stories in and

Secrets of PEACE

Secrets of PEACE by T.A. Hernandez

SPSFC 2023

Nearly 30 years ago, the PEACE Project rose from the ruins of a global war to take power over a new America. Providing stability in exchange for absolute authority, the Project controls every aspect of citizens' lives through each of its five units: Protect Enforce Advance Control Eliminate Raised in the Project since infancy, eighteen-year-old Zira has been trained as an assassin under the stern guidance of unit E-2's Chairman Ryku. After she makes a careless mistake on an assignment, the chairman partners her with Jared, the best operative in her unit. Their partnership transforms into friendship as they work together and learn to rely on each other. But when misinformation causes a solo mission to backfire, Zira's deepest loyalties and strongest relationships are tested in a place where even a hint of doubt can be perceived as treason. The life she knows is falling apart, and nothing will ever look the same again.


The Dreams That Bind Us: Echoes of Etherium Volume One

The Dreams That Bind Us: Echoes of Etherium Volume One by Maximilian Lopez

SPSFC 2023 SPSFC 2024

This sci-fi thriller explores the possibility that when we dream, we're merely glimpsing into an alternate reality. Three strangers bound together by a shared dream fight against the current of fate. Can they come to terms with the truth? Are we the only versions of ourselves? Are you the best version of you to exist? They must find each other without losing themselves. Two universes hang in the balance as external forces vie for control of their ability to peer into an alternate reality.


Quantum Reaction

Quantum Reaction by Marc Wayne

SPSFC 2023

Life-altering tech is on the horizon, and someone wants it stopped—permanently. Can a murder witness escape paying the ultimate price? Near future. Angela Kapp struggles with her past. Working remotely from an isolated cabin in a dead-end customer support job, she drinks too much and spends her days avoiding the world. But while on shift using a visual-interpretation headset to assist a blind person, the cynical loner is horrified when she virtually experiences the other woman’s gruesome slaying. Shocked the next day when she recognizes the killer closing in on a second sightless client, Angela shouts for the software engineer to run. And after learning that he and the first victim are connected by a soon-to-be-released teleportation innovation, she convinces him to go to ground in her secluded home … only to become a target herself. Can her paranoia and his unexpected skills thwart a sinister plot? Quantum Reaction is a gripping science fiction mystery. If you like resilient heroines, unique blind heroes, and high-adrenaline action interwoven with humor, then you’ll love Marc Wayne’s flash forward to adventure. Buy Quantum Reaction to take a leap into tomorrow today!


Replika: Sky's Mission

Replika: Sky's Mission by Hugo Bernard

SPSFC 2023

Reality is an illusion worth fighting for... Earth’s ecological collapse is avoided when most of the world population agrees to permanently upload into Replika, a simulated reality maintained by the AI. But the stability of this world is threatened when a group of neuroscientists hack their own brains to interact with Replika in unforeseen and dangerous ways. Sky devotes her life to rebuilding the real world left dysfunctional from the massive exodus into Replika. But when she learns her brother, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances, is in danger, she must choose which world needs her most. All she wants is to find the brother she loves, but she will unwittingly get entangled in an attempt to redefine the reality of humanity’s future. With a strong cast of characters, REPLIKA is a wildly inventive and fast-paced sci-fi adventure that raises profound existential questions about the role of simulated reality in our foreseeable future.


Rise of Polaris

Rise of Polaris by Michele Amitrani

SPSFC 2023

Can a catastrophe ensure humankind’s survival? At an orphanage in Los Angeles, an astrophysicist meets a young savant who will forever change the fate of humanity. In Florida, the Space Shuttle Atlantis departure marks the end of the 30-year space program. In Pasadena, a journalist makes an incredible discovery that will revolutionize how we consume content online. But these seemingly unconnected episodes aren’t what they seem. They will ignite an all-out war fought on two different fronts—one for the control of planetary resources, and the other for the dominance of cyberspace. One man. One mission. Failure is not an option. The future of humankind rests on the most audacious project in history, one capable of ensuring the survival of our civilization—or beginning the downward spiral of its extinction.


Epivision: Volume 1

Epivision: Volume 1 by Matthew Thompson

SPSFC 2023

Bright Olsson saved his young brother from drowning in 1964. He could not, however, save himself from the icy waters of Lake Runn, Sweden. But his life, as it would turn out, continues within a technologically advanced world, 3 billion light years from Earth. For his selfless act, he becomes an Epi-Guardian, gifted with the ability to see the future perils of others and be their saviour. Except for a life-altering accident, his future visions are severely hampered, and he fails to protect the love of his life. To save himself from self-destruction and to start over, Bright exploits his guardianship by illegally blessing clients in need of protection. It takes him to Sector HK-909, a replica of Earth’s Hong Kong, to work for a man known as Hawker. Kaye Riley, an agent for the Investigation of Criminality on Angelo, will go above and beyond to arrest an Epi-Guardian after what happened to her best friend. Partnered with agent Katsuhiro Miike, a man labelled a snitch and potentially a hindrance to her unorthodox methods, she arrives in HK-909 on a crusade to bring Olsson to justice. Her career and personal vendetta rest on the assignment, though she never expected how life-changing it would be.


