Blog Archives
A Layer of Supernatural Dread
The Tribune follows a struggling American PhD candidate who receives a mysterious phone call, sending him off to Romania on a journey into the Carpathian wilderness in search of a long-lost Roman eagle standard—an artifact tied to one of history’s forgotten battles. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for The Tribune came years ago when I discovered that a series of Roman Army battles had taken place in the southern Carpathian Mountains of Romania, and that historians are divided on exactly what happened. Roman history is fairly exhaustively documented, so learning that an entire legion may have been lost in what is still considered the last great wilderness of Europe seemed like the perfect opportunity. I could capitalize on what we know happened and take artistic license on the rest. The Carpathians also seem to resonate an aura of mystery, at least in American pop culture, and that can probably be attributed mostly to Bram Stoker. But that aura of mystery was the perfect backdrop to take a familiar, historical institution like the Roman Army and weave in a layer of supernatural dread.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The most interesting thing about the human condition is our fallibility and our inherent, daily struggle against it. Great fiction is relatable because it tells the story of how we all miss the mark, something we all recognize. This isn’t necessarily a negative view because the heart of great fiction is articulating the struggle.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
Roman historical fiction, particularly Roman Army fiction, is a fairly popular subgenre, so I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of stories I could find combining the topic with supernatural horror. For certain, I’m not the only author in this very specific subset, but it did give me a boost of confidence to take the subject and run with it.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am working on the sequel to The Tribune, and hope to have it available in early 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Racing Towards Destiny: Love on Track
Racing Towards Destiny is an emotional, fast-paced story about starting over when life crashes at full speed. It follows Anna, a neurodivergent marketing professional whose life implodes in a single day, she quits her soul-sucking job, catches her boyfriend cheating, and impulsively buys a one-way ticket to Spain. There, she meets Isaac, a quiet but accomplished MotoGP racer living in the shadow of his superstar brother. As Anna tries to rediscover herself and chase her dream of being a writer, she and Isaac find unexpected common ground in their search for identity and purpose.
What really hooked me was Anna’s breakdown-turned-breakthrough in the opening chapters. The way Gibson writes her sensory overload in the office felt real, raw, and not overdone. When Anna storms out after her boss steals her campaign, I wanted to cheer. And then she walks in on her boyfriend mid-affair. It’s a lot. But somehow, it doesn’t feel melodramatic. It feels earned. Gibson nails the chaos of a bad day that changes everything. Anna’s voice is sharp and self-aware, even when she’s spiraling, which kept me emotionally invested.
Then the narrative shifts to Isaac, and the change in tone is remarkably effective. He is a thoughtful and introspective athlete, quietly grappling with the emotional weight of living in his brother’s shadow. His internal reflections are both poignant and sincere, offering a humble glimpse into his inner world. The guy isn’t flashy, but he’s all heart. One standout moment is when Anna steps off the bus in Cervera and Isaac notices her first, not in a “sexy woman appears” cliché way, but with curiosity and warmth. It’s subtle but so effective. There’s this slow, simmering build between them that never tries too hard. The chemistry unfolds naturally, through shared moments and quiet understanding.
The pacing of the book is energetic and keeps the story moving with a refreshing momentum. Anna’s transition from corporate America to becoming an umbrella girl for a MotoGP team adds a fun and glamorous twist, bringing unexpected sparkle to her journey. This bold shift in her life opens the door to exciting new experiences and adds a lively, adventurous spirit to the narrative. The contrast between the glitter of racing life and the grounded emotional journeys of Anna and Isaac makes for an interesting backdrop. I also appreciated that the book doesn’t reduce Anna’s neurodivergence to a plot device. It’s just a part of who she is, and it’s handled with care.
Racing Towards Destiny is about more than love or motorcycles. It’s about finally saying no to the life you never wanted and fighting for the one that scares the hell out of you but might just make you happy. If you’ve ever fantasized about quitting everything, getting on a plane, and starting fresh in a sleepy European town, this book will hit the sweet spot. I’d recommend it to fans of emotionally intelligent romance, anyone craving a fresh start, or readers who love character-driven stories with a side of adrenaline.
Pages: 321 | ASIN : B0F7FYS865
D.O.L Light Running Part 1
D.O.L: Light Running, Part 1 plunges the reader into a high-octane, emotionally-charged dystopian military drama that follows Lilly Lamberton—a fiery, sharp-tongued heroine entangled in government secrets, paramilitary organizations, and her own haunted past. The narrative starts in explosive fashion and rarely lets up, blending raw action with psychological depth. From secret missions and violent ambushes to quiet reflections on loss and identity, this book is both a survival story and a deeply personal coming-of-age saga, set in a world cracking at the seams.
Jason Logan Maxwell writes like he’s trying to outpace a storm—fast, punchy, and relentless. The dialogue is witty, often hilarious, and refreshingly grounded. Characters feel alive because they’re flawed, they fight dirty, and they bleed. The pacing is intense, almost breathless at times, and while that energy keeps the story charging forward, it does leave some emotional moments a bit rushed. Still, when the book slows down, it doesn’t lose power—it hits harder. The flashbacks, the trauma, the tenderness buried under tough exteriors—they all ring painfully true. There’s something raw and human beneath the sci-fi military veneer, and it pulled me in more than I expected.
The book doesn’t shy away from the gritty or the grotesque. Some of the backstory, especially the POW sequences, are harrowing, borderline horrific. But it wasn’t gore for gore’s sake. It served a purpose. It gave weight to the trauma these characters carry. And Lilly—god, Lilly. She’s tough, smart, impulsive, and deeply broken. Watching her navigate betrayals, boot camp, and blackmail was riveting. She’s someone I rooted for fiercely, even when she messed up. She doesn’t ask for your sympathy—she earns it. The book also isn’t afraid to call out military systems, toxic leadership, and blind patriotism. It’s bold in the best way.
Light Running isn’t just an action novel, it’s a gut-punch of a character study dressed in tactical gear. It’s perfect for readers who like their stories gritty, their characters layered, and their themes heavy. If you enjoy works like The Hunger Games or Codename Villanelle but crave a sharper edge and darker truths, this book is for you. Be warned: it’s a wild ride with sharp turns. But if you can hang on, it’s worth every second.
Pages: 194 | ASIN : B0DN85DM2K
Mysterious Stranger
Inescapable follows a 17-year-old boy dreaming of escaping his small-town life, whose life takes a strange turn when a vampire and a witch move into town, and bodies start mysteriously piling up. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I find small towns intriguing because everyone knows everyone – and everyone talks about everyone. It’s like a soap opera. It can be great because there usually is a sense of community, but if you don’t fit in it can also be very lonely. When I was Dylan’s age – and I think it’s the same for most teenagers – I always felt like an outsider in my small town and I desperately wanted to leave. I loved stories about teenagers befriending the mysterious stranger who had just moved to town and turns out to be a vampire or a witch. But it got me thinking… What if – unlike in most YA vampire stories – the newcomer isn’t the good guy?
In many contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
As I said I’m from a small town. It is not as remote as Berlin, New Hampshire in Inescapable but everyone knows everyone there as well. I’m also really lucky to have an amazing mom – just like Dylan. We don’t have the same dynamic as Susan and Dylan, but I drew from my relationship with my mom to paint a convincing picture of Dylan’s.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to explore the concept of the vampire as an outsider – someone on the fringes of society who lives by their own rules – and what happens when they meet a human outsider. The concept of “monster” in general is something that I dive into in the book as well. What makes a monster? Who is the good guy, who’s the bad guy?
Friendship and family are an important topic, too. Who are we without the people who love us? And can we choose our own family?
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
The next book will dive deeper into the vampire lore of the Immortal-Blood-Gift-universe. You’ll meet new characters and Dylan will face new challenges. I can’t really say much more without spoiling Inescapable. So go ahead and read it!
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Website | Amazon
As bodies start piling up, each one more gruesome than the last, the town suspects a wild animal is to blame. But Dylan’s world is turned upside down when he learns that Marie is a vampire and Molly, the daughter of his mother’s new boyfriend, is a witch who believes Marie is responsible for the murders.
As Dylan finds himself drawn deeper into the supernatural world, he must make a choice: embrace the darkness within or fight for his humanity. But with a bloodthirsty monster on the loose and no way to return to his old life, Dylan’s decision may already be made for him.
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Set against the backdrop of 1980s horror, “Inescapable” is a chilling coming-of-age tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. If you enjoyed “Stranger Things,” you’ll love this thrilling tale of magic, monsters, and self-discovery.
Don’t miss out on this gripping read.
Satire of the Human Condition
Pairs: This Dating Site Will Be the Death of You follows a detective in Tampa Fl who is investigating the bizarre death of a woman who invited seven peculiar men from a friendship-dating app called Pairs to the local aquarium, only to end up murdered. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Interestingly, my inspiration came from the nights my friend, who had put herself – and me – on Match so we could both find partners, texted me countless weird profile pictures of people on the site. She was infuriated, but I found it really funny. I was at a riverside Tiki bar one day trying to write an outline for my second novel when I decided to write something funny about all the pictures she sent me. That turned into Pairs (none based on actual people, but not so far off the mark either).
Each character in this story is unique and leaves readers with more questions than answers. What was your inspiration for the characters’ interactions and backstories?
Pairs is set up so that I can inspire reader involvement. The characters are purposefully vague in order to stimulate reader imagination. At the end of the book, people are encouraged to write their own ending (I have done 3), and send it to me. I may put theirs on my website (pending approval signature etc from the contributor). Pairs is also set up formulaically. Its theme is online dating. All future books have a different theme. Detective Ned is the recurring character, and he develops a backstory throughout the series, and has his own diary on CracktheCaseBooks.com.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I hate to say this, but I just write and edit. The ideas are almost too easy since it’s farce, folly, satire of the human condition… But I would also say they are about the same thing.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
- Mishaps is out already on Amazon. It is book #2.
- Books 3 (Wrecks) and 4 (Critters) should be out by the end of 2025, and 2 more are in the works for 2026.
- A longer, more serious mystery novel should also be out by the end of 2025. All info will be announced on social media and CracktheCaseBooks.com.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
A woman searching for love. A string of online suitors. A deadly end. When a young woman’s body is discovered, Detective Ned is drawn into the murky world of online dating. The suspects? Every man in her dating history on the app Pairs. Each profile photo hides a secret: the suave charmer with a shady past, the awkward loner with an unhealthy obsession, or the too-perfect match with everything to lose..
In this sharp and satirical mystery, you hold the power to uncover the truth. Will the killer be caught in the web of lies? Choose from three gripping endings and then perhaps create your own. Submit your take to tremorinthehills@gmail.com for a chance to be featured on crackthecasebooks.com. Love might be a game, but in Pairs, the stakes are deadly.
The Greater Criminal
The Right Side of Wrong follows two FBI Special Agents working on a crime with ties to a multi-billion-dollar case of corporate espionage, who find themselves on a high-stakes adventure in the Bahamas. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My last two novels, Pedaling West and Survive the Day, featured characters Special Agents Marina Butnari and Doug Hill in the Crime Thriller genre. My third novel, The Other Side of Good, also a crime-thriller, didn’t include Butnari and Hill, but I hoped I might creatively connect that book to the crime-thriller series with The Right Side of Wrong. The similar titles for the two books suggest a relationship between them, and I incorporated characters from The Other Side of Good to join Butnari and Hill in the new book.
How did you develop the idea for the antagonist in this story, and how did it change as you wrote?
Given the history of one of the main characters of the book, Teddy Jay, the “central crime” for the story needed to be something different from the one I employed in other novels (Human Trafficking). My goal was to invite readers to consider a completely different type of crime from the traditional underworld ones … with characters just as evil. Between the lines, I hoped to challenge readers to determine which of the antagonists represented the greater criminal: the hired assassin, the senior executive who hired him, or the CEO of the major company who allowed the main crime to occur. As the story unfolded, the characters started “writing themselves.”
This sets up the novel to deliver some very entertaining scenes. What scene was the most fun to write?
As a former pilot, I enjoyed writing the chapter about the flight from Cincinnati to the Bahamas. I also liked writing the short section about the “redemption” of one of the early villains (Jack Walker/Harold Stinson/Mas).
Where does the next book in the series take the characters?
Good question…and I’m not sure. While I’ve enjoyed some critical success with the “crime-thriller” genre, the byline for my website is Stories with Heart. I manage to insert heart into the crime stories, but I’d like to use some of the interesting characters of past books in a story not centered around crime or enforcement. The travel log aspects of Pedaling West were popular with many readers of that novel, and I’m considering a follow-up…like Pedaling East.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
An intruder caught trespassing on a Caribbean banana plantation leads to an emergency call to a high-ranking FBI official. Within hours, Reno-based special agents, Marina Butnari and Doug Hill, are assigned a top-secret mission originating in the Bahamas.
Yet this is no simple attempted burglary. The crime ties to a multi-billion-dollar case of corporate espionage, and the intended victim is a mysterious agency resource with an identity known to few.
From shark-infested waters to criminal-infested boardrooms, the agents take a roller-coaster ride through the depravities created by greed. They discover that in this imperfect life, sometimes the best you can do is stay on ‘The Right Side of Wrong.’
EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS a crime fiction adventure featuring beloved characters from some of the other multiple award-winning books by E. A. Coe.
Femme Fatale: Shades of Retribution
Italia Tornabene’s Femme Fatale: Shades of Retribution is a gritty, heart-wrenching, and fiercely personal journey into the life of Italia Rossi, a dancer, single mother, sister, and survivor. Set against the neon-soaked backdrop of a strip club called The Velvet Viper, the story follows Italia as she battles poverty, motherhood, addiction (not hers but a friend’s), and the ghosts of a troubled past while plotting her quiet war for justice. It’s not just a tale of survival, it’s a slow-burning revenge story soaked in love, grief, and raw grit.
One of the strongest things about this book is its emotional honesty. The relationship between Italia and her best friend Olive hit me the hardest. There’s a real tenderness in the way they care for each other, especially in scenes like the one where Olive collapses in Italia’s arms, confessing her descent into addiction. It didn’t feel like fiction. It felt like something I had seen, or could’ve seen, in the real world. The slow unraveling of Olive’s spirit, and Italia’s growing sense of helplessness, was painful in a way that didn’t let me look away.
Tornabene’s writing is rich with atmosphere. She turns the club into a character of its own, dangerous, seductive, brutal. The opening chapters, where Italia and Olive perform together, are electric. Not because they’re flashy, but because they show power, women taking control in a world that wants to strip it from them. There’s this moment where Italia thinks, “They’re eating out of our hands,” and it’s not about ego. It’s about survival. About making the most of a broken system. There’s real complexity in how power is handled here.
The pacing can be a bit uneven, especially in the middle, where the narrative shifts toward Italia’s undercover attempts to infiltrate the drug world. Some of that felt a little rushed or too smooth, like she transitioned from grieving mother to spy a bit too easily. The story needed momentum, and the emotional stakes never went away. What redeems these sections is Italia’s constant return to her core motivation: Dominic, her son. Every risk she takes, every mask she wears, it all circles back to him. There’s this beautiful moment where she says, “He deserves the sun.” That line is so simple yet so powerful.
In the end, this book is for readers who want more than just plot. It’s for people who want to feel something deep and maybe a little uncomfortable. If you’ve ever lost someone, if you’ve ever had to fight harder than you should’ve had to, Femme Fatale will speak to you. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it doesn’t pretend to have all the answers.
Pages: 364 | ASIN: B0DS1JF9VZ
Upon This Rock
David Eugene Perry’s Upon This Rock is a genre-blending mystery set in the hauntingly picturesque hill town of Orvieto, Italy. The novel follows Lee Maury, a gay American public relations expert, and his tech-savvy husband Adriano, as they embark on a sabbatical-turned-sleuthing adventure after a suspicious suicide shakes their temporary paradise. As their search for truth deepens, they are pulled into a centuries-spanning web of papal politics, religious secrets, and modern-day conspiracies—threads intricately woven through the ancient stones of the city itself. With alternating timelines, a chorus of colorful locals, and a fair amount of ecclesiastical intrigue, Perry’s debut is part historical thriller, part romance, and part love letter to Orvieto.
What struck me most was Perry’s ability to balance wit and weight. The writing is often deliciously sharp, especially in dialogue, with characters like the irrepressible Peg and the mysterious La Donna Volsini stealing every scene they’re in. The voice is personal and vivid. Perry writes as if he’s chatting with an old friend. But what’s impressive is how this breezy tone never undercuts the darker themes—grief, corruption, faith, and betrayal. Lee’s mourning over his friend Brian and the ghosts of his Southern heritage give the novel an emotional anchor that elevates it beyond your average thriller. And the twisty plot, full of Vatican secrets and ancient rivalries, had me flipping pages like mad. It’s a lot—sometimes almost too much—but the payoff is worth the sprawl.
Some scenes felt like extended travel logs or culinary postcards, lovely in themselves but occasionally distracting from the central mystery. There are moments when exposition takes the driver’s seat and slows the action. Still, Perry’s commitment to craft shows through. This isn’t a throwaway beach read. It’s thoughtful, layered, and clearly born of deep research and deeper love.
Upon This Rock is a satisfying, smart, and soulful read. It’s perfect for fans of Dan Brown who wish Robert Langdon had better fashion sense and a husband, or for anyone who loves Italy, history, and a dose of spiritual mystery with their aperitivo. It’s for readers who appreciate good writing, complex characters, and stories that unfold like cathedrals—beautiful, intricate, and full of hidden chambers.
Pages: 404 | ISBN: 0941936066
LITERARY TITAN 