Scorned Fury

MARY by Amy Cross is not just a ghost story set in 1962, but rather a mystery-thriller about a woman trapped in a cottage by a malevolent spirit, and a young police officer determined to help Mary Moore. Unfortunately, Sergeant Ben Warner finds himself in the middle of a supernatural battle.

The author uses suspense to grab readers with a death grip, and drags them through the hell which has left Mary's memory fractured. This haunted tale is full of twists, with an ending which leaves me wanting a sequel.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Supernatural Mystery-Thriller

THE GHOSTS OF DAVID BROOK by Amy Cross is a fantastic ghost story. First of all, you have the urban legend of Catherine Bannister who takes one victim, every year on the same date. Then the author mixes it up with stories of the poor souls murdered by the hate-filled ghost. The switching POV makes it difficult to tell who is alive and who is dead, but this serves to increase the suspense.

Last but not least, you have the backstory of Catherine and the revelations made by two of her victims. I never knew what to expect, and the ending is completely awesome. Even though David is at the center of everything, Kaylee is my favorite character.

This would make a great horror film.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Briarwych Trilogy: Book 3

THE GHOST OF BRIARWYCH CHURCH by Amy Cross is a prequel to the events of the first two books, finally explaining how the trouble with Judith Prendergast first began. Unfortunately, this book is not as interesting as I'd hoped it would be. The entire trilogy is just as much Judith's story as it is Briarwych's history, but there is not much detail about the life of the woman before becoming a ghost.

I wish more time had been spent on her relationship with Elizabeth's father -- even a small flashback would've been better than mere mention. I also think more pages could've been devoted to the years Judith raised Elizabeth as a single mother. Without a substantial backstory, the mother-daughter relationship seems superficial.

For someone who has been connected to the village for so many generations, I expected more personal interactions with the other characters. Cross would've been better off just writing a short story to explain Judith's connection to the church and village.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Briarwych Trilogy: Book 2

THE HORROR OF BRIARWYCH CHURCH by Amy Cross takes place several decades after the events in the first book. I had no idea the author planned to write a trilogy, but I love the sequel to The Haunting of Briarwych Church. The characters are much more interesting, particularly because of the interaction between the newcomers and the villagers.

Again, Cross has written something more than just another haunted building story. The personal drama Mark goes through is gut-wrenching...I'm thoroughly disgusted with his trial foster parents. The references to the RAF airfield are fantastic moments, and add an extra layer to the story I didn't expect. Needless to say, this book stirred up all kinds of emotions.

Again and again, the question remains: what exactly happened to Judith Prendergast in the first place?! The third book should tie up all the loose ends. If you haven't read Amy Cross before, this trilogy is a great place to start, especially if you enjoy paranormal/supernatural horror stories.

As always,
AstraDaemon

My Eyes Are Burning Red

Ten years ago they swore revenge on the man who killed their comrade. Finally, a violent solar storm is plunging the world into darkness and giving them their chance.

When a solar storm knocks out all electricity for twelve hours, Cassie and Anders know that this might be their last opportunity to kill Michael Essien. Massively wealthy and surrounded by the strongest high-tech defense systems that money can buy, Essien lives at the top of a skyscraper in London. But the coming storm means that all his systems will be out of action for the night.

Setting out to gain vengeance, Cassie and Anders know that time is against them. They mount a daring, high-risk assault on the skyscraper, pitting their wits against whatever defenses Essien can scramble together in time. For one night only, the playing field is leveled. Will Essien's luck hold, or will the notorious gun-runner finally pay the price for a murder he once committed in the Middle East?

LIGHTS OUT by Amy Cross is a mix of suspense and drama, centered on two specialists keeping a vow they made to one another, after a mission goes terribly wrong. The POV alternates between Anders, Essien and Cassie, with a bit of Randall tossed in. Anders and Cassie think they'll be doing the world a favor by taking out Essien, as well as finally putting the past behind them. Essien, knowing he has enemies in London, expects Randall to provide security during the power outage. Randall is a wild card.

About halfway through, a major flashback reveals exactly what happened with Essien, but I still wasn't prepared for the shocking ending. Some scenes, particularly the ones with Cassie and Essien, are so intense, I didn't think I could keep going without breaking down.

Unlike most of the author's stories, there are no supernatural elements...just some people trying to tie up a very messy loose end with some calculated brutality.

As always,
AstraDaemon