate to get someone to take this person's place.Harry goes home and tells his wife Angie about the meeting and tells her he accepted the job. He make very light of the whole thing and tells her the money is great and after haggling a bit got Father Perkins to agree to three hundred thousand. Angie knows why Harry is doing this so she doesn't get mad. She does not like the fact that he will be gone for an unknown length of time so he beggs hes to go with him. She decides that it will do them good and perhaps mend their marriage.Two weeks later they move to Helena with new identifications and a back story. He is to be an unsuccessful writer named Harry Coulson and Angie becomes Angie Coulson. They start to unpack and Angie is very enthusiastic about the whole thing. One of the first things they do is integrate into society and start going to church where they meet an elderly couple, Barb and Paul Marigold. Angie is delighted with Barb. She feels she is the mother she never had. Harry doesn't feel the same aout Paul. He later tells Angie that there is something about Paul that doesn't feel right. at the church they meet Bill Strathford who invites Harry to a special meeting that will be held at his home.from here on out things begin to take on a mysterious and dark tone. There is a girl that went missing two weeks before Harry and Angie arrived and still hasn't been found. Her name is Kayle Thurber. Harry becomes almost obsessed about finding out what happened to her and spends a great deal of time looking through old newspaper articles and talking to people. At around the same time a few men from the church invite Harry out for an evening of fun and games. Here he gets into serious trouble but doesnn't want to tell Angie about it. They drugged him and took him to a secret chamber. Well, I don't want to give too much away.Suffice to say that there are more strange, frightening, dark and  scary things that on more than one occasion puts Harry in danger. This tale has more twists and turns and people are just not who the appear to to be. The ending is going to shock everyone. It especially shocked Harry as he wasn't even close to divining who the real culprit was; who was really behind it all. And, yes, I will give away one thing away: There was Devil worship.Bookwormetc