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Ravens Cove: An Alaska Iconoclast Mystery
Welcome to Ravens Cove, Alaska, a tiny town nestled in a small hollow on the majestic Cook Inlet. A town familiar with storytelling—after all, Alaska abounds in rich legends. Unlike other tales, however, the account of Ravens Cove is not just based in fact. It is fact. Meet Josiah Williams, the peculiar stranger whose warning to lifetime residents Kat Tovslosky and her cousin, Sheriff Bart Andersen, raises more questions than answers; a man whose dark past and knowledge of the murders make him a suspect more than an ally. Join Kat and Bart as an unlikely troop forms (including a very unwelcome FBI agent) to discover the identity of a killer. The unearthing of which will throw the reluctant warriors into a battle for their very lives and the lives of all who call Ravens Cove home.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Mary Ann Poll
12 books96 followersMary Ann Poll moved to Alaska in 1972 and spent 25 years working in administration. Writing in a technical capacity became an integral part of her profession. When a severe injury impeded her ability to work, she
turned to creative writing.
From an early age, the supernatural intrigued
Mary Ann. Looking for answers and on a spiritual quest, she dabbled in many new age ideas. In the end, though, she came to Christ.
Her natural curiosity regarding the supernatural and her belief come together in her novel.
Ravens Cove illustrates how easily we want to believe that something so bad for us is good. for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then,
if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.
(2 Corinthians 11:14)"
turned to creative writing.
From an early age, the supernatural intrigued
Mary Ann. Looking for answers and on a spiritual quest, she dabbled in many new age ideas. In the end, though, she came to Christ.
Her natural curiosity regarding the supernatural and her belief come together in her novel.
Ravens Cove illustrates how easily we want to believe that something so bad for us is good. for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then,
if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.
(2 Corinthians 11:14)"
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 28, 2012
Author: Mary Ann Poll
Published by: Publications Consultants
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 4
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
"Raven Cove" By Mary Ann Poll was indeed a good supernatural action packed mystery. We are welcomed to a place called 'Ravons Cove, Alaska where you will find a town that us full of rich stories of the based on facts....of good vs. evil.. from the church....The Congregational Alliance Church trying to get rid of the Rev. Lucas....which was the Fundamentalist Church. Why was this? Well, this evilness that has been there for centuries....known as the 'Raven Ravin' was below the 'Corpse Mound,' which was evil and was there to take lives...they needed five to carry out this crest.
The characters were really off the chart... this author did a very good job in presenting these people to us....Kat (Katrina Agnes Tovslosky), Sheriff Bart (Bartholomew Andersen), Reverend Paul Lucas, Josiah Williams, Miggie, Anita Conner, Wendy, Kenneth Melbourne(FBI agent), Grandma(Alese) Bricken, Josephina Latrell, Chief Andy Billings, Reverend Martin Plotno, Mrs. Tellamoot, Mr.Smooth, Arnold Thralling, Amos, Arnie, Cassandra Martin, Erwin,Mrs. Ranson Plotno, Caroline, Cassie, (Iconoclast), Doc Billings, (Atramentous), Pet, Jonathan & Joseph Tillwater(twins), Mikie Colmbs and I am sure I have left someone out... so you will have to pick up the wonderful read and find out who that is...for you will be able to see how this battle of good and evil plays out....the dark side showing itself as good...even trying to destroy the good. You will see how the visitor(Josiah) was presented and came into this story whose life had been changed. Now, this is the time I will say again... you must pick up "Raven's Cove" to find out just what is going on.
If you are in for a good action packed mystery with supernatural and mythological over tones..."Raven's Cove" is for you.
Published by: Publications Consultants
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 4
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
"Raven Cove" By Mary Ann Poll was indeed a good supernatural action packed mystery. We are welcomed to a place called 'Ravons Cove, Alaska where you will find a town that us full of rich stories of the based on facts....of good vs. evil.. from the church....The Congregational Alliance Church trying to get rid of the Rev. Lucas....which was the Fundamentalist Church. Why was this? Well, this evilness that has been there for centuries....known as the 'Raven Ravin' was below the 'Corpse Mound,' which was evil and was there to take lives...they needed five to carry out this crest.
