Chasing Moonflowers by Pauline Chow

A gothic historical fantasy perfect for fans of These Violent Delights, House of Hollow, and Enola Holmes, Chasing Moonflowers is a coming-of-power tale that asks: What truly makes a monster? In 1925 colonial Hong Kong, young herbalist Ling Shaw witnesses a murder committed by a bloodthirsty creature. When her uncle is wrongfully arrested for the crime, Ling is the only one who can clear the family name and find the real killer. Teaming up with her private academy best friend and a Red Society thug from the Kowloon Walled City, she uncovers dark family secrets, occult rituals, a vampiric curse, and a sinister plot to bring down the Canton Labor Strikes. Ling must overcome ancient and eldritch forces to save her family—and all of Kowloon. Email paulinechowstories@gmail.com for a reviewer's copy or ARC.

Resisters by Chris Campeau

January 1998. Record levels of freezing rain blanket eastern Ontario in a smothering sheet of ice. After days without power, cities and townships declare a state of emergency. Most folks find refuge in shelters, but some resist the call to leave—like 42-year-old Jeremy Skitter, whose countryside home is his only defence against an unfavourable world. But as his obsessive thoughts escalate, Skit finds himself less prepared than he thought, and up against something far more paralyzing than Mother Nature. A wintery version of Psycho meets The Fog, Resisters explores who we become when what haunts us won't loosen its grip.

Cataclysm: Triskellion Saga Book Three by Rodney W. McWilliams

Angela, Daxxe, Sierra, Tara, and Eli prepare to face off with the ultimate evil under Velis’ guidance, battling Erim and his ranks. He isn’t getting his hands dirty, drafting a new avatar with unfair advantages. To win, all he has to do is eliminate Angela, and his avatar has the ability to do it. The sisters are honing their skills, figuring out how best to fight, when Erim takes an underhanded blow at their family, trying to tear the heroes apart from the inside by using their own emotions against them. Angela is trying to step up as she weakens, troubled to her core. The trail is leading them back to where it all started, but now a shadow agency has picked up on the fallout. They are pursuing Angela, unsure of her intentions or threat potential, becoming aware of the secret war for humanity threatening their very existence. CATACLYSM is the sequel to DEMONS and the conclusion of the Triskellion Saga trilogy. It’s a freefall without a chute, making you hope the next page reveals something to catch you in the end. Are you ready to face the challenge?

Demons: Triskellion Saga Book Two by Rodney W. McWilliams

The killing of the homeless has stopped, but not the killer. Joe Anderson, Angela’s old partner, is following a trail of death across the United States, unsure of what he will find along the way, but not convinced Angela is dead. Angela, on her path to becoming an avatar, pursues Trokar with Daxxe, trying to catch him before he can set his new plan into motion. She battles with her own self-doubt with the help of some new allies, and the resistance of new adversaries. Destiny leads them to the birthplace of evil within the realm and the final showdown―but not all of them will survive. The fate of the world hangs in the balance as they fight the forces of evil. DEMONS is the sequel to SCOURGE and the second book of the trilogy. The ride isn’t over yet!

Scourge: Triskellion Saga Book One by Rodney W. McWilliams

Some fear the dark. Others embrace it. Rookie detective Angela Benson and her partner, Joe Anderson, have discovered a group of killers targeting the homeless of New York City. Desperate to prove her worth, Angela knows identifying the perpetrators of these heinous crimes is her best shot at being called one of the city's finest. As the murders move beyond the homeless, Angela and Joe begin to unravel an ancient mystery, revealing there's more to these killers than meets the eye. Watch as destiny emerges from the shadows to collide with the unseen, unspeakable forces, all as the safety of mankind hangs in the balance. SCOURGE is a literary roller coaster that will keep pages turning and lights burning for fans of urban fantasy. If your ready, leave the mundane behind and enter a world of magic, danger, and adventure unlike anything you've ever experienced. It all starts on page one. The only question is...are you brave enough?

Blindspot by Maggie Smith

From the author of the award-winning Truth and Other Lies comes a gripping suspense novel about an ambitious prosecutor on the hunt for her sadistic stalker . . . only to be framed for murder when he turns up dead. Rachel Matthews is used to stress—from the cutthroat world of the district attorney’s office to her escalating clashes with her teenage daughter. So when a stranger sends a lavish bouquet with a macabre message and leaves a disturbing video on her doorstep, she’s quick to act. Teaming up with an old classmate turned private investigator, she wades through old case files, searching for someone harboring a grudge. But before she has time to pinpoint a suspect, her stalker issues a demand—he wants money, lots of it, or he’ll hurt her daughter. Desperate to protect her child, Rachel agrees but soon finds herself fleeing a bloody crime scene, fearful for her life. Suddenly she’s in the crosshairs of a dangerous and clever enemy, someone who’s manipulated her since Day One, someone who knows her long-buried secrets, someone who’s framing her for murder. Can she solve the puzzle of who wants to destroy her and beat them at their own game before she’s convicted of murder? Fans of Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent, Julie Clark’s The Lies I Tell and Heather Chavez’ Before She Finds Me will embrace this taut tale of long-simmering revenge right up to its surprising and twisty climax.

