Sonia James has been having nightmares. Some nights, the blade slides neatly between her vertebrae, paralyzing her. Others, it pierces her ribs or punctures a kidney. But no matter the circumstance, the outcome is the same:
She dies an excruciating death.
Determined to end the dreams, Sonia consults a hypnotist who suggests they are visions of a murder that occurred decades ago and an ocean away. With only a week to find answers, Sonia embarks on a journey she might have thought was crazy, if the new voice in her head wasn’t telling her otherwise.
Following unusual leads, she learns that not only are the dreams reflections of a real crime, it’s one she has to solve. If she fails, her nightmares could become reality—again.
Dreams of Justice is a perfectly-executed and enthralling paranormal mystery with a protagonist I truly admired. - Jenifer Ruff, USA Today Bestselling Author of Pretty Little Girls
Allison is a YA and mystery/suspense author, blogger, teacher, mom, wife, coffee and wine consumer, and owl enthusiast. Her blog includes humor posts, short stories, and posts on writing strategy, parenting, and teaching.
Forty years ago a young pregnant woman was stabbed to death by her husband. He was never apprehended.
Sonia has nightmares ... she dreams of running, being stabbed, sometimes in the ribs, sometimes in her back. The results are always the same she dies an intense painful death.
Desperately wanting to stop the dreams, she decides to seek out the help of a hypnotist. What the hypnotist tells her is that her dreams could be visions of a murder.
What follows is a frantic search for the scene of the murder victim. Leaving the States for the UK, she finds a believer in the law enforcement officer who had a case she investigated ... and Sophie knows things about that case that were never revealed to the public.
This is a well-written paranormal mystery with well-paced suspense. The characters are deftly drawn and believable. There are plenty of twists and turns and the ending is surprising unexpected.
Many thanks to the author / Netgalley for the digital copy of this intriguing mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Allison Maruska’s Dreams of Justice: A Paranormal Mystery is a genre-defying quick read that does just about everything right. Maruska doesn’t waste words in this paranormal mystery that reads more like a true account than a piece of fiction with a dash of the historical woven throughout. At the same time, the author doesn’t hold back in the way of vivid descriptions that punctuate the gruesome elements of this compelling tale. What’s most powerful about Dreams of Justice is Maruska’s use of POV. She wields this literary weapon in a way that brings you directly into the hearts and minds of the three main/key characters. You feel what they feel and see what they see, which has a powerful effect when you factor in the paranormal component.
The character development and authentic dialogue, coupled with the timely topic of domestic abuse, couched in a murder mystery make Dreams of Justice something very special indeed. I found myself attempting to guess what would come next as I went along with the story as one should with a mystery, and to the author’s credit, she continually made me miss. The paranormal element feels eerily real. Maruska’s pacing and plausible plot make this story easy to believe, hard to put down and a must read. Bravo for Dreams of Justice.
Having read and thoroughly enjoying Allison's "Project" series I was eager to read "Dreams of Justice". Dreams of Justice is an excellent paranormal mystery that will intrigue you from the very start and keep you interested to the very end. The story revolves around Sonia who has repetitive dreams of being stabbed to death. Seeking help from a hypnotist Sonia learns her dream is a vision of a past crime. Deciding that to stop her nightmares she must solve the crime, Sonia sets out to do just that. Allison Maruska is a skilled story teller with a gift for creating worlds and characters whom sem familiar regardless of how fictional they may be. Her skill at being descriptive without losing her readers in too much detail makes for locations we can easily see in our minds and characters who are diverse and fleshed out beautifully whom we can relate to on several levels. The plot is solid, well written with plenty of twist and turns that will keep the reader guessing to the end of the story. An excellent mix of genres that will appeal to readers across the board. A great story that is well paced and easy to read, making for smooth reading from start to finish. This one kept me turning pages non-stop, which I am coming to learn is a Maruska trademark. Like an of Allison's works this belongs on the shelf of all fans of a good story that will have you thinking and guessing to the end.
