Path of the Half Moon

Curtis Jefferson #1

by Vince Bailey

When fifteen-year-old Curtis Jefferson, a mischievous but good-natured African-American youth, is caught crossing the blurry line between prank and delinquency, he finds himself unjustly sentenced to a yearlong confinement at the notorious Fort Grant, a penal outpost in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Unknown to Curtis, Fort Grant is built upon the cursed site of a century-old Native American massacre. The innocent young man's character and his physical endurance are tested in the confines of a racially charged environment that includes a murderous inmate, whose sudden hatred for Curtis is fueled by his openly declared racism. Following a natural will for survival, Curtis waffles between avoidance and confrontation with his nemesis. But it is the supernatural events arising from the curse that have him fearfully questioning his grasp on reality. Vince Bailey's award-winning Path of the Half Moon is the Winner of the Arizona Authors' Association Literary Award and presents an edgy and thrilling escape from the ordinary.

376 pages, Paperback

Published November 16, 2018

About the author

I am a writer and construction estimator who grew up in Arizona--specifically, the East Valley--starting in the late 1950s. My youthful escapades there contribute significantly to the nostalgic aspect of my fiction writing. Path of the Half Moon is my inaugural novel, the first of a paranormal/historical fiction trilogy published by Ingram Elliott. Book two in the Curtis Jefferson series, Courses of the Cursed, was released August 1, 2020. I have spent the past 10 years of my life penning the trilogy, and I am eager to share it with an appreciative readership. I currently reside in Maricopa County, Arizona with my family. Follow the published development of my trilogy on my website at https://www.vincebaileyauthor.com or on Twitter @vincebailey20. See below.

Reviews

[Chanel Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am hooked on this book. I had the pleasure of meeting the author while cutting his hair. As soon as he told me the base of the story, i knew i had to get my hands on it. A Ghost story, by his friend, on historical land here in arizona. Let me tell you, it does not disappoint. So far im invested with all of me. I cannot wait to read the 2nd and 3rd book. Please please please read this so it can popularize and hopefully turn into a movie some day!!!!! I’ve already had 3 other people hooked and equally as satisfied with the read. Enjoy! Thanks for creating such a great story Vince!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the book began, I wondered what does "this" story have to do with "that" story, but shortly after this distraction I found myself needing to know how these stories would merge. Like pieces of a chess set the characters in the stories are thrown together in a time-warping battle between friends and enemies; likewise good and the evil that revenge enables. The tale is filled with lessons from the past and wisdom from loved ones. The imagery is vivid. I felt like I was there watching. It's stitched together in a way that makes you keep turning pages to find the next clue. The exquisitely described scenes demonstrate the author's deep understanding of our world and how it works. Highly recommended.

[Cheryl Schaab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Path of the Half Moon is told from a storyteller viewpoint, with the account being told to the author, who cleverly puts himself into the story. The plot point intertwines a historical Native American massacre with a 1960s detention center located in the Arizona desert.
Curtis Jefferson, the story teller, experiences some pretty spooky scenes while at Fort Grant. They seem to relate to the Native American massacre that had occurred in the previous century. Mixed throughout this paranormal novel are instances of murder, injustice, ghosts, and a curse, all with a Southwest flavor. Rich, descriptive language put me, the reader, into the setting.
The story kept me wondering about a number of things, such as: Who is Curtis' mysterious sidekick, Randy?
This made for a very intriguing read, whose ending begs for more. I'm hoping there will be a sequel. If so, will I finally know who Randy really is?