Hi fans! Please enjoy this free pre-release for book 1 of Sherman’s Library Trilogy. The trilogy is now live: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B019G1FA3U!
The haunting is often the imagination of the haunted…or is it?
For Charles Gottesman, old Mr. Sherman’s death sparks one of the wildest, weirdest adventures he’s ever had…
Upon Mr. Sherman’s death, Charles learns the rich old gentleman gave away all his money, leaving only his Victorian mansion and the huge library in the house. His will clearly stipulates the new owner must keep the library intact. Of course, with Mr. Sherman being dead, how would he know or even care about the library?
It isn’t until Charles buys the house and discovers someone has stolen items from the library that he understands the significance of keeping the library intact. Mr. Sherman’s letter to the new owner shares the secret of the library–every item in the library is haunted! But how can Charles ever imagine just how deadly the library keeper’s job is…or the blood bath that will follow if he fails to “protect and serve” according to Mr. Sherman’s will?
"Horror readers, this promises to be a great series. It's a short but nicely spine-tingling story."
Reviewer: Reader for Bookangel.
After Phillip Sherman passes away, Charles buys his house, with the library he had admired since childhood. On his first visit he finds thieves have already broken in and stolen goods. But there is a reason why Sherman's will states that nothing must leave the library...
The idea of the shop that sells cursed items is not a new one. This deals with the reverse: someone who buys haunted objects to stop them doing further harm.
It is an atmospheric and sometimes tense ghost story with a fair degree of horror. While the death scenes are not gory, the fates of the victims are horrific, and it is made very clear it is only a matter of time until the stray items fall into the hands of the innocent.
The one question I was left with was why they didn't file a perfectly mundane police report for the items? Sherman's estate had full legal purchase details, there are three witnesses to the theft, and there's no need to mention the ghosts, just that the legal owner would like his property back. Still it is early days and this is both a good spooky ghost story and an extended intro to the sequel, so they may do that later on in the series.
If I started trying to list all the possible similarities and influences I would be here all day. In some ways it reminds me of the old Eagle comics character, The Collector. It would also make an absolutely fantastic Call of Cthulhu or other horror campaign.
However it doesn't really matter as the author gives the story a unique feel, establish what is going on, and offers enough in this book to get a reader hooked. This reader keeps looking at the review pile and wondering about taking a break to get the full trilogy.
The Bonus scenes at the end actually add to the book, covering Phillip Sherman's attempts to acquire some of the items before the book begins, and really do confirm that some of the ghosts are legitimately nasty pieces of work.
Horror readers, this promises to be a great series, but darker fantasy or speculative fiction, or even action readers might find themselves hooked to Charles and Ellen's efforts to find the next item. It's a short but nicely spine-tingling story. Rating:4
I've never read a book with "bonus scenes". That sounds like an interesting idea. I'll be honest: you had me at "spine-tingling". I usually steer clear of horror books because I have issues with nightmares and an overactive imagination, but this one sounds too good to pass up. For some reason, I like to be scared sometimes, as long as the story is worth it and this one sounds like it is.
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