This was a fast, easy read. The story was about Beth, from London,set in 1981, and Sonia, in America, present day.
In 1981, London England, Beth is murdered by her husband. In present day, America, Sonia is battling very realistic dreams of the murder. She begins to suspect that her dreams are indeed past events and travels to London to try and figure it out. She ends up with more than a little help and what follows is a very fun read about her investigations and leads to an very unlikely suspect.
I would definitely recommend this book to a friend and give it a 3.75 star rating, rounded to four. I enjoyed reading this book and will watch for future reading material from the author, Allison Maruska.
I would like to thank #NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.
What if you woke up one morning suffering from pains that had no explanation except they came from a dream? Sonia, a first time biology professor at NYU is suffering from dreams so persistent and intense that all she can remember is an attack, falling to the floor, and a blade stabbing her over and over! The severity of the dreams has spilled over into every aspect of her life.
One evening, Sonia’s fiancé, Chris, an investment manager, invites her to a work party. Once there, Sonia longs to escape the pretentious atmosphere. She sneaks into another room filled with arcade machines, a bar, and a billiards table.
Something about the arcade machines seems familiar, and Sonia finds herself beside a Pac-Man game. The images return with an intensity she’s never felt before. She can see the machine in her mind, but her perspective has changed. Now, she sees the machine as if she were lying on the floor. Fiery pain shoots through her back as each thrust of the knife takes her breath away forcing her to remember…
Does Sonia suffer from prophetic visions or is there some other event to blame, maybe with a paranormal twist that you’ll never see coming? Following the leads, Sonia discovers her dreams reveal a past crime that she must solve in the present.
A huge fan of this author’s writing, I was thrilled to learn that Maruska had stepped into the realm of paranormal mystery, even though I’ve enjoyed all of her books. I began this novel one evening and could not put it down, reading far into the wee hours. The next thing I knew, the storyline infiltrated my own dreams!
The premise of this mystery is unusual and really drew me into the lives of the characters. Look for the unexpected, as this story is filled with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end making the book worthy as a psychological thriller. This is one book you don’t want to miss!
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from the author.
Many thanks to Allison Maruska and Booktasters for providing a copy of this book for an honest review. Dreams of Justice: A Paranormal Mystery is a gripping tale involving two women Beth and Sonia.
In London, England in 1981, Beth, having left her abusive husband Ray and pregnant, is stalked and murdered by him in an arcade. He was never apprehended. Forty years later, Sonia has increasing nightmares of being stabbed in an arcade. Her dreams are so vivid, Sonia can feel the wounds. She also sees herself wearing a gold bracelet. Wanting to understand her dreams, Sonia takes a trip to the UK. Her journey leads to an investigator who believes her when she relays information from the case that was never made public, the gold bracelet being an example. With Sonia having a few days before having to return to the US, they have to find the killer so Beth's soul can rest in peace. Only, the killer is closer than they think.
Moving at a steady pace, this story had me biting my nails as the suspense and danger builds. I loved the twists and turns and satisfying ending. Five stars, I recommend adding this story to your collection.
This is the first novel I've read by Allison Maruska, but it won't be the last! In the very beginning I wasn't sure where the paranormal element would be. When it was revealed I was taken along for a very different experience. The plot kept me focused on "what next" from start to finish; and the characters and work settings were believable. The author presented the difficult topic of domestic abuse well. Dreams of Justice: A Paranormal Mystery is an easy read; I recommend this book.
Dreams of Justice a paranormal mystery by Allison Maruska, is an enigmatic experience for the ones who dig the paranormal texts. The book carries two Protagonists circling through life with darkness and paranormal lingering and lurking through their bones and life. A loud suspicion is always lingering around the characters of Beth and Sonia. The two stories, intermingled one chapter after the other. Beth is from the 1980s, from the times of Princess Diana’s magical wedding, and Sonia is the modern 20’s woman, both of them as independent as ever. They both lead a different life, Beth is a victim of domestic violence, Sonia on the other hand leads a beautifully married life. What’s common between them? Beth knows everything is wrong, Sonia has dreams that may or may not be a projection of her present of coming future? The panic attacks, the nightmares, the sudden flashbacks, constant and surprise bruises, the insomnia. The journey of two women from different time-zones just looking for answers while something lurks around and inside them. Are they related? What is haunting them? Are the demons the ones they live with or the ones they can’t see? The book is a journey for the reader too, to see the two women tackle with all of the things that go on.
