Profane Beasts

Five years ago, Hurricane Ophelia devastated Hampton Roads. The storm strengthened rapidly overnight, and drowned the city for weeks killing thousands. Among the dead was a small Chesapeake church's congregation that died in their pews, eyes fixed on heaven, untouched by the storm. Through a series of interviews, videos, and legal documents, journalist Kellen Faulk reconstructs what the people of Calvary Baptist Church were calling out to in worship, and what happened under the catastrophic rain of the storm of the century.

At the center of Faulk's investigation are the voice memos of reformed evangelical Alice Crenshaw. Alice got away from Calvary Baptist Church and healed her wounds, until a late night email from an old friend who grew up in the same church begs Alice for help. Alice's old acquaintance Kelly claims that people from their old church keep following her every time she leaves home, and Alice crosses more and more professional barriers to try and get Kelly the help she needs. The late night calls and strange emails escalate until Alice has to cut Kelly off for good. Not a week later Kelly is killed in a hit and run. Alice races home under stormy skies to learn whether or not Kelly's death was an accident, or the work of some old evil festering in the swamps of Chesapeake.

2025 IngramSpark® Editorial Selection - Horror