Reviews

The Case Against Satan by Ray Russell

angus_mckeogh's review against another edition

3.0

I thought this book started great. Intriguing and creepy. Some great short vignettes through the early chapters with interesting twists. But at the end I thought the book just tried to do too much and several of the storylines weren't sufficiently fleshed out or closed down. So the end got a little haphazard and disappointing. But better than just okay. Entertaining if nothing else.

bookish_skies's review

challenging dark informative reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Cursing, Death of parent, Incest, and Murder

Minor: Suicide and Vomit

getupkid10's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

3.5

maybeillreadtoday's review against another edition

3.75

short and not so sweet. turns out the devil was the hero we were looking for this whole time!

thiswayforhorrorrecs's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

kevin_shepherd's review against another edition

5.0

Technically, it was Ray Russell, not William Peter Blatty, who first brought the Catholic ritual of exorcism to the broad American consciousness. Russell's book predates Blatty's by nine years and the plot lines are so similar that it's hard not to conject that Blatty "borrowed" heavily from Russell's work. Still, it was The Exorcist, not The Case Against Satan, that went on to become a blockbuster American franchise. Is that fair? Russell's rendition is certainly less profane, less obscene, and therefore less sensational. But both are well written, and both are securely anchored in actual catholic doctrines and rituals. If forced to choose, I'd rank TCAS a little higher on my horror scale solely because Russell evoked that same gut-level sense of terror and peril with less devices and contraptions ...but it's a tough call.

marfim's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It shows the human urge to believe in something even tho you can never prove it. When the main character gets face to face with his own logic, all of his beliefs turn against himself. Where's the faith you've gathered all through your life when you most need it? Is that the first time you ever stop to think about it?

ikiefer's review against another edition

1.0

Not a horror book at all, more like a mass market mystery thriller. Writing was less than average.

Susan was unnecessarily sexualized at so many points it took me out of the story. Maybe a product of the time? 

I’m not saying rape and incest shouldn’t be discussed in books, but god was this just incredibly gross and offensive.

Regardless, did not enjoy.

gothmomlite's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars

This is similar in feel and flavor to the film "The Exorcist" but tells a somewhat different story of a Catholic priest who leaves his parish in haste, a teen girl suddenly incapable of stepping inside that parish's church, and the new pastor, and his bishop, who aim to get to the bottom of things. Only "things" seem to include the devil. That noted, it's rather a "cozy horror"--which I enjoy, only I feel like there could've been a bit more to draw out of the story. A quick, entertaining read that I typically need to rest face-down because its freaking cover WIGS ME OUT.

CW for:

Spoiler

talk of parental death, drowning, demonic possession, and sexual abuse

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teebeybb's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75