I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The death of a wealthy man leads a detective into the heart of a conspiracy in author Jonathan Martinez’s “Dead Collectors”.
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The Synopsis
In the chilling novel, “Dead Collectors,” a seemingly ordinary day takes a horrifying turn when the protagonist stumbles upon the lifeless body of his boss in the greenhouse, the man’s latest fixation. As he gazes at the sky, his leg collides with an unexpected obstruction. The gruesome sight that greets him is the corpse of Sir Powell, his face a ghastly blue, one eye wide open in terror, the other a hollow void. A mysterious, fly-attracting white object rests ominously on the deceased’s face. Overcome with shock and fear, he lets out a scream, fumbling for his phone to call for help. This gripping tale promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, as they delve into the mystery of Sir Powell’s untimely demise.
The Review
This was a quick yet powerful mystery read. The author did a wonderful job of capturing the suspense and drama of old noir-style murder mysteries, and the haunting imagery of the story was vivid in its delivery. The tension builds quickly as the layers of the mystery unfold and the perpetrators of the crime grow bolder and bolder.
The character development and the mystery were the highlights of this narrative. The way the author is able to infuse great chemistry between the protagonist and the daughter of the victim was quite engaging, and the changing POVs allowed the reader to see the full perspective of every aspect of this murder mystery. The evolution of this mystery and the conspirator’s identities all allowed the noir genre to feel vibrant and alive on the page.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, mesmerizing, and engaging, author Jonathon Martinez’s “Dead Collectors” is a must-read mystery and suspense thriller. The twists and turns in the narrative, the shocking losses, and the captivating revelations as the conspiracy is blown wide open will keep readers hanging onto the author’s every word. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An investigation into an affair between a bishop and a high school student unravels a mystery filled with secrets and events far beyond anything a young journalist could have ever anticipated in author Mihai Serban’s “The Fallen Branch”.
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The Synopsis
Uncover Hidden Secrets with ‘The Fallen Branch’ – A Novel of Mystery and Intrigue!
In the heart of Bucharest, “The Fallen Branch” starts to unfold as Lisaveth, an intrepid young journalist, delves into the allegations of an illicit affair between a bishop and a high school girl. As she navigates this uncharted territory, she stumbles upon a labyrinth of secrets, hidden meanings, and extraordinary events that catapult her investigation into a realm far beyond its initial scope. This meticulously woven narrative seamlessly intertwines ancient books, historical elements with an undercurrent of mystery, creating a multi-layered tapestry of intrigue that extends even to the book’s cover. A unique exploration of the unanticipated, “The Fallen Branch” challenges readers to question the unexamined and discover the unseen.
The Review
This was an exhilarating and shocking thriller. The author did a fantastic job of finding an original and thought-provoking mystery that would entice readers and keep them on the edge of their seats as the story unfolded. The even pacing of the story and the imagery that the author’s writing evoked really brought to life the setting both past and present into the account.
The rich character development and the dynamic history that the author was able to infuse into this story really made the mystery and atmosphere come to life perfectly. The tension that built amongst the characters, especially for the protagonist and her journey as the layers of this mystery unravel piece by piece, is made even more fraught as the ancient pieces of this secret society begin to come into place and the dangers become even more elevated.
The Verdict
Heart-pounding, captivating, and engaging, author Mihai Serban’s “The Fallen Branch” is a must-read thriller. The mystery, the culture, the history, and the dynamic characters made this story feel like an international Dean Koontz novel, starting the inciting incident as an ordinary mystery and slowly revealing a shocking yet powerful threat looming just below the surface. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
The most powerful feeling of a human being is not love but the satisfaction of knowing.
I started writing 24 years ago. To this day I have written many things, plays, short stories and novels. Diving into the unknown has always been my passion. I’ve channeled this fascination into my latest novel “The Fallen Branch”.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man shot in his car leads an investigator into a web of conspiracy involving a group of white supremacists and a shocking series of murders in author David E. Feldman’s “A Divisive Storm”, the sixth book in the Dora Ellison Mystery series.
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The Synopsis
This dark mystery thriller features a stunning twist that turns the tables on the story’s white supremacy angle.
Ray Drucker is shot in the face while sitting in his car in a drugstore parking lot, and his wife has hired Dora to find his killer. Dora quickly learns that his murder is connected to another, five years earlier. As the bodies pile up, Dora and Missy find that the killings are connected to a dark and violent web of white supremacists.
The victims were all members of a club with a barely hidden racist agenda.
The Review
This was yet another truly compelling and captivating mystery thriller! The author has crafted a crime thriller that continuously keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, with twist after twist forcing the reader to question who the killer may be and whether or not the victims were truly victims at all. The tension was palpable as it built over the course of this mystery, from the personal tension in the protagonist’s lives to the tension that arose with each and every new piece of evidence that was found.
To me, the author has done an exceptional job of crafting characters that feel fully realized, and of creating a balance of chilling and heartfelt atmospheres using multiple POVs. The emotional and haunting perspective that readers get from the killer’s mindset and the complicated feelings that Dora gets as she investigates more and more of this case made this story so inviting, and the way the author was able to incorporate more personal story points like Missy’s family and the problems they face was great to see included in this story as well.
The Verdict
Thrilling, haunting, and entertaining, author David E. Feldman’s “A Divisive Storm” is a must-read mystery thriller. The powerful themes of LGBTQ-driven storylines and character growth, as well as the emotionally complex nature of this killer and the truth of these victims’ lives, made this a driven suspense thriller that readers will be talking about long after the book is finished. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
David E. Feldman has written seven books of his own and has ghostwritten many others. He has made three films, won 2 film awards and won a playwriting contest. He has an MLS degree in Library & Information Science.
You can find his books on Amazon.com and elsewhere, under his name, David E. Feldman.
They include:
The Neighborhood. (A standalone novel, about 4 fictitious families living in Valley Stream in 1973, one of whom is the first Black family in the neighborhood which was the author’s at that time.)
The Dora Ellison Mystery Series:
Storm Warnings, A Dora Ellison Short Story Prequel
Not Today, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 1 (a finalist for the Killer Nashville Claymore Best Mystery Award, 2022)
A Gathering Storm, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 2
A Sickening Storm, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 3
A Biological Storm, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 4
A Special Storm, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 5 (due out Feb. 21, 2023)
Percival (A standalone novel about a musician who contracts polio at the age of two and transcends his handicap and various mistreatments by an often cruel society, and finds joy and love. Based on the life of the author’s father.)
Pilgrimage from Darkness Nuremberg to Jerusalem
Bad Blood, a Long Island Mystery
Born of War: Based on a Story of American Chinese Friendship
His film, Everyone Deserves a Decent Life (directed, produced) won the Alfred Fortunoff Humanitarian Film Award at the Long Island Film Expo, 2014. His film, Let Me Out! (Written, directed, produced) won Best Psychological Thriller at the 2009 New York International Film Festival. His play, Love Lives On, was a winner of the inaugural Artists In Partnership Inaugural Playwriting Contest, and was produced in Long Beach, NY in Sept.-Oct. of 2022.
He has also been the owner of eFace Media (eface.com) since 1989, where he writes marketing and branding copy.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman arrives at the mansion of a billionaire in Kentucky to feature her horses in the upcoming Spring Meet, only to become engrossed in a mystery that forces her to escape a nefarious killer in author Sasscer Hill’s “Murder in the Bluegrass”, the latest entry in the Janet Simpson Cozy Mystery Novella series.
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The Synopsis
Janet is invited to stay with the billionaire O’Sullivan family in Lexington, KY, for Keeneland’s spring racing meet. Shipping her horses to the track, she arrives at the O’Sullivan estate only to discover it resembles a castle in a horror movie, complete with a dark and eerie tower.
Jealousy, rage, and sadness reside in this mansion. Sudden death and unraveling secrets leave Janet fearing for her life. Can she save herself or will a killer destroy her?
Sasscer Hill’s horse racing mysteries and thrillers have won multiple awards, including the $10,00 Ryan Award for Best Book in Horseracing Literature.
