Rating: 
Summary: Dark Debts
Review: I can only hope that Ms. Hall reads these reviews, and will provide her readers with another work of fiction. She makes each character come alive in a very human and unglorified way. The time taken for reasearch is evident, and she is able to make her thoughts clear in a way that is both objective and very good reading. This is my first "review", and am very glad to make this effort on Karen Hall's behalf.
Rating:
Summary: Dark Debts
Review: I can only hope that Ms. Hall reads these reviews, and will provide her readers with another work of fiction. She makes each character come alive in a very human and unglorified way. The time taken for reasearch is evident, and she is able to make her thoughts clear in a way that is both objective and very good reading. This is my first "review", and am very glad to make this effort on Karen Hall's behalf.
Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Book for Those Questioning their Beliefs
Review: I first came across this book at a used book sale in my town library. There were at least 5 copies of it in the stacks, which is rare for a library book sale...anyhow, I was somewhat intrigued by the book-jacket description of a "gothic" tale, and, not being able to find anything else, I bought it. I had no idea when I picked this book up that I would be delving into a riveting, supernatural tale of spiritual warfare (which, amazingly, was the type of book I had been looking for to begin with!). The story involves a demonic evil that has plagued a southern family for generations, and of the two remaining members' fight to defeat it once and for all. To minorly plagarize the tag line for "Signs", what one man believes could be the key to saving his own life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is questioning his or her personal theological beliefs; this book raises many questions about human lives in relationship to God, but (wisely) does not seek to answer them all (while still answering enough within the context of the story to satisfy the reader).
***Minor Spoilers Ahead!***
I personally agree with the reader who disliked the ending: the response that the priest gives IS rather lame and (I think) somewhat anti-climactic in a story of such intense spiritual warfare, but...oh well. I would add as well that, after September 11th, the barrage of disasterous images presented by the demon would need to be updated a bit....also, keep in mind that the basis of this story is FICTION! In reality, there are no Satanic cults that sacrifice human beings (trust me--I've read quite a bit on this subject). Oh, and another thing: read the Acknowledgments at the end of the book. They give the story a LOT more personal meaning on the author's behalf. :O)
Rating: 
Summary: Dissenting Writer
Review: I just finished the novel. I feel cheated in wasting my time reading it. The demon story was fascinating, and it kept me wanting to get to the end. HOWEVER:
The author writes about a priest who is in "love" with a woman and has sex with her, over a long period of time. As if that is love! When we read what his mind is thinking, it is only LUSTful thoughts! That is not what we are taught by the Church to know LOVE is! Love isn't passion and sex. It is doing what is best for the beloved, not using her.
Then, the author goes into a tirade about Humanae Vitae (of course a priest who can't control himself would have trouble with married couples controlling themselves!) See page 234. There are also places throughout the novel where her opinion on women's ordination and role in the Church and priestly celebacy are not in line with the Church. It seems that to justify his own sin, he has to redefine what sin is and therefore all authority to define right and wrong is invalid.
I kept waiting on the novel to come to the point that the trouble the priest has in fighting the demon is because he is weak with his own sin -- his lust, his heterodoxy, his denial, his pride. It came close with one poinient quote after the demon tells him his past sins, and he is ashamed: "How wierd, Michael suddenly thought. The Devil doesn't need any special powers, other than clairvoyance. After that, he can destroy you with your own stuff."
And to top it all off, it ends with a sappy, New Age, B.S. response the priest gives in answer to a question from his "lover's" daughter about what Christ would say to her. It goes, "He'd say .... 'I tell you what. Do the best you can. Treat other people decently. And the next time you see a pretty sunset, take a moment to look at it. Count the colors. Wonder where it came from. Say 'Wow' out loud. And I'll hear you. And I'll consider it a prayer.'" PAAAAHHLLEEEESE! That's what God created us for and what Christ came to reveal and die for? Our appreciation of sunsets??????If you aren't Catholic, please don't think you've learned anything about the Church from this novel. If you are Catholic, please be on guard against heresy and hererodoxy.
Rating:
Summary: Dissenting Writer
Review: I just finished the novel. I feel cheated in wasting my time reading it. The demon story was fascinating, and it kept me wanting to get to the end. HOWEVER:
The author writes about a priest who is in "love" with a woman and has sex with her, over a long period of time. As if that is love! When we read what his mind is thinking, it is only LUSTful thoughts! That is not what we are taught by the Church to know LOVE is! Love isn't passion and sex. It is doing what is best for the beloved, not using her.
