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The Devil's Missal
“A stunningly written, fast-paced, psychological horror story – disturbingly sexy…”
When Holda Weisel’s Cambridge professor sends her to Germany to investigate a recently discovered medieval diary written by a 14th century necromancer, she already suspects he knows more than he is letting on. The mysterious leather-bound volume exerts a diabolical influence on those who come into contact with it, including Rupert Keller, the attractive German archivist who now has care of it. Holda learns about a grisly murder two centuries earlier in the chapel where the manuscript had been concealed. As she begins to read the pages, she realises how closely that murder is linked to the occult contents of the book. She also learns that it is she who is now in acute danger. But does the menace come from without or within?
In this intelligently constructed psychological thriller, Cathy Dobson skilfully embeds the threads of a classic horror story into evocative settings over eight centuries and gives us glimpses into the terrifying history of witchcraft and sexual deviance through the ages, all under the oppressive shadow of a corrupted church.
“A cleverly conceived and executed plot…and very, very disturbing…”
“As the boundaries between reality and paranoia blur, we are confronted with our own darkest fears…”
When Holda Weisel’s Cambridge professor sends her to Germany to investigate a recently discovered medieval diary written by a 14th century necromancer, she already suspects he knows more than he is letting on. The mysterious leather-bound volume exerts a diabolical influence on those who come into contact with it, including Rupert Keller, the attractive German archivist who now has care of it. Holda learns about a grisly murder two centuries earlier in the chapel where the manuscript had been concealed. As she begins to read the pages, she realises how closely that murder is linked to the occult contents of the book. She also learns that it is she who is now in acute danger. But does the menace come from without or within?
In this intelligently constructed psychological thriller, Cathy Dobson skilfully embeds the threads of a classic horror story into evocative settings over eight centuries and gives us glimpses into the terrifying history of witchcraft and sexual deviance through the ages, all under the oppressive shadow of a corrupted church.
“A cleverly conceived and executed plot…and very, very disturbing…”
“As the boundaries between reality and paranoia blur, we are confronted with our own darkest fears…”
200 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2019
About the author
Cathy Dobson
163 books31 followersCathy Dobson was born in 1963 in Marple, Cheshire, the town after which Agatha Christie named her famous female sleuth, Miss Marple. She studied modern and medieval languages at Cambridge University between 1982–1986. In 1991 she moved to Germany and in 1995 settled in Meerbusch in the Rhineland with her husband, three children and a fluctuating number of cats. Her first novel, Planet Germany, was published in 2007, to wide acclaim in the German and British press. The Devil’s Missal is her second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 4, 2019
Deliciously dark psychological horror
Holda Weisel is supposed to be working on her PhD thesis when her supervisor, Professor Azriel Finster, sends her to Germany to assess a newly discovered medieval diary, which may be the work of a mysterious 14th Century magician, Johannes von Diebel – John of the Devil.
The book itself holds a strange fascination and horror – as do the contents when Holda translates them.
As well as her demanding Professor, Holda has to contend with an attractive but moody archivist and an elderly priest. Can she trust anyone?
This is a novel which explores some really dark and deviant aspects of the history of witchcraft. I carried on reading until late into the night, as I had to know what happened. A fabulous read, which will keep you guessing to the end.
Looking forward to the sequel!
Holda Weisel is supposed to be working on her PhD thesis when her supervisor, Professor Azriel Finster, sends her to Germany to assess a newly discovered medieval diary, which may be the work of a mysterious 14th Century magician, Johannes von Diebel – John of the Devil.
The book itself holds a strange fascination and horror – as do the contents when Holda translates them.
As well as her demanding Professor, Holda has to contend with an attractive but moody archivist and an elderly priest. Can she trust anyone?
This is a novel which explores some really dark and deviant aspects of the history of witchcraft. I carried on reading until late into the night, as I had to know what happened. A fabulous read, which will keep you guessing to the end.
Looking forward to the sequel!
September 30, 2019
Good, scary, orginal
An Interview With Cathy Dobson About Her New Book, The Devil’s Missal
I first got to know Cathy Dobson on an Internet community called Newsvine where she was CartoonCat and I was Scoop. One of my hobbies is interviewing authors – something I have been doing for more than 15 years and which you can see an index of here: https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.b...
