Right about now—six months into this pandemic, still not able to do much and smack dab in the middle of an ugly election season—could you use a getaway? Have you had to restrain your impulse to throw something at the TV during the latest Coronavirus update or when another negative political ad comes on? Couldn’t you just picture yourself on an sun-drenched beach, toes in the warm sand and a frosty drink on your hand? Or maybe sailing across blue green waters, waves lapping peacefully at the sides of your sailboat with the shoreline around you exploding with color?
I’m right there with you.
That’s why, when I decided to write the Haunted Shores Mysteries, I chose to set each narrative in a great getaway location. But not just any getaway. I mean everyone knows about places like Hilton Head, or Malibu, or Daytona Beach. For my tales, I was searching for unique, even unforgettable locations that I could introduce readers to and would leave a lasting impression with them.
For me, my first choice was obvious since we’ve traveled there several times. The setting for BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE is, well, the Chesapeake Bay. Or to be more precise, the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, truly one of the undiscovered gems in the country. Thousands of miles of undulating shoreline, some of the best seafood you’ll ever eat, and sunsets over the water that would melt your sheltered, hardened heart. Not to mention the scene of variegated foliage covering she shores that can match even peak autumn in New Hampshire. If you close your eyes, you might be able to picture yourself in the middle of the Bay aboard a two-masted sailboat, rocking gently on the waters. Or you could just let my novel take you there.
Here’s a brief excerpt from BLOOD.
"A few stray clouds chased each other across an azure sky which turned the water to an aquamarine. A light breeze filled the two white and gold sails and stirred the water, creating only small waves which rocked the sloop gently. Across the horizon, a few white sails punctured the beautiful blue that wrapped around them.
The boulders lining the shores looked like pebbles from where they sailed."
Don’t you wish you were standing on the deck of that sailboat right now? Well, you can almost.
For the second entry in my series, I went for something quite different, but just as interesting in its own way. CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY is set in a quintessential resort town, with expansive white sand beaches for the sun-worshipper, a famous getaway for more than 150 years. With hundreds of unique Victorian houses and mansions—think “the painted ladies”—lining the shore and filling the streets of this quant town, you have a setting and a sight unmatched anywhere in the U.S. And, the fact that the town is the most haunted seaport on the Eastern Seacoast made it a no-brainer for the setting for my second novel.
A few pages into this novel and I promise you’ll forget the present doldrums of Covid-19 and all the attendant problems and find yourself in another place and time, one you’ll enjoy.
Here’s just a sample:
"They crossed at the light, and Darrell took in the sight ahead of them—a near perfect, expansive sandy beach edged by crystal blue water that seemed to stretch on forever, merging with a perfect azure sky. Smudges of white dotted the heavenly canvas, and small curls of white-topped breakers were sprinkled along the waters farther out. Quiet waves gurgled up upon the sand before leaking back into the watery expanse…Throw in the meticulous architecture of all those Victorian mansions and B & B’s and you have resort few places could match."
Of course, my novels are far more than mere escape reads. Both include a cold-case murder mystery, a haunting ghost story and a bit of romance, all with some unforgettable characters. And each novel tackles a serious social problem, BLOOD confronting racial injustice and CRIMSON exposing the horrors of human trafficking.
But don’t let all that fool you.
Both entries in the series will transport you to a much better place and time than the here and now.
Perhaps, one of the Amazon reviewers put it best:
“Was your vacation canceled this year? I know ours was put on the back burner, but I can recommend a great get-away that won't cost much. Read the book Blood on the Chesapeake: A Cold Case Murder Mystery. It's a vacation to a beautiful seashore with characters you'll love and some you'll hate. Of course, everyone wants a vacation with a happy ending, and I won't spoil the book for you, but you'll smile about the ending after you put it down.”—Tami A, an Amazon reviewer
If you haven’t had the chance to discover either, click any of the links below to grab your copy and escape the present.
PURCHASE LINKS
AUTHOR LINKS
randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com
Facebook: Author Randy Overbeck
Twitter: @OverbeckRandy
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