Bitcoin Hurricane

Bitcoin Hurricane by Kate Baucherel

SPSFC 2023

She’s a hacker at the top of her game. They are cybercriminals who won’t stop until they bring her down. Can she crack the code before they strike? Welcome to London, 2045 - where financial systems have crashed, and the world's economies are on the brink of collapse. The only hope of salvation lies with Cameron Silvera, the legendary hacker known as the SimCavalier. The SimCavalier is feared by black hat hackers across the world and trusted by corporations and governments to get their systems back online fast. Her identity is a closely guarded secret, but a message hidden deep in the very ransomware she’s cracking tells her that cybercriminals are on her tail. With the clock ticking and lives hanging in the balance, Cameron clings to the last vestiges of anonymity, but a tenacious journalist blows her cover and she finds herself hunted by the very criminals she’s been trying to stop. They infiltrate her team, laying a false trail while the real threat looms ever closer. As the world teeters on the brink of disaster, Cameron and the team must race against time to take down the cybercrime syndicate and prevent a global wave of cyberattacks from unleashing chaos and destruction on an unprecedented scale. Will they prevail, or will the world fall victim to the greatest hack in history? The fate of humanity rests in their hands.


Cloudthinker

Cloudthinker by Andrew McGlinchey

SPSFC 2023

Numbers don’t lie. But people do. Seasoned journalist Parham Nasiri is convinced there’s something sinister behind tech giant Magenta’s new product, Cloudthinker. The AI service can do anyone's job and is decimating the workforce, sending shockwaves through an already fragile economy and tightening Magenta’s grip on society. After his employers subscribe to the service and put him out of a job, Parham becomes determined to uncover the truth. His digging into Cloudthinker's origins leads him to Boogie Wu – an enigmatic math genius who died in a corporate jet accident – and he’s ensnared in a web of mystery and deception. Tangled up with a corporate whistle-blower, a human-like autonomous hacker, AI-powered robots, and the increasingly blurry line separating humans from software, Parham confronts the world-shaking consequences of Magenta’s real intentions. He’ll be forced to make impossible choices to stop the world from tipping into crisis...

Set in the very near future, Cloudthinker is a propulsive new thriller that confronts big tech, memory and consciousness, and what it means to be human.


Where There's a Will: Inspector Stone Mysteries #1

Where There's a Will: Inspector Stone Mysteries #1 by Alex R Carver

The kidnapping of a child is every parent's worst nightmare, for the Keatings though it isn't a nightmare, it's a reality. Inspector Stone is tasked with finding Alice Keating and bringing her home safely. Hard enough under normal circumstances, but between investigating an unrelated armed robbery, family problems, and the machinations of an ambitious underling, it's almost impossible. Unbeknown to either Stone or Alice's parents, the kidnappers have more in mind than collecting a ransom. And when it turns out that the Russian Mafia might be involved in the kidnapping, things begin to spiral out of Stone's control. Can Stone find Alice before the kidnappers make good on their threats? If not it won't just be Alice that becomes a victim to their deadly plans...


Ordinary World

Ordinary World by Jack T Canis

'Life often boils down to simple questions with complex answers. Olivia Buchanan's question was simple, if twofold: 'Was sixteen year old Olivia Buchanan truly the culmination of a secret 30 year genome project, by a clandestine research organisation, to create the ultimate human in order to save humanity from itself? Or: Has she merely inherited her mother's delusional schizophrenia, spiralling her into a nightmarish hell created by a diseased and fractured mind?' Simple.


In the House of Transcendence

In the House of Transcendence by Amanda Ross

Zora is a necromancer. Some say she’s gifted, others say she’s cursed, but her abilities always terrify her. Hoping to start a new life, she flees her childhood home and travels to Savannah, but she soon learns that some things can’t be changed. There, she meets an alluring and powerful witch named Birdie. She offers Zora a proposition: she’ll give Zora a place to stay, a job dancing at a magical burlesque club called Nightingale’s, and help controlling her powers if Zora can solve her lover’s murder. Zora accepts Birdie’s offer and is soon drawn into the magical community of Savannah, where rituals and magical fights are performed in grand old homes, potions can make people float on air, and three magical houses vie for dominance. As she tries to put the pieces together and solve the murder, Zora gets caught in the sight of the very forces responsible for the killing. Can she rise up and learn to control her powers and solve the murder or will her fears cause her to lose it all?


Unexpected Interference

Unexpected Interference by Pepper Winslow

Her discovery of evidence tampering in a high-profile rape case leads Cricket on a vigilante mission, but her plan for justice is uprooted when a mysterious group surfaces. Trigger warnings: References to sexual assault, murder, female-instigated violence, and, most triggering of all, making fun of men, piled high and tucked into a spicy cussword sandwich. Cricket McCorkle is the new admin for Bill Williamson, a semi-retired criminal defense attorney with a freaky Sir Walter Raleigh obsession. Between three-hour lunches at the City Club, he’s usually in his office writing his hoity-toity historical novel. Cricket’s primary duty is operating the Keurig, but the boss can only drink so many decaf hazelnut numbers in a day and it’s literally pushing a damn button. She’s bored out of her mind. But things get more interesting when Williamson takes a case as a favor to the South Carolina governor, and Cricket discovers an injustice that her past won’t let her ignore. Even if it means she can never come home.


Shantanu

Shantanu by Devansh Kamdar

Shantanu, a hardened hitman known for his cold precision, is thrust into a web of moral turmoil when underworld kingpin Kshitij Bhosale assigns him a special target who will forever change his destiny. As Shantanu navigates through the sinister underbelly of the mafia, he is joined by a cast of unforgettable characters, including Vasu, the enigmatic strategist; Aabhay, the ambitious enforcer; and Puneet, the power-hungry gangster—each playing their part in this high-stakes game. Shantanu, the gripping debut installment in the Rakhta Charitra series, combines fierce action and masterful storytelling to tell the tale of one man’s fight to reclaim his goodness. Grab your copy now and get ready to embark on a thrilling journey!


Bitten by Surprise

Bitten by Surprise by Lizzy Gayle

As a vampire-hating psychic, Char should’ve seen it coming, but she didn’t. Too focused on creating a cure for vampirism after watching her father turned into a bloodsucking menace, she looks at little else, until it’s too late. Not her lab being attacked and destroyed, her life’s work being stolen along with her lab assistant, nor the attractive and dangerous vampire, Julian, who swoops in to save the day, give her a job and the chance to set things right. But when her lost serum turns up on the streets used as a murder weapon against vamps, she’s forced to hide the truth about her involvement in its development from her new boss in order to join the investigation. As they work together, she’s inexplicably drawn to the very type of creature she should be terrified of. Suddenly, the idea of being bitten becomes a turn on if it’s Julian’s fangs at her pulse. Forced to admit everything she thought she knew about the bloodsuckers was wrong, Char is left with a decision: Should she create an antidote to save the vampires being murdered—and possibly the one she’s falling for? Or should she finish what she started and try to cure the rest? The wrong choice could mean a sacrifice she’s not willing to make.


Ethereal Malignance

Ethereal Malignance by D.P. Vaughan

Step into the shadows with Ethereal Malignance, the debut supernatural thriller from Australian author D.P. Vaughan. Meet John Wedgewood, a misunderstood loner, who’s always been on the fringes of society. His life takes an unexpected turn when his only friend reveals a chilling secret: their city is overrun by ‘ethereal beings’—terrifying entities that possess bodies to blend in unnoticed. Faced with a life-altering choice, John can either continue his life of quiet desperation or risk everything to save a stranger from the clutches of these ethereal beings. His decision propels him into a relentless chase through the city’s hostile streets under the cover of darkness. In a city that transforms into a hunting ground at sundown, John, who has nothing—no car, no resources, no fighting skills—must rely solely on his wits and courage. With the ethereal beings always just a few steps behind. Ethereal Malignance is a gripping tale of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of the human spirit in the face of otherworldly terror. If you’re a fan of gritty, grounded thrillers set in an urban night-time environment, where ordinary people confront extraordinary horrors, this book is for you.


The Long Game

The Long Game by D.W. Howard

Lieutenant Michael Domenicalli and his team have been called to the scene of a riot and a double homicide the Queen’s Women’s Medical Clinic. What appears to be a simple case becomes murky as details begin to connect the double homicide to the Clockwork Murders the team thought they solved years before.


OPSEC Issue 1

OPSEC Issue 1 by D. W. Howard

Four people have disappeared near the town of Ryneshard and now two OPSEC agents have gone missing as well. Agents Indra Jafari and Nigel Hammersmith are tasked with unearthing the mystery surrounding Ryneshard and the fate of their missing comrades.


Purson

Purson by P. A. Hayden

Locked out of Hell by his own demonic kind during 'The Event,' Purson has been hiding in plain sight as a human on Earth for a year. Hell now comes calling...


Dead of Knight Issue 1

Dead of Knight Issue 1 by P. A. Hayden

A centuries old legacy destroyed by 'The Event' leaves the United Kingdoms most beloved hero a broken and violent vigilante. He will bring a medieval brand of justice to the criminals of modern day London.


Balor

Balor by Peter Harte

Discover the captivating world of Balor, a modern mythological superhero mystery comic set in Ireland. Join 18-year-old Sean James as he grapples with the tragic murder of his brother by Dublin's notorious drug gangs. In an effort to find solace, Sean journies to Loch Na Suil, where he stumbles upon the mystical Shrine of Balor. Bestowed with extraordinary powers, Sean sets out on a path of vengeance. However, a shocking discovery at a drug shipment forces him to shift his focus to unraveling a web of secrets. Prepare for an electrifying tale of retribution turned investigation in Balor!


Dusk Undone

Dusk Undone by Bri Mooney

Waking up dead has its perks. An outcast, Raeden, had always lived on the fringes of society. So when she mysteriously vanished, her absence went unnoticed, much like her life. Little did anyone realize that her absence was the result of her death. But death has its own sticky consequences. It not only takes away a person's life but also clings to their memories and emotions. As Raeden's soul departed, it left her with a choice: recover her memories and find closure or remain a restless spirit forever. For most, the decision would be a no-brainer. But Raeden? Well, she's never been one to shy away from a challenge. With two reapers assigned to her case, she's catapulted back into the mortal world. Now, Raeden must navigate the intricacies of the living while grappling with her own mischievous ambitions. After all, who says a dead girl can't have some fun along the way? But this isn't your typical murder investigation. Raeden's journey unveils a treacherous web of secrets lurking in unexpected places, and a convoluted tapestry of dark humor. In the midst of her quest, she finds solace and companionship with the reapers, Booker and Sonja. These otherworldly beings, who are already entangled in a romantic relationship, become unexpected allies in Raeden's twisted fate. As they unravel the wacky circumstances of her demise, Rae's journey is laced with her own unique challenges. Panic disorder, Autism, and ADHD dance their way into the mix, adding an extra layer of complexity to her already adventurous life. Through wild encounters, perilous situations, and unexpected twists, Raeden's vibrant spirit shines as she navigates the realms of the paranormal. So buckle up and prepare for a tale that blends dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and a dash of dark humor. Join Raeden as she embarks on a journey that will make you laugh, gasp, and fall in love with her resilient spirit. Discover the extraordinary in the ordinary and embrace the enchanting chaos that accompanies life, death, and everything in between. Indiana Jones meets The Librarians.


