The Eidola Project

Robert Herold

Nov 2019 · An Eidola Project Novel Book 1 · The Wild Rose Press Inc

About this ebook

It's 1885 and a drunk and rage-filled Nigel Pickford breaks up a phony medium's séance. A strange twist of fate soon finds him part of a team investigating the afterlife. The Eidola Project is an intrepid group of explorers dedicated to bringing the light of science to that which has been feared, misunderstood, and often manipulated by charlatans. They are a psychology professor, his assistant, an African-American physicist, a sideshow medium, and now a derelict, each possessing unique strengths and weaknesses. Called to the brooding Hutchinson Estate to investigate rumored hauntings, they encounter deadly supernatural forces and a young woman driven to the brink of madness. Will any of them survive?

Ratings and reviews

In a day when paranormal investigators are a dime a dozen Robert Herold takes us back to the late 1800s and puts together a group of characters who are quite believable as pioneers in the field of paranormal investigation. The story is a mix of supernatural mystery and horror, and it is not without some gory details - some of which I could've done without. I appreciate the attention to detail, but there are some things that I would prefer to imagine rather than have it all laid out for me. Of course, that's just my own personal preference, and I'm sure that many will love those descriptions. While I felt like the setup took a little too long, the author does keep it interesting, and each character's backstory is relevant to the story. Once the investigation gets going, it seems to be one thing after another for these characters, and there are some great twists along the way. I will say that I figured out the big twist at the end, but it was none too early in the story. In fact, it was quite close to the big reveal, so the author does a solid job of maintaining the tension and mystery throughout the book. The Eidola Project is a good mix of paranormal, mystery, and horror. It's fast paced and full of quirky characters, some hair-raising moments, and rich atmosphere. All in all, I quite enjoyed this debut novel, and I look forward to whatever comes next from this author.

Bob Herold's "The Eidola Project" is a well-crafted thriller with the right amount of historical verisimilitude to root it in time, and in a very interesting time at the close of the 19th Century. The recreation of a Civil War battlefield is particularly affecting as is the glimpse into the life of circus/carnival performers of the period. This first novel promises many more deft entertainments to follow as the fascinating cast of characters that comprise the Eidola Project find more and stranger paranormal phenomena to investigate .

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with an advanced reader copy of The Eidola Project. The characters are engaging, and their problems and predicaments are relatable, credible, and historically well-grounded. And the fantastic elements are handled in a similarly believable fashion. I was pulled way in to the story - many "just one more chapter" mental vows were broken, meals and bedtimes delayed - and I hope additional adventures for this investigative group are forthcoming!