On a fateful day, a traveler stumbled upon a small village located deep within the mountains. Intrigued by the stories he had heard about the mystical amulets that were said to bring good fortune and protection to its wearer, he decided to explore the village. The villagers were renowned for their craftsmanship, particularly in the creation of these amulets. The traveler was eager to acquire one for himself, believing that it would bring him luck on his journey. Upon reaching the village square, he saw a bustling market filled with vendors selling various amulets. Excitedly, he approached a stall with a large collection of colorful amulets on display.
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Usually fashioned into a necklace or ring, the fey magic contained within the talisman enables the wearer to drain the life force from any living creature he or she touches. In addition, McDowell has also supplied the screenplays for various films, including director Tim Burton s horror comedy Beetlejuice and his animated production The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Excitedly, he approached a stall with a large collection of colorful amulets on display. The vendor, an elderly woman with a wise demeanor, greeted him warmly and offered her assistance. He asked her to recommend the most powerful amulet, one that would ensure his safety and success.
The Amulet
When a rifle range accident leaves Dean Howell disfigured and in a vegetative state, his wife Sarah finds her dreary life in Pine Cone, Alabama made even worse. After long and tedious days on the assembly line, she returns home to care for her corpse-like husband while enduring her loathsome and hateful mother-in-law, Jo. Jo blames the entire town for her son’s mishap, and when she gives a strange piece of jewelry to the man she believes most responsible, a series of gruesome deaths is set in motion. Sarah believes the amulet has something to do with the rising body count, but no one will believe her. As the inexplicable murders continue, Sarah and her friend Becca Blair have no choice but to track down the amulet themselves, before it’s too late.
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Genres HorrorFictionGothicAudiobookSouthern GothicMysterySupernatural
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
Book details & editions Loading interface. Loading interface.About the author
Michael McDowell
72 books 1,051 followersMichael McDowell is a prolific horror writer who has distinguished himself with a varied body of work within the genre. He was born in Enterprise, Alabama, in 1950 and died of AIDS-related illness in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1999.
His first horror novel, The Amulet, relates the tragedies that befall various individuals who come in possession of a supernatural pendant in a small town.
In McDowell's second novel, Cold Moon Over Babylon, a murdered woman's corpse is dispatched into a river, but her spirit roams the land, and in the evening hours it seeks revenge on her killer even as he plots the demise of her surviving relatives.
Don D'Ammassa, writing in the St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost & Gothic Writers, noted that McDowell's ability to maintain a sense of mundane normalcy against supernatural activity provides the novel with "a fine balance between reality and unreality," and he called Cold Moon Over Babylon "one of the best ghost stories ever written at novel length."
A similarly disturbing tension between dull reality and the supernatural is produced in The Elementals, wherein a host of visitors come to stay at a secluded house occupied by embodiments of elemental forces.
McDowell's Katie, meanwhile, concerns a clairvoyant serial killer whose powers of perception enable her to evade her trackers. The attractive but deranged heroine of this novel manages to conduct her murderous activities despite the awareness of her parents, who are content to derive financial gain from their daughter's crimes.
Madness is central to McDowell's Toplin, which details the vile imaginings of a man who suffers from mental illness but nonetheless determines to conduct himself within society. D'Ammassa praised Toplin as "perhaps the best novel ever written from the point of view of a schizophrenic."
Among McDowell's other writings is the six-part serial novel Blackwater, a chronicle of a southern family drawn to the supernatural. In addition, McDowell has also supplied the screenplays for various films, including director Tim Burton's horror comedy Beetlejuice and his animated production The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Stephen King called McDowell one of the "finest writers of paperback originals in America today." Tabitha King was asked to complete McDowell's unfinished novel Candles Burning, which was published in 2006 to good reviews. Concerning his career, McDowell never tried to be something he wasn't. "I am a commercial writer and I'm proud of that", he said in the book Faces of Fear in 1985. "I am writing things to be put in the bookstore next month. I think it is a mistake to try to write for the ages."
Amulets are usually magical devices that are commonly worn around the neck, suspended from a chain. The type of chain that comes with an amulet generally increases the item's aesthetic value, not its magical properties. Only one amulet can be dangled from the neck.
The woman smiled knowingly and handed him a small amulet, intricately designed and adorned with precious stones. She explained that it was a rare piece, believed to possess extraordinary powers. The traveler was elated and promptly purchased the amulet, feeling confident in his decision. Unbeknownst to the traveler, the villagers had been warned by their spiritual leader about the mishap that occurred whenever 100 amulets were created in a given period. Each of the amulets carried a small flaw, which would only become apparent when worn by its owner. The traveler, unaware of the potential misfortune, wore the amulet with pride as he continued his journey. However, as days turned into weeks, he began experiencing a series of unfortunate events. The amulet, instead of bringing him good fortune, seemed to attract chaos and misfortune wherever he went. As he encountered one mishap after another, the traveler finally decided to seek the advice of a wise old sage residing in a nearby village. Hearing his tale, the sage's brows furrowed in thought. After a moment of reflection, he shared the secret of the 100 amulets mishap. According to the sage, the amulets were created by the villagers to serve as an initiation rite for those embarking on a new journey. They were meant to test one's resilience and determination. However, due to the flaw in each amulet, wearing it would unleash the chaos meant to teach valuable life lessons. Realizing the purpose behind his misfortune, the traveler resolved to learn from his experiences. Instead of giving up, he persevered through challenging situations, discovering strength and resilience in the face of adversity. With each mishap, he became wiser and more prepared for the journey ahead. Eventually, after enduring numerous trials and tribulations, the traveler found himself transformed. The mishap of the 100 amulets had taught him invaluable lessons about the unpredictability of life and the importance of resilience and adaptability. As he bid farewell to the sage and continued his journey, the traveler carried within him the wisdom gained from the mishap. Though the amulet had not brought him the expected good fortune, it had bestowed upon him something far more valuable - the ability to navigate through life's challenges with grace and determination..
Reviews for "The Mysterious Disappearance of the 100 Amulets"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Mishap of the 100 Amulets." The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, with numerous subplots that didn't seem necessary. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to connect with any of them. The pacing was off, with the story dragging in some parts and rushing through other important moments. Overall, I found this book to be a letdown and would not recommend it.
2. John - 1/5 stars - "The Mishap of the 100 Amulets" was a complete waste of my time. The writing was sloppy, filled with grammatical errors and typos, which made it hard to read. The plot had potential, but it was poorly executed, leaving me confused and uninterested throughout the whole book. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the action scenes were poorly described and lacked excitement. I couldn't wait to finish this book and move on to something better.
3. Emma - 2/5 stars - I really wanted to enjoy "The Mishap of the 100 Amulets," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The world-building was unclear, leaving me confused about the magical elements and their importance to the story. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow moments that seemed to drag on and rushed plot developments that left me unsatisfied. The characters lacked depth and felt one-dimensional, making it hard to care about their fates. Overall, this book had potential, but it failed to deliver an engaging and coherent story.