The characters were really off the chart... this author did a very good job in presenting these people to us....Kat (Katrina Agnes Tovslosky), Sheriff Bart (Bartholomew Andersen), Reverend Paul Lucas, Josiah Williams, Miggie, Anita Conner, Wendy, Kenneth Melbourne(FBI agent), Grandma(Alese) Bricken, Josephina Latrell, Chief Andy Billings, Reverend Martin Plotno, Mrs. Tellamoot, Mr.Smooth, Arnold Thralling, Amos, Arnie, Cassandra Martin, Erwin,Mrs. Ranson Plotno, Caroline, Cassie, (Iconoclast), Doc Billings, (Atramentous), Pet, Jonathan & Joseph Tillwater(twins), Mikie Colmbs and I am sure I have left someone out... so you will have to pick up the wonderful read and find out who that is...for you will be able to see how this battle of good and evil plays out....the dark side showing itself as good...even trying to destroy the good. You will see how the visitor(Josiah) was presented and came into this story whose life had been changed. Now, this is the time I will say again... you must pick up "Raven's Cove" to find out just what is going on.
If you are in for a good action packed mystery with supernatural and mythological over tones..."Raven's Cove" is for you.
March 23, 2019
I don't normally read this genre, supernatural horror thriller, but it was good. Descriptive words, able to visualize what's happening. Well named supernatural beings. And knowledge there is spiritual warfare, we must be armed with the Truth.
April 29, 2019
This was not the book for me. I felt like an editor needed to clean up some things, and encourage the author to work on their character development more. It was overly heavy handed with the religious aspect. I am a Christian, and this was just WAY too much.
The concept for the novel is cool, which is why I didnt give it one star.
The concept for the novel is cool, which is why I didnt give it one star.
April 11, 2022
It's not my usual genre but I really enjoyed it! The pacing is really consistent throughout the book and the characters are really developed. I liked the realism that I didn't mesh with every single character some rooting for others. I think it's worth checking out if you're looking for a good chirstian horror book with supernatural aspects!
June 29, 2017
Great supernatural thriller with an intriguing plot. The villains were especially well portrayed, and the setting quite realistic.
February 2, 2017
Great book
November 29, 2016
This is the first novel I have read from Mary Ann Poll. I am so glad to have done so. Very pleased to have found this author.
I love novels about spiritual warfare where this is dealt with using Biblical principles. I can say that Poll knows how to create this in a novel. From looking at her Bio, it is evident her past dabbling in New Age philosophies has given her an hands on perspective in relation to the demonic. Her later conversion to Christianity seems to have shown her the importance of portraying this solely from the Biblical perspective, apart from the fact that it is biblical to do so. From this angle, I appreciate greatly novels of this calibre. This is how Christian fiction should be presented. Not only is it highly entertaining but it honours the Bible and most importantly, God. It also educates in spiritual principles, in this case, spiritual warfare, and strengthens the Christian reader's faith. For an unbeliever, it shows the truth about demonology, demon possession, demonic deception and gives the reader something to think about. Poll highlights one aspect that I feel is important to the Christian as displayed by Grandma Bricken,
"I'm not scared of seeing the dead, Bartholomew, I've seen much in my time. But I cry for the should lost to God. That's the real horror!"
This truly shows what the heart of the Christian should be, as it directly shows what the heart of God is, that He does not want any to perish but to be saved from a Christless eternity. And this directly ties in with the Gospel and why Jesus came to us, to be the propitiation of our sin and be restored back to Him.
Poll has successfully incorporated these elements into a plot that has you thoroughly engaged. It is an enthralling read and has that quality that every reader loves, where they cannot put the book down. I read this novel over the course of a day despite many interruptions.
