CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
1 AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY
2 LEGENDS
3 BLAKE
4 GAME NIGHT
5 HALLORAN
6 BENEATH THE SURFACE
7 WILSON
8 RESURRECTION
9 A DEATH EXPLAINED?
10 A DEATH IN THE NIGHT
11 LEGENDS FROM THE PAST
12 BLOODSTONE
13 GRUESOME DISCOVERIES
14 A SUMMONS IN THE NIGHT
15 A WITNESS IN THE DARK
16 PREMONITIONS
17 RIVERWATCH
18 TO PROTECT AND SERVE
19 WARNINGS
20 FORENSICS
21 CONFRONTATION
22 A MESSAGE FROM BEYOND
23 PUZZLE PIECES
24 THE LAST OF A NOBLE RACE
25 THE BATON PASSES
26 REVELATIONS
27 CONNECTIONS
28 FOREST GREEN REVISITED
29 DECISION TIME
30 RIVERWATCH
31 REPERCUSSIONS
32 ATTACK PLANS
33 FIRST STRIKE
34 A FIERY END
35 AFTERMATH
36 THE BEGINNING OF THE END
37 REQUIEM
38 HUNTING ONCE MORE
39 MYSTICAL METHODS
40 PREPARATIONS
41 ILLUSIONS
42 INFERNO
EPILOGUE
PRAISE FOR JOSEPH NASSISE AND HIS ACCLAIMED DEBUT WORK OF HORROR
RIVERWATCH
NOMINATED FOR THE 2001 BRAM STOKER AWARD FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A FIRST NOVEL
NOMINATED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL HORROR GUILD AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN A FIRST NOVEL FOR 2001
“A heady brew of horror and suspense that has an intense and original flavor. This book has both imagination and muscle. Expect great things from Joe Nassise.”
—Tom Piccirilli, Bram Stoker Award–winning author ofA Lower Deep andHexes
“This is exactly the sort of story that got me interested in horror fiction as a child and has kept me reading it ever since. It’s character-driven, has a fascinating back-story and is honestly scary. Nassise earns high marks for his handling of characterization, pacing, plotting and his multi-viewpoint narration. Simply stated, his novel is just plain fun.”
—Hellnotes
“Joe Nassise’s fiction reads like a skilled boxer—a jab, a cross, and ultimately a superb knockout.”
—John F. Merz, author of the Lawson Vampire series
“Riverwatchis a stunning debut novel, intricately plotted and beautifully written. Nassise knows that a good ‘monster’ novel needs to be fast paced and terrifying… and he delivers action and frights galore! Watch out for Joe Nassise…. He’s already made his mark.”
—Tim Lebbon, British Fantasy Award–winning author ofFace andThe Nature of Balance
“From cover to cover this book will keep you riveted to the pages and on the edge of your seat. If you think nothing can scare you anymore, give this talented author the chance to prove you wrong…. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.”
—Alternate Realities
“Intense and hard-hitting…. Comparable to the writings of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.Riverwatch is the type of horror novel that is compiled of precise amounts of suspense and gore, producing some truly frightening scenes.Riverwatch may be Nassise’s first novel, but I hope it is not his last; he is the kind of talented writer that can shine in a tight-knit genre of select writers.”
—Phillip Tomasso, author ofTenth House andThird Ring
“A solid, haunting, and evocative piece of work….Riverwatch is not to be missed, and Nassise is definitely a writer to keep an eye on.”
—Bram Stoker–nominated author Greg Gifune
“Riverwatchis a horror fan’s delight! I couldn’t put this down until I was finished. Nassise’s voice is a mixture of Douglass Clegg and Frank Perretti but uniquely his own. Don’t miss it!”
—Brian Keene, author ofNo Rest for the Wicked
“Dark caverns, secret chambers, and unspeakable evil….Riverwatch doesn’t disappoint!”
—Staci Layne Wilson, author ofHorrors of the Holy
“Horror fans have a special treat in store…. A genuinely frightening novel…. Nassise is a gifted storyteller…. [A] must read.”
—Harriet Klausner
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster Inc.
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Copyright © 2000, 2001 by Joseph M. Nassise
Published by arrangement with Barclay Books, LLC
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ISBN: 0-7434-8040-6
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This book is dedicated to my parents:
For my father, who by his example
taught me how to be a husband and a father.
For my mother, who by her constant encouragement
gave me the courage to chase my dreams.
Thank you both for always believing.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’d foremost like to thank my wife, Dawn, who found the original handwritten manuscript of this novel in a shoe box in the closet and insisted that I submit it. Without her, this book wouldn’t exist.
In addition, my thanks also go out to my agent, Bob Diforio, for taking a chance on an unknown writer; my editor, Amy Pierpont, for working closely with me to bring this book into your hands; the many members of the Horror Writers Association whose votes placed this book on the Bram Stoker Award ballot in its original small press version; the judges of the International Horror Guild Awards who likewise saw fit to nominate it in their best first novel category; and to my friends Jon and Drew, for offering encouragement and critique of not only this work but my writing in general.
1
AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY
It’s a tombstone.
The notion came out of nowhere; seeping into his consciousness the way fog sweeps off the sea on a cool summer evening, insidiously sliding into the center of his thoughts. Once there, it stuck hard and fast. The stone did, indeed, resemble a gravestone. The outer edges had been beveled at a slight angle, giving it a simple yet unmistakable sense of dignity. It had also been sealed to the dirt floor with mortar.
If it was a tombstone, then whose was it?
Why put it here, hidden beneath a river?
It just didn’t make sense. Staring at it, Jake decided it had been a difficult afternoon. This latest addition to his troubles had started fifteen minutes ago, with Rick’s arrival in his trailer.
“We need you in the cellar, boss.”
“What the hell for, Rick?” Jake Caruso replied without turning. “You know Blake wants these estimates finished before two o’clock. I don’t have time to look at every little thing that goes wrong. That’s why I appointed you foreman, remember?” Jake was tired; the work had been going well, but Blake was on his back about even the tiniest details. It was starting to get to him.Why can’t the man just back off and let me do my job? Jake wondered, not for the first time.
Rick’s reply surprised him. “I know, boss, but I think you’d better come on down. It’s important.”
His solemn tone was what caught Jake’s attention. Turning away from the work before him, Jake looked at Rick and started in surprise. His friend’s lips were pressed tightly together. The tension in his jaw was easy to see despite the man’s effort to hide it. His usually ruddy face had gone sickly gray, and the cheerful light in his eyes had dulled to a lusterless sheen.
Jake’s aggravation with the interruption vanished. Rick was the perpetual optimist. For him to look this bad could only mean that something major had gone wrong. Images of bloodied flesh raced through Jake’s mind, with visions of men crushed by powerful tools.