3 Gates of the Dead

Sometimes, the most evil things come from the most holy . . . Conflicted with his faith in God and the hypocrisy of the church, Aidan Schaeffer, a young assistant pastor, is in a constant state of spiritual turmoil. When Aidan learns that his ex-fiancée is the first victim in a string of ritualistic killings, he finds himself in the middle of an even deeper fight. Tormented by demonic threats and haunted by spirits, Aidan throws himself into investigating Amanda’s death; all the while supernatural forces have begun to attack the people around him. The more questions he asks, the more he is drawn into the world of a mysterious Anglican priest, a paranormal investigation group and a rogue female detective investigating the murders. As the gruesome rituals escalate, ancient hidden secrets and an evil long buried threaten to rip Aidan’s world apart.

Library Journal, starred review

“Ryan’s first novel skillfully blends theology, murder mystery, horror, and paranormal investigation through one man’s struggle with his belief in God. Solid characterization and a grounding in his subject matter make this series opener a real attraction for fans of The Exorcist and the darker fiction of C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams.”

Sam Alexander, director of development, the Wolper Organization at Warner Bros.

“Very well written . . . 3 Gates of the Dead is like a Harry Potter novel for adults.”

like eat. However, that is exactly the impact 3 Gates of the Dead had on me. I became so caught up in the original story (which is refreshingly filled with lifelike characters), that time just vanished. This is a must read for all horror fans, and anyone seeking out an original and creepy tale. Even if you are not a ‘reader,’ this book is so well-written it doesn’t feel like you are reading, just that you are a fly on the wall watching the tale unfold. I cannot wait to see what Jonathan Ryan writes next; I will be first in line to read it! 3 Gates of the Dead will make one hell of a film!”

“I cannot recall the last time I was so enthralled by a book that I was unable to walk away to even do the most normal things

the suspense keeps building and you know when you hit the other side you are going to come out screaming. This book falls in with the tradition of The Exorcist and Stephen King’s supernatural thrillers. There is a quality to the story that reminds me of Poe’s short stories at their best with their unforeseen macabre twists.”

“A roller coaster ride of a horror story

Scotty Roberts, publisher, Intrepid Magazine

“3 Gates of the Dead brought me to that place of intellectual terror that only results in pure joy over a book that so immediately transports one to other realms of the deeply macabre, in a primordial, Lovecraftian scope . . . and send shivers down our necks.”

T. Michelle Nelson, author of the Lily Drake Vampire series

“Jonathan Ryan’s Bradbury-like style comes across subtle, yet terrifying. 3 Gates of the Dead is a must-read for anyone who enjoys well-developed characters, smart dialogue and a flat out awesome story. I look forward to reading more about Aidan Schaeffer and count myself as a huge Jonathan Ryan fan now. I am hooked on this series!”

About the Author

Jonathan Ryan is an author, screenwriter, columnist, blogger, and member of the Horror Writers Association. His debut horror mystery novel, 3 Gates of the Dead (Open Road Media), earned rave reviews from the New York Journal of Books, the Midwest Book Review, and Library Journal. The second book in his 3 Gates of the Dead series, Dark Bride, is set for release in 2015. A practiced public speaker, Ryan incorporates topics of writing and religion into his lectures. He has contributed to the Huffington Post, Christianity Today, the High Calling, TAPS ParaMagazine, Intrepid Magazine, the popular horror site DreadCentral.com, and Patheos.com, where he has a regular blog called the Rogue. Ryan took his vows to become a Benedictine oblate novice with St. Meinrad Archabbey. He lives in South Bend, Indiana.

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