The Strange Man

The Coming Evil Trilogy - Book One by Greg Mitchell

Blog Tour - Day 3

Rosalyn, Appearances Can be Deceiving

(click image for Amazon link or click link below) The Srange Man - available from:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1616381949 CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/the-strange-man-coming-evil-trilogy/gret-mitchell/9781616381943/pd/381943?item_code=WW&netp_id=805698&event=ESRCN&view=details Author Webpage: Greg Mitchell – http://thecomingevil.blogspot.com/

I received a review copy from Realms of The Strange Man in conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour

Rosalyn struck me as someone you should take a second look at as a character. The town looks down on her, not for anything she ever did but for an alcoholic mother and a father who ran off.
A partier, a flirt, and more, yet Rosalyn has the strength of character that surpasses Dras. The two are best friends since childhood. Dras' parents took Rosalyn under their care when she was left alone. When others spoke harshly and thought ill of Rosalyn, Dras stood up to them for her. Years passed and now Rosalyn takes care of Dras; the little boy who never grew up. She's there when he needs the support of a kind word, when he watches horror movies late at night, and even when he's had to many drinks at The Rave club.

I guess a one word description for Rosalyn would be compassionate, while a one word description for Dras might be fun-loving. Yet, there comes a time in your life that you receive a wake up call to put away the ways of your youth and take up the responsibility of adulthood. This wake up moment for Dras came when he met the Strange Man face to face. His life would never be the same. He feels an overriding desire to warn Rosalyn about the danger, no matter the cost. She thinks he's joking at first, then tells him to leave her alone. The tension mounts as Dras tries to get help from his brother the minister, but he has been hurt too many times before by Dras' choices. The story builds and in the climax scene, Rosalyn is confronted by a truth long avoided. Will she decide to leave Greensboro for the promised greener pastures, or stay with Dras who has changed in a way she's not all that sure that she likes?

Read The Strange Man for an intense story. It's a tale that will leave you pondering long after the last page.

*Participants’ links Noah Arsenault Red Bissell Kathy Brasby Grace Bridges Beckie Burnham CSFF Blog Tour Amber French Tori Greene Katie Hart Bruce Hennigan Timothy Hicks Jason Joyner Carol Keen Inae Kyo Emily LaVigne Shannon McDermott Matt Mikalatos Rebecca LuElla Miller Gavin Patchett Andrea Schultz Kathleen Smith Donna Swanson Jessica Thomas Steve Trower Fred Warren Dona Watson Phyllis Wheeler

The Strange Man

The Coming Evil Trilogy - Book One by Greg Mitchell

Blog Tour - Day 2

An Ill Wind Blows Into Greensboro

(click image for Amazon link or click link below) The Srange Man - available from:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1616381949 CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/the-strange-man-coming-evil-trilogy/gret-mitchell/9781616381943/pd/381943?item_code=WW&netp_id=805698&event=ESRCN&view=details Author Webpage: Greg Mitchell – http://thecomingevil.blogspot.com/

I received a review copy from Realms of The Strange Man in conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour

One of our fellow blog tourers - tourists? - mentioned shared similarities The Strange Man with some of the Ray Bradbury stories. A few brain cells clicked, and movie scenes from Something Wicked This Way Comes came to mind. Both stories mention an ill-wind blowing in with an evil man who walked slowing down the middle of a small town street. Both stories involve an evil being using temptations and misdirections to bring suffering. Bradbury's tale occurs in Greentown, Illinois after a carnival travels into town.

Greg Mitchell's story begins in the forest outside Greensboro then picks up steam as the winds of change billow and boil the darkened sky. Dras' older brother, Jeff, is afraid of the darkened sky when the storm first appears, and with good reason. The scene where Dras is chased by a billowing tempest of imps made me wonder in a later scene if these same small evil creatures first appeared to the townspeople as a boiling, black cloud in the sky. The imp cloud roars through Greensboro like a speeding freight train howling wind as they chase their prey, Dras, through town. This tumbling wind and roaring sound were mentioned in yesterday's blog of I Peter 5:8 and the sound of a roaring lion. The author's description of a tumbling, torrent of grinning imps washing away cars, buses and small buildings in their wake created a strong visual as I read.