So when Cathy published her first book, Planet Germany, in 2007, I asked to interview her and she agreed. This was the result: https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.b...
Newsvine is no longer around but I am still interviewing authors, often mystery authors for the Mystery People blog - , and so when I heard Cathy put out a new book I asked to interview her and she agreed.
Compared to Planet Germany, this new book, The Devil’s Missal, is quite a different beast. I mean that literally – this new book has the devil, evil beasts and actions. Put simply, it is dark stuff. You have been warned. So as I posed questions to Cathy I thought, wow, how did this dark story come about. Read her answers below.
Scott Butki: How did you come to write this story?
Cathy Dobson: I was in a difficult period in my life when I started writing. I was very ill at the time and having tests for a late-stage terminal cancer. It was a scary situation. I began writing because, aside from hospital appointments, I was mainly confined to my bed. I needed something to occupy my brain and take me away from thinking about impending death. Even when the biopsy results came through and the tumours turned out not to be cancerous, I was still on heavy medication and unable to eat solid food for about eight months. Writing became a sort of therapy for me in that time. I chose a horror genre deliberately. I wrote about all the things I found terrifying and horrific, and it was as though I was shedding everything I felt relating to my illness – all the fear, physical nausea and frustration flowed out of myself onto the page.
Scott: Which came first, the plot or the characters?
Cathy: It was a bit of both. Holda, Azriel and Rupert were in the concept from the start, the others appeared to me at the points where they were needed. I had the basic plot in mind, but when I was writing I didn’t know whether Holda might survive the experience or not (the prologue was written last).
Scott: How would you describe the protagonist, Holda?
Cathy: Holda starts out as a naïve, depressed student, in her early twenties, but with the emotional development of someone younger. She recently lost her parents in a car accident and is struggling to adjust. The fact that her relationship with her parents was a difficult one has saddled her with a great deal of guilt and she is not moving on with her life. When she is sent to Germany to investigate a medieval manuscript which recently came to light, it is similar to a medieval quest (the story is structured like a medieval legend). She not only finds out about the manuscript, but also finds out about herself. In the process she escapes the stultifying grief and depression and discovers inner strength, ingenuity, sexuality and a certain amount of recklessness within herself – and she certainly needs them, given the dangers she is about to encounter.
Scott: How are you similar to and different from Holda?
Cathy: Many elements in the story come from my own experience, but they are mainly tied to the locations rather than individual characters. I studied modern languages at Cambridge University and specialised in medieval literature in my final year. I have visited Bruges dozens of times and lived in Meerbusch for over twenty years, including six years living at Schloss Pesch.
The similaries between myself and Holda are less to do with character and more to do with facing circumstances which we each found horrifying. Holda is a strong, capable, sensitive, thoughtful and also vulnerable character. While getting her through various dangerous situations, I was echoing my own experiences of beating my own illness.
Scott: Why did you decide to have Holda growing up in a family speaking only Latin?
Cathy: There is a detailed backstory to this which will be revealed in a sequel. In The Devil’s Missal it serves to explain Holda’s isolation, lack of friends and social skills and absence of prior boyfriends. It also explains the rift with her parents and her dedication to the medieval period. In addition, it makes her an ideal candidate for the mission to Germany, as she is a medieval German specialist who happens to be fluent in Latin. This is essential in reading any medieval document which comprises a diary (written in the vernacular) and scholarly texts (which would always have been written in Latin in that period).
Scott: You talk about Holda's struggle with writer's block. Have you suffered from this malady?
Cathy: Yes, but it ended after the first sentence in Chapter 1 (the prologue was written later).
Scott: Did you set out to write such a scary story or did that happen as your writing progressed?
Cathy: I set out to write a horror story with supernatural elements. But I was also pushing my own boundaries to see how far I could make myself go. In previous things I’ve written, I’d been aware of a certain ‘self-censorship’ as soon as it came to sex, violence, gore etc. This time I wanted to force myself out of my comfort zone – just as I was way out of my own comfort zone in facing up to my illness.
Scott: How has the book been received?
Cathy: It’s been a real mixture. There are people who are absolutely blown away by it, and others who find it way too disturbing. People I studied with love the academic and historical references. Other people get caught up in the fast-moving plot. One person was emailing me literally all night about it.
