I'd actually give this book between 3.5 to 4 stars. It was a fun read, but I didn't know going into it that it was the second (or possibly 3rd) novel in a series of recurring characters. So, there was a lot I didn't understand, inside jokes, and references to things that occurred in the first book that weren't fully rehashed in this book. I still enjoyed the read and will probably go back and read the first one so I'll understand this one better. The characters were likeable, there was a pretty decent scare factor and some truly imaginative things that go bump in the night, along with your garden variety modern day hate filled racists. All in all, a fun, not overly complex read, but definitely read the series in order.

Before I downloaded this from Netgalley, I had only quickly read the description. But that was enough to hook me in. (Monsters? Evil skinheads? A motley crew of heros? Yes, please). Somehow though, I had missed the fact that this was part of a trilogy.

You know how it sucks to be the person who arrives late as the party is starting to wind down? Yeah, that's what it was like for me reading this book. I dug the premise and the action scenes, but there were so many references to past adventures and characters (redmouths, the Jersey Devil) that it was hard for me to get connected to the story. I'm sure there are some wonderful uber character arcs happening across this trilogy, but coming in late to the game, I only saw that final bit and it wasn't as satisfying. (Or as scary. I bet if I knew about redmouths beforehand, I'd be all, "Oh NOOOO" when they showed up in this story. Instead, I just thought, "Huh? What the deal with these guys? Are they monsters or something?")

Basically, it's not you, it's me "The Devil's Colony." Next time I will read more carefully.

I'm sorry to say that The Devil's Colony is just not as good as the two previous books. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised about how lackluster this book is. It's like all the energy was put on the two first books and nothing was spared for this book. Characters that I previously cared for did I find uninteresting and quite frankly very flat. I wanted to learn more about Severance when I read the previous books, but in this book did he feel like such an uncharismatic person and his love story felt really, really off. And, Ben and Lindsay, I didn't care a bit about them, and I was really worried about them in the previous book Northwoods. Even when they got in trouble didn't I feel a thing for them.

The story, well, compared to The Beast of Barcroft and Northwoods was the story in this book just way too dull and actionless. Ben and Lindsay's undercover mission was just not that interesting to read about, and the things that happened in the woods around the camp didn't for a moment race my pulse. I loved the horror of Northwoods, but there was no horror in this book. Just a lot of boring talk and even when everything started to go wrong did I find myself not engaged in the story.

The Devil's Colony is a book that didn't work for me. The Beast of Barcroft and Northwoods are great books, but the conclusion of this trilogy was unfortunately not a strong ending.

Great read! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

Bill Schweigart’s final book in his supernatural thriller series starts with a lot of promise but is ultimately let down by uninteresting story and bland characters.
In it, a trio of supernatural hunters investigate a private neo-Nazi style compound in the New Jersey Pine Barrens who may have summoned a deadly monster to the camp.
After an pulse-racing introduction to the camp in the prologue, the story stumbles with a slow, stagnating plot and with a wash of characters that sound and talk the same. Once they finally make it to the camp the mystery is an interesting one but there’s little depth to connect you to the main characters which always makes it a tough sell.
Fans of the series to date may enjoy this one - and I usually like Hydra's output - but it’s a hard pass for me.

Haven’t read the other two books? Stop now and read those first!

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So, as I write this review, I’m a little bummed. See, reading the author’s notes in the end of the book, it’s clear that this series is at an end. Oh, he clearly said it was a trilogy, but so many trilogies become…um…an infinite playlist of plots?

I’ll respect the author’s wish to leave this particular at an end. (With a little quiet plea saying, maybe just one more?)

In The Devil’s Colony, Bill Schweigart ties things up masterfully. The book manages to be epic, funny, and heartbreaking all at once. And even though I truly felt like each of the other books stood on its own, after reading this, I finally know the whole story – and what a story it is! Suddenly, so much of the things in the other books are seen in a completely new light – and it’s pretty awesome.

So, while I do really (really, I do…sorta, kinda) respect the author’s need to leave it here (just one more pretty please), I can’t wait to see what new world and new characters he brings us in his next book.

I know this...whatever he writes next, I want to read it.

Review of THE DEVIL'S COLONY
by Bill Schweigart

This stunning horror/mystery/paranormal thriller is the third in the trilogy that begins with BEAST OF BARCROFT and continues in NORTHWOODS. I loved all three of these books, which elucidate in-depth characters realistically while exploring preternatural creatures and events. THE DEVIL'S CANYON is quite currently apropos, and is set in a white supremacist enclave in, of all places, the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. The site's owner and supposed driving force is Henry Drexler, Princeton anthropology professor emeritus, former professor and colleague of Richard Severance, billionaire cryptozoologist, and Alex Standingcloud, Native American warrior and cryptid hunter.

Drexler's compound is called “Valkommen,” Swedish for “Welcome.” The open invitation is quite exclusive though, although Drexler insists that this is coincidental. The story is non-stop action and excitement, satisfying to thriller fans as well as horror aficionados and even has some Lovecraftian frissons.