| Title | : | Cold Moon Over Babylon |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0380486601 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780380486601 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 292 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1980 |
Margaret Larkin has been robbed of her innocence -- and her life. Her killer is rich and powerful, beyond the grasp of earthly law.
Now, in the murky depths of the local river, a shifting, almost human shape slowly takes form. Night after night it will pursue the murderer. It will watch him from the trees. And in the chill waters of the river, it will claim him in the ultimate embrace.
The cold moon rises, the awful squishing sounds begin...
Cold Moon Over Babylon Reviews
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There's a killer on the loose in the small town of Babylon, Florida. He likes to use the Styx River to wash away his evidence.
But the Styx River is the source of a supernatural force.
And the more horrors committed by this killer, the stronger the supernatural becomes.
The innocent have been murdered ... the river wants atonement.
Michael McDowell has a story to tell ... lend him your ear. .
Cold Moon trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdLEC...
Looks like a B grade movie to me but a couple of scenes looked fun. Especially a scene where Margaret's ghost rides about on an invisible bicycle.
page 20
Belinda on Evelyn Larkin's front porch
"'I didn't see anybody, Miz Larkin, not a soul 'cept Mr.Geiger, down under the bridge, fishing, as usual. I don't know how he keeps his business going. He ought to open a branch down under the bridge, 'cause he's there more than he's at his place in town."'
page 25
Margaret Larkin stops her bike ride to speak with Nina, roadside
"Margaret replied that her grandmother was well, and invited Nina out to the house to pick all the blueberries she wanted, before the season became very busy.
Nina thanked Margaret for the invitation, and then both turned briefly to watch a vehicle approach and pass them on its way out of Babylon. It was a lumbering black hearse, about twenty years old, that had been converted into a fishing wagon. Half a dozen cane poles stuck out the back."
page 27
Margaret under attack
"A man leapt out of the dense shrubbery. He dashed into the middle of the road. Above his black pants ... he wore no shirt. Covering his head was a black leather hood, tight-fitting and fastened on the side, with slits cut above the eyes and nose. The mouth was zippered shut."
How could this happen within sight of her own house?
She stared in front of her, at the familiar bridge, the Styx River, and the window of her grandmothers's bedroom.
She could have counted the teeth in the zipper that was closed over the mouth. Individual drops of rain spattered violently against the taut black leather."
Despite her continued struggles, her captor had advanced onto the bridge, ... Margaret drew in her breath as she was lifted higher and turned sharply in the man's arms.
How could a man be so strong? How could he---"
page 83/84
Ginny Darrish trying to comfort Evelyn Larkin
"'What's Margaret's sign?'When was she born? I'm gone look up her horoscope."
"Margaret was born on the twelfth of October. You don't think any horoscope is gone tell us where Margaret is, do you, Ginny? You cain't really believe that?' Evelyn's voice was guardedly hopeful.
'I do believe it, I believe every word of it. Margaret's a Libra ... I know all about Libras." Ginny pulled out of her purse a small much-worn paperback book. "Let me see: for yesterday, it says: A journey postponed."
The two women looked at each other.
"You suppose that means she was on her way back here and she got delayed somewhere?" said Evelyn energetically.
"I don't see what else it could mean!" cried Ginny triumphantly.
"What does it say for today?" said Evelyn anxiously.
Ginny turned a page: "Time to settle old scores."'
page 264
narration/James Redfield
"His tilting head turned toward the patio, caught the slightly gleaming outline of a human figure traced in water on the screen. In the failing light, he noticed a trail of water, small puddles from the patio screens to the door into the hallway. James Redfield cried out feebly: "Miss Pie! Miss Pie!"
The full moon rose over Babylon." -
Cold Moon Over Babylon by Michael McDowell is a 2015 by Valancourt Books publication. (Originally published in 1980
A Classic old-school ghost story!!
The Larkins, owners of a blueberry plantation, have been struggling to stay afloat for years. But their bad luck has turned to tragedy, when fourteen- year old Margaret disappears. Margaret’s grandmother is convinced that a rich, powerful local family has murdered her granddaughter. But the local sheriff is not convinced. Meanwhile, the Larkins are about to lose their farm and their bad luck just keeps getting worse.
Despite this, there is an unknown presence emerging – one with a powerful desire to exact revenge….
There is a long story behind how I discovered this book, but for the sake of time, I’ll just tell you that my husband stumbled across a movie version of the book and asked me if I’d heard of Michael McDowell. For those who wonder how on earth my DH didn’t know who Michael was, movies like Beetlejuice and Nightmare Before Christmas are not his cup of tea by a long shot. Even if they were, he rarely pays attention to movie screenwriters despite being a huge movie fan.
When he asked me if I knew who MD was, I perked right up. Not because I’m a fan of his screenplays, but because of his novels. My introduction to Michael’s books came through Tabitha King, who finished the book Michael had been working on when he died. Curious, I went looking through a needle in a haystack for some of his other books, finally paying a fortune for a copy of ‘The Elementals’ in pretty poor, but readable condition, on eBay.
Michael McDowell wrote Southern Gothic like nobody’s business and I became an instant fan. But I’d never heard of this book. It’s not easy finding a copy and once again, my subscription to Scribd paid off. This version is the 2015 digital release, and I do believe finding the original paperback is not an easy task.
Wildly curious, I dove into the story with gusto. Although the plot has a few almost laughable warbles, the crime elements, the dialect and scenery, combined with the Southern flavor of the novel kept me invested in the story all the way through. But, at the end of the day, it’s the atmosphere, and McDowell’s writing chops, that sells this one.
The supernatural elements are in keeping with the time frame in which the book was originally published, and with the author's writing style, with more of a psychological edge to it. The suspense slowly builds, as the reader waits with bated breath, and with no small amount of eager anticipation, for the other shoe to drop.
The story may be a little understated for some, who may lament the slow burn, and the age factor. But, but all things considered, the book holds its own admirably.
While this may not be one of McDowell’s very best tales, it is still a solid ghost story and a nice hidden gem. Now that Valancourt has reissued a nice quantity of McDowell’s work into digital format, I’m all in! I can’t wait to get started!
If you like Southern Gothic, don’t let the age of these books dissuade you from giving them a try! McDowell's writing is not to be missed! Good stuff!! -
4.5 stars!
Last year, I was finally able to get my hands on some Michael McDowell books and I loved them. A good friend of mine,( Tressa, that would be you!), had been recommending them for years, but they were all out of print and difficult to find. I was very excited when I discovered that Valancourt Books was bringing some of these novels back. And, BONUS! My excitement was well founded because this book, (and the others) was a blast!
Evil in a small town is one of my favorite themes, and if it's a town in the south, all the better. This author has the speech patterns down, since he's from Alabama, and it's reflected in the dialogue throughout this tale.
The story begins with the mysterious death of young Margaret Larkin and the effect that it has on her family. The Larkin family has it tough to start with and this might be the final straw. From there,the mystery spreads throughout the town, on past the possible murder suspects, and into the Styx River. (Just a short way downstream the Styx joins with the Perdido, which was the crux of The Blackwater Series by this author.)
The beginning sets the scene and from that point, the story continues to get dark. Very dark . And horrific. Truly horrific. The victims of violent crime rarely rest in peace and they get NO rest in this amazing, dark fiction novel. The last 25% of this book was un-put-downable. It races to the final and dark conclusion and the reader has no choice but to hang on tight!
Michael McDowell was an exceptional author and screenwriter. He contributed to the screenplays for Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas, among others. This novel was outstanding and I highly recommend it to any horror fan, but especially to fans of late 70s and 80s horror! Trust me, you will kick yourself if you wait any longer to jump into the River Styx. Seriously, you will.
*A free e-copy of this novel was provided by Valancourt Books in exchange for an honest review. This is it!* -
Well now I need to watch the creepy movie!!
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An excellent Southern Gothic tale!
Cold Moon Over Babylon has tragedy, evil and revenge pouring out of its southern heart.
Michael McDowell has a great way of writing horror, especially located deep down in the southern part of the United States.
In this case, Cold Moon Over Babylon is located in the panhandle of Florida.
Humidity, slow talking, easy living and being part of a small community is the backdrop for tragedy and a killers’ evil deeds and sinister motives.
The Larkin family has already suffered death and tragedy, so when 14-year-old Margaret Larkin goes missing, the town of Babylon, Florida can’t make sense of her disappearance.
Margaret would never cause stress or anxiety to her grandmother Evelyn who’s been taking care of Margaret and Jerry since their parents died.
What happened to Margaret and can Evelyn get anyone to listen to her?!
This book is a great blend of horror, supernatural elements and revenge coming down on the head of the town of Babylon.
I loved all the main characters and enjoyed hating the killer!
The pacing of the book was well done and I could not stop reading the last 20-30% of the book.
While flying back home, I was in my own haunted setting with the lights turned off and the glow of my Kindle device illuminating my face.
I was reading about revenge, atmospheric hauntings, and loving every minute of it.
Definitely get to this one if you love Southern Gothic tales and books in the horror genre! -
✨️ Immaculate ✨️
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Ghoulish happenings in the Florida Panhandle
Very good ghost story by McDowell, Cold Moon Over Babylon is a cautionary tale for psychopaths. Beware the revenge of a loving Southern family if you know what's good for you. Sweet Margaret Larson is a fourteen year old girl who meets a human devil. The description of their encounter is one of the most disturbing things you'll ever read.
This is the second book by McDowell that I have read. The first was The Elementals which I loved. He can spin a good yarn; it is tragic that he died so young. -
“As if expressing wonder at sudden death, she gaped sightless through the black cold waters of the Styx to the moon overhead.”
My first five star of the year! I simply loved this book from start to finish. The pacing, the atmosphere, the writing, the small town vibes, the creepy and unsettling imagery, all of it worked perfectly. ALL OF IT
Here’s the set-up: set in a typical sleepy Southern town where the sun shines hot and the swamps are shrouded in fog, young Margaret Larkin is brutally murdered, leaving behind her brother and grandmother. That is, until a human shape takes form from the murky waters of the local river… It sounds good, no?
Cold Moon Over Babylon is essentially part ghost story/part murder mystery. The ghost story aspect was CHILLING, the imagery that McDowell described just got right under my skin and gave me goosebumps. His descriptions were fundamental in creating such a creepy atmosphere, as he slowly turns up the tension and scares. The slow build is worth it, trust me!
I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time a book actually shook me to my core in the way this one did. Something happens that I just did not see coming and I applaud McDowell’s bold decision. I was completely absorbed by this story from the first page to the final page – not only is McDowell an accomplished storyteller, but his writing is beautiful and the pacing and overall flow is executed flawlessly.
I’m fangirling a tad, but I can already see Cold Moon Over Babylon reigning supreme when it comes to my Best of 2021 list. Absolutely LOVED this! 5 stars. -
This is my third McDowell novel after The Elementals and Blackwater, and he never fails to exceed my expectations.
Behind him was the moon, frigid and enormous, imparting a dense primeval phosphorescence to everything before him. Only his own body remained in shadow.
Cold Moon Over Babylon is a near perfect Southern Gothic about small town relationships, greed, and vengeance. I seriously cannot recommend this book enough. Michael McDowell was a true master of atmosphere.
She cleared her lungs of the black water of the Styx, and pushed open the top of her coffin. -
4.5/5. Another excellent read from Michael McDowell - true throwback slow-burn horror. At this point, I'm going to say his writing is easily superior to King. Review will be up next week!
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What must be said about the late Michael McDowell is he had a pitch-perfect sense of pacing: his plotting is almost mechanical, built to achieve the greatest result. Cold Moon Over Babylon is a slow burn — my favorite kind of horror! — with hard, memorable scares thrown in.
What must also be said about McDowell is his sense of locale. Being from Alabama (and being quite familiar with the Florida-Alabama line, where this novel takes place), I can say the characters and the settings feel authentic; one cannot help wanting to fall into the world this author has created . . . you know, minus the scary stuff.
Cold Moon Over Babylon is the perfect sort of horror-drama, and I’m glad it (and McDowell’s other paperback originals) is now getting the attention it deserves. -
A classic! Family business at its worst. What a deranged murderer (I don't want to spoil anything here). The author really knows how to tell a thrilling story.
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4.5 stars, rounded up.
Another incredible read from author Michael McDowell! A small town horror story that is truly horrific both in terms of what happens, and in the form that the vengeance takes...
The Larkin family has had a rough life from the day young Margaret and older brother, Jerry, lose their parents in a fishing "accident". They are then raised by their loving Grandmother, Evelyn, who struggles financially to make ends meet with their meager blueberry crop. Further tragedy strikes when Margaret is just fourteen years old. After that, things begin to accelerate against them drastically.
Who can attain justice when the perpetrator is "above" the law?
This story answers that question in a most chilling, visual manner--I found myself completely unable to put down this book even once during the last third of the narrative.
If you haven't already discovered this amazing author, I urge you to give him a chance.
Highly recommended!!! -
4.5*
He imagined that he had been hypnotized by the moon, thrown into one of those trances that were common enough at night, on lonely stretches of road, to solitary drivers. “That’s it,” he whispered to himself, “I was led astray by the moon. But now the moon’s brought me home safe again . . .”
Holy moonlit blueberry bush! What a ride!
Cold Moon over Babylon is a horror story at its finest ... and at its most horrible. It is difficult to tell how much of what happens in the novel can be explained by the psychotic state of mind of the main character but I would like to think that phantoms of his mind were actual physical manifestations of a town that seeks revenge against a sick and twisted individual.
As mentioned before, I am utterly in love with McDowell's writing. It was atmospheric, tense, truly horrific, and yet, utterly addictive.
Now I need to find some hot chocolate and a blanket.
All the tombstones glared suddenly brighter, so bright that for a moment he lost sight of the figure of the girl. He looked behind him. The moon, enormous, featureless, with a staggering incandescence, hovered directly over the cemetery. With anything so bright so close, he felt he should have been burned, but all he felt was a creeping chill across his shoulders, a prickly dampness peeling across his neck. -
Southern Gothic at it's absolute best. Excellent characterization and non-stop intrigue and suspense. I wish I'd heard of this author sooner, and I look forward to reading more of his work.
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Very good haunting read.
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After their parents die, Jerry and Margaret Larkin grow up with their grandma Evelyn Larkin on the Larkin blueberry farm. When tragedy strikes, can Jerry and Evelyn unearth the culprit and bring him to justice?
I've been a Michael McDowell fan since reading Blackwater a few years ago. I bought this some time in the dim past and finally had time to focus on it.
This is some great shit, not to put too fine a point on it. Michael McDowell's southern horror tales do not disappoint and this is no exception. The Larkins have tragedy written all over them after the first chapter, when the parents are killed by finding a sack of rattlesnakes in the river. Fast forward to a dying blueberry farm, late mortgage payments, and a maniac in a gimp mask brutally killing someone and it's one hard book to put down.
I'm going to dance around the particulars of the plot. McDowell captures that edgy, "what was that noise outside" feeling of creeping dread very well. There are some huge surprises and the horror is a slow burn to a satisfying climax. I don't usually bug my wife with details about what I'm reading but she heard all about this one.
Cold Moon Over Babylon did not surpass Blackwater but is easily my #2 Michael McDowell book. Five out of five stars. -
在黑暗中綻放最病態的美麗，在迷醉中浸淫最殘忍的傷害
to bloom the most morbid beauty in the dark, to immerse the cruelest mayhem with enchantment
my fav mcdowell's
what's the name of the booktype that you read it on puter screen?
the strongest feel this book gives me is like the one when i was reading wuthering heights, it's weird and indescribable and i like it that way, i implore it
well, as for the paperback is quite pricy and remote, the version i have has 30 several pages in all, each page per screen, means thousands of words on one desk when i read a single leaf, hell knows that i should get one lens, and what the hell am i doing??
btw, i really have to quit beer and redbull and have more of redwines
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now the paperback has arrived, i'm a paperbook man after all -
Mystery/ghost story that is nicely set in old, rural northwestern Florida's panhandle - a place I know personally and well. There really is a river named Styx, but it is farther west in Alabama. As for the fictional town named Babylon, my guess is that Bagdad, FL was the inspiration. I do not remember if there were any old wooden suspension bridges over the Blackwater River where Bagdad is located, but it would not surprise me. Babylon and Styx go together nicely, at any case.
The diction and language of the characters is very authentic in their dialogue, and the setting amidst high piney forest - like where I live - is spot-on and very atmospheric. An old oak tree is described perfectly - we have hundreds of these green-black monsters in my neighborhood. Gorgeous.
Little touches like rattlesnake round-ups, hiring Boy Scouts to harvest blueberries (a girlfriend of mine owns a you-pick-em farm 11 miles from me), short trips to the Alabama coast, the race track, Pensacola's oyster houses, etc - these were all fun for me to read. One can tell that the author is a native. Id half expect to have bumped into him at the Flor-abama lounge while he was alive.
Unfortunately, I was able to solve the mystery portion of the story before even a quarter of the way through. The ensuing ghostly portion was nice and creepy, but I couldnt really take it seriously. Black, sloshing, watery silt and all.
As for the fiendish behavior? Dumb, de-dum-dum - dumb.
In sum, this gets four stars for setting and dialogue and two for the mystery. When the ghostly appearances arose, a happy three seemed fair, and I always give a half point bonus for the inclusion of snakes! 3.5 -
Something stirs in the swirling waters of the River Styx...
This tale of human evil and supernatural vengence is a perfectly paced blend of mystery and horror, flavored with McDowell's signature Southern Gothic style....the literary equivalent of a fine bourbon....rich, dark and powerful.
Highly recommended. -
Babylon, a small community in the Florida panhandle near the Styx River, is the setting of this superb example of Gothic horror. Evelyn Larkin lost her son and daughter-in-law several years ago to the Styx when the two ran their fishing boat into a nest of poisonous snakes leaving her alone to raise her two grandchildren, Jerry and Margaret. When Margaret goes missing, her body is later found stabbed and chained to her bicycle at the bottom of the Styx. Evelyn accuses a local banker, whom she has had argument with over an overdue mortgage, of the murder. Others believe that it is a male teacher that Margaret was particularly fond. When Margaret is found to have been pregnant during the autopsy, the sheriff believes that the murderer may be the father. The family wants justice and if the sheriff doesn’t want to obtain it, the dead will.
The author, now deceased, was the screenwriter for the movies, Beetlejuice and The Nightmare before Christmas. This novel was a perfect choice for Halloween. It had me both flipping pages and not wanting to turn the page to see what happened next. Be warned that this is not a novel to be read in a quiet house on evening with a full moon shining on the lawn. -
i guess it's become my heirloom now -
First things first, the opening sequence is killer. I mean, McDowell wastes no time scaring the crap out of you in gruesome fashion. After reading the opening I was very excited to read the rest of the book.
The story is part mystery and part haunting. McDowell is able to capture the violent scenes in brutal clarity and the haunting scenes in dreamlike detail. The moon itself becomes a character and I could just feel the terrifying claustrophobia of Nathan Redfield driving on those southern dark backroads cloaked by ancient oaks and full of living deadly things, feeling stalked by that moon.
I read a lot of horror and rarely am I actually scared turning from page to page. I wish more dark fiction was this well done. -
5 BIG ASS STARS!!
Loved loved loved this book. Not going to lie this wasn’t an easy book to get into at first, the first chapter just hits you over the head with world building and character background, but once it got going, it turned into a Southern nightmare.
This book is a unique blend of Southern gothic, murder mystery and ghost horror with one of the most twisted, murderous antagonists I’ve ever read in a book. I mean this dude was eeeevil. There were some seriously dark moments in the book I did not expect and it dealt with some touchy issues. The characters themselves were very well written, very three dimensional, I became infatuated with almost all of them. The horror itself was very scary and sometimes bloody, I mean it amazes it was written in 1980 because it’s scarier than most modern books I’ve read recently.
Highly recommend this book to any horror fan! One of the best small town horror novels ever! -
There's already a billion reviews for this worded much more eloquently then I could ever manage but you don't need to bunch of flowery language to express how cool this book is. Revenge is best served cold and Cold Moon Over Babylon does just that. There's a bunch of small-town family drama before the scary stuff starts but at no point was this book slow or dull. Reading Michael McDowell is like getting a nice Porterhouse steak at McDonalds. You look around as you start eating thinking, "Why am I eating this here? This is too upscale for where I am." Because even though McDowell had admitted in interviews before his passing that he did not set out to write important pieces of literature, his stories are a step above the usual horror paperback offerings.
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Just finished Cold Moon Over Babylon here during a Cold Blizzard over New Jersey. It was a short and sweet horror, and the best ghost story I've yet read (tho I haven't read many ghost stories).
Michael McDowell is 3 for 3 so far, as I've only read this, Katie and Blackwater Saga. McDowell can craft some very interesting characters and some very horrible human beings. I mean, the type that you don't feel a shred of sympathy for, whenever the worst comes and bites them in the ass.
Each time I finish one of his books, I reflect on the fact that, had he lived on, we would have had so much more. Between books and screenplays, he would have given Stephen King a run for his money... -
4.5 stars
This is a captivating and evocative Southern gothic novel about a young girl who has been murdered and the supernatural revenge that follows.
This. Was. Excellent! The story is part mystery, part family drama, part small town with secrets. The dynamics and relationships between the people of Babylon and the way the story played out made for a real page-turner. His writing and storytelling are very compelling and his descriptions made me really visualise everything that was going on. There are some absolutely superb creepy scenes throughout the book which gave a perfectly chilly contrast to the heat of the setting.
Later on in the story there were a couple of things that didn't play out quite as I thought they would, which is why it didn't hit a 5 star rating, but that didn't spoil my overall enjoyment of the book. Cold Moon Over Babylon has taken the place of The Elementals as my favourite McDowell novel (so far), although that one is a close second.
Also, I noticed what might be an easter egg! There is reference to a munitions factory in Alabama which I had to assume is the one from The Amulet. Did anyone else notice this, or have spotted any other easter eggs in his novels? I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more! -
When I read
The Elementals last year I thought that it was my first experience with Michael McDowell's work. It wasn't until recently that I learned that his was the pen behind such classic movies as Beetlejuice and Nightmare Before Christmas. He also wrote episodes for many anthology series such as Tales from the Darkside, Amazing Stories, Tales from the Crypt, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In short, McDowell played a significant role in shaping my love of dark fiction. In the golden age of horror, few authors could tap into that glorious creepiness that is Southern Gothic as well as McDowell. His passing at age 49 was a severe blow to the genre.
Set in a small Florida Panhandle town lying near the ominously named River Styx, Cold Moon Over Babylon is a deliciously creepy tale of revenge from beyond the grave. I loved it and highly recommend it even if I could see the final outcome from a mile away.
(Note: I wrote the last sentence while there was still 50 pages left in case there is a great twist at the end which I wouldn't want to spoil.)
My thanks to the folks at the
On the Southern Literary Trail group for giving me the opportunity to read and discuss this and many other fine books with others. -
Hmm... I don't know if Southern Gothic is my genre, so take this with a grain of salt. My experience with Cold Moon Over Babylon came down to really enjoying the atmosphere and writing style, but feeling pretty neutral on everything else. I liked the novel overall, but it wasn't anything that blew me away, though there were a few parts that really stood out.
I think fans of classic, slow-burn horror would really enjoy this one—the novel is something you would want to read on a gloomy day or rainy night, wrapped in a blanket, with an endless supply of hot tea. However, those looking for a story that's hard to put down, or for fascinating characters, can safely steer clear—Cold Moon Over Babylon is all about mood, atmosphere, setting, and some well-placed gruesome imagery. -
Wow!!! This book had me SHOOK!!!
Loved it! Absolutely loved it!!
This was my second McDowell book. I first read The Elementals and now, Cold Moon Over Babylon.
Both books blew me away.
Fast paced and just enough gore. Cold Moon gave me chills!!
This is the kind of horror I love! You can’t get much better than old school horror!
Damn! I can not wait to read more of McDowell’s books!