What is more interesting from a writer’s perspective, is how some people can’t stop talking about it.. it seems to preoccupy them for weeks, while others (including friends and family) now refuse even to speak to me on the subject. I suspect I’ve pushed quite a lot of people beyond their comfort zone.
Scott: What are you working on next?
Cathy: I have written a sequel to The Devil’s Missal, which I hope to bring out before Christmas. It contains some of the same characters (Holda, Rupert), but tends away from pure horror more towards an intriguing mystery story. It is called The Devil’s Progeny, and deals with events in Meerbusch during the occupation of the Rhineland after the first world war up to the rise of Hitler and the aftermath of World War Two. I could say more, but I don’t want to include any spoilers.
There is another sequel which I am currently researching which will also be set around Meerbusch, which I’m really excited about. It is the one which will reveal more about Holda’s Latin upbringing. During the research for it I made an amazing discovery… I’m not going to reveal it here, but I’ll only say that I found a reference to something in an old document and after a great deal of research and fighting my way through thorny undergrowth on a piece of remote scrubland by an industrial area by the Rhine, I found what I was looking for. This discovery will play a central role in that story.
Scott: What is something we would find surprising to learn about you?
Cathy: After The Devil’s Missal, probably nothing I could say would surprise or shock anyone! What I am still focussed on is finding out surprising things about myself. In particular I like to learn new skills. Last year when I was bedridden I taught myself complex lace knitting from books and YouTube videos. Now that I am back to good health I’m looking for more active challenges. I welcome ideas. Possible suggestions so far have included rock climbing, carpentry and acting.
An Interview With Cathy Dobson About Her New Book, The Devil’s Missal
I first got to know Cathy Dobson on an Internet community called Newsvine where she was CartoonCat and I was Scoop. One of my hobbies is interviewing authors – something I have been doing for more than 15 years and which you can see an index of here: https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.b...
So when Cathy published her first book, Planet Germany, in 2007, I asked to interview her and she agreed. This was the result: https://thinkingandtalkingandacting.b...
Newsvine is no longer around but I am still interviewing authors, often mystery authors for the Mystery People blog - , and so when I heard Cathy put out a new book I asked to interview her and she agreed.
Compared to Planet Germany, this new book, The Devil’s Missal, is quite a different beast. I mean that literally – this new book has the devil, evil beasts and actions. Put simply, it is dark stuff. You have been warned. So as I posed questions to Cathy I thought, wow, how did this dark story come about. Read her answers below.
Scott Butki: How did you come to write this story?
Cathy Dobson: I was in a difficult period in my life when I started writing. I was very ill at the time and having tests for a late-stage terminal cancer. It was a scary situation. I began writing because, aside from hospital appointments, I was mainly confined to my bed. I needed something to occupy my brain and take me away from thinking about impending death. Even when the biopsy results came through and the tumours turned out not to be cancerous, I was still on heavy medication and unable to eat solid food for about eight months. Writing became a sort of therapy for me in that time. I chose a horror genre deliberately. I wrote about all the things I found terrifying and horrific, and it was as though I was shedding everything I felt relating to my illness – all the fear, physical nausea and frustration flowed out of myself onto the page.
Scott: Which came first, the plot or the characters?
Cathy: It was a bit of both. Holda, Azriel and Rupert were in the concept from the start, the others appeared to me at the points where they were needed. I had the basic plot in mind, but when I was writing I didn’t know whether Holda might survive the experience or not (the prologue was written last).
Scott: How would you describe the protagonist, Holda?
Cathy: Holda starts out as a naïve, depressed student, in her early twenties, but with the emotional development of someone younger. She recently lost her parents in a car accident and is struggling to adjust. The fact that her relationship with her parents was a difficult one has saddled her with a great deal of guilt and she is not moving on with her life. When she is sent to Germany to investigate a medieval manuscript which recently came to light, it is similar to a medieval quest (the story is structured like a medieval legend). She not only finds out about the manuscript, but also finds out about herself. In the process she escapes the stultifying grief and depression and discovers inner strength, ingenuity, sexuality and a certain amount of recklessness within herself – and she certainly needs them, given the dangers she is about to encounter.
