Daniel Rhodes – Next, After Lucifer

Daniel Rhodes –  Next, After Lucifer (New English Library, 1987)

Blurb:
HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN RUNNING WATER
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DISTURB NOT THAT WHICH RESTS

Cut deep into the centuries-hidden gravestone, the words might have given some pause for thought. But time was pressing.

The rich American who had rented the villa down below wanted water for their pool. Water! When all the southern French countryside and the crops were baked brown by the drought!

The ruined, superstition–haunted castle of Montsévrain loomed over the furtive night-drilling party as they pulled away the stone.

The stone had marked the last uneasy resting place of Guilhem de Courdeval, Knight Templar, sorcerer and genius of evil.

The stone that damned up a terrible, malignant force …

Thanks to Andy Decker for providing the cover scan and blurb!

Daniel Rhodes – Adversary

Daniel Rhodes – Adversary (New English Library, 1989)

Blurb:

Daniel Rhodes presents us with  something more than a horror novel, skilfully blending centuries-old black magic into a modern setting.
In NEXT, AFTER LUCIFER, the undead spirit of Guilhelm de Courdeval, a medieval French Templar rumoured to have sold his soul to Satan, rose from centuries of imprisonment to possess an American college professor who probed too deeply into the legend of Courdeval’s occult powers and evil deeds.
Now, in ADVERSARY Courdeval resurfaces in San Francisco and resumes his career in the service of the Adversary, the enemy of mankind. Posing as a spiritual teacher, he extends his influence over four young Americans who all want something just beyond their reach. Lawyer Nicole Patrick is attractive and single – but the man she loves treats her like a sister. Spencer Epps has a sexy mistress and a rich father-in-law – but he’s been dipping into the till to support his illicit love life and cocaine habit, and things are closing in on him. Charity Haverill wants revenge on a lover who jilted her. And Robbie Kinsella is hungry for knowledge of the occult.

By offering seemingly harmless fulfilment of these desires, Courdeval elaborately seduces his “students” into joining him in the service of evil — until they find out, too late, the price they must pay for what they have received.

Meanwhile, Courdeval plays a sinister cat and mouse game with the only people who know the truth of his origin: the French priest Etien Boudrie and the housewife Melusine Devarre, gifted with second sight.

ADVERSARY is a chilling tale of desperation, revenge, and black magic.