How We End

How We End by LM Juniper

A deadly infection. Seven Strangers. The fight for survival begins... Jake didn’t think his night could get worse, but that was before his train stops deep underground and zombies attack and things go from worst-day-ever to run-for-your-life terror. Liv is good at running, mostly from other people straight into a bottle of vodka. But as chaos erupts on the city streets, depending on others may be her only chance at survival. London is gone. The world has ended. In the chaos that remains, seven strangers fight to escape the city. But as they navigate this new and dangerous world, they soon discover that surviving the apocalypse means confronting their deepest fears and making impossible choices. How We End is a heart-pounding diverse story with a character driven plot that explores how societal collapse forces ordinary people into extreme situations and reveals the lengths they’ll go to survive in a world gone mad. Will they make it out alive, or will they become just another casualty?


Crashing Tide

Crashing Tide by Holly Ash

Environmental scientist, Zoe Antos’s world has forever been changed. When a mysterious illness sweeps across the globe, the Arrow Equilibrium is only too happy to place the blame on Zoe. Injured and on the run, the only thing that matters now is survival. But at some point, survival isn’t enough. Zoe is determined to stop running and find a way to live in this new world. As a new community grows around her, so does the danger. The Arrows won’t stop till she dead, regardless of the collateral damage. Separated from his fiancé, Cole Wilborn finds himself a prisoner of the Arrows. His parents are determined to make him see things their way, even if it means completely breaking down his spirit in the process. Unable to get to Zoe, he is committed to keeping the Arrows off her trail. With the help of his older siblings, he plays the part of dutiful son while gathering information to make his escape. Cole will soon learn that freedom may have consequences he never imagined. Zoe and Cole must find a way to turn the tide in their favor before it crashes down and pulls them under.


A Good Rush of Blood

A Good Rush of Blood by Matt Phillips

A mother's sins haunt a teenage runaway in this scorching mystery of criminal conspiracy, street-level justice, and unlikely courage. Creeley Nash has been running her entire life. That includes running drugs for a wannabe kingpin. On a drug run to Palm Springs—the town where Creeley escaped her no-good mother as a teen—she’ll encounter a sun-drenched facade beneath which lurks a web of dark secrets. A Good Rush of Blood follows Creeley as she unravels the mystery of her estranged mother’s murder conviction. Peopled with bent cops, grizzled reporters, hardened drug dealers, eccentric sidekicks and sexy librarians, this sweaty, fast-paced neo-noir finds stellar noir scribe Matt Phillips (Countdown, Know Me from Smoke) at the apex of his dirty, lethal game.


How to steal a demon's heart and get away with it

How to steal a demon's heart and get away with it by Devi Letalis

Dante, a single father and demon hunter, has already completed multiple curious adventures in his life - from the elimination of minor demons to tracking down undead sheep. When he meets bloodthirsty Lariza and her inscrutable companion Layla as part of a new job, he becomes embroiled in a conflict with powerful demons. But the protection of his son has priority, even if he has to go to hell for him. And so a journey into a sphere where millennium old law prevails begins. This gripping urban fantasy novel takes the reader deep into a world where demons and human shadow beings live side by side. A story with plenty of action, tension, and dark humour - where anything is possible.


Our Own Unique Affliction

Our Own Unique Affliction by Scott J. Moses

Our Own Unique Affliction is the story of Alice Ann, a dejected immortal who longs for her life in the sun. Navigating guilt, loss, family, meaning, murder, and all that comes with the curse of living forever. An existential bleak, quiet until it's not, hallucination on duality, rife with fangs, empathy, blood, and grief. "Unexpected and grim, Scott J. Moses' Our Own Unique Affliction is the most inventive and bombastically gruesome vampire story I've read since The Light at the End by John Skipp and Craig Spector. An exquisitely written meditation on grief, family, and trauma told with such empathy and care. I feel broken after reading this book, and I applaud Scott for obliterating my soul with such grace and tenderness." - Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes "Scott Moses writes from a place of pure empathy, the result of which is a story that pulls the reader in with deceptive ease, putting them through the emotional wringer, culling fear from every page. A tightly written fever dream of bloodlust and family ties, grief, rage and the eternal hunt." - Laurel Hightower, author of Crossroads and Below "Moses gives us not only complicated and relatable characters, but also cinematic scene-setting coated with pathos and grit. Our Own Unique Affliction forces readers to face that often circumstance is the only thing separating us from the monsters." - J.A.W. McCarthy, Shirley Jackson Award nominated author of Sometime We’re Cruel and Other Stories "Moses tenders a vampire's origin and fate in the skin of a mood-soaked tragedy, embraced by bloody nights and unyielding regrets. Fans of Paul Tremblay's The Pallbearers Club should sink their fangs in before sunrise." - Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth "An interesting psychological twist on the vampire narrative. Definitely a fun read." - Charlene Elsby, author of Hexis, Psychros, Menis


Office Politics: A Story of the Apocalypse

Office Politics: A Story of the Apocalypse by L. R. J. Allen

Richard is the last man alive. He has survived the super-flu known as Shaking Stevens when the rest of the world perished. He has survived when his family has not. He has survived with no survival instincts. He spends his days rummaging through the remnants of society as loneliness and anger set in. That is, until, his wanderings lead him back to his place of work. It is familiar, it is comforting, it is routine. Until, one day, his desk-phone rings. From the author of Among Other Things comes a tale of survival and hope in the most dire of times, and what a man must do to remain sane. Includes two previously unpublished stories Keep off the Grass and Coin Toss at Acheron Station


