Archive for the ‘thriller’ Category

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Alex by Dianne Hartsock

Posted: February 19, 2024 in giveaways, thriller
Tags: , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Alex organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Dianne Hartsock will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Alex

by Dianne Hartsock

 

 

 

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Synopsis

Alex is twenty and confused. He always is. The world presses on him with its horrors and pain, with scintillating auras that bewilder his eyes and drive the migraines deeper. He hears the cries of the children, sees the brutal images of tortured victims. He feels out of control and his mind slips…

Severely abused as a child, he is left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he’s compelled to help those who call to him. He’s driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and hopefully uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he’s involved. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn’t always understand.

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Enjoy this exclusive peek inside:

“Alex!”

Mary’s usually kind face looked impatient, and he jerked to his feet. From her tone, she’d probably been calling him for some time. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Sarah hasn’t come in yet, and Becca and I have our hands full with another shipment. Will you read to the children today?” At the look of panic probably on his face, she smiled encouragingly. “Now, don’t be afraid,” she said as she took his arm, giving it a motherly pat. “It’s only three chapters of Lone Wolf. When you’re done, you can let them have cookies.”

She guided him to the room where every Saturday afternoon during summer the bookstore hosted a reading for kids who had nothing better to do. Before Alex could draw a breath, she pushed him onto a stool and pressed a book into his hands. He gaped as she abandoned him in front of an audience of expectant children.  A dozen kids of various ages sat on a rug at his feet. He gave them a quick glance and then opened the book to the marked page.

The light radiating from the children hurt his eyes, and it took him a moment to focus on the print. The children stirred restlessly in the awkward silence until he cleared his throat. As he began to read, even Brian Edwards stopped hitting his neighbor to listen.

Alex’s voice grew low and intense as he immersed himself in the story. His tone became so expressive that the more sensitive children seemed able to see the action unfold behind their eyes, same as he could.

He reached the end of the second chapter safely and began to hope he might make it through the rest without mishap. He turned the page to continue, but then a shadow appeared on the paper. He rubbed his eyes, wanting it to be his imagination, but the shadow spread across the print. He struggled to ignore it for a few more sentences, but the growing darkness teased his eyes away from the page. He spotted the source instantly: a boy near the door whose black aura coiled tightly around his body.

The blackness seeped from the boy until it dimmed the brightness of the other children.

“Rabbit,” Alex whispered in horror, his eyes going wide. In his mind, he saw a rabbit tied to a board in a dark place, its paws bound with gray tape. A scalpel glittered in the boy’s trembling hand. With his gaze intent on the heaving chest of the helpless creature, the boy licked his lips in anticipation of doing something cruel.

Alex’s sharp whimper of distress broke the unnerving stillness in the room. He covered his face to wipe the disturbing image from his mind.

~~~~~

About Author Dianne Hartsock:

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Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.

She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

 

Author Links: Blog / Facebook / Facebook Author Page / Goodreads / Instagram

Purchase Links: Amazon / JMS Books / B&N / KOBO / Smashwords

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ The Master Of Midnight by William Michael Davidson

Posted: February 12, 2024 in giveaways, thriller
Tags: , ,
2

 

The Master of Midnight

by William Michael Davidson

 

Publication date: May 10th 2024
Genres: Adult, Thriller

Finding bodies is part of the job for Detective Otto Haines, but when a victim’s limbs are found in two public parks miles apart from each other, he is utterly confused. Most speculate that it must be some sadistic killer, bent on mutilating his victims and leaving his “calling cards” behind in the ghostly hours of the night.

And there are problems along the way. As Detective Haines tries to hunt down this killer, he must also deal with his rookie partner, Serena Grimm, while trying to keep a secret from his past out of the spotlight. As the trail to the killer becomes a labyrinthine search with shifting suspects and no end in sight, the impossibly horrific nature of these crimes forces Otto to reconsider everything he has known about good and evil.

Goodreads / Amazon

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

Otto Haines climbed out of his black Dodge Charger and noted the time. It was nearly one o’clock in the morning. The crime scene tape had already been set up and blocked off a section of Marina Vista Park. Crime scene technicians worked beneath the ocher-colored glow of streetlights and the briny ocean mist that rolled in from Marine Stadium, only a stone’s throw away.

Officer Dave Hemelrick of the LBPD greeted Otto as he strode toward the perimeter.

“Finally made it, huh?” Dave asked. “And no partner tonight? Already scared off the rookie?”

“She’s on another call,” Otto said without telling him the full story: two incidents had been called in, nearly back-to-back. The other was a few miles away, in front of Wilson High School. It was unusual, for sure. Two homicides called in minutes apart from each other was an aberration. Otto couldn’t remember another instance of it.

“Any witnesses here?” he asked, and Hemelrick’s expression darkened as he cleared his throat.

“We got two. One homeless, probably on drugs. We have a young woman too. She’s the one who called it in. Finishing up questioning now.”

“Good. I’d like to speak with both—especially the woman. Have them wait.”

“Will do.”

“Any ID on the victim?”

A similar, grave expression passed over Hemelrick’s face. The flashing lights of the emergency vehicles reflected in his large, dark eyes.

“No, no ID. Not much of a body either.”

Otto understood what Officer Hemelrick meant only a few moments after showing his badge to several officers along the perimeter and ducking below the crime scene tape. Where Otto normally would have found a body—shot, stabbed, or strangled—there was only an arm on the sidewalk, mere inches from the grass. Nothing more. For a moment, it didn’t look real. While a technician snapped photographs of the scene, Otto bent down to examine the grotesque sight.

There was a very small splatter of blood on the sidewalk near where the arm had been severed, which was just below the elbow. It appeared to be a grisly, jagged dismemberment; if this were a horror movie and not a crime scene, Otto might have guessed the arm to have been bitten off and spat onto the grass by some foul creature.

He was able to determine a few things. This appeared to be a male. Thick arm. Dark hair. Caucasian. It took him a moment to note by position of the thumb that this was the left arm. The fingers were ringless.

“Where’s the rest of him?” Otto asked without turning around. When Hemelrick didn’t respond, Otto turned to him.

“That’s what I’m saying. That’s all we’ve got.”

 

About Author William Michael Davidson:

William Michael Davidson lives in Long Beach, California. A believer that “good living produces good writing,” Davidson writes early in the morning so he can get outside, exercise, spend time with people, and experience as much as possible. He is a writer of suspense and speculative fiction. If he’s not writing, he’s probably at the beach.

 

 

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Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Hide And Be by Gary L. Stuart

Posted: February 8, 2024 in giveaways, thriller
Tags: , ,
4

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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Gary L. Stuart will be awarding a print copy of Hide and Be and its immediate sequel, My Brother, Myself to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Hide And Be

by Gary L. Stuart

 

 

Genre: Thriller

Synopsis

Twin brothers Arthur and Martin suffered horrible abuse as children, forcing them to survive by seamlessly assuming each other’s identities. Living each other’s lives provides protection from the trauma of their past. But when tragedy strikes, one of the brothers plummets into a dissociative crisis that leads him down a murderous path.

As the body count rises, two cases end up in the courtroom, where judges, lawyers, and psychiatrists try to piece together which twin is the suspect and which is the victim. Everyone in the courtroom strives to bring the victims to justice–but how can justice be served when no one is sure who the defendant truly is?

Enjoy this peek inside:

Like I said, me and Marty were from Maine. Born, bred, and fed. By foster parents mostly. Always hated the cold. We lived in drafty houses in winter, wore cheap coats in spring and fall, but not knowing any better, just accepted it. Lived our lives wherever the caseworkers said. You know, go here, stay there, new doctors, and interchangeable houses.

A general practitioner, whose first name was Doctor, talked to our first foster mother, but not us.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Greyson,” the doctor said.

That’s what he always called her—Missus—she didn’t have a first name, and he didn’t have a last. He was Doctor and she was Mrs. Us? We were just two little jellybeans sitting in one chair. Doctor had three chairs in his office. One for her, one for him, and the third for us. I remember liking that—same chair, same us.

“Autonomous language is common, harmless, really. It’ll go away in time,” he told her. Not us. He never said anything to us. We don’t remember the exact words, but who cares? Fumbuck, he knew. You? How can you tell? Autonomous, dummy. Marty told me.

“They will always be hard to tell apart. Dress them differently. They will want to be together, with their family gone and all, but treat them like regular brothers, even if they are identical twins.”

