Welcome to my Monday Minis where I share shorter reviews of books I’ve read.
Today it’s all abut some Paranormal Cozy Mysteries
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Alice In Murderland
Magical Bookshop Mystery#1
by Samantha Silver
Genre: Paranormal / Cozy Mystery
My Mini Review
This was such fun. What’s not to love in a paranormal cozy. And there’s books in it. LOL Delightful and quirky characters, a murder to solve, and witchy shenanigans made this a delightful few hours of reading for me. I will be following this series and anticipating much more fun to come.
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Synopsis
Moving from Miami to small-town Oregon was supposed to be boring…
When Alice Calliope takes over her recently deceased aunt’s bookshop in Sapphire Village, Oregon, she’s not expecting her world to be flipped upside down, but that’s exactly what happens when her cousin Cat reveals to Alice that she’s actually a witch. Add in the fact that the two of them stumble upon a dead body, and Alice’s first day in town ends up being a lot more eventful than she could have possibly imagined!
What was supposed to be a simple cross-country move winds up with Alice having to learn how to navigate a whole new magical world while at the same time trying to clear Cat’s name as she emerges as the main suspect in the murder. Add in the eccentric Grandma Cee, witchcraft lessons, a whiny old ghost and the laziest cat ever, and Alice definitely has her hands full.
With pressure mounting for the super-hot local sheriff to arrest her cousin, will Alice be able to hunt down the real killer before it’s too late?
Alice in Murderland is a full-length novel and the first book in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series of paranormal cozy mysteries.
This book was a delight to read. The main character, Bridget, is newly dead, but that doesn’t slow her down a bit. The afterlife is every bit as busy and fashion challenged, and even ghosts can be murdered. Who woulda thunk it.
I had a rip snort of a read. Loads of snark, which I love, fun characters galore, and a challenging mystery to solve, all added up to a ghostly good time. I feel for this one and moving on to the next.
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Synopsis
Dead less than twenty-four hours, with a job that doesn’t pay, a fashion disaster for a uniform and more afterlife rules than she can shake a stick at, Bridget Sway thinks it’s as bad as it can get. And then she finds a dead ghost stuffed in her locker.
Since the police are desperate to arrest her for murder, Bridget’s new best friend convinces her the only way to save herself from an eternity in prison is to solve the murder themselves.
With a handsome parole officer watching her every move, an outlaw ghost befriending her and two persistent mediums demanding her attention, solving the murder is not quite as easy as it sounds. And when “murder” turns into “murders” Bridget needs to solve the case … before she becomes the next dead body stuffed in her locker.
Beyond Dead is the first book in a paranormal cozy murder mystery series set in a ridiculously bureaucratic afterlife. It is rife with cozy humor (or more accurately cosy humour) that cozy British mysteries are famous for.
The series follows the newly dead Bridget Sway as she tries to adjust to her new life as a ghost while solving the odd murder along the way. Bridget exhibits all the best virtues of cozy mystery women sleuths in terms of wit and humor but, as the amateur sleuth of a cozy ghost mysteries series, she is something most others are not – and that’s dead.
I decided to do this feature as I have so many great children’s books to share. From picture books, to books for beginning readers, to middle graders, I have plenty of fun ones.
Today I’m sharing a sweet story about dreaming big.
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Can A Princess Be A Firefighter?
by Carole P. Roman
Genre: Children’s Book
Age Level: 5 – 6
My Review
Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were young? Was it a firefighter, an astronaut, or perhaps you wanted to join the circus? When asked if a princess could be a firefighter, a father encourages two young girls to dream big, tells them they can be whatever they want to be, and that they can always change their minds.
The delightful and fun illustrations show a multitude of choices.
I imagine your young ones will pour over each page, examining everything the pictures have to offer. Dreaming big and possibly wanting to play dress up.
The message is simple and told with lyrical prose. I read it once, and then again. I suspect many children will too, and this may join the family favorites.
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Synopsis
Two little girls pepper their father with questions about whether or not they can be a profession and still be a princess. Motivated by her granddaughter’s fascination with all things ‘princess, ‘ Carole P. Roman penned this adorable poem celebrating all the wonderful possibilities waiting ahead for them.
Welcome to my Monday Minis where I share shorter reviews of books I’ve read.
Today it’s all about horror with Amy Cross!
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Laura
by Amy Cross
Genre: Horror
My Review
I’ve come across similar scenarios to this one and they never get old. Amy Cross managed to put her own spin on it and creeped me out but good.
You might find yourself pulling for Laura once you get the skinny on how things really went down.
Kept me entertained and I sure liked the ending.
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Synopsis
“You don’t think this could be about Laura, do you?”
Ten years ago, they were all friends. Ten years ago, something terrible happened. Ten years ago, they agreed to take the truth about Laura to their graves. All they had to do was forget, and keep their mouths shut.
But when a hidden force starts cutting them down one by one, in a series of increasingly horrific incidents, the remaining friends are forced to face the truth.
Somehow, Laura has come back.
Laura is a horror story about six people who thought they could hide the truth, and about the girl who returns from the grave to make them all pay.
It’s hit or miss when I read a book from a dog’s point of view. I’ve read several in this genre. The Dog was a hit.
The funny thing is how we can accept the death of a human during the break down of society, but the author kills a pet, that’dsa big no no. I was fretting throughout the book. Can’t tell you how Jon and his dog, Harry, managed but this was hard to put down and I didn’t throw the book after I read the ending.
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Synopsis
One man and his dog come face-to-face with the end of the world…
When Jon takes his dog Harry to a remote cabin for the week, he just wants to get away from the rest of the world. And then one morning, after finding that his phone is dead, Jon looks at the city in the distance and realizes that something seems very wrong.
All the power has gone out. At night, the city is completely dark. There are no planes in the sky, and when Jon drives to the nearest gas station, he finds a desolate and bloody scene. He refuses to believe that something truly awful has happened, however, until he spots a figure stumbling through the forest, heading ever closer.
A figure that smells of death.
Soon Jon is facing a desperate fight for survival. While he and his dog have been up at the cabin, the whole world has been struck by a huge, global catastrophe that has left billions dead. Many are dead, but many more have risen again. Can Jon and his dog survive, or are they doomed to suffer the same fate?
The Dog is a novel about the end of the world, told through the eyes of a dog who finds himself stuck at a remote cabin with only his owner for company.
Yep, Alice isn’t well and she has good reason. I like stories where the character is considered to be not quite sane. It allows the author to do a lot with their characters.
I really liked Alice. I was sad that she questioned her own sanity but sure could see why. Wendy’s story takes place many years in the past. At first it’s sad and then it gets macabre. And Hannah is a piece of work. I think I liked how much she lived in her own skin and never doubted herself. She had a weird job and just accepted it and kept on doing it.
Their stories are told separately but then begin to merge and you finally are shown why. A solid story that I read in one sitting. And the author wrapped it up nicely while leaving it pen for more in the series. I’ll be following it.
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Synopsis
“There are lots of demons in the sky above London. The problem is, this one came crashing down to earth.”
Ten years ago, Alice Warner was attacked and disfigured by an attacker in her own home. She remembers nothing of the attack, and she has been in a psychiatric hospital ever since. When she’s finally released, however, she starts working as a security guard at an abandoned shopping mall. And that’s when she starts to realize that something is haunting her, keeping just one step out of sight at all times…
Meanwhile, seventy years earlier, a little girl named Wendy is left orphaned after a World War 2 fighter plane crashes onto her house. Taken to a monastery, Wendy is quickly singled out by the nuns for special attention. They say she has been possessed by a demon, and that there’s only one way to save her soul. Fortunately for Wendy, however, there’s someone else who seems to know far more about the situation.
What is the shocking connection between Alice and Wendy, reaching out across the years? Does a demon really lurk in the girl’s soul? And who is Hannah, the mysterious figure who tries to help Wendy, and who seventy years later begins to make her influence felt in Alice’s life too?
Alice Isn’t Well is the first book in the Death Herself series, about a dark figure who arrives in the night, promising to help deal with the forces of evil whenever they appear.
I read the blurb and thought it sounded like something else I’d read so I had to give this a go.
Creepy it is and I had a blast. Thought I knew what was really happening but I should have used more imagination. The author sure did.
A read straight through book and one of those that makes you worry about turning out the lights.
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Synopsis
“You’ll love him. He’s such an easy boy to love.”
Short of money after moving to London, Jennifer Griffith accepts a job babysitting for a wealthy couple. When she arrives at their house, however, she quickly learns that this particular baby isn’t quite what he seems.
Although she agrees to go through with the job for one night, it doesn’t take long before she starts to regret her choice. Something dark lurks in the shadows of the house, something that wants something from Jennifer. Something that won’t let go, not even after she heads home…
A House in London is a horror novella about a girl who always dreamed of a house in London, and who finally discovers a nightmare waiting in the shadows.
It’s been a week of storms here on the Gulf Coast! At least one mother of a storm each day during the work week. Some were very scary. The thunder shook the house and the straight line winds shrieked around the windows. Guess mother nature is preparing me for the beginning of hurricane season in June. LOL
Since I didn’t have as many opportunities to swim in the afternoons, I got busy on blogging ahead and writing a bunch of reviews. Also caught up on some shows and watched a few movies I’d been meaning to get to. And I came up with a blog post that’s going to be fun to put together. I love pie. All kinds of pie. I once dreamed of opening my own pie cafe. So, I’m gathering info from a bunch of movies that have pie as part of their theme. I’ll also be adding a few with other kinds of baked goodies. And I’m having a blast rewatching the movies! If you have any movie suggestions, please share them!
And now for my weekly plant update. Not as many pics this week as it was raining every day when I got home from work.
Here’s a pic of one corner of my back patio. Been working on shaping these up. And Quigley snuck in this one. I didn’t even notice him until I uploaded this pic. LOL
See how the tall sega’s leaves are laying horizontal. It won’t be producing new leaves this year so I’m just cutting back the brown ones.
The seed ball is really growing in the center. It gets huge and has tons of these dark red leathery seed pods. I should get a bunch this winter..
And here’s another corner where the banana trees and such are growing. Sorry it’s got a bit of glare. Had to take a quick pic in between rains.
Some of the banana trees are already above the roof line. There a bunch of smaller ones popping up all over too. Should be a nice crop.
That’s all folks.
Have a fabulous Sunday!
*****
My new books this week.
*****
And here are some FREEBIES for ya.
Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.
*****
Only one book reviewed this week.
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But here are some I have ready for next week.
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And I just watched Avatar again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vklW7vWpF6E
This is one of my favorite scenes. I want one of these!
I’ve been reading Tonya Kappes Kenni Lowry Cozy Mystery series from the beginning and never miss a chance to read the next book. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries and haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend you try them.
Dead As A Doornail
A Kenni Lowry Mystery
by Tonya Kappes
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Dead As A Doornail (A Kenni Lowry Mystery) Cozy Mystery 5th in Series Henery Press (May 15, 2018) Paperback: 266 pages ISBN-13: 978-1635113341 Digital ASIN: B079V6DNFW
My Review
Being maid of honor in a wedding isn’t in Sheriff Kenni Lowry’s job description. Neither is wearing a hideous green dress. But, it’s quite the big deal, being the Mayor’s wedding and all, so she will suck it up and do her part. Or maybe not. Called to the scene of a dead body, Kenni runs into her grandfather. He’s long shed his mortal coil but returns to help Kenni when its a case of murder. Which she now knows this to be.
I’m enjoying seeing how Kenni grows in her role as Sheriff. It seemed to me she used to think of her job as not a permanent thing, and second guessed herself often. Now, she’s strong, confident and darn good at her job.
And the relationship between Kenni and Deputy Finn is steaming right along. They’re getting very close and I enjoy their encounters throughout the book. While Finn has no idea that the ghost of Kenni’s grandpa is helping her with the case, he is suspicious when she appears to have conversations with herself and acts on clues that seem to come out of thin air.
With plenty of suspects to choose from, the mystery wasn’t easy to solve. When the culprit is revealed its like that box of chocolates, you never who you’re gonna get. I sure had fun following along as Kenni, her grandpa and Finn got to work.
The quirky and endearing character’s, funny encounters and situations and convoluted mystery are something I’ve come to expect and look forward to in this series and Tonya delivers again.
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Synopsis
Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone. And doesn’t our Sheriff Kenni Lowry know that? Well, she knows a lot of things.
Lucy Lowell takes great pride in writing negative reviews in the local newspaper for anything that does not go her way. When Lucy is found dead, it appears to be from natural causes.
But Sheriff Kenni Lowry knows there is more to it because the ghost of her grandfather, the ex-sheriff, is standing over the body.
His presence can only mean one thing: Murder!
Since Kenni’s relationship with Deputy Finn Vincent has heated up, Kenni is having trouble conducting the investigation without Finn questioning her every move.
Can Kenni unravel the mystery on her own or will she have to tell Finn the real reason she knows it was murder—the ghost of her poppa?
It’s blowin’ up a storm and only Kenni knows how it’ll end.
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About Tonya Kappes
For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been publishing numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plot lines and quirky characters but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans.
Sign up for her newsletter on her website at Tonyakappes.com .
This week was crazy busy a work. And HOT!!!! Around 90 each day. Guess what I did? Every day I’d come home from work, throw on my swim suit and head right to the pool. The water temp is the low 80s so it feels so cool when I get in.
I’ve got in a lot of reading. And I’m now writing a bunch of reviews so I can get ahead on bogging for the summer. And I’ve continued to watch The Terror. It’s really ramping up. Also watching new episodes of The Doctor Blake Mysteries. Finally back on! And bot did they get me with that one episode. If you watch this, I;m sure you know which one I’m talking about. And I watched the first season of The Rain. Anybody else watching it? What do you think?
And now for my weekly plant update!
They are still growing! The leaves are now all the way up to my chest.
This is my largest Sega. I was worried that it wouldn’t be growing new leaves. It sometimes skips a year.
But then…. this!
The tendrils are super soft and fluffy. I’m thinking this is the beginning of a huge seed bowl. yippee! Free segas. It will be fun to show you how they develop and grow. It’s really weird looking.
And some of you were wondering about my banana trees.
Some are now already up to the roof line!
And here are some other shrubs stating to bloom. Pretty blue blossoms that form into huge balls.
And I have no idea what this is but the colors are so lovely.
And my Yucca is going crazy. It’s gotten huge and there are a bunch of them. You have to be careful around these. If you get stuck by one it hurts like the dickens.
They also grow every which way. I had a couple I had to cut back because they grew horizontal along the ground. I have these tucked up close to the house so I don’t get poked when I walk by. They are about 9 feet tall. They get a glorious bloom but it seems to only happen every few years. I’m hoping it will this year so I can show you.
That’s all folks.
Have a fabulous Sunday!
*****
My new books this week.
I went a bit crazy this week. Most of these are eBooks. Some I bought and some were freebies. I just couldn’t help myself. LOL
And just look at these beauties! I won this box of books giveaway from Sara on her blog Forever 17.
Thanks, Sara!! I’ll be gobbling this up out by the pool.
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And this week I won’t be sharing the usual batch of free books. I’ve been getting up early and heading right outside to read and enjoy nature. Plus, I’ve been sending every day in the pool. I’ll be back to sharing them next week!
The water temp is a cool low 80s. Just the way I like it!
And Quigley got a bath.
As soon as I was done he had to go roll around and get dirty again. LOL He’s that strange blob in the sun. I would have got a better picture but he would stand up when I got closer. Had to drop my float and snap this quickie when he wasn’t looking.
Maymee Bell has whisked a confection of mystery in her debut novel that will have readers savoring every word. ~Bibliophile Reviews
This cozy mystery has a little bit of everything that makes this book genre one of my favorites: Humor, mystery, romance, and likable characters. ~Ms. Cat’s Honest World
When reading anything written by this author, there are a few things you can be certain of exceptional characters, a homey setting, humor, and a great mystery. And of course, all of those things are found in this book. ~MJB Reviewers
Delightful characters, delectable southern banter, I guarantee you’ll pick up a few new phrases for your own use, and an unpredictable future for Sophia are all on the menu. ~Laura’s Interests
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Cake and Punishment: A Southern Cake Baker Mystery Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting – Kentucky Crooked Lane Books (May 8, 2018) Hardcover 257 Pages ISBN-13: 978-1683315711 Digital ASIN: B075QJM2W8
My Review
I’m a big cozy fan and, being, a southern gal, I enjoy books set in my neck of the woods. The icing on the cake for me was. literally, the dessert. The author described some sweet concoctions that had me craving something sweet. And there’s more than one kind. The possible romance between Sophia and Sherriff Carter of the adorable dimples added to the flavor.
I like a story about starting over too. Been there. Done that. And with loads of humorous scenes and eccentric character’s I couldn’t help but laugh and relate. Sophie might have begun the story in emotional shock from a cheating boyfriend, but after returning to her roots, her sassy mother shows her she’s tough and smart enough to begin anew and her friends lend charming and funny support.
The mystery wasn’t easy to solve either. I couldn’t pick any obvious suspects. And the thing with the new frying pan kept me especially intrigued.
The author mixed together all the right ingredients for a fun cozy mystery.
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Synopsis
In the first of a delectable new Southern-set baking cozy series, Sophia Cummings, pastry chef extraordinaire, must craft the perfect cake for an old friend’s wedding while sifting through the suspects in a murder.
Bucolic Rumford, Kentucky has glowing fields of bluegrass, a fine selection of bourbons, and now a professional pastry chef. Broken-hearted Sophia Cummings has come home from New York City. She’s not there a minute before she’s charmed into making her high school friend Charlotte’s wedding cake. The kitchen at the Rumford Country Club seems perfect until Chef Emile’s body is discovered, sprawled near the stove, a cast iron skillet on the floor close by.
With one look at the shiny, new frying pan, Sophia knows it’s not Emile’s. She offers her knowledge to Sheriff Carter and her talents to Evelyn, the manager, who needs an interim chef. The mood in the country club is grim: Emile’s peppery personality had burned members and staff alike. Sophia wonders which one of them burned him?
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Author Maymee Bell
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Maymee Bell is the pen name of USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes. She lives in Kentucky with her family and her two schnauzers. She likes strong coffee, slow-country days, and fresh-baked cookies – but she like telling stores best of all. This is her first SOUTHERN BAKER MYSTERY.
I thought it was so funny that I just recovered from pink eye and then watched this week’s episode of Big Bang Theory. They all came down with it. LOL It was back to work after a long weekend off and I actually felt better for it physically. I get these muscle spasms in my back and the physical work helps alleviate them. Weird? Guess that means I can’t quit my job. Too many days off in a row and they start coming back, so I’m going to try getting back into Yoga. It sucks when you get older.
Look at this pretty! There’s another ring of pink blossom. See those yellow ones below. By next week they will be pink and so on and so on.
I wanted to share how big they actually are. Quigley helped with that. He’s saying, “My how you’ve grown.”
And I also wanted to share a picture showing how big Flora’s leaves are getting. They will actually get much bigger than this. Quigley had to get in on it too. LOL
I think you get a better idea of size from using my hand.
That’s all folks.
Have a fabulous Sunday!
*****
My new books this week.
*****
And here are some FREEBIES for ya.
Click on the covers to get your copies. Remember to make sure they’re still free before you hit that buy button.
.
*****
Books reviewed this week. Click on the covers to view them.
WHITE WITCH by Larry D. Thompson Publisher: Story Merchant Books Pages: 291 Genre: Thriller
My Review
When I read the synopsis I was a bit worried that there was so much going on things would be confusing. Not the case at all. The author starts you off by taking you back to Jamaica in 1817. You get a brief history of the White Witch, a nasty woman, and the Maroons, the poor slaves that were at her mercy. Then he drops you in modern day Jamaica and the White Witch may still be up to some of her tricks and the Maroons are still fighting for freedom and what is rightfully theirs.
An American company comes in to strip mine on land supposedly owned by the Maroons. One side attacks, the other returns the favor. The bodies keep piling up. A few brave people band together to settle the conflict once and for all. But will they survive to get their day in court?
I loved the mix of mysticism and modern culture clashing. I was kept guessing whether the Obeah priestess had a hand in certain events. There were some weird things happening at her old plantation. It lent a heavy atmosphere to the story. And it had many of the characters wondering too. Not all of the attacks could be explained away and with people switching sides and having their own agendas and beliefs, nothing was certain.
I’ve acquired a taste for the author’s writing and plan on reading more. White Witch is a fast read. The story flows smoothly. And the mystery and suspense gradually build, leading to a thrilling conclusion.
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BOOK BLURB:
Jamaica is a place where the surreal is simply everyday reality. When a ruthless American aluminum company plans to strip mine the Jamaican rainforest, they send former Navy SEAL Will Taylor to Montego Bay to deal with local resistance on their behalf. But he’s unaware that the British had signed a treaty deeding the rainforest to the Jamaican Maroons, descendants of escaped slaves, over 300 years ago. The Maroons fought and died for their land then, and are more than willing to do so now, whether it’s the British or the Americans who threaten them this time around.
Upon Will’s arrival, a series of inexplicable murders begin, some carried out with deadly snake daggers that were owned and used by Annie Palmer, a voodoo priestess better known as the White Witch. She was killed 200 years prior, but is said to still haunt the island at night, and the local Jamaicans are certain she’s responsible for the gruesome murders, her form of retaliation against the new turmoil taking place in the rainforest.
And Will has been forced directly into the middle of it. After a few close calls, he’s finally convinced to leave his company and join forces with the Maroons, headed by Vertise Broderick, a Maroon who resigned from her position at the New York Times to return to Jamaica to stop the mining. Together they hire a Jamaican attorney to prove that the Maroon/British treaty is still valid to stop the mining, and they take it upon themselves to solve the White Witch murders, because the legend of the White Witch can’t possibly be true…
Will returned to his room, too wound up to sleep. He stripped to his underwear and flipped channels on a large screen HD television until he ran across First Blood with Sylvester Stallone. Having lived that life for a few years, he never passed up the opportunity to watch it again. He settled back and had drifted off to sleep when his cell chimed. He glanced at the television to make sure it was not coming from there and found Fred Astaire waltzing Ginger Rogers around a ballroom. He turned off the television and reached for his phone.
“Taylor.”
“Will, Alexa here.” It was nearly three in the morning and Alexa was still at her desk. Smoke drifted from a cigarette in her ashtray while she sucked on a Tootsie Pop. She was on the speaker phone. When Will answered, she walked to her window and stared at the lights of Baltimore.
Will turned on the nightstand light, glanced at the clock, and swung his feet into a sitting position on the side of the bed. “Yes, ma’am. Little late for a booty call.”
“Cut the crap. Kaven was just found at Rose Hall. He’s dead.”
“What? Are you sure? I just saw him a few hours ago.” Will got to his feet and began pacing the room. “Shit.”
“Must be those goddamn Maroons. He called me last night once he got back from Accompong. He told me about what happened up there. By the way, they let the pilot go. They said they had no beef with him.”
“So I heard. What was Kaven doing at Rose Hall? When I saw him, he was going to his room.”
“How the hell should I know? I got a call from some local detective. They found his employee identification in his wallet. When the detective called here, the operator knew I was still in my office and put the call through to me. You need to get to Rose Hall now.
“Yes, ma’am,” Will agreed.
“And I’m flying down there tomorrow before this gets any more out of hand. See if you can keep anybody else from being killed until I get there.”
Will’s cell went dead. He put it on the nightstand and picked up the hotel phone. Pleased to find it working, he punched the key for valet parking.
“Good evening, Mr. Taylor. How can I be of assistance?”
“Bring my company Land Rover to the front as quickly as possible.”
Getting assurance that it would be there when he got downstairs, Will hung up and walked to the bathroom. Five minutes later he was met at the hotel entrance by a valet.
“Can I give you directions, Mr. Taylor? It’s a little late at night.”
“No thanks. I know exactly where I’m going.” Will got in the car, fastened his seat belt, and left the hotel.
When Will got to Rose Hall, he turned onto the road they had just come down the evening before. At the top of the hill he could see the mansion, now well lighted. He dodged tree limbs and utility wires and parked among several other vehicles. Police cars were positioned so that their headlights focused on the steps of the mansion where Will could see the yellow police crime scene tape. He walked up a path from the parking lot between the police cars that faced the mansion to the yellow tape where an officer stood watch. The officer came to attention as Will approached.
“Sorry, mon. I can’t let you past here. We’re investigating a murder.”
Will kept his voice even but controlling. “I know, officer. That’s why I’m here. Name’s William Taylor. I’m head of security for Global American Metals. Here’s my identification.” Will tried to hand him an ID. The officer just shook his head. “Officer, the dead man is one of Global’s employees. Can you get someone in authority to let me up there?”
Before the officer could reply, Miles Harper, the St. James Parish Chief of Detectives, approached. Harper was a lean, fit man with a shaved head and a no nonsense manner. He was dressed in a brown suit, yellow shirt, and matching tie. He looked like he just stepped out of GQ Magazine, even at three in the morning.
“Mr. Taylor, I’m Miles Harper, Chief of Detectives in this parish. I was told by your company to expect you.”
Will extended his right hand. Harper ignored it. Instead, he nodded at the officer and motioned for Will to follow him. Harper went up a dozen steps and turned to Will as he stood beside Kaven’s body, sprawled on his back with dagger in his chest. Will bent over for a closer look and found that the handle of the dagger was in the shape of a snake. At the top of the handle was the snake’s head. The snake’s eyes were two bright rubies.
“Shit,” Will muttered, “He was almost killed because of one snake on the road today and now someone finished the job with a, what would you call this, a snake dagger?”
“That’s as good a name as any, Mr. Taylor. My officers reported what went on up in Accompong and the incident with the boa.”
Will continued to study the body. “Looks like he’s been dead a couple of hours. I last saw him about ten last night. Who found him?”
“The hotel has a security guard that roams the mansion grounds and up to the club house in a golf cart. He spotted the body.”
“Where’s your coroner?”
“He’s a local Justice of the Peace, not a medical doctor. He won’t set foot on these steps until morning. My men here won’t go past the tape either. They believe the White Witch did it.”
Will shook his head in disbelief. “Come on, Chief, this is the twenty-first century.”
“Old beliefs die hard, Mr. Taylor. Come on. Let me show you something.”
Harper stepped around the body and climbed the steps with Will behind him. Entering the ballroom, Will said, “I was just in this room yesterday evening during the storm.”
Harper turned to study Will. “Would you care to explain?”
Will covered the details of the previous day and their time in the mansion while they waited out the storm. “You know a woman named Vertise?”
Harper nodded his head. “She’s a local. Works for the paper and tends bar for the hotel. Since you were in this room a few hours ago, come over here.”
Harper led Will to a glass display against one wall with pictures of two snake daggers above it along with the history of the daggers. The glass had been broken and the daggers were gone.
“You see this case when you were up here?”
Will studied it and thought back to the day before. “Can’t say I did, Chief.
It was pretty dark in here, lit only by candles since the storm knocked out power. I wandered around the room but never glanced toward this case. And I don’t believe anyone else mentioned it. Now that I think about it, Vertise told us the legend of Annie Palmer and her using a snake dagger to kill an overseer. evening during the storm.”
Harper turned to study Will. “Would you care to explain?” Will covered the details of the previous day and their time in the mansion while they waited out the storm. “You know a woman named Vertise?” Harper nodded his head. “She’s a local. Works for the paper and tends bar for the hotel. Since you were in this room a few hours ago, come over here.” Harper led Will to a glass display against one wall with pictures of two snake daggers above it along with the history of the daggers. The glass had been broken and the daggers were gone.
“You see this case when you were up here?”
Will studied it and thought back to the day before. “Can’t say I did, Chief.
It was pretty dark in here, lit only by candles since the storm knocked out power. I wandered around the room but never glanced toward this case. And I don’t believe anyone else mentioned it. Now that I think about it, Vertise told us the legend of Annie Palmer and her using a snake dagger to kill an overseer. Surprising that she didn’t show us these daggers when she was telling the story.”
“Interesting,” mused Harper. “You have any idea why your man would come up here in the middle of the night?”
“Not a clue. Have you checked his cell phone? He always carried it.”
“Yeah. The last calls were with you yesterday afternoon and one with Ms. Pritchard later in the evening.”
Will nodded. “He called me from Accompong, warning me of trouble up there. I should have gone with him.”
Harper shook his head. “Whether you were there or not wouldn’t have made any difference. Just would have been one more person that was in my police car that rolled, assuming, of course, you didn’t take a bullet up on the mountain.”
“Understood.”
“How did you get in the mansion?”
“Vertise said she knew where a key was hidden and let us in.”
“Strange that she could get into the locked mansion. It was my understanding that only the manager of Rose Hall had a key. He locked it and left when the storm was hitting. The hotel spent a fortune on period pieces to recreate how it looked two hundred years ago. One of his jobs is to make sure they are not stolen.”
“Any signs of a break-in?” Will asked.
“This is not for publication, you understand, but when I got here the mansion was locked and the lights were off.”
“So, you’re saying that someone got into the mansion, stole two daggers, let themselves back out, killed Kaven, and left no trace.” Will paused to absorb all that he had just said. “Wait a minute. If someone wanted to kill Kaven, why not just use a gun? Why go to all the trouble of getting that dagger to do it?”
