Blog Archives
A 360-Degree View
Dream Me Dead follows a dead woman watching her husband’s trial for her murder, who tries to leave clues for the living as to what happened to her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As living people, we only know what we are told, or what we assume to be true, but if the story is told through the eyes of a deceased person, they are able to have a 360-degree view of the world, and there is no more room for speculation. Peggy Prescott knows exactly what happened to her and how it happened, but she only reveals bits and pieces of her story so that the reader can begin putting the pieces together until they make sense. If she revealed everything at once, it would not be exciting. When someone has to work for the reward, the goal is that much more exciting and fulfilling. The reader feels challenged to put their mind to work as the clues accumulate. The reward, therefore, is worth the effort. Peggy knows her life on earth was valuable, and wants the readers to appreciate her trials and tribulations, making her life, and death, more meaningful. Hopefully, it gives the reader the idea that everything we do, everything that happens to all of us, will one day make sense.
What intrigues you about the paranormal that led you to explore this direction in your psychological thriller novel?
I have always questioned the paranormal, believing that we can only know what we know, but that is not the entire story. I believe in unseen entities, good and bad, who guide us along the way, preparing us to make better choices, be fearless, love deeply, and know that when someone dies, they are still with us. Those whose death was unexpected need for those left behind to make sense of things, and to dig deeper for clues that finally are revealed. Timing is everything, especially for those who search for answers. When I look up at the sky, I see endless possibilities, other lifetimes, souls who have moved on, souls who have remained for a while to keep their loved ones safe. It is an endless cycle of love and possibilities, that intrigue me the most. We have miracles all around us if only we look for them.
What was the most challenging part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
The most challenging part of writing a mystery/psychological thriller is to ask the reader to be part of the story, to immerse themselves in the richness of the characters, and to follow the clues as they appear. This cannot occur if the reader becomes bored with the story, or finds that they cannot relate to the characters, so my job was to create characters who come alive, who the reader wants to root for, or despise, but cares about deeply one way or the other. The clues have to be available, but hidden, and can be found just beneath the surface if the reader looks hard enough. For me, the characters in Dream Me Dead are taking the reader on a journey and asking them to believe that they exist, if only on the pages, but remain in our hearts as real people.
Will there be a third book in the Dream Me Home series? If so, what can readers expect, and when will it be available?
Yes, there will be a third book, entitled Dream Me Gone, which will challenge the reader to take a stand, knowing that just as in life, each person can view the same problem differently, depending on their own personal experiences. I know what the ending is, of course, but that’s because I am a believer that anything is possible. Being an optimist and hopeless romantic, I will determine that the ending comes from a place of love, but others, those who are realists, who employ logic as their first language, are welcome to view an ending that makes sense in a realistic world. In other words, just as the readers will align themselves with specific characters, they will also stand firm on a logical conclusion. Everyone should feel that the time they put in to reading the Dream Me Home series was time well spent.
Author Links: Website | Book Trailer | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
The Breaking of Time: Chronicles of the Arvynth
The Breaking of Time drops you straight into a life coming apart at the seams. Daniel Ward looks like any middle-aged dad, but he’s actually a centuries-old sorcerer who has been hiding from a ruthless order known as the Arvynth. When he freezes time to save his son from being hit by a truck, he exposes the truth he has buried for twenty years. His wife sees everything. His children sense something they should never sense. The Arvynth find him again. The quiet suburban world he built starts to crack, and those cracks spread fast. The book follows Daniel as he struggles to protect his family while the old world he fled pushes its way back into his life. It blends magic, danger, family drama, and a growing sense that every choice Daniel makes costs him something huge.
I kept rooting for Daniel even when I wanted to shake him. His voice feels worn, tired, and trying so hard to pass for normal that when he breaks, it hurts. I liked how raw the family moments felt. His wife’s shock lands hard. His son’s confusion hits even harder. The scenes where Daniel feels the Arvynth closing in gave me this tight pressure in my chest, like the danger was creeping into the room with me. The writing is clean, quick, and vivid. The magic feels physical. I could almost hear the world stop when he speaks the old words. I found myself flipping pages just to see if he could hold his family together for one more chapter.
Daniel’s past stretches back centuries, and the book keeps teasing details without giving everything away too early. I loved that slow reveal. It made me feel off balance, like the story was letting me overhear secrets not meant for me. And the Arvynth are terrifying in a quiet way, which I really enjoyed. They barely appear at first, yet their presence fills every page. I also liked how the writing shifts between intimate family tension and sweeping magic that feels ancient and dangerous. The mix kept the pace unpredictable in a way that felt alive.
I think this book would land especially well with readers who enjoy fantasy woven into ordinary life, stories about families under impossible pressure, and characters who carry heavy pasts that finally catch up to them. If you like magic that feels tactile and real, or if you enjoy emotional stakes wrapped inside supernatural danger, this book will hit the spot.
Pages: 354 | ASIN : B0G3YH6638
Dream Me Dead: A Story of Betrayal, Infidelity, and Love
Dream Me Dead is a psychological thriller with a strong emotional core, and its premise grabs you from page one. The story follows Peggy Prescott, who opens the book by telling us she is dead and determined to reveal the truth about her husband Rob, a respected surgeon now on trial for her murder. What unfolds is a layered mix of courtroom drama, trauma, suspicion, and blurred realities, all threaded through Peggy’s unsettling perspective as she watches events play out from beyond the living world. As the story progresses, her memories fracture and re-form, her sense of the living and the dead becomes porous, and the real history of her marriage to Rob surfaces piece by piece.
Peggy’s voice is striking because it’s calm even when what she describes is horrific, and that contrast creates a tension that stays with you. Author Laurie Elizabeth Murphy makes deliberate choices here, especially in letting Peggy narrate from a place suspended between worlds. It lets her speak plainly about betrayal, longing, and fear, but with an eerie restraint. I found myself reacting not only to the events but to how Peggy processed them, especially when her certainty about what happened collides with the medical team’s insistence that her memories are confused.
Murphy also isn’t shy about leaning into the messy parts of human behavior. The trial sequences give the book a legal-thriller pulse, but underneath the questioning and objections you feel the emotional wreckage of this family. Rob’s arrogance, Peggy’s desperation to be believed, the daughters’ anger, even the way secondary characters like Dr. Steinbrenner or Mrs. Stoner color the narrative with their own biases and wounds. It becomes clear that this story isn’t just about a crime. It’s about the stories people tell about themselves to survive. And because the book blends psychological fiction with elements of suspense and the supernatural, it has room to explore those ideas without having to explain every mystery. Sometimes it’s the uncertainty that keeps you reading.
By the time I reached the final chapters, I felt the book had shown me both the exterior plot and the interior landscapes of these characters, which is where it’s strongest. It’s a thriller, yes, but one with emotional weight and a haunting, almost dreamlike undertow. I’d recommend Dream Me Dead to readers who enjoy psychological suspense that leans into character and memory as much as plot. If you like courtroom tension, unreliable narration, and stories that sit somewhere between mystery and emotional reckoning, you’ll enjoy this book.
Pages: 355 | ASIN : B0F1WG5JHK
A Death at Christmas And Other Wondrous Events
This book is part heartfelt memoir, part magical realism, and all wrapped up in holiday grief, hope, and healing. A Death at Christmas follows a teenage boy named Peter as he navigates the emotional turmoil of losing his father just before Christmas. But here’s the twist—his father doesn’t leave entirely. Instead, his young, ghostlike presence returns to help Peter process the loss. The story unfolds over a series of vignettes, covering everything from family secrets to choir concerts, bank mishaps, and deeply moving moments of connection—both supernatural and human.
What struck me most was how honest and unfiltered the writing felt. Smith doesn’t sugarcoat the pain of losing a parent, especially as a teenager. The scene where Peter finds a Christmas card from his father after he dies wrecked me. It’s the kind of detail that sneaks up on you. The writing style is simple, direct, sometimes even a bit raw. It makes it feel like you’re sitting across from someone telling you the story over coffee. There’s this great moment at the choir concert where Peter, grieving and uncertain, belts out a deliberately off-key solo. It’s funny and heartbreaking all at once, and that’s kind of the vibe of the whole book.
But I also loved the quiet yet strange wisdom that shows up in unexpected places. Like the chapter about the mysterious second wife. It reads like a family mystery unfolding in real time. Or when Peter’s dad, in his ghostly form, starts explaining the “universal organization” and his role as a sort of “transition therapist.” It sounds weird, and it is, but it somehow works. It doesn’t feel like sci-fi or fantasy, it feels personal and comforting, like a spiritual wink rather than a religious hammer. There’s a scene where Peter’s friend Patrick unexpectedly shows up to spend time with him, and I found myself grinning. It’s that mix of small gestures and cosmic questions that keeps the story grounded but still wondrous, just like the title promises.
If you’ve ever lost someone, then this book will resonate with you. But it’s not just a sad story. It’s about healing, memory, awkward family dynamics, and learning how to carry on when everything changes. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy heartfelt memoirs, coming-of-age stories with a magical twist, or just something that feels real and raw and weird in the best way.
Pages: 154 | ASIN : B0CLX4RMRH
A Death at Christmas and Other Wondrous Events
Christmas is drawing near when Pete’s father suffers a debilitating stroke, an event that sets the tone for this heartfelt novel. Aware that his time with his father is running out, Pete finds himself on the receiving end of some last-minute life lessons, lessons his father is determined to share, even if it means returning as a ghost to do so. With his guidance, Pete must navigate the complexities of life, strengthen the bonds with those he loves, and learn to embrace the joy of living. Time is slipping away, but Pete is resolved to soak up every precious moment with his father.
A Death at Christmas and Other Wondrous Events by Artell Smith, is a deeply emotional novel that dives into themes of family, love, and personal growth. The story follows Pete as he grapples with the weight of his father’s declining health and the impact it has on his family. The narrative revolves around the relationships between the characters, with particular emphasis on the unique bond between Pete and his father. The novel captures the essence of a coming-of-age story, as Pete matures and learns to navigate life in a brief but transformative period under his father’s watchful eye.
Watching Pete confront life’s challenges while discovering his own identity felt both authentic and moving. The character development is nuanced, and the relationships, especially between Pete and his father, resonate with genuine emotion. The story’s exploration of family dynamics and personal growth will strike a chord with readers who appreciate heartfelt narratives. That said, I feel that the writing occasionally has moments where the prose seems a bit less polished. Even so, the characters and their journey shine through, making the story compelling and memorable.
Artell Smith’s A Death at Christmas and Other Wondrous Events is a touching narrative that leaves you reflecting on the importance of family and the lessons we carry forward. I recommend this book to anyone who values stories about genuine relationships and personal growth. It’s a promising debut, and I look forward to seeing what Smith delivers next.
Pages: 154 | ASIN : B0CLX4RMRH
The Broken Dollhouse
In The Broken Dollhouse by Sofia Ekebom, readers are drawn into a haunting psychological thriller with elements of horror, weaving together themes of trauma, mental illness, and suspense. The protagonist, Micayla, has been haunted since childhood by a devastating event, the brutal murder of her aunt, which she witnessed at the age of five. The trauma left deep psychological scars, affecting her well into adulthood. Now living in a villa by a lake steeped in dark folklore with her husband, she finds herself ensnared in an eerie mystery. The legends surrounding a mystical creature lurking in the lake are mere whispers—until her husband dies under suspicious circumstances, and her 17-month-old son vanishes. As Micayla seeks answers, she uncovers unsettling connections between these events, the lake, and its cryptic secrets.
Ekebom’s novel intricately explores mental health, beginning with the abandonment of Micayla and her brother due to their mother’s postpartum psychosis. As the story progresses, Micayla’s struggles with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts create a vivid portrait of a woman teetering on the edge. Her character becomes increasingly layered, shaped by a toxic marriage and long-standing abandonment issues, leading her to distrust those around her. When her son disappears, the narrative takes a sharp turn, propelling her into a desperate search filled with suspense and uncertainty. She encounters various characters along the way, some trustworthy, others far from it, heightening the tension and adding depth to her journey. While the novel’s title is captivating and the premise promising, it falters in execution. The lack of descriptive detail, particularly surrounding the mythical lake creature, leaves readers craving more. Key elements, such as the creature’s motivations and the ritual mentioned in passing, remain frustratingly vague. This underdevelopment of the horror aspect detracts from the novel’s potential to fully immerse its audience in fear and suspense.
The Broken Dollhouse by Sofia Ekebom presents a compelling blend of psychological thriller and horror centered around trauma, mental illness, and a chilling mystery. The novel offers a strong premise and intriguing character development. Readers of psychological thrillers and dark fiction will find the story engaging.
Pages: 328 | ISBN : 9526502035
NAVIGATING DARKNESS
Navigating Darkness, by Eric Greene, is a captivating psychological thriller that immerses readers in the tumultuous mind of sixteen-year-old Lucas Mofit. Seeking an escape from his daily pressures, Lucas’s night of indulgence takes a terrifying turn when he encounters a dog chasing its tail in a ring of smoke—a sinister omen that marks the beginning of his descent into a world of supernatural horrors. Lucas is bombarded with relentless visions, voices, and nightmares that test his sanity. Despite his friends’ efforts to console him, he feels increasingly isolated, yet he is never truly alone. A malevolent presence stalks him, pushing him to the brink of madness. In his desperation, Lucas cries out to God, finding a brief respite before the darkness returns with renewed vengeance. His struggle between lust and salvation, reality and delusion, forms the crux of this chilling narrative.
Navigating Darkness masterfully blends psychological horror and the elements of a supernatural thriller, capturing the harrowing journey of a young boy tormented by inner demons and external malevolent forces. Greene deftly explores the fragile boundary between reality and insanity, urging readers to question what is real and what is imagined. Lucas Mofit is a compelling protagonist whose struggles with fear and isolation are deeply relatable. His supernatural encounters are vividly described, drawing readers into his nightmarish experiences. The recurring motif of the dog chasing its tail serves as a haunting reminder of Lucas’s inescapable dread.
The narrative is enriched by Greene’s introspective style, which delves into Lucas’s psyche, revealing his innermost fears and desires. The supporting characters, particularly Lucas’s friends, add depth to the story, highlighting themes of friendship, loyalty, and helplessness in the face of overwhelming darkness. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter building suspense and intensifying the reader’s sense of unease. Greene’s ability to maintain this tension throughout the novel is commendable, making this book a page-turner from start to finish. Lucas’s cries to God and subsequent moments of peace offer a stark contrast to his experiences of terror, providing a nuanced portrayal of the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness.
Navigating Darkness is a deeply engaging and thought-provoking read that will linger in the minds of readers long after they have turned the last page. It is a testament to Greene’s skill in crafting a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is terrifying. Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers and supernatural horror.
Pages: 106 | ASIN : B0D4N1L33G
My Inspiration
In Gumshoe Goes To A Quinceanera, a detective reincarnated as a Siamese cat must solve a series of murders leading up to a young woman’s quinceanera. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
A couple of things…first I was asked to do a young adult mystery. When I thought about that, I thought about my cat, Ash, a Siamese who has a bit of an attitude. Second, I thought about what I liked to read when I was a kid…The Hardy Boy and Nancy Drew Mysteries. I wondered what would happen if Nancy Drew met Sabrina the Witch (Another thing I loved as a kid) and I also have an interest in History. They all seemed to come together and Gumshoe was born.
I find that authors sometimes ask themselves questions and let their characters answer them. Do you think this is true for your characters?
Not really. Ash is my inspiration for Gumshoe’s antics. The mysteries are something I just figure out in my head. Ash speaks enough for everyone.
Do you have a favorite scene from this installment of the Gumshoe Mysteries?
I admit the beginning where Gumshoe is threatened with being neutered and his response makes me laugh every time.
Can fans expect to see a third book featuring Mia and Gumshoe? What are you currently working on?
Yes. I have a couple of different series that I write as well as write for a couple of anthologies, so the next Gumshoe won’t be out until 2025. I’ve had a couple of ideas and I know where Mia and Gumshoe will be headed next, just haven’t figured out yet who I am going to kill….just yet.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website | Amazon
Mia Thomas’ close friend Tiffany Santos is celebrating her fifteenth birthday with a traditional Spanish/Mexican quinceanera, but murder also plans on attending. As Gumshoe tries to solve the first murder, the bodies keep piling up. Mia and Gumshoe are dragged into a dark world of treachery and corruption. Can the two sleuths find the culprit or will Tiffany’s special day be ruined?
LITERARY TITAN 