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Audible Book Review of Stephen King’s “holly” — Derek Barton – 2023

Hollyby Stephen King — a psychological thrillerReleased on September 5, 2023464 pages

Synopsis:

Holly Gibney, one of Stephen King’s most compelling and ingeniously resourceful characters, returns in this thrilling novel to solve the gruesome truth behind multiple disappearances in a midwestern town.

“Sometimes the universe throws you a rope.” —BILL HODGES

Stephen King’s Holly marks the triumphant return of beloved King character Holly Gibney. Readers have witnessed Holly’s gradual transformation from a shy (but also brave and ethical) recluse in Mr. Mercedes to Bill Hodges’s partner in Finders Keepers to a full-fledged, smart, and occasionally tough private detective in The Outsider. In King’s new novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of unimaginably depraved and brilliantly disguised adversaries.

When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has just died. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl’s desperate voice makes it impossible for Holly to turn her down.

Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are the picture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelong academics. But they are harboring an unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, one that may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they are up to: they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless.

Holly must summon all her formidable talents to outthink and outmaneuver the shockingly twisted professors in this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King.

“I could never let Holly Gibney go. She was supposed to be a walk-on character in Mr. Mercedes and she just kind of stole the book and stole my heart. Holly is all her.” —STEPHEN KING

The Review:

Like Stephen King who professes his love for this character, I too find her to be an intriguing and endearing character. Holly Gibney has certainly gone the “hero’s journey” from a mousy, obsessive woman, easily controlled and beaten down by her own mother to a growing powerhouse detective with uncanny instincts and nerve. She attributes most of her growth due to the kindness of the Detective Bill Hodges from the Mr. Mercedes series who took her under his wing and brought her out of her shell.

I can relate a lot to this character and often to many of King’s underdog heroes. Bullying in school and throughout childhood is common with them. I share that experience and I find it hard not to get engaged in their battles.

This particular story is gruesome and dark. King dug deep and plumbed into a very horrific theme in the novel. Cannibalism is not a subject for the faint of heart. Be warned. The mystery and the path Holly must take to uncover what has been happening is well told and realistic. I enjoyed the story, but it’s the character development that steals the spotlight.

The Rating:

It is good to see the master of raw terror work his magic again and dig out another tale to haunt your thoughts with. The ease of how these murders could happen is the most frightening aspect.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! For rating purposes, I score this 4.5 of 5.

By DEREK BARTON — Author of the ELUDE series (Parts I, II & III — a Horror/crime thriller), EVADE Series (Parts I, II & III)  & IN FOUR DAYS: a Horror-Suspense Novella (available on Audible.com!).  Also the Dark Fantasy novel series CONSEQUENCES WITHIN CHAOS and THE BLEEDING CROWN (both available on Audible.com!).

Fresh Content — Tenth – Derek Barton – 2023

Here’s another short story. The special theme to this one is “bittersweet”. This tale is a bit different than my norm. Little less horror and more engaging aspect — pulling on your heartstrings. Hope you enjoy it!

TENTH

10/28/19 – The Day Of

“When do I get tippy-toes?” Mattie asked from the backseat as they pulled into the parking lot of Graham Park. 

“Oh! I want some! Me too. Me too,” cried his five-year-old sister, Lilly.

From behind her SUV steering wheel, Kelli muttered, “What are you talking about, bud?”

“I heard on TV, the man said, you can reach the box if you stand on your tippy-toes. I am ten now. I want my tippy-toes. I’m grown-up and deserve to have them!” Mattie said proudly, puffing his chest out. The day before was his tenth birthday. His mother, Melissa Brandon had thrown an early Halloween/Birthday party for him and all his little classmates.

Kelli Jarvis, his exasperated nanny barely into her nineteenth year, was exhausted. She had assisted with the party and the late-hour clean-up. “That’s not how it works. It’s only  a saying.”

“No,” insisted Lilly, shaking her head. “Mattie is right. We deserve tippies!” She began to drum her hands upon the armrests of her child seat.

“Yeah! We want tippies! We want tippies!” he laughed and chanted with her.

“Settle down, now. Or we can just go back home?” Kelli grumbled.

The siblings dropped the matter immediately. They had been dying to go to the park all day. It had been constantly drizzling and they had been stuck inside, festering with “Bore-dumb Syndrome”.

The public park was decked out with four sets of slides, twin rows of swings and several wooden obstacle structures to play tag around.

They scrambled out of the car and bolted away in a frenzy. Kelli glanced at her phone for the fifteenth time. Jessie still wasn’t answering her texts. She opened up her door and followed the kids into the busy park.

Since the sun was shining for the first time that Saturday, many families were out including two family birthday parties.

Kelli removed her jacket. She tied it around her waist and sat down near the yellow slides. Mattie left his sister and found an empty swing.

Lilly was decked out in a baggy, red onesie. She was still chubby with baby fat and waddled slightly like a duck. Kelli couldn’t help but grin at the cute toddler. Lilly spied her looking at her and waved from the top of the slide.

Her phone buzzed. It was a text.

No. I am going with Brett to the Derby at the Lewiston Fair. Stop asking. I told you this. 

Jessie could be so rude. It was their six-month anniversary after all!

Before she could respond, Lilly’s scream cut through the air. The little girl was on her stomach and blood was oozing out from a swollen lip.

Kelli rushed over to assist the wailing child.

Mattie left the swings and walked alone into the Men’s Restroom.

***

Two hours had passed.

First, Kelli strolled about, scanning the park. Then, twenty minutes later, she began calling his name. Her voice was strained and catching people’s attention. Then she was frantic, dragging a sobbing Lilly behind her as she screamed for Mattie. Other parents by this time joined in the search. Matthew Joshua Brandon was nowhere.

“I am sorry, sweetie, it’s time. You have to call his mother. She deserves to know. The police are on the way.” One middle-aged mother advised her.

***

A slender, athletic man walked across the park, holding a clipboard and a walkie-talkie. A gold badge adorned his shoulder. He was young with black hair and a thin babyface.

“Miss Brandon?” he asked, extending his hand. She was sitting on a bench.

She wiped tears away with the back of her hand instead of shaking his. “Yes.”

“Uh… Well, I am Detective Dax Roberts, ma’am. I am lead on your son’s disappearance.”

“Okay,” she mumbled, distracted as a roaring helicopter passed overhead. A brilliant light swept the grounds beneath it.

“We are doing everything—”

“Stop! Stop! I don’t want your placating words, things you were taught in the academy. I just want to know you know how to bring back my little boy!” Her rant melted into a wail. She couldn’t continue.