Second Skyn

Second Skyn by Damien Boyes

They say you never forget the first time you die. Toronto Police Service Detective Finsbury Gage knows this better than anyone. Now that he's gone digital, he sees his death every time he closes his eyes—he and his wife, smeared across the highway after a malfunctioning bit-head ran them down in a stolen urban assault vehicle. Fin hung together long enough for the Second Skyn recovery team to rescue his fading thoughts from his ruined body and implant them in a custom-grown bioSkyn. His wife wasn't so lucky. Finsbury's been gifted a second chance, but the only thing keeping him from blowing his plastic brains out is that 2.57 seconds of vivid memory running on repeat through his head, the one that contains a instant's glimpse of his killer's face. The police couldn't find the man responsible, and now the only evidence is locked up in Finsbury's brand new mind. Driven to find his killer, Finsbury falls into a dangerous underworld of hackable minds and enhanced bodies, where death is cheap, and memory all that matters. But once he's tasted the power of living at the speed of light, able to predict seconds into the future, how will he ever go back? And once he's relaxed his grip on humanity, how far will he let it slip in the name of finding justice for the woman he loves? Finsbury's going to find the man who stole his future, no matter what he has to do. Or what he must become.


The Reanimator's Soul

The Reanimator's Soul by Kara Jorgensen

An autistic necromancer, his undead lover, and the case that could destroy everything. When a necromancer turns up dead, Oliver and Felipe think it will be the perfect, straightforward case for their new partnership. That is, until it leads them to a clinic promising a cure for magic, but they aren’t the only ones investigating the Institute for the Betterment of the Soul. Oliver’s ex, Ansley, is in town, and he’s certain the clinic isn’t the paragon of righteousness it claims to be. Forced to help Ansley infiltrate the institute, Oliver fears he is out of his depth in his work and in love as old wounds and bad habits resurface. But Oliver isn’t the only one struggling. Pulled between his cases, Oliver, and his daughter returning home for the summer, Felipe is drowning. Just when he thinks he finally has everything under control, a new reminder of his untimely demise threatens to throw his life into a tailspin once more. Between festering wounds and secrets, Oliver and Felipe’s lives stand upon a knife’s edge. To face the evil lurking behind the clinic’s genteel smiles, they must stand together or face the destruction of the place they call home.


His Lordship's Secret

His Lordship's Secret by Samantha SoRelle

London 1818 Alfred Pennington, the Earl of Crawford, knows someone wants him dead. An illicit boxing match seems the perfect opportunity to hire a champion fighter to watch his back, but Alfie is shocked to recognize the beaten and bloody challenger as his childhood friend, Dominick, one of the few people who knows the truth about Alfie’s past. Life has been hard for Dominick, so he can’t believe his luck when Alfie—now with fine manners and a fancy title—offers him a chance to escape the slums in order to catch a potential killer. That’s difficult enough, but not falling in love with the refined, confident man his friend has become may prove trickier still. The investigation draws the two men closer than ever, but it becomes clear that their years apart may prove too much to overcome. As the danger mounts, can they find their way through the past to a future together? Or will hidden secrets cost them their happiness… and their lives? His Lordship's Secret is the first novel in the His Lordship's Mysteries series.


The Reanimator's Heart

The Reanimator's Heart by Kara Jorgensen

A reluctant necromancer, a man killed before his time, and the crime that brings them together. Felipe Galvan’s life as an investigator for the Paranormal Society has been spent running into danger. Returning home from his latest case, Felipe struggles with the sudden quiet of his life until a mysterious death puts him in the path of the enigmatic Oliver Barlow. Oliver has two secrets. One, he has been in love with the charming Felipe Galvan for years. Two, he is a necromancer, but to keep the sensible life he’s built as a medical examiner, he must hide his powers. That is until Oliver finds Felipe murdered and accidentally brings him back from the dead. But Felipe refuses to die again until he and Oliver catch his killer. Together, Felipe and Oliver embark on an investigation to uncover a plot centuries in the making. As they close in on his killer, one thing is certain: if they don’t stop them, Felipe won’t be the last to die.


A Deed of Dreadful Note

A Deed of Dreadful Note by Patricia Meredith

Fifteen years before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published A Study in Scarlet, Anna Katharine Green began writing The Leavenworth Case, inspiring the creation of detectives like Sherlock, Poirot, and Wimsey, as well as almost every device and convention we now recognize as standard in detective mystery fiction. When her father's client is found murdered, Anna takes up the call to prove innocent the young girl accused of the murder. The investigation inspires many of the events, characters, and descriptions that would later be published in her debut novel. A love letter to mystery and writing itself, A Deed of Dreadful Note is an homage and reintroduction to an author who was the Agatha Christie of her time but a forgotten female today. This book is a fictionalized account of how Anna Katharine Green’s first novel may have come to be… A Deed of Dreadful Note is Book One in the Anna Katharine Green Mysteries, the only historical fiction series featuring the Mother of Detective Fiction


The Love Song of Nathan Crane

The Love Song of Nathan Crane by E. Reyes

Nathan Crane, a handsome and charming young man, becomes fixated on Christine Romero, a stunning woman who catches his eye. Despite his initial attempts to woo her, Christine repeatedly rejects Nathan's advances, and he spirals into a dangerous obsession. As Nathan's obsession with Christine intensifies, he reveals his dark side. His once-charming demeanor is replaced with menacing and possessive behavior, and he becomes determined to make Christine love him, even if it means keeping her all to himself. Nathan's solution to his problem is extreme and violent, leading him down a dangerous path. As Christine becomes aware of the extent of Nathan's obsession and his true nature, she is forced to fight for her life and her freedom. As the story unfolds, Nathan's obsession with Christine reaches a fever pitch, leading to a final confrontation that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. This gripping novel explores the dark side of obsession and the lengths some people will go to in order to get what they want.