“I’ve been wrestling with that very question,” Harper said. “It’s illegal for a private citizen to own a gun in Jamaica, but that doesn’t mean they are not available if you know the right people. My working hypothesis is that the killer or killers wanted the public to think voodoo was involved, or maybe even the White Witch. The only other possibility that comes to mind is that the Maroons are trying to send a message to Global. They tried to kill Tillman in Accompong and failed. Maybe the message is that they finish what they start. Either way, someone is trying to make trouble for your company. I have another problem that may not be apparent.”
Will looked quizzically at the detective.
“As you can see, there were two snake daggers in this case. One’s accounted for out on the steps. The other is gone. Nearly everyone around here thinks that they are voodoo daggers with magical powers. They were found in an overseer’s grave during the restoration of the mansion thirty years ago.”
“Does ‘everyone’ include you? Looks to me like the killer or killers are just trying to mess with the minds of my co-workers, maybe keep some locals from hiring on with us.”
Harper stuck his hands in his pockets. “Not up to me to decide if they’re magic or not. I’ve got a murder with one of those daggers. My job is to solve the murder and along the way, find that other dagger before someone uses it.” Will’s eyes searched the room in a futile effort to see any clues to the crime.
Then he focused on the chief. “Look, I’m going to need a gun. My company is obviously under attack. I’m licensed to carry back home.”
“No way, Mr. Taylor,” Harper exploded. “Foreigners are not permitted to have guns in Jamaica. For that matter, as I just told you, neither are Jamaicans. And I want you to stay the hell out of my investigation. We don’t need your help. Understand?”
“Yeah, I understand. You know that each of our mines on this island is permitted a certain number of guns for our guards. I’ll just get one of those.”
“The hell you will. Don’t you dare go behind my back. Those guns never leave mine property. I have an officer that inventories them. If one turns up missing, I’ll confiscate every damn weapon that Global has and put you under house arrest. Clear, Mr. Taylor?”
Will clinched his fists and tried to hold back the anger that was apparent in his face. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the mansion, pausing only to gaze at Kaven and say a prayer for him and his family. At the bottom of the steps, he got in his car and glanced toward the mansion. The lights from his car somehow caught the ruby eyes of the snake, making them appear briefly to be alive. Will shook his head, put the car in reverse, and returned to the hotel.
~~~~~
Author Larry D. Thompson
After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law, Larry spent the first half of his professional life as a trial lawyer. He tried well over 300 cases and won more than 95% of them. Although he had not taken a writing class since freshman English (back when they wrote on stone tablets), he figured that he had read enough novels and knew enough about trials, lawyers, judges, and courtrooms that he could do it. Besides, his late, older brother, Thomas Thompson, was one of the best true crime writers to ever set a pen to paper; so, just maybe, there was something in the Thompson gene pool that would guide him into this new career. He started writing his first novel about a dozen years ago and published it a couple of years thereafter. He has now written five highly acclaimed legal thrillers. White Witch is number six with many more to come.
Larry is married to his wife, Vicki. He has three children scattered from Colorado to Austin to Boca Raton, and four grandchildren. He has been trying to retire from the law practice to devote full time to writing. Hopefully, that will occur by the end of 2018. He still lives in Houston, but spends his summers in Vail CO, high on a mountain where he is inspired by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
His latest book is the captivating thriller, WHITE WITCH.
I decided to do this feature as I have so many great children’s books to share. From picture books, to books for beginning readers, to middle graders, I have plenty of fun ones.
Today I’m sharing a couple of spooky fun children’s books and an interview with Author Terri Bertha!
~~~~~
Interview with Author Terri Bertha
Where did the idea for Spooky Twisties come from?
I started Spooky Twisties with one story about a group of kids that go out to play their annual game of ghosts in the graveyard. After reading it to critique groups and others, I was encouraged to write more. The ideas for the other stories come from everywhere, as I observe people and kids, listen to conversations and think of weird “what if” scenarios to what I notice around me.
Did you create any of your characters based on someone you know?
No, not really, but my characters are a mishmash (composite) of people’s personalities I’ve met or observed.
Do you have a writing routine and where do you do most of your writing?
I normally like to write early morning at home, when my mind is fresh. Very rarely would you find me up late at night writing. It just doesn’t flow then.
What kind of books did you enjoy as a young reader?
During grade school summers, I enjoyed making trips to the local library for Agatha Christie books, loving her mystery plot twists, and the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”. Along with Christie’s books, I was also attracted to scary psychological thriller TV shows such as The Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Older, I enjoyed Edgar Allen Poe, James Patterson and Stephen King.
And five fun shorts:
Favorite movie? It’s a Wonderful Life
Dog or cat person? Dog (especially the Labrador retriever), but have owned both dogs and cats. We have a 5 year old fox red lab named Dexter.
Favorite beverage? A nice glass of dry red wine or a good strong cup of coffee
Cake or pie? Definitely pie. Always requested a lemon meringue pie for my birthday instead of cake. Also enjoy coconut cream and apple.
Any Phobias? I don’t do well with heights, and I like to have my “space” around me standing in lines at the grocery store or movies.
~~~~~~
Spooky Twisties I
13 Tales Of Terror
by Terri Bertha
Genre: Middle Grade / YA / Supernatural
My Review
I flew through this collection. I’m a fan of short stories and children’s scary books. Some of these were quite short. Some were longer. They go from creepy to kind of dark. Nothing so dark I wouldn’t recommend to young readers.
The author had a great idea when she had the characters enter into each others stories. The cast seems normal enough. A group of neighborhood kids hang out together. Do what kids do. Then there’s those ones that make you pause. Something isn’t quite right about them.
I grew up on a dead end street. All of us kids hung out together. Got into trouble together. But never did we have anything happen like what happens to these kids. Good thing too, or I’d need some professional help. LOL Seriously though, you might think there’s no way these kids could handle what goes down, but kids can surprise you. I believe they accept the strange and scary much better than us adults.
On a lighter note, the author dribbles in some fun dialogue and humorous scenes. The character’s feel genuine as kids say and do the funniest things.
Spooky Twisties is the perfect title for this book full of unexpected and surprising endings. Several of them had me sitting back thinking I never saw that coming.
I’d recommend this to young readers and adults. Fans who enjoy tales similar to R. L. Stine’s Goosebump books will get a kick out of these.
~~~~~
Synopsis
Lindsay, Nick, Chris, Amy, and Paul are just a few of the kids in the neighborhood that enjoy each other’s company, hanging out together. From the usual antics that preteens enjoy, like playing in the graveyard, trick or treating, and celebrating birthdays, the kids find themselves in some unique situations that lead to unexpected ending twists.
Spooky Twisties I offers 13 tales of terror that will grab you from the start, and leave you with chilling surprise endings.
Adventures are speckled with humorous dialogue to frightening calls for help in working through their series of unusual encounters. Even though the chapters have individual story lines, many are intertwined with characters that are not so likable. For instance, Creepy Guy and Dan the Security Guard seem to have a ‘fixation’ for Lindsay and Amy who are best friends. Then there is old Mrs. Miller who appears to have lived on the street forever, but has found a secret to anti-aging. ‘Easter eggs’ or ‘hidden references’ mesh, and just when you think you’re headed towards a ‘fairy-tale’ ending, a strange unforeseen chilling conclusion occurs leaving the reader saying, “I didn’t see that happening!”
I really enjoyed the first Spooky Twisties collection and had even more fun with this next batch. It’s one weird thing after another with a humorous twist thrown in. Think Sand Lot with a spooky twist. Things that go bump in the night instead of a huge dog chasing you.
The author is up to her usual antics. The character’s are interwoven into each other’s stories. They have to deal with some strange goings on. And the endings are never what you expect.
And the book cover. How could young horror fans resist. As a young girl I spent hours in the library looking for covers like this. Then I’d race home and lose myself in the creepiness. Couldn’t resist them then and still can’t now.
I had such a blast with these stories. And I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite. They were suspenseful with just the right amount of spooky for the younger reader. Made me wish my son was still little so we could read them together. I did the next best thing. I had him read them after I was finished and we compared our favorites. It made me want to read them all again.
Creative. Spooky. Humorous. Unpredictable. Perfect ingredients for fun.
~~~~~
Synopsis
What happens when your average suburban town becomes a nexus of the paranormal and occult and no one told you about it?
Spooky Twisties II is the second book in the Spooky Twisties Series offering 13 standalone yet interconnected ‘scary’ short stories continuing the supernatural adventures of Amy, Nick, Chris, Lindsay and their friends.
Follow the horror and humor as the kids encounter and work through more unexplainable weird events in what was once an ideal normal community. From deciphering an old map and learning about an old town rumor, finding a briefcase of money, babysitting a small boy who has some strange habits, and being revisited by ‘old friend’, lead the tweens into some bizarre, creepy dilemmas. The kids also learn that magic sets and items bought from the town psychic have greater powers than what they originally imagined.
‘Easter eggs’ or ‘hidden references’ tie these tales together along with ‘twisted’ endings, leaving the reader saying, “I didn’t think that was going to happen!”
Don’t be afraid, as I’ll hold your hand and together we’ll re-enter their Spooky world, with a Twist!
Terri Bertha is author of the Spooky Twisties Series for Middle Grade/YA. Each book consists of thirteen interconnected stories which follow a group of friends as they navigate their way through supernatural events in an idyllic community during the course of a ‘normal’ day. A mix of horror, humor and ‘twisted endings’ make for fun and entertaining reading.
Terri has lived her entire life in the rolling hills and three rivers of western Pennsylvania and the majority of her working years as a Systems Engineer for a large corporation. When her sons were born, she took a hiatus from work, and tutored math and reading while being a substitute teacher in local schools. She returned to the workforce and retired a few years ago.
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