Cold Moon over Babylon

Valancourt 20th Century Classics

De: Michael McDowell

Narrado por: Scott Brick

Welcome to Babylon, a typical sleepy Alabama small town, where years earlier the Larkin family suffered a terrible tragedy. Now they are about to endure another: 14-year-old Margaret Larkin will be robbed of her innocence and her life by a killer who is beyond the reach of the law.

But something strange is happening in Babylon: traffic lights flash an eerie blue, a ghostly hand slithers from the drain of a kitchen sink, graves erupt from the local cemetery in an implacable march of terror. And beneath the murky surface of the river, a shifting, almost human shape slowly takes form. Night after night it will pursue the murderer. And when the full moon rises over Babylon, it will seek a terrible vengeance.

Cold Moon Over Babylon, the second novel by Michael McDowell (1950-1999), author of Blackwater and The Elementals and screenwriter of Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas, is a chilling Southern Gothic tale of revenge from beyond the grave that ranks among his most terrifying books.

©2015 Valancourt Books (P)2016 Griff Furst

Well worth the listen!

I love reading horror but I'm also pretty critical as to what really draws me in. This book, for me, was a homerun. I really got into the story & Scott Brick is always good. I also recommend The Elementals if you enjoy this.

My Oh My

"Cold Moon" is a mystery, a thriller, and a supernatural horror story. McDowell paints your imagination with great "down on the bayou" type visuals that are truly mesmerizing. The pines, the moss, and the boggy land all bring the novel up close and personal. A misty river that is home to a few ghosts delivers constant "creep me out" moments.

"Cold Moon" is my second audible selection by this author, and the writing is impressive. Both novels are decades old but don't feel outdated.

Scott Brick is not my favorite narrator because of the drama thing he's got going on. But I will have to say he was the right choice for this book.

Very well done.

Incredible Tale of Small Town Horror

If you could sum up Cold Moon over Babylon in three words, what would they be?

Brilliant beautiful storytelling!

A family plagued by hardship and tragedy is wronged in the worst ways by powerful people suffering from a terrible god complex. Those wrongs are set right in a deliciously satisfying way when the paranormal and unnatural steps in to repay wrong doing in full.

What other book might you compare Cold Moon over Babylon to and why?

I wouldn't. I can't. I won't! This book stands out wonderfully!

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

The story was not read, it was performed; beautifully. I was drawn in by Scott Brick's narration and character portrayal.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not even death will abide evil men forever.

Any additional comments?

I was captivated by this story from the very beginning. I cared about the characters immensely. I felt their worries, fears, pain, joys, and everything in between. When loss was suffered by specific characters, I felt that loss right along with them.

The twists and turns of this tale had me on edge waiting for the next line.

It stays with you

Michael McDowell's paperback horror focused on Southern towns in Alabama. It dwelt in decaying communities beset by family troubles, financial hardships, or some combination of both. They also seem to all take place during the unrelenting heat of a Southern summer. The southern-Alabama heat becomes so pervasive in the storytelling that it is practically a character in and of itself.

Cold Moon over Babylon has all of these qualities. It is a great example of Southern Gothic Horror and Scott Brick's narration of McDowell's prose make it into a grisly, haunting experience like few others I've had in fiction.

It begins as a kind of murder mystery: who killed young Margaret Larkin and WHY? The novel evolves into a psychological story about mental and emotional unraveling as the supernatural powers in the Styx river hound the murderer.

This is important to know going in, I think. It's not really a mystery novel nor is it a by-the-numbers revenge story with ghosts.

This is a book about cruelty, in a way. There is a lot of cruelty in this book, including by the supernatural elements themselves. These powers are not good and just. If they were then they could have acted earlier to prevent a lot of heartbreak.

Instead, the horrifying supernatural elements mirror--if not feed off of--the horror and degradation growing inside the killer. This is a good lens to look through when examining this book, I think.

I've thought a lot about this book and that is because it was one I couldn't shake out of my mind easily. Horror endures and doesn't go away easily, and McDowell's book hits that mark in a wonderful and grotesque way.

Scott Brick's narration is excellent, as always. He could read jury summons and make it sound heart wrenching and beautiful.

An independent movie based on this novel was shot a few years ago. It's OK, but it doesn't capture the wonder, the fear, and the loathing that permeates McDowell's prose.

A real ride for the psyche

This is the first time I have read anything by this author. The other reviews raved about his skills and his ability to tell a fantastic story. As always I was a little skeptic. I have found in the past that reviews do not always provide the best information but this time they were right on. I started this tale on a long drive to DC and I was fascinated and entranced the entire drive. It was an ordinary story about ghost but the author presented the story with such character development and intensity that you are so drawn in and you questioned if you would ever dig your way out again. There was a score of emotions, and wild rides that kept you going up and down. You got involved and you didn't want to let go at the end. The author paints such vivid pictures of the surroundings and the subject matter that you begin to question whether you are in the book or just a bystander.
The narrator was terrific. He is talented and you were never lost as to who was who and what was going on. Each character stood out in contrast to every other character, even the minor ones.
i strongly recommend this book for those who love a good ghost story.

Twisted

Twists and turns. Karma well served at every corner. A little slow to unfold but worth the wait.

Very entertaining

Not as amazing as BlackWater but very good. I would highly recommend it. I am motivated to read all of his books.

True revenge

I really liked it, it had it's moments I wish I was a little bit scarier.

Warning Gory And Violent

I bought this book because I really enjoyed McDowell's book The Elementals. plus this book had good reviews. I liked the writing style but this book has more violence and gore than other books I've read.
It was a good story but a couple of bloody scenes we're hard for me to listen to.
Also there's the murder of a 14 yr old at the start of the story. If you don't like stories that have violence against children, this book might not be for you.

👍Made My Night🥳

Great story! Very original & really turned me for a loop a few times on who lives & who dies.
Very easy to get attached to the characters & the villain I loved to hate.

A murder or two are nothing abnormal in this little town now & ppl are coming up missing without reason. The stories don't match & greed seems to be motive.
The styx are hiding more then mud & murk & the pines harbor more than a little critter or two.

Scott is great as always with his narration & makes it very easy to visualize the characters, places & feel the emotions of each character!!

I do recommend this story 100% if you want a new kind of backwoods, creepy ghost story with a dash of mystery.👍
I definitely recommend Scott as a narrator for ANY story!! He's just that awesome you know ;)❤👍