Murder by Love

Name: Murder by Love
Price: 15.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781475934083

✍️ Marc McCall

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$15.95

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A man bargains with a dark spirit for revenge, losing his soul in the process.

Lace’s journey begins with misery after a breakup. He accepts Gormant’s offer to die for power. The spirit grants him abilities to punish those who wronged him. This decision triggers a bloodbath that threatens innocent lives. A woman’s genuine love for Lace creates a rift in his demonic allegiance. He realizes too late that his humanity is not gone. The conflict shifts from external revenge to an internal battle against Gormant. McCall writes about the cost of letting bitterness rule one’s life. The story highlights how love can persist even in darkness. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked rage. The narrative does not offer easy redemption but focuses on the struggle for control.

Key Themes

supernatural revenge grief and loss demonic bargain

Literary Context

Published by iUniverse in 2012, this work sits within the American tradition of horror fiction. It draws on gothic tropes of dark spirits and romantic despair. The narrative reflects contemporary interests in psychological horror and supernatural thriller genres.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Anne Rice · H.P. Lovecraft · Stephen King

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Horror Fiction

🏛 iUniverse 📅 2012 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781475934083

📝 Description: Murder by Love

Marc McCall’s novel Murder by Love follows Lace, a man broken by the end of a romantic relationship. His despair opens him to Gormant, a dark spirit who offers limitless power in exchange for Lace’s death. As a spirit, Lace seeks revenge on women who hurt him and his enemies, initiating a violent rampage. The narrative explores the corruption of grief and the seductive nature of vengeance. McCall, the author, presents a story where supernatural elements intersect with human emotion. The plot centers on Lace’s transformation and the consequences of his bargain. Only later does he encounter a woman who truly loves him. This new connection conflicts with Gormant’s influence. Lace must fight his master to protect this living woman. His lingering humanity becomes his only weapon against the spirit’s control. The book suits readers interested in gothic tales of revenge and supernatural bargains. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted romance or historical nonfiction. The story relies on the tension between spiritual power and emotional vulnerability. McCall structures the narrative around Lace’s internal struggle as he battles his demonic servant. The setting remains focused on this personal conflict rather than broad world-building. Readers looking for a tale of moral decay and supernatural horror will find this work engaging.

💎 Our verdict on Murder by Love

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

McCall crafts a tightly focused narrative that examines the seductive nature of vengeance through Lace’s transformation. The novel excels in depicting the internal battle against demonic influence, using supernatural horror to highlight human emotional vulnerability. While it lacks broad world-building, this limitation serves its purpose by keeping the tension centered on personal moral decay. The story suits readers who appreciate gothic revenge tales and psychological depth over action-heavy plots. It effectively illustrates how love can create rifts in allegiance, offering a nuanced look at the cost of letting bitterness dominate one’s existence. Those seeking lighthearted romance or historical nonfiction should look elsewhere, as this is a serious exploration of darkness.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in psychological horror and the darker aspects of human emotion will find this narrative compelling. It appeals to those who enjoy stories where supernatural elements serve as metaphors for internal struggles, particularly the destructive power of revenge and the persistence of love. The book offers a cautionary tale about unchecked rage, making it suitable for audiences seeking moral complexity rather than simple good-versus-evil tropes. Fans of gothic tales that focus on personal conflict over broad world-building will appreciate its intimate scope. It is ideal for those who want to explore how bitterness can rule one's life and how humanity might persist even in the darkest circumstances, providing a tense exploration of spiritual power versus emotional vulnerability.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

McCall crafts a tightly focused narrative that examines the seductive nature of vengeance through Lace’s transformation. The novel excels in depicting the internal battle against demonic influence, using supernatural horror to highlight human emotional vulnerability. While it lacks broad world-building, this limitation serves its purpose by keeping the tension centered on personal moral decay. The story suits readers who appreciate gothic revenge tales and psychological depth over action-heavy plots. It effectively illustrates how love can create rifts in allegiance, offering a nuanced look at the cost of letting bitterness dominate one’s existence. Those seeking lighthearted romance or historical nonfiction should look elsewhere, as this is a serious exploration of darkness.