He squatted low to look into Melissa’s face. He took her hands in his. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to give the impression I wasn’t seriously involved or dedicated to you. I want you to know, I won’t stop. I won’t back off till we get Mattie back to you.”

8/15/20 – Day of Discovery

Chuck and Daniel were similar in age, appearance and even build. Good old hard-working fellas with some skills and reliable reputations as handymen. They had been hired by the city and on that morning were off in their white work pickup heading to Tandam Pond.

“Investigators are estimating last night’s thunderstorms cost the county over $7 million in property damage. Only minor injuries were reported stemming from a collapsed construction scaffolding. The rest of the week’s weather is expected to be clear.”

“Sounds like we are going to be busy,” Daniel said.

“Sounds good to me. That’s money I can use.”

“You still planning that Chicago trip?”

He nodded as he drove them to the edge of the pond. Three wooden piers had been built here but only one was untouched. Another was completely submerged, the last listing to one side with broken boards sticking up like broken teeth.

Daniel whistled at the site.

***

As Daniel wiggled into his plastic waders, he spotted something floating under the partial pier. It was black and maybe two to three feet long.

“What do you think that is?” he pointed at the debris.

Chuck, who was already at the pond’s edge, shrugged and made his way carefully into the pond.

The water was murky from the silt stirred up from the storm. The object was a duffle bag. Chuck spotted one end was tied with a moss-covered nylon rope. Another piece of the rope was partially secured on the other end but rotted through.

He lifted the black bag out of the water. A sickening stench filled the air around them. Immediately, he lurched backward and thrust the bag away. He bent over and retched his breakfast into the churning water.

“Oh God! Call 911!”

***

Detective Dax Roberts left his car. His heart was beating like a jackhammer. He saw the two handymen who had called the find in. They were noticeably shaken up. Officers were mulling around the pair.

“Detective, we haven’t cut it loose yet. We can–” said a young rookie officer.

 “No, I want a pro diver in there. Make sure there’s nothing hidden by the water. I don’t want any mistakes here.” Dax waved him away.

An hour later, the diver rose from the depths of the pond, the bag held in his arms. The outline of a small body in a tight fetal position was clearly evident.  A tuft of brown hair stuck out from a zipper on top. The sight would haunt his nightmares for years.

Dax didn’t need DNA or an autopsy to know who was inside the bag.

10/28/29 – The Day to Remember

The detective angled his car into a spot near the main building of Humbolt Cemetery. The day was unusually hot for the time of the year. Dax removed a couple of plain manilla folders from underneath his jacket on the bench seat.

He sat for a few seconds to collect his thoughts. He glanced at the rearview mirror. Quite a few wrinkles had gathered around the edges of his eyes. He had lost his babyface years ago. He rubbed at the black and gray stubble on his chin.

He asked his reflection, “She’s not going to be easy on you. You must know that.” He nodded to himself and shot a look at the folders on his lap. Sighing in resignation, he opened the door.

At the east side of the building, paths were laid out with white gravel. They wound their way over to different plots. He took the path that ascended a small grassy hill with some towering oaks on top. When he crested the hill and stood in the shade of the trees, he spotted Melissa Brandon in a shady section at the bottom. She faced away from him, looking down on a silvery blue headstone.

Dax ran his hand through his hair, smoothing it out as best he could.  The detective didn’t say anything as he joined her before Mattie’s final resting place. For several minutes, they remained silent.

Finally, she said, “Thank you, Detective Roberts for agreeing to meet me here. It’s rather nice, isn’t it?” She was looking up, scanning the woody area ahead of them. A short, black iron fence ran along the northside and continued along the west border of the cemetery. A lazy stream cut through diagonally and meandered further east to skirt the grass hill.

“Yes. That it is, Miss—”

“Oh please, call me Melissa,” she interrupted him.

“Okay, Melissa. You found him a very proper lot with a beautiful view,” he said awkwardly. He was uncomfortable and fumbled for his words. This meeting was highly unusual and technically, he could face some repercussions for allowing it.

Yet, she deserved something, didn’t she? He thought to himself.

“I know you expect I am here to chew you out or throw a fit or such. But I’m not,” she said and looked at him with a genuine smile. “I wouldn’t do that here. And there’s not much good that would do.”

“The case is still open. The investigation has grown cold, but you never know. Sometimes it just takes one thing to break…” His words faded off as she shook her head slowly, a tear trailing down.

“I already know that. I became a true crime junkie after all that happened. Hell, I became a lot after your call that night to let me know, the identification was positive.”

He still had no words, had no way to relate to the profound loss she had as a mother. He waited for her to continue.

She returned to studying his headstone. “I lost myself in booze, lost my job, nearly lost my girls. My sponsor finally hit home with me. Said that someone stole my child and took the wonderful years he had ahead of him. A life that was meant for great things. I could let him keep that or I could take it back, live my life in honor of him. Find a positive way to move forward. Not ‘move on’ but ‘move forward’. I liked that!

“I work again, but now from home. I do tax work for six months then the other six I spend with my girls and my grandson, Marcus. I also volunteer at a non-profit organization that focuses on other grieving parents like me. We are a resource to offer therapy, provide networking and even assist in funding for investigations. My life before Mattie was taken was so different… so selfish. I could’ve been there at the park that day. I thought it was more important for me to finalize a product presentation—”

“No, don’t do that, ma’am. I mean, Melissa. Don’t put that guilt on yourself. Mattie was targeted. Your good intentions of providing for your family didn’t make your son vulnerable to what happened.”

“I realize that. It took a lot of soul-searching to find a way to forgive myself for what I had no control of. Anyway, I was a mess, but things have come together after all this time.”

She spotted the folders in his hand. “Will those get you in serious trouble, Dax?”

He shrugged. “Nothing I can’t really handle. In a few years, I am due for a promotion or retirement. Either way, it’s not more important than the promise I made to you ten years ago.”

Dax handed the copies of the case files over to her. They had his preliminary findings and the police reports of the day her son was taken. Everything he had done then and every step he took after the Feds stepped in.

“What isn’t in there is something I cannot give to you in documentation. After his remains were found, the CSI labs found trace amounts of red paint chips on his clothing. The FBI immediately took the case from me going forward.”

“Oh, I know. That FBI Task force is a black hole. They suck all the information in, any progress, any evidence, everything. Suck it all in and refuse to share any insight with us. Nine years of stonewall silence.”

