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Blue Moon Investigations #1-10
Blue Moon Investigations Ten Book Bundle
This box set contains the first 10 Blue Moon Investigation stories:
Paranormal Nonsense
The Phantom of Barker Mill
Amanda Harper – Paranormal Detective
The Klowns of Kent
Dead Pirates of Cawsand
In the Doodoo with Voodoo
The Witches of East Malling
Crop Circles, Cows, and Crazy Aliens
Whispers in the Rigging
Paws of the Yeti
Paranormal Nonsense – Falsely advertised as a paranormal investigator, Tempest Michaels has a serial killing vampire to track down and a poltergeist to catch and all because the cop who asked for his help is just too gorgeous to turn down. He’ll need to keep his mind on the job though as his investigation soon attracts unwanted attention from the police and a local gang of vampire worshippers. They won’t be the biggest problem though as his friends, his mum, and his dogs are going to help!
The Phantom of Barker Mill – A hundred-year-old mystery proves irresistible for England’s only paranormal P.I. It looks like the perfect case, but someone, or perhaps everyone is lying to him, and as he closes in on the truth, he is led into a race against time that may cost him more than he is willing to pay. Oh, and his mum wants him to organise a baby shower.
Amanda Harper Paranormal Detective - When hysterical customers claim their shopping has been stolen by a ghost, the shopping mall manager calls the only paranormal investigation agency in the book. Meet Amanda Harper, Paranormal P.I. But its Amanda’s first day and nothing in life has prepared her for the bedlam that will follow. What is the truth behind the mysterious missing shopping bags? Does she have any idea what she is doing? And why, oh why, did she invite sassy BFF Patience Woods to help out.
Plus 7 more full length, action-packed stories.
Paranormal Nonsense
The Phantom of Barker Mill
Amanda Harper – Paranormal Detective
The Klowns of Kent
Dead Pirates of Cawsand
In the Doodoo with Voodoo
The Witches of East Malling
Crop Circles, Cows, and Crazy Aliens
Whispers in the Rigging
Paws of the Yeti
Paranormal Nonsense – Falsely advertised as a paranormal investigator, Tempest Michaels has a serial killing vampire to track down and a poltergeist to catch and all because the cop who asked for his help is just too gorgeous to turn down. He’ll need to keep his mind on the job though as his investigation soon attracts unwanted attention from the police and a local gang of vampire worshippers. They won’t be the biggest problem though as his friends, his mum, and his dogs are going to help!
The Phantom of Barker Mill – A hundred-year-old mystery proves irresistible for England’s only paranormal P.I. It looks like the perfect case, but someone, or perhaps everyone is lying to him, and as he closes in on the truth, he is led into a race against time that may cost him more than he is willing to pay. Oh, and his mum wants him to organise a baby shower.
Amanda Harper Paranormal Detective - When hysterical customers claim their shopping has been stolen by a ghost, the shopping mall manager calls the only paranormal investigation agency in the book. Meet Amanda Harper, Paranormal P.I. But its Amanda’s first day and nothing in life has prepared her for the bedlam that will follow. What is the truth behind the mysterious missing shopping bags? Does she have any idea what she is doing? And why, oh why, did she invite sassy BFF Patience Woods to help out.
Plus 7 more full length, action-packed stories.
2603 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2019
6330 people are currently reading
945 people want to read
About the author
Steve Higgs
576 books822 followersLet's start this off with an invitation to get some FREE books. No, you didn't read that wrong, we are talking about multiple free books. I love giving away free books because once people delve into the fast-paced mystery thrills I write, they go on to buy lots more.
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
October 4, 2020
Great author and very good story lines and I will definitely read more but... ....
..... I got very bored with the constant references to the main character's groin and contents. It seemed quite unnecessary to the story. Stick to the dachshunds Steve!
The other thing that seems quite unnecessary is the judging of the female characters by the size of their bosoms. That also got very boring!
Proof reading needs to improve as there were many misspelled words and missing words - irritating!
..... I got very bored with the constant references to the main character's groin and contents. It seemed quite unnecessary to the story. Stick to the dachshunds Steve!