A Crack in the World: the Reckoning by James Mordechai

USSR, 1941. In the frozen desolation of Siberia, a shaman unleashes an ancient entity from its slumber deep within an abandoned salt mine. England, 1996. The echoes of that distant ritual reach across time as Meren-Ptah, a foe the RPI Gran Maestro occultist Gino Marcotti once vanquished, returns. With the line between the living and the dead blurred, Gino and Carter Williams must unravel the mystery connecting the past to the present. What dark force has been awakened, and how can the mistakes of history be undone? When the past and the paranormal collide, only the dead hold the key to saving the living.

King of the Dead: A zombie romance by Ryana Hunter

Almost a decade after the fall of man, the undead rule the world, and somehow Renee is still alive. Only a teenager when the apocalypse started, she watched everyone around her die. What she doesn’t realize to the king of the dead is she’s a ghost from the past. So, when his horde takes the city and he sees her, Zane doesn’t hesitate to seek her out. Without knowing it, she is the reason he became the monster he is. Given a second chance, he makes her his own. He’s devastated when she doesn’t remember him, but he can’t let her go, not this time. Zane will stop at nothing to make her his queen. She had given up when Zane found her, but she’s furious he forced her to become his prisoner. When Renee learns the key that might save humanity and destroy the zombies, it breathes a new purpose into her existence. However, to understand the secrets of the king of the dead, she has to get close to him. They discover they are bound by more than circumstance, that life and death may not be what they believe, and they can be reborn through love. Together they can create the Kingdom of the Dead.

Cruel Orchid by Ryana Hunter

Val is a broken woman haunted by the evil of her past. She can't escape the ominous shadow that clings to her or the monsters, both paranormal and human, that threaten to consume her. Stuck between her loyalties to them and her own inner demons, Val must make choices that seem impossible. No longer just empty - Val is hollow, a shell of her former self. Ten years ago, she left Forest Haven and the love and acceptance she finally found there. Pain and memories are her only companions. Despite Madoc’s attempts to heal her wounded soul, he can’t reach her. Shattered by the loss of Val, he’s given up and given in to what he hates the most. Dev struggles to get from night to night. Now a full-time enforcer, he dreams of death. Val’s death and then his own. Bela and the twins haven't given up on finding their Sun. As their powers grow, they realize the only way to reach her is through Dev. They secretly ally themselves with him, biding their time until they can claim the freedom they left behind years ago. Can they reclaim what they have lost and still have a future?

Cracks In The Wall by Abagail Brown

Survivors know no other life. Abuse often starts before awareness of self, and others. Abuse is normalized. Questions lead to life threatening consequences. A few escape. Read their histories. Recognize those you know who may need a nudge to acknowledge the abuse they suffer from in their daily lives. Prevent continuing the vicious cycle of so many who merely exist throughout their lives.

The Child of Hameln by Max Turner

Elk Pass is a town cloaked in darkness and plagued by an unknown evil, where twenty years earlier all but one of the town’s children were stolen. That remaining child, now the deputy sheriff, is left to unravel corruption and cover up when his mentor, the town sheriff, dies unexpectedly. The mystery unfolds as a snow storm blows in, threatening to isolate the town, leaving Deputy Bobby Taylor to deal with a plague of rats and the monsters, both human and fae, that follow. This supernatural mystery and light horror is a dark fable set in 1980’s small town USA, and is a retelling of the German folktale The Pied Piper of Hameln.

The Soviet Network by Amerigo Merenda

The Soviet Network is a story that involves underground saboteurs who gradually dismantle communism’s monolithic ideology. For generations, citizens behind the “iron curtain” were persecuted by dictators who smothered freedom and sheltered tyranny. Family relationships, threatened by espionage and violence, suffered through a reign of terror. Russia’s authoritarian political history will show its ugly face when millions of citizens are denied human rights. Liberal democracy could not penetrate one party’s domination until a respected Ukrainian military officer, Commander Rypchensky, organized a disciplined underground network whose goal was to replace totalitarian despotism with a democratic government. Romantic relationships are trapped in a web of political turmoil where murder and terror rip families and loved ones apart. Reading The Soviet Network will reveal by contrast, how life in a totalitarian culture can destroy our human spirit.

The Student by Fern Goldstein

The Student takes readers inside the halls and classrooms of Abigail Adams Middle School on what turns out to be a terrifying and inexorable journey to the ending that is every teacher's and parent's nightmare. As we intimately experience the struggles of each of The Student's potential victims and of The Student himself, we feel teacher Sharon Bonavina’s frustrations as she tries desperately, but in vain, to reach The Student—until we end up cowering behind the way-too-thin wooden doors of Sharon’s classroom, watching the clock, wondering if help will arrive in time. Tick... Tick... Tick... We inhabit a world where children are shooting their teachers and other children as the people who should do something do nothing or don’t know what to do. As the other students in Sharon's classes all deal with their own problems and those brought on by the growing malevolence emanating from The Student, the book raises legal and ethical issues that urgently need answers; it raises awareness of mental health and the realities of what can and cannot be done in schools for students who struggle and for those who suffer because of them. It also makes us face fears that keep us up at night and trembling during the day.