“I have kept tabs with a contact in the Bureau. I can tell you there are no suspects, but there are plenty of rumors and opinions. Seems your son matched with a string of other murders. The red chips of paint, the gender and the age. Even the Tenth month of the year. It all –”

“Was he… messed with? Raped?” she asked, her lips quivering.

“They don’t think he was. He and the others showed no signs of it.”

“Oh, thank God.”

“The task force will not release anything to anyone because should this guy make a mistake. They need the details to be sure they have the right person, you understand? They can’t find him yet and they cannot be sure of how many other boys. I am only telling you this as I want you to know I haven’t forgotten. Your son still matters to me and a lot of people.”

“I didn’t doubt your words and your dedication. Yet, after all this time, I really don’t need justice. It won’t change what happened. My boy was returned to me. I have met parents who have never had their answers, never had closure. I buried my little angel. Do I want the man caught? Of course! But I refuse to let this end my life. I have my girls and I owe it to them to be there for them too.”

She goes quiet, continues to quietly weep. That is when he spots an odd engraving cut into the left corner of the gravestone. Dax stoops then squats down to get a better look at it. It was a QR Code.

“That links to a website I have as memoriam for Mattie. The site has a video we took of him on his last night. He’s in his little Frankenstein costume pretending to be scared of the candles on his birthday cake. ‘Ooo fire! Fire bad, mommy.’ He was so funny and so curious about everything.” She went silent again.

“You see, Detective, while that bastard took and killed my son, his spirit remains here in my chest. Living on in my heart where no one can dare ever take him again. Mattie is forever.”

Dax rubbed his fingers over the engraving and nodded in agreement.

MORE New Releases Coming Soon! — Derek Barton – 2023

This has been a very productive year for me! I have already this year produced two novels, The Flight of The Dirithi and The Lineage of Prophecy: Pawns & Pieces as well as the first magazine edition of With Malice back in February! I am pleased to announce that the highly anticipated sequel The Lineage of Prophecy: The Deity Staff will be out in a matter of weeks! I am just finalizing the last wave of editing and personally working with the cover artist to get the best cover possible.

The other big news I have is that I have compiled and re-edited the Elude novels. The Elude: Complete Series will also be out in a week or two at the most. It will have a brand new cover (I did the original covers but felt it would be nice for something new and exciting!). It will also have a bonus chapter not included before.

For the first quarter of next year, I plan on doing the same compilation into one larger novel for the Evade Series! It will also have a new cover.

Besides working on the final book for The Lineage of Prophecy: Beyond The Barrier of Storms, I will be focusing on publishing short stories for magazines. I plan on writing one horror short story each month if possible like The Wheels On The Bus, Victim One or Echoes (now called Vicious Cycle). I will give you guys advance screening on here so don’t worry! I hope with publishing on a more national platform, I can grow my readership.

And just saying… but if you guys wanted to help, putting simple reviews and posts on Facebook with a copy of a book would be awesome and also help me out immensely. For anyone who does, I am currently working to get some unique, collectable metal bookmarks made for all of my works. I will send a free one of your choice if you send me or #tag me on a post! They will be similar to these:

Once I have tackled and bested the beast that Beyond The Barrier of Storms will be and have completed the Wyvernshield Series, I hope to delve further into the horror story lines I Still Burn and the sequel to the Elude Series. By the end of 2024, I hope to return and start exploring the world of Akkei Maliss from my Dirithi series.

Thank you all for your continued support and patience as I write in both of these fun, thrilling genres. I hope to continue to satisfy your hunger for epic fantasy and dark horror!

Fresh Content Short Story — The Wheels on the Bus… – Derek Barton, 2023

2:38 AM.

It was the beginning of the hard hours. The hours of 2:00 to 4:00 AM where the ghosts in my head shouted. Sometimes they screamed at me. Sometimes at each other. Or hell, sometimes the ghosts just wanted to scream. I guess in eternity, you have that luxury. What else are you going to do?

The pull was always there. Even in the good years after AA saved my life. It started at an early age for me. I was 8 and found the key to the liquor cabinet. The taste wasn’t good at all at first. I couldn’t believe that the adults drank what had to be part gasoline. However, when the buzz hit me, the lightheadedness was awesome. I never felt anything like it. It was almost like that thrilling, out-of-control feeling you get when you are on a tall slide. Wind blowing by you, the ground approaching fast. You are helpless but at the same time you are having an amazing experience knowing you’ll be safe. This felt even better as I was plopped down in the center of the kitchen floor. My head spun, my heart raced, and a great sense of joy spread over me. I continued to down the clear vodka bottle.

Anyway, I have been a bad drunk, a recovering alcoholic, a neglectful dad, and finally a hit-rock-bottom survivor in my illustrious forty-eight years of life.

I guide the puttering moped over the curb and up to the bar’s entrance. Janie’s Tavern has been home for a couple of months now. Her arms are always spread wide to welcome her wayward son.

The burly kid bouncer at the door gives me a nod and holds the door open for me. The music is obnoxious and loud but that’s okay. It helps to cover the screaming mimies in my brain some.

“Brett, slide me over a Miller and a Wild Eagle bourbon chaser. It’s gonna be a long night,” I proclaim.

His eyebrows shoot up and he gives me a questioning look.

“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s a night of a bad anniversary and I need a little support. So, hook a fella up!”

I sit at the counter, the stools are all empty. A few tables have other patrons, but in the corner, one man in a jean jacket glances over in my direction. He is scruffy, long straggly beard and greasy brown hair. He is shy of 270 pounds, but I guess the majority of it are in his beefy arms. Maybe at one point he had been in football or was a bodybuilder of some sort.

I nod in his direction and raise my shot glass in a friendly salute to him.

He smiles and lifts up his own tall glass of beer.

I take a deep breath. For the most part I haven’t been on the wagon for nearly five years, but the last three months I tried to keep it at a beer here and there. Mostly. I was throwing out that rule tonight.

I threw back the shot and felt its fiery contents delightfully burn as they went down.

“And let’s not let the poor fella be lonely down there, Brett. Another shot, please!”

“Whoa, easy man. Are you celebrating tonight?” Said the man in the jean jacket. He stood behind me. Must’ve walked up as I drank and was still nursing his own drink.

“No. Not celebrating, but tonight is five years to the day of… to the day of a morning that no one could ever believe.”

I got quiet. The shouting eased back but it left the stage open for the child whispers that were far worse for me.

When are we going to get there, Mister Donner?

What time is it? Are we running late, sir?

Can we go back? I left my homework for Miss Janda’s class.

I have to go potty, Mister Donner. Are we there yet?

