The Crossings

Name: The Crossings
Price: 9.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781941408889

✍️ Jack Ketchum

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$9.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Jack Ketchum’s 2018 novel about three men in Arizona encountering a victim of cult sisters.

The narrative focuses on Marion T. Bell, John Charles Hart, and Mother Knuckles as they meet an injured woman in the Arizona Territory. She reveals her suffering at the hands of two sisters who worship Old Gods of Mexico. The story examines their interaction and the weight of her testimony. Ketchum uses this encounter to explore themes of religious extremism and violence. The text avoids supernatural spectacle, focusing instead on the psychological impact on the protagonists. It is a character-driven horror story set in 1848.

Key Themes

Old Gods worship Arizona Territory 1848 cult sister captors

Literary Context

Set in the Arizona Territory in 1848, this work engages with the era’s cultural clashes. It references the Old Gods of Mexico and the lingering influence of pre-colonial religious practices on contemporary violence.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Clive Barker · Thomas Ligotti · HP Lovecraft · Peter Straub

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Crossroad Press 📅 2018 📖 76 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781941408889

📚 This Book in Collections

🌾 Folk Horror

📝 Description: The Crossings

Jack Ketchum’s The Crossings transports readers to the Arizona Territory in 1848. The narrative follows Marion T. Bell, a reporter who drinks heavily, alongside mustanger John Charles Hart and the giant known as Mother Knuckles. These three men encounter an injured young Mexican woman who shares her harrowing experiences. She describes being tormented by two sisters who continue to worship the Old Gods of Mexico. These women remain obsessed with their past rituals and have kept her sister captive. Ketchum is a recognized figure in horror fiction, bringing his signature intensity to this historical setting. The story relies on dialogue and action rather than extensive exposition. It draws upon the cultural tensions of the mid-nineteenth century Southwest. The plot centers on the immediate aftermath of the woman’s escape and the group’s reaction to her tale. There is no magical resolution or easy redemption offered here. The text focuses on the psychological weight of the survivors’ guilt and the brutality of the antagonists. This book suits readers who appreciate grounded horror set in specific historical periods. It appeals to those interested in gothic themes and supernatural terror rooted in real-world settings. Readers seeking lighthearted adventure or modern urban fantasy will likely find this work too dark. The narrative does not offer comfort or escape from its grim atmosphere. Ketchum presents a stark view of human cruelty and religious fanaticism through the eyes of his characters.

💎 Our verdict on The Crossings

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Jack Ketchum delivers a harrowing examination of religious extremism and violence through the lens of three men encountering an injured woman in the Arizona Territory. The narrative avoids supernatural spectacle, instead focusing on the psychological impact on the protagonists and the weight of her testimony. Ketchum’s signature intensity shines as he draws upon cultural tensions of the mid-nineteenth century Southwest. The story relies on dialogue and action rather than extensive exposition, creating a character-driven horror experience. It is best suited for readers who appreciate grounded horror set in specific historical periods. Those seeking comfort or escape will find this work too dark, but fans of psychological dread and gothic themes will find it compelling.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This book is essential for readers who appreciate grounded horror that examines the psychological weight of survival and guilt rather than offering easy redemption. It suits those interested in gothic themes and supernatural terror rooted in real-world settings, specifically historical contexts like the mid-nineteenth century Southwest. The narrative appeals to fans of character-driven stories that rely on dialogue and action over exposition. By focusing on the brutality of antagonists and the impact of religious extremism, it provides a grim atmosphere for those seeking intensity. It is not for those desiring lighthearted adventure or modern urban fantasy, but rather for readers ready to engage with the psychological impact of trauma in a specific historical period.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Jack Ketchum delivers a harrowing examination of religious extremism and violence through the lens of three men encountering an injured woman in the Arizona Territory. The narrative avoids supernatural spectacle, instead focusing on the psychological impact on the protagonists and the weight of her testimony. Ketchum’s signature intensity shines as he draws upon cultural tensions of the mid-nineteenth century Southwest. The story relies on dialogue and action rather than extensive exposition, creating a character-driven horror experience. It is best suited for readers who appreciate grounded horror set in specific historical periods. Those seeking comfort or escape will find this work too dark, but fans of psychological dread and gothic themes will find it compelling.