Scott: How are you similar to and different from Holda?
Cathy: Many elements in the story come from my own experience, but they are mainly tied to the locations rather than individual characters. I studied modern languages at Cambridge University and specialised in medieval literature in my final year. I have visited Bruges dozens of times and lived in Meerbusch for over twenty years, including six years living at Schloss Pesch.
The similaries between myself and Holda are less to do with character and more to do with facing circumstances which we each found horrifying. Holda is a strong, capable, sensitive, thoughtful and also vulnerable character. While getting her through various dangerous situations, I was echoing my own experiences of beating my own illness.
Scott: Why did you decide to have Holda growing up in a family speaking only Latin?
Cathy: There is a detailed backstory to this which will be revealed in a sequel. In The Devil’s Missal it serves to explain Holda’s isolation, lack of friends and social skills and absence of prior boyfriends. It also explains the rift with her parents and her dedication to the medieval period. In addition, it makes her an ideal candidate for the mission to Germany, as she is a medieval German specialist who happens to be fluent in Latin. This is essential in reading any medieval document which comprises a diary (written in the vernacular) and scholarly texts (which would always have been written in Latin in that period).
Scott: You talk about Holda's struggle with writer's block. Have you suffered from this malady?
Cathy: Yes, but it ended after the first sentence in Chapter 1 (the prologue was written later).
Scott: Did you set out to write such a scary story or did that happen as your writing progressed?
Cathy: I set out to write a horror story with supernatural elements. But I was also pushing my own boundaries to see how far I could make myself go. In previous things I’ve written, I’d been aware of a certain ‘self-censorship’ as soon as it came to sex, violence, gore etc. This time I wanted to force myself out of my comfort zone – just as I was way out of my own comfort zone in facing up to my illness.
Scott: How has the book been received?
Cathy: It’s been a real mixture. There are people who are absolutely blown away by it, and others who find it way too disturbing. People I studied with love the academic and historical references. Other people get caught up in the fast-moving plot. One person was emailing me literally all night about it.
What is more interesting from a writer’s perspective, is how some people can’t stop talking about it.. it seems to preoccupy them for weeks, while others (including friends and family) now refuse even to speak to me on the subject. I suspect I’ve pushed quite a lot of people beyond their comfort zone.
Scott: What are you working on next?
Cathy: I have written a sequel to The Devil’s Missal, which I hope to bring out before Christmas. It contains some of the same characters (Holda, Rupert), but tends away from pure horror more towards an intriguing mystery story. It is called The Devil’s Progeny, and deals with events in Meerbusch during the occupation of the Rhineland after the first world war up to the rise of Hitler and the aftermath of World War Two. I could say more, but I don’t want to include any spoilers.
There is another sequel which I am currently researching which will also be set around Meerbusch, which I’m really excited about. It is the one which will reveal more about Holda’s Latin upbringing. During the research for it I made an amazing discovery… I’m not going to reveal it here, but I’ll only say that I found a reference to something in an old document and after a great deal of research and fighting my way through thorny undergrowth on a piece of remote scrubland by an industrial area by the Rhine, I found what I was looking for. This discovery will play a central role in that story.
Scott: What is something we would find surprising to learn about you?
Cathy: After The Devil’s Missal, probably nothing I could say would surprise or shock anyone! What I am still focussed on is finding out surprising things about myself. In particular I like to learn new skills. Last year when I was bedridden I taught myself complex lace knitting from books and YouTube videos. Now that I am back to good health I’m looking for more active challenges. I welcome ideas. Possible suggestions so far have included rock climbing, carpentry and acting.
August 5, 2019
A deliciously devilish book, dripping Gothic horror from every page. I read it all in one sitting, even as the metaphorical candles waned shorter and the darkness of the night crept into my room, and into the book.
The protagonist Holda Weisel is a seriously strong-willed character who takes in her stride being cast into a milieu of German satanic folklore and men behaving very badly under the influence of an ancient book with intentions on their souls.
It's refreshing to have a well-rounded female persona leading the action, and one who is not afraid to express her sexuality. I certainly found myself rooting for Holda as she put together the jigsaw pieces whilst fending off all manner of murderous distractions.
