-
Balak
- A Cthulhu Mythos Tale
- Narrated by: Erik Synnesvedt
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $24.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
From dreams filled with strange, beautiful images and haunting music, Claire Challis woke to the repulsive sound of a nasal, falsetto voice scratching its way through her closed bedroom window - the kind of voice adults reserve for speaking to pets or very small children. A particularly annoying case of the latter, she decided, for the voice was crooning, "My, don't we look fine in our Sunday best! Are you going to church, young man?"
From her second-floor apartment, she could hear only an indistinct, mumbled response, but she thought it came from little Paul Hernandez, who lived next door. A momentary silence ensued, and then she heard, "Are you going with your parents?"
Claire couldn't help but shudder at the dry, coarse quality of the voice. The speaker sounded like an elderly man, but the intentional distortion of his speech impressed her as vaguely sinister. Little Paul must have answered in the affirmative, for the speaker continued, "You look so cute. How would you like to go with me to myyy church?"
From the author, Mark Rainey:
"Balak, like much of my fiction, is a part of a multilayered, interconnected universe that draws heavily from the Cthulhu Mythos of H. P. Lovecraft while using the most modern of settings and characters. Many of the settings for Balak are very real places in Chicago, which I attempted to capture and cast in a somewhat different light than they - at least probably - appear in real life."
More from the same
Related to this topic
-
The Devil's Labyrinth
- A Novel
- By: John Saul
- Narrated by: Jim Bond
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After his father's untimely death sends 15-year-old Ryan McIntyre into an emotional tailspin, his mother enrolls him in St. Isaac's Catholic boarding school, hoping the venerable institution, with its reputation for transforming wayward teens, can work its magic on her son. But troubles are not unknown even at St. Isaac.
-
-
Scary Stuff
- By THATZLIFE on 05-06-10
By: John Saul
-
Cold City
- Repairman Jack: Early Years Trilogy, Book 1
- By: F. Paul Wilson
- Narrated by: Alexander Cendese
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you've never read a Repairman Jack novel, this is the place to begin. It's 1990. A twenty-one-year-old named Jack has dropped out of college, leaving his old life behind to build a new one in New York City. Manhattan's rough edges are jagged enough to shred any unwary newcomer, but perhaps not one who is determined to stay off the grid, at any cost, in the busiest metropolis on earth. And to do so, he'll have to take jobs of a less than legal nature.
-
-
Fun, as long you don't think too much
- By Andrew Pollack on 01-17-14
By: F. Paul Wilson
-
The Prof Croft Series
- Books 0-4 (Prof Croft Box Sets, Book 1)
- By: Brad Magnarella
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 34 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Join scholar and spell-caster Everson Croft in this five-book urban fantasy set, from the discovery of his magic in the prequel novella, Book of Souls, to his battle against a mind-warping evil in the shocking finale, Death Mage.
-
-
Plagiarize much?
- By robyn K on 04-26-21
By: Brad Magnarella
-
Blood Price
- Blood, Book 1
- By: Tanya Huff
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Vicki Nelson, formerly of Toronto’s homicide unit and now a private detective, witnesses the first of many vicious attacks that begin plaguing the city of Toronto. As death follows unspeakable death, Vicki, in an attempt to stop these forces of dark magic, is forced to renew her relationship with her former partner, Mike Celluci - along with another, unexpected ally…. Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of King Henry VIII, has learned over the course of his life how to blend with humans; how to deny the call for blood in his veins.
-
-
Off to a Good Start
- By Jennifer on 03-28-12
By: Tanya Huff
-
Others
- By: James Herbert
- Narrated by: Kris Dyer
- Length: 17 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ugly truth. Nicholas Dismas is a Private Investigator, but like no other that has gone before him. He carries a secret to which not even he has the answer. Dismas is hired to find a missing baby. One that was taken away at birth... Or was it? His investigation takes him to a mysteriously located place called Perfect Rest, a nursing home for the elderly. Here Dismas will discover the dark secret of the Others. And in an astonishing and spectacular finale he will resolve the enigma of his own existence.
-
-
Good book
- By Joy on 06-26-18
By: James Herbert
-
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
- A Remy Chandler Novel, Book 1
- By: Thomas E. Sniegoski
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Boston P.I. Remy Chandler has many talents. He can will himself invisible; he can speak and understand any foreign language (including the language of animals); and if he listens carefully, he can hear thoughts. Unusual, to say the least—for an ordinary man. But Remy is no ordinary man—he’s an angel. Generations ago, when he was known as the angel Remiel, he chose to renounce heaven and live on Earth.
-
-
Great story worth the listen!
- By Christopher on 02-06-12
-
The Devil's Labyrinth
- A Novel
- By: John Saul
- Narrated by: Jim Bond
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After his father's untimely death sends 15-year-old Ryan McIntyre into an emotional tailspin, his mother enrolls him in St. Isaac's Catholic boarding school, hoping the venerable institution, with its reputation for transforming wayward teens, can work its magic on her son. But troubles are not unknown even at St. Isaac.
