by Ray Garton
First published 2011
Jordan Cross tracks a vanished journalist to the mountain retreat of Hester Thorne and her Universal Enlightened Alliance. The charismatic leader claims to channel Orrin, an ancient entity who delivers messages of peace to devoted followers from around the world. Lauren Schroeder arrives at the same remote location searching for her husband, who joined the Alliance and took their son. Cross and Schroeder discover the organization's public face of crystals and meditation masks something far more sinister. Hester demands ultimate sacrifices from chosen members while conducting rituals to breach the barrier between worlds. The Alliance serves an ancient cult working to unleash unspeakable evil. As the final ceremonies begin, Cross and Schroeder race to expose the truth and save the missing before the dark rites reach completion.
Genres: mystery, horror, thriller, dark-fantasy
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Mountain Retreat, Universal Enlightened Alliance
Period: Contemporary
504 pages · Paperback · e-reads.com
Content warnings: violence