The Echoes of The Elk's Estate by William Mierzejewski

One year has passed since the events in Iron River, Michigan and it’s time for another summer vacation! Liam, Boo and the rest of the family have recovered from previous traumatic events in their own way. To distance themselves from former occurrences, Will and Annie (Liam and Boo’s parents) decide to take a road trip to the sleeping community of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. This is the hometown of Claire, Will’s sister. A beautiful and quiet colonial borough located not far from the City of Philadelphia. What could possibly go wrong? Will plans to give his family a tour of his hometown. Enjoy the sights and aid his sister with a project that was very dear to his childhood, the restoration of the Elk’s Family Estate. Is there an inherent evil trying to lure everyone into a trap? Luckily, this is where Liam, Boo and their family and friends shine best. Working together, solving a mystery and battling monsters who harbor the forces of darkness. Will Liam and Boo be able to solve this mystery? Follow the signs and our crew of young people as they try to survive the ghastly pursuits! Happy reading.

The Local Legend of Iron River by William Mierzejewski

Liam, a 10-year-old boy, and Boo, an 8-year-old girl, are two kids from Chicago, Illinois sleeping comfortably in their family’s vacation home in Iron River, Michigan. Their vacation home, far from the big city lights and crowded, bustling streets, borders the Ottawa National Forest and rests peacefully a few yards away from the vibrant waters of Sunset Valley Lake. Tonight, the cool air from the lake mixes with the heat of the day and creates a dense fog while the Sturgeon Moon rises in the twilight. Suddenly, Liam is startled by a chilling howl outside his bedroom window. That’s when Liam sees the beast for the first time. Its terrifying yellow eyes pierce back at him through the darkness. Liam tries to warn his family of what’s out there, but no one believes him. His father assures him that it’s his imagination and the forest is home to black bears and grey wolves. But is the forest and this small summer town harboring a primal evil? How long has this evil plagued this area? Who else is aware of what lurks in the surrounding woods? And how can this beast be stopped before anyone else goes missing? Only Liam, Boo, and their crew of friends can solve this mystery. Follow Liam and Boo in the first installment of the Liam and Boo series, which features our main characters in a thrilling and mysterious adventure.

The Psychopath Club by Sandra Bond

"He's a good kid. He just wants to kill you." The high school misfits and loners who call themselves The Psychopath Club don’t know that among them is a budding serial killer, Darroll Martock. Now, thanks to an enigmatic creature from somewhere beyond imagination, he’s gained a frightening new power...and this cold, remote Midwest town will never be the same. “The Psychopath Club is dark, funny and plays with your expectations. ...A proper psychopath, an unwanted horse’s head and more than one slip into strange new worlds...drawing you on to see just where the outrageous Darroll Martock is going to end up.”Stewart Hotston, author of Tangle’s Game

The Villains of Everest University by Violet R. Hyde

William Armstead is a prolific weapons trafficker who dies suddenly and suspiciously in his office one night. In the wake of his death, William's son, Logan, is expected to follow through on his dad's deals. Logan is forced into the criminal underworld of illegal arms trafficking and must sell weapons to a terrorist organization overseas who are using the weapons to annihilate an innocent people group. As Logan begins his freshman year at Everest University, he has a change of heart and refuses to sell any more weapons. The operatives now make it their mission to kill him. As Logan navigates his own inner turmoil along side meeting the girl of his dreams, he resolves to end the slaughter and decides his own fate, but it just might kill him.

How to Slay a Demon Lord and Get away with it by Devi Letalis

Damien is barely holding it together. Struggling with the weight of his recent loss, he finds himself torn between his duty to Lariza and his responsibility as the leader of Lamia Vult. Just when he thinks things can’t get worse, an angry mob forms at the gates, blaming the cult for mysterious dreams that drain not only the citizens of the city but also the members of Lamia Vult. And as if that weren’t enough, Damien can’t shake the feeling that Damnatio might be lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. With pressure from the police and his allies questioning his ability to lead, Damien must face his demons—literally—and hope that he can save himself before everything falls apart. Will he survive the nightmare, or will he lose himself in the chaos?

Bring Out Your Dead by Heather Murphy

Secrets from the past cannot be ignored forever. After her mother’s untimely death, Lucy Fray discovers the existence of family she never knew she had. But Adeline and Edmund Fray have been living with a tragedy of their own - three murders that have gone unsolved for 40 years. When Lucy and her six-year-old son are invited to visit Fray House, they discover that secrets often long to be revealed… and ghosts can haunt us whether or not we believe in them.

The Early Girls by Yvette Joy Liebesman

The reunion of six women who bonded in nursery school is interrupted when one of them is kidnapped, and the friends plot a daring rescue. The ransom: access to the priceless invention two of the Early Girls created. There is a deeper mystery, though—for years, women in the area have gone missing, and the Early Girls inadvertently discover how and why. The Early Girls: -Hannah-- even at age three she was the natural leader; -Isha-- the most confident of the group; at first glance she appeared shy, but her smile betrayed that; -Mina-- she was petrified of being abandoned; -Francie -- her parents realized too late that a second child required a lifestyle change; -Vicky-- by far the brightest of the girls, much to the disappointment of her parents; -Amber-- her parents kept having children that they didn’t want…. Together they are unstoppable.

Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch

An entrapped lord and a magician whose sex life melts windows; will love destroy them, or set them free? Lord Thornby has been trapped on his father’s isolated Yorkshire estate for a year. There are no bars or chains; he simply can’t leave. His sanity is starting to fray. When industrial magician John Blake arrives to investigate a case of witchcraft, he finds the peculiar, arrogant Thornby as alarming as he is attractive. John soon finds himself caught up in a dark fairytale, where all the rules of magic—and love—are changed. To set Thornby free, both men must face life-changing truths—and John must accept that the brave, witty man who’s winning his heart may also be about to break it. Can they escape a web of magic that’s as perilous as love? Genre: Fantasy historical m/m romance Novel-length standalone book, approx 80,000 words

2033: The Year Things Fell Apart by Rebecca Doll & James Gordon

"A hyperreal tapestry of the death of a nation!" A disputed election…a terrifying future! Em, with her partner Ava and stepdaughter Sophia, left a tiny East Coast apartment for a lucrative IT job in Louisville that could fund their future. A disputed 2032 U.S. election and the rise of a powerful neo-fascist demagogue lays waste to her dreams while Em struggles to survive in the belly of the beast itself. Her government contract job turns out to place her in direct proximity to the most hated media figures of the new regime. She can hurt them, but at what risk in a place where her family’s queer identity makes them a target? In the rising fire of a Civil War, Em must struggle to survive and preserve something of her hopes, her family, or even herself. 2033: THE YEAR THINGS FELL APART Presents a realistic and chilling look at a dystopian world that may lie just around the corner. Beltway insider and political wonk James Gordon is writing again with Alternative Sexuality Educator Rebecca Doll to present a sobering look at a future that may be too close to our own for comfort.

Air and Ashes by Margaret Mantor

What if you found out everything in your life was a lie? After seventeen-year-old Emma Cross learns her mom didn’t die of cancer but was murdered, her life is upended. Forced from her home, Emma is thrown into a world hidden within our own, where Elementums—genetically engineered super soldiers who control the elements—are caught in a vicious war against the unstoppable Clinic. Emma is convinced she doesn’t belong there—until she herself is targeted as a rare Halfbreed. If she wants to survive and uncover the dark secrets of her mom’s past, she must train to defend herself against the Clinic while resisting the distracting allure of the icy Kaden Hale—a powerful, driven Elementum with secrets of his own. When Emma discovers a highly classified project that somehow involved her mom and could change the entire course of the war, there’s no turning back. Only three options remain: life in the Elementum world, death, or worst of all—capture. Air and Ashes is a gripping tale of warring elements, heart-stopping romance, and devastating betrayals, perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Darkest Star and Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone. Don’t miss your chance to join the fight against the Clinic!

The Haunting of Maddy McKenzie by Steve Rogan

The Haunting of Maddy McKenzie Maddy McKenzie [mmm, why does that compel me to sing about darning my socks all by myself late at night?]. Oh well. Anyhoo. Maddy’s a 36-year-old Wollongong detective, and a hard-line sceptic to boot; she doesn’t even believe in believing in the belief of believing those beliefs. After buying and moving into a house at Thirroul, which the realtor warned her was haunted, Maddy is forced to put her scepticism aside and come to accept that there may just be some substance to this spirit-world hoohah. As always, someone’s mother is intrinsically involved. Delphine Morgan, psychedelic hippy-type beach bunny, was murdered in Maddy’s new house in August of 1969 and, as a result, missed Woodstock by a week and a rippin’ little grand final between the Tigers and the Rabbitohs in September. Unless her killer is caught, belted with a phonebook by an angry old desk Sergeant and brought to justice before he dies, Delphine will be stuck in the wrong realm and inherit her killer’s violence for eternity, thus rendering her one of those annoyingly nasty spectres that aren’t too welcome at dinner parties. Delphine’s only chance is if Maddy reopens her cold-case investigation and tracks the old codger down before he runs out of puff. That’s the tear-jerker part of the story; the rest is just an utter load of old tosh!

Liminal Space by Vicki-Ann Bush

Two worlds, a desperate fate, and the secret that binds them. A weekend getaway turns dark when friends Jesse and Micah witness a woman drenched in blood screaming in the middle of a casino. Security quickly whisks the woman away and the two friends are left shaken. Trying to get past what they saw, they attempt to move forward with their plans. But when mysterious events continue to occur, like a town appearing and disappearing from the view in their hotel room, the girls begin to wonder if their weekend getaway is a weekend nightmare. Their curiosity drives them to seek out and investigate the vanishing town. Initiating a journey that leads to a truth much bigger than they could ever have imagined and changing their lives forever.

Legacy by Brendan Halpin

It's understood that Colin will go to Harvard, like his brother Jake and many generations of his family before him. But Colin has other plans: sailing, getting high, and hooking up with girls.  Until a forbidden love changes his life and sets him on a new path. Or so he thinks. Colin is about to discover that the truth about the life he's preparing for is darker and more twisted than he ever imagined.

How I Found Her by Brendan Halpin

Jen lost her job and her husband (and the contents of their joint bank accounts) in the same week, going from wealthy to working class overnight. Struggling to make ends meet as a gig worker, she enters an apartment for a dog walk and finds the murdered body of the woman her husband left her for. The police believe Jen is the killer and aren’t interested in any other suspects, so it’s up to Jen, with the help of her college-aged daughter and her fellow gig worker and new friend Susan, to find the real killer.

Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles

Will Darling came back from the Great War with a few scars, a lot of medals, and no idea what to do next. Inheriting his uncle’s chaotic second-hand bookshop is a blessing...until strange visitors start making threats. First a criminal gang, then the War Office, both telling Will to give them the information they want, or else. Will has no idea what that information is, and nobody to turn to, until Kim Secretan—charming, cultured, oddly attractive—steps in to offer help. As Kim and Will try to find answers and outrun trouble, mutual desire grows along with the danger. And then Will discovers the truth about Kim. His identity, his past, his real intentions. Enraged and betrayed, Will never wants to see him again. But Will possesses knowledge that could cost thousands of lives. Enemies are closing in on him from all sides—and Kim is the only man who can help. A 1920s m/m romance trilogy in the spirit of Golden Age pulp fiction.

The Secrets That They Keep by T.M. Lore

The Secrets That They Keep is a gritty and dark thriller with morally complex characters. Alyx Beck is caught in a nasty web. Driven by her determination to care for her neurodivergent twin brother she navigates a treacherous world where sex and money intertwine. As events spiral, both their lives hang in the balance and survival becomes the ultimate goal. Sometimes for the fly to survive it must kill the spider. Alyx has to fake it several times a day. Fake the desire, the lust, and the orgasms. What she doesn't have to fake is her love for her neurodivergent twin brother or her allegiance to her employer. She'll do whatever her handler requires of her. They've taken care of her since her parents died tragically, and they've never steered her wrong. They pay her well so she can care for her brother's needs, too. However, when Alyx's driver/bodyguard-and only friend- Sasha, goes missing with $100K, her devotion can no longer shield her from her handler's wrath. As events spiral Alyx realizes-a little too late-that she has been backing the wrong people. She's caught in a sticky web and there is only one way out-but she may have to get a little blood on her hands.It's Promising Young Woman meets Filthy Rich, with a touch of Haunting Adeline, Gone Girl, and Luckiest Girl Alive.This dark thriller has a female protagonist, neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ characters

Bound By Mischief by J. Lynn Carr

Harvest Rosenbloom hasn’t always been the best sister—but, by mischief, she’s going to make things right again, no matter the cost. Harvest has magic in her veins and a second-sight that sets her apart, but at the Bureau’s missing persons division, her talents are gathering dust. Stuck behind a desk and drowning in paperwork, she knows she’s capable of more, if only her boss would see it. Everything changes when Harvest receives a desperate, cryptic message from her estranged sister, Hazel. Haunted by years of guilt and missed opportunities, Harvest is determined to find her sister and make amends. She teams up with Agent Quinn, a centuries-old vampire who’s seen it all, or so he thinks. What starts as a seemingly straightforward investigation brings them to the seedy underbelly of a vampire criminal network to Death's door and beyond. Can they solve the mystery before time runs out, or will Harvest lose her sister forever?

A Crime in 5C by Eryn Scott

Meg Dawson’s world is turned upside down when her Aunt Penny makes a surprise appearance at the Seattle apartment building she once called home. But beneath Penny's visit lies a mystery that could rock the very foundations of the Morrisey community. During her visit, Penny breathes new life into the beloved Morrisey Masterpiece Classic, an annual building scavenger hunt. Tensions soar and rivalries ignite among the residents, including Meg and Laurie. But what starts as a friendly competition soon takes a dark turn when apartment 5C is ransacked and a body is discovered. Suddenly, the scavenger hunt transforms into a deadly game of cat and mouse, with Meg and her neighbors unwittingly caught in the crosshairs. As the stakes rise and suspicions mount, they must band together to uncover the truth before it's too late. Only one question remains: Who will emerge unscathed from this twisted tale of intrigue and betrayal.

Welcome to Cemetery by C. J. Daley

Stephen King has Castle Rock. Josh Malerman has Goblin. E. Reyes has Devil’s Hill. Now C. J. Daley welcomes you to Cemetery. A strange town with a strange name, Cemetery, NY is filled with crime and secrets. When a car accident one fateful night leads to a search for two missing bodies, detectives Abby Williams – an almost-thirty year old with something to prove – and Ed Reyes – a jaded, senior officer with a career as long as his partner is old – set out to solve the latest mystery. Before long, a string of missing persons becomes a collection of bloodless bodies that has even the police pathologist stumped. As the bloodshed continues, it becomes clear that the gruesome killings plaguing the town of Cemetery may not be the handiwork of some shadowy figure but of something even more sinister. As detectives Williams and Reyes start to question the world around them, can they learn to put their differences aside? Or will the investigation of a lifetime be the end of their lives? In this fast-paced small town horror, nothing is as it seems. “Beneath a web of lies and secrets, exists a small town plagued by masked figures and a growing body count. Daley shoves the reader headfirst into a nightmarish investigation where the deeper you dig, the more you realize some stories should stay buried. Welcome to Cemetery.” —Nick Roberts, best-selling author of MEAN SPIRITED and THE EXORCIST’S HOUSE

Neo Shanghai Overdrive by W. J. Sam

The Game Is On. In the year 2048, 4 billion humans now live within the Metaverse. She Lo Ke, a renowned detective and elite gamer, was rescued from a psychiatric hospital in Shanghai by a doctor, Q. Together, they were tasked with investigating a mysterious accident from five years ago, potentially exposing a scandal within the gaming industry. Meanwhile, a mysterious overseas investor, calling themself “Count ∅,” arrived in the Metaverse’s server, “Dreamland Void,” through a virtual projection and announced a crime during a game jam festival. In the sprawling megacity of Shanghai, a revenge plot is unfolding. Can the detective outwit the schemes of a tech billionaire? Will the doctor save those trapped deep within the Metaverse as Neuro wanderers? New Shanghai A Metaverse Crime Mystery is the first book in the Metaverse Detectives series, following She Lo Ke and Dr. Qu as they solve thrilling Neo-Era mysteries in the Metaverse. It masterfully blends Sherlock Holmes with The Count of Monte Cristo in a near-future Shanghai, full of homages to classic literature, suspense, humor, and reflections on technology and society. When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, must be the truth! - no matter how virtual the world! Don't hesitate! Log in now to navigate through the sci-fi author W.J. Sam’s incredible Metaverse universe and start your cyberpunk detective adventure today!

Neo Chongqing Glitch by W. J. Sam

New forms of life. New forms of crime. In the famous cyberpunk city of Chongqing, 2042, young police officer Lei Yijun faces a daunting challenge as he re-investigates a suspenseful accident that occurred six years ago. A peculiar journalist seems to know too much about the details of the case, and the novel he wrote raises Lei's suspicions. As the young leader of the Special Tech-crimes Action Team, Lei must seek the truth through these uncertain narratives from a novel angle. Mysteries in narratives will never die, even in the new era, where humans live in a metaverse with advanced technologies in computer science and robotic automation. Will Officer Lei be able to combat the neo-criminal minds? Neo Chongqing Glitch is the prequel novella to the Metaverse Detectives series, a metaphysical science fiction blend of detective crime, suspense, and mystery, by the author, W. J. Sam. It combines witty banter with classic tropes and intricate cyberpunk world-building. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes and Cyberpunk 2077. Dive into the enigmatic world of Neo Chongqing Glitch today and unravel the mysteries of the metaverse. Grab your copy now and join Lei Yijun on his thrilling quest for truth!

Tesla and the Pyramid by Jenner Brown

Columbia professor Tony Koviak thinks he knows the ancient world—until a CIA analyst on the run from her own agency crashes into his life with classified research that proves humanity’s history is a lie. She needs his help decoding Tesla’s cryptic final invention—a revolutionary discovery that the genius perfected during a decade of self-imposed isolation. Teaming up with a maverick geophysicist, they race to decipher Tesla’s mind-bending technology and unravel a conspiracy stretching back to the last Ice Age. With time running out, they journey from the streets of New York to ancient sites across the globe, piecing together clues that link Tesla’s masterpiece to remote prehistory. But they’ll have to stay one step ahead of intelligence agencies, hostile governments, and a hidden cabal guiding humanity’s fate—one hell-bent on keeping us in the dark about our true past. History isn’t just written by the winners—it’s erased by them. But Nikola Tesla has left behind an unthinkable way to fight back.

Chronicles of the Median by Nicholas House

A Median isn't something anyone chooses to be, it's just something you are. A living bridge between the worlds of the living and the dead. Now, long forgotten forces threaten the fine balance kept by the Medians and Richard is forced to face perils that would change his life forever. Setting into motion events that leave the world in the hands of the wrathful dead, Richard must work to set things right and find the truth of what it means to be a Median.

The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles

A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell. Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn’t expect it to turn up angry. Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude…and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual. Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn’t the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.

Youtopia by Joseph Rein

In the individual, virtual-reality-like mind space of Youtopia, “Immersers” can live in their own perfect world, but chaos ensues when an Immerser is murdered inside his Youtopia. FBI Special Agent Anabel Downer, one of the Bureau’s best, is assigned to the case. In her investigations of the mysterious murder, she interviews Youtopia’s staunchest supporters and naysayers, and gathers clues about the seedier sides of Immerser life. Along the way, she encounters her own troubled past, and questions herself what is real. As the killer escalates his efforts, Ana must confront not only the hardest case of her life, but also her own demons. EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS the first intriguing installment in the “Youtopia” series of techno-thriller/sci-fi/crime adventures, which, though fiction, seems all too possible in the real world... real soon.

Revenge of the Bakeneko by VB Scott

A dice game in the hands of Takana Gozen is anything but a matter of chance. Takana covets golden ryō coins almost as much as she hates yakuza, and she is a master at manipulating both as she hosts backroom gambling events to pay off her deadbeat father’s debt. She’s spent the last eight years wandering the Nikkō Kaidō highway, living the life of a homeless vagabond—stealing, cheating, and killing—all in the never-ending pursuit of coin. Instigated by the lowliest of prostitutes in the brothel Takana’s mother runs, a series of brutal, deadly events break Takana out of debt, and she earns the power to oppose the very structures that bound her. The found family she collects along the way looks to her for leadership, and together they form their own yakuza clan—the most prosperous and feared in all of Eastern Nihon--The Bakeneko Clan. Takana has trained her whole life to survive deadly encounters, but the risks that come with being a clan head come in more forms than katana and kunai. Protection, love, compassion, friendship, and sacrifice will all be necessary if she is to survive her new life—a life that proves to be more dangerous and unfulfilling than the old one.

Alex McKenna and the Academy of Souls by Vicki-Ann Bush

No dark entities shall pass through this shield, as I will it ... so shall it be. Alex McKenna's plans for a couple of supernatural-free days are interrupted by an ominous visit from the ghost of seven-year-old Haven. The little girl needs his help and he's willing to risk his life to save her after-life. Despite his great-grandmother's warning, he choose to cross the bridge between the living and the dead to assist her. The trip lands Alex and his girlfriend at a high school known as the Academy of Souls. The ghostly campus for dead teens is a safe place for those who are unable to complete their after-life journey. There they meet Ophelia, Haven's older sister, who has been searching for her for more than a century. To reunite the sisters, Alex must cross the teacherous terrain of the in-between realm known as the Underworld, and rescue Haven from the clutches of the Soul Gatherer. A demonic spirit that feeds off of the souls of children. Could this be Alex's last case or will he keep his promise to Haven and save her soul before it's too late?

Beyond Hope by Rob Neto

What do you do when you become separated from your dive buddy during a cave dive? How long do you look for your dive buddy? How far do you push your breathing air reserves before deciding you need to save yourself and exit the cave? Beyond Hope goes in a completely different direction from Rob Neto's previous two books. The entire story takes place underwater during a cave dive.Joey and Lindsey take their first trip to Mexico to see what the underwater caves there have to offer. One of the cave dives they do proves to be challenging, very challenging. It also pushes Joey and Lindsey to their limits while testing their faith and having them question some of their life choices. Three people. Three hours. It’s a race against time. It’s a race to stay alive. Joey Simmons and Lindsey Carter are back. This time they take you to Cozumel, Mexico, where they enter a cave with their friend, Gary. They become separated from each other more than 2000 feet inside the cave. They frantically search for each other as they breathe the limited air in their scuba tanks. Will they find each other? Will they make it out of the cave alive? Or are they Beyond Hope?

Into the Darkness Beyond by Rob Neto

Winner of the 2024 Bronze Global Book Award in Suspense Action! Lies, Suspense, Deceit. Joey Simmons doesn't always make the best decision, even after getting certified as a cave diver. He's found himself in another situation, this time more than 2000 feet from the cave opening, and it almost cost him his life. He was able to get himself out of it. Only this time, someone else took credit for rescuing Joey. Not only that, but this person exaggerated the details of the rescue and made Joey look bad, very bad. Now Joey needs to figure out a way to redeem himself and repair his reputation. Joey enlists the help of his girlfriend, Lindsey Carter, as well as two new friends, and they try to figure out what to do. But the situation gets worse and Lindsey gets caught in the middle. How will Joey and Lindsey be able to make things right?

Beyond the Grate by Rob Neto

In 2010, a diver named Ben McDaniel was seen diving Vortex Spring in Ponce de Leon, Florida. Someone noticed his truck parked one the property, but Ben hadn't been seen in two days. Rob Neto was one of the divers called out to go into the cave at Vortex Spring to look for Ben's body and bring it out to his family. Rob went to the back of the cave where it gets too small for a person to fit. He checked the two small offshoot tunnels. He didn't find the body. Several other divers looked over the next few weeks. Ben's body was never found. More than fourteen years later, we still don't know what happened to Ben McDaniel. In 1991, a metal grate was placed about 300 feet inside the cave after 13 divers had died in there. It was placed there to prevent divers from going into the smaller, deeper part of the cave. After Ben's disappearance, we learned he had been manipulating the grate and going into the cave beyond it. Someone even admitted to knowing Ben was doing this. The owner of the springs was facing charges of aggravated assault for beating an employee with a baseball bat. Later, he died under mysterious circumstances. Did Ben die in that cave in August 2010? Did someone find his body, remove it, and dispose of it to avoid bad publicity? This is where the truth ends, and the story begins. Beyond the Grate is a thriller that explores one possible explanation for the disappearance of Ben McDaniel. Could this story be true? Winner of the 2023 Silver Global Book Award in Thrillers and Suspense! * * * Far inside a dark underwater cave someone placed a grate to keep divers out of the reaches beyond. But the grate doesn’t keep everyone out. Joey Simmons had only recently gotten scuba certified. But he was already doing dives far more advanced than his skill level - cave diving, decompression diving, deep diving in the Gulf of Mexico in the middle of the night. Part of this was out of his own carelessness. Part of it was because he was being manipulated. Read what happens when Joey makes an unexpected discovery and naively tells someone he thinks he can trust, only to find himself in a position where he is forced to lie to his parents, lie to the police, and lie to the woman he has fallen in love with. All while also having to protect her from the same evil man that is controlling Joey. Inspired by true events.

The Moon's Crimson Valleys by R.I. Károly

Clara used to say the weirdest things. But when she compares her engagement ring to the moon carved with beautiful crimson valleys, Bill starts to suspect that there is something more to her words. After he discovers that she has a rare condition and urges her to undergo surgery, their lives seem to return to their normal flow. But despite his care and selfless aid in her recovery, he is left baffled by the woman Clara is turning into. Disconnected yet reckless, he fears what she would do if left to her own devices. An accident that results in not only the injury of Clara’s hand, but the ruin of her wedding dress finally opens his eyes. He must never leave her alone.

Our Darkest Summer by Hanga E. Pavel

A cold case is what brought Thomas Rhodes back to the lakeside town. His mother’s case, to be certain.It had been almost twelve years since Elizabeth Rhodes disappeared, and Thomas was finally back to prove the police wrong. There was just one error in his plan: he didn’t arrive alone. Kinsley Green was coaxed into going to the lake house for the summer, but she still had some doubts. Doubts because of a certain dark-haired boy she was supposed to hate. However, as soon as she got a glimpse of the sunny lake town, the doubts faded into the back of her mind…until that night in the woods. Was this vacation really about partying and relaxing, like she had been promised, or was there something more going on here? Something dark? One thing was clear: Thomas and Kinsley had to put aside their history and work together if Thomas had any hope of finally getting to the bottom of his mother’s disappearance. But as they dig deeper, it’s not just their relationship changing but the case around them too. The question is, will they solve it before they become the next case to be solved?

The Truths We Make by Samantha Jon

EVANGELINE PIERCE knew falling in love with a Poe boy was a mistake. She knew it when she was seven and at twenty-seven, she knows it still. After eight years on her own, trying to leave behind the emotional wounds that just won’t heal, she’s called back to Dellbrook to mourn the death of PAXTON POE. In the halls of her childhood home lay memories she’d rather forget, and her ghosts aren’t the only ones demanding to be heard; Paxton has left a letter. One that his brother, OLIVER, insists reveals he didn’t just die. He was murdered. And Oliver can’t solve the riddle without her. As they delve deeper through clues, what happened to Paxton gets ever closer to being unveiled. But so do Oliver and Eve, bringing their history sharply into focus. For Eve to get closure, she must confront the past and the scandal that tore them all apart—no matter the cost. And to have any hope of solving the mystery of Paxton’s death, she must ask herself if generational chains can be broken and if love will ever be enough. But it’s a truth universally acknowledged, that you should believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see, especially when dealing with a Poe…

Jurassic Jemma and the Trail of Evil by John J. Delaney

When your life seems perfect do you ever think about what might be around the next corner? With a loving husband, two lovely children and a new grandchild, 'Jurassic' Jemma's life is complete but evil is watching from afar with envious eyes. After one excavation solved an old family mystery, her next discovery ended up with a death on a Dorset cliff. Join Jemma on an international quest in pursuit of the evil that threatens her family life. Will her life ever be the same? A gripping tale of intrigue and suspense.

Jurassic Jemma and the Mysteries of Time by John J. Delaney

Revenge is a dish best served cold. Fossil hunter, ‘Jurassic’ Jemma Thorne is filming a live edition of ‘The Rock Detectives’ covering the excavation of a fossilised Spinosaurus on the Isle of Wight. Things don’t go to plan as she makes an unexpected discovery. The find sets off a chain of events that threatens her freedom, her family and her life. Someone is after revenge. How far will they go to destroy everything that Jemma holds dear? Can she protect her loved ones in a race against time? A page-turner with plenty of spills and thrills.

A Dangerous Fossil by John J. Delaney

When 'Jurassic' Jemma Thorne and her dog, Dino, find an incredible fossil on a Dorset beach, she doesn't realise that it will lead to a trail of greed, jealousy and murder. As the guilt of her past comes back to haunt her, Jemma must fight to protect her family, her friends, her town and herself. Can she overcome her demons and escape from the danger surrounding her? You’ll love this gripping mystery, because everybody loves reading a book that they can’t put down. Get it now.

The Shadow of Arcadia by Alan K. Dell

SIDERA SILERE: LET THE STARS REMAIN SILENT. Nestled in the shadow of a derelict alien warship, the Martian city of Arcadia Landing shines as a beacon of humanity’s golden future. There, United Nations representatives gather to sign a new international treaty; a stepping-stone towards global unity. But when a dangerous faction born of an unlikely blend of isolationists and alien-worshippers attacks the city, the hope of unity lies scattered among the ruins. Heartbroken, Captain James Fowler must work together with Nate Rifkin, the rueful captain of the Magellan, to bring those responsible to justice. But a deadly encounter with the cabal’s enigmatic masked leader draws James into a deeper mystery stretching back nearly fifty years. With the help of Capt. Erin Pritchard, and anachronistic force of nature, Capt. April Rose-Hartley, they investigate the links to James and Angela’s past to uncover the identity of this murderous figurehead, track him down, and put a stop to his grand plans for humanity.