-
-
Scary Stuff
- By THATZLIFE on 05-06-10
By: John Saul
-
Cold City
- Repairman Jack: Early Years Trilogy, Book 1
- By: F. Paul Wilson
- Narrated by: Alexander Cendese
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you've never read a Repairman Jack novel, this is the place to begin. It's 1990. A twenty-one-year-old named Jack has dropped out of college, leaving his old life behind to build a new one in New York City. Manhattan's rough edges are jagged enough to shred any unwary newcomer, but perhaps not one who is determined to stay off the grid, at any cost, in the busiest metropolis on earth. And to do so, he'll have to take jobs of a less than legal nature.
-
-
Fun, as long you don't think too much
- By Andrew Pollack on 01-17-14
By: F. Paul Wilson
-
The Prof Croft Series
- Books 0-4 (Prof Croft Box Sets, Book 1)
- By: Brad Magnarella
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 34 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Join scholar and spell-caster Everson Croft in this five-book urban fantasy set, from the discovery of his magic in the prequel novella, Book of Souls, to his battle against a mind-warping evil in the shocking finale, Death Mage.
-
-
Plagiarize much?
- By robyn K on 04-26-21
By: Brad Magnarella
-
Blood Price
- Blood, Book 1
- By: Tanya Huff
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Vicki Nelson, formerly of Toronto’s homicide unit and now a private detective, witnesses the first of many vicious attacks that begin plaguing the city of Toronto. As death follows unspeakable death, Vicki, in an attempt to stop these forces of dark magic, is forced to renew her relationship with her former partner, Mike Celluci - along with another, unexpected ally…. Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of King Henry VIII, has learned over the course of his life how to blend with humans; how to deny the call for blood in his veins.
-
-
Off to a Good Start
- By Jennifer on 03-28-12
By: Tanya Huff
-
Others
- By: James Herbert
- Narrated by: Kris Dyer
- Length: 17 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ugly truth. Nicholas Dismas is a Private Investigator, but like no other that has gone before him. He carries a secret to which not even he has the answer. Dismas is hired to find a missing baby. One that was taken away at birth... Or was it? His investigation takes him to a mysteriously located place called Perfect Rest, a nursing home for the elderly. Here Dismas will discover the dark secret of the Others. And in an astonishing and spectacular finale he will resolve the enigma of his own existence.
-
-
Good book
- By Joy on 06-26-18
By: James Herbert
-
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
- A Remy Chandler Novel, Book 1
- By: Thomas E. Sniegoski
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Boston P.I. Remy Chandler has many talents. He can will himself invisible; he can speak and understand any foreign language (including the language of animals); and if he listens carefully, he can hear thoughts. Unusual, to say the least—for an ordinary man. But Remy is no ordinary man—he’s an angel. Generations ago, when he was known as the angel Remiel, he chose to renounce heaven and live on Earth.
-
-
Great story worth the listen!
- By Christopher on 02-06-12
-
Grim Death and Bill the Electrocuted Criminal
- By: Mike Mignola, Thomas E. Sneigoski
- Narrated by: Paul Costanzo
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From New York Times best-selling authors and illustrators Mike Mignola and Tom Sniegoski come two thrilling antiheroes: Grim Death and Bill the Electrocuted Criminal, battling against crime. An uneasiness festers upon the city streets, threatening the peace and safety of law-abiding citizens. A war is escalating, and it seems as though the good and righteous are being crushed beneath the unholy weight of evil's onslaught.
By: Mike Mignola, and others
-
Dark Siren
- An Ashwood Novel
- By: Lee Dignam, Katerina Martinez
- Narrated by: Laurel Schroeder
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Supernatural bounty hunter Alice Werner loves her job. She gets paid the big bucks to take down her targets and doesn't ask her clients too many questions as long as the money's good. But when a girl goes missing and the case feels all too familiar, Alice can't help but act. Concern for the girl's safety draws her into a risky case. Compassion keeps her involved when the stakes begin to rise. Desperation forces her to call on an old flame for help.
-
-
2 and a half stars
- By Beatrice on 01-07-17
By: Lee Dignam, and others
-
Black Wings
- Black Wings Series, Book 1
- By: Christina Henry
- Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package. Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with. Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building
-
-
Fallen Angels, Demons, and Nephilim... good start
- By A. Lund on 08-03-11
By: Christina Henry
-
The Dracula Tape
- The New Dracula, Book 1
- By: Fred Saberhagen
- Narrated by: Robin Bloodworth
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The never-before-told story behind the legend of Count Dracula! The story of the Count’s greatest love, Mina Harker, and the bloodthirsty vampire hunters whose cruel pursuit drove the master of the night to actions ever more ruthless. The Count Dracula sets the record straight.…
-
-
FINALLY!
