Available March 30: I Can Kill

Some of you may have wondered “where on earth have you been??” Then again, maybe not!

Well, I’m going to tell you where I’ve been hiding. Not only have I been working hard at fixing some things in my first two books (including the cover of my debut, The Murder of Manny Grimes), and working hard on the first draft of a new book (more on that later)…I’ve been preparing my third book for release.

Now, I’m thrilled to announce that on March 30, 2018, my brand new FBI thriller, I Can Kill, is available for preorder!

This is completely different than my DeLong series. Will my FBI book become a series in itself? Quite possibly. I loved creating these characters. This took me less than a month for me to write. Back then I was on a roll. I love that kind of writing momentum!

Anyway, I wanted to let ya’ll know about my awesome new book! In addition to conferring with an FBI agent via email, I befriended a friend of my publisher’s. She’s a retired FBI agent who was gracious enough to read my book so I can be sure it was factual. Her name’s Dana Ridenour, and she’s the award winning author of Behind the Mask and Beyond the Cabin. I’m very lucky and thankful for her assistance!

Here’s what Dana has to say about my book:

“A gripping new thriller by Angela Kay that pits FBI Special Agent Aidan O’Reilly against the Carnations Killer, a serial killer who enjoys playing Cat and Mouse with this formidable agent.”

Here’s all you need to know about my new book!

I Can Kill, and You Can’t Catch Me…

These were the last words The Carnations Killer said to FBI Special Agent Aidan O’Reilly ten year

s ago before he went into hiding. He has tortured and murdered fifty women since then and managed to elude capture. Now, he’s returned once again, and his new hunting ground is Augusta, Georgia.

O’Reilly teams up with Shaun Henderson, the special agent in charge of the Augusta Resident Agency, to bring this ruthless killer to justice once and for all. But as each second ticks by, tensions rise and O’Reilly finds himself in a race against time before the killer slips away again.

The Killing Ploy #Bookreview

• Title: The Killing Ploy
• Author: Steve Haberman
• Print Length: 265
• Publication Date: May 8, 2012
• Sold by Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• Formats:  Kindle
• Goodreads
• Genres: Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Espionage

Pablo de Silva is a former CIA tracker and shooter who is being haunted by the memory of his last mission, when he failed to save the lives of a fellow agent and lover. In this present day, he’s been trying to work through his failure, but it isn’t so easy when his colleagues are holding him in such low regard because of such failure. When his former boss calls him home on a new assignment, he quickly begins to realize that he’s fallen into a dangerous web.

The Killing Ploy was an interesting read. For the first half of the story, though, I found myself slugging through. The characters weren’t rounded out as I liked and a lot of the times the dialogue didn’t quite fit who they were as people. And while the scenery was developed wonderfully in the narrative (marvelous job at that. Coming from somewhere that doesn’t travel to exotic places, I felt I was there), there were a lot of times when I felt the sentence was incomplete. For example: She could remember their panicky flight out to the terrace, stumbling down the steep bluff, and struggling up some dunes to her Mercedes. After that, though, a fog as to why they had escaped to RCB.

I can see what the author is saying in the last sentence, but it, like many others, don’t really sit that well with me.

The second half was much better than the first. I can see a better grip on the writing and details. While the dialogue still wasn’t up to par, I found myself getting a little more into the story, wanting to find out how it would end.

Overall Rate: 3 out of 5 stars

*For more book reviews, click here.*

Biography

A University of Texas graduate, Steve Haberman pursued legal studies at UCLA before embarking on a career as a legal assistant. Profitable stock market investments made travel abroad possible, and he has since visited Europe extensively and frequently, including London, Paris, Prague, Berlin, as well as Milan and Budapest. Many of these feature as settings in his two e-book novels. “Murder Without Pity,” a murder mystery with tragic echoes from the past, occurs in Paris. “The Killing Ploy” (with heavy overtones of “fake news” before that was topical) is set partially in several Continental capitals. His two works in progress, “Darkness and Blood,” the sequel to “The Killing Ploy,” and “Winston Churchill’s Renegade Spy” also use foreign locales. He is presently planning another three month trip abroad for research on a fifth thriller, this one set in the post World War II apocalyptic ruin of the German capital.

