Prelude to Insanity (Darkness Rises #1)

Description

Los Olivos is a quiet little town in rural California. Nothing much happens here and little changes from day to day, but the serenity is about to be shattered...

Cole Larson is a socially awkward teenager trudging through life. He is bullied, ridiculed, and disregarded by his peers. One day, Cole stands up for himself, and his world changes. His childhood crush, Laila Hardcastle, becomes his first love; he becomes stronger as a person, and he finds the courage to be himself; Everything is going to be all right.... Or so he thinks.

Cole meets a new kid and quickly he takes a liking to him, but there seems to be something off about his family. Something Cole can't quite place his finger on. Still, he introduces Laila to the seemingly harmless newcomers only to learn that he may have inadvertently pushed her into a well of darkness of which there may be no escape.

Welcome to Cole's story.Cole Larson is a socially awkward teenager, growing up in the small town of Los Olivos and with a huge crush on Laila Hardcastle, a childhood friend who seems way out of his league. After Cole is beaten up by her boyfriend, Laila takes pity on him and they get together just as summer begins, with their relationship developing quickly.In the background of their blossoming romance, however, Los Olivos is in crisis. People are disappearing, and when Laila's abusive father's truck turns up burned out and with no sign of him anywhere, attention turns to the two young lovers.As detectives Reese and Martinez are assigned to the case and begin to investigate, Cole meets a new kid, Matt, who has just moved to the outskirts of town. He introduces Laila to Marissa, Matt's younger sister, and the two quickly become friends.But all is not as it seems to be. The body count is rising faster than the temperature and Laila could be the next victim. Aided by Redford, a reclusive warrior priest who has knowledge which could help them, Cole is determined that Laila will not fall into the world of darkness that stalks her. But can he save her before she becomes the next to disappear?