Author: Scott Leddy

Book: Beyond Gehenna Book I: Tour of Duty

Elgin Thomas has been brought up by his mother, a woman who believes in the paranormal. Elgin’s aunt also dabbles in the occult, and the young boy suffers terrible nightmares that follow him to adulthood. After impregnating his girlfriend, he joins the army to focus on something other than what his life was prior to the war.

Selected for a secret mission, Elgin finds himself the leader of a band of soldiers. They have to infiltrate the enemy’s leaders and bring them down. Struggling through the Vietnamese scrublands proves difficult, and the band of soldiers diminishes. However, Elgin, along with his trusted friend, Scout, stumble upon an unused temple, where Elgin finds an artefact that is invaluable on their travels.

A creepy crow follows Elgin, turning up every now and then, making sure Elgin is aware of its presence. Is the crow a portent? Or is it spying on him? Elgin senses the latter. Faced with a monumental decision during his time in Vietnam, Elgin soon realises things about himself. At one time, he didn’t think himself capable of killing…

At his journey’s end, I was left a little bereft. I had grown to like Elgin as the book progressed, had come to know him, in a sense. Closing the book was almost like losing a much loved friend. However, I was excited to learn that Elgin’s story doesn’t end there. Book two is on the way, leaving me a very happy camper!

Author: Scott Leddy

Book: The Devil's Lair: Beyond Gehenna Book II
 

In Beyond Gehenna, Book 1: Tour of Duty, Elgin Thomas takes us through his life as a soldier in the Vietnam war, also touching on his childhood. I got to know Elgin pretty well, so continuing his journey in Beyond Gehenna, Book 2: The Devil’s Lair was a pleasure, one I had been eagerly waiting for.

Elgin finds himself in totally different surroundings—the bowels of Hell. Though frightened out of his wits at arriving in the Underworld, Elgin’s sense of survival kicks in. He witnesses the influx of other unfortunates, who land in a raging tarn of boiling red waters, only to haul themselves out, the skin slewing from their bodies. Unlike them, Elgin is relatively safe on dry land—or is he?

At first alone, he embarks on a journey to find a way out of the terrifying place he inhabits. Unfortunately, demons and a variety of weird beings have other ideas. It seems they thwart Elgin’s every attempt at freedom. Is he destined to roam this hot, infernal place for the rest of his existence?

Elgin meets a variety of people—characters from real life who committed heinous crimes. He also meets Frank, who, though a Bible-spouting, elderly man, appears to know all about Hell and how to get out. He offers to show Elgin the way, and the two of them travel towards a hopeful exit. Elgin questions that if Frank knows how to get out of Hell, why hasn’t he done so before now?

Troubles besiege them, but, undeterred, they plough on. Human nature takes over Elgin, and though their journey is hazardous, tiring, and at times seemingly pointless, they push forward, hoping for a happy conclusion.

However, there are surprises in store for Elgin, who meets many more weird and wonderful people along the way. There was a surprise in store for me too. I didn’t expect it to end how it did, and the clever twist didn’t leave me cheated but rather explained how amazing the human mind can be. A fascinating look into what could befall some of us after death, but also what we could create in our minds on our way to passing over.

An amazing read. I can only wish for a book 3.

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