The House on Moon Creek Avenue

The House on Moon Creek Avenue by E. Reyes

“A haunted house story that will give you The Conjuring vibes.”—Kasha’s Book Sematary Fleeing an abusive boyfriend, Cindy moves into her late grandmother’s creepy old house with her young daughter. At first, the home is comfortable and nostalgic. But soon, ghosts randomly appear day and night, doors open and close, a streak of bad luck begins, and Cindy and her daughter have unsettling nightmares. Cindy’s mental state is pushed to the edge. When Cindy’s video recording of paranormal activity goes viral, she gets the attention of famous ghost hunters. With nowhere else to turn, Cindy accepts their help to find and eliminate the source of the haunting. Can Cindy and the team of paranormal investigators survive the haunting of The House on Moon Creek Avenue? Praise for The House on Moon Creek Avenue: “E.Reyes plays with all the readers’ senses to invoke chills.”—Jamie Stewart, author of Trick or Treat “I couldn’t put it down.”—Iseult Murphy, author of 7 Days in Hell “If you're looking for a spooky haunted house story that'll give you the creeps, reach for this one!”—Spooky Octopus Reads


Number 47

Number 47 by Hannah R. Palmer

For her, he's everything. For him, she's nothing. What do you do when the person you love doesn't love you back? You fight for them. Love isn't meant to be easy and passion will not be ignored. But the real question is, how much do you fight? How far do you take it before love leans into obsession? For Sarah, there's no other option but to fight. Without him, her life's not worth living. She'll stop at nothing to finally have him by her side. Sarah wants nothing more than to start a family with him, to grow old with him, to fill the frames in her apartment with nothing but his face. She's studied every inch of him. Every one of his quirks. Every habit. And she'd rather die than not have him. Grab your copy of the debut thriller novel today!


Mythic: Shadow of the Spark

Mythic: Shadow of the Spark by Adrian Santiago

SPSFC 2023

Thousands of years after Ancient Earth, Humanity has forgotten its past, and is doomed to repeat it. MYTHIC: For centuries the last of humanity traveled the galaxy aboard a fleet of ARK ships searching for a new home. They warred amongst themselves, formed alliances, and eventually split off into factions. The peace-seekers that broke away found a ringed and moonless planet they renamed Gaia in homage to Ancient Earth, orbiting a star they renamed Sol. They gifted Gaia a moon in the form of a giant space station called The Spark; built by combining their fourteen ARKs, ending their nomadic ways, and committing to their new home. For three centuries there was peace for the last of mankind. The era of Peace is over. The age of Shadow has begun. BOOK ONE: SHADOW OF THE SPARK Newly-appointed Detective Migdalia Vandersey's first murder case was supposed to be open-and-shut. Wishful thinking. Armed with the latest technology she unravels the mysteries of the victims, the killer, and The Spark itself. The complex web of crime and corruption entangles her professionally, and romantically, with a bounty hunter seeking redemption (Llyr Varyan) and a witch exploring the depths of her power (Faye Noelani). At the center of all the sex, drugs, secrets, magic, and violence waits a prolific killer who hunts the streets with impunity. This murderer works to cover his tracks and stay ahead of Detective Vandersey, and her partners, as they race against the clock to stop him from taking his next victim, and tying off his final loose end. Will the help of Llyr and Faye be enough, or will Migdalia's career end before she even closes her first case?


Mythic: The Death & Rebirth of Bella Erdmann

Mythic: The Death & Rebirth of Bella Erdmann by Adrian Santiago

A farm girl out in the big city. The drug dealing black sheep of the family. And a hippie chick guiding them on a mushroom trip. What could go wrong? (A Psychedelic Sci-Fi Short Story) Bella Erdmann's time had come. She was made to leave The Farm; the only home she'd ever known, for a full year of life in the wild city streets. The Spark, a moon-sized space station and home to the last of humanity, was a terrifying place for someone as naĂŻve and uncultured as she. With nowhere else to turn, she settled for the drug-dealing black sheep of the family, her cousin Mitch, who immediately whisked her off in his hover-car to make a delivery to a hippie. The night grew stranger from there with the introduction of wine, cannabis and magic mushrooms. A memorable first and final night of life on the town for Bella Erdmann. This short story serves as a prologue or direct lead-in to the novel, MYTHIC: SHADOW OF THE SPARK


Lycaon's Fire

Lycaon's Fire by Jeff Schanz

A small town hides a savage mystery someone is killing to protect. A mild-mannered drifter carries a deadly secret that leaves slaughter in his wake. They clash at a remote bus stop on the way to nowhere, with time to kill. * * * * * The legend of the flesh-eating wolf-people that live in the mountains has preyed upon a remote Montana town for years. People go missing, presumed dead, suspected eaten alive. Though the myth is considered silly superstition to most residents, someone or something is killing to protect the truth. A mild-mannered drifter named Merrick, a haunted man with his own brutal, deadly secret, passes through the town, accidentally setting in motion a chain of events that will bring the town’s bizarre mysteries to light. When a fearless and feisty young waitress named Kat offers her help, she and Merrick fall into the murderous crosshairs of entities who eliminate anyone that threatens their agenda. On a forested mountain, far from anyone who can hear them scream, Merrick, Kat, and their allies are hunted in an unholy ritual, where the game is survival and the prize is life. But not all who are hunted are easy prey. Something else that no one counted on, something powerful and savage that can kill with the swipe of its clawed hand, also stalks the mountain. In the light of the sacrificial fire, the bloodthirsty hunters will face an unfathomable killing machine in a showdown that pits monster against monstrosity.