The other thing that seems quite unnecessary is the judging of the female characters by the size of their bosoms. That also got very boring!
Proof reading needs to improve as there were many misspelled words and missing words - irritating!
April 5, 2023
I picked this up as a freebie from Amazon Prime because I saw a promotion that compared the 10 books in this anthology to the work of Terry Pratchett. That, I'm sorry to say, is very far from the truth, but in all fairness, I've yet to come across anything that truly compares to the work of Terry Pratchett. Pratchett was unique. The Blue Moon stories are more like Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles, or Derek Landy's Skullduggery Pleasant series, except they're more detective story and less woo-woo supernatural stuff, kind of like Scooby Doo. I really like the concept. There is far too much magic realism around (an oxymoron for sure). The books in this collection have the feel of an urban fantasy series, but they're actually whodunits. As for the individual books:
Book 1 - (3-stars) In this one, a former British soldier starts a business as a private investigator, but due to a clerical error, it is categorized as a supernatural detective agency. Surprisingly, this brings in calls, so he keeps the label and begins taking cases from people who believe supernatural forces are afflicting them. His investigations ultimately reveal that the cause is usually a deluded loony or someone engaging in a scam, very much like a classic Scooby Doo plot. In this first story, the protagonist investigates a series of 'vampire' murders and a 'Bigfoot' sighting. The characters are unexceptional but engaging, the story is well paced, but the editing leaves much to be desired. Issues I noticed include: use of the word 'infer' when 'imply' was clearly meant; leaving the 'g' off Stephen Hawking's name; and very sloppy and inconsistent punctuation. Commas are rationed as if they cost a dollar a piece and the author is short on funds. Oddly, they are sometimes used in places that require a period or semicolon. So, all in all. Good whodunit plot. Good pacing. Adequate characters. Poor editing.
Book 2 - (3.5 stars) In the second book, the main mystery needing to be solved involves the death of a steel mill owner, presumably from natural causes, but a "phantom" has been seen on the grounds, and it has a history of causing trouble. The first-person protagonist, former soldier, and current "paranormal" investigator, Tempest Michaels, pursues the case...and a few young women. Actually, most of the e-pages of this book are devoted to his hormonal drives, which tend to be close to an obsession with most men of a certain age (approximately 16-60), which makes this book less of a whodunit and more of a sex romp comedy of errors with a Scooby Doo subplot. The issue of misused punctuation noted in the first book remains, and it is still nothing like a Pratchett story, but it's quite good for a self-published book.
Book 3 - (3 stars) People at a shopping center are being robbed by a mysterious elevator "ghost," and the latest investigator for the Blue Moon agency wants to solve this one on her own. The first-person narrator changes to Amanda, Tempest's hot former cop associate, for this book, although the voice seems much the same. As with the previous episodes, this one involves mildly humorous sexual tension.
Book 4 - (3 stars, 20 March 2023) Killer Klowns, "normal" clowns, and competition in the paranormal investigation business. I think the characters may be growing on me. The first-person narrator (Tempest) is something of an unwittingly misogynistic jerk, but he means well. Even his occasional sidekick/muscle man (Big Ben), a one-night-stand only dickhead governed by a one track mind in the head of his penis, has some redeeming qualities. I can see how some readers might take offense by these characters, but although I can't say I "like" them, I do find them engaging enough to read about. The same editing and punctuation issues persist in this book as in the previous three.
Book 5 - (3.5 stars) Ghost pirates! Buried treasure! Murder! Even though Tempest the paranormal investigator is on holiday, things like these cannot go uninvestigated, so he makes sure they don't. I can't say I actually like the protagonist of these stories. He's quite a dick at times, and his partner Mr. Wriggly does much of his thinking for him. (Mr. Wriggly is what he calls his penis.) And the same editorial issues exist with this book as with the former ones, poor punctuation, typos, some choppy prose.... But, for a self-published book that doesn't get professional support from a publisher, agent, or editor, it's pretty good.
Book 6 - (3.5 stars, 24 March 2023) Amanda encounters voodoo killers (not killers of voodoo, but killers who play at voodoo). This is the second book (so far) with Amanda rather than Tempest as the first-person narrator, but the voice is much the same. Same issues as before, and still an entertaining read.
Book 7 - (3.5 stars)A man dies from a lightning strike...inside his house. His son says a witch did it. Tempest investigates and soon becomes a target. With this one, the prose and punctuation seem to be improving a little. The characters remain shallow constructs defined by their sexual drives and attractiveness, but the stories remain entertaining enough to continue.
Book 8 -(3 stars) In this episode, Amanda answers a farmer's call to look into crop circles, strange lights in the sky, glowing milk, and a roving alien. Then, there's a murder, seemingly by freeze ray. This is the third story with Amanda as the POV character, but she seems no less governed by her mating instincts than her male associate Tempest, so much of the story is a bedroom romp. The writing and editing are improved in this one, although there are still typos and punctuation anomalies. The pacing is good, though.
Book 9 - (3.5 stars) Tempest's dad works as a tour guide at the dockyards, but when someone smacks him in the head and puts him in a coma, Tempest is determined to find out who and bring them to justice. But things get complicated with reports of ghosts and mysterious whispering voices after dark... and a surprisingly large number of Ukrainians. Issues with prose, punctuation, and editing remain, but this is a good, traditional kind of whodunit story with private detective, an unhelpful cop, mobsters, and a murder. Speaking of which, the latter, although a minor point in the overall mystery, was left without an explicit resolution at the end.
Book 10 - (3.5 stars) Tempest is hired to find the yeti that killed the daughter of an alpine ski resort's owner. He suspects the murderer will be a guy in costume. What he discovers is somewhat different. This is another good whodunit kind of story, and although I found the 'mystery' fairly predictable, it was a good read. The prose, punctuation, and editing are markedly improved in this book over the first, although some issues remain.
So, how to come up with a subjective star rating for the whole collection? The stories are quite readable, so that's at least 2, and they're enjoyable, for the most part, which warrants at least a 3. And I really like the Scooby Doo theme of seemingly supernatural mysteries with purely realistic causes, so another half point for that to give it a 3.5. I really did not like how the characters all acted like sex-obsessed adolescents, so it doesn't warrant a 4. Without either deeper characters, biting satire, or social relevance, a 4 is about the highest a purely fun read can get, for me, so 3.5 is pretty good. But there are editing issues to consider, maybe -1 for those, but they improve from the first book to the tenth, so maybe just -0.5. But it's self-published, which is difficult to do well, so half a point for that, and the author has made the collection free, so another half point there, which adds up to 4, but I have to take off half a point for false advertising, or at least aggressive marketing. Such audacity, comparing this to Pratchett! So, that's back to 3.5, which rounds to 4 for an overall rating for the series. It's an enjoyable read and it's free, so I can suggest it to mystery readers looking for something a bit different.
Book 1 - (3-stars) In this one, a former British soldier starts a business as a private investigator, but due to a clerical error, it is categorized as a supernatural detective agency. Surprisingly, this brings in calls, so he keeps the label and begins taking cases from people who believe supernatural forces are afflicting them. His investigations ultimately reveal that the cause is usually a deluded loony or someone engaging in a scam, very much like a classic Scooby Doo plot. In this first story, the protagonist investigates a series of 'vampire' murders and a 'Bigfoot' sighting. The characters are unexceptional but engaging, the story is well paced, but the editing leaves much to be desired. Issues I noticed include: use of the word 'infer' when 'imply' was clearly meant; leaving the 'g' off Stephen Hawking's name; and very sloppy and inconsistent punctuation. Commas are rationed as if they cost a dollar a piece and the author is short on funds. Oddly, they are sometimes used in places that require a period or semicolon. So, all in all. Good whodunit plot. Good pacing. Adequate characters. Poor editing.
Book 2 - (3.5 stars) In the second book, the main mystery needing to be solved involves the death of a steel mill owner, presumably from natural causes, but a "phantom" has been seen on the grounds, and it has a history of causing trouble. The first-person protagonist, former soldier, and current "paranormal" investigator, Tempest Michaels, pursues the case...and a few young women. Actually, most of the e-pages of this book are devoted to his hormonal drives, which tend to be close to an obsession with most men of a certain age (approximately 16-60), which makes this book less of a whodunit and more of a sex romp comedy of errors with a Scooby Doo subplot. The issue of misused punctuation noted in the first book remains, and it is still nothing like a Pratchett story, but it's quite good for a self-published book.
Book 3 - (3 stars) People at a shopping center are being robbed by a mysterious elevator "ghost," and the latest investigator for the Blue Moon agency wants to solve this one on her own. The first-person narrator changes to Amanda, Tempest's hot former cop associate, for this book, although the voice seems much the same. As with the previous episodes, this one involves mildly humorous sexual tension.
Book 4 - (3 stars, 20 March 2023) Killer Klowns, "normal" clowns, and competition in the paranormal investigation business. I think the characters may be growing on me. The first-person narrator (Tempest) is something of an unwittingly misogynistic jerk, but he means well. Even his occasional sidekick/muscle man (Big Ben), a one-night-stand only dickhead governed by a one track mind in the head of his penis, has some redeeming qualities. I can see how some readers might take offense by these characters, but although I can't say I "like" them, I do find them engaging enough to read about. The same editing and punctuation issues persist in this book as in the previous three.
Book 5 - (3.5 stars) Ghost pirates! Buried treasure! Murder! Even though Tempest the paranormal investigator is on holiday, things like these cannot go uninvestigated, so he makes sure they don't. I can't say I actually like the protagonist of these stories. He's quite a dick at times, and his partner Mr. Wriggly does much of his thinking for him. (Mr. Wriggly is what he calls his penis.) And the same editorial issues exist with this book as with the former ones, poor punctuation, typos, some choppy prose.... But, for a self-published book that doesn't get professional support from a publisher, agent, or editor, it's pretty good.
Book 6 - (3.5 stars, 24 March 2023) Amanda encounters voodoo killers (not killers of voodoo, but killers who play at voodoo). This is the second book (so far) with Amanda rather than Tempest as the first-person narrator, but the voice is much the same. Same issues as before, and still an entertaining read.
Book 7 - (3.5 stars)A man dies from a lightning strike...inside his house. His son says a witch did it. Tempest investigates and soon becomes a target. With this one, the prose and punctuation seem to be improving a little. The characters remain shallow constructs defined by their sexual drives and attractiveness, but the stories remain entertaining enough to continue.
Book 8 -(3 stars) In this episode, Amanda answers a farmer's call to look into crop circles, strange lights in the sky, glowing milk, and a roving alien. Then, there's a murder, seemingly by freeze ray. This is the third story with Amanda as the POV character, but she seems no less governed by her mating instincts than her male associate Tempest, so much of the story is a bedroom romp. The writing and editing are improved in this one, although there are still typos and punctuation anomalies. The pacing is good, though.
Book 9 - (3.5 stars) Tempest's dad works as a tour guide at the dockyards, but when someone smacks him in the head and puts him in a coma, Tempest is determined to find out who and bring them to justice. But things get complicated with reports of ghosts and mysterious whispering voices after dark... and a surprisingly large number of Ukrainians. Issues with prose, punctuation, and editing remain, but this is a good, traditional kind of whodunit story with private detective, an unhelpful cop, mobsters, and a murder. Speaking of which, the latter, although a minor point in the overall mystery, was left without an explicit resolution at the end.
Book 10 - (3.5 stars) Tempest is hired to find the yeti that killed the daughter of an alpine ski resort's owner. He suspects the murderer will be a guy in costume. What he discovers is somewhat different. This is another good whodunit kind of story, and although I found the 'mystery' fairly predictable, it was a good read. The prose, punctuation, and editing are markedly improved in this book over the first, although some issues remain.
