Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) is Available and a Snippet!
I have excellent news! Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) is available for preorder NOW and ONLY at https://www.blackrosewriting.com/mystery/blackyeii If you purchase Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) prior to the publication date of January 2, 2025, use the promo code: PREORDER2024 to receive a 15% discount.
This book, my tenth book, has been a labor of love for me, and the early reviews have been outstanding! I couldn’t be happier. It combines three related, but separate story lines, a Navajo belief in the spirit world, and a coming-of-age thread all wrapped up in a tight thriller-crime-mystery.
About the title … Yéʼii are spiritual deities of the Dine’, or Navajo people. There is one they seldom, if ever, speak of: Black Yéʼii. They consider Black Yéʼii, to be The Evil One. The Dine’ believe that by just speaking the name, they are inviting it into their lives. Black Yéʼii uses the five senses to trick an individual into seeking pleasure in areas of life, but, by doing so, they bring harm to themselves or others. Black Yéʼii interferes with living in the light of inner life and harmony, or Hozho, and Black Yéʼii violates Hozho by creating darkness and evil among people.
Before I give you a snippet of the book, I want to share with you some of the reviews so far:
“On one side, unconditional familial love supported by the camaraderie
of law enforcement. On the other? Guns, drugs, and hatred. Black Yé’ii
stages an epic battle between good and evil.” Cam Torrens, award-winning author of the Tyler Zahn thriller series.
“Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) is a gripping crime thriller that kept me
turning pages even when I needed to get up and do something else. Lewis
created an intricate plot, complex characters, protagonists I could root for,
and an enjoyable, high-octane read. This is the second novel I’ve read by
Lewis. Going back to find more. He has me hooked.” Karen E. Osborne,
award-winning author of True Grace and coming in March, Justice for Emerson.
“Weaving family and friendship with gangs and murder, Lewis has a flair for packing high-octane action into his world of high school boys, brothers, and small-town Wisconsin. With a personal vendetta and more lives on the line, the suspense jumps from the page as a fabricated truth takes center stage. Never one to shy away from action, death, and despair, this latest read brings with it new, yet familiar pulse pounding villains as author Joseph Lewis stuns once again, in this his tenth book.” Jill Rey, Reviewer: For The Love Of The Page Blog.
“Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) is a psychological thriller based in a small town in Wisconsin, featuring a group of young men recovering from traumatic events a year ago. Unfortunately, the past is coming back to haunt them, and hunt them down. This thriller features complex characters and relationships that evolve throughout the story, leading to a stunning conclusion. Lewis delivers in this story of police trying to protect the innocents from the evil that is hunting them.” Gary Gerlacher, MD, MBA, author of Last Patient of the Night, Faulty Bloodline and Sin City Treachery.
“The Bottom Line: A must-read small town crime thriller that will please new and old fans.” Bella Wright, Reviewer/Editor BestThrillers.com.
“I believe this is my favorite so far! In his latest crime thriller, Black Yéʼii (The Evil One), author Joseph Lewis gets readers’ attention with a shocker of a start — a brutal double murder. He keeps that going as law enforcement works to identify the person who orchestrated this and other violence, especially since it is apparent innocent people, including an acclaimed author and a family of adopted brothers, are in danger. Here is the next, and hopefully, not the last, riveting adventure for the intriguing characters Lewis has created for his books.” Joan Livingston, author of the Isabel Long Mystery Series.
A little intro to set the stage for the snippet. Detective Pat O’Connor received an alarming text from a seventeen-year-old boy. All it said was, Someone must have said something. They know. You know who. Cursing himself, O’Connor didn’t read the text right away and is worried he might be too late.
Chapter Four
Waukesha, Wisconsin
O’Connor parked on the side street behind Angel’s car. At first, he didn’t recognize it as being Angel’s. When he did, the hair on the back of his neck stood at attention. He took extra time studying the street and the alley that ran perpendicular. The alley was much darker than the street.
Unbeknownst to him, he repeated what Angel had done. O’Connor sat in his car and considered his options. He never pulled out his cell, but he thought about it. Rather, he pulled out his Beretta M9, checked the load and flicked off the safety. Quietly, he unfolded himself from behind the steering wheel and pressed the door shut rather than slam it.
He ended up taking the same route Angel did to the house, even pausing here and there like Angel did. The only difference was that no dogs were outside, so there wasn’t any barking.
O’Connor stopped behind the house, noticing how dark it was. Something was off, and he knew it wasn’t good.
With his finger on the trigger, he slid open the back gate and searched the yard. He crept to the backdoor, but cleared the near side of the house first. Only then did he open the screen door. O’Connor turned the knob, expecting it to be locked. It wasn’t. Worse, if anyone waited in the kitchen for someone like him, they would now know he was at the backdoor and about to enter.
He tried to remember what the kitchen had looked like, but had trouble remembering it. The last time he had been at the house was so long ago. What overtook any memory he had of the kitchen or anywhere else in the house was the amount of blood spilled that night, along with the number of bodies strewn on the floor.
O’Connor shut his eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
—
Sorry, that’s all I can share of that chapter because of spoilers. You’ll just have to check out Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) for yourself.
Don’t forget, Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) is now available for preorder NOW and ONLY at https://www.blackrosewriting.com/mystery/blackyeii If you purchase Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) prior to the publication date of January 2, 2025, use the promo code: PREORDER2024 to receive a 15% discount.
For those of you in Virginia, Maryland or DC, I will be at a craft fair at the Fredericksburg (Virginia) Fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 11:00 to 4:00 PM located at 2400 Airport Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA, and I will have copies of Black Yéʼii (The Evil One) for sale and signing.
I’d like to know what you think, so please use the comment section below. Thank you for following along on my writing journey. So until next time …