I cannot fault this novel's construction. There are no peaks or troughs, plot slowness or acceleration. Everything is at a steady pace and the plot lines keep it this way, hence the experience of not being able to put this novel down. I cannot fault Poll's characterisation. For a short novel that this is, the characters are well developed. You find yourself endeared to many, despising others, and cheering on some and even sad for those who met such horrific deaths. Just as any small town is flavoured by its characters, this novel is well flavoured by the same.
Poll has three types of characters in this novel. There are the "fundamentalist" Christian characters of Josiah, Grandma Bricken and Pastor Paul Lucas. These three believe in the God of the Bible and are submitted to His will. Then there is the New Agers of Anita Conner, Reverend Plotno and his wife Ransom, Miggie, who are submitted to their Master (Iconoclast, demon). Thirdly, we have those who do not have any belief in the Biblical God or any other god. These include Marshall Bart Anderson, his cousin Kat, Kenneth Melbourne (FBI agent), Josephina Latrell, Cassandra Martin, Caroline, Doc Billings, Jonathan & Joseph Tillwater, Mikie Colmbs.
The demonic forces then try to pit all these groups against one another with their planned outcome to devour physically and spiritually the whole town. It is here that Poll shines in her execution of spiritual warfare that leads to a spiritual confrontation between this force of evil and God's sovereignty. It is well done, but with one plot line left unfinished. I can only guess that this is continued in the next novel in this series, Ingress.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and all that it contained. I am definitely an avid fan of this series now and of this author.
Highly Recommended. 5/5 Stars.
I love novels about spiritual warfare where this is dealt with using Biblical principles. I can say that Poll knows how to create this in a novel. From looking at her Bio, it is evident her past dabbling in New Age philosophies has given her an hands on perspective in relation to the demonic. Her later conversion to Christianity seems to have shown her the importance of portraying this solely from the Biblical perspective, apart from the fact that it is biblical to do so. From this angle, I appreciate greatly novels of this calibre. This is how Christian fiction should be presented. Not only is it highly entertaining but it honours the Bible and most importantly, God. It also educates in spiritual principles, in this case, spiritual warfare, and strengthens the Christian reader's faith. For an unbeliever, it shows the truth about demonology, demon possession, demonic deception and gives the reader something to think about. Poll highlights one aspect that I feel is important to the Christian as displayed by Grandma Bricken,
"I'm not scared of seeing the dead, Bartholomew, I've seen much in my time. But I cry for the should lost to God. That's the real horror!"
This truly shows what the heart of the Christian should be, as it directly shows what the heart of God is, that He does not want any to perish but to be saved from a Christless eternity. And this directly ties in with the Gospel and why Jesus came to us, to be the propitiation of our sin and be restored back to Him.
Poll has successfully incorporated these elements into a plot that has you thoroughly engaged. It is an enthralling read and has that quality that every reader loves, where they cannot put the book down. I read this novel over the course of a day despite many interruptions.
I cannot fault this novel's construction. There are no peaks or troughs, plot slowness or acceleration. Everything is at a steady pace and the plot lines keep it this way, hence the experience of not being able to put this novel down. I cannot fault Poll's characterisation. For a short novel that this is, the characters are well developed. You find yourself endeared to many, despising others, and cheering on some and even sad for those who met such horrific deaths. Just as any small town is flavoured by its characters, this novel is well flavoured by the same.
Poll has three types of characters in this novel. There are the "fundamentalist" Christian characters of Josiah, Grandma Bricken and Pastor Paul Lucas. These three believe in the God of the Bible and are submitted to His will. Then there is the New Agers of Anita Conner, Reverend Plotno and his wife Ransom, Miggie, who are submitted to their Master (Iconoclast, demon). Thirdly, we have those who do not have any belief in the Biblical God or any other god. These include Marshall Bart Anderson, his cousin Kat, Kenneth Melbourne (FBI agent), Josephina Latrell, Cassandra Martin, Caroline, Doc Billings, Jonathan & Joseph Tillwater, Mikie Colmbs.
The demonic forces then try to pit all these groups against one another with their planned outcome to devour physically and spiritually the whole town. It is here that Poll shines in her execution of spiritual warfare that leads to a spiritual confrontation between this force of evil and God's sovereignty. It is well done, but with one plot line left unfinished. I can only guess that this is continued in the next novel in this series, Ingress.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and all that it contained. I am definitely an avid fan of this series now and of this author.
Highly Recommended. 5/5 Stars.
June 28, 2013
Disclosure: I received a PDF ARC of this book from netgalley.com.
I'm reviewing this book from the angle of one who loves to read urban fantasy and supernatural fiction. The back copy of this book intrigued me and I envisioned a book that blended urban fantasy with the legends of the native american tribes from Alaska. I've been to Anchorage, and Alaska is the perfect place to host a supernatural setting. This book is about a town that comes under attack from a group of demons. However, these are not demons that many from the paranormal communities would know, they're more biblical in nature.
In fact, Raven's Cove read more like I'd expect to find on the Christian shelves, with the town battling good versus evil. I'm pagan, and I can deal with this black and white thinking. But when all was done, the book was written a bit flat and did more to tell, rather than show. Raven's Cove begins like any other book, outlining our small town and the impending doom. But as the story unfolds, we're told more than we're shown. For example, the main characters, Kat and Kenneth, have an attraction to one another that isn't really shown. They just accept their attraction and even Kat's grandma tells them to "just get together." The tension also plateaus, rather than ramps up. The final battle, if you can call it that, fell flat and the loss that happens doesn't come through as being felt.
I've been given the second book in the series and I'm hoping that it will ramp up the supernatural threat, show us why our characters felt so drawn to love one another, and show us a tale worthy of the Alaskan wilds.
I'm reviewing this book from the angle of one who loves to read urban fantasy and supernatural fiction. The back copy of this book intrigued me and I envisioned a book that blended urban fantasy with the legends of the native american tribes from Alaska. I've been to Anchorage, and Alaska is the perfect place to host a supernatural setting. This book is about a town that comes under attack from a group of demons. However, these are not demons that many from the paranormal communities would know, they're more biblical in nature.
In fact, Raven's Cove read more like I'd expect to find on the Christian shelves, with the town battling good versus evil. I'm pagan, and I can deal with this black and white thinking. But when all was done, the book was written a bit flat and did more to tell, rather than show. Raven's Cove begins like any other book, outlining our small town and the impending doom. But as the story unfolds, we're told more than we're shown. For example, the main characters, Kat and Kenneth, have an attraction to one another that isn't really shown. They just accept their attraction and even Kat's grandma tells them to "just get together." The tension also plateaus, rather than ramps up. The final battle, if you can call it that, fell flat and the loss that happens doesn't come through as being felt.
I've been given the second book in the series and I'm hoping that it will ramp up the supernatural threat, show us why our characters felt so drawn to love one another, and show us a tale worthy of the Alaskan wilds.
May 11, 2012
“Raven’s Cove” is an endearing cozy mystery wrapped in Supernatural horror and legend, set in contemporary South Central Alaska. Clearly delineated are the forces of good vs. evil, from the Congregational Alliance Church (which serves the dark side while disguising itself as of the Light), maneuvering to distract and destroy the young Reverend Lucas’ fundamentalist congregation; and the evil which has “resided” for centuries or perhaps millennia, deep in the locale known as “Raven’s Ravine,” resting just below “Corpse Mound,” an evil that has taken lives at every opportunity.
The characters are finely-drawn and three-dimensional, and even the “evil” ones will elicit reader comprehension, if not always empathy.
