Category Archives: Supernatural Mystery

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The Bank of the River

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I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating story, and I found myself immersed in the characters as they were gradually introduced. Last year, I read book 11, drawn in by its Christmas setting, which made it a perfect addition to my holiday reading list. I enjoyed it so much that I was eager to journey back to the beginning to uncover the origins of these characters and understand their development leading up to that point.

From the very first page, the narrative held my attention with its charm, despite its relatively simple and straightforward plot. The main characters are vividly portrayed, making it easy to connect with their personalities right away. The world they inhabit feels remarkably familiar—akin to our own lives—which adds an extra layer of relatability. Although there were a few moments of confusion regarding which character was speaking, that was a minor issue in an otherwise engaging story.

At the center of the tale is Steven Hall, a character who has always been dubious about anything supernatural or paranormal. His skepticism even extends to religion, shaped by his mother’s intense obsession. This aspect of his upbringing provides a deeper understanding of his complex personality. Upon purchasing an old house, Steven suddenly finds himself tormented by the restless spirits of murdered children. This eerie experience begins to challenge and sway his long-held views on the unseen world around him.

Desperate for answers and support, Steven turns to his father, Roy, who has always possessed a sense of the extraordinary that Steven never quite understood. Roy steps in to assist his son in confronting the malevolent entities haunting their home while simultaneously guiding him toward discovering his own latent abilities regarding the supernatural. Yet, as is often the case, just when they begin to find clarity, their situation seems to spiral further into chaos.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, as I found it to be an enjoyable read, and I believe the series will only grow increasingly rich and engaging as it progresses. Dive into the River and enjoy the adventure that awaits!

My rating: 💖💖💖💖

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The Curse of the House on Cypress Lane: Black Water- Book 1

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While I found aspects of this story enjoyable, it didn’t fully captivate me from the outset. Prior to delving into this full-length novel, I had explored its shorter introductory version and was intrigued enough by the premise to give the complete story a chance, hopeful that it would provide a richer experience. To some extent, I was right; the novel did offer more detailed insights than the initial book, allowing a deeper exploration of the narrative. The plot itself was decent and relatively easy to follow, especially after navigating through some of the filler content that occasionally interrupted the flow.

One of my main critiques lies with the character development. I found the characters frustratingly underdeveloped, feeling more like sketches than fully fleshed-out individuals. They often appeared two-dimensional, primarily defined by their societal roles—husband, wife, etc.—rather than possessing distinct personalities or motivations that would make them feel more relatable. The Sheriff exemplified this issue; he fit snugly into the stereotype of a small-town lawman, embodying the wary protector who distrusts the wealthy outsider and is suspicious of newcomers in general. This characterization struck me as somewhat odd, given that he had lived in the community for many years and should have had a clearer understanding of its history and dynamics.

The language and dialogue used throughout the book effectively complement the characters, providing insights into their personalities in various contexts. However, even with this stylistic strength, it didn’t completely compensate for my desire for more depth in the character arc.

Set in the eerie swamps of Louisiana, the narrative centers around a creature that haunts the cursed house where dark memories linger—a place that the small town of Ocoee has largely chosen to forget. The terrifying truth is that history often has a way of repeating itself, which poses a significant threat to those unaware of the dangers looming just beneath the surface.

In conclusion, I would recommend giving this book a read. While it has its shortcomings, the intriguing premise may resonate with you, allowing you to form your own opinion about the work.

My rating: 💫💫💫

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The Seance in Apartment 10

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This is the first work I have encountered by this author, and it has certainly piqued my interest enough to explore more of their writings and discover how the narratives evolve. The characters were fairly well-developed, yet I felt they could have benefitted from deeper backgrounds. An exploration into the histories and motivations of the side characters would have enriched the overall experience and offered a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics at play.

The story begins with a rather slow pace, taking its time to establish the setting and introduce the characters. However, midway through the narrative, the pacing begins to quicken, leading to a compelling crescendo where the plot takes on a life of its own, drawing me in more forcefully with each passing chapter.

The protagonist, Tori, moves into a dilapidated studio at the eerie Lamplight Complex, only to find herself entangled in unexpected supernatural occurrences. A dark presence lurks within the walls of the aging building, and with only a couple of residents, it soon becomes apparent that the entity has limited options for interaction. The tension escalates when Tori invites friends over to celebrate her new home, and they unwittingly engage with a Ouija board. This fateful decision unveils the perilous consequences of meddling with the unknown and the veil between the living and the dead.

