The Essence of Darkness by French author Tom Clearlake was quite an adventure. It begins with an FBI investigation in the small town of St. Mary's, Pennsylvania. Special Agent Eliott Cooper is on a case involving the strange disappearance of 5 children between the ages of 3 and 5. In the course of his investigation, he finds a hidden evil in the surrounding woods. What has he found in the woods and what does it mean for him, the missing children, and ultimately life as we know it on Earth? Agent Cooper witnesses an event that will be the catalyst to great change in life as he knows it. After this moment be prepared for a wild ride that is a hybrid of mystery, thriller, suspense, supernatural, religion, and secret organizations. I really want to say more, but I can't because I don't want to spoil anything for readers. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes any of the above genres or who enjoy the talents of authors like Stephen King, Dean Koontz, or HP Lovecraft.