Kat, Sheriff Bart, Reverend Lucas, and the visitor Josiah (who has suffered greatly himself, and whose life has been changed because of it) must combine to battle an evil that only some of them can even begin to believe in, while others understand but do not yet know the extent of the evil, nor the dangers they themselves face.
For readers who like a smooth-reading mystery with Supernatural and mythological overtones, founded on a strong basis of good vs. evil, “Raven’s Cove” will hit the spot.
The characters are finely-drawn and three-dimensional, and even the “evil” ones will elicit reader comprehension, if not always empathy.
Kat, Sheriff Bart, Reverend Lucas, and the visitor Josiah (who has suffered greatly himself, and whose life has been changed because of it) must combine to battle an evil that only some of them can even begin to believe in, while others understand but do not yet know the extent of the evil, nor the dangers they themselves face.
For readers who like a smooth-reading mystery with Supernatural and mythological overtones, founded on a strong basis of good vs. evil, “Raven’s Cove” will hit the spot.
October 20, 2013
This book wasn't quite what I expected after reading the blurb, but it turned out to be an interesting read with quite lot of elements that made it worth the time. The paranormal abounds in this novel and there is no shortage of creepiness.
This is a sort of cozy mystery book with a few good laughs along the way. The main characters make the book worth reading with plenty of fun banter between them. I thought the romance was a bit on the predictable side and there were some events that I saw coming a while before they actually happened, but for the most part the story was enjoyable.
I liked that the characters were very different from one another and there was a broad array of personalities to enjoy. I also thought this story had a bit of a Christian feel with a stark contrast between good and evil.
Overall this was a good book with plenty of redeeming qualities. If you like paranormal stories where there is some history, some mystery and some humour too, this might be a good one to choose.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided by netgalley.
This is a sort of cozy mystery book with a few good laughs along the way. The main characters make the book worth reading with plenty of fun banter between them. I thought the romance was a bit on the predictable side and there were some events that I saw coming a while before they actually happened, but for the most part the story was enjoyable.
I liked that the characters were very different from one another and there was a broad array of personalities to enjoy. I also thought this story had a bit of a Christian feel with a stark contrast between good and evil.
Overall this was a good book with plenty of redeeming qualities. If you like paranormal stories where there is some history, some mystery and some humour too, this might be a good one to choose.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided by netgalley.
July 12, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/mini-rev...
Raven’s Cove wasn’t the intriguing blend of fantasy and supernatural mystery that I’d hoped. It wasn’t nearly as creepy as I thought, there were a lot of Christian themes, and it actually read more like a cozy mystery. Not too bad, but it definitely lacked suspense and creepiness. The villain isn’t defined well enough, and is rather bland, just your typical, standard bad demon that is inherently bland.
Raven’s Cove wasn’t the intriguing blend of fantasy and supernatural mystery that I’d hoped. It wasn’t nearly as creepy as I thought, there were a lot of Christian themes, and it actually read more like a cozy mystery. Not too bad, but it definitely lacked suspense and creepiness. The villain isn’t defined well enough, and is rather bland, just your typical, standard bad demon that is inherently bland.
September 8, 2018
A novel about spiritual warfare executed in a colorful and zingy manner. The unseen battle manifests out of a legend into the physical. Fierce and gruesome demonic soul-hunting takes place, overcoming one person after another until... (sorry, no spoiler). This story of the supernatural genre with a dash of romance possesses a stronger bent toward horror. But fear not, there is hope. Although Ravens Cove set in Alaska is part of a series, it is also a fine standalone with a compact plot and rightfully satisfying conclusion.
June 21, 2012
This book was good against evil rather than an Alaska legend that was a very minor part of the story. This would be a religious story for young people I believe.
February 10, 2013
So many comments in the book are " True Alaska " - made it fun to read. Good story - but suggest that you get both books at the same time....because you will want to start right in on the 2nd one.
July 19, 2013
The blurb made it sound good. The first few pages were good. Then it just got a little too religious for my liking. Gave up at 39%
February 2, 2017
Great book!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews