Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
From the beginning of time, they were burned at the stake for being who they are and most went into hiding, migrating when their identity was about to be revealed. William rejects the notion of a God that says, "Thou shall not suffer a witch to live" and dreams of a place where he and his kind can live without fear of persecution and lynching. He petitions the President of the United States for land. The President grants him land in Wolf's Canyon, Arizona Territory.
Eventually, William met and married Isabella, a self-proclaimed witch who proved her talent with a demonstration. Over the years, the community grows and William becomes the de facto leader, but behind his back Isabella plots to take control. When she commits a heinous crime, he realizes she is not a witch but something else. He destroys her, but she remains haunting everyone long after her death.
In the present, Wolf's Canyon has been flooded thanks to a new dam. Isabella reaches out from the grave to take care of descendants from the original town and some of the dam workers. However, everyone seems to act strange and dangerous, and there is no William alive to remedy the situation.
Bentley Little writes horror tales that are so creepy and scary, readers will leave the lights on throughout the house while nightmarishly sleeping. THE WALKING is the genre at its best, matching the top works of King, Koontz, and Straub. The several subplots are told in flashbacks that add to the fascination and terror. Ironically, Mr. Little is a giant in the world of fiction.