The setting is a character in itself, and a strong sense of place runs through The Devil's Missal. Indeed, I learnt so much about the geography of Meerbusch by the Rhine that it's almost like I once lived there.
The dark landscape is contrasted with the bland lightness of the modern world. One moment everything seems so mundane (talking about local history exhibitions at the Rathaus) then with a thunderclap it's like the portals of Hell have been flung open.
The reader might think she has embarked on a modern-day Dennis Wheatley novel (and nothing wrong with that), but gradually the tentacles of the psyche take a grip on the story, and she'll unexpectedly find herself in some pretty dark and scary places.
Enjoy! If you dare ...
The protagonist Holda Weisel is a seriously strong-willed character who takes in her stride being cast into a milieu of German satanic folklore and men behaving very badly under the influence of an ancient book with intentions on their souls.
It's refreshing to have a well-rounded female persona leading the action, and one who is not afraid to express her sexuality. I certainly found myself rooting for Holda as she put together the jigsaw pieces whilst fending off all manner of murderous distractions.
The setting is a character in itself, and a strong sense of place runs through The Devil's Missal. Indeed, I learnt so much about the geography of Meerbusch by the Rhine that it's almost like I once lived there.
The dark landscape is contrasted with the bland lightness of the modern world. One moment everything seems so mundane (talking about local history exhibitions at the Rathaus) then with a thunderclap it's like the portals of Hell have been flung open.
The reader might think she has embarked on a modern-day Dennis Wheatley novel (and nothing wrong with that), but gradually the tentacles of the psyche take a grip on the story, and she'll unexpectedly find herself in some pretty dark and scary places.
Enjoy! If you dare ...
October 1, 2019
Terrifying occult story with a brilliant strong female lead-character. Fast paced, well written and with a plot which twists and turns like a snake. Un-put-downable. Perfect for halloween.
June 15, 2020
It’s such a quick read and so bizarre and so little contained in the terms of “adult content” it’s GOOD.
October 14, 2019
A really intelligent, well researched novel. It reminded me very much of a medieval folk story, set amid the harsh black-and-white cruel morality of that period. Against the historical aspects, the modern-day character of Holda with her hair-trigger sensitivity, insecurities and gradual development of her own inner strength is wonderful. Watching Holda develop is like watching the whole of womanhood grow up.
January 4, 2020
If you don’t mind being prised out of your comfort zone and having a couple of sleepless nights, then this book is for you.
The Devil’s Missal serves up devilishly evil characters, satanic rites and sexual abominations in a very juicy, fast-moving plot.
This is a really unusual twist on the Gothic novel. What is particularly interesting is the combination of English language and local German settings and history. They are used to excellent effect to bring the story chillingly to life.
Read this in a well-lit room!
The Devil’s Missal serves up devilishly evil characters, satanic rites and sexual abominations in a very juicy, fast-moving plot.
This is a really unusual twist on the Gothic novel. What is particularly interesting is the combination of English language and local German settings and history. They are used to excellent effect to bring the story chillingly to life.
Read this in a well-lit room!
November 7, 2019
OK - this was totally different from what I was expecting - but what a fantastic story! I was gripped from about chapter 3 and every time I tried to stop reading and do something else, I ended up coming straight back to it. I just had to know what was going to happen next.
The plot is set in the modern day but incorporates one set of horrific events in the medieval period (no spoilers) and another equally grisly episode around two hundred years ago... and suddenly things that are happening now make horrible...terrifying...stomach churning sense.
The plot is set in the modern day but incorporates one set of horrific events in the medieval period (no spoilers) and another equally grisly episode around two hundred years ago... and suddenly things that are happening now make horrible...terrifying...stomach churning sense.
October 25, 2019
Wow. What an amazing story! Fast paced with an ingenious plot... and genuinely shocking (in a good way....but also in a way that challenged me as a person). I feel like I now want to read it all over again because I didn't want the narrative to stop.
I am deeply in love with Holda, the lead character, and I hope the author publishes more stories about her. I don't feel like we know everything there is to know yet by a long chalk.
I never realised the Rhineland had such an interesting history. I am inspired to go visit some of the places in the book as I don't live all that far away and also to search for other books set in this area.
I am deeply in love with Holda, the lead character, and I hope the author publishes more stories about her. I don't feel like we know everything there is to know yet by a long chalk.
I never realised the Rhineland had such an interesting history. I am inspired to go visit some of the places in the book as I don't live all that far away and also to search for other books set in this area.
October 29, 2019
A cleverly constructed and executed plot, a strong heroine with a curious backstory and a struggle between good and evil in which it is unsettlingly unclear which is which.... I really enjoyed it.
May 2, 2020
So the best thing about this story is that it’s short. Hence the two star rating. Where to begin, hmm, how about the clunky writing? Let’s start there. The dialogue is at times, almost childish. The MC “squeaks” or another character “growls”? Really? The plot is at first glance, intriguing. Who doesn’t like the idea of tracking down an ancient, possessed manuscript full of Satanic evil? (I’m serious, that does sound kind of cool) but our MC Holda is simply not up to the task. Oh, she reads and writes the Medieval German and Latin needed to decipher the tome but other than that, she is a bit hollow. Oh, and let us not forget that she is a virgin. Another reviewer mentions the feminist viewpoint in the story. Well maybe I like my feminists to be a bit more intelligent. Holda wasn’t TSTL but please, girl, next time you run into a Satanic book, just burn the damn thing and be done with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2024
4.5
I devoured this story! It revolves around dark academia and the ugly side of history that so many people prefer to keep hidden. Although it's a fictional story, it feels real, which is horrifying. Oh yeah... there is also Satan, who happens to have a phallic the size of a man's arm. I just ordered the follow-up book, The Devil's Progeny, and I can't wait to start reading. One complaint that isn't enough to take away its 4.5-star rating: two characters who end up together romantically lacked spicy chemistry, but this isn't a smut story, so if that's what you want, you are reading the wrong genre! This story DELIVERED, and the ending was so satisfying! I wish this author had more books.
I devoured this story! It revolves around dark academia and the ugly side of history that so many people prefer to keep hidden. Although it's a fictional story, it feels real, which is horrifying. Oh yeah... there is also Satan, who happens to have a phallic the size of a man's arm. I just ordered the follow-up book, The Devil's Progeny, and I can't wait to start reading. One complaint that isn't enough to take away its 4.5-star rating: two characters who end up together romantically lacked spicy chemistry, but this isn't a smut story, so if that's what you want, you are reading the wrong genre! This story DELIVERED, and the ending was so satisfying! I wish this author had more books.
December 30, 2023
It really shows throughout how much the authors knows about this subject, as the book is so well constructed. A very good read that only gets better and better.
I personally didn't think the writing initself was great, but the story more than made up for that.q
I personally didn't think the writing initself was great, but the story more than made up for that.q
October 11, 2020
This is a very fast read and sure, some of the details are Not Subtle but it's horror about academia and cursed old books and it was deliciously cracked out with great setting detail.
November 14, 2021
Almost finished, but just couldn't do it anymore. The writing is clumsy and obvious and the proceedings just couldn't grab my attention. Glad to see others enjoyed it, but it wasn't for me.
December 6, 2021
Writing: no stars - really poor
Plot: 3*
Scary factor: 4* (once you reach 40%)
Character development: no stars
This book receives 3* in total only because it was scary towards the end due to it's sinister plot. The author requires an editor. Spelling mistakes, and the dialogue could do with a check (Rupert repeats apparently 4 times during one convo).
The book has out of place, very bizarre, gratuitous erotic(?) sections that didn't make sense and added to the lack of maturity in the writing.
1. Would i recommend this book? No.
Do I regret buying it? Yes.
Overall conclusion: a chick-lit comedy writing style on a horror book.
Plot: 3*
Scary factor: 4* (once you reach 40%)
Character development: no stars
This book receives 3* in total only because it was scary towards the end due to it's sinister plot. The author requires an editor. Spelling mistakes, and the dialogue could do with a check (Rupert repeats apparently 4 times during one convo).
The book has out of place, very bizarre, gratuitous erotic(?) sections that didn't make sense and added to the lack of maturity in the writing.
1. Would i recommend this book? No.
Do I regret buying it? Yes.
Overall conclusion: a chick-lit comedy writing style on a horror book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews