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Death keeps count in Soke. As the numbers rise, time winds down for 11-year-old Robbie Callahan and Officer Merl Burt. They face a creature, Old Coals, whose power to prey upon its victims' fears has made reality of the old wives' tale that death comes in threes. Stalking the subconscious, Old Coals warps reason to wound, thought to poison. It kills by fashioning our fears into weapons, summoning despair, extinguishing the will to live. None save the ostracized eccentric called Wacky Jacky has ever withstood an encounter. Prepared for the conflict by his recently deceased Dad, Robbie fights Old Coals with memory and imagination, while Merl, who's dismissed the supernatural creature as legend, fights his own skepticism. Both must find the strength to move beyond reason, to overcome disbelief and to rely on faith--Robbie, in his father's lessons gleaned from Apollo missions to movies like The Outlaw Josey Wales; Merl, in his friend Wacky Jacky's nonsensical rants--if they are to survive this day. Two have already died. But Old Coals is taking three. . . . . . . . . . 
• Aiken Standard: Q&A with Author reveals mystery in supernatural thriller |
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"Taking Three" by Mark McCallum offers a novel full of mystery and intrigue with twists that keep the plot moving and chills running down your spine. From the first page to the last, the suspense builds as the character of Old Coals runs rampant in the town of Soke." —Rachel Johnson, Aiken Standard
"McCallum possesses the gift of "painting" a very real canvas for the reader. The characters and setting are described vividly, and the action sequences affect the heart rate. ... The story moves constantly from scary to frightful, to creepy, to downright disturbing!" —T. Steele, "Cuzzintom" "Great book! Though suspenseful, it is not a horror book in the modern sense and appropriate for teens and older. My favorite feature of the story was the way the author brought me into the psychology of the characters. He really captured the thought process of an 11 year old boy to the point of giving me a greater understanding of how my own son views the world. The various threads of the story lead you in varying emotions from fear, doubt and duty; but mostly the story is about the importance of love and how it is stronger and more important than the greatest fears we can imagine." —Carol Phillips "Weirdly and wonderfully creepy. You must like Stephen King." —Jeff Bashuk "I fell in love with Robbie the moment I met him. You really made the Callahan family very real for me. How awesome that you used life lessons his father had taught him as the backbone of the story and his character. I seriously could not put the book down. ... I recommend this book to all my clients and have ordered a couple as gifts. Looking forward to a sequel." —Dee Elliott "Anyone who enjoys a good read, buy the book. I haven't seen my copy in a month. It is making the rounds to all of my cheap friends. Everyone likes it even if they do not read that genre. It's the best book I have ever read regarding fear management." —Ed Boyd "Taking Three has taken over my day." —Troy Dukes "One of the best first sentences I've ever read in a novel." —Vickie Queen "That was a bold way to start a book. I can tell you are a Stephen King fan. I'm 20-30 pages in and I can't wait to finish it." —J. Edward Goodwin "Taking Three is a nice departure from the typical supernatural thriller/horror novel. This adventure is less about blood and gore, and more about keeping the reader on the edge of his/her seat regarding exactly where the story is going next." —James Berry "The dream sequences leap at you and sieze you by the throat as if they were spawned in your own childhood nightmares." —Tom Hallman "I felt like I could see everything happening as I read." —Taylor J. Obsorne "I've had serious bad dreams once I put the book down and fall asleep!! Your Alex reminds me of Edward Norton in Primal Fear. Really creepy." —Sharon Donohue Want to leave a comment about the novel? Email the author |