The Devil Pulls The Strings
What’s shown above is the graphic novel adaptation of the first edition of The Devil Pulls the Strings. The first edition opens with the prologue, which becomes chapter five in the second edition. The second edition is much better, and opens differently, introducing the protagonist on page one with his mission clear, his motivation established, and his backstory fully expanded across the first four chapters, delivering the perfect setup for what was originally the prologue. Because the illustrations are simply fantastic and found nowhere else, the graphic novel of the first edition is shared here for your enjoyment.
*** DISCLAIMER ***
And if you’re unable too see the flip book version of the graphic novel shown further above, use a laptop or desktop computer with a wider/larger viewing screen.
A Note About This Second Edition
The first edition of The Devil Pulls the Strings received 41 awards, including the Overall Best Book of 2021 from the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Its adapted TV Pilot Episode Script earned 44 additional awards, including the Best American Script Award at the 2024 International Berlin Film Festival.
This second edition exists because of the generous feedback, recommendations, suggestions, and reviews from readers, producers, and studio executives who took the time to share what they wanted: have the protagonist appear sooner, his motivation clear, be more proactive instead of reactive, and show his backstory and expanded details. The best content from the adapted TV Pilot Episode Script has been incorporated back into the book. All of this gets addressed and resolved in this second edition, and the story is better because of your help.
Can one haunted musician outplay the supernatural to save NYC?
Boone Daniels burns with guilt. Stalked by the wendigo that murdered his parents, his every waking minute bleeds with terror and regret. But now doused in a new fist of blame for almost killing his friend Flynn in a Ren Faire joust, Boone fills in for Flynn at his New York City big break gig.
And as soon as Boone arrives, things get weird. He catches Paganini sheet music in the air. Then a stunning girl clutching a violin case bursts into him. Her summer thunderstorm expression interrupted by the patron Professor Stone who Boone’s to next falls three stories to the sidewalk, again, along with a piano. Then the place explodes with gun fire and Boone helps the girl escape.
She introduces herself as Sapphire Anjou, Stone’s Student Assistant, then drags Boone to meet Professor Wickhamby, where Boone uncovers a sinister plot to perform a rare Paganini piece that summons the Devil. Boone races through time to capture the cursed melody.
Along the way, a Romani immortal, steampunk vampires and Baba Yaga set the stage for war, and Boone shall have to risk death for redemption. Because all Boone wants is to keep a promise to a friend. The same friend, he almost killed last Sunday during a joust.
Can a small-town Missouri musician outplay the supernatural and save NYC’s soul?
The Devil Pulls the Strings is the pulse-pounding first tale in the Archivists series. If you like when tortured heroes, epic battles, time travel, twisted history and secret societies collide, then you’ll love J.W. Zarek’s spectacular page-turner.
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THE MUSIC OF THE DEVIL PULLS THE STRINGS
Paganini’s Historical Compositions
The music woven throughout The Devil Pulls the Strings isn’t invented. Three of Niccolò Paganini’s real historical compositions appear in the novel: his 24 Caprices, Cantabile, and Le Streghe (The Witches). Paganini was history’s first rock star, a violinist so impossibly gifted that audiences genuinely believed his mother had sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his talent. What fewer people know is that Paganini was also an accomplished guitarist, making him the perfect historical figure to haunt a novel about a small-town Missouri rock musician racing through time.
Diabolus in Musica: The Cursed Sonata
The three Paganini pieces are real. But the fourth, the rare cursed composition that summons the Devil when combined with the others, needed to be brought into existence.
So it was commissioned. Twice.
Diabolus in Musica, Latin for “the Devil in Music,” was the medieval term for the tritone interval, considered so dissonant that composers once avoided it as genuinely dangerous.
Oleg Bezuglov, a professional violinist holding two doctorates in Violin Performance and Chamber Music from Michigan State University and Rostov State Conservatory, was commissioned to compose and perform the violin version. The commercial license for use and distribution belongs exclusively to J. W. Zarek.
Vladimir, a Fiverr Pro certified classical guitarist, mandolin performer, and prize winner in over 20 international music competitions, was commissioned to compose and perform the guitar version, bringing the cursed sonata into Boone Daniels’ world. Vladimir loved the piece he created so much, he asked if he could play it on his tour, and of course I said yes.
Listen to the secret sonata, and decide for yourself if it should ever be played.
🎻 Paganini’s Secret Sonata: Diabolus in Musica for Violin
🎸 Paganini’s Secret Sonata: Diabolus in Musica for Guitar
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