A small mountain town. A mysterious illness spreading like wildfire. And a darkness older than the hills themselves, feeding on secrets no one dares speak aloud. Frank Peretti pulls you into Hyde River, where a doctor investigating strange deaths uncovers something far more sinister than disease — an ancient evil thriving on the town's hidden sins and broken vows. As bodies pile up and paranoia takes hold, a handful of residents must confront not just the creature hunting them, but the lies they've been living. This is Peretti in his element: spiritual warfare meets creature-feature horror, wrapped in small-town claustrophobia. The terror is visceral, the allegory sharp, and the pacing relentless. For fans of supernatural thrillers with bite, or anyone who grew up on *This Present Darkness* and wants something darker. Best read with the doors locked.
