THE DEVIL PULLS THE STRINGS

In this supernatural novel, a small-town musician fights to stop a diabolical group from summoning the devil and destroying New York City.

Boone Daniels, a handyman at a Missouri trailer park, spends nearly half the year working at the St. Louis Renaissance Festival. During a joust one day, he accidentally injures his friend/opponent Flynn Michaels. So Boone agrees to do him a favor—cover as frontman for Flynn at his medieval rock band’s upcoming New York gig. Boone’s first stop in New York is the home of the band’s patron, whom the Missouri musician immediately watches plummet to his death. Boone simultaneously saves the dead man’s assistant, Sapphire Anjou, and the two flee an unknown trio of armed thugs likely responsible for the patron’s demise. The culprits are after sheet music, specifically Paganini’s. Combining three of the 19th-century Italian violinist’s compositions with a strange “bluish-green glowing liquid” unlocks a secret song and a summoning spell. Cursed immortal Ambrozij Sinti, in cahoots with an ancient, evil secret society, plans to use the spell to call forth the devil, a ritual that will ultimately wipe out the entire city. Boone and Sapphire vow to track down the Paganini pieces and the strange liquid to prevent Sinti from completing the ritual. It’s a dangerous endeavor, as it also requires summoning the devil, who will, according to research, grant a wish. Battling Sinti will pit Boone and Sapphire against preternatural creatures, such as vampires, while the hero comes with his own set of problems—a wendigo has stalked him in his waking dreams since he was 6 years old.

Zarek packs his entertaining story with intriguing characters, including historical and mythological figures. Along with Paganini and the wendigo, there’s Baba Yaga, a supernatural being who will either help Boone or possibly eat him. The extensive cast, coupled with the increasingly complicated plot, is difficult to keep track of. Fortunately, the author isn’t afraid to decelerate the narrative for illuminating discussions. For example, characters meticulously explain things, like villains’ identities and motives, and Boone tends to recap what’s happened or summarize his and others’ plans. The abundance of players never overwhelms the tale; even a minor character, the unnamed lead thug chasing Boone and Sapphire, proves distinctive, always donning an instantly recognizable fedora. As if a magic-filled, present-day New York wasn’t enough, the story also involves “portals powered by time crystals.” Indeed, one character travels to the early 1800s and completes a series of harrowing tasks. Recurring action sequences rev up the pace with sharp, clipped sentences; Zarek also fittingly provides grisly details about the chilling wendigo: “The creature has massive antlers covered in caked blood and desiccated skin unable to cover all its exposed bones.” Since this book launches a series, certain narrative elements remain a mystery; Boone has “uber-vivid dreams” that seem to be psychic visions. Likewise, specifics on his parents’ disappearances, around the time the wendigo originally targeted him, are minimal. But this first Boone-centric volume sports a frenzied final act and a gratifying conclusion.

A remarkable paranormal tale that delivers plenty of plot developments, curious characters, and otherworldly things.