Silent Fear #bookreview @SterlingGate @MorcanJames

• Title: Silent Fear
• Author: Lance and James Morcan
• Print Length: 708
• Publication Date: September 21, 2017
• Sold by Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• Formats:  Kindle, Paperback
• Goodreads
• Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

Wow! This is definitely one heavily involved book! Silent Fear is based on a True Crime that took place in Gallaudet University between 1980 and early 2000s. In the book, not only does Detective Valerie Crowther has to deal with solving a series of murders inside London’s university for the deaf, but she ends up quarantined after one of the students falls victim to the Monkey Flu. The good thing is the killer is looked in the school as well. The bad thing is that there are more than 400 suspects that Valerie must weed through.

I felt the characters and the setting really shined. I truly liked Crowther. She’s a strong woman who cares deeply for those around her, whether or not she wants to admit it. She was once married to Chief Superintendent Mark Bennett and as a reader, it was obvious that they really cared for one another. The only thing I didn’t care for was the continuous mentioning that Bennett was Crowther’s ex. I was reminded too many times within the narrative and the dialogue. The supporting characters were interesting and kept the story moving along.

The writing was tight. We’re given a lot of information (more than 400 pages worth), but keeps you intrigued and wanting more. In fact, I had misplaced my iPad during the course of this reading and after the initial sadness of losing my iPad, I became disappointed that I couldn’t finish the book. I had a PDF copy given to me by the authors, so it wouldn’t have worked on my Kindle. Thankfully, I did find my iPad and sped through the story. I couldn’t put it down.

Packed with drama, suspense, action and surprises lurking around every corner, I definitely think this is worth the read for anyone loving thrillers and/or British crime novels.

Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars

*For more book reviews, click here.*

Silent Fear Kindle Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who entered the “Silent Fear” ARC/Paperback giveaway! We are less than a week in concluding this contest!

For information on how to enter, click here!

Additionally, one of the authors contacted me to say they’re willing to gift THREE of my followers with a kindle version in honor of Halloween!

Hurry! You don’t have much time! Just until October 30!

To enter the Kindle giveaway, click here!

I started reading and so far, I’m loving it!

It’s fresh, it’s original…wait…I need to finish before I review! 😛

Silent Fear ~ Giveaway, ARC ~ Check It Out!

Happy October fellow readers/writers!

I have a proposal for you! I’ve been asked to help promote a new novel, Silent Fear, which sounds pretty awesome, if I may sound so myself. I’ve even accepted an ARC and can’t wait to start reading! Below, I included all the information you would need and want!

Before we get down to the basics of the book, the authors are searching for PDF ARC readers before the Kindle version is released on October 31. The paperback is currently available now on Amazon for $24.99. If you’re interested in the PDF copy, click here. It’ll take you to a sign up page where you’ll request the book and the authors will send it to you. But hurry! The offer is only good until October 30 to receive their ARC!

And that’s not all! You have a chance of winning a paperback of Silent Fear. I’m joining forces with them to choose one lucky winner. Interested? Click here to do so: Rafflecopter giveaway for Silent Fear.

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About the book: Silent Fear is dedicated to the many millions of deaf people around the world. It is the eighth published novel by New Zealand father-and-son writing team Lance and James Morcan, authors of The Ninth Orphan, Into the Americas and White Spirit.

Set in present-day London, Silent Fear was inspired by the murders of several deaf students at Gallaudet University, one of the world’s most prestigious learning institutions for the deaf, in Washington, D.C.

A decade in the making, it was written under the guidance of leading deaf filmmaker Brent Macpherson whose commentary on the unique aspects of deaf culture the story covers appears at the end of the book. Together, the Morcans and Macpherson are developing a feature film adaptation of Silent Fear.

Blurb: Scotland Yard detective Valerie Crowther is assigned to investigate the murder of a student at a university for the Deaf in London, England. The murder investigation coincides with a deadly flu virus outbreak, resulting in the university being quarantined from the outside world. When more Deaf students are murdered, it becomes clear there is a serial killer operating within the sealed-off university. A chilling cat-and-mouse game evolves as the unknown killer targets Valerie and the virus claims more lives.

Selling via Amazon – The kindle version is available now in Amazon’s Pre-order program and will be auto-delivered to kindle buyers on October 31; the paperback is available now on Amazon.

For more information about their books and to read reviews, here are their Amazon and Goodreads pages:

Amazon

Goodreads

I’ve included the links to the authors’ bio. Click on their names beneath their head shots to learn more about them and their past publications!

           Lance Morcan                                  James Morcan

To join their discussion group on Goodreads, click here Silent World.

Don’t forget to check out their awesome trailer on YouTube to help promote their new book and a planned feature film! Silent Fear trailer.

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Thanks and happy reading!

Angela Kay
Author of The Murder of Manny Grimes

Every Deadly Kiss #bookreview @readstevenjames

• Title: Every Deadly Kiss
• Print Length: 575 pages
• Publisher: Berkley
• Publication Date: July 4, 2017
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• Formats: Kindle, Paperback
• Goodreads
• Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love this author, and I love the Patrick Bowers series. It’s been a few years since I randomly picked up the second book of The Bowers Files, and ever since then, I anxiously await for more writings from Steven James. Especially when Patrick Bowers is the star of the hour.

Every Deadly Kiss is the second prequel to the series. First, a quick back story for those of you mystery fans who shamefully have not picked up James’ books. We first meet FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers in The Pawn, followed by The Rook, The Bishop, The King, The Queen, and Checkmate. He’s a widower who is learning to battle the dangers of his work along with raising his late wife’s teen daughter, Tessa Ellis. It’s rarely easy for someone in law enforcement to raise their own child by themselves, but Tessa isn’t his daughter, but his stepdaughter of only a few months. In the end of the first prequel, we briefly meet Christy Ellis, who Pat will one day marry. Now in Every Deadly Kiss, we get to actually meet her, which is exciting. To me, anyway.

I loved all aspects of this book: the mystery, the relationship between Pat and the Ellis women, and the fact that a former love of Pat’s, FBI Agent Sharyn Weist, requests his assistance, which eventually causes a rip in his love life.

Steven James is definitely a natural storyteller (and he knows it!). The way he weaves the action, the tension, even light comedy, to form his stories is the way I hope readers view my writing. It’s taut and you can almost, almost, smell the blood or feel the abandoned building with your fingertips. It truly is rare that I can get that much into reading a book. Every Deadly Kiss isn’t my favorite in the series, but James does not disappoint. Several times I feel my heart beating out of my chest. A few times I laughed, especially when it’s bantering time with Pat and his best friend/sidekick, Agent Ralph Hawkins, who just might be my favorite character (sorry, Agent Bowers, I still love you too). The thing I like most about the prequels is that we still get to hear from Ralph. In Checkmate, he’s moving on to bigger and better things and I got the sad feeling that if there were more books, any appearances of Ralph would be more of a walk on. Thank goodness for these prequels!

I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys a good mystery. For some, it may take a bit getting used to because, in this series, it’s written in first and third person. It did confuse me when I first began to read The Rook several years ago. However, the storytelling is so crisp and well written, it didn’t take long for me to get used to the difference in POVs.

I hope we’ll get plenty more of Patrick Bowers (and Ralph) soon!

Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars

*For more book reviews, click here.*

*If you would like to get inside the head of the author, I was lucky enough to get him to answer a few of my questions. Click here to read the interview!*

Biography

Steven James is a national bestselling novelist whose award-winning, pulse-pounding thrillers continue to gain wide critical acclaim and a growing fan base.

Suspense Magazine, who named Steven’s book THE BISHOP their Book of the Year, says that he “sets the new standard in suspense writing.” Publishers Weekly calls him a “master storyteller at the peak of his game.” And RT Book Reviews promises, “the nail-biting suspense will rivet you.”

Equipped with a unique Master’s Degree in Storytelling, Steven has taught writing and storytelling on four continents over the past two decades, speaking more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe.

Steven’s groundbreaking book on the art of fiction writing, STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE, won a Storytelling World award. Widely-recognized for his story crafting expertise, he has twice served as a Master CraftFest instructor at ThrillerFest, North America’s premier training event for suspense writers.

Respected by some of the top thriller writers in the world, Steven deftly weaves intense stories of psychological suspense with deep philosophical insights. As critically-acclaimed novelist Ann Tatlock put it, “Steven James gives us a captivating look at the fine line between good and evil in the human heart.”

After consulting with a former undercover FBI agent and doing extensive research on cybercrimes, Steven wrote his latest thriller, EVERY DEADLY KISS—a taut, twist-filled page turner that is available now wherever books are sold.

If you’ve never met environmental criminologist and geospatial investigator Patrick Bowers, EVERY DEADLY KISS is the perfect chance to dive into the series and find out what fans and critics everywhere are raving about.

Brilliant Disguise: A Charlie McClung Mystery (The Charlie McClung Mysteries Book 1)

• Title: Brilliant Disguise: A Charlie McClung Mystery
• Author: Mary Anne Edwards
• Print Length: 333
• Publication Date: January 18, 2014
• Sold by Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• Formats:  Kindle, Paperback
• Goodreads
• Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

Brilliant Disguise is the first of five mysteries in the Charlie McClung series.  Marian is a widow still trying to come to terms with her husband’s death some years before. As a result, there are very few people she allows to get close to her. One of them is Jodie and the other Dianne. One night, the neighborhood hears a loud commotion. Along with the rest of the neighbors, Marian goes to check. It doesn’t take long to learn that Dianne had been shot. Cause of death: suicide. Or is it?

Charlie McClung is a new detective in town and doubts the validity of the chief’s suicide claims. In fact, there are many things about the police department that are questionable. Being new, McClung doesn’t know who to trust, with the exception of a grieving widow next door to his victim. Together, McClung unofficially joins forces with Marian to figure out exactly what went wrong the night Dianne died.

Brilliant Disguise is a very light, fun read. It’s told in the omniscient point of view, which is my least favorite when reading. Personally, I prefer the third person and being inside the mind of one character at a time. It took some time for me to be OK with the first person, and I suppose after reading more omniscient POVs, I’ll get used to it. It just confused me at first, especially when the entire series is a “Charlie McClung Mystery.” But that’s just me. I still enjoyed the read. Because I tend to spend my time reading about (and writing) hard-boiled crimes and science fiction, this delightful cozy mystery was a refresher.

The characters are likable, although I disliked Dan, Dianne’s husband. I won’t say why in case I end up giving away too much to the plot. But Marian and McClung were fun to get to know. I felt Marian and McClung had great chemistry throughout the course of the book. There were a couple of parts in Marian’s grief of losing her husband that seemed to be too much for the purpose of the story. But I was glad to know a man entered her life to help her let go after ten years. And he’s Irish, at that, which scored major points in McClung’s favor. And a bit of jealous of Marian.

Above all, the story held at a steady pace. The mystery itself was sound. There was quite a bit of twisting and turning involved. I had no idea how it would end, although I had a few presumptions here and there.

Brilliant Disguise was aptly named. I recommend this book to anyone that’s a fan of mysteries and or clean romance. This is definitely one book I can see being played on the Hallmark mystery channel.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

*For more book reviews, click here.*

Biography

Born in Mercedes, Texas, Mary Anne has lived in Georgia most of her life. A life-long fan of authors such as Agatha Christie, Anne Perry, Caroline Graham, and Elizabeth Peters, it wasn’t until a few years ago that Mary Anne decided to listen to the voices in her head and began writing her own series of traditional mysteries featuring Detective Charlie McClung.

The first book in the series, Brilliant Disguise, was released to critical acclaim in January of 2014. The next three in the series, A Good Girl, Criminal Kind, and Sins of my Youth were released soon afterward. The fifth book in the series, Flirting with Time, was released June 30, 2017. Mary Anne is currently working on the sixth book, Good To Be King, with at least four more to follow.

Mary Anne and her husband currently live in Smyrna, GA with an ill-tempered Tuxedo cat named Gertrude. Mary Anne is active in the Sisters in Crime Atlanta Chapter and sits on the advisory board of Rockdale Cares, a non-profit advocacy group for the developmentally challenged.

“Blood Runs Cold” – Teaser Tuesday – Book 2 of “The Cases of Lieutenant DeLong”

**When Lieutenant Jim DeLong arrives at the scene to find that his victim is the wife of his estranged brother, he plunges into unwanted memories of his childhood. Between the dark secret he shares with his brother and the desire to find justice for the murder of a good woman, DeLong realizes how hard it is to separate work and family.**

        

          Sullivan slowly pushed to his feet with a frown. “Why don’t you go ahead and just say it. I’m still on that list of yours, aren’t I?”
         “What list?”
         Sullivan stepped closer to DeLong so they stood eye-to-eye. “Don’t beat around the bush, brother. You know what list. Bree and I were having problems. Even had a terrible argument the day she died. On top of it all, I tried to kill someone once before. Put all those factors together, that makes me the most viable suspect.”

Click the links for more information or to purchase:
*Also Available on Kindle Unlimited*
Amazon (United States)
Amazon (Australia)
Amazon (Canada)
Amazon (UK)
Barnes and Noble (United States)

Click to visit Angela’s Amazon Author Page

Teaser Video
Blood Runs Cold

Biography

Equipped with a professional writing degree from Augusta State University, Angela Kay is a southern lady who spends her days and nights dreaming up new ways to solve dark murders of normal people.

Angela Kay was one of 23 across the United States to win a 2009 playwright contest for her one-act entitled “Digging Deeper.” Because of this, she was able to spend a week in Atlanta at the Horizon Theater Company.

She lives in Augusta, Georgia with her crazy calico, Maggie.

Murder Without Pity #Bookreview

• Title: Murder Without Pity
• Author: Steve Haberman
• File Size: 623KB
• Print Length: 319
• Publication Date: May 5, 2012
• Sold by Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• Formats:  Kindle
• Goodreads
• Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime

Murder Without Pity is a slow-moving suspense, told in a way that makes you want to turn the pages and keep going. If I had the chance to read it in one night, then I probably would have. It wasn’t even the mystery portion of this novel that I enjoyed so much, although I enjoyed trying to solve the crime before reaching the ending. While I had a few suspects in mind, I feel that there could have been a little more foreshadowing or red herrings to help solve the mystery. As a mystery author myself, I certainly understand how hard it is to throw in red herrings without giving the plot away. There were, however, enough twists to keep me yearning for more.

This story was much more than just solving the strange murder of a man. The investigator, Stanislas Cassel, spends a good amount of his time interacting with the people of France, hoping they either won’t judge him or they just don’t know that he’s the grandson of a French propagandist for the Nazis during their WWII operation. This part of his family’s past mortifies him, so Cassel attempts to avoid anything political and hopes no one will recognize him. Of course, we all know that’s not always possible. And as Cassel continues his investigation, he finds himself in the midst of a larger wickedness beyond the small crimes he prefers to investigate.

This wasn’t a book where you can easily skim a few words here and there…let’s face it, we all tend to do that, whether we mean to do so or not. If you’re focusing on solving the mystery, then it’s possible something would be missing between the lines on the pages. Even reading carefully, I’m sure I missed a thing or two. And if you’re only along for the ride to enjoy the beautiful scenery that’s portrayed, then skipping around will force you to miss out. I’ve never been to France, and as someone who would like to one of these days, I felt I had a good idea of what Paris was like during the time this story takes place. The writing splayed across my mind as though I was watching a movie. It was so beautifully descriptive, whether it was about the thick fog smothering the city or Cassel’s thoughts.

I would most certainly enjoy reading more from this author.

Overall rating: 4 of 5 stars

Biography

A University of Texas graduate, Steve Haberman pursued legal studies at UCLA before embarking on a career as a legal assistant. Profitable stock market investments made travel abroad possible, and he has since visited Europe extensively and frequently, including London, Paris, Prague, Berlin, as well as Milan and Budapest. Many of these feature as settings in his two e-book novels. “Murder Without Pity,” a murder mystery with tragic echoes from the past, occurs in Paris. “The Killing Ploy” (with heavy overtones of “fake news” before that was topical) is set partially in several Continental capitals. His two works in progress, “Darkness and Blood,” the sequel to “The Killing Ploy,” and “Winston Churchill’s Renegade Spy” also use foreign locales. He is presently planning another three month trip abroad for research on a fifth thriller, this one set in the post World War II apocalyptic ruin of the German capital.

