Golgotha Falls

A paranormal research team from Harvard travels to Golgotha Falls, Massachusetts to document unexplained phenomena at an abandoned cathedral. Their investigation intersects with a Jesuit priest's mission to perform an exorcism and reconsecrate the building. The researchers record extraordinary events during the exorcism, including what appears to be a vision of the Crucifixion. When conflict arises between the priest's sacred duties and the researchers' academic pursuits, tension builds around the potential consequences of their competing objectives. The novel explores the intersection of scientific inquiry and religious faith, setting rational investigation against matters of the soul. It raises questions about the limitations of human understanding when confronting forces beyond conventional explanation.

Readers found the story engaging but flawed. The novel gets compared to both The Exorcist and Indiana Jones with its blend of religious horror and archaeological adventure. Liked: - Fast-paced opening chapters - Archaeological and religious research details - Atmosphere of ancient mysteries and mounting dread Disliked: - Plot becomes convoluted in second half - Character development feels rushed - Several unresolved subplots - Ending leaves too many questions One reader noted "It starts strong but loses its way after the halfway point." Another said "Great premise but needed tighter editing." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.3/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (42 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.2/5 (31 ratings) The book remains out of print and copies are scarce, which has limited its reach. Most reviews come from horror genre fans who discovered it through recommendations of 1980s religious horror fiction.

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🔥 Frank De Felitta also wrote "Audrey Rose," which became a successful 1977 film starring Anthony Hopkins and dealt with themes of reincarnation. 🏛️ The book's setting draws inspiration from various abandoned churches in New England, where numerous Gothic Revival cathedrals were left vacant during the mid-20th century. 📽️ Before writing novels, De Felitta was an Emmy award-winning television director and documentary filmmaker, which influenced his detailed technical descriptions of recording equipment in the book. ✝️ The exorcism scenes in "Golgotha Falls" were partially inspired by the author's research into the real-life 1949 exorcism case that also influenced William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist." 🎬 De Felitta had a unique approach to horror writing, believing that supernatural elements should be grounded in scientific methodology - a philosophy evident in both "Golgotha Falls" and his other works.