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Severed Echoes
In Severed Echoes, author D.V. Chernov weaves a compelling mystery centered around Detective Nick Severs, who stumbles upon a perplexing case. A tip from an old school friend leads Nick to investigate a suspected murder, initially disguised as a suicide. The story gains complexity as Nick’s friend’s honesty comes into question, and he grapples with a haunting, recurring nightmare.
Chernov skillfully uses sharp, succinct sentences to escalate tension, exemplified in lines like “woman’s startled shriek. Short, sharp, and clear.” This narrative style not only builds suspense but also immerses the reader in the role of a detective, encouraging them to piece together the mystery alongside the characters. Parallel to Nick’s story is Kat, engaged in a quest for retribution with the aid of the hacktivism group ‘f8sabitch’. The connection between their paths remains an intriguing aspect of the plot. The book’s opening line, “The boy’s skull cracked, and the sound made Nick open his eyes,” sets the tone for the unfolding mystery. From the outset, Chernov captivates readers with questions that can only be answered by delving deeper into the narrative.
Severed Echoes incorporates contemporary themes, including references to COVID, which adds a layer of relatability for modern readers. This novel is a compelling read for those drawn to mysteries, providing a rich blend of suspense, character development, and relevant societal commentary. Chernov’s storytelling is engaging, making it a challenging book to put down for anyone captivated by unraveling a good mystery.
Severed Echoes is an intricately crafted narrative that masterfully balances suspense and character-driven storytelling. D.V. Chernov presents a modern mystery that not only engages readers in a complex plot but also resonates with contemporary themes. The book’s strength lies in its ability to immerse the reader in the detective’s journey, turning each page into a step deeper into its enthralling mystery. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the genre or new to mystery novels, this book offers a captivating reading experience, marking D.V. Chernov as a noteworthy voice in mystery fiction.
Pages: 348 | ASIN : B0B65Q8K78
Multilayered Mysteries
Stone Coat Man: A Cadence Mystery follows a woman whose grisly discovery begins a chain of events that rocks her small town. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’d once seen a program on television that purported a theory that Sasquatch creatures are humans who prefer to live isolated in the wild. I remembered that theory when I started researching the rich mythology of the Six Nations of Indigenous Peoples in New York State and came upon the Seneca myth of the Genoskwa. It fit this story perfectly that deals with the mysteries of who we are and how we are shaped by the legacy of our ancestors and our own experiences.
What was your favorite character to write for and why? Was there a scene you felt captured the character’s essence?
I have so many favorite characters in this series, and this is book #4, so the list grows longer with each book, but Leroy Steeprock has a special place in my heart. He is wise, funny, courageous, noble, and lovable, and he understands human nature. He is steeped in the traditions of his people and he has keen perceptions about life, humanity, and nature.
Every scene with Leroy is one of my favorites, but I love the scene where he is introduced to readers. I took meticulous care in the details of that scene and his interactions with the other characters. For me, and I hope for my readers, it is a scene that has stayed with me and that I enjoy reading again and again.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
Writing a mystery is fun. It’s like a huge jigsaw puzzle, especially when there are multilayered mysteries occurring at the same time, which is how all the books in the Cadence Mystery series are structured. It means keeping notes on details and many rereads of the manuscript to ensure hints and red herrings are well-placed and that all loose ends are tied up at the end. I relish the process, even when I’m up at 2:30 in the morning trying to get something just right. Loving the process is key because flexibility is a must and things change during my readings, revisions, beta readings, and with the editors. Love of the story is also a must because the story is good about revealing details my copious notes somehow missed.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
I am 62,000 words into book #5 of the Cadence Mystery series. The book is titled Improbable Future. Again, it will be a standalone book, but it is also a book that brings the characters of the series to places and decisions they never imagined. It’s a thriller! I’ve already come to really like a couple of the new characters introduced in this book, and I can’t wait to share them with my readers. I expect the book to be released mid or late summer.
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Depths and Endless Possibilities
Song for Someone follows a young woman who, through her parents’ diaries, discovers the love story of an opera singer and the mysterious detective Sherlock Holmes. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was inspired to write my debut novel, Song for Someone, after visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street in 2019. I remember it was just before lockdown. I had always been fascinated by the iconic character Irene Adler and felt disappointed when she failed to appear in any further episodes after A Scandal in Bohemia. Other authors have hinted at a relationship between Holmes and Adler but merely skirted around the subject without exploring its depths and endless possibilities. So encouraged by my daughter Katie, I decided to write my adaptation.
Both Irene and Holmes are well-written and developed characters with engaging personalities. What was your favorite character to write for and why? Was there a scene you felt captured the character’s essence?
Irene was my favourite character to write; I loved exploring the depths of her character, this strong, feisty woman who took no messing from the celebrated detective. My favourite chapter in the book is No. 27, where Irene and Sherlock discuss past relationships. Those scenes really captured the character’s essence and changed the dynamics of their relationship.
Through the diary pages, Charlotte is taken on an adventure to discover her parent’s secret lives. How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
Story development can coincide with shocking plot twists. I’m a panster writer, and ideas tend to come to me as I go along; it can, at times, involve a lot of re-writing for me this way, but, the plot and dialogue flow much better.
When will book 2 be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
Christmas at The Saporis, Book Two in the Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries, was published last December. The story will take readers to the beautiful Susses Downs five years after Sherlock and Irene’s adventures in Italy. Irene is hoping for a quiet family Christmas and a reconciliation with Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft. All appears well until unexpected ghosts from the past appear, threatening to shatter the fragile peace of the holidays, reminding readers that happiness and harmony are never guaranteed, even during the festive period.
Meet Me in Milan, Book 3 in the series, will be published on the 29th of September, and takes our intrepid couple back to Milan, where Irene finds herself having to turn investigator when her friend Renata becomes the main suspect in the attempted murder of her husband, Luigi Amato. When Sherlock finally arrives on the scene, Irene seeks his counsel, and he agrees to help with her investigation. But, in doing so, they open up a can of worms in their quest for the truth, which leaves them questioning their relationship and everything they hold dear.
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Charlotte Sapori has led a wonderful life, safely tucked in the bosom of her family. Her mother, Irene Adler, is a renowned opera singer, while her father, Lucca Sapori, does important government work that frequently takes him away from them. Charlotte is close to her older brother, Nicco, and they are both doted on by their parents. All is well until her mother receives an unexpected diagnosis which shakes the family to its core.
Knowing herself to be dying, Adler confesses to Charlotte things that have long been kept from her, telling her to find and read her diary. A distressed Lucca Sapori tells his daughter to read his as well. And by the way, Lucca Sapori is not his real name. In fact, she may have heard of him—he is actually the world-famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Charlotte finds both diaries and plunges into the hidden world of Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes as she discovers what brought them together, and how they managed to stay together for thirty years despite having to battle the odds.
The TVC Project
The TVC Project is the story of a pre-med student Buck and detective Allyson Mancuso as they find themselves thrust into a dark murder mystery, rife with political intrigue. Despite the dangerous world, they have found themselves involved in a seductive romance. At the beginning of the book, Buck is a normal college student focused on his studies and his friends. But a normal night of studying turns his life upside down when his two best friends fail to meet up with him. When Buck discovers that they have been murdered he cannot let go of the investigation until he learns what happened to his friends.
The TVC Project was written by Tom Bridges published in 2013. He is from Dallas Texas and works within the medical field. Bridges background is perhaps the reason behind the realism of Buck’s medical knowledge in the book. Buck and Allyson are both intriguing characters that are given interesting backgrounds that fill out their character and make them feel real. Buck’s history in the navy, making him an older college student at 27, gives his character depth and makes his relationship with detective Mancuso believable. His flaw might be that while we are in his head we see that he perceives himself as an overall “nice guy” despite being sexually aroused in the middle of dealing with the murder of his best friends and memorial services. Allyson herself is given depth in her side hobby of rebuilding her house. The unrealistic part of these characters perhaps comes from how easily Allyson lets Buck in on the case and allows him to partake in the investigation.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is Bridge’s use of character perspective. While much of the book is written from Buck’s perspective; we also get to go into the heads of Allyson and some of the characters behind the murder itself. This writing choice is sure to keep readers captivated as answers coming flying in from different directions along with more questions. I liked that none of the characters had all the answers because this leaves the reader in a perfect position to piece the mystery together.
The story is a fascinating murder mystery and an exciting political thriller all tied up in a passionate romance. It successfully weaves these genres into a thought-provoking story. While the book does come to an end in a satisfying and unique way, it still leaves questions open and possibilities for more to come, which creates a desire to continue reading the second book Bridges wrote as a sequel, Surviving Ghosts. Overall the book was interesting and unpredictable, a necessity for an enjoyable mystery.
Pages: 295 | ASIN: B00FEN4RVG
The Ryder Quartet
The Ryder Quartet is a crime/mystery series written by Ian Patrick, and consists of Devil Dealing, Gun Dealing, Plain Dealing, and Death Dealing. Devil Dealing is about a police investigation of an illegal gambling unit, where one of the department’s own is behind the operation and finds himself face to face with the consequences of his misdeeds. Gun Dealing is the story of an intense search for the gangster Thabethe which tests the ethical and moral judgment of the detectives involved. Plain Dealing focuses on cops who kill four thugs in an execution style shooting and try to cover it up, and Thabethe makes an appearance again as the eye witness to the shooting and tries to include Jeremy Ryder in with the corrupted cops out of spite. Finally, Death Dealing, tells the tale of the criminal’s determination to take down Jeremy Ryder for good. Their prime target has become his family.
Each of the books in the series build upon each other. Elements from previous novels carry over into the next one, building the tension and suspense of the series. Patrick takes a close and harsh look at the corruption within the police force in these novels, and focuses on the Durban, South Africa area as his setting. Often readers don’t think much about the settings in the books they read, but Patrick makes an effort to make the setting stand out, which makes you want to learn more about the area. It takes a strong author to make readers interested in the real life setting of a book, and Ian Patrick is such an author.
I enjoyed the book, but there were rare moments where I was grudgingly reading through paragraphs of unnecessary detail and commentary and I wanted to get back to what I enjoyed most about the novel, which was the characters and the core plot. Ian Patrick takes readers on a roller coaster ride through South Africa. The series is full of twists and turns that will leave the reader almost breathless. It’s nearly impossible to guess what will happen next. It is evident that Ian Patrick does his research for each of these novels. He writes with an air of authority and knowledge on the subject. Readers get an in depth look into what drives someone to committing evil acts and thoughts. This series is as much a look into the human psyche as it is a look into moral and ethical corruption. In most novels the villain becomes a sort of secondary character, but in the Ryder Quartet they become the main characters.
The Ryder series as whole is one that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries, crime thrillers, and even those who enjoy a good psychological novel. Each book left me asking, ‘what will happen next?’ And sure enough, I didn’t see the twist coming.
Pages: 826 | ISBN: 1519539622
LITERARY TITAN 