The Review
This was an engaging and fast-paced mystery. The tension that builds within this family unit that the protagonist comes across is felt early on, and the atmosphere the author builds made the story feel like a classic whodunnit, much in the style of recent films like Knives Out. The suspense the narrative builds as the mystery is unraveled layer by layer really keeps the reader engaged.
Yet it was the rich character development and the honest and thoughtful inclusion of the racehorse lifestyle that made this feel like such an authentic and gripping mystery read. The author’s ability to develop these characters and the long history many of them shared together in such a short amount of time was amazing, and the inclusion of the author’s personal experience with horses and the life of a racehorse breeder and trainer made the protagonist feel more alive on the page.
The Verdict
Mesmerizing, heartfelt, and chilling, author Sasscer Hill’s Murder in the Bluegrass” is a must-read mystery novel that you won’t be able to put down. The twists and turns in the narrative, including a surprise character arc and the reveal of the killer, will have readers eager for the next entry into this engaging series. If you haven’t’ yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Sasscer Hill: Author, Amateur Jockey, Horse Breeder and Mystery Lover
Sasscer Hill, a former Maryland racehorse breeder, trainer, and rider, uses the sport of kings as a backdrop for her mysteries. Her “vivid descriptive” prose about greed, evil, heart, and courage propelled her “Nikki Latrelle” novels to multiple award nominations, including an Agatha, a Macavity, and the Dr. Tony Ryan Best in Racing Literature Award.
Her 2020 novel, TRAVELS OF QUINN, is “A heart-stopping thriller of a murder mystery”– Charles Todd, Anthony, Edgar, and Barry Award-winning author.
Born an Irish American gypsy Traveller, can Quinn escape a dreaded marriage contract and the life of crime forced upon her?
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Morgan sisters are at it again, facing criminals, men believed dead but somehow spying on them, and big danger in the small Arizona town of Jackrabbit Junction in author Ann Charles’s “Twisty Tortoise Tussles”, the sixth book in the Jackrabbit Junction Mystery series!
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The Synopsis
When someone is dead and buried, they’re supposed to stay that way … Aren’t they? Claire Morgan thought so, but now she suspects the dead guy whose treasures she’s been digging up is not only breathing, but spying on her, too. Crap!
When someone is divorced from a pain in the ass, they’re supposed to stay that way … At least that’s what Ronnie Morgan had hoped when she dumped her husband. But then he rolled over on some bloodthirsty criminals. With him tucked away in prison, they’ll settle for taking their revenge on her. Fudge!
When someone is temporarily insane—Kate Morgan is not crazy, dang it! A few twitches and some mad laughter aside, she has a gut feeling her family is in danger. Big danger. The kind that ends with a lot of blood. Now, it’s her job to keep them alive.
The Morgan sisters are back for another round of twisty tussles and rollicking romps!
The Review
This was another brilliant addition to the Jackrabbit Junction Mystery series. The author does a wonderful job of balancing the humor and wit that the sisters exude throughout the novel with the actual mystery and suspense that the narrative tackles. The humor cuts through the tension of the plot perfectly as the mystery deepens and the sisters find themselves deeper and deeper into trouble.
While the action and the thriller aspects of the novel come through perfectly, it was the unique blend of romance and engaging dialogue between the characters that made the story shine. The funny moments between the sisters as they worked together and argued amongst themselves highlighted that perfect sibling tension that drives this series forward, while also giving the heated moments between the women and their respective partners their space to shine brightly. The emphasis the author gives to the supporting cast as well made the small-town element of the story really come to life perfectly on the page.
The Verdict
Thrilling, entertaining, and memorable, author Ann Charles’s “Twisty Tortoise Tussles” is a must-read romantic comedy meets mystery read that readers will love getting lost in. The relatability of the characters and their connection to one another, as well as the small-town life, made this story both compelling and exhilarating, and readers will not be disappointed in this fantastic addition to the series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Ann Charles is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes award-winning books that are splashed with humor, mystery, suspense, romance, supernatural elements, and whatever else sounds fun.
Currently, she has many fiction books available in several different on-going series.