~~~~~

About Author Gary L. Stuart

I am a retiring lawyer, a working author, and a preserving blogger. I was a full-time trial lawyer for thirty-two years in a large Phoenix firm. I was a part-time law professor for the last twenty-nine years. As of summer, 2023, I am writing, publishing, and blogging full time. My first book was a textbook published by the Arizona State Bar Association. My first novel was published by the University of New Mexico Press. I’ve written ten novels and eight nonfiction titles as of July 2023.

From the day I entered law school, I’ve been reading cases, statutory law and writing about legal conundrums and flaws in our criminal and civil justice systems. I’ve always read novels, nonfiction, and historical fiction by great authors who were never corrupted by the staid habits of trial lawyers. I write long-form, interspersed with the occasional blog, op-ed, or essay. One of the unexpected benefits of reading the law is learning how to write about it. Somewhere along the trajectory from a baby lawyer to a senior one, I became intoxicated with blending nonfiction with fiction in books, rather than legal documents. After spending thirty years in courtrooms trying cases, I started writing about them. That led to writing novels while borrowing from famous historical settings and lesser-known characters. My courtroom days were chock full of ideas, notions, and hopes about ultimately becoming an author. I organized and memorized critical information for judges, juries, and clients. Now I use that experience to write vivid fiction and immersive nonfiction. I moved away from trial practice to teaching law students how to use creative writing techniques to tell their client’s stories, in short form.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.” The same could be said of my transition from trying cases to writing crime fiction. I’ve been holding my breath for twenty years waiting for galley proofs and book reviews. Anais Nin spoke for all of us when she said, “We write to taste life twice.”

My first novel, The Gallup 14, won a coveted starred review from Publishers Weekly. I won a Spur Award from Western Writers of America in 2004 for my first nonfiction book (“Miranda, The Story of America’s Right to Remain Silent”). I won the 2010 Arizona Book of the Year Award, The Glyph Award, and a Southwest Publishing Top Twenty award in 2010, for “Innocent Until Interrogated—The Story of the Buddhist Temple Massacre.” My third nonfiction title (“Anatomy of a Confession—The Debra Milke Case”) was highly acclaimed. My nonfiction title “CALL HIM MAC—Ernest W. McFarland—The Arizona Years” was widely and favorably reviewed. My latest nonfiction crime book, “Nobody Did Anything Wrong But Me, was published by Twelve Tables Press, one of America’s most distinguished publisher of law books about important legal issues. No New York Times bestsellers, yet.

Author Links: Facebook / Twitter / Email / Website

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Trailer Reveal And Giveaway ~ Urbex Predator by Jens Boele

Posted: February 8, 2024 in giveaways, horror, thriller, Trailer
Tags: , ,
5

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I am so excited that I get to share the trailer for URBEX PREDATOR by Jens Boele!

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If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below.

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This blitz also includes a giveaway for an awesome t-shirt of the book courtesy of Jens & Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

.

 

URBEX PREDATOR : Take nothin but pictures, leave nothing but
bodies. A Deadly Survival Story.

Author: Jens Boele

 

 

Pub. Date: February 4, 2024

Publisher: Jens Boele

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Pages: 394

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Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

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Abandoned Horrors. Deranged Souls. A Deadly Survival Story.

.

In the chilling new horror novel, “Urbex Predator,” by Jens Boele, a
group of intrepid urban explorers embarks on what they believe to be a routine
trip to an abandoned barracks in the middle of nowhere.
As a relict from the Cold War era, they are a popular destination for
photographers, influencers, and adventurers. A place that is closely guarded
and harbors a multitude of risks. But it’s not just the derelict buildings that
pose a danger.

Nela and her friend Tess venture to the eerie ruins to complete their
photography thesis, only to find themselves relentlessly pursued through the
darkened corridors by a group of ruthless thugs.

Zander, Yelka, her sister Vivien, and her manager Damon set out on a photo
shoot, only to be unexpectedly cornered by a gang of depraved youths. As night
descends, the boundaries between life and death blur, and the group is forced
to confront the darkest corners of their own souls.

As the night deepens, will they fall victim or rise as hunters in the shadows?

Inspired by early works from literary giants like Jack Ketchum and Richard
Laymon, “Urbex Predator” promises readers a heart-pounding journey
through the realms of fear and survival, where every turn reveals a new
nightmare. Yet, this spine-tingling narrative is not just the product of
imagination; it’s also a reflection of author Jens Boele’s real-life
experiences as an Urban Explorer, who spent many years venturing into the very
places he describes in his book.

.

.

About Author Jens Boele:

.

 

Jens Boele, a veteran media designer in the entertainment
industry, brings over two decades of cinematic expertise to his writing. Born
in Germany in 1975, Jens embarked on his writing odyssey in his youth,
culminating in the publication of his debut book, “Sunshine,” in
2015. This was followed by “Hurensohn,” and his latest spine-tingling
creation, “Urbex Predator.”

.

Jens is a genre-bending author, specializing in horror and
crime thrillers. His narratives often blur genre lines, weaving intricate tales
that plunge readers into the darkest corners of the human psyche. Jens’s
storytelling brilliance lies in his fascination with the criminal mind; his
villains are always profoundly human, offering readers a chilling examination
of the psychological aspects of the criminally insane.

.

Jens sets himself apart by seamlessly integrating classic
horror with the gritty authenticity of the present day. This innovative fusion
imbues his narratives with a dynamic quality, seamlessly blending archaic
thrills with contemporary intrigue, resulting in an immersive reading
experience that resonates with both vintage enthusiasts and present-day readers
alike.

.

Jens Boele’s latest endeavor takes his work across borders,
as “Urbex Predator” becomes his first book to be translated into
English. A globetrotter with deep connections to the United States, Jens’s
passion for exploration and his international perspective, nurtured by family
and friends in the US, shine through in his writing, offering readers a
captivating blend of horror and cultural diversity.

.

Website | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

.

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

.

2 winners will receive an URBEX PREDATOR T-shirt, International.

.

Ends March 8th, midnight EST.

.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Urbex Predator by Jens Boele ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: February 4, 2024 in giveaways, horror, thriller
Tags: , , ,
2

 

Urbex Predator

by Jens Boele

 

Publication date: February 4th 2024
Genres: Adult, Horror, Thriller

Abandoned Horrors. Deranged Souls. A Deadly Survival Story.

In the chilling new horror novel, “Urbex Predator,” by Jens Boele, a group of intrepid urban explorers embarks on what they believe to be a routine trip to an abandoned barracks in the middle of nowhere.
As a relict from the Cold War era, they are a popular destination for photographers, influencers, and adventurers. A place that is closely guarded and harbors a multitude of risks. But it’s not just the derelict buildings that pose a danger.

Nela and her friend Tess venture to the eerie ruins to complete their photography thesis, only to find themselves relentlessly pursued through the darkened corridors by a group of ruthless thugs.

Zander, Yelka, her sister Vivien, and her manager Damon set out on a photo shoot, only to be unexpectedly cornered by a gang of depraved youths. As night descends, the boundaries between life and death blur, and the group is forced to confront the darkest corners of their own souls.

In the face of danger, will they fall victim or rise as hunters in the shadows?

Inspired by early works from literary giants like Jack Ketchum and Richard Laymon, “Urbex Predator” promises readers a heart-pounding journey through the realms of fear and survival, where every turn reveals a new nightmare. Yet, this spine-tingling narrative is not just the product of imagination; it’s also a reflection of author Jens Boele’s real-life experiences as an Urban Explorer, who spent many years venturing into the very places he describes in his book.

Goodreads / Amazon

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

“However, that’s the shortest way!” Out of the corner of his eye, Zander Regan watched the rest of the group with his arms crossed.

“Are you telling me that I have to crawl through a bush and then climb over a wall for a photo shoot? Really?” Yelka handed Vivian her sneakers. She was carrying her flip-flops in her right hand, like she was carrying a purse. Vivian’s outfit for the trip to the abandoned barracks was far from practical, especially her choice of hot pants and a spaghetti-strap top.

“I must admit, Yelka,” added her manager Damon, “I’m quite irritated about this location too. Isn’t there an official entrance to the site?” He lifted his sunglasses and glanced at Yelka and Zander, eyebrows raised.

Zander ignored Damon’s gaze, pretending to check his watch. Vivian and Damon were already starting to get on his nerves. This could have been a fun trip, but he was used to their behavior. It was likely that one of them would become dramatic at the slightest opportunity. The other sure bet was that Yelka would try to appease her sister, his pretty Yelka.

Oh, if only she knew how much he desired her …

“Zander really tried everything, Viv. This is the fastest way to the barracks—and your photos.” She smiled. “You’re going to look more than gorgeous, darling sis. The barracks make an impressive backdrop, right, Zander?”

There she was again, Yelka with her velvety voice and twinkling eyes that made his legs feel weak. Zander didn’t understand why Vivian, not Yelka, was the Instagram model. It was like a joke.

I am a model on Instagram.

Yes, and I’m a mercenary in Call of Duty.

“Isn’t that right, Zander?” repeated Yelka.

“Huh? Oh yes,” Zander stuttered as if he had been caught in a lie. “The barracks were abandoned after German reunification and have lain fallow ever since,” he explained. “The area is in the middle of a 6,000-acre woodland and consists of barracks, a civilian settlement, and a military hospital. All areas are separated from each other, but are supposed to be connected by underground bunkers …”

“For fuck’s sake, can you please wake me up when he’s done with his monologue?” Annoyed, Vivian glanced at Damon.

“Viv, please.”

“6,000 acres is pretty darn big,” Damon hooked in. “I hope we don’t have to trek for miles through the woods. Tonight we have to post our stories, and by tomorrow morning the pictures. And our designers still must retouch them before.”

“This is the fastest way. We’ll be there in half an hour,” Zander meekly assured.

“I’m supposed to spend another half hour …”

“Get down! Down!” shouted Zander and Yelka at the same time.

As they walked along a dirt path next to a weathered stone wall, a car approached.

About Author Jens Boele:

Jens Boele, a veteran media designer in the entertainment industry, brings over two decades of cinematic expertise to his writing. Born in Germany in 1975, Jens embarked on his writing odyssey in his youth, culminating in the publication of his debut book, “Sunshine,” in 2015. This was followed by “Hurensohn,” and his latest spine-tingling creation, “Urbex Predator.”

Jens is a genre-bending author, specializing in horror and crime thrillers. His narratives often blur genre lines, weaving intricate tales that plunge readers into the darkest corners of the human psyche. Jens’s storytelling brilliance lies in his fascination with the criminal mind; his villains are always profoundly human, offering readers a chilling examination of the psychological aspects of the criminally insane.

Jens sets himself apart by seamlessly integrating classic horror with the gritty authenticity of the present day. This innovative fusion imbues his narratives with a dynamic quality, seamlessly blending archaic thrills with contemporary intrigue, resulting in an immersive reading experience that resonates with both vintage enthusiasts and present-day readers alike.

Jens Boele’s latest endeavor takes his work across borders, as “Urbex Predator” becomes his first book to be translated into English. A globetrotter with deep connections to the United States, Jens’s passion for exploration and his international perspective, nurtured by family and friends in the US, shine through in his writing, offering readers a captivating blend of horror and cultural diversity.

Website / Goodreads

 

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Vampire by Jack Townson ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: January 21, 2024 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, thriller
Tags: , ,
7

 

The Vampire

by Jack Townson

 

Publication date: January 23rd 2024
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Thriller

Trade your entire life for fame, fortune, and eternal beauty. The only thing have to lose is your soul… Magic is real. And real damn scary.

A man down on his luck trips and stumbles into a world of bloodthirsty monsters hidden among the precipices of New York City. A chance encounter with illustrious vampire Alexander LaMont ensnares the clumsy yet hopeful James Donovan in shadow and treachery, thrusting James into his new identity, The Vampire Jack Townson. Will Jack survive the vampiric politics of Manhattan, or will final death come to claim him at the next sunrise?

Welcome to New York. We bite.

Jack Townson’s contemporary fantasy series, The Vampire Jack Townson, is a perilous tale about the dangers of love, deception, and vampiric grit where the action of Jay Kristoff meets the decadence of Anne Rice.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Onto the landing we danced, Alexander’s blonde hair bouncing as he brought me closer to the railing, edging dangerously near a fatal fall. All it would take was a wrong step or playful push to seal our fates.

“Jack. I have to tell you something,” he began softly. “I have not been entirely truthful, you see. There is something more I need to show you.” His voice was barely a whisper, his eyes falling to the stone beneath us.

I couldn’t imagine what he was about to divulge. My thoughts wheeled over possibilities like the mafia, or perhaps he was something of a Russian spy. My pulse thumped violently in my chest, the anticipation making my sternum ache.

“Alexander?” I matched his thoughtful tone, placing my hand over his on the railing. “Whatever it is… I’m here. I’m not leaving. You’ve shown me so much magic in a single night. How much more unbelievable could this possibly get?”

He smirked darkly, as if some great secret lived there beyond his violet stare. “Don’t be afraid. Close your eyes.” He instructed and so I did.

.

.

I heard the slight shuffle of heeled shoes and the metallic tapping that followed. The railing vibrated under my hands and fear was the very thing that forced my eyes open.

“Alexander!”

There he stood upon the metal bar, the wind whipping about his ethereal hair and the dark mesh of his shirt.

I reached for him in my panic. “Are you insane? Get down from there!”

My stomach lurched, my fingertips splayed as I tried to grasp the hem of his pants and then… I failed.

My gut shot up to the roof of my mouth as I watched Alexander La Mont spiral off of the edge and down… down… down. His screaming voice vanished as so, too, did his body.

“Holy shit!” I shrieked. “He killed himself. He fucking killed himself! What the fuck!”

But before I could spiral any further and get sick all over the balcony floor, the most peculiar thing happened. A voice. A tiny whisper of a thing beckoned to me.

“Jack. Jack, look down.”

His voice called to me from the side of the building. It was impossible. He was surely dead. This had to have been some sort of trick. Was I losing my mind from the trauma of watching this man splatter on the pavement far below? Wait. Did I actually see him hit the pavement? I leaned over the railing, my raven curls interrupting my view of the streets below as wind swirled them about my face.

There he was.

Standing on the wall, staring up at me, feet pressed against the brick and completely disregarding gravity, was my mentor. He stood there as effortlessly as some arachnid-themed superhero, the lights of the city shining behind his head creating an almost angelic halo about his blond curls.

The world spun rapidly as I white-knuckled the banister. What was happening? Perhaps it was still the absinthe playing tricks on me. Yes. Perhaps all of my drinks had been spiked that evening. There was no other way to explain it. This had to be the product of some intense hallucinogenic.

“No. You weren’t drugged,” he stated simply. “What you are seeing is very real, and I imagine very confusing. I had to show you. I needed you to believe me. There was no other way.”

“Alexander!” I screamed, my eyes welling up with tears, watching them rain down over where he stood. “Please, please come back up! This is unnatural!”

He shook his head in protest. “No, no. How about you come down here.” He laughed, twirling in his spot with his arms outstretched to demonstrate he was truly not affected by the earth’s gravitational pull.

I hugged the railing, my hand gripping the metal bar tightly as fear turned my blood to ice. “N-no! I can’t!”

He cried up at me, “You’ve been telling yourself ‘no’ for so long! You’ve restricted yourself to a mediocre life, when so much more awaits you! Stop living in fear! Release yourself! Be free! Come to me! Now!” His hand outstretched towards me. Lightning cracked overhead.

I exhaled sharply, my fingers twitching in fear as I brought one leg over the ledge. I squeezed my eyes shut, focused on remembering how to breathe. Then came the other leg until I stood on the dangerous side of the railing, gripping to the metal and what might have been the last moments of my life.

“Jump, dear Jack,” he laughed.

“I can’t! I’ll fall!”

Terror gripped me to my core and reduced me to a little boy again. My heart lodged itself in my throat. The world beneath me spun in vicious circles as all the lights started to blur like watercolor. If I didn’t step down, I would surely fall forward with the vertigo. Few options were left now.

“I will catch you! I will keep you safe, if you only trust me!” Alexander promised over the rush of the wind, his smile flashing across his beautiful face.

His velvet words coaxed me enough at last, and down the lip I went. For a moment, time froze, the city fixed in place as my life flashed before my eyes. My mother, Bradley, Dad, Chloe—all happy and awash in sunlight. What if this was all truly a hallucination? What if I just hurled myself into my doom? Time resumed as I tumbled, arms flailing, the world about me smeared in violent color. Everything I had ever known was both literally and figuratively flipped upside down.

At last, arms wrapped about my body, holding me in place. Alexander hardly moved as he caught me against his chest with inhuman strength, his tight body acting like a bed for mine. He grinned up at me, our forms finally closing the distance that had plagued me all evening. I could feel my heartbeat slamming against him, yet his didn’t respond. There was nothing there.

“What… are you?”

He grinned, his lavender eyes sparkling as they beamed through the darkness into mine. “I am what rules the night. A master of the starlight, a fiend of flesh, both angel and demon as one. I am walking history—legend and myth, and you’ve known it in your heart all along.”

About Author Jack Townson

A 2023 Witchy Award nominee, Jack Townson, a multi-talented artist, is the heart and soul of the thriving FangFam community across various social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch. With an ever-expanding following that now exceeds four hundred thousand devoted fans, he’s left an indelible mark on the digital landscape, garnering an impressive 4.2 million likes under the #Fangfam hashtag.

Beyond his online presence, Jack is a versatile artist, encompassing the roles of actor, singer, and writer. His most celebrated work to date is “The Vampire Jack Townson,” an original story that first captivated audiences on TikTok and has been endorsed by New York Times bestselling author and 5-time Bram Stoker Award winner, Jonathan Maberry. This immersive narrative plunges into the hidden world of a supernatural being and the profound journey towards rediscovering one’s humanity.

Jack extends an invitation to his followers, beckoning them to peer into the psyche of an undead bohemian—an artist and a creature of the night, eternally ensnared in a world of nightmares. It’s a life devoid of sunlight’s warmth and the enduring embrace of true love, offering a unique glimpse into the enigmatic existence he portrays through his creative endeavors.

Website / TikTok / Twitter / Instagram

 

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ The Ghost Of Shantel Thompson by Curtis Maynard

Posted: December 22, 2023 in giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, thriller
Tags: , ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for The Ghost Of Shantel Thompson organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Curtis Maynard will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Ghost Of Shantel Thompson

by Curtis Maynard

 

 

Genre: Paranormal Thriller

Synopsis

When the Riggs family in Mobile, Alabama, faced the mysterious death of their adoptive daughter Shantel Thompson, they never imagined her ghost would linger for decades…

 

In Curtis Maynard’s heart-stopping paranormal thriller, ‘The Ghost of Shantel Thompson,’ a new family, fifty years later, grapples with a haunting legacy where the line between life and death is hauntingly thin.

 

Just as they begin to settle into their new life, their own young daughter is gripped by chilling visions of Shantel. It’s not just fleeting shadows—she’s entangled in a vengeful spirit’s relentless quest for justice, a quest that spans generations.

 

As whispers from the grave reveal long-hidden secrets, this new family faces a terrifying truth: some ghosts refuse to be silenced. Now, they must confront the mystery of Shantel’s death before her ghostly agenda consumes them all.

 

Dare to uncover the truth? ‘The Ghost of Shantel Thompson’ awaits to send shivers down your spine

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Reacting swiftly, Damian lunged out of bed and rushed to Sarah’s side, using his body as a shield between Alicia and her mother. “Alicia? Alicia?” he repeated, his voice desperate, hoping to break the hold of whatever trance had possessed her.

 

Alicia blinked, her eyes refocusing as she met her father’s gaze. “Dad?” Her voice was calm, confusion evident in her tone. She glanced down at the knife in her hand. “What happened?”

 

“That’s what we want to know,” Damian replied, his voice filled with concern. “Your mother woke up and saw you standing over her with a knife.”

 

Alicia’s gaze shifted to Sarah, who sat trembling on the bed. “I don’t remember coming in here. I don’t know where I got the knife from.” She looked back at her father. “I must’ve been sleepwalking again.”

 

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Damian asked, a trace of suspicion in his voice.

 

Alicia’s mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation. She couldn’t afford to be caught in the act of sneaking into their room. “I… I remember a nightmare. Yes, that’s what it was. I was sleeping, and I had a nightmare. I didn’t know what was going on. And the next thing I know, you’re shaking me awake.”

 

