Frank Cavallo’s latest novel Rites of Azathoth was released in January 2017, published by Bedlam Press (An Imprint of Necro Publications).

“Rites of Azathoth is an occult-thriller rooted in the H.P. Lovecraft tradition, or what is sometimes called the Cthulhu Mythos. It is a book that will appeal to general horror audiences, especially any fans of Lovecraft himself, as well as fans of Clive Barker, Peter Straub and Jack Ketchum,” says Cavallo.

Synopsis:

F.B.I. criminal profiler Diana Mancuso doesn’t do field work anymore. Not since a tragic mistake that cost innocent lives. But when notorious serial killer Luther Vayne escapes from prison and resumes his campaign of brutal murders, the Bureau convinces her to take one last case.

To catch him, she must understand him. She must delve into the arcana that fuels his madness, risking her life and her sanity to follow his twisted path.

The trail plunges her into a shadowy world of occult rituals and unspeakable horrors, leading to a secret cabal operating at the highest levels—and a plot to summon the darkest of all powers, to bring forth an evil that does not belong in our world—to enact the Rites of Azathoth.

Cleveland Police Department

Third District

2001 Payne Avenue

October 30, 1974

2:13 am

Transcript of Voluntary Oral Statement

Interrogation conducted by: Detective Edward D. Sadowski

Badge No.: 366

Suspect Name: Luther Charles Vayne

DOB: 10/16/1944

Ht: 5’11”

Wt.: 185

Eyes: None

Distinguishing Marks: numerous tattoos and brandings, scars on face and hands

OFFICER:      You have expressed your desire to waive the presence of counsel and to make a full confession. Is that correct?

VAYNE:          It is.

OFFICER:      This is regarding the murder of Anna Dressler and Eric Dressler?

VAYNE:          Yes.

OFFICER:      What is it you want me to know?

VAYNE:          As I mentioned to your desk officer, I killed them both tonight.

OFFICER:      What exactly did you do? Can you tell me that?

VAYNE:          I have done only what I was sent here to do.

OFFICER:      Sent? From where? By whom?

VAYNE:          The shadows that speak to me are of no concern. All that matters for you is that I killed the woman and her child. That is enough, is it not? I have no wish to hide anything anymore.

OFFICER:      Anymore? You’ve done this before?

VAYNE:         Yes, many times over the last year.

OFFICER:      You’ve been killing women and children for a year?

VAYNE:          Patience, detective. As I told you, I have no wish to hide anything. The facts of this and every one of my deeds are yours to examine now.

OFFICER:      You know who this boy and his mother were, don’t you? Mrs. Dressler was an heiress. She had quite a large fortune. That’s no accident is it? You targeted this kid, and his mother, didn’t you?

VAYNE:          I know who they were, and more importantly, who they were not. I know many things about them that you do not. Believe me detective, money was not involved, in this or any other of my recent acts. These were no mere children. At least until tonight, and for that I am very sorry.

OFFICER:      Sorry? Ok, that’s a start. Why don’t you tell me what you did here?

VAYNE:          I would have thought the act spoke for itself. If you’d like a narrative however, I am prepared to oblige. Simply stated, I cut the woman’s head from her neck. I drove an iron rod through her body, then through the body of her child. Just before I cut out his heart. [Pause] Would you like to hear about the others as well, detective? Or shall we take a break? You look like you might need some water.

OFFICER:      How many others are there?

VAYNE:         The boy and his mother tonight were the thirteenth.

OFFICER:      You’re prepared to confess to thirteen murders? Thirteen double murders?

VAYNE:          I am. That is why I came here tonight, to confess to everything, to every killing I have committed. At your convenience, of course. This will have to be the end of it. For now.

About the Author:

Frank Cavallo is a horror and dark fantasy writer. His previous works include Eye of the Storm, The Lucifer Messiah, The Hand of Osiris, and the Gotrek & Felix novella Into the Valley of Death.

He was born and raised in New Jersey. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in Communications in 1994 and he earned a JD from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 2001. His life-long fascination with the darker side of human nature has led him to devote most of the past 15 years to a career as a criminal defense attorney, at the Cuyahoga County Public Defender Office, in Cleveland, Ohio. There he has come face-to-face with some of the truest horror in this world. Murder, rape, burglary, drugs. That’s his bread and butter.

Readers can connect with Frank on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

To learn more, go to https://www.frankcavallo.com/