What’s that? Is someone in the road…

That last one. That voice in particular was little Susie. Her tiny, high-pitched but sweet voice calling out. The last question she ever said. I hear it over and over in my nightmares. A simple, innocent question.

By gods, where was she? Where were they?

“You okay there, pal?” The man asked as he sat down on the stool next to me.

“Uh, yeah, sorry. Lost in here,” I said as I poked my index finger into the side of my temple.

He extended his hand. “Gary. Yours?”

“Charlie.” I lied.

“Sounds like you have a doozy of a story. Can you spill it? Or are you a secret agent on a classified mission?”

I laughed hard at his joke. Laughed too hard and too long, drawing stares, but the drinks were already affecting me.

“Sorry. Yeah, it’s a weird story.” I paused and stared at him. He was drinking his beer and now starting to light up a Maverick Cigarette. His finger had a white tan line where a possible wedding ring was missing.

“It’s not a happy ending. You sure you are in the right mood for it, Gary?”

“I love stories. Come on, quit stalling.”

I motioned to the bartender one more time. More liquid courage.

After I finished the shot and splashed more beer to follow it, I opened up and relived the worst morning of my life.

“It was… well, I am not going to say what town, but it was your typical small town. I was driving the #237 for this Elementary School. I just passed Munroe Street after grabbing that chubby Darryl Sampson kid. Brat always left wrappers in the backseat and chocolate smears on the seats. Anyway, it was the last of the loop. Now it was time to head to the school lot for the drop off.

“Traffic had been light. Even holiday light you might say, but it wasn’t a holiday. I went down Jefferson and made a left to take Lawson Avenue to the Torv Tunnel. I noticed right away that there were no lights inside, and it was unusually dark. When we entered and as I reached for my headlights, a stupid sedan, I think it was a Prius, nearly swiped my left wheel. It cut across and sped ahead. I had to brake hard and turn the bus into the gravel at the side. ‘Hold on kids. Hold on!’ I shouted as we bumped along and bounced.

“I was instantly hot. I hate bad drivers. Got a bit of that road rage bug, you know.

“I heard lots of screams and shouts at first from the kids as expected, but it was Susie Willey’s question that cut through all the chaos.

“What’s that? Is someone in the road…

“I saw only the thick curtain of darkness ahead and the patch of roadway lit before the bus. No one was there. Not even that damn sedan. That asshat must’ve kept driving and went further into the tunnel.

“I ground the bus to a stop. ‘It’s okay kids. Nothing to worry about. Everyone okay?’

“Not a sound.

“I shot a glance to the overhead rearview mirror. No one was back there. They were just…gone.”

I waited for Gary’s shout of ‘That’s bullshit!” but he only stared back at me. His mouth was open and slack jawed. His drink abandoned on the bar. His cigarette nearly done, smoldering in his hand.

“They were gone. What? What do you mean?”

I waited to see the building suspicion on his face. For five years now, I have seen it often. It goes from shock, disbelief, suspicion to outright anger. Sometimes it goes right to distrust and hate.

“I know how it sounds. But, yeah, no one was on the bus, but me. Their bags were still there, their little lunch pails, and water thermoses, but no kids. I couldn’t fathom what happened and where they went.

“I ran up the aisle in pure panic. I looked out the side windows, but the tunnel was dark and quiet.

“I pulled out my cell phone, but it took me a moment to figure out who to call. What do I even say? What would they understand? What would they believe? ‘All the kids just vanished. Poof!’” I shrugged and took another long sip from my fourth beer.

“The police arrived in seconds. A busload of children missing including the mayor’s own two sons, that gets you their immediate attention.

“As they scoured the bus for any signs of foul play, they took me back to headquarters. I spent the next 48 hours in constant interrogation rooms, explaining what I saw over and over. They refused to listen or to give me any credit.”

Gary cut in. “Did you really think they would buy that? You were the last adult with them.”

“I know. But, I have been a good driver for that school for six years, not a complaint or problem. I hadn’t drunk a sip of any beer or alcohol in all that time. I was good man, good. I told the truth—”

“That’s all that happened? You aren’t leaving anything out?”

He was starting to upset me.

“No! All they saw was some freak, psycho that abducted a lot of kids and did god knows what with them. Wouldn’t accept that I didn’t know. Finally, after the 48 hours, my public defender got me released without any charges. They had nothing, they knew nothing. I knew nothing. They wasted time on me when they should have just found those kids!”

Brett was at the other end of the bar and cleaning out the ice machine. “Wow. No charges?”

I nodded. “Didn’t stop the press, man. Didn’t stop their smear campaign. Suddenly, I was public enemy number one, raging lunatic, drunk dad and overall, must’ve been a ‘closet molester’. Every detail of my life was scrutinized, judged and blasted out for all to know. Would anyone look good after that?”

Gary continued to listen, smoke and soak in every word. He didn’t seem to be getting worked up, wasn’t passing judgment just yet.

“So what did you finally do? What happened?”

“Can I have one of those?” I pointed to the pack on the bar. He slipped one out, lit it and waited for my story to continue.

“I left town after only two weeks. I was getting death threat calls at night. People busted up my car and everything. I couldn’t take the looks more than anything. I left and started using my middle name. Then that didn’t work. I was found and got stalked by a reporter in the neighboring town. So, I packed up and went way West. They have never found me again, but…they never found the kids either. I hate that they never got an answer to that. And I’m sure it didn’t look good – the main suspect in a case with over a dozen kids missing, up and flees.

“But what could I tell them, the police, the parents. I didn’t do anything, I didn’t see anything, and I don’t know how to find those kids.”

“Man… so the police didn’t find anything?”

“No. At least I don’t think so. They wouldn’t share information with me, of course.” I took a large gulp of the beer. “Brett, get me two more shots. I have had 5 years of this shit and I have earned 5 shots.”

Gary laughed and lit up another cigarette as I hammered the shots. It was near closing and only the three of us remained.

He held out his hand. “Bud, I think you should let me take you home. Hand over your keys.”

“Shit, man, I only have a scooter. Lost my license long ago.”

“Oh,” he said and glanced at Brett, looking irritated. He then sighed loudly. Then looked at his glass. I wondered if that was the same beer all this time.

“Then I guess we should call it a night, Roy.”

I snapped a look at him. He knew my real name!

“You don’t recognize me, do you?”

I could only stare in silence.

He pointed at the bartender. “That is Brett Sampson, and I am his brother, Gary Sampson! Daryl Sampson’s uncle and father!” Brett pulled out a wooden bat from under the bar.

Vomit started to rise in my throat, but Gary’s meaty hands wrapped around it too fast. He slammed me to the floor, choking and crushing me. He screamed, “WHERE IS MY BOY, YOU BASTARD? GIVE HIM BACK! GIVE HIM BACK!”

My lungs burned. I gasped and gulped for air without success. He let them loose but plunged his thumb nails into my eyes. He wanted blood and he plumbed my skull for it. I felt sharp pangs of pain as the bat hammered into my rib cage. Gary then grabbed my head in his hands once more and lifted me up from the sticky floor to slam my head again into the floor.

“NO ONE BELIEVES YOUR STORY! WHERE ARE THEY? WHAT DID YOU DO, YOU PERVERT?” Brett cursed.

I heard Gary Sampson roar in pure anger and fury one last time as he blasted the back of my head into–

Fresh Content: Victim One — Derek Barton – 2023

A brutal wind storm had blown up out of nowhere. The weatherman on the radio stated, “Tonight a severe thunderstorm has crossed into the valley. Please take shelter immediately. My personal opinion, folks, I haven’t seen a storm like this suddenly appear and has this much power in my fifteen years of broadcasting. I urge everyone off the streets! Take your Treaters home now. Candy can be bought at the store!” His rant was cut off by abrupt static, then the station began an oldie, Little Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs.

Sheila looked in her rearview mirror and spotted Rascal, her red Doberman among her plastic bags. They were last minute supplies for Brayden’s Halloween costume. Some glue, white cotton, red ribbon spools, and a kit of creme paints. She bent down to turn on her cell phone. It read, “4:55 PM”.

Damn, she fretted, I only have an hour or so to put this together! Gary’s coming from work so maybe he’ll be late to pick him up.

“Even bad wolves can be good…” she sang along with the radio. “Is that true boy?” She laughed as Rascal only yawned in response.

As she crossed the center lane and turned onto I-18, large bullets of rain pelted her window. The storm picked up in its intensity. Crazy rolling thunderheads billowed and blew overhead. It grew prematurely dark outside.

Her fingers strummed along with the tune subconsciously. The air inside became humid and somewhat stale as she had the Camry’s heater turned off.

A high-pitched horn pierced her thoughts. She cranked the wheel to the right on instinct as a red pickup zoomed past narrowly missing her. The driver cursed and waved his fist at her. Sheila had obviously pulled out into his lane. Rascal barked from the back seat, scratching at the window.

“Sorry. So sorry!” she squealed out loud, but of course the truck had already gone down the highway. Shaking at his reaction and at the near collision, she pulled over into the breakdown lane to settle herself.

“It’s not my fault. Right, boy? The storm is clouding everything. And I have no time to delay!”

Not too close behind her, she spied a set of headlights pull into the breakdown lane and park.

“SEE! Other people are having a hard time too.” She whined in defense. Rascal whined in sympathy.

She stretched out her arms, one hand scratching him behind the ear, and she shook her whole frame one last time. She felt ready so she drove the car back onto the road.

On the I-18 the speed limit is 65 max, but no one but the elderly drove that limit. She quickly passed 65 to nudge it closer to 75. There were few other drivers on the road and the drive is smooth again. The radio began a new tune, Sitting On The Dock of The Bay.

She hummed again and began to enjoy the ride. Exit 78 passed by, marking the border to the small burg called Carterton. She smiled to herself in relief. Only 3 more exits then I’ll be inside. Maybe a cup of French Roast?

“How about a couple strips of maple bacon, Rascal? Would that make it up to you. Dragging you out in–“

Red and Blue lights splashed all over the interior of the Camry. Her eyes darted to the rearview. A police cruiser was behind her with its lights whirling. Her eyes darted next to the dashboard. It showed 79. Not too much over, not normally worth hassling me, she thought.

But it is raining pretty hard…

With no other cars near her, she had no issues getting the vehicle pulled over to the side. She parked, turned off the car and leaned over to dig in the glove department.

“DRIVER STOP MOVING. PLACE YOUR HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY!” The booming voice came through the cruiser’s speakers.

She froze, shocked by the fierce tone of the voice.

“DRIVER STOP MOVING! SIT UP AND PLACE YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL! I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER WARNING!” The voice was masculine, aggressive and agitated.

“Okay, okay!” she said out loud. Rascal pounced around the Halloween packages and whined again in excitement. She sat still behind the wheel with her hands at the 10 and 2 positions of the wheel.

A long minute went by and finally a shadowy figure emerged from the cruiser. It’s a man, all alone. Tall with broad shoulders, a hat and a gray rain poncho. He slowly advanced, checked the license plate, then lit up the backseat with his flashlight. Rascal went berserk until she yelled for him to stop.

Come on, come on. You’re killing me! I have to get Brayden’s costume done. For godsake, just right me up and let’s go already! Sheila’s thoughts cascade around and around.

He tapped at the window with the butt of the flashlight. She hit the button and rolled it down halfway. Rain splattered her immediately.

She looked up but could only see angular shadows and a faint outline of his face. Wide nose, far-spaced eyes, a bushy beard. She noted the fact his mouth was in a deep scowl.

“Sorry, Officer, to make you stand in the rain.” She muttered, trying to be charming and get on his good side. “And don’t worry about Rascal. He’s too old for a fight.”

“All part of the job. License and registration, please.” He ignored her attempt of charm.

As she leaned over, she noticed his hand slid over to his holster, resting down on the top of the gun inside.

It remained there as she handed him the paperwork.

Without glancing at the papers, he said, “All right, Mrs. Glenn, can you step out?”

“Are you serious? Is that really necessary?”

He took a large step back from her door. Rested his hand again on the leather holster on his belt. “Step out! I do not like to repeat my orders, Mrs. Glenn!”

She sighed softly, more to herself than as a protest. She didn’t like his tone and demeanor. She understood he wasn’t to be pushed.

More rain flooded the interior as she got out. Rascal whimpered then emitted a low growl. The storm itself took advantage of her appearance and increased in its fury.

He slipped a hand under her arm and led her to the back of her car in his grip.

“I am going to have to pat you down now. Any sharp items or weapons on you I need to be aware of?”

She shook her head no as his hands roughly went over her shoulders then down her sides. He removed her wallet and car keys from her jean’s pocket. She wasn’t wearing a jacket so she carried nothing else on her.

“What is this all about exactly?” She cried out over the storm’s cacophony.

He seized her left arm, yanked it painfully high between her shoulders. Her breath blasted from her lungs as he bent her over the hood. She heard the sound of the metal handcuffs as they clicked shut on her wrists. Then his heavy body laid on top of her. He was smothering her against her own car!

