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Killer Bees & Murder Hornets
Bee Conspiracy follows a tenacious detective investigating an odd accident involving bees and teams up with a Wildlife agent who suspects it is, in fact, not an accident. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
One sees in the media, from time to time, sensationalized headlines that include terms like “killer bees” or “murder hornets.” These terms are intended to scare people and create clickbait. I thought it would be interesting to show an expert in the field of insects who would find clues that showed a beehive was planted in a certain position in order to “weaponize” the bees by putting them in a defensive posture.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
A good story has a certain skeletal structure that includes twists but also relies upon a character who is following a journey to achieve a certain goal.
What draws you to the genre of eco-thriller and makes it ripe for you to write such a great conspiracy thriller story in it?
Thank you for the compliment! I have always been interested in insects and how they relate to our ecosystem, and I wanted to explore a character who would see things from the point of view of the insects and how he might be able to use his knowledge to solve crimes. I do enjoy a good thriller and certainly aspire to keep people turning the page to find out what happens next.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am working on a new book set at the modern-day Tower of London, in England. I am also mulling ideas for a sequel to Bee Conspiracy!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
A suspenseful tale featuring a mismatched investigative team reminiscent of X-Files‘ Mulder and Scully…
As concerns over food shortages grow amid massive honeybee die-offs, an LAPD cop and a Special Agent for US Fish and Wildlife investigate a sociopath kindling mass hysteria to profit from the extermination of biological bees.
Bee Conspiracy
In Bee Conspiracy, David Boito crafts a gripping narrative that takes the reader on an investigative journey where finding the culprit is merely the beginning. John Alan “Duke” Wayne, our tenacious detective, isn’t satisfied with just unraveling the how and why of a crime; he’s bent on trapping the orchestrator in an unbreakable web of evidence.
The narrative commences with a seemingly innocuous incident: a man operating a lawnmower inadvertently disrupts a bee nest. The ensuing panic results in a gruesome accident. While Duke, currently on administrative leave for his unyielding demeanor, initially dismisses it as a mere accident, Kelso Bagley’s keen eye spots incongruities. As a Fish and Wildlife agent, Kelso’s expert knowledge leads him to suspect foul play, particularly when he detects unusual aggression pheromones and observes the hive’s unnatural placement.
Without venturing too far into spoiler territory, what begins as a straightforward detective thriller evolves into a multi-layered tale rife with unexpected twists. Boito skillfully plays with classic detective tropes – for instance, the archetypal good cop/bad cop dynamic. Yet, as the narrative unfolds and characters evolve, their roles and relationships are intriguingly subverted. A word of caution: While the initial lawnmower incident is jarringly graphic, it is a standalone scene in terms of its intensity. However, if you harbor a strong aversion to bugs, approach with care.
Rapid-paced chapters make Bee Conspiracy a compelling page-turner. I recommended this conspiracy thriller for those seeking a riveting literary escape.
Pages: 319 | ASIN : B0CDKC64X4
Cassandra and the Crystal Cave
Young Cassandra struggles to find her place in the universe a girl on the cusp of womanhood. Considered a misfit, nature-lover Cass often finds herself at odds with her own family about caring for the natural world and the many creatures that inhabit it. But when a grim tragedy strikes, Cassandra is pulled into yet another world. It is in this new world she discovers her hidden powers at the brink of an infinite universe in need of her help. Finding numerous friends and allies, Cassandra must learn to conquer her hidden doubts and rise above the tragedy in order to heal a broken world with the most powerful force in creation.
Cassandra and the Crystal Cave by author Deborah Shining Star is a rich story about overcoming the tragedies of life and discovering each person’s special purpose in our vast, endless universe. Cassandra, finding herself between worlds, encounters many trials and heart-wrenching tragedies in both her “normal” life and the world of the fantastical. Seldom have I encountered a book that weaves together the magical and mundane worlds so skillfully, spinning a complex narrative that pulls the reader into a place where anything is possible. Cassandra fights to understand herself, her family, and the meaning of sacrifice as she learns from many wise elders such as Grandmother Shining Stars. Cassandra encounters mythical beings far and wide, from unicorns to star beings from another galaxy. And in Cassandra’s fabulous journeys, the common themes of love, forgiveness, healing, and hope are present on every page of this beautifully crafted tale. At the end of it, all, balance, harmony, and understanding of our place in the universe may be the key to everything.
Cassandra and the Crystal Cave is an excellent coming-of-age fantasy adventure. This book wraps up nicely and is good as a stand-alone adventure but leaves plenty of potential for other stories in the future. Perfect for all those who love a beautiful fantasy world where not even the sky is the limit.
Pages: 228 | ASIN : B0B3W872RV
The Lambda Factor
The Lambda Factor by Dimple Desai is a heart-pounding medical thriller that will have you on edge. Mere hours before Hurricane Beatrix touches down in Galveston, Texas, patients of Galveston hospital are evacuated. Doctors Danica Diza and Shaka Sen stay behind to tend to the remaining patients. Unfortunately, a highly virulent and deadly hemorrhagic fever virus is loose, forcing many into quarantine. Will they be able to survive the hurricane, the deadly virus, and the shortage of supplies?
Author Dimple Desai has added a little bit of everything you want in a disaster story; high stakes, well-developed characters, and even a bit of romance. The author’s writing is both exciting and terrifying, just knowing that this can possibly happen in real life.
Dr. Desai uses her medical expertise to make the hospital setting feel realistic and describes things in a way that is understandable to a regular person. Likewise, the characters are believable and seem intelligent and down to earth. From the beginning, Shaka and Danica have flirtatious banter, making them a lovely pair, and I was secretly rooting for them to reveal their feelings to one another.
The stakes are high from the start of the story, making this book difficult to put down. The author flawlessly jumps between scenes from Galveston hospital with a countdown of when the hurricane is going to hit the Biocontainment lab where the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever has been discovered. But even with these jumps I found it easy to follow many characters, and I always knew what was going on.
The fear that Dr. Wong feels when he realizes that there may be a deadly virus on the loose is where the tension really builds in the story. Because of the well developed scenes, easy to understand medical lingo, and interesting characters, I was fully immersed in the story and felt like I was in the hospital following the doctors.
The Lambda Factor is a terrifying and intense medical thriller novel. Readers will find it hard to put down as the action and suspense leads them through an alarming situation that, at times, is too close to reality for comfort.
Pages: 350 | ASIN : B095MGRMBC
LITERARY TITAN 