Then, the author goes into a tirade about Humanae Vitae (of course a priest who can't control himself would have trouble with married couples controlling themselves!) See page 234. There are also places throughout the novel where her opinion on women's ordination and role in the Church and priestly celebacy are not in line with the Church. It seems that to justify his own sin, he has to redefine what sin is and therefore all authority to define right and wrong is invalid.
I kept waiting on the novel to come to the point that the trouble the priest has in fighting the demon is because he is weak with his own sin -- his lust, his heterodoxy, his denial, his pride. It came close with one poinient quote after the demon tells him his past sins, and he is ashamed: "How wierd, Michael suddenly thought. The Devil doesn't need any special powers, other than clairvoyance. After that, he can destroy you with your own stuff."
And to top it all off, it ends with a sappy, New Age, B.S. response the priest gives in answer to a question from his "lover's" daughter about what Christ would say to her. It goes, "He'd say .... 'I tell you what. Do the best you can. Treat other people decently. And the next time you see a pretty sunset, take a moment to look at it. Count the colors. Wonder where it came from. Say 'Wow' out loud. And I'll hear you. And I'll consider it a prayer.'" PAAAAHHLLEEEESE! That's what God created us for and what Christ came to reveal and die for? Our appreciation of sunsets?????? If you aren't Catholic, please don't think you've learned anything about the Church from this novel. If you are Catholic, please be on guard against heresy and hererodoxy.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Horror Novels I've Read in Recent Years
Review: I picked up "Dark Debts" mainly because of the cover art, the priest silhouetted against the hellfire. Once I got home and started reading, I could not stand to put it down. The characters were so well developed and strong that I cared what happened to them. I've recommended this book to three other people, all of whom loved it. It's the sort of intelligent horror novel that we don't get enough of on the shelves. It more than frightened me; it made me think about issues like faith and organized religion. I can't wait until Karen Hall comes out with her next book. I'm hoping that it's another horror novel.
Rating:
Summary: Great Theological Thriller
Review: I truly enjoyed this book. It explored the aspects of Good and Evil that most people in our sterilized, "reasonable" atheistic society are not comfortable discussing. Funny, when it is your garden variety axe murderer or neighborhood canibal people eat it up. I think that is why certain people will find themselves offended from reading this book. But this book did more than try to frighten; it made you think about the larger picture and our place in it and the choices we must make about what we believe. I think it showed that one cannot be wishy-washy about belief in God or the Devil. One must take a side, and in refusing to take a side, you inevitably chose the devil.
Rating:
Summary: Forgive Us Our Debts
Review: Karen Hall has managed to write a truly gripping horror novel that ultimately becomes an examination of our religious beliefs; our faith; and why "God lets bad things happen to good people." The story focuses on two men: Father Michael Kinney, a Jesuit priest undergoing his own faith crisis; and Jack Landry, the surviving member of a family seemingly cursed with horrible results. How these two men become involved with each other is well-written and mesmerizing. The novel has a great ensemble of characters, and has some truly frightening exorcism scenes. The finale is a whopper set in the remains of a hotel destroyed by an unexplained fire. This is a great first novel and one can only hope Ms. Hall returns with another one soon! The only reason I didn't give it FIVE STARS is that I was a little disappointed with the resolution between Father Michael and his love interest, Tess. Maybe it's because I'm a Catholic! At any rate, this is a wonderful novel, full of suspense and some well-placed humor.
Rating:
Summary: Best First Novel I've Ever Read
Review: Karen Hall makes a wonderful contribution to horror and the Demonic-possesion/family-curse sub-genre. The Dialogue in this novel is wonderfully written, rings true, and is often humorous. This story contains the sadness of losing someone you love, a new budding romance, a curse of insanity on a southern family, and painful past memories. I won't give any more away than the basics--I'll leave the good stuff to be discovered by those of you who actually read the book. I wouldn't pass by on this one.. it is a great piece, and I only wish Ms. Hall would return with another book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not so good...
Review: Not as good as lots of people are saying here. It's not deep at all, and is, to be honest, pretty silly. I don't get the positive reviews at all! Pretty much a waste of time.
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