Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 24
November 1, 2021
Actually, envy is the least of her problems, especially when compared to being dead.
Then, just as the driver starts revving the car, a hand appears in my window, knocking, slapping, tapping at it at a frantic pace.
It’s that waitress again. Why has she followed me? What does she want? Have I forgotten something behind?
For a moment, I think about that slice of sumptuous cheesecake that has been left behind on my plate. Seized by a sudden sense of craving, I wonder: has the waitress wrapped it up for me? Is she braving the elements just to hand it over? How gracious is that! Do I have enough money to tip her?
“Wait, don’t start,” I tell the driver. Then I lower the car window a bit, which lets in a wet whiff of wind
She leans in, empty-handed. No cake, no nothing. Wrapped in a barely zipped yellow windbreaker with a drawstring hood that she’s neglected to fit over her head, she heaves a breath that makes the glass between us foggy.
Gasping, she says, “I must talk to you.”
And I say, “About what?”
“Him.”
“Who, him?”
“Your date.”
In an incredulous tone, I ask, “Dr. Patel, you mean?”
“Yes,” she says, struggling to catch her breath. “No, not him. His wife.”
“What about her?”
“She gave me something for you.”
I’m flabbergasted. “For me? How come? I never met Mrs. Patel—”
“Her name is Susan.”
“—And she doesn’t know me!”
The last thing I need is to establish a connection with a jealous wife. Actually, envy is the least of her problems, especially when compared to being dead.
“Sorry,” I say. “I’m curious to learn more about Dr. Patel, especially about his professional life. Don’t ask me why. I have my reasons. But his wife? I want nothing whatsoever to do her!”
She huffs. “I don’t believe you.”
I insist, “What’s between them is not really my business.”
“It is, if you’re dating him!”
I’m at loss for a good comeback.
Meanwhile, the waitress pulls something out of her pocket. It slips down her windbreaker and over her drenched apron. She bends over, snatches it off the ground, and raises it to me over the edge of the cracked-open window.
Then, with a trembling lip, she says, “It’s yours now! I want nothing to do with all this trouble.”
I shake my head. “Keep it. Trouble is not what I need in my life, either.”
“Please,” says the waitress. Her voice is inundated with fear, which makes a shiver go down through me. “Take it!”
Is she out of her mind? Who is she to order me around? I have Ma for that!
I give a subtle hint to the driver to get us out of here and start closing my window, so as to block this woman out. “No, thank you,” I say. “You hold on to it, whatever it is.”
The waitress clutches the edge of the window so hard that her nails—chipped and painted red—nearly scratch through it.
Just then comes the second flash of light. It outlines her shoulders, fizzes around her hair like a fiery halo as she stumbles forward towards me. This time, lightening is clearly what it’s not.
She’s been shot at, she’s been hit.
Her fingers loosen, letting something drop inside, some small object that misses my lap, rolls over, and lands somewhere underneath me on the car floor.
Meanwhile her eye bulges over. It turns, turns, turns in its socket, until its iris seems to roll back around and over the eyeball, until her chest slips down along the sudden spill of blood upon the glass, until the terror finally lets go of her, leaving her wrung out by the wayside like an old dishrag.
“Stop,” I tell the driver. “Let’s pick her up, take her to the hospital.”
“No way,” he says, stepping on the gas. “Let’s get out of here, save our own skin!”
In the back window, she looks like a mound of tatters crumpling into the night as the car jerks into motion. It maneuvers wildly left and right as we make our escape.'
Overdose Audiobook US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes
Months after recovering from coma, Ash discovers that the man who performed her brain surgery has a questionable medical experience and a dark past. Should she expose him, at the risk of becoming vulnerable to his revenge?
Heather Jane Hogan delivers depth and surprise to this already thrilling story. What a delight to hear her tell the story of Ash, who’s been out of her coma for a few months when headaches and dizziness require her to pay another visit to her brain surgeon, a mysterious man named Dr. Patel.~JA Schneider, Author and Audible reviewer
October 31, 2021
Without me, you will hit rock bottom before you know it
The celebration has just gotten underway in the main space. Hearing the hoots and the chest beating, I sneak out of the back room to watch the gang up-close.
Colorful confetti—leftover from the out-of-business party store that used to rent this space—is being tossed all around. Vlad himself is blasting out one party popper after another with unbridled delight.
His men, too, are in a festive mood. A bit tipsy already, they crowd around the long table, now covered by a paper tablecloth. Mrs. Komarov stands at the head of the table, ladling cold Russian soup from a large plastic container into plastic bowls for all of them. From here, it smells a bit like sour milk.
“Thank you, thank you!” says the first in line, having gulped it down hungrily. “What a delicious Okroshka, with boiled potatoes and raw radishes and cucumbers. Just like my mother used to make.”
She gloats ever the compliment. “More food yet to come,” she says, with a matronly smile.
Some of the men set crates of beer at Vlad’s feet, others—pour drinks over his head. The anointment is rowdy, but Vlad seems to bask in it.
I notice that the main door has been unlatched, perhaps to bring in the food. This is my chance to flee—if not for Mrs. Komarov. She is the first to notice that I’ve slipped out of the back room.
“Why are you here?” she demands, gruffly. “Did I not tell you to stay put? Your job is to figure out how I can shake the damn insurance companies off my back—”
“Ah, stop it, Mamushka,” says Vlad. His British accent makes that single Russian word sound out of place.
“No,” she counters, shaking the ladle in his face. “You stop!”
He claps a hand around my waist and pulls me to his chest. His mouth reeks of cheap beer. “Let her join us! What’s a party without a beautiful woman?”
Her face reddens. She grabs my arm angrily and wrenches me from his hold.
Her eyes blazing, she tells him, “Zacroy rot!”
“Shut up? Me?” Vlad gnashes his teeth. “How can you even say that—especially now, when everyone here celebrates my success? Don’t you see, I am on top of the world?”
Mrs. Komarov gnashes her teeth, way louder than he did. If this were a competition, she would get the gold. “Without me, you will hit rock bottom before you know it. So, pay respect. Do not dare cut in when I am talking. And I mean, ever!”
(Volume IV of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)
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"There's never a dull moment in this one ... and that's just the way I like it."~Aurora Dawn, Audible reviewer
October 23, 2021
I promise not to hurt you
You may have heard those rumors about me: how I escaped by moonlight, how I hid inside each one of the seven wells of Beersheba, with nothing in my possession but the shirt on my back, how I eluded my enemy, my brother, and then, how frightened I was, how alone. I’m afraid you have been, at best, misinformed—or, more probably, mislead by some romantic foolery, some fiction and lies, the kind of which can easily be found, and in abundance I might add, in the holy scriptures.
I insist: it was not moonlight but rather, high noon. I was wearing no shirt whatsoever—nothing, really, but a goatskin sleeve. There was only one well in which I could hide, not seven. And most importantly, I was hardly alone, for the entire camp—all the maidservants, the shepherds, the guards—stood aghast all around me. So now, you must see that I could not, despite my best intentions, escape stealthily out of there, nor could I elude anyone.Instead I was flung out, kicking and screaming, with tugs and pulls loosening the remaining shreds of my clothes, and whacks and smacks coming at my bare back from all directions. My left eye swelled up to such a degree that out of necessity, I resorted to use the right one—only to discover, once I raised my head from the dirt, that my brother was standing right over me. His foot could be seen coming straight at me, at an easygoing, unhurried pace, until it turned into a full blown kick.I managed to roll away, mainly by flailing my arms wildly over my head. With a great sense of urgency I crawled on all four through the crowd, and hid inside the closest well. Luckily it was bone dry, thanks to a yearlong drought. And so for a second, I could hang there by my fingernails and pant, and catch my breath. Then I tiptoed behind the corner, right into the shade of my mother’s tent. From there I took a plunge and hurled myself downhill—where, to my utter disappointment, I found out that my brother had already caught up to where I was headed, and was waiting there for me with open arms. He made a point of letting me know that his hate for me would, by no means, stand in the way of our closeness. “Come, Yankle,” said Esav. “I promise not to hurt you.”“Really,” I said. “Can I trust you?”“Aha,” said he. “I will just kill you.”
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"The narration by David Kudler that was in Jacob's point of view was outstanding. The author Uvi Poznansky masterfully retold the biblical story so that a reader could understand the anguish Jacob felt when he fooled his blind father to giving his blessing intended for his older brother, Esau."L.D. Tanner, Author and Audible Listener
October 20, 2021
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“ Cynthia Woolf writes historical western romance, specializing in mail-order brides. ”
"Suspense Thrillers that keep you turning the page"
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“Author of compulsively readable thrillers”
“An Epic Celtic Tale Weaving Forbidden Love, Sorcery, and Political Intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia.”
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“I write what I feel and I feel like murder.”
"Ms. Barbour knows how to pull you in to her stories. The characters are so real that I would really love to meet them."
"History is woven into my stories with a delicate thread."
Award-Winning multi-genre author. “In my former life I was a CPA and now I love the journeys where my characters take me.”
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Meet my author friend
My author friends have joined forces with me!
We bring you amazing stories
Narrated by great voice actors
just in time for Thanksgiving!
Join us as a GOING guest
for a chance to win our audiobooks:
"I paint with my pen, and write with my paintbrush.”
Award-wining author of the popular Unit 1 thrillers series and the Whitlock Trilogy.
"Each book takes you places you have never been in ways you will always remember."
“ ”
“Writing happily ever afters for life's toughest challenges!”
“ ”
Escape into imagination ... discover the magic of Casi McLean—romance, suspense, & mystery thrillers.
“I write to inform, delight, and inspire readers.”
"I live in a New Orleans where Mardi Gras Balls, festivals, parades, are always going on. The hardest part is to pick one thing to write about because there's no place like New Orleans to have a good crime!”
“Cynthia Woolf writes historical western romance, specializing in mail-order brides.”
"Suspense Thrillers that keep you turning the page"
“ "
“Author of compulsively readable thrillers”
“An Epic Celtic Tale Weaving Forbidden Love, Sorcery, and Political Intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia.”
“ “
“I write what I feel and I feel like murder.”
"Ms. Barbour knows how to pull you in to her stories. The characters are so real that I would really love to meet them."
"History is woven into my stories with a delicate thread."
October 19, 2021
I dab the chocolate from the corner of my mouth, rise up, and call his number
I cover the saucepan, letting the onion cook until it is tender. From time to time, I stir it. For good measure, I mix in chili powder and flour.
Ma comes in just as I start whisking in her chicken broth.
“Oh no!” She purses her lips in disapproval. “Why are you wasting it?”
“Relax Ma,” I say. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?”
“Yes, Ma! This is going to be great over chicken and rice. Mole sauce celebrates the flavors of traditional Mexican cuisine. And it has a special nutritional ingredient, which I find absolutely essential for my diet these days.”
“Which is what?”
“Chocolate.”
She raises an eyebrow but says not a thing.
Meanwhile, I increase the heat and cook until the liquid is reduced. Then I remove it from the heat, whisk in large chunks of dark chocolate. As they melt, I season the sauce with a pinch of salt and a dash of pepper.
The aroma is simply exhilarating. When I pour the sauce over chicken and rice, the only thing Ma says is, “Mmm.”
“Have a seat, Ma,” I say, carrying both plates to the table. “Today, we’re going to have a gourmet meal.”
“Yes,” she says, looking at Browny, who is licking a drop of the sauce on the floor. “I’m hungry.”
We eat. We lick the plates clean. We hug.
Then she says, “This was delicious. Give me the recipe.”
“I got it from Michael,” I say.
And she says, “Oh, him.”
A moment later, she adds, “I’m glad you’re not seeing that guy anymore.”
Rebellion quickens my heart. “Oh, Ma,” I say. “What d’you have against him?”
And she says, “Just like your Pa, he can’t stick too long with one thing.”
“You’ve convinced me, Ma.”
I dab the chocolate from the corner of my mouth, rise up, and call his number. After all, it’s time for a new beginning.
(Volume I of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)
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Ash finds herself in the ER diagnosed with coma. She has no memory of what has happened to her, but what she can do--despite what everyone around her might think--is listen to the conversations of her visitors. Will she survive the power outage in the hospital and then, being kidnapped out of it?
"Ash’s story is an unorthodox and unique whodunit. For a story about the victim of a horrific crime, it is written in an incredibly light-hearted way that only the victim herself can accomplish from her point of view."B. Roscoe, Audible Reviewer
October 18, 2021
Home for the Holidays
A select group of authors has joined forces with me
To bring you amazing audiobooks, beautifully narrated.
Looking for a stories to enjoy during the holidays?
Join us as a GOING guest
for a chance to win of them:
With a story to share
(Just ahead of Thanksgiving)
Brilliant Disguise: A Charlie McClung Mystery
October 17, 2021
It all started, innocently enough, with a meal
And so, in my quest for legitimacy, I knew I had to betray my brother. I had to fool my father. What I failed to predict was the formation of a hole in my life. How could I expect loneliness.
I underestimated its weight. To my astonishment, it grows heavier and more burdensome now, with every passing year.
It all started, innocently enough, with a meal. A real meal, I mean, made with a fresh kill over a roaring fire, under the open sky—not one that is made with stored, half-cooked cuts of meat and reheated, somehow, in a stuffy restaurant kitchen, the likes of which can be found down over there, along the inhabited, coastal regions of Canaan, near the city of Ashdod. Luckily none of those establishments can be found here, at the frontier of this desert, which is where our camp is set.
Don’t let them fool you. Anyone can barbecue a steak—but really, cooking a stew is another matter altogether. The pot must be simmering for several hours. And so, from time to time you must drizzle in some water, which in this wasteland is nearly impossible to come by. Most wells around here are bone-dry, or else fiercely guarded, and rarely shared by other tribes.
Next you must find a well-trained chef. So let me assure you, son: There is no soul in the entire world, or at least in these parts, in Canaan, with a better nose than mine. Yankle’s nose—no one comes close!
When I sprinkle my secret blend of spices—here, take a sniff, can you smell it? When I chop these mouthwatering sun-dried tomatoes, add a few cloves of garlic for good measure, and let it all sizzle with lentils and meat—it becomes so scrumptious, so lip-smacking, finger-licking, melt-in-your-mouth good!
There is a certain ratio of flavors, a balance that creates a feast for the tongue and a delight for the mind. And having mastered that balance, with a pinch of imported cumin from the north of Persia, a dash of saffron from the south of Egypt, I can tell you one thing: when the pot comes to a full bubbling point, and the aroma of the stew rises up in the air—it would make you dribble! Drive you to madness! For a single bite, you would sell your brother, if only you had one!
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Uvi’s narrative immediately reminded me of the puzzlement I have experienced when reading this biblical account—wondering why the conniving and deceit of Isaac’s wife Rebecca and the second-born of his twins, Jacob, were somehow presented as admirable. In Uvi’s beautifully written retelling of the story, set in modern times but still in a nomadic, patriarchal community of desert dwellers, Uvi suggests that even in the most blessed of families, husbands and wives, fathers and sons, and brothers and brothers are often left to work through the weakness, greed, and deceits of their humanity while surrounded by “the silence of God.”The audio narration by David Kudler only adds to the poetic quality of this captivating and beautifully presented tale. ~Ereader, Audible listener
October 11, 2021
Intense mystery - highly recommended!
Heartfelt review for Coma Confidential:
Enrico Grafitti5.0 out of 5 stars Intense mystery - highly recommended!Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2021
Verified Purchase‘Coma Confidential’ by Uvi Poznansky is the first book in her Ashley Winters series. We meet Ash, the protagonist, in a most unusual way; mentally aware, yet trapped in a comatose body that refuses to respond. Much of the tale is told from Ash’s point of view and for this to work, the author needed to immerse the reader in the sensation of abandonment and helplessness the main character is experiencing as the story unfolds. Apart from a few sensory memories, and knowing she is lying on a hospital bed, Ash cannot recall anything, not even her own name. It precisely through the tactile information her senses provide that author Poznansky draws the reader into this intense mystery. By revealing, step by step, crucial details simultaneously to both the protagonist and the reader, the author not only ramps up the suspense but ensures the reader vicariously lives through Ash’s anxiety and fear as the tale progresses.To describe the book as a harrowing intimate experience created with sublime skill does not do the author credit. The feeling of vulnerability, of being defenseless, even in the most basic manner of a cry for help, as the protagonist discovers there is a killer nearby who needs to finish the job, grabs the reader and creates a solid bond between them and the helpless young woman resulting in pages turning well into the night.
An awesome read from an outstanding and skilled writer. Highly recommended!
October 4, 2021
Thrills and chills, tracking a murder, virtual style!
I am deeply touched by this in-depth, sensitive review of my techno thriller, Virtually Lace:
Sandy Signing In5.0 out of 5 stars Thrills and chills, tracking a murder, virtual style!Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2021
Verified PurchaseIn the opening scene, it’s sunset. Michael has parked near Laguna Beach to admire the view. As darkness creeps in, a breeze seems to be whispering something to him, something about murder. A young woman passes by. She’s in a hurry. Michael thinks he might have seen her before. Drawn to her for some unknown reason, his instinct is to follow her. She hurries away from him, scurrying down a beach trail. Everything is bathed in shadows as he pursues her. They’re separated by the rugged way the trail weaves in and out, but in the end, when Michael catches up to her, the girl is dead.Later, Michael uses his virtual reality software to reconstruct the murder scene, and I feel like author Uvi Poznansky’s writing skills create a virtual reality for the reader. Our senses are pulled into the story from the beginning. The snap of a twig, darkness curtailing our vision, shadows transforming the landscape and making it dreamlike, these are the elements that make Poznansky’s story come alive. I was there, following Michael, tuned into his thoughts and frightened that something ominous was waiting for the girl he was trailing. When he loses his phone at the scene of the crime, I felt for him as he desperately searches for it in the water. I felt his confusion about what to do next. Should he call the police or will they think he might be the murderer?
There’s also a love story and a previous, unfortunate event that has fractured the bond that Michael and his girlfriend, Ash, have for each other. In spite of the trauma that Ash has suffered, she is intent on helping Michael. She doesn’t know who attacked her, but the girl’s murder motivates her to take action. She’s willing to put herself in danger to find the killer of the girl named Lace.
The vivid descriptions and the tension are there throughout the story. Will Michael be wrongly accused? Can his virtual reality program deliver up the killer? Will Ash survive or will the killer claim a second victim? There are lots of twists and turns in the story just as there were twists and turns when Michael was pursuing the girl. I was kept guessing and needed to keep reading until I finished the book.
On a final note, I was impressed by the way the author introduced the idea of virtual reality programs and how realistic they can seem. Again, the descriptions create an authentic, intense experience for the reader. We get a glimpse into the future and what might be waiting for us as virtual realities become part of life. Excellent storytelling! Highly recommended!
