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Chasing the Codex: A Mystery by 24 Authors
Bryndis Palmer, owner of The Neglected Word bookstore, invites her fourteen-year-old niece Frida to visit her so that the precocious, Jane Austen-loving young girl can accompany Bryn to the “Midwest Booklovers’ Convention” being held in nearby Saint Louis. Never mind that Bryn has just broken up with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Holt Furst, or that said boyfriend has suddenly disappeared from his apartment above her shop––possibly in a violent kidnapping. Bryndis dutifully heads to the airport to pick up Frida, only to discover that Frida has also disappeared––reportedly swooped up by a chauffeur and whisked away in a limousine. Who would kidnap her niece? Where could they have taken her? Where could Holt be? Brynn is an amateur sleuth from her childhood days of reading Nancy Drew mysteries, and she barges ahead with her own investigation, certain that the local police and the airport authorities will bungle the job, and fearing the wrath of her sister Lia if anything happens to Frida. Of course, Bryn doesn’t know that the disappearances of Holt and Frida are actually connected, and as she begins her search, a mystifying tale starts to unravel––introducing her to a host of strange characters, all more unusual than those in the murder mysteries she’s accustomed to reading. Along the way, she discovers that she herself is somehow at the center of it all, and swirling around her are other strange curiosities––a missing Bible, a famous frontier hero, and a hidden secret code. Will she find Frida? And Holt? How does it all connect? And how is Bryn involved? It will all be revealed in CHASING THE CODEX.
Here’s a different kind of book: This cozy mystery was written by 24 of Cozy Cat Press’s 40-some authors, with each author penning their own individual chapter or chapters. How did we make this happen? Easy! We started at the top of the alphabet with Amy Beth Arkawy and moved down the alphabet through Diane Weiner (with a few detours along the way). None of the authors had any idea where the next author would take the story; they only knew what they wanted to do with the characters and the plot in their own chapter. We think you’ll find the results amazing––and exciting! So, be prepared for quite a ride, as we go CHASING THE CODEX!
Here’s a different kind of book: This cozy mystery was written by 24 of Cozy Cat Press’s 40-some authors, with each author penning their own individual chapter or chapters. How did we make this happen? Easy! We started at the top of the alphabet with Amy Beth Arkawy and moved down the alphabet through Diane Weiner (with a few detours along the way). None of the authors had any idea where the next author would take the story; they only knew what they wanted to do with the characters and the plot in their own chapter. We think you’ll find the results amazing––and exciting! So, be prepared for quite a ride, as we go CHASING THE CODEX!
- GenresMystery
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2015
12 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Oroz
26 books21 followers Joyce answers 10 Questions with Dave
1) I became interested in writing twelve years ago when my husband (excellent writer) wrote a book and I was slightly involved in the process. I waited five more years and then dove into writing. It was a slow dive because I had to put my toes into the children's book pool first.
2) In the last seven years I have written 26 children's stories and four 100,000-word novels (one published) and quite a few newspaper articles and press releases.
3) If having a blast writing is a profession...yes, writing is my new-found profession.
4) Secure the Ranch, 416 pages and first in the Josephine Stuart Mystery Series, was recently published and can be found on line at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
5) At age 12 I was inspired by Nancy Drew. Middle age, I was stoked by Janet Evanovich, JK Rawling, JA Jance and Dave Barry. Mix it all together and out pops Josephine.
7) My schedule consists of a couple hours of writing everyday. I consider it my treat, sometimes my torment, at the end of the day.
8) I write at home. Saves a lot of gas....but where would I go to write anyway?
17) I write in the first person because I love to pick Josephine's brain. Actually it's a lot like mine but bigger. I think first person is the best way for a reader to know the protagonist.
19) And I think, but , should not start a sentence. But it often does. Does it really
matter to world peace? I'm sure Josephine doesn't care.
24) From conception to birth, my book took a healthy nine months. Then came the rewriiiiiites. Yikes!
Review of Secure the Ranch
Spoiler free review, January 4, 2011
By Robert "Dimndbangr" Hicks (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Secure the Ranch (Paperback)
Disclaimer-If you read the review and feel there is a spoiler in it, please let me know and I will remove that section. Also, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.
Secure the Ranch is the first book by debut author Joyce Oroz.
Secure the Ranch follows a mystery surrounding Josephine Stuart, an artist who is hired to paint some murals for a wealthy client high in the mountains of California. After strange accidents, occurrences, and the death of a wildlife ranger, Josephine finds she is unable to set aside her curiosity and delves deep into a mystery best left alone. Some subplots involve her friendship with one of her neighbors, visits with her mom and dad, and others that would lead to spoilers.
I will have to admit that the writing in this book is well done. Even though I may have found myself hesitant at times to pick the book back up from other things I was doing, once I did, I was engrossed and read chapter after chapter. The characters were also better than I imagined they would be at the beginning. I had a vision of the wealthy clients to be the snobbish type and they turned out to be much better than that and I was thankful. There was some nice depth to the characters and they were easy to connect with.
Some criticisms:
1. The dialogue, though done well enough throughout the majority of the book had some abrupt endings to it. It just felt like there was more to be said, but the next thing I know, the story moves on to something else. Mostly this happens while Josephine is searching for answers of what is going on.
2. There were a couple of inconsistencies in this book. The main one is at the beginning when Josephine is getting ready for bed; she sets the alarm for 7:30. In the next chapter, she is woken to music coming from the clock radio at 7.
Some Positives
1. I really did enjoy the characters in this novel. Everyone had their own voice and was easy to distinguish from the other characters. The reader can easily connect with the characters.
2. In just about every chapter, something happens to keep the reader engaged in the story. Ms
1) I became interested in writing twelve years ago when my husband (excellent writer) wrote a book and I was slightly involved in the process. I waited five more years and then dove into writing. It was a slow dive because I had to put my toes into the children's book pool first.
2) In the last seven years I have written 26 children's stories and four 100,000-word novels (one published) and quite a few newspaper articles and press releases.
3) If having a blast writing is a profession...yes, writing is my new-found profession.
4) Secure the Ranch, 416 pages and first in the Josephine Stuart Mystery Series, was recently published and can be found on line at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
5) At age 12 I was inspired by Nancy Drew. Middle age, I was stoked by Janet Evanovich, JK Rawling, JA Jance and Dave Barry. Mix it all together and out pops Josephine.
7) My schedule consists of a couple hours of writing everyday. I consider it my treat, sometimes my torment, at the end of the day.
8) I write at home. Saves a lot of gas....but where would I go to write anyway?
17) I write in the first person because I love to pick Josephine's brain. Actually it's a lot like mine but bigger. I think first person is the best way for a reader to know the protagonist.
19) And I think, but , should not start a sentence. But it often does. Does it really
matter to world peace? I'm sure Josephine doesn't care.
24) From conception to birth, my book took a healthy nine months. Then came the rewriiiiiites. Yikes!
Review of Secure the Ranch
Spoiler free review, January 4, 2011
By Robert "Dimndbangr" Hicks (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Secure the Ranch (Paperback)
Disclaimer-If you read the review and feel there is a spoiler in it, please let me know and I will remove that section. Also, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.
Secure the Ranch is the first book by debut author Joyce Oroz.
Secure the Ranch follows a mystery surrounding Josephine Stuart, an artist who is hired to paint some murals for a wealthy client high in the mountains of California. After strange accidents, occurrences, and the death of a wildlife ranger, Josephine finds she is unable to set aside her curiosity and delves deep into a mystery best left alone. Some subplots involve her friendship with one of her neighbors, visits with her mom and dad, and others that would lead to spoilers.
I will have to admit that the writing in this book is well done. Even though I may have found myself hesitant at times to pick the book back up from other things I was doing, once I did, I was engrossed and read chapter after chapter. The characters were also better than I imagined they would be at the beginning. I had a vision of the wealthy clients to be the snobbish type and they turned out to be much better than that and I was thankful. There was some nice depth to the characters and they were easy to connect with.
Some criticisms:
1. The dialogue, though done well enough throughout the majority of the book had some abrupt endings to it. It just felt like there was more to be said, but the next thing I know, the story moves on to something else. Mostly this happens while Josephine is searching for answers of what is going on.
2. There were a couple of inconsistencies in this book. The main one is at the beginning when Josephine is getting ready for bed; she sets the alarm for 7:30. In the next chapter, she is woken to music coming from the clock radio at 7.
Some Positives
1. I really did enjoy the characters in this novel. Everyone had their own voice and was easy to distinguish from the other characters. The reader can easily connect with the characters.
2. In just about every chapter, something happens to keep the reader engaged in the story. Ms
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 13, 2017
It sounded like a fun concept for 24 authors to write a mystery. The reality turned out to be something else entirely.
January 12, 2016
I do belive this was the most funniest roller coaster of a mystery that had the strangest twists I have ever read. But, and this is a BIG, HUGE, BUT, I enjoyed every moment of it. In fact it reminded me of a time when I met with a group of players in second life.
Now I am not sure how many of you know about that game and I don't wish to distract from my critique so lets just say it was another medium that was used for people to get together and chat. We would get together once a week a topic would be chosen by the host and he would begin with the opening. Then we would go around the room from one to the next in what was called round robin. Just as these authors did but with chapters. No one knew what the next would do with the characters and you just kept going based on what the previous people had written, just as it was done in this wonderful book.
With out knowing which author wrote which chapter I would never had known though there is one thing I will say that did bug me greatly and that was the use of "you all" as a southerner we do not say "you all" when meaning a few or a group we say "y'all"....just had to throw that out there. Made that chapter a little difficult to read.
Other than that it was a great ride. You never knew what was going to happen next. Nor could you ever figure out who was that bad guy cause well that kinda just kept changing. So HOOORAAHH for coming up with instalment and I actually would like to see more. I was a refreshing change.
Now I am not sure how many of you know about that game and I don't wish to distract from my critique so lets just say it was another medium that was used for people to get together and chat. We would get together once a week a topic would be chosen by the host and he would begin with the opening. Then we would go around the room from one to the next in what was called round robin. Just as these authors did but with chapters. No one knew what the next would do with the characters and you just kept going based on what the previous people had written, just as it was done in this wonderful book.
With out knowing which author wrote which chapter I would never had known though there is one thing I will say that did bug me greatly and that was the use of "you all" as a southerner we do not say "you all" when meaning a few or a group we say "y'all"....just had to throw that out there. Made that chapter a little difficult to read.
Other than that it was a great ride. You never knew what was going to happen next. Nor could you ever figure out who was that bad guy cause well that kinda just kept changing. So HOOORAAHH for coming up with instalment and I actually would like to see more. I was a refreshing change.
January 7, 2016
A brilliant example of “round robin” writing.
CHASING THE CODEX is a creative mystery written twenty-four amazing authors from Cozy Cat Press. Each author was responsible for a chapter, and is credited at the beginning of their chapter.
I have read books by many of the authors of this book. They all have their own unique style of writing. That being said, this story flowed flawlessly from chapter to chapter with each author bringing his and her own vision to the story without undoing the work of the author before them.
Having been written the way it was, the overall story was intriguing, and had just the right combination of mystery and action. The twists that developed were excellent and made for a read that I won’t soon forget.
I would love to see another story done this way. Way to go authors!
CHASING THE CODEX is a creative mystery written twenty-four amazing authors from Cozy Cat Press. Each author was responsible for a chapter, and is credited at the beginning of their chapter.
I have read books by many of the authors of this book. They all have their own unique style of writing. That being said, this story flowed flawlessly from chapter to chapter with each author bringing his and her own vision to the story without undoing the work of the author before them.
Having been written the way it was, the overall story was intriguing, and had just the right combination of mystery and action. The twists that developed were excellent and made for a read that I won’t soon forget.
I would love to see another story done this way. Way to go authors!
April 3, 2016
This is a book by 24 authors; each writing a chapter. It is the story of a book seller, Bryndis Palmer, who gets pulled into a mystery regarding a bible and a treasure. Her 14 year old niece , Freida, is visiting from California and is kidnapped by baddies.
The apparent goodness of several characters changes frequently and the drama and threat to the main characters are dire.
The apparent goodness of several characters changes frequently and the drama and threat to the main characters are dire.
September 30, 2019
Good read.
Keeps your attention. Into see different writers techniques. Lots lists and turns. But never actually found out why the the mystery started.
Keeps your attention. Into see different writers techniques. Lots lists and turns. But never actually found out why the the mystery started.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews