Velvet Rain by David C. Cassidy

Velvet Rain Reviews

• 
  Elise Stokes

  (Not suitable for readers under 18)
  
  Man on the run Kain Richards possesses the ability to turn back time; His creator, David C. Cassidy, plays his readers like a master puppeteer. My emotions are still reeling from this exceptional dark, disturbing, and deeply moving tale.
  
  It was the passionate reactions from Velvet Rain reviewers that had piqued my interest. "Dean Koontz would be proud of this writer..." "reveals the evils of humanity ... the demons hidden under human flesh." "Beware: This is a horror story!" -- who wouldn't be curious, or forewarned? I'll be frank. I don't usually read this genre. I've read one Stephen King novel and said never again. Velvet Rain was my once more.
  
  Cassidy weaves this dark tale with vivid, rock-solid prose. He has a very visual writing style. Scenes unfold on paper like frames in a film. If I could, I would have read with my eyes shut. Cassidy pulls no punches; he plows the reader between the eyes. The violence is revolting and senseless, although it's clear where Cassidy stands. He shows his view through his protagonist, Kain, a good man who knows only too well that monsters live, breathe, and prey among us. Velvet Rain is an examination of the depravity and degradation that stains our human history.
  
  I recommend this novel to:
  
  Horror and Dark Fiction fans. Velvet Rain will be an excellent addition to your collection, from a writer whom I predict you'll hear much about in the future. You'll love how Cassidy disturbs you.
  
  I DO NOT recommend this novel to:
  
  Anyone under the age of 18, due to explicit violence, upsetting topics, and profanity. I also don't recommend this novel to the squeamish or to anyone who would be deeply affected by scenes involving child sexual abuse or grisly, detailed torture. Imagine the torture scene in Braveheart being described indepth.
  
  If you're squeamish but decide to take on Velvet Rain anyway, brace yourself to become Cassidy's marionette. The magnificent puppeteer that he is, he will shock, enrage, and move you to tears. Don't say I didn't warn you.
• 
  Hock Tjoa

  Kain Richards is a drifter; he is also what we might call a mutant. He has an unusual ability which in the opening chapters, for reasons not explained, he uses for petty thievery. But of course mutants have been hunted down and, in his case, tortured with a brutality that is beyond comprehension. Even when others of his type have been introduced and their miserable ends described--in leisurely, almost obscene detail--I cannot say I understand the evil. Other novels have introduced to us the notion that real evil exists in this world; but the evil of the mutant hunter in Velvet Rain is beyond comprehension. One can understand that he wishes to possess the power of the mutant, to understand how it works and to improve on it to his own ends. But, beyond that, I confess that my imagination fails me.
  
  In between the grungy beginning and the third part, the end (introduced modestly as "Hell on Earth") there is a very long adagio of "normal" life in farm country with teens playing baseball and losing, one of them at least, his virginity with the town's whore. These are extremely leisurely scenes, even when there are moments of foreboding as when the animals sense the strangeness of the drifter (they do not like what they sense but we do not learn why) and the discovery of horrific domestic abuse of the kind served up by recent TV depictions of criminal behavior.
  
  The author has an undeniable power of imagination; even his vision of evil and cruelty might be acceptable as a form of literary license. But, for this reviewer, writing so burdened needs to be at a trot if not a canter.
• 
  Dana Griffin

  From the opening line, to the final sentence, David C. Cassidy kept me turning the pages of this beautifully written novel.
  
  Kain Richards was born with a special gift. A gift a sadistic scientist, Brikker, in a secret government program will do anything to use to his advantage. Anything. This requires Kain to live the life of a drifter until he meets a separated woman, Lynn, and her teenage children in Iowa. Living in Lynn’s guest house and working for her farmer father, he becomes attached to the family and harbors ideas of rooting himself there. Lurking in the back of his mind is the fear of Brikker finding him, and what he’ll do to this family if it’s discovered he lived with them.
  
  Lynn’s estranged husband, Ray, an evil man, adds an interesting complication to the story that takes place in the late fifties. Throughout the story I expected Ray and Kain to have a life or death altercation, or Ray to turn Kain into Brikker. I was partially right.
  
  Mr. Cassidy’s writing is vivid and polished. He puts you deep into the point of view characters head letting you know their every thought. There are times when this reviewer thought this slowed down. But that is about the only negative thing I can say about this book. I became emotionally attached to Kain and Lynn’s family, and wanted to kill Brikker and Ray myself. Set aside some time to read the last seventy-five pages as the action that intense.
  
  Dean Koontz and Stephen King should be worried about this gifted writer taking away from their books sales. I anxiously await his next book.
  
  
• 
  Dr. Sherri Christian

  Well written and intriguing - I enjoyed Velvet Rain and highly recommend it!
• 
  Angie ~aka Reading Machine~

  Kain Richards is a drifter, who is hiding a secret from everyone he meets, and he always gives people a false name. Kain Richards is a man on the run from a man that will stop at nothing to get him back in clutches. Kain never stays in one place long enough to for attachments because doing so has deadly consequences for himself and others. Kain plans to keep moving yet finds he likes the little sleepy town of Spencer. Kain finds work with Al Hembruff's farm eventually meets Lynn Bishop, a waitress at the local diner, after evicting her ex-husband Ray Bishop. Lynn Bishop offers Kain a place to stay along with her two children Ryan and LeeAnne. Kain does odd jobs around the house while still working at Big Al's too. Yet Kain still wakes up in cold sweat thanks to one man-Brikker. Brikker is searching for Kain Richards everywhere he can and has few leads in finding him. Brikker wants to possess Kain Richards for his unique talent called the Turn so he can Sense the future. Brikker will stop at nothing to have Kain back in the fold and under control. Can Kain stop running? Will Lynn trust Kain? Can Kain let Lynn into his life? What about Ryan and LeeAnne? Will Brikker find Kain? Your answers await you in Velvet Rain.
• 
  Vickie McKeehan

  From the opening pages of Cassidy's sci-fi thriller, Velvet Rain, readers will know they are at the mercy of a masterful storyteller. The book begins with a gritty, fast-paced action scene and never lets up. Kain Richards is used to his miserable life on the run and great at keeping his secrets. When he ends up in the little town of Spencer, quickly moving toward a relationship with Lynn Bishop, a waitress at the local diner, he knows this isn't the smartest thing he's ever done. But Kain's drawn to Lynn and her kids. Life feels normal for the first time in his life. While the reader realizes right up front things are going a little too well for Kain and Lynn in this sleepy little town, the man known as Brikker continues searching for Kain with one intent. Brikker wants Kain's unusual talent and will stop at nothing to get it. Cassidy's skill for building suspense makes Velvet Rain a scary read that's hard to put down. I read it on the plane and the entire book made the trip fly for me. Velvet Rain succeeds in gripping the reader with an edgy, chilling tale of suspense. You won't want to pass up Cassidy's talent.
• 
  Tami Parrington

  There's never a loss for action in this wonderfully written novel. It took my breath away right from the first line, and didn't give it back until the very end. Looking forward to more work from this fantastic author.
• 
  Caryn

  AMAZING!
  
  This author really has a brilliant mind and his stories prove that every story he writes. This one is no exception. I loved the concept of The Turn. The characters are so well written that you feel you know them personally. The story is not without its horrors and sometimes they can turn your stomach. But, in my eyes, that is what makes a good writer....that ability to tell the story so well that you feel it all around you. I just wish our hero and heroine could have had that life together that they both deserved.
  
  WELL DONE MR. CASSIDY!
• 
  The Doctor

  I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written and had an interesting plot to follow. The story follows a man named Kain, who had escaped from a doctor who was performing experiments on him because he possessed a mutant ability to turn back time. The book is extremely dark and there is no doubt gruesome torture scenes and lots of violence. But in my honest opinion, those scenes helped the story along. It had created the dark tension needed and showed the true evils of humanity and the darkness that could easily take control when the need for power is a must. Some parts I did have to skip over because it had made my stomach queasy,but luckily the parts I skipped did not steal away from the storyline. Each character had a dark secret that they were embarrassed or afraid to reveal, which had messed with their heads greatly. What is brilliant about this story is it really reveals the evils of humanity. Some scenes were gruesome and totally depraved, but so was the holocaust (The doctor was the holocaust all over again). So many people had died at the hands of evil doctors in the name of science, and many people out there suffer at the hands of abusive people. It is a story that brings these evil deeds to light, alerting people to what is out there. The true dangers. The demons hidden under human flesh. This is why I applaud this book because it exposes that sin, that evil. It creates awareness. If you are looking for a light-hearted thriller, this book is not for you. If you are looking for a fun adventure, this book is not for you. This book is a character study, studying the horrors of the human mind and what happens when greed and the need for power becomes more important, or when a little voice starts whispering to you,providing you with evil, twisted ideas, and it only grows larger until your mind succumbs to the calling. That is what this book is about. It is dark.It is there to make the audience think. I would put this book in the categories of Stephen King and Clive Barker novels. The bad guys are demented, they are there for the audience to hate and wish balls of fire upon them. The bad guys represent true evil and there are people like them out there. Again, this is really good book and I am happy that I had the chance to experience it.
• 
  Scott Bury

  What if you could go back in time and correct your mistakes? Would you?
  
  What would the price be?
  
  In Velvet Rain, David C. Cassidy answers that question imaginatively, realistically and fearlessly.
  
  The answer, though, is difficult and terrifying.
  
  As a skilled writer, Cassidy brings the answer out through the story. He begins with fictitious headlines that we know cannot be true, like Buddy Holly surviving that plane crash or Hitler being tried for war crimes. He then gets right into the story, answering a universal question with a particular story — the mark of the artist.
  
  Kain Richards is a wanderer, a drifter with the strange ability to move back in time, which he uses to hustle pool.
  
  Richards, though, is running from something or someone. He avoids even the most temporary relationships, because he must never be tied down.
  
  Naturally, his heart breaks his rule, and he falls for Lynn Bishop, a single mom with two teenagers, Lee-Anne and Ryan. She’s estranged from her husband, the town drunk and iconic wife-beater, Ray. Her situation and family history cause a tangle of problems that are symbolic of far too many families in the world today. But Cassidy doesn’t preach: he remains focused on the story he’s telling.
  
  Kain’s problems and pain become entangled with Lynn’s, but this never feels forced or artificial. If you can believe in Kain’s strange time-shifting abilities, then the rest of the story falls into place as naturally as rain. And the story reveals the pain and horror that are the price of Kain’s powers.
  
  Cassidy’s story contains a great deal of pain, but the author also captures the simple, quiet joy and pleasure of a simple life, the humour and love of a county fair, an honest day’s work, of the connection between a man and a woman, between youth and maturity. The writing style is descriptive, but never heavy-handed, and it never drags.
  
  And he delivers on the implied promise. What is the cost of the power to change the past? The new present you have created, because no matter what you do, everything has consequences.
  
  5 stars.
  
• 
  Jeff McIntosh

  Velvet Rain is the story of the drifter Kain, who has the gift of time travel...not with a machine, but thru the power of his mind...Kain is pursued by a secret government agents, who seek to uncover the secrets of his amazing gift......
• 
  Christoph Fischer

  "Velvet Rain" by David C. Cassidy was recommended to me by a friend and I only reluctantly picked it up, science fiction and horror not being my favourite genre, but I am glad I did read this inspired and terrific book.
  It starts with a selection of newspaper headlines in which the Titanic did not sink, Emilia Erhard landed safely and Hitler got put to trial. This introduces the premise of the book, that small and bigger historic events can be changed by a drifter, named Kain Richards.
  On his heel follows a man named Brikker, who wants to exploit this talent and who has no consideration for human life beyond his experiments whatsoever, reminiscent of Dr. Mengele in the German death camps.
  In his latest hideout Kain falls for waitress Lynn and gets involved with her despite knowing the dangers this will bring once Brikker catches up with him.
  The book is cleverly and complex structured, the first part in particular, and after easing us into the idea of the book and introducing us to the characters slowly, part two launches into the nastiness of Brikker, from where he narrative is much simpler, fast paced and action packed.
  I personally liked the depth the characters, Kain having a burden with this gift and limitations, which makes him a complex and interesting protagonist. I also enjoyed the intelligent and almost philosophical exploration of the theme, 'what if events could be changed', which gave me a lot of food for thought.
  The book is very well written, confident and competent, very graphic and violent at times and intense, certain to please the fans of thrillers and horror alike, as long as you are not to squeamish you should enjoy this very gripping and entertaining novel.
  
  
• 
  D.G. Torrens

  Velvet rain is one of those rare gems that makes the reader think. This book is so intelligently written and thought provoking I simply could not put this down. The detail in the story was so perfect you could actually envisage the scenes, this I think is a very hard thing to accomplish and this author has done just that. The story tells of a drifter called Kain, he has the most incredible secret which he dare not share fearing people would not and never would understand. He bears a heavy burden which he takes from town to town not staying long enough for people to start becoming suspicious. Until he reaches one particular town that he really does not want to leave, but people are becoming suspicious. As a reader you're thrown into suspense and intrigue knowing a pandoras box is just about to be opened at any time. I don't like spoilers so I am not going to give much away here! What I will say is this book will grab hold of you and will not let you go, it's perfectly written, and reads like a Stephen King novel. I think there is a new master in town and one that we will be hearing a lot about in the future!
  
• 
  M.E. Lorde

  Outstanding premise with writing that rival Stephen King's. This storyline is really unique and I found the characters to be strongly defined. I don't give spoilers, so I don't want to say too much, but there are excitement and surprises around every corner. This is a great dark fantasy, with one or two places that might make one cringe, but nothing like a hard-core horror book full of blood and guts. One of the many things I enjoyed was the real-life experience that came with this opage-turner, and by that I mean that, for me, it carried a strong down to earth feel, even amist all of the excitement/fantasy and sci-fi elements. The romance was believable and not filled with erotica, which I tend to enjoy in a non-erotica book because absence of it doesn't distract from the plot. I loved it. I'll read everything this author puts out. The whole experience was fascinating and couldn't get through it fast enough. I did nothing that day but read it all day.
• 
  Herb

  Velvet Rain reminds me in a way, of one of my favorite TV series, Kung Fu. The main character Kain is a lot like the character of Kwai Chang Caine in the series. He is kind and merciful, only using his powers for good to lessen the suffering of others. He moves on when his welcome is worn out and he reaches out to some unknown goal.
  
  His power? The ability to locally turn back time. It will set your mind to thinking in a myriad of ways.
  
  I enjoyed this book with all of its plot twists and turns. While a bit dark and gory at times, it did not disappoint in depth of feeling and mystery. The bad guys are really evil and twisted and you will love to hate them! A great page turner that would make a great movie. I recommend it to people who like thriller/mysteries.
• 
  Julie Powell

  One thing that can be said about this book is that its dark nature reveals that ingredient hidden (maybe not always) within the human condition. It reveals much of what the 'dark side' can do, what it can't and what it would like to do.
  
  It is disturbing and not always clear, as if the winding path of evil is not prepared to divulge its intentions all at once - this may or may not have been what the author decided, although I was, in parts a little confused.
  
  Overall a good read if you like looking into the abyss of mystery and darkness.
• 
  Graham Holland

  As a long-time fan of Stephen King's work I always knew it would take an exceptional writer to cause me to make favourable comparisons. I think with David C Cassidy I've found that exceptional writer. Based around an inventive sci-fi/fantasy concept, the book takes us on a journey into the past, through the present, and on to the future. It's a gripping read - at times chilling, at times humorous, and at times deeply moving. I can't praise Cassidy's work highly enough.
• 
  Nat

  A great novel that made me think. Such a great use of detail that I could truly visualize the events occuring. The chatacterss are superbly written and felt like people I could relaate except for the bad guys as the I eventually felt that they needed to suffer for what they did to the leading characters which shows just how superbl writtn the leads. Would certainly reccommend it.
• 
  Rebecca

  Well written book. Certainly kept my attention and interest. A bit challenging to follow in the beginning but once you get into the flow of the story, it was much easier to understand the timelines and perspectives. Not a book for the faint of heart as some chapters and situations are extremely graphic and disturbing.
• 
  Nancy

