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In the wake of World War I in the small, Southern town of Bellhaven, South Carolina, the town folk believe they've found a little slice of heaven in a mysterious chapel in the woods. But they soon realize that evil can come in the most beautiful of forms. The people of Bellhaven have always looked to Ellsworth Newberry for guidance, but after losing his wife and his future as a professional pitcher, he is moments away from testing his mortality once and for all. Until he finally takes notice of the changes in his town... and the cardinals that have returned. Upon the discovery of a small chapel deep in the Bellhaven woods, healing seems to fall upon the townspeople, bringing peace after several years of mourning. But as they visit the "healing floor" more frequently, the people begin to turn on one another, and the unusually tolerant town becomes anything but. The cracks between the natural and supernatural begin to widen, and tensions rise. Before the town crumbles, Ellsworth must pull himself from the brink of suicide, overcome his demons, and face the truth of who he was born to be by leading the town into the woods to face the evil threatening Bellhaven.
A mysterious chapel in the woods promises healing to a grief-stricken Southern town, but its supernatural influence soon breeds discord and darkness. In the aftermath of World War I, the residents of Bellhaven, South Carolina, find solace in a chapel that appears to mend their sorrows. However, Ellsworth Newberry, a former professional pitcher haunted by personal loss, begins to suspect that the chapel's gifts come at a terrible price as the townspeople turn against each other and the natural order unravels. Ellsworth must confront his own despair and the encroaching evil to save Bellhaven from itself.
The premise sets up a classic Southern Gothic narrative, blending historical setting with supernatural horror. The focus on a protagonist grappling with personal tragedy while facing an external, insidious threat suggests a story that explores themes of faith, despair, and the darkness lurking beneath idyllic surfaces. The narrative appears to build tension through the unraveling of community trust and the blurring lines between reality and the uncanny. It is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy atmospheric thrillers with a touch of the supernatural and a strong sense of place.
Page Count:
354
Publication Date:
2018-01-01
ISBN-10:
0718090284
ISBN-13:
9780718090289
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