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A Murderous Rampage
Retribution follows a detective investigating several connected murders who suspects the killer may not be human but a supernatural being. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Retribution started out as a short story. I knew it was unusual and a little disturbing, but it wasn’t until I’d finished it that I realised the potential for a longer story. The original short story is featured in the book. It helps explain the origin of the killer.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
After finishing the last few paragraphs of the short story, I had a good idea of where I wanted to go with it, but, as I progressed, a lot of the scenarios came as I wrote. It is the same with all my stories, they evolve during writing.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story; were you constantly having to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
Yes. In Retribution, the killer is described fairly early on and then the real mystery becomes – What It is, where It came from, and why It’s on a murderous rampage, giving more detail as the story unfolds.
What is the next book you are writing, and when will that be published?
I am working on two books. One is a sequel to my short horror stories collection Down a Dark Path, and the other is a book of flash fiction containing dark, macabre, and unusual tales. The flash fiction book will be out first. I’m working on a cover for it and have a little editing to do before publishing. I’m hoping to get it done before the end of the year.
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Retribution
In the wake of a series of startling murders that have unsettled the community, we are led on a riveting journey alongside Detective Lockwood and his tenacious team as they delve deep into the mystery, ensuring every clue is meticulously examined. The early victims, two young boys, are intrinsically tied to Lee Inman. Tragically, Lee’s own life is cut short in a similar fashion, inciting inquiries about a potential malevolent link amongst these deaths.
Parallel to this, Dion Davies, grappling with the devastating loss of her daughter, Rosalie, undergoes a spine-chilling experience that imprints on her psyche. Once lost to the abyss and later found in a shallow grave with marks of heinous violence, Rosalie had her case frozen due to elusive evidence. Yet, Dion’s eerie encounter with an enigmatic being provides unsettling revelations about Rosalie’s tragic end.
As layers of the investigation peel away, it surfaces that the slain boys’ fate was tethered to a past case, suggesting their deaths as retribution for bygone transgressions. With unyielding resolve, Detective Lockwood and his brigade work tirelessly to zero in on the elusive antagonist. While the entity’s essence remains enigmatic, a haunting detail recurrently emerges from witness accounts: those striking, piercing green eyes.
This enthralling tale broaches complex questions on justice’s essence and ponders whether past malefactions warrant retribution. Detective Lockwood’s steadfast dedication infuses the storyline with suspense and momentum. Despite its swift pacing, the narrative remains lucid and compelling.
The story is augmented by its rich and evocative character depictions and scenarios, enabling readers to be wholly engrossed in this meticulously crafted universe. The nuanced portrayal of the characters’ inner tumult adds depth and authenticity, amplifying the tale’s overall resonance.
Retribution by author Paul J. Jackson is a gripping crime thriller filled with paranormal elements. Readers are taken on a suspense-filled journey as they follow Detective Lockwood as he attempts to solve the mystery of who the green-eyed murderer is.
Pages: 176 | ASIN : B0BFRNHWQM
Retribution, Records of the Argos Book Two
Nicholas Hall, Nick to his friends, has done it. He’s completed his first official mission for the Allied Consortium. Now, finally, he’s ready to return to the deep reaches of space. His crew of four has turned into a family of six, and they are back for more in Michael J. Farlow’s newest book, Retribution: Records of the Argos.
As the second installment in the series, Retribution brings back all the characters we loved from Crucible, and I have to say I’m thrilled. While the writing is clear and easy to follow, the book’s best part must be the crew and their interactions. Nick, the narrator and resident human there to bridge the gap between his otherworldly crew and us. He brings readers quick quips and his stockpile of pop culture references. Then there’s Wizzy, the outgoing and outstanding AI of the Argos. Each interaction feels realistic. From banter to strategy all the way to politics, nothing about Retribution feels forced.
Moreover, this book brings more than just a quirky cast of characters to the table; Farlow has also graced us with a beautifully written plot. Unlike other sci-fi stories that rely heavily on action, Michael J. Farlow chooses to set his sights on something more: politics and strategy. While there’s no lack of fighting, Farlow makes it clear that sci-fi is more than just lasers and ships. Each mission and every action the crew takes is well-thought-out. Acting as peacekeepers and, some might say, heroes, it makes sense. What they do matters, along with what they say and even how they say it.
Retribution: Records of the Argos is a riveting science fiction novel that takes readers on an exciting adventure. Farlow’s ability to write realistic characters and a plot that’s more than just gun smoke and space. In addition, he does a fantastic job of bringing back old, beloved characters while introducing new ones. I, for one, can’t wait for the next entry in this series.
Pages: 358 | ASIN : B0BH41NKPW
The Dark Legend of the Foreigner
In 17th century Japan, a battle between the shoguns and the Lees raged for a lengthy period of time. The shoguns wanted the Lees to come join their elite army, but the Lees remained neutral and peaceful people. After much harassing, the husband and wife became supreme warriors. The Lees began killing whatever shoguns threatened them. After a particularly violent, gruesome battle with the shoguns, the Lees disappeared into the Oakla Mountains for about twenty years . The mastermind, an ancient wizard siding with the shoguns, commanded what was left of the shoguns to patrol the mountains of Oakla trying to find the Lees. Decades would pass.
In those twenty long years, the Lees raised a son who would become known as “the Master.” Phenomenal genetics would breed an individual who became a far better warrior and stronger fighter then both of his parents put together. In the Master’s infantile years, the mother and father went up on the mountains of Oakla, similar to Moses’ summoning of God, where they asked their God for a sacrifice. He answered, and in return of this sacrifice, he would give their extraordinary son, the Master, the power of immortality in the form of Five Scrolls of Terror. Their God asked for the skin from their baby’s head, a threatening request, but would ultimately create a child who would grow into that of the Master: the Skulled Warrior.
As the Lees returned from Oakla on that twentieth or so year, they got ambushed and killed—an attack decades in the making. When the Master found the bodies of his parents, he naturally flew into a blind rage and killed many shoguns, slaughtering anyone who stood in his way. As he battled on Oakla Mountain, his scrolls disappeared off the mountain and were never seen again. As the Master went to the end of Oakla searching for the ancient wizard for retribution, he came across an ancient hut, and inevitably the wizard and the Master did battle. The Master would ultimately kill the wizard, but he would put a curse on the Master that would remain with the Master for nearly four hundred years. As the Master’s statue, which in reality was the curse turning him to stone, was moved by cult followers and believers, it eventually found its way to New Amsterdam, which as we know, would evolve into present-day New York City.
An adventure unfolds as the Master awakens after a four-hundred-year slumber, masked as a mysterious piece of art, to deal with our current world as we know it. And so begins The Dark Legend of The Foreigner.
LITERARY TITAN 