As the story progresses, Tori’s reality begins to unravel, spiraling toward chaos and what feels like an impending madness. Though not overtly terrifying, the narrative evokes an unsettling sensation that leaves a lingering feeling of unease, as if something ominous is lurking just out of sight.

Overall, this book serves as an engaging starting point for my journey with this author and might prove to be a suitable introduction for others as well. If you’re a newcomer to their work, this story could effectively draw you into their unique style and storytelling.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟½

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Day Shift

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The story continues seamlessly a few months after Manfred has taken up residence in Midnight and he is more a member of the community. The characters are already well established and I like them all, even Olivia. The town seems to be changing in subtle ways that the residents cannot do anything about. Several stories are going on in this book that relate to individuals and then come back to the group. This is an ensemble that works well apart but even better when they come together to help each other.

People say there is no such thing as bad publicity but in Midnight where the residents value their solitude it can be deadly. Olivia Charity is an anomaly in a town of secretive people. No one really knows what she does for a living, only that she is beautiful and dangerous.

While in Dallas on a working weekend, Manfred finds out just how dangerous Olivia really is when a couple she is seen in their hotel winds up dead at the end of the evening. Things take a turn for the worse when one of Manfred’s regulars dies during their reading, and her son makes claims that could put Manfred in jail as well as bring the eyes of the world to Midnight, Texas. Olivia is told to help Manfred get rid of his problem and she reluctantly agrees.

Sookie gets a mention here and a character from Dallas who hasn’t been seen in a long time. Things get a little more mysterious in some instances and we get some explanations for other things. I enjoyed this a great deal and think anyone else would too. This is a three-book series and should be read in order.

My rating: ✺✺✺✺

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The Strange Case at Misty Ridge

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The Strange Case at Misty Ridge by David Brian

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


First time reading this author and it was a pleasant experience. I was not totally wowed by the story but it was still well done. The characters lacked definition and I never felt that I really got to know who they were as individuals. I was expecting something a lot different from what I got though it was a nice change from the usual haunting you get. Would have liked a little more background on the house and town maybe to give some context.

Jack Keswick survived a tragedy that took the lives of a lot of people. Because he was unable to return to his usual work he was able to indulge his passion for paranormal investigation. Jack does not have very many memories of before the accident but has flashes once in a while that gives him a look into what was.

Jack is contacted by Mrs. Featherstone about the haunting in her home and asks for his help to get rid of it. When he goes to her home in Claybrooke he finds that things are not as he thought.

The story seems to be more about Jack and his life and family than about what is happening at Misty Ridge. But I would still recommend this to anyone who likes ghost stories.





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Death Ain’t But A Word

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death ain't but a wordDeath Ain’t But A Word: A Supernatural Hot Mess
by Zander Marks

 

I had heard a lot of good things about this book before I got it and I will say that they were all justified. Now, it starts off a little slowly as it establishes who and what the characters are in relation to each other. And though we meet quite a few different characters they are not all fully fleshed out with a background and such though they still have a vital purpose in the story. The ebb and flow of the story was good and made understanding what was going on and why very easy to follow. Though some might not be able to always follow the conversations, the use of slang is limited and mostly explained when it is used. The idea behind this was just so delicious to me and I guess I could not help but like it, it spoke to me very loudly.

Wilkin Jones is a crackhead but he is so much more than just that and he wishes that he were not. It has been twenty-three years since his best friend disappeared and was presumed dead, but he has kept in touch off and on with him over the years. When the killer comes back and wants to clean up after himself, Wilkin finds that he is in the middle of something that could cause him to step over into the veil for good. He has fought who he really is for years but now he may not be able to do that any longer if he wants to survive.

The thought of a crackhead being the main focus was intriguing to me and it proved to be very entertaining. I found myself smiling a lot while reading this as well as getting a bit weepy at times. Wilkin is a likable guy who I can see myself knowing in real life. Some of these characters remind me of people from my old neighborhood and they were mostly good folks who just fell. I would recommend this to everyone! A different kind of ghost story that brings things into the light.

 

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Don’t you DARE try that goo-goo-eyed force-be-with-you Obi-Wan Kenobi bullshit with me. I know what time it is. Ain’t about me. I’m a crackhead gonna die behind a Dumpster, nobody miss me when I do. Fuck that. This about him. He don’t deserve this. After all he been through, he do not deserve this. So cut the crap right now. Right now! And don’t piss on my leg and tell me it be raining, ’cause you coulda stopped it. You let it happen. You knew all along, and you were wrong for that. So fuck you and don’t hand me no light saber and play some bitch-ass Yoda. I AIN’T HAVING IT!”

 

 

 

 

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