Devil Mountain

Cades Cove Mystery Chronicles, Book 1

By: Aiden James

Narrated by: Timothy McKean

Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

The death and destruction wrought by Teutates, along with Allie Mae McCormick's deadly rage against David Hobbs and his family in Tennessee and Colorado, has almost been forgotten. The renowned "lovers' lane" ravine in the heart of Cades Cove rests quietly below moonlit skies at night, and John Running Deer can once again enjoy the seclusion of his Smoky Mountain residence - almost. Ever since the previous hauntings ended, a ghost known only as Galiena has made her presence known to John on an increasingly frequent basis. As a former spirit guide to John's grandfather, Two Eagles Cry, Galiena has kept watch over the deity siblings of Teutates buried in another ravine - this one near Cherokee, North Carolina. Having guarded the bones of these entities for the past millennium, a recent Supreme Court judgment has allowed a ruthless land developer to capitalize on his ancestor's claim to this ravine and the surrounding hills nestled below a majestic mountain disdained by the Cherokee as Tsvsgina Odalv, or "Devil Mountain". The Native Americans' loathing of this place dates back to the Iroquois settlers from before AD 1000 and coincided with the arrival of the skeletal remains belonging to the four entities that Galiena has successfully shielded from harming the innocent. The Cherokee Nation rejected the land for a very good reason long ago - but Simon Blankenship is not a reasonable man. Still, John hopes Blankenship will listen to him before an unforgivable mistake is made by laying a proposed pipeline through the heart of the ravine. Ancient deities have awakened from the construction of luxury cabins already completed in the area and are thirsty for fresh blood after such a long slumber. Can John, with the help of his granddaughter, Evelyn, and David Hobbs persuade a bull-headed man to withdraw from the ravine before it's too late? Or will similar violence to what happened in Cades Cove be visited upon new unsuspecting residents living near this other ravine? The death toll climbs as John and his companions race to cure the tainted land of its violent tenants, hoping to prevent worse carnage from spreading beyond the realm of Devil Mountain.

©2015 Aiden James (P)2015 Cherry Hill Publishing, LLC

A Welcome Return to Cades Cove

"Nearly six years have passed since trouble visited Cades Cove". After hearing just the opening sentence of this story, I was hooked. The Cades Cove books are some of my very favorite by Aiden James, and Devil Mountain does not disappoint. It is the first book in the new Cades Cove Mystery Chronicles and is told from the viewpoint of John Running Deer. Many of the characters from the original books are back, and this time they find themselves up against the brothers and sisters of Teutates. The story was fast-paced and at times terrifying. The narration by Timothy McKean was first-rate and kept the story smoothly moving along. This is the second book that he has narrated that I have listened to, and I hope to come across more. His smooth voice and style are an asset to the story. Now the only problem is waiting to see what happens to this group on their next adventure. I am ready for the next book now!

love

must listen. keeps your attention to the very end. can't wait for the next one

Suspense, terror...Superbly written by Aiden James

If you could sum up Devil Mountain in three words, what would they be?

Sorry, three words just doesn't do it!

The horror of Cades Cove is almost forgotten when a greedy landowner disturbs the ancient remains buried in a ravine below "Devils Mountain". Meanwhile, John Running Deer lives in peace in the Smoky Mountains, visited on occasion by Galiena, a ghost and spirit guide to his grandfather. This peace is shattered as the ancient deities are displaced, and again John Running Deer, his granddaughter Evelyn, and David Hobbs and family are terrorized by an ancient demon...nowhere is safe! This fantastic story takes some unexpected twists and turns, but in all its terror somehow seems so real. As the story continues, the reader is swept up in the action, then left impatiently waiting for the journey to continue. Aiden James is a master of action and bone-chilling terror..this is him at his best! I listened to the Audible unabridged version from Cherry Hill Publishing and applaud the narration by Timothy McKean...you are excellent, I was sorry when the book was over!

What other book might you compare Devil Mountain to and why?

The Raven Mocker, Cades Cove This story is told from the perspective of John Running Deer

What about Timothy McKean’s performance did you like?

Timothy McKean's performance was just about flawless, adding emotion without being a distraction, just seemed to flow with the story. Anyone who has listened to a good book with a poor narration will know what I mean.

Any additional comments?

Aiden James is a masterful storyteller, especially in this genre.