So, how to come up with a subjective star rating for the whole collection? The stories are quite readable, so that's at least 2, and they're enjoyable, for the most part, which warrants at least a 3. And I really like the Scooby Doo theme of seemingly supernatural mysteries with purely realistic causes, so another half point for that to give it a 3.5. I really did not like how the characters all acted like sex-obsessed adolescents, so it doesn't warrant a 4. Without either deeper characters, biting satire, or social relevance, a 4 is about the highest a purely fun read can get, for me, so 3.5 is pretty good. But there are editing issues to consider, maybe -1 for those, but they improve from the first book to the tenth, so maybe just -0.5. But it's self-published, which is difficult to do well, so half a point for that, and the author has made the collection free, so another half point there, which adds up to 4, but I have to take off half a point for false advertising, or at least aggressive marketing. Such audacity, comparing this to Pratchett! So, that's back to 3.5, which rounds to 4 for an overall rating for the series. It's an enjoyable read and it's free, so I can suggest it to mystery readers looking for something a bit different.
April 10, 2021
This actually made me angry to read. Most of the men are sexist, the characters unrelatable/unrealistic, the only characters that worked were the dogs. The so called vampires (I never got far enough to know if they're real) would never talk the way they do unless they had just woken from a 200 hundred year sleep.
I started reading this because the write up said this was on par with Shayne Silvers and the Nate Temple series. That was a disservice to Shayne Silvers and he should sue for defermation of character.
I started reading this because the write up said this was on par with Shayne Silvers and the Nate Temple series. That was a disservice to Shayne Silvers and he should sue for defermation of character.
January 27, 2023
Felt like a rough draft
I made myself finish the first book in this compendium. It read like a rough draft or something a person threw together for a British version of NaNoWriMo. The author’s dedication to ignoring a natural flow of writing and avoiding almost every opportunity to use a contraction became increasingly annoying as I struggled through the story. To top it off, I felt a bit like this writer was secretly sniggering at the very people most likely to buy his book. He took every chance he created to directly or indirectly make fun of paranormal geeks and fans of the genre and associated activities.
I won’t be returning to this writer. There are too many other books worth reading out there.
I made myself finish the first book in this compendium. It read like a rough draft or something a person threw together for a British version of NaNoWriMo. The author’s dedication to ignoring a natural flow of writing and avoiding almost every opportunity to use a contraction became increasingly annoying as I struggled through the story. To top it off, I felt a bit like this writer was secretly sniggering at the very people most likely to buy his book. He took every chance he created to directly or indirectly make fun of paranormal geeks and fans of the genre and associated activities.
I won’t be returning to this writer. There are too many other books worth reading out there.
September 7, 2021
Missive to a cowardly "author"
Let us gather up ruinous fires
And revel in our conflagration paradise
Now is the time to take off the blinders
Goodbye suck Steve Higgs was, is, always loser.
#poem
Chris Roberts, Patron Saint of Me
Let us gather up ruinous fires
And revel in our conflagration paradise
Now is the time to take off the blinders
Goodbye suck Steve Higgs was, is, always loser.
#poem
Chris Roberts, Patron Saint of Me
October 22, 2021
I didn't enjoy this much, and there were many silly text errors which always ruins a book for me.
December 17, 2022
I chose this book because a review called it "funny." There is actually no humor here. Scooby Doo is funnier and more believable. This is just a sexist, version of Stephanie Plum who is oddly obsessed with his body image and diet. I only made it through the first book of the series. Won't read more.
Read
July 21, 2022I love the mysteries! I feel the characters are reasonably well developped.
I am not so keen on the constant sex. Big Ben is ridiculous. The constant conversations with Mr Wriggly are tedious. Who is the projected audience? Teen boys? Sigh…
I am not so keen on the constant sex. Big Ben is ridiculous. The constant conversations with Mr Wriggly are tedious. Who is the projected audience? Teen boys? Sigh…
April 7, 2021
Very enjoyable interesting characters, but it takes awhile to read a ten book bundle
February 5, 2022
3.5 stars for me. I did enjoy these 10 books. Some stories were better than others but overall I enjoyed them. They are daft and a bit far-fetched but entertaining and humorous.There were just a few 'narks' that annoyed me immensely.
