“When the waters bleed and the walls fall, I will come for you. We will destroy them all.” Apocalyptic visions haunt Eero Laine, unveiling a future he’s trying to avoid. All the warring, diseases, and natural disasters the voice prophesied to him have begun to transpire. Every day of Eero’s incarceration, the voice’s lust for death grows. It demands Eero claim his rightful place atop the ashes of a dying world. Together they will demolish its regimes and build a unified civilization in their image. Why the voice chose him has always been a mystery to Eero, but he stopped worrying about that long ago. The only thing he cares about now is saving the last family he’s got. The people who murdered his little brother and sent him to prison now hunt his older one. To save him, Eero must escape. One gang possesses the skill to pull it off, the Kaval. If Eero joins them though, he’ll start down the sordid path the voice set forth for him. He despises the monster he could become, but embracing the darkness is the only way for his brother to stay in the light.
Meet Mike Moon
Mike Moon is a native Illinoisan who’s always had a love for writing. From concocting short stories about monsters and aliens as a child to detective mysteries in high school, creating fiction has long been his passion. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, and going to concerts, just to name a few. Most importantly though, he loves hanging out with his wife and animals. He released his debut novel, The Kaval Rises, in December 2022.
Gretchen Holloway, in her final year of graduate school, is in the throes of auditioning actors for her thesis film, inspired by a murdered young football star who has haunted her dreams for two years. Gretchen believes making the movie will be cathartic. But instead of freeing her, embarking upon the film production unleashes a sequence of events that lead Gretchen to conclude that she’s the reincarnation of the young man.
Regina Wilson has always wanted to be an actress. When her agent gets her an audition for a role in Gretchen’s film, which eerily mirrors one of the worst events of her life—the unsolved murder of her older brother, Robert—she’s hard-pressed to go through with it. Upon fleeing, she leaves behind a keepsake that features Robert’s photo. Gretchen sees the picture and recognizes Robert from her dreams. She tracks down Regina, and after being rebuffed and called crazy, Gretchen’s unexplainable knowledge of events in Robert’s life eventually convinces Regina that Gretchen is Robert reincarnated.
The two decide to have his case reopened, but their significant others are dead set against it, and the police, who believe that Robert’s death was gang-related, are less than cooperative. However, Gretchen is desperate to get justice for her former self, and Regina wants justice for her brother. The women piece together the final week of Robert’s life. And the deeper they delve into his past; one shocking revelation follows another, leaving them wondering who they can trust and if they’ll live long enough to find Robert’s killer and bring him to justice.
Meet Alretha Thomas
Shortly after graduating from USC with a degree in journalism, Alretha soon realized her interest in her major was not heartfelt. Instead of writing news stories, she wanted to write plays and books. Several years later, her church gave her an outlet to fulfill her writing desires through their Liturgical Fine Arts Department wherein Alretha penned twelve theatre pieces—the community response was overwhelming. This led to plays outside of the church, including Alretha’s One Woman, Two Lives, starring Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show), directed by four-time NAACP Image Award Best Director recipient, Denise Dowse. The production garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences.
In between plays, Alretha self-published her first novel, Daughter Denied, in 2008 and has received glowing reviews from readers and book clubs across the country. Representing her book and plays, Alretha has been the guest on many radio shows and television shows including San Francisco Public Affairs show Bay Sunday with Barbara Rodgers on CBS affiliate, KPIX. She was also interviewed by KTLA News Entertainment Reporter, Sam Rubin. In 2011, Alretha self-published her second novel, Dancing Her Dreams Away, and it was also well received. Her third novel, Married in the Nick of Nine, spawned a four-book series that was acquired by Soul Mate Publishing in January 2014. The series has since reverted back to her. In August 2014, Alretha was awarded the Jessie Redmon Fauset Literary Award for her indie novel, Four Ladies Only. In 2016, Alretha created the Detective Rachel Storme Mystery Series: Justice for Jessica, Losing Lauren and A Penny for Her Heart. In 2018 and 2019 Alretha debuted two additional mystery books— The Women on Retford Drive and The Truth About Gretchen, respectively.
Alretha is also an actress and can be seen in numerous commercials and television shows. She currently plays Anastasia Devereaux on Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living that airs on BET.
Kevin Frost finds an expensive looking frame at a yard sale. For some reason the glass in the frame is painted over. Upon uncovering the painting beneath he finds a haunting mountainscape. That night he begins to dream about the painter’s fatal climb. And when he wakes he finds the painting has changed. This is a ghost story, a love story, and a murder mystery. If you loved the Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze movie ‘Ghost,’ you’ll love this suspenseful book. Winner of the 2021Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medal for excellence in paranormal fiction.
Editorial Review
Review Rating: 5 Stars – Congratulations on your 5-star review!
Reviewed By Natalie Soine for Readers’ Favorite
The Mountaineer’s Painting: A Ghost Story by David Francis Curran tells the story of Kevin Frost, who feels compelled to drop everything that he is currently working on to go in search of the artist and anybody who may know something about a painting that he purchased from a yard sale. Kevin hangs the scenic painting in his bedroom and, as he sleeps, he starts to have dreams about a group of mountain climbers and a tragic accident that may not have been an accident at all. Kevin investigates the untimely death of a climber and in the process learns everything he can about mountain climbing, the rest of the climbers who were part of the group when the accident occurred, and the deceased climber’s widow.
What a delightful, enjoyable story. David Francis Curran includes images of basic equipment and there is a key to their purpose at the end of the book. The Mountaineer’s Painting is well written with many lively characters that we can all relate to, an exciting story, and a compelling plot that is well thought out. This novel is a quick, easy read filled with intrigue and anticipation, all keeping the reader interested from beginning to end. I enjoyed this unusual story and the pictures make a nice change. The author introduces the main character in the beginning so that the reader can create a mental picture of what he would look like. The interwoven twists, turns, and intrigue of people’s lives make for a thrilling novel. There are no negative aspects to this story, and with no bad language or erotic scenes, it is suitable for all ages. A well-earned five out of five!
Meet David Francis Curran
David Curran–David Curran IV on imdb.com, lives in the Montana wilderness with his wife of 51 years, his daughter, four cats, two dogs and until recently one chicken.
Sidney and Miriam seem to be the perfect, successful New York couple, but their marriage is a tragic sham. When Sidney’s glamorous mistress, Tori, urges him to get rid of his troublesome wife, a murderous series of events ensues. Sidney kills Miriam in a fit of rage, and with her last breath, she curses him. Tori dies horribly at the hands of a vengeful ghost and Sidney goes on the run. Maria, an ambitious young detective with a hidden psychic gift, is on the case. With the help of her Haitian lover, Raphaella, a striking, rum-drinking voodoo expert, she tracks Sidney down and goes undercover to entrap him. But Maria soon finds herself in mortal danger from the man she is hunting. Will Maria and Raphaella get their man? And will Miriam find the justice – and revenge – she seeks from beyond the grave?
Meet Len Handeland
Len Handeland’s creativity took him from attending FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in Manhattan to hair. He studied fashion illustration, then years later to a long and successful 27-year career in the hair industry as a sought-after hairstylist, hair colorist, and salon owner. Len owned a salon in San Francisco’s Union Square for nine years and two salons in the town of Sonoma, Wine Country; for a total of 8 years; now fully retired from hair, Len became a full-time writer in the spring of 2021. Len is a dynamic writer specializing in fiction, specifically horror, paranormal, and crime drama novels. Len has enjoyed writing as far back as middle school. To further enhance and better his writing, Len has taken many creative writing classes and, in 2017, attended The San Francisco International Writer’s Conference, which inspired him to write his first book, “The Darkest Gift,” based on his love of vampires. He credits the late Anne Rice for being the author that inspired him the most to write his own dark vampire story. His first book earned him 5-star reviews from readers and professional book reviewers. His first novel became a finalist in the American book fest contest in the fall of 2021. This spring, Len’s novel “The Darkest Gift” was awarded first place in the Bookfest 2022 awards in the category of Fiction/Horror. In addition, Len’s book and author interview were featured in the fall literature issue of “DeMode” magazine, with Len’s book named one of 10 must-read books of 2021. With the completion of Len’s second novel “Requiem for Miriam,” and his third based on his 27 years in the hair industry, “Tales from the Chair,” he’s planning on starting his fourth book (“Transplant”) in late summer, early fall of 2022. When Len isn’t writing, some of his hobbies include hiking, biking, playing billiards, and vegetarian cooking. Len has trained in various forms of Martial Arts for over 20 years and appeared in several plays in Sonoma’s Community Theater. In addition, Len is also a singer who performed at numerous Wineries in the North Bay and Rotary events. The writer lives full-time in Palm Springs with his husband Byron Hancock and their two cats, siblings (Felix and Felicia)
Does crime pay? Not quite in the way a burglar wanted in THE OTHER ROOM – it will deter you from life on the wrong side of the law. A Manhattan detective finds that being murdered is more than just bad luck in A BUSINESS OF CHANCE. Blackmail is an ugly crime, but someone turns things to their favour in HUSH MONEY. You can push a woman so far…and no further… in THE CHINA DOG.
Crime has many guises. From the authors of LITERARY ALLSHORTS come the above tales and 15 more short stories, of events which are by turn dangerous, atmospheric, occasionally humorous and even poetic…but always written with criminal intent.
The TEN GREEN JOTTERS consistently keep you hanging on for more…
C.G. Harris, Tony Ormerod, Richard Miller, A.J.R. Kinchington, Glynne Covell, Richie Stress, Janet Winson, Julia Gale, Jan Brown and Lilly.
Meet Ten Green Jotters
The Ten Green Jotters are a group of writers ranging from award winning authors to travellers to New Guinea, India, South Africa, Thailand. Their love of writing brought them together and following on from the success of their first anthology (Literary AllShorts) have plunged into the crime genre for this collection of eclectic criminal tales – All Shorts of Crime.
When trouble waltzes in, it’s not long before Georgie Shaw and Detective Jack Wheeler step in to solve another mystery!The renowned dancer, Madame Charlotte Carol Chantel, is visiting LA to participate in the World Ballroom Dance Championship. Lunch and a photo op in Arcadia Park with “Mad” Max Marley suddenly go terribly wrong. An angry woman hurls a glass of wine at Madame Chantel along with accusations and threats. Before she can be caught, she runs away and disappears into the crowded theme park.
A Godmother’s Mysterious Death
Carol Ripley, Georgie’s Executive Assistant, is distraught when she finds her godmother and namesake dead a few hours later. There’s no apparent sign of foul play, but Madame Chantel’s death comes as a surprise since the sixty-something dance teacher and performer was in excellent health. It’s even more shocking when the investigators soon discover reasons to treat her death as suspicious, and an autopsy reveals someone murdered Madame Chantel.In the immortal words of Voltaire, “Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.”
Reading maybe, but not dance, apparently. Dressed as she was when Carol found her, with music still playing in the background, was a tango before dying Madame Chantel’s final act?
Was Madame Chantel murdered by a jealous romantic partner, an obsessed fan, a rival in the competitive world of Ballroom Dancing or someone else? Is Madame Chantel the only target or are other dancers in danger as well?Grab your copy of, A Tango Before Dying in the much-loved Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery series by USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Anna Celeste Burke. Don’t wait to find out who murdered Madame Chantel!
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Meet Anna Celeste Burrke
On my way to Oahu to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I had married in Tijuana, I was nabbed by the police as a runaway. When the police let me go and the rock band broke up, my husband and I had to find another way to survive. Our next stop: Disney World where we trained to be chefs. After my husband earned his GED we went to college and eventually completed Ph.D.s from the University of Michigan. As luck would have it, we found professor jobs with U of M’s longstanding football rival, The Ohio State University. Go blue! Go bucks!
Retired now from my role as a professor, I’ve picked up a long-standing interest in writing fiction. At the university, I wrote and published widely as a scholar. I also carried out hundreds of training, consulting and speaking engagements on gloriously nerdy topics.
So what on earth does a research scientist have in common with a mystery writer? As avid fans of the mystery genre will tell you at the core of any good mystery is a passionate search for the truth. Discovering the truth involves finding and assembling pieces of complex puzzles in order to solve seemingly intractable problems. Scientist and sleuth are cut from the same cloth!
Still married to the same sweet guy, I live with my husband in one of the seven desert resort cities in the Palm Springs area. As my heroine, Jessica Huntington will tell you, the Sonoran Desert is a beautiful setting in which to ponder life’s mysteries while enjoying the bountiful delights of the resort communities.
When a detective second-guesses his gut, he’ll have to get creative to catch the killer.
Luca worries cancer and divorce have dulled his razor-sharp instincts. So the detective is relieved when his next murder case seems like a no-brainer.
When the wealthy victim is found dead in her private-island home, the gold-digging husband seems like the obvious killer.
As Luca digs deeper and follows the clues, however, he uncovers a whole new line-up of possible suspects. No longer able to rely on his gut feelings, Luca puts the victim’s sordid affairs and her rivalries under the microscope.
With time running out, Detective Luca must find a way to regain his swagger and solve the case before the killer strikes again.
The Serenity Murder is the third book in the riveting Luca Mystery police procedural series. If you like hardened detectives, unexpected plot twists, and seeing the crime from multiple points of view, then you’ll love Dan Petrosini’s gripping whodunit.
Buy The Serenity Murder today and hold on for a white-knuckled police procedural!
On a distant world, in a not-too-distant future, Alyn Frederick Jr. arrives home from college and is shocked by his father’s murder. Alyn hasn’t a clue as to who killed him or why, but even more puzzling, finds himself as the main suspect. A forlorn detective, employing a rapidly developing A.I., partners with an idealistic journalist to find answers. They uncover a grand conspiracy, orchestrated by a powerful politician, who aims to radically transform society, but must trigger an interplanetary civil war to do it. Alyn must discover a dark truth about his family’s legacy if he is to clear his name and prevent the genocide. And the key to it all, is his grandfather’s wristwatch.
Meet Brendan Gavin
Brendan is a book-lover, curator of ideas and a keen observer of our human condition, who has combined these with his passion for vintage time pieces, and finally wrote the book he was always wanted to read.
Veronica (Ronnie) Travis, Miami policewoman, now a Saddle Creek, WY Sheriff’s Deputy and the new owner of Travis B&B, thanks to her Aunt Sally, who leads her on a scavenger hunt to discover her illegal activities.
Sheriff Mitch Rogers, a permanent non-paying guest at Travis B&B is convinced the late owner of the B&B had secrets; big ones. And hopes to find out what it is from his new deputy, Ronnie, If he can only keep it professional between them.
After Rosie’s Diner becomes a crime scene with an ensuing investigation, Ronnie has to sacrifice everything she’s come to love and treasure, but is Mitch included? Or is Ronnie leading Mitch on a wild goose chase just like her Aunt Sally?
Residents of an affluent neighborhood in Silicon Valley, California, are woken in the middle of the night by flashing lights and sirens. A neighbor has been murdered.
All fingers quickly point to next-door resident Mike Thomas, who does not want to disclose his shady past with the deceased. Soon Mike’s life is turned upside down as skeletons come of out the closet and he is exposed for his indiscretions. While everyone in his life turns against him, Mike is the only one who knows he’s innocent and being set up.
Soon a desperate man is on the hunt to expose the truth and salvage whatever is left of his marriage, his career, and his freedom. Mike slowly realizes the boring neighborhood he once called home has a secret behind every front door.