 

*For more book reviews, click here.*

Character Interview: Lieutenant Jim DeLong

I’ve seen authors choosing one of their characters to interview. After checking out some character interviews, I decided to join in on the fun and do one for my protagonist, Lieutenant Jim DeLong. Some of you know that he was the lead investigator in my debut novel, The Murder of Manny Grimes. Well, Lieutenant DeLong will return within the next few weeks in the follow-up novel, Blood Runs Cold. The upcoming case will be the most difficult of his career, filled with tension and suspense. Will he be able to pull through? Or will DeLong fall even further down the darkness of his soul? Well, you’ll have to pick up Blood Runs Cold once it’s out to find out! In the meantime, enjoy my sit-down with Lieutenant Jim DeLong.

This interview takes place before the events of The Murder of Manny Grimes.

• What do you do?

I’m a lieutenant at the Columbia County Sheriff’s office in Augusta, GA. I usually push paperwork but I find that boring. I like being out in the field. I do that every chance I get.

• What impression do you make on people when they first meet you?

I can’t really say. I mean, I don’t usually ask. When it’s about work, I’m there to do my job. I’m dedicated to my work. Sometimes obsessively. When I first meet people, I get right to business. Other than that, I don’t make much small talk.

• What about afterward?

(Chuckles) I’d say it depends on the person. Some say I have anger issues. I’ve had others say I’m down-to-earth.

• So, are you bi-polar?

(Laughs) No. I guess you can say I just feel things a little more than I should.

• I see. Tell me about your family.

Well, I’ve been married for seven years. My wife’s name is Samantha. We met when we were in college. We have a six-year-old daughter, Bella. She’s great. (Laughs) But she certainly can be a bit of a handful.

• (Laughs) Gotta love that kids keeps life interesting, huh?

Yeah, she certainly does.

• How is your marriage?

Um, isn’t that a bit personal?

• Yes. But I believe people like to know what makes Augusta’s finest tick.

Umm….well, we have our ups-and-downs. Just like any other marriage. We just do what we have to, right?

• I suppose so. Do you think you turned out the way your parents wanted you to?

Does anyone?

• I’m pretty sure some do. What makes you think you didn’t?

I didn’t say that I didn’t. Is this interview over, yet? I really need to get back to work.

• You implied it. Lieutenant, is there a reason you don’t want to answer the question?

No, I just have a lot to do. Look, if you want an answer, let’s just say our past makes us who we are today. When things happen that’s out of your control, you deal with it the best way you know how.

• “When things happen.” Did something happen to you? Something you couldn’t control?”

OK, you know what? This interview’s over now.

• Wait. Let’s move on. Is that OK, Lieutenant?

Fine.

• Who is your best friend? Tell me about him/her.

Russell Calhoun. We go way back. He used to work in the Navy. He retired as a criminal investigator. He’s a good guy. As good as they come. Russ has done a lot for me in the past. I don’t know where I’d be today without him.

• You seem very close to him. What does he give/do for you that no one else can?

(Pause) I don’t know. I guess…a sense of peace.

• I see. Are you happy with your life?

Happy? Sure. Maybe. I mean, I love my family. And my daughter means the world to me. I have friends. But…

• But?

Well, I’m alive, aren’t I? I have troubles, just like the average guy. I’m working through them. Trying to find…

• True happiness?

Yeah. I guess that’s accurate.

• Thank you for your time, Lieutenant DeLong. I wish you the very best.

Right. Uh, you too.

 

Got comments? Place them below! Let’s get a chat going!

Lieutenant DeLong is featured in The Murder of Manny Grimes, available at B&N and Amazon in paperback and eBook. Blood Runs Cold is set for release soon! For more information or the link to order, click here.

Devil in the Countryside @CoryBarclay #bookreview

• Title: Devil in the Countryside
• Author: Cory Barclay
• Print Length: 348
• Publication Date: February 15, 2017
• Sold by Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• Formats:  Kindle, Paperback
• Goodreads
• Genres: Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery

It’s very rare that I would be tempted to give any book more than a five-star rating. If I did do that, then Cory Barclay’s Devil in the Countryside would be one of the few. It’s 1588, and a killer is terrorizing the German countryside. It’s rumored to be the legendary Werewolf of Bedburg. Investigator Heinrich Franz is assigned to find the killer, seeking help wherever he can get it. A priest attempts to keep the peace amongst the townspeople, while he attempts to fight against the temptation of a young woman that could destroy his most basic beliefs. They find themselves wrapped in mysteries, steering through the political and religious landscape of the 16^th century.

