The people of Hyde Creek are hiding a dangerous secret.  Can wildlife biologist Steve Bensen and Deputy Tracy Ellis discover what it is before it kills them?  Steve Bensen came to Hyde Creek to investigate the death of his brother Cliff.  Bensen, along with Tracy Ellis, do not believe that a bear killed Cliff, but the authorities want to write it off and forget it ever happened.  As they look for anwers to more and more baffling questions, they stir up the anger of the townspeople and whatever creature is stalking it.  Everyone who talks with Steve about his brother’s death soon ends up dead as well.  Is it possible that the town “crazy,” Levi Cobb could be telling the truth about the town’s past, present, and future?  Once he runs out of all other alternatives, Steve becomes more willing to listen to Levi and accept his truth. 

Frank Peretti weaves a suspenseful tale that combines science and the supernatural, faith and evil.  The Oath has all the elements of a horror classic–frightful monsters, dark secrets, and chilling suspense.  Peretti presents evil in vivid visual detail through an otherworldly monster that grows as it feeds on human sin and through an oozing sore that bleeds black over a person’s heart.  In the final battle with the monster, Steve discovers the only power that can defeat it, but will it be in time to save himself?

Peretti’s message of faith comes through clearly without being overly heavy-handed.  Bensen is not a perfect character; neither are any of the others.  In the end, each one has a choice to make about who to follow in spite of their past mistakes.  I recommend this book for any reader who likes to be scared in the dark.  It is a long book, but no more difficult than books by other horror writers such as Stephen King or Dean Koonz.