Title: The Church in Wildwood: Hell is Near
Author: William Gamsby
Publisher: Authors Tranquility Press
ISBN: 978-1966972594
Pages: 100
Genre: Religious Fiction
Reviewer: Lily Amanda

Read Book Review

The Church In Wildwood: Hell is Near, by author William Gamsby is a supernatural thriller centered on Russell Grey, a highly educated and well-travelled man who arrives in the small town of Wildwood after the deaths of his missionary parents and his uncle, the local pastor, Gerald Grey. The book starts with a shocking detail about the church, although it has been closed for the last six months there have been rumors that shadows have been seen entering the building and at times, there were small lights flickering faintly in the windows. These rumors serve as the first clues to a much larger, hidden reality, foreshadowing the discovery that the church was not merely an abandoned building but the epicenter of something bone-chilling.

Upon his arrival in Wildwood, Grey is immediately met with resistance from the town’s leadership who inform him that Pastor Gerald Grey left no will and that the church building has reverted to the town. He also learns that it has been leased to an environmental group called NEVOC, that wants to stop clear-cut logging. However, upon settling into his uncle’s dusty, abandoned house, we see him begin a personal investigation that uncovers a labyrinth of hidden truths. These shocking discoveries reveal that his uncle was involved in a profound spiritual conflict, having documented his discovery that the church was built over a gateway to Hell and hinting at the existence of a mystical sword. But as Russell finally deciphers his uncle’s frantic, coded thoughts, his blood runs cold with a terrifying revelation: the gateway was never meant to be guarded and that his uncle’s life’s work wasn’t to protect the entrance but to find a way to break the permanent seal placed upon it from within the depths of Hell itself.

What makes this story stand out is how it uses the idea of supernatural terror to feel so physical and immediate and how hell isn’t some vague spiritual place. The story also shines in its depiction of a protagonist who must take on duties he never asks for, amidst chaos, chilling rumors and uncertainty. It all rests on the reader just as much as it weighs on him, even as he stands on that corridor right before he confronts hell. This is a story that will collapse the distance between the pages, and your pulse as every line threatens more danger as you stand on its edge feeling the wrongness of it all in your bones.

I loved how the author proves that you don’t need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impact. His book, which is relatively short, is enriched with chapters that just grab you and refuse to let go. Every scene feels essential and every revelation lands with brutal force. His characters ably ground the tale by being profoundly human in the face of the unimaginable. I also loved how the supporting cast, from the weary hardware store owner Sam to the spiritually scared Charlotte, are anchored in their own believable histories and simple desires which include protecting their town, to find purpose and basically, to survive.

The Church In Wildwood: Hell is Near, by William Gamsby is not your right pick if you are looking for a predictable story. It provides a truly memorable and unsettling experience that builds towards an explosive climax. It shouldn’t be confused with a standard Christian novel, and readers should think of it less as an allegory and as a tactical guide to fighting demons in their own backyards.  The Church in Wildwood: Hell is Near is a heart-pounding supernatural thriller where redemption comes at the ultimate price.   A haunting, provocative journey into the fragile balance between faith and fear.