Profane Beasts

Five years ago, Hurricane Ophelia devastated Hampton Roads. The storm strengthened rapidly overnight, and drowned the city for weeks killing thousands. Among the dead was a small Chesapeake church's congregation that died in their pews, eyes fixed on heaven, untouched by the storm. Through a series of interviews, videos, and legal documents, journalist Kellen Faulk reconstructs what the people of Calvary Baptist Church were calling out to in worship, and what happened under the catastrophic rain of the storm of the century. At the center of Faulk's investigation are the voice memos of reformed evangelical Alice Crenshaw. Alice got away from Calvary Baptist Church and healed her wounds, until a late night email from an old friend who grew up in the same church begs Alice for help. Alice's old acquaintance Kelly claims that people from their old church keep following her every time she leaves home, and Alice crosses more and more professional barriers to try and get Kelly the help she needs. The late night calls and strange emails escalate until Alice has to cut Kelly off for good. Not a week later Kelly is killed in a hit and run. Alice races home under stormy skies to learn whether or not Kelly's death was an accident, or the work of some old evil festering in the swamps of Chesapeake.

About the Author :
Nathan Lawrie-Buchholz is a special education teacher who loves books that make him afraid to turn off the lights. Nathan has frightened his friends and family with scary stories written in the margins of school notebooks since he was young. Nathan's experience as a teacher inspires him to write about professionals who make a living separating their emotional needs from the people they serve. Nathan writes about the anxiety of walking that line between being professionally empathetic and dangerously involved that all social workers must navigate. Nathan lives in Henrico, Virginia with his wife Haley, their rescue pittie mix Ziti, and their internet famous cat Marston. He can be found searching independent bookstores like Fountain, Abi's Books and Brews, and Givens Booksellers for old paperbacks or investigating exciting places to eat in the Richmond area.

Review :
"This book is like a panic attack that you don't want to shake off. The epistolary format makes you feel like you are right there with the characters, piecing together evidence as they slowly spiral into a paranoid madness." -Goodreads review "It gives you just enough information without leaving you in the dark of what's going on and keeps you intrigued and wanting more" -Goodreads review" "The narrative of Profane Beasts sits ideally into our current day: conservatism gone too far, conflating of power and religion, and worsening storms. Oh yeah, and some spooky elements (but no spoilers). I loved this short little horror novel-perfect for starting off spooky season!" -Goodreads review