Now, when thunderstorms rumble outside, I'm sure The Strange Man story will come to mind. Tomorrow I will discuss more about the characters. One of the things that puzzled me most of the book was the reason why The Strange Man was determined to capture Rosalyn for his own.

Tomorrow: Rosalyn, Appearances Can Be Deceiving

*Participants’ links Noah Arsenault Red Bissell Kathy Brasby Grace Bridges Beckie Burnham CSFF Blog Tour Amber French Tori Greene Katie Hart Bruce Hennigan Timothy Hicks Jason Joyner Carol Keen Inae Kyo Emily LaVigne Shannon McDermott Matt Mikalatos Rebecca LuElla Miller Gavin Patchett Andrea Schultz Kathleen Smith Donna Swanson Jessica Thomas Steve Trower Fred Warren Dona Watson Phyllis Wheeler

The Strange Man

The Coming Evil Trilogy - Book One by Greg Mitchell

Blog Tour - Day 1

Evil isn't Always Ugly at First Glance

(click image for Amazon link or click link below) The Srange Man - available from:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1616381949

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/the-strange-man-coming-evil-trilogy/gret-mitchell/9781616381943/pd/381943?item_code=WW&netp_id=805698&event=ESRCN&view=details

Author Webpage: Greg Mitchell – http://thecomingevil.blogspot.com/

I received a review copy from Realms of The Strange Man in conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour

Evil isn't always pretty. Evil isn't always ugly. In The Strange Man, Evil portrays both. Victims in this story didn't recognize Evil until it was too late. The Rave Scene is the local late night hangout for those wanting a little dancing, a little drinking, and a little carousing. One night, a tempest blow into town bringing with it Evil afoot. A gaunt man walks into town carrying a century old grudge against the town of Greensboro. He has savored this moment, and hopes to enjoy the the exquisite pleasure he gains from the suffering of others. He visits The Rave as the crowd are the most easily swayed to his pleasure.

At the Rave, The Strange Man blends into the background as he surveys those inside as potential puppets for his will. He spots the main characters' girlfriend, Rosalyn, and while fixated on her, the Strange Man bumps into Lindsie and displays his true features. Lindsie leaves The Rave. The Strange Man changes his appearance to appear handsome and tries to tempt Rosalyn away from Dras, who becomes drunk. His plans thwarted, the Strange Man chases down Lindsie displaying his true appearance.

I'll admit some of this book's scenes sent cold chills down my back. Normally I don't read horror, but I soon found myself getting into the story. The characterization is very good. Even the Strange Man seems just plain, well evil. When asked for pity or sympathy, he laughs and sets loose creatures of outer darkness on the victims. Little in the town of Greensboro is black and white. The townspeople look down of Greensboro look down on Rosalyn, because of choices by her parents. Dras' brother, the minister, has doubts and the strange storm heralding the coming of bad times bothers him more because of a childhood fright of storms. Dras is painted as a happy-go-lucky kid brother who watches scary movies with Rosalyn, and sponges off his elderly parents. Each of these encounter some facet of Evil, but as a different appearance.

Most of all, I think the author captured the essence of Evil. The Strange Man's actions and ploys reminded me of I Peter 5:8 where the Devil is described as prowling around like a roaring lion seeking to devour. We can never take our adversary Satan too lightly, lest we end up like the characters in this book and become devored through too readily giving in to temptations rather than leaning on the true source of strength.

*Participants’ links Noah Arsenault Red Bissell Kathy Brasby Grace Bridges Beckie Burnham CSFF Blog Tour Amber French Tori Greene Katie Hart Bruce Hennigan Timothy Hicks Jason Joyner Carol Keen Inae Kyo Emily LaVigne Shannon McDermott Matt Mikalatos Rebecca LuElla Miller Gavin Patchett Andrea Schultz Kathleen Smith Donna Swanson Jessica Thomas Steve Trower Fred Warren Dona Watson Phyllis Wheeler