From her ongoing multi-award winning Deadwood Mystery Series:
NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD (book 1–multiple award-winning book for both mystery and romance/mystery);
OPTICAL DELUSIONS IN DEADWOOD (book 2);
DEAD CASE IN DEADWOOD (book 3-one of Suspense Magazine’s BEST OF 2012 books);
BETTER OFF DEAD IN DEADWOOD (book 4);
AN EX TO GRIND IN DEADWOOD (book 5–Grand Prize winner in Chanticleer Review’s Paranormal category;
MEANWHILE, BACK IN DEADWOOD (book 6–one of Suspense Magazine’s BEST OF 2015 books);
A WILD FRIGHT IN DEADWOOD (book 7–one of Suspense Magazine’s BEST OF 2016 books);
RATTLING THE HEAD IN DEADWOOD (book 8)
GONE HAUNTING IN DEADWOOD (book 9)
DON’T LET IT SNOW IN DEADWOOD (book 10)
DEVIL DAYS IN DEADWOOD (book 11)
NEVER SAY SEVER IN DEADWOOD (book 12)
(Book 13 coming in early 2023)
Also available from Ann are the first five books in her Jackrabbit Junction Mystery Series:
DANCE OF THE WINNEBAGOS (book 1)
JACKRABBIT JUNCTION JITTERS (book 2)
THE GREAT JACKALOPE STAMPEDE (book 3)
THE ROWDY COYOTE RUMBLE (book 4)
A Thanksgiving novella titled, THE WILD TURKEY TANGO (book 4.5)
A Christmas novella titled, JACKRABBIT JINGLE BALLS (book 4.7)
IN CAHOOTS WITH THE PRICKLY PEAR POSSE (book 5)
TWISTY TORTOISE TUSSLES (book 6)
LOOK WHAT THE WIND BLEW IN (book 1) and MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT (book 2), the first two books in her Dig Site Mystery-Archaeology series set in the Maya jungle, are available on Amazon, too. These books star Quint Parker, the brother of Violet Parker–the heroine in her Deadwood Mystery series. They are filled with mystery, humor, adventure, and a plenty of heat.
She has a western paranormal Deadwood Undertaker Series in process that is co-written with Sam Lucky:
LIFE AT THE COFFIN JOINT (book 1)
A LONG WAY FROM ORDINARY (book 2
CAN’T RIDE AROUND IT (book 3)
CATAWAMPUS CHRISTMAS CAROL (book 3.5)
THE BACKSIDE OF HADES (book 4)–coming in Fall 2022
She has several short stories as well–DEADWOOD SHORTS: SEEING TROUBLE (book 1.5), BOOT POINTS (book 4.5), COLD FLAME (book 6.5), TEQUILA & TIME (book 8.5), and FATAL TRADITIONS (book 10.5). These are all short stories from her Deadwood Mystery Series. Also, she has THE OLD MAN’S BACK IN TOWN, a short story from her future Goldwash Mystery Series.
In addition, Ann has two novellas in the AC Silly Circus Co. Mystery series: FERAL-LY FUNNY FREAKSHOW and A BUNCH OF MONKEY MALARKEY.
Stay tuned for more new books by Ann coming soon!
Ann has a B.A. in English with an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Washington. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Western Writers of America. She is currently toiling away on her next book, wishing she was on a Mexican beach with an ice-cold Corona in one hand and a book in the other. When she is not dabbling in fiction, she is arm wrestling with her two kids, attempting to seduce her husband, and arguing with her sassy cats. You can find her on all major social media platforms.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A Hollywood photographer with trust issues in authority and a detective who happens to be the police commissioner’s son stumbles upon a mystery involving photos of a dead woman, a notorious murder conviction, and a secret society that will do anything to maintain its deadly control over the Hollywood Elite in author Anna J. Stewart’s “Exposed: A Circle of the Red Lily Novel”.
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The Synopsis
Working as a Hollywood photographer means Riley Temple has seen it all. But then she finds herself staring at the chilling image of a dead woman. When her questions about the film lead to violence, she reluctantly turns to the only person who can help. Detective Quinn Burton, the police commissioner’s son. Her history with the LAPD is complicated, her trust in authority, tenuous. But to find those responsible and protect those closest to her, she’s willing to do anything. Even trust a cop.
After more than a decade on the job, Quinn knows a dangerous situation when he sees it and Riley Temple is up to her ears in trouble. But not for the reason she thinks. The pictures she’s stumbled on call into a question a notorious murder conviction—one that powerful people have a vested interest in keeping in place. Seeing this case through means betraying someone: his job, his family, or the woman he’s falling in love with.
As old secrets are revealed, Quinn and Riley find themselves targeted by members of a secret society that has long maintained violent control over Hollywood’s powerful elite. A society that, until now, has remained hidden in the shadows. A society that will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.
The Review
I was instantly enthralled by this novel. The author does an incredible job of balancing out the romance with the suspense thriller aspect of the narrative. The way the author delves into the fabric of old Hollywood meeting a modern-day setting was so fascinating, as it allowed the characters to get lost in the glitz and glamor that was old Hollywood while confronting the seedy underbelly of the powerful elite that has always ruled the town.
The chilling and haunting nature of the narrative and the people behind the horrific murders that the story all elevated the rich character dynamics at play between the protagonists and the atmosphere that was built up. The way the author explores a modern-day Hollywood photographer in a way that adds heart and depth to their backstory and their personality as a whole was refreshing, as most stories portray these characters as sleazy or opportunistic. The emotional connection that forms between Quinn and Riley is great to see, and the connection to the greater world around them allows the tension to build not only between them but the greater setting as well.
The Verdict
Haunting, engaging, and thrilling, author Ann J. Stewart’s “Exposed” is a must-read romantic suspense thriller and a great introduction to the author’s Circle of the Red Lily series. The twists and turns that this narrative takes and the cliffhanger final pages will keep readers hanging onto the author’s every word. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Award-winning, USA Today and national bestselling author Anna J Stewart writes sweet to sexy romances for Harlequin and ARC Manor’s CAEZIK (Kay-Zehk) Romance. Her sweet Harlequin Heartwarming books include the Butterfly Harbor series as well as the ongoing Blackwell continuity series. She also writes the Honor Bound series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense and has contributed to the bestselling Coltons. Her Circle of the Red Lily romantic suspense series, published by CAEZIK, will launch with EXPOSED in November of 2022.
A Holt Medallion winner (BRIDE ON THE RUN), as well as a Golden Heart, Daphne DuMaurier, and National Reader’s Choice finalist, Anna loves writing big community stories where family found is always the theme. Since her first published novella with Harlequin in 2014, Anna has released more than fifty novels and novellas and hopes to branch out even more (horror romance, anyone?). Anna lives in Northern California where (at the best times) she loves going to the movies, attending fan conventions, and heading to Disneyland, her favorite place on earth. When she’s not writing, she is usually binge-watching her newest TV addiction, re-watching her all-time favorite show, Supernatural, and wrangling two monstrous cats named Rosie and Sherlock. Visit Anna online at www.AuthorAnnaStewart.com and sign up for her newsletter (giveaways in every issue!).
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A complicated love triangle between a man, his ex, and the married woman he’s having an affair with threatens to explode in a complex web of revenge and heartbreak in author Regina Buttner’s “Down a Bad Road”.
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The Synopsis
Longtime bachelor Ron Burley has a rule against messing around with married women in his rural upstate New York town, but sassy, lovely Lavender has convinced him to break it. Their steamy affair sets someone off, but it isn’t Lavender’s clueless husband-it’s Marta, Burley’s clingy childhood friend and ex-lover.
Marta knows Burley is on the verge of going broke, so she secretly tries to lure him with a lucrative job offer and some enticing fringe benefits. Although he’s sorely tempted, Burley’s afraid to trust Marta due to the sketchy circumstances surrounding their bitter breakup years ago; but this might be his only chance to get back at her for what she did.
Suspicious of her boyfriend’s romantic history, Lavender visits a psychic for a tarot card reading in a creepy cabin in the Adirondack woods. Watch your back, the psychic warns her. Burley and Marta aren’t the innocent people they’re pretending to be. Someone’s out for revenge, and this love triangle could turn deadly.
The Review
This was a truly compelling and captivating read. The author did an amazing job of finding just the right pace and tone to capture the devious nature of these characters and their outlooks on life. The slow burn that the author utilizes here as the story progresses and the interwoven lives that these characters lead made the story feel more explosive and alive on the page. The world-building and atmosphere that permeates the narrative really drew me into the story and found the heart of a great psychological and domestic thriller beating life into the fictional world around these characters.
The true heart of the story though rested in the unique characters the story utilizes. The way the author writes, the reader never truly knows who the true “protagonist or hero” may be, as each takes steps in both good and bad directions throughout the narrative. Yet as the story progresses and new characters are added to complicate the story for these characters, the level of deviousness that each is capable of showcases the theme of morality not being a black and white scale, but a multitude of shades of grey instead.
The Verdict
Memorable, chilling, and entertaining, author Regina Buttner’s “Down a Bad Road” is a must-read psychological thriller of 2023! The twists and turns in both the narrative and the character development will leave readers shocked, and the haunting story that unfolds as these characters come clashing together will leave readers breathless by the final page. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Regina is a registered nurse-turned-writer who was raised in beautiful upstate New York, where she spent many happy years exploring the winding back roads and scenic hiking trails of the Adirondack mountain region. She recently traded the snowy northern winters for the tropical breezes of the Sunshine State, where her favorite pastimes are kayaking among the mangroves, strolling the gorgeous beaches, and attempting to teach tricks to her boisterous corgi.
Join us as we celebrate the blog tour launch of Down a Bad Road by Regina Buttner. You’ll have the chance to read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book.
Return to A Lit Life to read a guest post from Regina Buttner about how a visit to the Stillwater Hotel in Upstate New York inspired the setting for Down a Bad Road.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An infamous Tech CEO accidentally discovers a means of sending back information into the past, but soon discovers the tech and financial gains pale in comparison to a far darker threat in author E.W. Doc Parris’s “The Dent in the Universe”.
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The Synopsis
It turns out “Move fast and break things” is terrible advice when developing a time machine.
To resuscitate his fading celebrity, tech CEO Stephen Lucas would sell his soul for one more hit. When the subspace network for his holographic gaming empire crashes, his hardware guru makes a discovery proving that Einstein was right once again— information can be sent backward in time.
Lucas sees a dream product for procrastinators. Want a pizza now? Send your order back in time 30 minutes. Forgot to make reservations at that chichi french restaurant two weeks ago? No worries. Buy that PowerBall ticket. Invest in that stock. Make a FaceTime call to a loved one that passed away a month ago.
It’s the time machine for the rest of us.
In a culture built on instant gratification, Lucas knows he has a hit that will seem like a dream come true on Wall Street. But when he rushes into beta testing before fully understanding the power he’s unleashing, he learns that the stuff dreams are made of can quickly become the stuff of nightmares.
The road to Hell is paved with cool inventions.
The Review
The author does a fantastic job of crafting a unique and powerful world that brings a rich blend of sci-fi and mystery storytelling. The detail the author puts into the more tech and scientific nature of the “time travel” element was great to see, and the inclusion of more business, mainstream-style approaches to the technology itself feels very real to the story being told and our own world as a whole.
This was the perfect emphasis on world-building and mythos that any hard-core sci-fi thriller has ever taken. The depths of character development and the realities of how our own modern-day “tech-bros” are seen by the broader public were greatly felt in this fictional world. The unique twist on the time travel element and the shift in tone as the sci-fi element soon takes a back seat to some more mystery, thriller, and even horror elements as the dark realities of any and all tech, but in particular this one, make themselves known and take the reader to a depth of internet hell that few could have seen coming.
The Verdict
Twisted, captivating, and thrilling, author E.W. Doc Parris’s “The Dent in the Universe” is a must-read sci-fi thriller you won’t be able to put down. The twists and turns in the narrative and the climactic finale will keep readers on the edge of their seats, and the atmospheric nature of the narrative will have readers invested in the author’s unique take on the sci-fi tech genre. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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E.W. Doc Parris has a new sci-fi/horror book out: The Dent in the Universe. And there’s a giveaway – a $50 Amazon gift card.
To resuscitate his fading celebrity, tech CEO Stephen Lucas would sell his soul for one more hit. When the subspace network for his holographic gaming empire crashes, his hardware guru makes a discovery proving that, though the mechanics may differ a bit, Einstein was right once again— information can be sent backward in time.
Lucas sees a dream product for procrastinators. Want a pizza now? Send your order back in time 30 minutes. Forgot to make reservations at that chichi french restaurant two weeks ago? No worries. Buy that PowerBall ticket. Invest in that stock. Make a FaceTime call to a loved one that passed away a month ago.
In a culture built on instant gratification, Lucas knows he has a hit that will make Wall Street sit up and beg. But when he rushes into beta testing, he learns that the stuff dreams are made of can quickly become the stuff of nightmares.
Warnings: violence, torture, body horror, branding, implied cannibalism.
Stephen picked up the keyboard and typed, Watson, come here. I want to see you.
Before he hit enter, the display on his right blinked and displayed a log entry. The display directly in front of him showed the log of the interaction, a white line of text that showed what he’d typed, Watson, come here. I want to see you, and the time sent, 630231 milliseconds. The display on the right, the one that flashed before he hit enter, showed the same.
Walrus said, “Look at the timestamps. The sending input occurred at 630231 milliseconds. The receiving event happened at 629931 milliseconds.”
Stephen looked puzzled. “The clocks are off? That’s a 300…?” he checked his math, “300-millisecond difference.”
Walrus grinned. “Negative 300 milliseconds. The clocks aren’t off.”
“The time server is off?” Stephen knew that was the culprit in the outage.
Walrus shook his head. “Nope. These two chips are in perfect sync to FTL time.”
Stephen stopped and thought. The message appeared to be arriving 300 milliseconds before it was sent. “I’m not getting it,” he said.
Walrus laughed and did his little dance again. “Yes! You are! Tell me what you see.”
Stephen said slowly, “The message looks like it’s being received before it was sent, 300 milliseconds before.” Walrus grinned, and Stephen continued, “But that’s not possible. What’s causing the discrepancy? If the clocks aren’t wrong and the time server was working properly…?” He shook his head.
Walrus’s grin widened. “It’s a time machine.”
Stephen leaned back a bit from the desk. “Right.” Walrus let it sink in. “What do you mean?” He thought Walrus was speaking metaphorically.
Walrus laughed and said, “I mean, this is a time machine.”
Stephen looked at the set-up in front of him. It was a hacked sChip on a breadboard and a couple of displays strung together with cables and alligator clips. This wasn’t a time machine.
Walrus relented. “I’ve tweaked the power supply to dial in a tiny phase variance in the I/O to this sChip, like our customer did by accident. The tensor array interpreted this as an attribute, sending the signal to a point in time before it was sent. 300 milliseconds before. About a third of a second.”
Stephen recalled the chain of events. The right display refreshed a fraction of a second before he hit enter. Examining the log, what he had typed was there. Watson, come here. I want to see you.
He frowned and thought for a few seconds. “A third of a second? It’s the least impressive time machine imaginable,” he said. “This crashed the time servers?”
Walrus nodded, finished his cola, tossed its crushed container in the recycling bin, and peeled open another. “Essentially. I’ve cleaned up the effect, and I’m not messaging the time server. The timeserver would have ignored an invalid time sync transaction. It’s programmed to dump garbage bits. This wasn’t garbage, it was a perfectly normal sync transaction, but the handshake was out of order. The time server software questioned its own reality. It wobbled, tried to regain its equilibrium, and tipped into cascade failure.”
“It’s fascinating, but…” Hard-wired by the last six years to search for a new product, Stephen’s mind was searching for a use for what he was seeing. “I mean, it is cool, but it’s useless—a weird trick of physics. What can we do with it?” He thought for a little more. “This is IP data?”
Walrus shrugged, “It’s a packet like any other packet.”
“So, if it’s packets, then it’s IP, then it’s anything. Form data, text, jpegs, audio, video, holo.”
Walrus nodded and grinned, “Sure. You could surf the web of 300 milliseconds ago…”
Stephen interrupted him, “Can we extend that? Could we rig these in series? Go back further?”
“We could do it more elegantly than that—How much further?”
“You tell me, what’s the theoretical limit?”
“Well, you’d need a receiver. So whatever we end up making would only go back to the first chips that go online. We make a chip today, turn it on, in a week, we could go back to that moment but not before, right? The longer we’re online, the further back we can send things.”
Stephen shook his head. “We couldn’t go back further than tonight?”
Walrus nodded. “There would be nothing to send it to. As soon as we flip the switch on our time machine, we’d be establishing a time horizon. But say we turned on a receiving device tonight. In a year, you could send a message back to tonight. That would be a year in your past. In two years, you could send a message back two years, on and on, until the end of the world.” He laughed and said, “You know that old site, The Way Back Machine? The internet archive? This would be like that but live. You could actually surf the web of the past. Leaving comments on a video from a year earlier.”
Stephen frowned dismissively and said, “What good would that do? I can leave a comment on that same video today. The entire internet is available back to the 90s.”
Walrus smiled, “But it’d be radical!” Radical was not the goal. Stephen needed a killer application, a product everyone would want. Walrus’s stomach growled loudly. “Man,” he said, “I’m starving. Wanna order a pizza? Hey man, that’s what we could do!” he said jokingly, “We could use it to order pizza a half hour ago, so it arrives…” and he snapped his fingers.
Stephen froze. His pupils widened. Instant Pizza. Instant delivery. Instant gratification.
The entire computer industry of the last forty years was built around delivering everything as quickly as possible. Meeting the desires of the customer. Right. Fucking. Now. If no one ever went broke underestimating the American people’s intelligence, as Mencken might have said, it would follow: no one ever went broke catering to their impatience.
Author Bio
E.W. Doc Parris is an American writer known for matter-of-fact, hard science fiction grounded in the current scientific weltanschauung, leavened with wit, and kindled by the warmth of human relationships.
Born within the nation’s capital Beltway, Doc makes his home in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. A self-taught software developer and solutions architect, he’s made a decent living over the years as a set designer, graphic designer, animator, 3D modeler, iOS developer, puppeteer, and educator.
In addition to his centuries-spanning WalrusTech Reality series, Doc is currently working on his next novel, Land of Nod, an exploration of A.I., nanotech, and the human brain’s neural network.
I received a free copy of this book in e exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A group of men at a ranch discover they have no memory of how they arrived at the location nor how their secrets connect to one another in author Brady Koch’s “The Forgotten Sons of Wyoming”, the second book in the All Our Forgotten Futures series.
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The Synopsis
The men at Trinity Ranch all have something in common: none of them can remember how they arrived there or the terrible secret they all share.
The Review
Author Brady Koch has done it again. The thrilling and captivating world that the author has built shows the depth of character development blending with the mind-boggling world-building that builds upon some of the mythos established in the author’s first book in this series. The imagery and atmosphere become quite prevalent early on in the narrative, allowing the reader to feel the contrast of the serenity the men in this facility feel clashing with the violence and shock that comes with working in a slaughterhouse.
The heart of this story came in the rich mythos of the greater story blending with the mystery and suspense that this particular novel brought to life. The compassion and intrigue that the protagonist and his fellow workers conjure up take several drastic turns as the secrets of their past come to life, even to them. The shock and awe that the narrative takes as the layers of the mystery peel away one by one will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
The Verdict
Memorable, adrenaline-fueled, and entertaining, author Brady Koch’s “The Forgotten Sons of Wyoming” is a must-read thriller! The tension and pacing of the author’s work really do an incredible job of drawing the reader in and the dynamic character development allows the reader to feel the shocking twists and turns that take the narrative into all new directions. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Feel free to read over Brady’s shoulder if you see him working on a new novel or short story at the coffee shop or library. Despite his penchant for crime, horror, and the unusual in his writing, he’s actually a nice guy and welcomes your feedback. Brady Koch’s first collection of short works, Guns, Gods & Robots, is now available. His debut novel, All our Forgotten Futures, will be available in Winter 2023.
