A paranormal whodunit that offers a gripping battle between good and evil.
An aging Texas Ranger investigates a series of murders committed after an ancient, evil force is unleashed in Central Texas in McCandless’ historical horror novel.
It’s 1908, and Ranger Jewel Lightfoot is recovering from a hangover and an attempt on his life. However, his boss, Col. Al Woodard, has a new assignment for him. The bodies of four members of a farm family, recent immigrants from Sweden, have been found in their burned-out house. Only the couple’s little girl escaped the devastation to report what happened. On the grounds of the property, the local sheriff found an unusual and frightening club-shaped weapon featuring razor-sharp obsidian blades. The fire damage makes it difficult to determine the specific cause of the victims’ deaths, so Lightfoot is put on the case. First, he must pay a visit to Ernst-Michael Kitzinger at the University of Texas at Austin; he’s an expert on ancient Indigenous culture who may be able to shed some light on the mysterious club. It turns out that it’s a macahuitl—a deadly, ancient, and priceless Mayan weapon. Lightfoot becomes convinced that the farm family was murdered before the fire occurred, so he begins what becomes a violent, supernatural quest to find the killers. In this prequel to McCandless’ 2011 horror novel Sour Lake, the author combines a bit of real-life history, including Indigenous people’s fight for Yucatan independence, with a solid dose of mysticism, even adding in a poignant love story for good measure. He also presents vivid descriptions of bleak landscapes and unspeakable brutality. He even manages a touch of humor, as in this sketch of the pompous Kitzinger: “his face seemed custom-made for wedging into cracks and crevices.” Lightfoot comes off as a remarkable tragic hero who’s tormented by visions of people he’s killed, unable to express emotion when it counts, and relentlessly driven to destroy a demon and his acolytes.
A paranormal whodunit that offers a gripping battle between good and evil.Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 266
Publisher: Ninth Planet Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It's almost enough to make a person believe in ghosts.
A disturbing household secret has far-reaching consequences in this dark, unusual ghost story.
Mallory Quinn, fresh out of rehab and recovering from a recent tragedy, has taken a job as a nanny for an affluent couple living in the upscale suburb of Spring Brook, New Jersey, when a series of strange events start to make her (and her employers) question her own sanity. Teddy, the precocious and shy 5-year-old boy she's charged with watching, seems to be haunted by a ghost who channels his body to draw pictures that are far too complex and well formed for such a young child. At first, these drawings are rather typical: rabbits, hot air balloons, trees. But then the illustrations take a dark turn, showcasing the details of a gruesome murder; the inclusion of the drawings, which start out as stick figures and grow increasingly more disturbing and sophisticated, brings the reader right into the story. With the help of an attractive young gardener and a psychic neighbor and using only the drawings as clues, Mallory must solve the mystery of the house's grizzly past before it's too late. Rekulak does a great job with character development: Mallory, who narrates in the first person, has an engaging voice; the Maxwells' slightly overbearing parenting style and passive-aggressive quips feel very familiar; and Teddy is so three-dimensional that he sometimes feels like a real child.
It's almost enough to make a person believe in ghosts.Pub Date: May 10, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-81934-5
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A unique story of transcendent love.
An aimless young musician meets the girl of his dreams only to have his newfound happiness threatened by several inexplicable—and possibly supernatural—events.
The story opens as Leeds Gabriel meets with a detective while his girlfriend, Layla, is restrained in a room one flight above them. Through the interview, readers learn that Leeds was wasting both his time and his musical talent playing backup for a small-town wedding troupe called Garrett’s Band when he spied Layla dancing her heart out to their mediocre music at a wedding. When Leeds approaches Layla, their connection is both instant and intense. A blissful courtship follows, but then Leeds makes the mistake of posting a picture of himself with Layla on social media. A former girlfriend–turned-stalker wastes no time in finding and attacking Layla. Layla spends months recovering in a hospital, and it seems the girl Leeds fell for might be forever changed. Gone is her special spark, her quirkiness, and the connection that had entranced Leeds months before. In a last-ditch effort to save their relationship, he brings Layla back to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. When they get there, though, Leeds meets Willow, another guest, and finds himself drawn to her in spite of himself. As events unfold, it becomes clear that Willow will either be the key to saving Leeds’ relationship with Layla or the catalyst that finally extinguishes the last shreds of their epic romance. Told entirely from Leeds’ point of view, the author’s first foray into paranormal romance does not disappoint. Peppered with elements of mystery, psychological thriller, and contemporary romance, the novel explores questions about how quickly true love can develop, as well as the conflicts that can imperil even the strongest connections. Despite a limited cast of characters and very few setting changes, the narrative manages to remain both fast-paced and engaging. The conclusion leaves a few too many loose ends, but the chemistry between the characters and unexpected twists throughout make for a satisfying read.
A unique story of transcendent love.Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5420-0017-8
Page Count: 301
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2020
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