Hell’s
Island by William D. Hardy is a supernatural thriller. It is a chilling tale
of a man and his family’s struggle against the human incarnate of Evil.

Hell’s
Island is set along the coast of the southern United States (predominantly
South Carolina and Georgia) during the pre-civil rights 1960s. Benjamin Farrow,
heir to the Farrow fortune, has been approached by a major chemical company
with an offer to buy Chandler Island. Benjamin is not particularly inclined to
sell, but when he is visited by Hanley Rivers, his father’s friend, who insists
under no circumstance is he ever to consider selling the island, Benjamin
becomes more than a little curious about the island. Hanley tells Benjamin a
tale about former plantation slaves that live on the island who have reverted
to a primitive lifestyle, hate whites, and practice voodoo. Benjamin never one
to be told what to do is not convinced by Hanley’s story and sets out to
discover exactly why the island is so important. Benjamin is about to learn a
lesson in humility, because what the reader knows that Benjamin does not is
that Marlowe, the Devil’s right hand man, is in residence on the island.
Marlowe is evil and powerful and he is not interested in being disturbed nor is
he interested in changing the status quo of his worshipful followers.

Hell’s
Island is a regional period piece with a supernatural kicker. It is filled
with Southern atmosphere and local lore. It may at times offend readers with
its pre-civil rights language about African Americans, but it is probably an
accurate depiction of verbiage and attitudes for that time and place. Marlowe,
the seventeenth century human turned demon, is powerful and pure evil. He is
also cunning and a master of disguises. I must wonder, however, why such a
powerful and sophisticated devil as he is living in a dank underground cave
with primitive followers rather then opting for a plush plantation house with a
cult following of the rich and famous. Finally, the ending feels somewhat
rushed and a bit too tidy. For me, it left many questions unanswered about
Marlow and his relationship to the Farrows and Rivers unanswered.

I could not find out anything about
the author, William D. Hardy, Jr. or any other publications by him. Since the
book also lists William D. Hardy, I am left to wonder if it is not a father-son
collaboration.

Hell
Island by William D. Hardy is a spooky horror novel that successfully
blends history with demonic chills. It fills a unique horror niche and may
develop a nice following with the boating crowd. Note graphic violence against
animals. Not Stephen King but a scary read none-the-less. I would recommend it.

© 2002 Su Terry

Su Terry: Education:
B.A. in History from Sacred Heart University, M.L.S. in Library Science from
Southern Connecticut State College, M.R.S. in Religious Studies/Pastoral
Counseling from Fairfield University, a M.Div. in Professional Ministry from
New Brunswick Theological Seminary, a Certificate in Spirituality/Spiritual
Direction from Sacred Heart University. She is a Licensed Minister of the
United Church of Christ and an Assistant Professor in Library Science at
Dowling College, Long Island, NY. Interests in Mental Health: She is interested
in the interplay between psychology, biology, and mysticism. Her current area
of research is in the impact of hormonal fluctuation in female Christian mystics.

Categories: Fiction