The Children of Red Peak

The Children of Red Peak, by Craig DiLouie, follows the lives of four childhood friends who spent their formative years being raised in The Family of the Living Spirit, a religious cult led by Reverend Jeremiah Peale. David, the first of the cult’s victims readers meet, works helping people like him, his sister, and his friends exit cults and make their way back into society as seamlessly as possible. David knows whereof he speaks--The Family robbed him of everything he loved and left him and his sister and three other children alone in the world and grieving for the parents they loved and thought they knew. I have never read anything quite like DiLouie’s story. Sadly, the stories related by David, Deacon, and Beth make their experience in Red Peak all the more tragic. Their memories serve as the core of the story and give readers a clear idea of the events that occurred that tragic night on the mountain. The stories they present about their lives in the cult and the horror surrounding the decisions made by their parents give readers a very raw idea of the mania that ensues when vulnerable people are targeted by cults. DiLouie’s work appeals to readers of various genres as he manages to include an element of the supernatural in David’s story. I must say I was surprised to see this woven into the plot. Expecting to see trauma and tragedy, I was not prepared for the supernatural to make an appearance. That being said, the author does a wonderful job weaving two worlds together. I highly recommend DiLouie’s work to any fan of psychological thrillers. DiLouie’s writing is flawless and, at times, almost poetic. This is one of the few books I can honestly say that I have read without putting down. The characters are captivating and relatable on many levels. DiLouie has a hit on his hands.