Leaning into her ear, he said, “Your husband, Gary says he is sick of you not being there for him or your son. Now, you will never be.”

He lifted off, threw a very heavy punch into her ribs, then kicked her hip with his boot to knock her to the ground. As she wheezed and writhed on the ground, he popped open the trunk of her car. Dimly, she heard furious dog barking.

Panic seized her but she couldn’t decide how to act. Her fight-or-flight instincts overwhelmed her, and he kept taking action before she could decide. He was calm, precise and calculated.

He scooped her into his arms and threw her in like a bag of trash into the trunk. The rain ramped up once again and even sounds were drowned out by the pounding flurry. He bent down close to her face. He had bright green eyes, one though was all bloody from a burst blood vessel. His breath smelled equal parts Scope Mint and Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

“A parting gift from me,” he said and showed her a long, black plastic zip tie. Sheila shrieked as he secured it around her neck.

Her final pleas “No, don’t do this, please!” was shut off as he tightened the zip tie. It bit into the skin and blood bubbled up around it as clawed at it frantically. Her eyes bulged and her tongue stuck out obscenely.

He muttered to himself, “I am doing it. I’m getting my first! I am doing it!”

It was over in seconds, but to Sheila it seemed endless before her vision faded, the colors blending then going gray and finally dissolving to an infinite black. The whole time the man bounced from one foot then the other. He continued his stream of words, “I am getting my first. I am getting my first. Yes! All I planned. Precise. So easy…”

Hours later, a group of teens “too old for Trick-or-Treatin'” found Shelia’s empty car. It was a minor inferno, smoke rising and bleeding into the clouds. It was abandoned along an isolated dirt road when the local fire department arrived.

Mysteriously, one backdoor was left open, facing the surrounding forest.

Exciting News For September — Derek Barton – 2023

In appreciation of everyone’s support and patience in waiting for new content, I’m going to have a special sale on select titles starting the week of September 18 through September 25th! Prices start at $.99 on the first day but will steadily increase to regular price. So, don’t miss out!!

I also wanted to let you know that my first draft for The Deity Staff has been accomplished! Hope to have it out and ready for publication before the holidays.

Also one other surprise: I’m combining and re-releasing the whole 3 part series of Elude and Evade. Also you will be able to get these as hardcover novels for the first time. They will have new covers as well! These will be available by the end of the year.

Thanks to everyone! I truly love my fans!!

The Deity Staff – Sneak Peek — Derek Barton – 2023

I am hard at work on The Deity Staff. Sorry that I have neglected you!

Here you go. A little sneak peek!!

It actually took her two days to find a lead for Rivyen. Broenef Cros’seau was the first name on his list and the only one De’Embra gained a bit of insight into.

The man was a nephew to Duke Bareth Cros’seau. He had been living with his mother in a farming village near the capital city, Keliada. The same time as the Cros’seau family had been found guilty and exiled, his mother had contracted a severe case of Fleve Virus and died. Having no other relatives, Broenef moved around to differing cities. Eventually, he took up residence in the crumbling Cros’seau mansion. For years, he maintained the estate on the volcanic Leibrec Isle. It had only come to light that the whole place had been deserted for an unknown amount of time.

Rivyen sat uncomfortablely atop Rashae, his black mare, and stared up at the weathered castle. As he studied the ancient, ruined home, he could not shake the feeling he was being watched and studied. The smoky glass windows of the structure resembled dead buglike eyes. Whoever or whatever might roam within remained unseen.

He dismounted and tied Rashae to a hitching post. If there was any way to find and track down this elusive Broenef he hoped he would find it inside.

The front door was not locked but due to inclement weather, the wood frame around it had swollen and sealed tight around it. He decided to walk the impressive grounds and see if there was another entry. Perhaps one of those cheerful windows, he thought to himself.

Near the back eastern wing, he discovered a cellar door which had started to rot. After a few good kicks, the lock gave way. Inside, it was thick with cobwebs and dust piles but nonetheless empty. It did have one set of dilapidated steps leading to another door. His luck had turned and this door was unlocked.

Upon entering however, he was immediately blinded by a bright, orange glare. He fumbled about at the top of the steps, grabbing onto a thin counter to keep his balance. His vision finally cleared, but there was no sign of what had caused the light.

He listened carefully but sensed no other movement or noise.

Rivyen paused at the end of the counter as he noted a tan, stained paper discarded in a trash bin. He unfolded it. The stains were actually lands made upon a map. He did not immediately recognize the area. Alert a few moments he determined it was an old rendering of the Ramanon region. Someone had made handwritten notes and even penciled two letters BK on the edge of one border of the Risa continent.

He folded the map back together and stuffed it inside his pack for later review. Then he closed the cellar door and crossed to a large chamber. It was once a formal dining room he guessed.

Near the center of a table rested an empty wood tray next to a tall glass vase. Wilted flowers and stems sat inside the old stemware. An obvious centerpiece at one time. Dust covered everything as expected, but Rivyen’s eyes fell upon a square shaped print on the tray. It had a barely noticeable layer of dust.

Something was missing. It had been there next to that vase and now it has been removed. It was likely an art piece. He twisted about, slowly scanning the rest of the formal chamber.

Other art from the wall and some from a shelf were taken — he could see more dust impressions. And another sculpture was likely missing. Were the works valuable or were there some personal attachment, he wondered. 

Perhaps if I track down the items, I could—

A fist shot out and rocked his head back to the left. Another followed up, bowling him over as it caught him in the stomach.

Before anything else could happen, Rivyen’s reflexes kicked in  and he dove to the side. He tumbled into a roll, sprung to his feet to face two black and red clad figures. Beleardea!

He caught the dwindling signs of an electrical force wavering in the air behind them. A Gate Spell has been used to drop the Beleardea assassins in unseen. That orange glare upon entering must have been some sort of magical alarm ward. He was foolish to have ignored it. Now he would pay the price for it.

His hand shot to his belt and unsheathed his long sword. The golden bracers he wore lent him an advantage of unnatural speed and he swung the sword point back and forth before him.

“That was quite rude. You did not even say your names and introduce yourselves,” he taunted.

The men before him backed up and spread their legs and arms  into fighting stances. They moved with cat-like grace and remained silent. Each held a dagger in one hand and a companion three-prong clawed Ramseur in the other.

“As you insist!” He thrust in a feint with his sword at the left assassin while slinging with his right hand a small grappling hook hidden inside one sleeve of his robe. The magically-enhanced throw caught the man off guard and snared around his boot.

Rivyen yanked the man off his feet and without mercy violently plunged the sword tip into his exposed throat. Blood fountained up his leg and over his boots.

The surviving assassin backed warily away. “Yevvik coy Hesh maya napa Liss!” The voice was high-pitched, angry, and very feminine. Rivyen had assumed wrong, he realized.

“Now that it is a fair dance, we can take our time to enjoy the music, m’lady.”

She shifted to the left putting the edge of the table between them. Taking her own advantage, she sprang toward a dark chamber attached to the dining room. He chased after her, unwilling to let her escape. As the assassin entered she easily darted up a bare wall and flipped up and behind him.

It had been another clever ploy. Now he was trapped in a room with no obvious exits. She stood poised in the arch of the doorway.

To Rivyen, the best defense was offense. He swept his blade low but rose toward her chest while spinning in to thrust his elbow into her face. She parried the sword easily with her hand claw, securing it between two tines while ducking his elbow jab.

He was impressed and a little worried at her obvious combat prowess.

Continuing his spin, he twisted away and tried the grappling hook again. Aware of it, she easily leaped over it and scoffed at his attempt.

He shrugged, then reset his feet. She abruptly gave up her post at the door and charged him. She slid on her knees as he swung for her again. Looking up into his face, she thrust one dagger’s pommel into his left knee while the other fist came up to fling a purplish powder into his dumbfounded face.

Sputtering the dust from his mouth and lips, he stumbled, now blind. He was in dire straits now. He swung his sword in short swipes trying to keep her at bay stalling while his eyes cleared. He heard movement to his left, but it did not sound like an attack. A hard kick to his hand knocked the blade to the floor. He wanted to retreat but being blind, he had no idea where he would escape.

“Re tad Tass mia mo desc el?” She said but her words were incomprehensible.

His vision would not clear. Through a blur he could only make out some shapes and shadows. The metallic taste in his mouth scared him. Was he drugged, poisoned?

He heard her step forward and pick up his weapon from the floor. She intended on killing him with his own sword!

Having no choice, he clasped his hand on a silvery green medallion at his neck. He muttered the invoking command, “Pre’ema Delta Los!”

A hot flash of heat erupted from the magical charm. The small room bottled the spell’s effect and intensified the explosion. It rocked the assassin off her feet and threw her from the room back into the shady dining area. He heard her hit several chairs and the glass vase shatter in a thousand pieces across the floor.

Flames bloomed upon parts of the walls and doors. Smoke began to fill the chamber.

Her fuzzy shadow now wreathed in green flames streaked back across the chamber and into the kitchen. She was going to escape through the cellar as he had come in. He shook his head. It bothered him to let the assassin run, but he was still in no condition to stop her.

****

Standing again next to Rashae, he caught his breath. His vision had slowly adjusted to normal.

The fire inside was starting to intensify. The castle would be gutted within the hour. He hoped he had not missed any leads of import.

He opened his robe and rummaged in one hidden fold. Inside the tunic of the male assassin, he had found in a pocket a small leather journal. These two had already been ransacking the castle before his arrival.

Now he took time to examine it. On its cover of the book was the Cros’seau Family Crest. Inside were some written passages and dates. However, the majority of the book was blank.

Within one entry, he focused on a curious name. A young cousin Broenef mentioned that lived in Ramanon.

A Brielle Kess…

My Top Sellers — Derek Barton – 2023

I am working hard on book #16, The Deity Staff. My collection has certainly grown especially during this last year or so.

So, I thought it would be a good idea to highlight my top sellers (most popular) books, share what they are about and give you an honest review from Amazon. Some of you may not have known about these or just know of the titles and not the story.

ELUDE:

A young ex-con, Vicente Vargas, must outrun the police and the real killer framing him for a series of gruesome murders in Phoenix, Arizona. With his reputation tarnished and no support, he must fight to clear his name and survive the dangerous streets.

4.6 stars 23 reviews

Great crime/horror novels! This little book packs a wallop in its 110 pages. It also establishes Derek Barton as a mystery/crime/horror writer. I’m so glad I found it, and so will you.

Two seemingly unrelated incidents converge towards the end. A 20 year old boy, a juvie graduate, is struggling to support his younger sister’s dream and reverse her opinion of his character. A tween living with her father and bed-ridden grandma since her mom died in a car accident is linked to their paid caretaker’s apparent traffic suicide. Barton is a skilled writer who develops his characters seamlessly around the plot; a plot which will glue the reader to the story until a “to be continued” announcement on page 110 makes him groan in exasperation. You know nothing will keep that reader or this reviewer from getting the sequel.Well played, Mr. Barton, well played! Five Stars.

CONSEQUENCES WITHIN CHAOS:

An untested sorcerer prince, Taihven, must wield untapped powers from the Chaos Realm to save his city, Wyvernshield, from a massive beastly horde and discover their true enemy from the past to fulfill his destiny as the much-needed king.

4.8 stars and 15 reviews

Author Derek Barton has created an amazing world with vibrant colors and characters. Scratch that, he has created layers of worlds that vary with colors, textures, sounds, and smells that make me wish I could spend a day or two exploring them (with a safe guide, of course).

The characters invoke strong emotions right from opening. I felt hate, love, terror and remorse, it is a roller coaster. I don’t think I’ve ever smelled a setting while I was reading, but Mr. Barton does such a great job triggering imagination with his writing that I found myself wrinkling my nose as if the smells were all around me.

I have read through this book at least a half dozen times and recently purchased it for my Kindle so it is easier to carry around. If you enjoy fantasy fiction, I highly recommend reading this book.

I can’t wait for the next!

EVADE:

Detective Lindsey Korrey faces a perilous chase after a police car incident, becoming the guardian of a missing child pursued by sinister forces. Battling supernatural enemies and unearthing dangerous secrets, Lindsey’s thrilling journey captivates with suspense and pulse-pounding revelations.

4.7 stars 21 reviews

A heart-pounding adventure….twists and turns galore.

‘Evade, Part One’ by Derek Barton is the sequel to his 2017 novella ‘In Four Days’. This installment is filled with action, suspense and twist and turns enough to give one literary whiplash. With an array of some very memorable characters and a most creative plot, this short read will have you entertained and asking for more. Good things do indeed come in small packages. Derek breathes life into his characters and takes his readers along for a rapidly palpitating escapade in a cat-and-mouse adventure with the supernatural. A fun and entertaining read. Looking forward to the next installment.

THE HIDDEN:

Nate and Zelda Malone’s windfall leads them to a vast farm near Hoosier National Forest. However, a nightmarish presence lurking on their land threatens to literally tear them apart. Together, they must confront an ancient and malevolent creature that endangers not just their lives but all of humanity, testing their limits and forcing them to make unimaginable sacrifices to survive.

8 reviews 5 stars

Atmospheric and intense! This is a very well-written novel. It is dark and sometimes disturbing, with great character development. The tension builds for the reader with the setting almost becoming a character itself in that it greatly influences the story and people and is almost as frightening as the wolves themselves. The werewolf legend is artfully advanced by this fine novel.

THE BLEEDING CROWN:

The spirited Princess Letandra is abducted by her family’s rivals, leaving her stranded in a foreign land. As she faces unexpected trials and sadistic captors, she must risk everything to escape and warn her brother, King Taihven, of the impending war that threatens not just his kingdom, but the fate of all.

12 reviews 4.5 stars

I can’t wait to see what happens next! This book is even better than it’s predecessor.
It is layered with fascinating characters. The heroes are truly heroic, while remaining human and believable, and the villians are truly evil. It spans different worlds where the action keeps you breathlessly turning page after well-written page.

For those who loved the Wyvernshield stories, Pawns & Pieces has continued the story line. It was great to explore both worlds of Tayneva and Aberrisc again!

Please do not let these stories slip by you! You can still pick them up on Amazon, Kindle and on Audible!

NEW WEB SAGA — Derek Barton – 2023

I have been writing a lot lately but mainly fantasy. So I don’t want to neglect you, my dark horror readers. So here’s my first ever attempt at a zompoc! What’s that, you say? It’s my first zombie apocalypse story!! ENJOY!!

*****

A sour smell, like decaying meat and rotting lemons, struck Manny. It was so powerful he gagged on reflex and covered his nose and mouth with both hands.

What in gods is that, his inner voice screamed at him.

Tonight, however, the stench resonating all through his background storage area was part of the curse. This rank scent would undoubtedly stick with him for a week like it was imprinted into his brain. He literally would relive it over and over. At least that had been his experience.

Manny’s sense of smell head always been a blessing and a curse. It was probably triple the average person’s senses. He used it often to work out the ingredients and spices used in every day meal’s served by his competitors. He was a small-time restaurant owner on the east side of Chicago. And he was quickly gaining ground on the other restaurants and getting a reputation for his culinary talents.

He walked over to a tiny barred window high on the southern wall and slid it partially open to let in fresh air. That was a terrible decision. More of the foul reek barreled into him again, bending him over, and making him retch loudly.

While muttering curse words to himself through his clasped fists, he shuffled over to a set of metal shelves. It took a moment but he finally spotted a strawberry-lemon air freshener. He immediately sprayed it in wide arching swings through the air.

He hesitantly took away his hands and tried to lightly smell the air. It was livable but still nasty. That was when Manny heard a buzzing, scratching sound coming from the alley outside the storage room.

The summer heat and sticky humidity had forced him to keep every door and window sealed shut in the cramped restaurant. Now through that barred window he heard the very distinct insect-like cadence. 

He cocked his head to the left to hear it better. While Manny was blessed with super smell he had lost his hearing in his left ear years ago in his service as a Marine. A rocket shell had been launched into their camp one fine summer evening in Afghanistan. He lived through the war but didn’t come back unmarked.

He could tell that the sounds were from more than one source but from a few, quite a few insects. Grabbing a towel, he wrapped the cloth around his face then unlocked the alley door.

Outside it was near sunset. Only a blinking street lamp at the end of the alleyway was illuminating anything. Next to the door was a large green dumpster and another one opposite his was backed up against an old shoe store. It had been abandoned a year ago so no light from it helped light up the interior of the back alley.

The smell grew stronger and choked him mercilessly. The meaty smell was now combined with a sulphuric taste in the air.

“Carver? Carver, you out here?” Manny managed to call out. Carver was a homeless man that had been residing the last four or five months behind his restaurant.

Manny heard a grunt, muffled but distinct. It came from the other side of the bin.

All over the walls, clinging to the bricks of the buildings, he spotted hundreds of cockroaches. That alien song of buzzing came from them as they fluttered their wings in the air.

They appeared to Manny as though they were fanning themselves like sunbathers at the poolside. He’d never seen anything like it. He was frozen by the spectacle in the alley doorway. On the ground at the base of the shoe store, a sewer grate was askew. Hundreds more of the roaches circled it. They crawled slowly and methodically over each other making a ladder of their bodies to get up and out of the open drain!

A hand slapped at his shoe. Manny shrieked. 

It was Carver! Or at least he thought it was as it was hard to be sure in the faint yellowish light.

Carver’s body was wrong, just wrong! His face, the skin and muscles were wax-like, hung like soft raw dough. Red holes dotted his entire upper torso! Blood bubbled out and dribbled down. His eyes were gone! His mouth open and making a squishy gurgling noise.

Manny shrieked again when he spotted the first sets of antennae inside those red holes! Their tiny heads looking out, staring back out at him!

Carver had become a crawling, mewling human bag of cockroaches!

New Release! — Pawns & Pieces – Derek Barton 2023

Ready for you, ready to thrill and take you deep into the darken lands of Tayneva!

Shrouded in secrecy, the aftermath of the Battle at Adventdawn lingers, concealed behind the impenetrable veil of the Barrier of Storms. The City of Wyvernshield, now under the iron-fisted rule of the new Ebon Queen, becomes the epicenter of a harrowing campaign fueled by relentless conquest and unspeakable terror.

Meanwhile, the sinister forces of the Beleardea Blood Cult, her treacherous allies, run amok, spreading their malevolence unchecked. In this clandestine struggle, the valiant Khestal Ezan Order must operate from the shadows, their every move cloaked in secrecy.

Can the survivors—LLasher, Scars, and Ama’yen—discover a path to redemption, driven by an unwavering determination to make a difference?

As a newfound glimmer of hope pierces the darkness, Taliah the Seeress unveils a sudden revelation. A beacon of light that reignites their efforts, leading them to a possible key to unlock Princess Letandra from the clutches of The Bleeding Crown.

Prepare to embark on an electrifying journey through the gripping pages of PAWNS & PIECES! With every turn, follow the tantalizing clues and cryptic signs that lead deeper into a treacherous Game of Devastation that looms ominously over all. Grab your copy now! The stakes have never been higher!

Now on sale on Kindle and Amazon (Audible version coming soon!) CLICK HERE