Merlyn E. Seitz

Overcast Merlyn E. Seitz

Reed Shillinger is in trouble. As is his usual habit, this trouble is the result of his actions not the actions of others. He retreats to the place of his birth after ending a long marriage. The depth of his internal darkness haunts him. In the days and months following his return, he struggles to find hope and redemption. He is not alone in his darkness. Another man, sickened by hatred and driven to avenge ancient wrongs against his people, occupies the same land as Reed. The blood of this man's ancestors has turned toxic in his veins. He is possessed by the primitive vengeful spirit of a people who lived on this land occupied by Reed. The community is stunned by a series of terrible deaths, some of which are slayings and others assumed suicides. Reed inadvertently becomes witness and then participant in this war between the wronged peoples of the past and naïve occupiers of the present. Before Reed begins to rise above the dark shadow that is over him, he meets Caron. She offers moments of lightness and love for him. In the climactic confrontation with his enemy, Reed comes very close to losing everything.