The Devil’s Equinox is the second book I’ve read by John Everson. Previously, I’ve read The House by the Cemetery. In The Devil’s Equinox, Austin is a new father, having difficulties in his relationship with his wife. One night, he meets an attractive stranger in a bar and unthinkingly wishes his wife dead. Then the stranger (Regina) appears in his house as his new next door neighbour. Soon she becomes close to his wife and begins babysitting for the couple. But what appears to be an awful accident, his wife is found dead and suddenly Austin is left a widower with a small baby. Regina is on hand to help look after the baby and support Austin. Their relationship develops and she introduces him to a new, darker world of sex, blood and rituals. What was at first some kinky fun turns into a world of peril for Austin and his baby.
I enjoy John Everson’s writing and this goes for The Devil’s Equinox. While The House by the Cemetery was a homage to horror movies and gave a nod to some of his favourite directors, I feel The Devil’s Equinox pays homage to Dennis Wheatley and the satanic hammer horror style movies from the 60’s and 70’s. There is even a line of dialogue, “To the devil, a daughter”. I love this about his books. This is obviously an up to date version with a sex club, lots of kink and EBM going on. Having been to these kinds of events (not so much the sex but the scene!) I’m in familiar territory but obviously was never taken into the satanic sub dungeon if there was one. The book had a good pace, maybe it slowed down in the middle, where I felt the main character was going around in circles but on the whole I felt for him and felt his panic. I feel his books would make good B movie horrors, they are very visual. Expect blood, sex and violence rather than anything meaningful and that’s the fun of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for this eArc copy for an honest review.
3.5/5 B movie horror fun.
Once Upon The Wytching Hour 