Comes the Wraith

by John Tigges

Scott Twinell trades the everyday horrors of urban Chicago for the seeming idyll of rural Illinois life, finding terror aplenty in his new environment as a mysterious and bloodthirsty spirit menaces his family

Genres: Horror

362 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Tigges began his career as an author and writer in 1973. He wrote more than thirty-eight books under his own name and pen names "Ned Stone" and "William Essex."

In 1976 Tigges was commissioned to write Jean Marie Cardinal, an historical novel. Teaming with James Shaffer, he wrote Dubuque: The 19th Century, Dubuque: The 20th Century, Iowa’s Last Narrow-Gauge Railroad, and Railroads of Dubuque, Iowa. Tigges wrote such novels as Garden of the Incubus, Unto the Altar, Kiss Not the Child, Evil Dreams, The Immortal, Hand of Lucifer, As Evil Does, Vessel, Comes the Wraith, Venom, and Book of the Dead. Under the pen name William Essex he wrote The Pack, Slime, and From Below. He wrote Mountain Massacre, and Rails to Hades using the name Ned Stone. Tigges founded the Sinipee Writers Workshop and taught writing seminars in Iowa and Wisconsin.

Tigges made many contributions locally to the field of music. He established the Dubuque "Pops" orchestra and co-founded the DUBUQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA in 1956. Tigges served as business manager of the symphony for ten years and played violin with it from 1958 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1973. In 1972 Tigges founded the Julien Strings, a society string orchestra. He led the group and played violin.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being mugged while out for a walk in his Chicago neighborhood, Scott Twinell develops PTSD and agoraphobia from the incident; his physical wounds from the stabbing healed well, but his mind was another story entirely. Seven months and several psychiatrist appointments later, he still barely leaves the house - and never after dark. So when Scott's psychiatrist suggests they make a move to someplace different than the Chicago suburbs, Scott and his wife, Diane think it radical, and they are skeptical, but ultimately, they decide in favor of it.
Scott fondly recalls their visit to Grants, IL, and thinks it as good a place as any for a fresh start for them and their two children, and when they get the deal of a lifetime on an isolated farmhouse sitting on 80 acres, it begins to feel like fate. It's not long after the move however that odd things start to happen.
Diane feels someone breathing down her neck, she loses track of several hours, her portrait begins changing, morphing her looks. Scott's handyman projects are all undone again - the fence he just repaired, dismantled. They hear odd moaning and noises. Then Scott begins seeing a beautiful woman with dark hair and a long black dress. One night, Diane even feels a massive weight on her chest, cutting off her air supply.
The couple talk of all the unexplainable events and wonder what is happening. Scott confesses he's had horrible visions and through them, they learn of terrible, tragic murders, involving this mystery woman - but the things Scott has been seeing clearly happened centuries ago - so how and why is he seeing her now, and what does she want? The couple ultimately decide to consult a priest, not knowing what else to do.
Is the Twinell's dream home really a nightmare?
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I like John Tigges/William Essex because his books are super quick and easy to read. Even though they're long, you can get through them quickly, and I find them entertaining. This is only the 3rd book I've read of his, but I'm definitely going to tackle more.

[Ethan’s Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a John Tigges fan but this one was boring as hell.
I can’t recall one scene from this book.

The only thing I remember is the moment I finished I closed the book at my desk, got up. Walked to my truck, and went to get something to eat for the remainder of my lunch break and thought to my self that it was truly a beautiful day outside.

The fact that the book was not on my mind at all when I finished this 400 page book, told me that I truly did not care for it.

But I still love you John. Your books will always hold a special place in my heart.

Maybe I was hoping for something more like
The Conjuring?

[Nicolette Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Final horror favorite in my all time top 5 best of the best. A must read for horror fans.