Some stories comfort us. Others refuse to look away. Rusted Rituals Retaliate by Roy Stephen Kunnel BEM belongs to the second kind. It drags you straight into the raw heart of grief, the crushing weight of guilt, and the slow burn of revenge.
Grief That Breaks You Open
In a small Kerala village, Chacko carries his teenage daughter’s coffin on his shoulder. The sun beats down. Birds stay silent. He shortens his steps to steal a few more seconds with her. His wife collapses in despair. Their young sons cling to each other, too small to understand yet old enough to feel the world shatter. The priest hurries everyone along because the sun cannot set on an open grave. These pages do not soften the pain. They let you feel every tear, every missed heartbeat, every moment a family is torn apart.
Guilt That Refuses to Leave
Chacko whispers to his dead daughter, “I am deeply sorry… I was unable to shield you from the evils of this world.” That line stays with you. He replays every decision, every moment he failed to protect her. His elder son hints that “the devils have been dealt with,” but the guilt lingers. Later, when community activist Benny Mathew is murdered, his widow fights for a proper burial while church rules question his worthiness. Families carry the heavy burden of wondering what they missed and what they should have done differently.
Revenge That Simmers in Silence
Grief does not stay pure for long. It turns into guilt, then quietly ignites revenge. Chacko vows that the evils will face consequences. The title itself delivers the warning: rusted rituals eventually retaliate. When traditions meant to comfort are twisted for control, they strike back. Police chase suspects. Secrets surface. The village holds its breath. Kunnel shows revenge not as dramatic explosions but as a steady, justified fire born from unbearable loss.
Roy Stephen Kunnel BEM writes from real life. A community leader in Swindon, UK, and recipient of the British Empire Medal, he has walked alongside grieving families for years. He knows how rituals can heal — and how they can destroy.
This novel does not offer easy answers or tidy endings. It forces you to sit with the pain, question long-held traditions, and face the cost of blind faith. It refuses to look away.
Are you ready? Step into Rusted Rituals Retaliate by Roy Stephen Kunnel BEM today. You will not be the same when you close the book.