- By Amanda Pike on 03-03-13
By: Fred Saberhagen
-
Perfect Nightmare
- A Novel
- By: John Saul
- Narrated by: Dick Hill, Susie Breck
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Every parent's nightmare becomes a reality for Kara Marshall when her daughter, Lindsay, vanishes from her bedroom during the night. The police suspect that the girl is just another moody teenage runaway, angry over leaving behind her school and friends because her family is moving. But Lindsay's recent eerie claim - that someone invaded her room when the house was opened to prospective buyers - drives Kara to fear the worst.
-
-
A little bit predictable
- By FoCoBuzz on 04-05-11
By: John Saul
-
The Demonists
- Demonist Series, Book 1
- By: Thomas E. Sniegoski
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It was supposed to be a simple exorcism, a publicity stunt to firmly establish John and Theodora's thriving paranormal investigation empire in the public eye. But something went wrong, leading to an on-air massacre that unleashed a malicious host of demons and left Theodora catatonic, possessed by countless spirits.
-
-
Meh
- By Brian Allen on 04-18-16
-
Storm Front
- The Dresden Files, Book 1
- By: Jim Butcher
- Narrated by: James Marsters
- Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt. Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters to vampires....
-
-
Excellent Story, Distracting Sound Engineering
- By Tom on 05-20-10
By: Jim Butcher
-
The Keep
- The Adversary Cycle, Book 1
- By: F. Paul Wilson
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"Something is murdering my men." Thus reads the message received from a Nazi commander stationed in a small castle high in the remote Transylvanian Alps. Invisible and silent, the enemy selects one victim per night, leaving the bloodless and mutilated corpses behind to terrify its future victims. When an elite SS extermination squad is dispatched to solve the problem, the men find something that's both powerful and terrifying. Panicked, the Nazis bring in a local expert on folklore - who just happens to be Jewish - to shed some light on the mysterious happenings.
-
-
At long last, The classic horror novel on Audible
- By Shieldslinger on 07-22-20
By: F. Paul Wilson
-
The Thirteenth Sacrifice
- Witch Hunt, Book 1
- By: Debbie Viguié
- Narrated by: Abby Craden
- Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When young women start dying, Boston cop Samantha Ryan is the perfect person to investigate, for only she knows what the archais symbol carved into their flesh means. The last in a long line of ruthless witches, she grew up in a coven seduced by power and greed. And now she's sure that bad witches have returned to Salem. Reluctantly, Samantha goes undercover - into a town obsessed with black magic, into her terrifying past, and into thedark, newly awakened heart of evil.
-
-
Not deep
- By Kindle Customer on 12-30-12
By: Debbie Viguié
-
Hark! The Herald Angels Scream
- By: Christopher Golden - editor, Joe R. Lansdale, Scott Smith, and others
- Narrated by: Charles Constant, Teri Schnaubelt
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
That there is darkness at the heart of the Yuletide season should not surprise. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is filled with scenes that are unsettling. The hideous children - Want and Ignorance - beneath the robe of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. In the finest versions of this story, the best parts are the terrifying parts. Best-selling author and editor Christopher Golden shares his love for Christmas horror stories with this anthology of all-new short fiction from some of the most talented and original writers of horror today.
-
-
Some good, some clunkers. Some fun, none scary.
- By Max Trivial on 12-24-18
By: Christopher Golden - editor, and others
-
Pretty Little Dead Things
- A Thomas Usher Novel
- By: Gary McMahon
- Narrated by: Jay Villiers
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Thomas Usher has a terrible gift. Following a car crash in which his wife and daughter are killed, he can see the recently departed, and it's not usually a pretty sight. When he is called to investigate the violent death of the daughter of a prominent local gangster, Usher's world is torn apart once more. For the barriers between this world and the next are not as immutable as once he believed.
-
-
good book good reader
- By Anonymous User on 12-12-20
By: Gary McMahon
-
Werewolf Cop
- By: Andrew Klavan
- Narrated by: Andrew Klavan
- Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Zach Adams is one of the best detectives in the country. Nicknamed Cowboy, he serves on a federal task force that has a single mission: to hunt down Dominic Abend, a European gangster.
-
-
Best in moral fantasy since CS Lewis!
- By Kindle Customer on 10-24-17
By: Andrew Klavan
What listeners say about Balak
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Aaron
- 07-11-23
It’s fine
The story is pretty good and deliciously gory. The author is perhaps a little too generous however, this book could be tightened up a little bit. I wonder if it would have worked a little better as a period piece, maybe 1940s or 50s because it’s a little pulpy, fantastically scifi in a bygone way, and the character’s interactions with each other seem a little old fashioned and dated.
The narration is pretty annoying…almost obnoxiously presumptuous bordering on pretentious. I don’t think he should have attempted any voices.
Audio quality is good though.
All in all, the story was enjoyable but I wonder if I’ll ever think of it again.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!