It doesn’t take long for this story to draw you in. The author is so descriptive you can feel the angst as Beth interacts with her husband. He’s quite tense, you can’t help but wonder what’s coming next. Description of characters and scenery is so important to a story as it helps the reader connect with the author. I didn't feel overwhelmed by too many details, something I really hate. The story was very well written and by chapter 2 you may think you have clue of what’s to come but you have no idea! The story toggles between 1981 and present day. We see the horror through the eyes of Sonia, a Professor at NYU. It started with a dream….then came the flashbacks and memories as we dive deeper into the truth. Down the line we are introduced to various supporting characters who help keep the story going. As the story moves along, it focuses more on present day where Sonia follows her dreams to England. At this point, you are really engaged as the pieces start to fall into place. Without telling more of the story I will say this, it was a great book, right down to the epilogue! I look forward to a sequel....please! I definitely recommend this book if you like crime, mystery, and paranormal activities!
This novel is a paranormal mystery, in other words, mixes subjects involving past lives, reincarnation, and spirituality with the typical elements of mystery books to solve a crime that occurred decades ago. Sonia, the main character, has been having intriguing and realistic nightmares about being murdered. These nightmares are not only very realistic, but it seems that Sonia has suffered this assassination in her skin. So, she decides to go to a doctor who works with hypnoses and past life therapies. During the sessions, Sonia realizes that the solution to her dilemma is to search for a murder that occurred during the 1980s in London (Sonia lives in the USA). She goes to London and assisted by two women (one of them is a policewoman) she found a solution to both the unsolved crime and her disturbing visions of murdering. The main subject of the book seems to be a paranormal investigation but, in fact, apparently as a secondary layer, the violence against women and misogyny are approached here. This is a very turning page novel and a very beautifully written and developed plot. I invited you to this very intriguing experience.
What’s not to absolutely adore about Dreams of Justice: A Paranormal Mystery. It performs well on every level; pristine writing from multiple points of view of well-developed characters that matter. Diversity, the way it should be, on multiple levels, subtly embedded in the story, not banged over the head, saying look at me…I addressed multiculturalism. A quick, easy, and powerful read with just the right amount of fat trimmed. Allison Maruska paints a vivid picture with an economic brush.
Maruska keeps it real and doesn’t hold back on the blood and gore, so be warned, DOJ is brutal when it needs to be. A classy, intelligent mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. Realistic in that it feels like one of those based-on-a-true-story novels…the paranormal notwithstanding. Finally, the touch of historical fiction with Pac-Man is the cherry on top. The only downside to this novel is anything you read after is likely to pale by comparison. Happy reading!
This was a novel very sad and yet very terrifying. The novel tells the story of two characters Beth from the 80s who used to live in London, and Sonia in the present who lives in New York.
Beth suffers from a bad marriage and when her husband severely hit her, she left him fearing her life and her unborn child. While present Sonia is hunted by terrifying dreams that ends with her being stabbed to death. With her dreams becoming more intense, she started a search to uncover the mystery behind those dreams and the search landed her in London asking for a cold case in the 80s that happened in a game Arcade.
The way the events turned until solving the mystery was well written and kept me interested to continue read until the end.
This is my second novel by the same author and I liked how the female characters she writes feel real.
I like to thank the author for this amazing novel and good luck on your other projects
This book starts with Sonia James, a biology professor, who is hunting for answers to know the truth behind her nightmares. This journey switches between two timeframes, unwrapping a mysterious murder case which was buried in the past without any answers. I’m not a huge fan of a dual narrative when it comes to mystery since it kills the mystery part for me. So, from the beginning of the story I had my suspicions and Beth’s perspective helped me to perceive the truth. However, Maruska managed to articulate this story evocatively with the dual narrative, which made it an exciting read to find all the answers to solve the mystery with her precise, clear, and fast-paced writing. Recommending this to all the mystery fans who would like to have a light read with good plot twists.
This is my second Net Galley book and I really enjoyed it. The story line wasn't slow and Maruska kept it interesting. I wasn't sure about the back and forth time jumps in the beginning. Once I started to understand what was going on and see where she was going I realized that it was definitely vital to the story. All of the characters even the supporting ones were well placed. The main characters weren't over done, they were realistically written and well relate-able.
Overall I would recommend this book to people that like mystery books, ghost stories and a little fantasy.
I thought Dreams of Justice was an original story. I have not read anything like it. It begins with a woman suffering through physical abuse. She thinks he will change. And then we meet Sonia she keeps having nightmares. With no concrete answers, she goes to a therapist who tells her the dreams could be related to a murder. This leaves her with more questions and a focus on ending the nightmares. Sonia finds out the woman was murdered and her killer was never caught. She is now invested in the mystery and solving the case. The second half was fast-paced and satisfying.
If we could have more!!! Please? This kept me on the edge of my seat. Mystery and paranormal all rolled into one. The cold case investigation, the crazy background on Ray/Michael. A deceased soul channeling through another via her dreams... What more could a reader ask for? I love Paranormal reads like Octavia Butler's Kindred and L.A. Banks The Huntress. Now I have a new author to follow. Thank you for book. I look forward to any and all of your books that are soon to come.
Dreams of Justice is the story of Sonia who had to fly halfway across the world in search of answers to her recurrent nightmares. The book immediately steals your attention and holds on to it while you go on a ride along with the characters. The author, Allison Maruska was able to make the journey so real and exciting that I can't wait to read another one of her books. The only reason why I'm not giving give stars is because I wish the story was just a little longer.
I flew through this book in a single day—it totally pulled me in. The writing was smooth and easy to follow, but the story itself was dark, mysterious, and full of tension. I loved the paranormal twist, and the way everything was described made it easy to picture every scene. It kept me guessing the whole way through. If you like murder mysteries with a supernatural edge, I definitely recommend this one!
I've read several books by Allison Maruska. Her writing is masterfully clean and smooth. Dreams of Justice is an intriguing and suspenseful mystery that feels very contemporary, yet there is nothing in it that could offend even the most prudish of readers. You could give it to a precocious child or your oldest grandparents and they would all enjoy it.
Thanks to Allison Maruska and Booktasters for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.
The book is a quick read and easy to understand, it was well written. The present and past timeline is a nice touch, connecting both timelines was really great.
Sonia is a college professor looking forward to getting married to the love of her life.Something has been keeping her up at night,with physical ailments to prove.She needs to get a good night's sleep soon,her boss is starting to notice. But how? She is a professor after all,she will get answers. Gripping,intense,page turner and a quick read.
I bought this book from the author at a local craft fair. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I love supporting indie authors. This was a fantastic read! I read it in one sitting and didn’t put it down. I was fully immersed in the story and no prices of poor writing pulled me out of the story. I will be looking for more books by her now!
Strong female characters propel the action in this compelling psychological thriller. It deals with emotional connections between the living and the dead as well as the connections among the living. The characters are well developed and the plot is tightly written to keep the reader turning the pages deep into the night. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.
It was an interesting read and I liked the storyline, though it took a chapter or so to begin clicking with the characters. Once Sonia was introduced I started to connect and the story started to really come together. Overall I liked it and thought it was entertaining. Well done!
I have read all of Allison Maruska's books and this one is by far my favorite! The characters are well written and I was immediately drawn into their world. I definitely recommend this book.
For paranormal mystery fans, this is a nicely written, well paced and enjoyable read. It takes a little while to get into the characters but it's worth the effort.
I was given a free copy of this book. I am leaving my honest opinion.