Scott A. Lerner - Ruler of Demons - Review and Giveaway

About the Book

Only eleven shopping days till Christmas. And less than a week to save the world.

Three nuns—in Chicago, Paris, and Jerusalem—have been killed in a religious ritual. The choice of victims and the macabre details of their deaths indicate that someone is following a recipe provided on an ancient text—a recipe to unleash the forces of hell on earth. The final sacrifice must occur on the Winter Solstice.

Samuel Roberts, a small-town attorney in Urbana, Illinois, knows a bit about the supernatural, having triumphed at least once over the forces of evil. Thanks to a friend who is aware of Sam’s little known previous efforts on behalf of mankind, Sam is hired by a big Chicago law firm to take on a sensitive case. His mission? Nothing less than halting the impending apocalypse.

Sam and his good buddy Bob travel first to Jerusalem then Paris in a desperate race to save mankind.

Link to read an excerpt.

My Review

Sam Roberts is the type of guy who really doesn't have faith in anything besides himself. That's why he's an intriguing choice to head a murder investigation involving the Catholic Church. Nuns are being killed in an attempt to prompt the Second Coming of Jesus Christ or to open the doors of hell so that Satan can roam the earth. Either option isn't particularly reassuring.

So when the church's high profile attorney gets Sam to sign on to the case, he's forced to confront some issues about organized religion he'd rather not think about. He's a sinner because he likes to sin. If it feels good, he does it - and he doesn't beat himself up over it. He likes good food. He enjoys the company of women. He doesn't profess allegiance to any particular code of moral conduct. But he's encountered the supernatural before, and he doesn't question its legitimacy. He knows there are forces out there that he is powerless against, and that unnerves him. It doesn't stop him, but it makes him question just what exactly he's up against. If God is indeed all powerful, then why does evil exist at all?

So why does Sam believe in some force greater than himself? Because he's had first hand experience with it. It doesn't defy his sense of logic because he's encountered the paranormal with his five senses. He can make a deduction after having an eyewitness account with a fire demon in his Israeli hotel room. He saw its flame. He heard its voice. He smelled its smoke. Basically, he couldn't deny what was right in front of him.

Sam is a person who looks to pop culture references in order to make sense of the world around him. SCOOBY DOO, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME all figure into his thought processes when it comes to analyzing his accounts with the unknown. He thinks he's a magnet for the forces of darkness, attracting chaos into his life. And as the mystery unfolds, he's apparently right. In this particular instance, his Jewish bloodline singles him out. He's a marked man but he doesn't find out until it's almost too late. By owning up to the smart aleck that he is, he just might save his life as well as those he loves.

***

Ruler of Demons can be purchased at:
Amazon

Prices/Formats: $4.95 ebook, $13.95 paperback
Pages: 202
Publisher: Camel Press
Release: December 15, 2013
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About the Author

Author and attorney Scott A. Lerner resides in Champaign, Illinois. He obtained his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and went on to obtain his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign. He is currently a sole practitioner in Champaign, Illinois. The majority of his law practice focuses on the fields of criminal law and family law. Mr. Lerner lives with his wife, their two children, and their cat Fern. Lerner collects unusual antiques and enjoys gardening, traveling, reading fiction, and going to the movies. His first novel, Cocaine Zombies, won a bronze medal in the mystery/cozy/noir category of the 2013 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Awards.

Links to connect with Scott:
Web Site
Twitter
Goodreads
Blog Tour Site


About the Giveaway

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