The Babel Apocalypse

The Babel Apocalypse by Vyvyan Evans

SPSFC 2023

Language is no longer learned, but streamed to neural implants regulated by lang-laws. Those who can't afford language streaming services are feral, living on the fringes of society. Big tech corporations control language, the world’s most valuable commodity. But when a massive cyberattack causes a global language outage, catastrophe looms. Europol detective Emyr Morgan is assigned to the case. His prime suspect is Professor Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language in the automated world, and leader of the Babel cyberterrorist organization. But Emyr soon learns that in a world of corporate power, where those who control language control everything, all is not as it seems. As he and Ebba collide, Emyr faces an existential dilemma between loyalty and betrayal, when everything he once believed in is called into question. To prevent the imminent collapse of civilization and a global war between the great federations, he must figure out friend from foe—his life depends on it. And with the odds stacked against him, he must find a way to stop the Babel Apocalypse.


Meshkwadoon: Book 2

Meshkwadoon: Book 2 by Alex Tilley

The offering. Nightmares and scars remain the only fragments of a Summer veiled by death. As Autumn dawns, Natasha and Yuuta are left to fend for their sanity in a world that pulls them back to their demanded destiny. Shattered fragments are forced together in this tale as the search for a missing little girl brings the world of the living to the crossing of the spirit. In this twisted continuation of the story of Meshkwadoon, there is no escape from the monsters whose exaltations are through the offerings of the flesh


Dancing in the Trap

Dancing in the Trap by James Whelpley

The stationary was tinted pink, pulpy like craft paper and smelled better than anything had a right to. It was blackmail penned in letters so long and smooth they could have hailed a cab. Since leaving the merchant marines, Mickey Fairfax has eked out a living renting dinghies to scuttle around Boston Harbor. When a wealthy man asks him to go to Paris to make a simple hand-off, it sounds like a free vacation. But, when Mickey discovers he's given the money to the wrong woman, he'll tangle with pugilistic gangsters, hophead hotel boys, sultry stage performers, and the French police to figure out who she is. In the tradition of Raymond Chandler and Ross MacDonald, comes a hard-boiled hero plunged into in a strange land, trying to do the right thing, even if it's for the wrong reason


One Road In

One Road In by Hannah R. Palmer

'Some say, at night, you can see glowing eyes of fire between the trees, watching. Waiting...' Sadie’s younger brother Ben went missing 5 years ago. No one knows where he went. No one knows who, or what, took him. So explain the look of guilt on Sadie’s face when her mother called with the best news possible: Ben has come home. What does Sadie know about his disappearance? And what has her brother brought home with him? There’s something on the small island off the coast of Rose Bay, and its glowing amber eyes are making its presence known. Sadie needs to reconcile what happened all those years ago with where she finds herself now, before it has the chance to tear her family, and her hometown, apart again.


The Gatherings

The Gatherings by Jeremy Ray

The Gatherings were supposed to bring world peace. What they brought was the apocalypse. Celebrities, politicians, and other prominent figures put together The Gatherings, an event to be held worldwide promoting global peace. When a friend invites Emily to one of the gatherings in a secluded apple orchard, she obliges. Sure, she is an introverted writer, but the world is so fractured that The Gatherings are something even she can get behind. Everything is great until the dancing begins. Then it happens... In most apocalyptic tales, the end comes by way of viral plague, world war, or robot invasion. Never in a million years could Emily imagine it would be this way. Will Emily survive to see what happens after the end of the world?


Petrified Women

Petrified Women by Jeremy Ray

Some pranks go too far. This one could be deadly. Harley has the perfect boyfriend. Why can’t her best friend see that? He’s nothing like the others, especially the one who still haunts her memories. She’s finally picked a “keeper” with Aiden. Sure, he’s a bit eccentric. His wood carving hobby is a little odd. His need for isolation while he carves his life-size female figurines is strange. And maybe his obsession with pranks, or "scares" on Harley goes a little too far. But what do you expect? Aiden’s an artist. Harley has finally picked the perfect boyfriend. That’s why this year, Harley ignores all her best friend’s warnings. She has the ultimate surprise planned for Aiden’s birthday, one that’s going to help her get even in their battle to out-prank each other. She hides in his apartment, excitedly waiting to pull off the scare of a lifetime… But then he comes home, and Harley witnesses a different side of her boyfriend. The side that exists behind closed doors when he doesn’t know anyone’s watching. Is this just one of his scares? Or is there something more sinister lurking behind his playful nature? Harley’s about to find out.


Soul Survivor

Soul Survivor by Isobel Lynx

A reluctant psychic medium searching for meaning after a life-altering tragedy must confront the world of supernatural he's long ignored. Like any young man, Ian wants normal things like a car, a girlfriend, or another tracksuit, but he’s always in danger of being called crazy, or worse—creepy. After all, if he were normal, he wouldn’t be seeing things that aren't there. His survival tactic is to ignore his intuition and deny what he sees, no matter how real it appears. He’s been pretending to be ordinary for so long, he doesn't know who he is anymore. When a tragedy upends his life, Ian latches onto what he's sure is real, but the philosophy that's protected him thus far only further isolates him. So when a pretty girl enters his life, Ian jumps at the opportunity to find his ‘new normal.’ A down-to-earth, sweet girl is exactly what he needs to break out of the limbo of grief, but welcoming her into his private world risks revealing the truth and unraveling his illusion of normalcy.


The Exorcist’s House

The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts

This psychological thriller follows a family to their Appalachian farmhouse, where they encounter an unimaginable horror. In the summer of 1994, psychologist Daniel Hill buys a rustic farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills of West Virginia. Along with his wife and teenage daughter, the family uproots their lives in Ohio and moves south. They are initially seduced by the natural beauty of the country setting. That soon changes when they discover a hidden room in the basement with a well, boarded shut and adorned with crucifixes. Local legends about the previous owner being an exorcist come to light, but by then, all Hell has broken loose. This 1990s horror novel is perfect for fans of family thriller books, stories of demonic possession, exorcism fiction, the occult, or thrillers like The Exorcist, A Head Full of Ghosts, and The Amityville Horror. Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.


Phantom

Phantom by Helen Power

Would you sell your hand for a million dollars? Regan "Roz" Osbourne is broke. Her ex-boyfriend won't take no for an answer, and no one is taking her artwork seriously. So when a mysterious stranger offers her a million dollars and safety from her unstable ex in exchange for her left hand, she can't afford to refuse. ​ Immediately following the amputation, she's racked with insufferable phantom limb pain. Desperate for relief, she enrolls in an experimental drug trial. But this drug has a peculiar side effect—she develops a psychic connection to her missing limb. She soon discovers that Chicago's long-dormant Phantom Strangler is now wearing her hand and is using it . . . to kill.


The Ghosts of Thorwald Place

The Ghosts of Thorwald Place by Helen Power

A Mystery Scene Magazine 2021 Editor's Pick Trust No One. Especially Your Neighbors. Rachel Drake is on the run from the man who killed her husband. She never leaves her safe haven in an anonymous doorman building, until one night a phone call sends her running. On her way to the garage, she is murdered in the elevator. But her story doesn’t end there. She finds herself in the afterlife, tethered to her death spot, her reach tied to the adjacent apartments. As she rides the elevator up and down, the lives of the residents intertwine. Every one of them has a dark secret. An aging trophy wife whose husband strays. A surgeon guarding a locked room. A TV medium who may be a fraud. An ordinary man with a mysterious hobby. Compelled to spend eternity observing her neighbors, she realizes that any one of them could be her killer.


Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here by J. Lynn Carr

A rookie agent searches for her estranged sister in this paranormal procedural for fans of Practical Magic and The Dresden Files. Harvest Rosenbloom is a trainee agent at the Bureau, an organization that specializes in investigating crimes of a supernatural nature. As a gifted witch with a unique second-sight, Harvest's abilities are an invaluable asset to the Missing Persons Unit—if only she could convince her boss of that fact. Her days consist of photocopies and data entry, but all of that changes when she receives a message from her estranged sister. Determined to do whatever she can to answer her sister’s plea for help, Harvest teams up with fellow Bureau agent, Julian Quinn. As a centuries-old vampire, Quinn has seen his fair share of investigations and he’s certain this will be a routine inquiry. But it quickly becomes obvious that nothing about this case is routine. From the seedy underbelly of a vampire criminal network to Death’s door and beyond, Harvest and Quinn find themselves in the middle of a case where nothing is as it seems.


Foundations

Foundations by Richard Holliday

HOW DID STREETS IN THE SKY BECOME THE TOWER OF TERROR FEARED FOR DECADES? Foundations is yet another page turner that I simply couldn't put down. It brilliantly explored the origins of the world in which Nightmare Tenant is set, and the author has excelled at giving the reader another wonderful story. Foundations is a thrilling period tale setting up the origin story to the creepy psychological thriller, answering questions and leaving some lingering in the mind! An exciting and engaging precursor. If you enjoyed Nightmare Tenant, Foundations lays the groundwork in another exhilarating adventure! And if you've not yet read Nightmare Tenant, then Foundations is just the start of a thrilling and creepy story in an unusual and effective setting Stephen Norris is a young man in a new job with an almost-famous architect at the turn of the 1970s. Quickly immersed in the murky world of town planning, he finds the transition from drawings and blueprints to brick and mortar is night and day. A discovery of ruins on the site of a state-of-the-art new tower block brings him into conflict with the construction workers, in particular the foreman, Peterson. Lurking inside the ruins is an ancient power are lost spirits. They channel through Norris, imbuing him with power to do the right thing and save their legacy. Within the modern world of the 1970s, complexities of life cloud Norris’ judgment. Those closest to him – friends, family, even the girl he loves – are dragged with him into a whirlpool of mistrust, deceit, danger and lies. All seems lost when the forces of darkness – money and progress – appear to triumph and obliterate the past. Instead, the darkness unleashes the lost spirits who turn vengeful at this defilement of their mortal remains. Norris must battle these forces and save the woman he loves from being a prisoner of Chivron Tower’s new nightmare tenant… Foundations is the precursor to the novella Nightmare Tenantby Richard Holliday. Length: 20,000 words


© 2024 Hakea Media | Terms | Privacy