Jo blames many of the residents of their small town of Pinecone, Alabama, starting with the rifle's manufacturers, who are the largest company in the area.

Sarah is tasked with Dean's care and is told that he is unable to speak or otherwise respond to outward stimuli, leaving her with the fear that he may be brain damaged.

Sarah is the only one who sees what might be the cause of these accidents, and along with her close friend Becca, the two set out to find the amulet before any more lives are ruined by its curse.

She had been tolerating abuse from Dean prior to him leaving for training and had been the recipient of his mother's wrath throughout their relationship, with the accident bring it to a fever pitch.

After dropping out of Brandeis's PhD program when he realized he didn't want to teach, McDowell found work as a secretary while writing on the side.

Then in 1977, he went to go see Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon, where he saw a trailer for The Omen and began to fixate on the main character's name.

It shows McDowell's prowess for sharp dialogue, which minds the natural and regional (if not always strictly individual) cadences and humor of his characters.

"[3] Grady Hendrix praised McDowell's writing and storytelling skill, saying, "The book ends with a supernatural melt-down that's an orgy of gore but if that was all there was to The Amulet this would be little more than a forgettable Final Destination fiesta.