Book picks similar to
Dark Beginnings by Michael Robertson Jr.
michael-robertson-jr
mystery
supernatural-mystery-suspense
library-contest
Resting Witch Face
Hazel Hendrix - 2017
A mysterious murder that threatens to expose their way of life to the world. Flower farmer and average witch Gemma Iren has a big problem: a dead body. At first she thought it was a ghost, of course. Those are commonplace in Dewdrop, her magical hometown. Good luck explaining that to the police when they ask her why she didn’t call to report the suspicious death. The witches of Madison County don’t bat an eye when a dead boy turns up near the town square. Why would they? Not a single male family member has made it out of his twenties in countless generations. Her cousins briefly speculate about evil fairies and werewolves that may have killed him before their attention moves on to an upcoming annual celebration. Gemma doesn’t have that luxury. She’s a murder suspect now, with a mandate from beyond the grave to solve the crime. To make things worse, Dewdrop is overrun by tourists eager to rediscover their magical roots. Gemma already has enough cousins as it is! She’s related to everyone in town. And these witches are in hysterics about the clueless strangers who found their names on some annoying genealogy website listing the descendants of the family matriarch. Her ghost is scheduled to visit and bless the town, but this year Grandma is not very happy. Now it’s up to Gemma to solve a murder, appease an angry spirit, and convince these crazy witches to keep quiet about magic as two hunky police officers investigate their community. All this on top of her hexed, apathetic brother moving back home, a close cousin with a potion addiction and an anxiety disorder, and two bickering great aunts. Oh, and a magical flower business to run. Gemma is usually an optimistic girl, but it’s no wonder she’s got a bad case of Resting Witch Face. A full length paranormal cozy mystery novel, approximately 68,000 words.
Last Wool and Testament
Molly MacRae - 2012
Though Ivy has recently passed on, the members still meet regularly at her fiber and fabric shop, The Weaver’s Cat, which Kath has now inherited. But that’s only the first in a series of surprises when Kath returns to the small town of Blue Plum, Tennessee, to settle her grandmother’s affairs. There’s been a murder, and it turns out her grandmother was the prime suspect. Before she can begin to clear Ivy’s name, Kath encounters a looming presence in the form of a gloomy ghost. It turns out the specter has just as much interest in solving the murder as Kath. So, with a little help from the members of TGIF—and a stubborn spirit from beyond—she sets out to unravel the clues and hook the real killer.…
Forty-Four Book Twelve (44, #12)
Jools Sinclair - 2015
Nothing is as it seems. And it's going to take more than Southern hospitality to survive the night. A lot more.
Beneath Claire's House
Corey J. Popp - 2015
Popp comes a young adult, supernatural thriller that will keep readers guessing until its shocking conclusion. Sixteen-year-old Claire Young is tormented by a recurring, prophetic nightmare and visitations from gruesome, mutilated ghosts. She's convinced the apparitions intend to harm her widowed father, but there's little she can do locked away in Saint Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. Her situation is hopeless until a mysterious priest delivers the name of a man who may be the only one willing to help. Claire launches a daring scheme that leads her and her best friend to a former paranormal investigator. But the matter is complicated by Claire's own father. Convinced his daughter is schizophrenic, he'll send Claire back to Saint Thomas permanently if he discovers she’s still clinging to her delusions. Claire and her friends must tread lightly to complete the investigation, but amid bizarre twists and chilling encounters, she’ll discover her home's basement is hiding something far more sinister than just ghosts.
Possess
J.A. Howell - 2013
The catch? The last tenant, Brody Walsh, killed himself.Or did he?As disturbing dreams and hauntings start to occur, Harley realizes there may be much more behind the previous tenant’s death than a simple suicide. She finds her life further entangled with his when she learns that her new boss, Nolan, was also his best friend. Could this handsome but evasive pub owner have something to do with Brody’s death?Trying to piece together the events surrounding Brody’s death proves to be a daunting task, but Harley can’t give up. Brody won’t let her. He is still in the apartment with her, trapped in limbo until she finds his killer.But he’s not waiting for revenge.Harley’s next.
Haven Witches
Emma Watts - 2018
Not only does she learn she's a witch and has a powerful destiny linked to her long-lost parents but she soon discovers the quaint town is full of secrets, lies and an underlying darkness. As the sun rises and the body of a local scuba instructor is pulled from the ocean, Kelly finds herself drawn into a dangerous murder mystery that will challenge everything she believes about herself, the town and her family's history. With the clock ticking and a killer on the loose, Kelly must risk everything in order to stop the darkness from taking hold of another innocent life. Now if she can just get a handle on these new powers, her brothers antics, her batty aunt Barb, and a hot surfer with eyes for her, things might just work out.
Verona: A Ghost Story (Kindle Single)
Benedict Ashforth - 2015
Finally, a ghost story that reminds you why the basement is so terrifying!’ Brett McNeill of Rue Morgue Magazine ‘Ashforth does Edgar Allen Poe and Bram Stoker proud delivering a solid contribution to the literary movement. It is time that the ghost story made a comeback. With writers like Benedict Ashforth writing Abbot’s Keep, a revival just might be at hand.’ Matthew J. Barbour of Horror Novel Reviews ‘A really entertaining read with a delightful frisson of fear.’ Simon Ball of Horror Hothouse ‘Ashforth builds on the tension and the feeling of unease with each page to revel in a wonderfully tense and unnerving finale.’ Jim Mcleod of Ginger Nuts of Horror ‘Reminiscent of Poe, Abbot's Keep by Benedict Ashforth is a haunting novella with unique form and beautiful prose.’ Michael Bailey (HWA Bram Stoker Award Nominee) ‘. . . an eerie, atmospheric ghost story . . . has a gentle eeriness that keeps the reader wanting to find out more.' Julie K Top 50 Reviewer ‘Perfect ghost story.’ Christine Waddington 'Ashforth successfully builds a dark and relentless dread that steadily creeps through the text. Extremely accomplished.’ L Sharif ‘A gripping read right from the beginning. Couldn't put it down.’ D Boydell ‘I just could not put this story down. I wanted to know what happened as soon as I picked up my kindle. Strongly recommend.’ Mr Tony Cordon ‘The actual writing is wonderful, beautifully descriptive.’ Fiona White ‘I could not stop reading! it was as though I was in a trance, the story is captivating and very original.’ Safa R ‘A fantastic read, lots of twists and turns. Would recommend this to all Mystery readers. A book that is hard to put down.' Ms P Frain ‘. . . great plot and a well developed storyline. It is elegantly told with well built atmosphere and tension . . . a well conceived idea and would make excellent viewing were it ever to be dramatized.’ Cate Hamilton Read over 190 more reviews on amazon.co.uk
Witch Way to Nightshade
Penny Brooke - 2021
But she hadn’t perceived the extent of her powers…or the fact she was a witch.An elderly woman moving in across the street sets off a series of events that leads to Salem attending Nightshade Village, a college for women with “special abilities.”But upon arrival at the bizarre school, just as Salem’s true purpose reveals itself, tragedy strikes, and one of their own dies mysteriously.Will Salem be able to use her growing powers to solve the mystery surrounding the witch’s death? Or will her own life be in jeopardy before she can realize her full potential?Join Salem Donovan in the Nightshade Village series, a paranormal cozy mystery featuring a witch sleuth, magic and mayhem, and a mystery to solve.
BlowOut
Terri Reid - 2020
Carter (Louella Jo for the folks who knew her when she was growing up) returns to her hometown of Julep, Mississippi for her mother’s funeral. After flying out of JFK and arriving at the Biloxi Airport, she is greeted by a woman who not only knew her mother but has some disturbing information to share with L.J. about her mother’s death.A card file – Like any good stylist, Jeannette Carter kept all of the important information about her customers on index cards, filed in an old, metal card file. But Jeannette didn’t just keep the latest hairstyles and coloring information, she also kept bits of gossip and information her customers told her. It was innocent enough – she just wanted to be sure she remembered what they told her when they were together. But after a customer is murdered, the innocent card file could be the motive for another death.Bless Your Heart – welcome to Julep, Mississippi, right on the Gulf Coast. Where neighbors have known each other for generations. Where the local hair salon has more information about what’s going on in town than either the local paper or the local sheriff’s department. The owner of the bakery knows you by name. The minister of the biggest church in town has more clout than the mayor. And people say “Bless Your Heart” for all kinds of reasons, the least of which is when they’re ready to insult you.
Loup-Garou: The Beast of Harmony Falls
David Reuben - 2014
Helens wilderness is being haunted by a killer. Hikers, loggers, and local residents are dying in horrible, mysterious ways, and lawmen Bud O'Brien and Charlie Redtail are forced to think it just might be a monster ... maybe Bigfoot itself. Enter Cryptozoologist Dr. Ian McDermott, Ph.D., who struggles with his own personal demons as he uncovers the impossible and ugly truth behind it all - an evil more malevolent than anyone ever imagined. Loup-Garou is the first in the Ian McDermott, Paranormal Investigator series. Atmospheric, often beautiful, and always intensely scary investigations into what we were told as children were only myths and legends. The hunt is on.
The Going and the Rise
F.G. Cottam - 2015
This is the tale of a deadly conspiracy, an all-consuming obsession, and an unlikely heroine.Michael Aldridge, talented architect and devoted family man, has built his dream home on the Isle of Wight, but when strange coincidences take a sinister turn, he must uncover a long-forgotten secret before it’s too late.A wonderfully sinister new novella from the master of the chilling ghost story, The Going and The Rise questions how far you would go to realise your dream… and what you would risk to protect the one you love.
One in a Million
Tony Faggioli - 2016
Still, for one night it's not enough. Risking everything, he has a fling with a woman from the office. He knows better, but she offers a simple temptation.Napoleon Villa has very little: no real family, no real home. A veteran detective for the LAPD, he is a gray wolf in an ever-darkening world. When the call comes in that a young woman has plummeted to her death at the Los Angeles Hilton, it seems like just another case.Both men are running from something, and both are on a collision course. Fleeing his affair at the Hilton, Kyle runs into a stranger dressed in gray and possessed of heavenly powers. He tells Kyle something he never expected to hear: to save his soul, Kyle must prevent his first love - whom he hasn't seen in over 20 years - from making the same mistake he has. For Napoleon, it all comes down to a case long closed but forever open in his mind: that of a child murderer he failed to stop in time.Now, pursued by a detective with nothing to lose, Kyle Fasano, with everything to lose, is about to learn that with every choice there are consequences. And sometimes there can be hell to pay - literally.©2016 Tony Faggioli (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
The Butterfly Tattoo
M.D. Thomas - 2020
Jon, guilt-ridden because he forgot to make sure his son had buckled up, will do anything to save his relationship with his wife. Bartender Elle doesn’t believe in guilt, even as it accelerates her descent into alcoholism. Narcotics officer Harvey has been stealing seized drug money for months to pay off his grandparent’s debt, unaware his superiors are onto him. Their struggles morph from difficult to life-threatening when Lee’s spirit finds each of them.They all think they know what Lee’s spirit is after. They’re all wrong. Drawn ever-closer together, their mistakes and misdeeds accumulate until Lee’s spirit latches onto one of them, and if they can’t figure out the truth in time, everybody they care about might die.
Kiss the Witch Goodbye: A Nick Gibson Novel
Lisa Olsen - 2014
Nick Gibson and his pretty witch, Annaliese, as he tries to balance police work with premonition. Kiss the Witch Goodbye draws us into the gritty world of rock with a local band that's hit it big. But with fame comes misfortune, as someone is killing their fans and the evidence points to lead singer, Jax May. Ready to defend her old boyfriend with her last breath, Annaliese champions Jax's innocence - despite the fact that he's experiencing frightening blackouts and missing time. FBI Agent Natalie Fox is closer to the case than she'd like to let on, and does her best to convince Nick of the singer's guilt.Is Jax simply a local boy made good or a vicious killer? Will Nick choose cold hard facts or rely on his instincts to guide him to the truth? Will Annaliese be able to use her special talents to prove Jax innocent and find the real killer before it's too late? As more victims surface, the truth might be darker than either of them believe possible.Editorial ReviewAll our old favorites are back, Sergeant Nick Gibson and his team, Annaliese Cross and her witchy friends, and I especially enjoyed reading about how their relationships have deepened over the year since the first book took place. Nick's daughter Veronica stole every scene she was in, and it was great to see her getting involved in the case. We've also got some new characters, Special Agent Natalie Fox (or Special Agent Foxy as Nick likes to think of her) is there to cause a little trouble between Nick and Annaliese, barging her way into the investigation and his personal life with equal bluntness. As if that wasn't enough friction, Nick's also got to contend with Anna's ex - rock star Jax May who is "dark and dangerous, and very, very sexy", and just possibly a serial killer. With Agent Fox bending Nick's ear and Annaliese's devotion to her old friend, they find themselves on opposite sides of the investigation. Love them or hate them, they certainly muddy the waters of this murder mystery and kept me on my toes whenever I thought I had this one figured out. No one is what they appear to be, and there is a darker explanation for the murders than at first glance. As usual, Ms. Olsen delivers a taut crime procedural peppered with the supernatural, offering as much character development as she does drama. She's light handed with the magical touches, keeping it on the believable side rather than going for a lot of flash. This is another stand alone mystery, enough of the loose ends wrapped up to be satisfying, while leaving the door open for another in the series. You don't have to have read Pretty Witches All in a Row before you pick this one up, but there were definite spoilers to the first book in this one, so if you're going to read them both, best to start with that one first.