  Wow! What an engaging set of characters! And the plot is tres cool! I hope this has a sequel someday. I'm especially glad to be getting into David Cassidy's books because I've read all of Stephan King's books and I really needed a new author to grab me with his characters the way that Stephen King does. I think I found my man. Can you give me an Amen!
• 
  Alison Banks

  Un forgetable
  
  Main Richards is a man with a past or two or even three. Follow his story in another page turner from David C Cassidy. A bit different from other novels of his I've read but a book worth reading even so.
• 
  Monique

  excited to read this <3 ! ^____^V
• 
  Kelly

  Well Written Book. It had me from the beginning, I couldn't put it down. Mystery and intrigue are intelligently portrayed,David Cassidy did a fantastic job writing this book.
• 
  Carlos Jr.

  Sounds interesting and very captivating. A must read!
• 
  Jo-Anne Vandermeulen

  Stephen King & Dean Koonz Step Aside—To David C. Cassidy--A Remarkable Dark Thriller Horror Story Teller!
• 
  Jeannie Walker

  What would you do if you could change the past? Consider this - every action has a reaction; every deed has an end result.
  In Velvet Rain, the main character, Kain Richards, is a man who is continually moving from place to place. He doesn't have a fixed home because he has a beyond belief secret that he cannot share with anyone. This is a dark thriller that is skillfully crafted by a very talented writer who pays attention to details and descriptions that will pull you into the depth of the sequence and story line so much that you can form a mental image of the scenes and the characters. It has action, romance, intrigue, fantasy, and more. Basically all the elements of a great story is carved into Velvet Rain. Can Kain Richards find a place where his unusual ability will be accepted by others and where he can finally feel welcome and at ease? Can this wanderer find a home and someone to love without conditions? I hope you read this gripping novel. If you do, I believe you will want to read more by this author. David Cassidy certainly seems to have a natural aptitude and skill at sculpting and writing a fascinating and appealing story.
  
  Jeannie Walker Award Winning Author
  
  Fighting the Devil: A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
  
  I Saw the Light
  
  Thomas, The Friendly Ghost
  
  The Rain Snake: A True Story of Love, Faith and Trust
  
• 
  Jeannie Walker

  What would you do if you could change the past? Consider this - every action has a reaction; every deed has an end result.
  In Velvet Rain, the main character, Kain Richards, is a man who is continually moving from place to place. He doesn't have a fixed home because he has a beyond belief secret that he cannot share with anyone. This is a dark thriller that is skillfully crafted by a very talented writer who pays attention to details and descriptions that will pull you into the depth of the sequence and story line so much that you can form a mental image of the scenes and the characters. It has action, romance, intrigue, fantasy, and more. Basically all the elements of a great story is carved into Velvet Rain. Can Kain Richards find a place where his unusual ability will be accepted by others and where he can finally feel welcome and at ease? Can this wanderer find a home and someone to love without conditions? I hope you read this gripping novel. If you do, I believe you will want to read more by this author. David Cassidy certainly seems to have a natural aptitude and skill at sculpting and writing a fascinating and appealing story.
  
  Jeannie Walker Award Winning Author
  
  Fighting the Devil: A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
• 
  D. L. Burnett

  Kain Richards is a drifter who meets good and bad people as he wanders through the US. The story’s characters are strong and the good characters are likable. This Science Fiction thriller has an interesting premise and many scenes worked, but I expect a thriller to have tension or conflict on almost every page.
  The beginning’s disconnected chapters and lack of clear goals confused me and stole tension. I wasn’t sure what Kain wanted. The danger seemed vague. The first ten chapters seemed unfocused. At Chapter 11, the story started to work for me. The relationship between Kain and the “good woman” Lynn develops nicely in a slow-moving middle section but their relationship seems more loving friendship and lacks romantic tension.
  The secondary characters are well developed. I liked Lynn’s two children and her parents. The dialogue sounded realistic and authentic. Although there are vague hints, the reader doesn’t know how bad the villain is until a graphic scene halfway through the novel. The bad characters violating the pastoral setting give a dramatic ending.
  The writing moved better when the reader stayed in one character’s point of view per scene. After finishing the book, I reread the first part and understood it better.