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A small town called Wildwood changes overnight after the death of the pastor of its sole church. Different companies eye the area’s natural resources for logging and mining, so the town council is more than happy when a new environmental watchdog group arrives asking to lease the building for a short time. The church’s small but devoted group of parishioners hurry to find their pastor’s next of kin before their church ends up being taken away permanently.
Eventually, they find Russell, the pastor’s nephew, who is searching for purpose after the recent deaths of his uncle and parents. Russell stays in his uncle’s former home while arranging his affairs and discovers the true reason the church is so essential to Wildwood: his uncle built it directly above a gateway to hell. His uncle could trace the family’s ancestry to the biblical tribe of Levi and worked with other spiritual warriors of similar lineage to battle the forces of hell. Strange occult sacrifices are starting to occur in and around Wildwood, and Russell must get to the bottom of these strange happenings to save not only the town but perhaps humanity itself.
The plot’s mystery deepens, and Russell’s learning about the tools at his disposal becomes more crucial as he figures out his uncle’s legacy. Theos, a suspicious character using the environmental group as a front for locating the entrance to hell, is a delightfully sinister villain. Russell’s training to withstand the forces of hell creates a satisfying build-up to the book’s climax. The sense of community between church members helps keep the story grounded, in addition to helping Russell figure out his purpose. The Wildwood parishioners' wholehearted welcome and aid to Russell throughout the book are touching. The author builds beautiful interpersonal relationships into a riveting story of supernatural suspense.