Devil in the Countryside was an extremely tightly written novel, keeping me on my toes the entire time I was reading. I did not want to put it down. The characters were three-dimensional and realistic…very memorable. In my minds-eye, the book played like a movie. I felt as though I was watching the scenes unfold so much, that at times, I had to remind myself that I was in the 21^st century. I felt it was that good.

You’ll not only want to find out who—or what—is piling corpse after corpse, you’ll want to find out what secret these characters are withholding from everyone else. You’ll want to find out if they can force temptation out of their minds. You’ll want to find out everything you can about this book.

The story is action-packed from the second it begins until the ending, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat. There were times when the dialogue didn’t seem up to par with the time; however, that didn’t even matter. The scenes were painted beautifully. For readers that enjoy historical fiction, werewolf hunts, and murder, I recommend giving Devil in the Countryside a try. It’s a must-read!

Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars

For more book reviews, visit https://angelakaysbooks.com/book-reviews/.

Biography

As far back as he can remember, Cory Barclay has always loved the “big picture” questions. How much knowledge did humanity lose when the Library of Alexandria was burned down? Why has the concept of Heaven remained intact, in one form or another, throughout most of human history and how has it impacted life on Earth?

And even before that, when he first began writing stories in grade school, he’s been fascinated with histories and mysteries. Whether Norse mythology, the Dark Ages, or the conquests of great leaders, Cory’s been that kid who wants to know what’s shaped our world and write about it. Especially the great unsolved mysteries.

So Devil in the Countryside was a natural for him.

Born and raised in San Diego, he graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz, where he studied Creative Writing and Modern Literary Studies. He’s also a songwriter and guitarist, and – no surprise – many of his songs explore the same topics he writes about – the great mysteries of our crazy world.

Devil in the Countryside is his second novel and he’s hard at work on its sequel.

 

“Blood Runs Cold” ~ From the Author of “The Murder of Manny Grimes”

I’ve recently submitted my second novel to my publisher at ThomasMax Publishing. With it being my second book, I’m both excited and extremely nervous! My debut, The Murder of Manny Grimes, was released last year, mid-September. I’ve spent seven years sweating over my manuscript, wondering if I’d ever get it published. Finally, it happened, and my “baby” is now available on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble for paperback/e-book. It has had some amazing reviews so far. I hope they keep on comin’!

Sometimes, you live with a group of characters for so long, they become a part of you.

A few readers asked me about a sequel, and I thought, “Why not?” Initially, I hadn’t planned on writing a sequel. However, I was curious as to how my protagonist, Lieutenant Jim DeLong would handle his job and home life. If you’ve read Manny Grimes, you already know that circumstances threatened DeLong’s very existence. Did he overcome his temptations? Well, if you haven’t read the book, I’m not telling! Shhhhh!

And now, Blood Runs Cold is born.

This next case DeLong will be involved with will be the most difficult of his career. It’s full of mystery, intrigue, new characters, as well as old. We’ll learn even more about DeLong–more than he wants us to know. But sometimes, secrets have a way of coming out! No one knows this like our beloved protagonist.

My publisher is working on preparing the book for publication. I don’t know the exact date it’ll be released. My hope is by the end of May or early June. You’ll be kept updated for sure! If you would like to pre-order a signed copy of Blood Runs Cold (or even The Murder of Manny Grimes), I will be selling them for $14–shipping included. If you’d like to order both, I’m offering them for $20! Again, shipping is included.

A New Case. An Old Memory.

A young woman has been murdered at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion and Lieutenant Jim DeLong realizes at first sight this case will be the most difficult one of his career. DeLong is immediately swept into the memories of his childhood and dark secrets he’s longed to forget. With no clear motive, DeLong questions his ability on whether he’s able to remain objective.

 
Check out my video for The Murder of Manny Grimes.
Check out my video for Blood Runs Cold.

 

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Biography

Equipped with a professional writing degree from Augusta State University, Angela Kay is a southern lady who spends her days and nights dreaming up new ways to solve dark murders of normal people.

Angela Kay was one of 23 across the United States to win a 2009 playwright contest for her one-act entitled “Digging Deeper.” Because of this, she was able to spend a week in Atlanta at the Horizon Theater Company.

She lives in Augusta, Georgia with her crazy calico, Maggie.