Psychological Thriller
Her Last Breath
By Dan Padavona$4.99 – $.99
After he’s shot in the line of duty, Detective Thomas Shepherd returns to Wolf Lake to pick up the pieces of his shattered life.
Published: March 2021
Publisher: Bleaknorth Publishing
What terrible secrets lie inside those doors?
It was to be an ordinary holiday by the sea for the Miller family, a chance to bond after difficult times; but when they meet a local family, the Trevelyans, they become embroiled in a dangerous and disturbing conflict with the unstable owner of Leybury Hall, and must face the terrifying truth of The Trophy Room.
Written in a mixture of second and third person, this novel about the evil doings of the disturbed and psychotic inhabitant of Leybury Hall. The novel flirts with gothic horror but is, at heart, the story of families brought together to face terrible truths. Children from both families play a central and disturbing role.
A young boy approaches the watchtower along the cliff path. He is alone and intent on some game which absorbs all his attention. He swerves and circles, arms outstretched, and accompanies each move with excited chatter. He is about ten and has a mop of untidy red hair, and a rash of freckles.
So intent is he on his game that he doesn’t see the low, wooden door of the watchtower open, and a man step out, at least not until it is too late. When the boy does notice, he pauses, and his hands drop to his side. His shoulders hunch, and he stands there, waiting for the man to approach. The look of fear on the boy’s face seems to entertain the newcomer, because he offers an unpleasant smile—close to a sneer—and takes up a position blocking the path. The man is gaunt, with a sickly complexion, and his clothes hang loose, like they were intended for a stockier man. He’s in his mid-twenties but has a pinched, shifty look, and a hollow face which makes him look ten years older. There’s something cold about him, too, and a glint of malice lingers around his mouth and eyes. He has the air of someone who would pull the wings off a butterfly, just for fun.
The boy senses the danger and looks around for other walkers, but it’s early and it’s October, and there is nobody else out. They are alone on the cliff.
‘Are you following me, Sammy?’ The man’s voice curls around him like a snake, then it darts a poisoned tongue. ‘Because if you are—’
About the Author
Barry Litherland is a writer of character-driven crime / mystery thrillers, sometimes tinged with the paranormal. His books have received excellent reviews and are commended for the quality and depth of the characters, the reality of the settings, the strength of the narrative and the quality of writing. He lives in the far north of Scotland with his wife and two springer spaniels.
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Published: February 2021
Publisher: Bedazzled Ink Publishing
Enter the mind of a serial killer . . . and lock your doors.
Edward Olson presents himself as the all-American guy. His stunning looks, captivating blue eyes, and charisma make it easy to meet women. But Edward has a dark secret—behind his charming smile, a vicious serial killer lies in wait.
Edward is driven to kill by an entity he calls The Darkness. Believing this creature is the evil that possesses him, he struggles to rid himself of the creature he thinks has stolen his soul.
Nurse Cate Derry, Edward’s naïve girlfriend, is the newest member of the hospital’s critical care unit, with secrets of her own. Her rocky relationship with Edward and her connection to a detective on the case plunge all three into a downward spiral to a world where no one is safe.
The Darkness is a harrowing journey into the depths of evil and the battle to overcome it.
About the Author
Robbi Sommers Bryant’s award-winning books include a novella, 6 novels, 5 short-story collections, and 1 book of poetry. Her work has been published in magazines including Readers Digest, Redbook, Penthouse, college textbooks, and many anthologies. As editor-in-chief of the Redwood Writers 2018 anthology, she supervised the creation and publication of Redemption: Stories From the Edge. Robbi’s work was also optioned twice for television’s Movie of the Week, and she appeared on TV’s Jane Whitney Show to discuss her article, “A Victim’s Revenge.”
Robbi is past president of Redwood Writers, the largest branch of the California Writers Club. Besides writing, her professional focus is developmental editing, content editing, copy editing, and proofreading. She is also a professional writing coach. Find out more at robbibryant.com
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Release Date: May 14, 2021
A psychologist shouldn’t be losing her mind, but Hannah is anyway. She needs a new job and lots of sleep—fast. Desperate for a change of fortunes, she contrives a meeting with her former classmate. As a student at Harvard, Rowan became famous on Instagram by chronicling a glamorous life.
The two women soon form an obsessive friendship, and Hannah is drawn into a privileged new world. But when a garden party takes a shocking turn, Hannah and Rowan find themselves suspected of murder. The Cambridge police start closing in, uncovering their dark secrets one by one. Now, the friends are unraveling—and by the time the truth comes out, one of them will be dead.
“Influenced is the sort of book where you end up staying up until the middle of the night because you can’t let it go. Hannah is a character you fall in love with… and then stay on the edge of your seat as her life spirals out of control. A must read for psychological suspense lovers.” — New York Times and Washington Post Bestseller Mike Omer
Excerpt
A sharp blow splintered the back of her head. Pain shot through her skull.
Stunned with the blinding pain, she stared out across the garden. The knock from behind had been a pure shock to her system, robbing her of rational thought. She wondered vaguely if she was ruining the party somehow.
She opened her mouth to scream, but she wasn’t sure if she was making any sound.
Gripping the railing, she tried to make sense of the world around her. A labyrinthine garden sprawled out beneath the old wooden deck. It stretched all the way to Fresh Pond, where dark water glittered in the distance. It should be peaceful here, but pain was ripping her head open, and someone was screaming.
Only now did she realize she’d dropped her phone onto the gravel path two stories below. It lay there, shattered.
Was she screaming, or was it someone else?
She nearly lost her balance over the railing, and she gripped it tighter. The feel of the rough wood under her hands sharpened her senses, and her thoughts crystallized.
Her friend wanted to kill her.
About the Author
Eva lives in Burlington, Vermont, with her husband and two boys. In the past, she worked as a school psychologist–something she draws on for her psychological suspense. She spends her free time taking photos of the misty Champlain lake and reading. Eva Robinson is the alternate pen name of the paranormal author C.N. Crawford.
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Psychological Thriller, Psychological Fiction
Release Date: September 14, 2020
Publisher: Prodigious Publishing
Steve Breiten is a college professor who has a long line of failed
relationships behind him. All he wants is a long vacation in the mountains,
free of drama and responsibilities, where he can relax, read, and maybe even
start writing his book. He didn’t expect a mysterious woman to walk into his
office – not that woman, the one who had been kidnapped all those years ago
and rescued after a tip he’d left at the police station.
Now, his plans for the summer have taken a dramatic shift. Tara Murphy is
determined to show her gratitude for his actions that fateful day, and she
won’t take no for an answer. As the heat builds between them, Steve finds
himself at a moral crossroads. He doesn’t want to take advantage of this
young, damaged woman. But he finds his resistance to her sexual advances
fading fast.
It’s only a matter of time before she leads him to the secret that lies
behind the woods…
Don’t miss this thrilling, fast-paced tale of love, lust, and
betrayal.
About the Author
Bradley Cornish is an up and coming romance and suspense author who is on a
mission to offer people with affordable books that inspire them and give
them unique worlds to escape to. As a young teen, he delved into the world
of writing soon after finding out he had a brain tumor, which kept him from
speaking for months on end. Writing became the go-to way for him to truly
express his innermost musings. What started as crafting poems and lyrics,
turned into ghostwriting, freelance writing and authoring books of his own.
He went from writing dreams to writing reality. His work has been featured
in Gecklon Press and many other news outlets. His forthcoming book is
entitled “Lies Behind The Woods.”
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Read FREE With Kindle Unlimited
Passionate Oversights – A True Crime Story” is about a man’s involvement with a girl he meets on Craig’s List.
It is only after he travels out of state and moves in with her, that he finds out about her dark secret. She is a Black Widow woman in disguise.
Suffering at the hands of a sadistic lover is only the beginning. He is arrested for a heinous crime, even though he is innocent. Physical and emotional abuse from a corrupt judicial system could possibly lead to his death. Through this journey, the reader discovers how one man used every single ounce of his being to survive.
This is a story of domestic abuse from a male point of view and is a must-read for anyone considering an internet based romance. Order “Passionate Oversights” today from Amazon, KOBO or Barnes and Noble.
Charles Massie, the oldest of four children, grew up in upstate New York. After finishing high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served a total of six years at various ports around the world. Returning to civilian life, he continued his education at Syracuse University. Upon graduation, he worked for a number of engineering firms before finding his calling in the sales field.
Having an entrepreneurial spirit, he decided to go off on his own and has been instrumental in overseeing such companies as Massie Engineering Associates, InfoTech Consulting, LLC, and CaterCats Catering. The call of creative expression has always been in the background of his life and over the years, he has submitted articles and stories to Twilight Zone Magazine, Readers Digest, Analog Publications and others.
His hobbies, when he is not writing, include progressive rock music, computers and other toys, traveling and enjoying the gifts that he has been blessed with. He loves animals, humor, exotic cars and practicing random acts of kindness.
He lives in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and New York State and maintains his website at: http://www.charleswmassie.com
Author Interview:
What inspired you to become a writer?
Over about 30 years, I submitted articles to publications like Redbook, Readers Digest and Twilight Zone magazines. In 2011 I decided to try my hand at writing a novel. The rest is history because I now have authored true crime, young adult, comedy and cookbooks.
What did you do before you became a published author?
I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering but my most recent employment was as CEO of an Information Technology company. I am now retired and writing fills my need to be active.
Is there anything you found particularly challenging about writing?
A long time ago, someone told me to just put my fingers on the keys and start typing; not caring about the output. I have found that sometimes I cannot come up with anything to write about, and this trick works every time.
Who are your cover designers?
I design every cover for my books. I have a background in promotion and feel this is a talent that suits me well at this time.
What authors are your inspiration?
I like to read a lot of different authors. John Grisham and Robert R. McGammon are two of my favorites. I also read Patricia Cromwell, James Patterson and Nora Roberts.
What advice would you give any newbie author or anyone that wants to pick up writing?
JUST START. Everything can be fixed at a later date, but that means nothing, if you don’t have anything to work with. Also, you have to write something everyday. It can be a story outline, a paragraph or several chapters; but you need to start first.
From the bestselling author of When I’m Gone and Working Fire comes a gripping novel about a mother, her missing daughter, and the dark secrets that engulf them.
Ever since her husband’s death collided with the birth of her daughter, postpartum depression has taken hold of Veronica Shelton. She can’t sleep, can’t work, and can’t bear to touch her beautiful baby girl. Her emotional state is whispering lies in Veronica’s ear: You’re a bad mother. Your baby would be better off without you. But not everything can be reasoned away by Veronica’s despair. Can it?
After all, the break-in at her house happened. The disturbing sketches she found in her studio are real. So is the fear for her daughter’s safety—especially when Veronica comes home to a cold, silent nursery and a missing baby.
As she turns from victim into primary suspect, Veronica realizes that only she can find her daughter. Authorities aren’t helping. They’re only watching. Veronica’s concerned mother has suddenly vanished from her life. And a new friend seems to be keeping secrets from her too. Now, reality is waiting for Veronica in a dark place—because someone’s mind games have only just begun.
“Engrossing…The complex denouement reveals one surprise after another.” —Publishers Weekly
“A psychological thriller in the vein of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, Bleeker’s novel (When I’m Gone; Working Fire) is swiftly paced…Readers who enjoy authors such as Mary Kubica and Kate Moretti may enjoy this title.” —Library Journal
“With a killer twist that no one will see coming, readers will be blown away by this one.” —The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
“If you loved Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, you will want to get your hands on this new psychological thriller…” —Take a Break
“[The Waiting Room is] not just thrilling, there is hope there, too. It might even make you a little more understanding toward those going through depression and/or experiencing the loss of a loved one.” —The Tulsa Book Review
“A twisty, turny, wild ride.” —BookBub
“Clever and unpredictable, The Waiting Room is psychological suspense at its finest. Bleeker ingeniously pulls aside the curtain to expose the dark underbelly of grief after a tragic loss. The story moved at breakneck speed and kept me on my toes, delivering an ending I didn’t see coming. Mind-blowing!” —Kerry Lonsdale, Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author
“Emily Bleeker’s books are always compelling reads, and The Waiting Room is no exception. I flew through the pages, desperate to discover the truth about Veronica. A wonderful tale of emotional suspense and heartbreak.” —Victoria Helen Stone, author of #1 Amazon bestseller Evelyn, After
“Fast-paced and suspenseful from page one, a story where nothing is as it seems. The answer to the mystery of what happened hovers just off the page, and just when you think you have it, a jaw-dropping twist will take your breath away. Fans of Emily Bleeker will not be disappointed.” —Barbara Taylor Sissel, bestselling author of The Truth We Bury and Faultines
Emily Bleeker is a former educator who discovered her passion for writing after introducing a writer’s workshop to her students. She soon found a whole world of characters and stories living inside of her mind. It took a battle with a rare form of cancer to give her the courage to share that amazing world with others. Emily lives in suburban Chicago with her family. Between writing and being a mom, she attempts to learn guitar, sings along to the radio (loudly), and embraces her newfound addiction to running.
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