Relieved by Alicia’s explanation, Damian gently took the knife from her hand. “Let me just take this from you,” he said, his tone soothing. “And let’s get you back into bed.”

~~~~~

About Author Curtis Maynard:

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Curtis Maynard is an independent filmmaker, screenwriter, and author passionate about suspenseful storytelling. Enthralled by the paranormal, his mysteries and thrillers feature everything from hauntings and visions to cryptic messages from beyond the grave. Curtis currently resides with his wife and son in Alabama, a setting rich with inspiration for his novels and short films. He hopes his stories will leave you spellbound, disquieted, and suspicious of the slightest shuddering shadow.

 

Author Links: Amazon / Twitter / TikTok / Facebook / Facebook / Instagram

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Lest She Forget by Lisa Malice ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: December 13, 2023 in giveaways, thriller
Tags: ,
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Lest She Forget by Lisa Malice Banner

Lest She Forget
by Lisa Malice
November 20 – December 15, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
Haunted by a forgotten past. Hunted by a ruthless killer. No one to save her but herself.

After surviving a car crash, Kay Smith wakes from a coma with amnesia, a battered face, and no one to vouch for her identity. Her psychiatrist is convinced that her memory loss is connected to the horrific flashbacks and nightmares haunting her. As she digs for clues to her past, Kay uncovers a shady character following her every inquiry. Who is he? And what does he want from her? As Kay’s probes deepen, she realizes that everyone around her has deadly secrets to hide—even her. Emerging memories, guilty suspicions, and headline-screaming murders push Kay to come out of the shadows and choose: will she perpetuate a horrendous lie or risk her life to uncover the truth?

Praise for Lest She Forget:

“Lisa Malice’s debut, Lest She Forget, is filled with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end!” ~ Debra Webb, USA Today Bestseller

“Brimming with intrigue, Lest She Forget takes readers on a dark and twisted journey with surprises around every corner. It’s a thriller that grips you from the first page!” ~ Ellery Kane, award-winning author of the Doctors of Darkness series

“This twisty thriller takes you deep into Kay’s psyche, even as she runs for her life. Whoever you think this woman is, whatever you think she’s seen or done, prepare to be surprised!” ~ Sarah Warburton, author of Once Two Sisters and You Can Never Tell

“Lisa Malice’s psychological thriller Lest She Forget is a tense and twisty debut, an intricately plotted story that grows more and more complex with each new revelation. Don’t even try to guess how this novel ends; just put yourself in Malice’s capable hands and enjoy the ride!” ~ Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King’s Daughter and The Wicked Sister

“Lisa Malice turns an amnesia story on its head in this twisty, unique tale of intrigue, suspense and unexpected turns. You won’t be able to predict the next chapter, much less the ending.” ~ Lisa Black, NYT bestselling author of the Gardiner & Renner and Locard Institute series

 

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Published by: CamCat Books Publication Date: December 2023 Number of Pages: 368 ISBN: 9780744307153 (ISBN10: 0744307155)

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

Read an excerpt:
The loud heavy beat of my heart echoes in my ears, pulsing in sync with the car’s wipers as they furiously slap at the snow alighting the windshield. The frantic rhythm draws me in as I stare ahead into the darkening night and the thick snowflakes swirling in the beams of the headlights. The effect is almost mesmerizing. My eyelids start to droop. I want nothing more than to sleep, let my mind shut off. Under slumber’s spell, the ache in my heart would subside, the guilt in my soul would vanish, and, if I was lucky, I’d wake up to find that the words I heard earlier today were just part of a gruesome dream, an awful nightmare. She’s dead. My chest tightens, my heart races as my thoughts are pulled toward our last moments together. Fraught with suspicion, accusations, anger. My eyes tear up. It’s your fault. The words reverberate in my ears as my head starts to throb. How could I have been so stupid and naïve to fall for that man’s lies, his manipulations? If I could go back in time and change everything, fix my mistakes, right a host of wrongs, I would. Things would have turned out differently. Two—no, three—people would still be alive. But there’s no going back. Worse, I see no path forward, at least not one I can live with. My gaze is drawn to a hazy pair of headlights reflected in the rearview mirror. A chill runs down my spine, even as a bead of sweat trickles down the side of my face. My fingers, clenched atop the steering wheel, go numb as my foot presses down on the accelerator. “Calm down,” I tell myself. I can’t let fear trick me into imagining what is not there. I squeeze my eyes shut for a second, then open them again and glance into the side mirror. They’re still there, those headlights, keeping pace with me. I focus on the road in front of me, take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Get a grip,” I tell myself. “If he wanted me dead, I wouldn’t have made it this far.” Staring ahead, a forest of tall pines engulfs the road, blocking out much of the remaining daylight and casting a gloom all around that grows blacker and grimmer with each fleeting moment. But I can’t go back. Not now. I’d have to face the truth, accept my own culpability, surrender myself, my life, my future. I’m not ready to do that. I turn on the radio and press the scan button, hoping for a distraction. Music pours through the speakers in short clips—Spanish, hard rock, country, polka—and then a soft, familiar melody, its words just on the tip of my tongue. “. . . I would surrender my soul, if it would bring back yours . . .” My gut twists with remorse. The pain is cut short as the radio scanner moves to the next station. “. . . Could you forgive me, if I made it to Heaven . . .” Tears well up in my eyes as the radio, again, moves on. “. . . My name won’t be on St. Peter’s list . . .” A mournful sob erupts from deep inside me. My hands, clutching the steering wheel, suddenly go weak and start to tremble. Those songs, their lyrics—words that never held any personal meaning—now haunt me. It’s as if some cosmic disc jockey knows what I’ve done and doesn’t want—no—won’t let me forget it. “Please, no more!” I shout. A woman’s voice pops over the speakers, a news program. “Finally, I sigh, poking the scan button to set the station. “. . . it’s time for a quick station break, after which we’ll go to a weather update with WCVA’s meteorologist, Alec Bohanan. Our weather team says this blizzard hitting Virginia and much of the East Coast, the first significant snow event of 2017, is a bad one. It could be a killer, so sit tight at home and keep your radio dial tuned to this station . . .” She’s right. The snow is coming down thicker and heavier with each passing mile. The roads will only get worse. But I need to press on. I must get home. I can think better there. Figure out what options I have left. My attention is pulled back to the voice on the radio. “When the last segment of The June Jeffries Show returns, we’ll join the Virginia State Police press conference with breaking news on the missing person case of—” It’s your fault. The words echo in my ears, pulsing louder and faster with each echo, drowning out the newscaster’s voice. I slam my fist down on the radio’s power button. Suddenly, flashes of light bounce off the windshield. The muscles in my jaw tighten. My neck stiffens. My hands, locked in a death grip on the steering wheel, grow cold, numb. My gaze darts to the rearview mirror. Unable to look away from the looming vehicle behind me, I throw my left arm up to block its intense beams. The steering wheel jerks to the right, pitching the passenger-side wheels off the road. I grasp the steering wheel with both hands and pull to the left, but overcorrect. The car careens across the snow-swept blacktop, skids beyond the center line. When I finally pull the car into the right lane, my heart is pounding, my body trembling, while my grip on the steering wheel goes weak. *** Excerpt from Lest She Forget by Lisa Malice. Copyright 2023 by Lisa Malice. Reproduced with permission from CamCat Books. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Lisa Malice:

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Lisa Malice

Lisa Malice earned her B.S. in psychology at the University of Minnesota, her M.S. and Ph.D. at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her debut novel, Lest She Forget, a psychological thriller, was a finalist in five unpublished manuscript contests. Lisa is an active member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and the Authors Guild. A native of Minnesota, Lisa lived in the Atlanta area with her husband for nearly thirty years before moving to the Tampa area in 2019 to enjoy a life of sailing, fishing, and shelling on the Florida Gulf Coast. They have two adult children and a granddog.

Catch Up With Lisa Malice: www.LisaMalice.com Goodreads Instagram – @LisaMaliceAuthor Twitter/X – @LisaWMalice Facebook – @LisaMaliceAuthor

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!  

 

Enter for a Chance to WIN:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for CamCat Books and Lisa Malice. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Her Dying Kiss by Jennifer Chase ~ Author Interview And Peek Inside

Posted: November 14, 2023 in thriller
Tags: , ,
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Cold Case Detective Katie Scott must balance her work and private life, while tracking down a sadistic serial killer in the aftermath of her fiancé who went missing without a trace.

 

Title: Her Dying Kiss

Author: Jennifer Chase

Publication Date: July 17, 2023

Pages: 370

Genre: Crime Thriller



goodreads add to

 

She wakes to the dawn light streaming through the window and rolls over to
whisper good morning to her fiancé. But panic floods her veins. His side
of the bed is empty and cold. Blood trails towards the open door. All
trace of him is gone…

It’s been one month since Detective Katie Scott’s fiancé, Chad, went missing
without a trace. Devastated Katie is still working tirelessly day and
night to track down the love of her life, barely sleeping and chasing
every new lead. But now the case has gone cold.

When the body of beautiful Gina Hartfield is discovered among the pine
needles in a clearing on Lookout Ridge, Katie swallows her own pain and
knows she must focus on finding Gina’s killer. The young woman was found
with a pink velvet blindfold shading the hollows where her eyes had
been removed. Katie is certain she is chasing a sadistic individual who
will soon take another life…

But the autopsy reveals Gina’s body was washed before being abandoned,
leaving no trace of evidence behind. And with no witnesses to Gina’s
disappearance, the women of Pine Valley are terrified to go out alone.

Desperately combing the crime scene, when Katie sees a newspaper article about her
previous cases pinned to a nearby tree, she is certain Gina’s murder is
personal. Then tire tracks found in the forest are matched to a truck
seen following Chad in the days leading up to his disappearance. Katie’s
blood runs cold.

Is there a link between Chad’s disappearance and Gina’s brutal murder, or
is the killer playing a twisted game with Katie? Can she find out the
truth before they take another life?

Here’s what critics are saying about Her Dying Kiss!

“I couldn’t put it down… action-packed with excellent plot twists… I had
no idea what was coming next… so gripped with many twists and turns.” Goodreads reviewer

“Excellent, nail-biting thriller with a plot that’s had me enthralled from page
one… I’ve been gripped through each twist and turn… jaw-dropping and
totally unexpected… brilliant.” NetGalley reviewer

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookouture

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Interview With Author Jennifer Chase

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I’m dying to find out all about your new book, Her Dying Kiss: Detective Katie Scott Book 10! Can you tell us about the main characters?

Detective Katie Scott is a force to be reckoned with heading up the cold case unit for the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department. She is tough, tenacious, and is an Army veteran who worked two tours in Afghanistan as part of a K9 Explosives team with her partner Cisco, a black German shepherd.

Katie’s partner, Detective Sean McGaven, is a techie with a cool head balancing the duo along with his doggedness and strength. Her uncle is Sheriff Wayne Scott, which makes cases more difficult at times but they’re working it out. Her handsome fire inspector fiancé and childhood love, Chad Ferguson, compliments her life.

Katie Scott sounds like a kick a** character! If you can think back to when you came up with her character, were there any real life influences that helped shape her character?

Katie Scott is definitely a no nonsense kick a** character! I wanted to have a detective with a military background with her military K9 that struggles with post-traumatic stress. I’ve had some personal struggles that helped me to create her. For as strong as she is—she has flaws and battles with bringing home difficulties from the Army. It has been a challenge and whole lot of fun putting this character in all types of situations while hunting down killers.

Since this book is book 10 in the Detective Katie Scott series, do you have an idea on how many books will be in the series or is it too early to tell?

I’m not sure how many books there will eventually be—as of today, there are 13 books scheduled. But one thing is for sure, there are so many stories that I can write about for Detective Katie Scott. It’s up to the readers and publisher for now.

I know you get this asked many times, but why crime fiction?

Why not crime fiction? It’s my favorite genre. Any story that revolves around action, suspense, mystery, and thrills is my kind of book and it’s incredibly fun to write.

Do you have a “real” job other than writing, and if so, what is it? What are some other jobs you’ve had in your life?

I have written full-time for the past ten years. Before, I was an accountant that worked in the corporate world. Now I have you thinking!

Does a big ego help or hurt an author?

A big ego doesn’t help much. It’s so important to stay grounded and humble in this field, working to improve your craft, growing as a writer, and enjoying yourself in the process.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

That’s easy. It would be my two German shepherds that are right by my side when I write.

What advice would you give a writer working on their first book?

There’s a lot of advice out there, but write what you love and not what someone tells you that you should write. And most of all… don’t give up if you get discouraged. Write. Write. And keep writing.

What would you like to say to your readers and fans?

I wouldn’t be able to do what I love to do without readers and fans. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I personally think that I have the best readers!

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Book Excerpt  

 

Chapter One

One Month Later

Tuesday 1130 hours

There was a dead body, which was the focus of the synchronized police search. A deceased woman had been found by the utility company during their routine check and maintenance of the meters along the roadway. The body was efficiently wrapped in a large piece of dark brown burlap that had been rolled several times leaving only her head exposed. If not looking closely you would misinterpret the body dump for some type of discarded rug.

The victim was a brunette woman with long, perfectly combed hair with the strands resting on the burlap. At first, it seemed she was relaxed and had merely gone to sleep when, in fact, there were pink velvet pieces of fabric covering her eyes, as if shading her view of something.

John Blackburn, Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department’s forensic supervisor, kneeled down and carefully lifted one of the pieces of velvet, revealing the dark empty socket the eyeball had once occupied. The eye had been cleanly detached. It gave the body a more macabre appearance than the usual fixed eye stares of the dead.

John’s face was deeply sad and his mouth was turned down as he prepared to take a few more photos to document the scene before the medical examiner’s office took possession.

He carefully circled the body, taking the appropriate photographs—overall, medium range, then close-up—before collecting any evidence he could find. The young woman looked to be resting as the late afternoon sunshine cast down on her face. Her complexion, pale and ashen, appeared to be scrubbed clean, giving her a waxy doll-like exterior. There were no evident signs of makeup, dirt or blood on her face.

The south district area of Pine Valley was known for several warehouses that had been empty now for more than six months after a manufacturing company had vacated to a newer and more modern facility in an adjacent town. The front area to the one where the body had been found was overgrown, the weeds a few feet tall and garbage strewn around from where it had fallen out of an overturned, rusted-out dumpster. The dreary grey building looked more like emergency bunkers from a long time ago than a plant that had recently manufactured automotive parts.

Parked along the cracked driveway leading to the loading docks were several police cruisers, county vehicles and the forensic van. The main area of interest was near one of the loading bays. There were numerous cones and flags around, marking various pieces of evidence for photography documentation. The emergency personnel monitored the area and were conducting grid searches and making sure that no one was in or around the area that wasn’t supposed to be there, in addition to searching for more potential evidence. Everyone moved with precision and unity for the common goal of maintaining the crime scene.

“What do you think, John?” asked Detective McGaven. His towering height made him noticeable from a distance. His badge and gun were attached to his belt. “Is it the same as the other at Lookout Ridge?”

John walked up to the detective and nodded slowly. “We won’t know for sure until the body is unrolled and examined under controlled conditions, and I can run some tests… but, the signature appears to be similar if not the same, with the removed eyes.”

McGaven scratched his head, still observing the latest victim. His thoughts returned to his partner, Detective Katie Scott, and how he wished she were there examining the crime scene. Her perspective, instincts, and experience over the past year and half had been more than exemplary—her methods sometimes bordering on unorthodox, but always getting results. He had left several messages for her in hopes that she would open communications and ultimately return to work. His expression was solemn. It was as if a part of him was missing without her. He wanted to go to her house, but respected her need for privacy at this difficult time.

“Wish Katie was here?” said John watching the detective closely.

McGaven looked at the forensic supervisor and nodded. “How’d you know?”

“I feel it too. It seems strange not having her here.” He gazed around the area as if he expected to see Katie appear.

“Anything new with this scene?”

John shook his head. “Not that I can see right now. But we’ll know more soon.”

McGaven was disappointed, but knew that John would do everything he could to find any evidence. The last thing the detective wanted was for these homicides to go cold. He turned away and saw Detective Hamilton speaking with the utility workers. It wasn’t his optimum partnership, but he respected the detective and would overlook personality differences to make it work. “Thanks, John,” he said as he walked away, moving carefully around the area, looking for possible entrances and exit locations of the killer.

A young blonde woman with short hair was bent over taking a tire impression with a type of dental stone, waiting for it to harden. She looked up when McGaven approached. “Hi, Detective,” she said and smiled.

“How’s it going, Eva?”

“Good. This is my third impression. Two were consistent to each other and this one is different and definitely older. It’s probably not the killer’s, but John said we needed to be thorough.”

McGaven nodded. “I agree. If this crime scene is connected to the other one at Lookout Ridge, then we need the evidence to tie them together.”

“Ten-four,” she said and continued her task.

McGaven saw that Hamilton was speaking with the officers first on the scene so he took the opportunity to check out around the building. Everything was extremely overgrown, looking more as though it had been abandoned for years, not months. The weeds were extremely tall and had folded over due to their height and weight. There was an area where pallets, recyclable materials, and miscellaneous pieces of metal equipment had been stacked in the deserted area.

Still walking carefully, he was trying not to step on something potentially hazardous or possibly evidence-oriented. The further he walked the quieter it became—the voices around the crime scene seemed to settle to a low hum as he studied the back area. The sun was high and beat down on him making perspiration trickle down his back. He kept walking, but nothing appeared out of the ordinary. He thought about what Katie would do—he had been with her at many crime scenes and knew she would try to get a sense of the area, to look for places where the killer might have been.

The back of the building looked much like the front except more weather-beaten. The grey paint faded in areas and the windows on the second floor were dirty with some broken out. He observed the inconsistencies of the exterior of the building. Even though there wasn’t any graffiti to deface the area, the elements had caused rough and weathered places resembling an industrial mosaic appearance.

As he perused the area, he noticed a trail where weeds had been trampled, not by animals, but by something bigger. A person. Stopping in his tracks, he systematically scanned the area. There were no other signs indicating disruption to the weeds, so he cautiously moved forward. He spotted some paper or a piece of garbage rolled up tightly and wedged into the crevice of an exterior vent. It could have been easily missed or even dismissed, but something in McGaven’s gut made him take notice. He was going to alert John and Eva in order to have them search and document the area, but his instinct drove him to verify the origins of the paper first after quickly taking a photo of it with his cell phone.

Taking two more steps to meet up with the wall, he retrieved his gloves and slipped them on, and then carefully touched the paper. Leaning in, McGaven noticed that it appeared to be consistent to ordinary computer paper that had something printed on it. It wasn’t weathered and the printing was dark and readable. In fact, the paper appeared to be recent.

McGaven gently unrolled the paper. The condition and edges were as if it had been placed recently – there were no folds or fragile areas. As he continued to unroll it, he saw it was an article most likely printed from the internet. To his shock, the title read: Pine Valley Detectives Solve Three Murders in Coldwater Creek.

McGaven took a step back—his senses were now heightened as he glanced around, surmising that the killer had placed this article for them to find.

Why?

Was it the killer’s calling card? Was he taunting the police?

Was there another article hidden at the previous crime scene at Lookout Ridge they had missed?

The article concerned the last case that he and Katie had worked in a neighboring town. All the details flowed through his mind. It had been tough and dangerous. He carefully replaced the paper where he had found it and hurried to alert John.

 

 

 

About the Author
 

 

Jennifer
Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today Best Selling crime fiction
author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a
bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology
& criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her
curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience
with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal
investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds
certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.

Author Links  

Website | BookBub | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsored By:

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Terror Bay by Lisa Towles ~ Trailer And Giveaway

Posted: November 13, 2023 in giveaways, thriller, Trailer
Tags: ,
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A woman. A ghostly summons.
In a coma, no one can hear you scream.
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Terror Bay

by Lisa Towles

Genre: Psychological Thriller

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A Literary Titan Gold Medal Winner &

A NYC Big Book Award “Distinguished Favorite” Thriller!

A woman. A ghostly summons.
In a coma, no one can hear you scream.

Detective Kurt Farin, shot in the line of duty, is haunted by a woman he sees in a coma. Come, she says. I’ll show you things. Like the missing piece of your soul.

Kurt’s unshakable quest to find her leads him to northern Canada, where he discovers a shipwreck and a shocking family secret that can’t possibly be true. As he digs deeper, he realizes his fate is inextricably tied to the enigmatic woman…and a long-lost treasure that’s been submerged for centuries.His shooter, his nemesis, knows what he found and is coming to finish the job he started. Alone and exposed, Kurt’s the only one who can bring down this notorious killer and expose an international scandal. But is the cost of justice – to him and everyone he loves, too high?

Terror Bay is filled with intrigue and action, with surprises at every turn. Fans of John Sandford and Christine Kling will love Lisa Towles’ new psychological thriller. With a heart-pounding plot, complex characters, and a shocking twist, “Terror Bay” is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and crime fiction.

“Terror Bay, by Lisa Towles, beckons readers into a world saturated with suspense, propelling them through a captivating odyssey of action, intrigue, and enigma” – Literary Titan

“A nail-biting mystery, a pure joy to read” – The Book Commentary

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**Releases November 29th!**

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Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Lisa Towles is an award-winning, Amazon bestselling crime novelist and a passionate speaker on the topics of fiction writing, creativity, and Strategic Self Care. Lisa has ten crime novels in print with a new title, Terror Bay, forthcoming in November of 2023. The first two books of her E&A Investigations Series (Hot House and Salt Island) were both #1 Amazon Kindle Bestsellers with book three (Switch) due for release in Summer 2024. Lisa also writes standalone thrillers, such as her 2022 political thriller, The Ridders, which won an American Fiction Award. Lisa is an active member and frequent panelist/speaker of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She has an MBA in IT Management and works full-time in the tech industry.

Read more about Lisa’s book on her publisher’s website.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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