1. The spelling and grammar. Really needs a good proof reader! People do not 'lay' in the bath. Hens lay. Not people! Also there is a big difference in there and their. Punctuation also needs polishing. I get irritated when there are unnecessary mistakes and inconsistencies. Find a proof reader who can spell and punctuate correctly!
2. All the drop-dead gorgeous people. Why can't they be 'normal'? 'Fat' Debbie was shunned .... she obviously wasn't gorgeous enough and too fat and 'hairy'! Rather sexist, unrealistic and unkind. Such a shame that looks are the most important thing. It's so shallow.
3. I found Big Ben an annoying twit. Again he's drop dead gorgeous with huge muscles & shags everything in sight. It got a bit boring. He's too one-dimensional and has nothing else interesting other than his dick, which is ALL he ever talks about or thinks about and uses women like toilet paper. He just comes across as an arrogant twat.
4. The constant mention of food and diet. Maybe mention it once or twice so we know Tempest looks after himself, but not describe every meal in detail many times throughout every book.
The things I did love:
1. The dogs (although maybe the mention of gravy bones and toilet needs could be limited).
2. Patience. I thought she was brilliant and one of the best characters. Shame she didn't feature a bit more. Hope she appears again in future books .... or becomes part of the team!
3. Jane/James. Loved her/his quirkiness. Hopefully we'll get a little more information into her/his personal life and boyfriend to give her/him a bit more depth.
1. The spelling and grammar. Really needs a good proof reader! People do not 'lay' in the bath. Hens lay. Not people! Also there is a big difference in there and their. Punctuation also needs polishing. I get irritated when there are unnecessary mistakes and inconsistencies. Find a proof reader who can spell and punctuate correctly!
2. All the drop-dead gorgeous people. Why can't they be 'normal'? 'Fat' Debbie was shunned .... she obviously wasn't gorgeous enough and too fat and 'hairy'! Rather sexist, unrealistic and unkind. Such a shame that looks are the most important thing. It's so shallow.
3. I found Big Ben an annoying twit. Again he's drop dead gorgeous with huge muscles & shags everything in sight. It got a bit boring. He's too one-dimensional and has nothing else interesting other than his dick, which is ALL he ever talks about or thinks about and uses women like toilet paper. He just comes across as an arrogant twat.
4. The constant mention of food and diet. Maybe mention it once or twice so we know Tempest looks after himself, but not describe every meal in detail many times throughout every book.
The things I did love:
1. The dogs (although maybe the mention of gravy bones and toilet needs could be limited).
2. Patience. I thought she was brilliant and one of the best characters. Shame she didn't feature a bit more. Hope she appears again in future books .... or becomes part of the team!
3. Jane/James. Loved her/his quirkiness. Hopefully we'll get a little more information into her/his personal life and boyfriend to give her/him a bit more depth.
September 30, 2022
I first came across Steve Riggs’ Culinary Capers series which I much prefer to the Blue Moon Series. Riggs has a good imagination and some talent but he is consistently let down by boring, repetitive, clichéd writing and characterisations. While I like the Tempest Michaels, Amanda Harper and the transvestite Jane/James characters, some of the others are just plain repellent. Big Ben, for example has the wit of a 12 year old schoolboy and the sexual mores of a Bonobo on heat. Patience, the black policewoman is possibly even worse; crude, slovenly, lazy and stupid. It’s embarrassing to read the constant stream of American black gangsta inspired dialogue that the author puts into her mouth. From a supposedly English copper!
I actually enjoy raunchy and silly dialogue when the author has sufficient skill to make it WITTY! But Steve Higgs misses the mark far too often. He has said it only takes him a couple of months to write each book and that is obvious.
Good writing is difficult and the thing is, you can get away with almost any absurdity if you have sufficient skill. However, the repetition and crudity of the writing finally got to me. Carl Hiaasen at his best, is my example of a funny, irreverent, sexy and witty writer. 😊
I actually enjoy raunchy and silly dialogue when the author has sufficient skill to make it WITTY! But Steve Higgs misses the mark far too often. He has said it only takes him a couple of months to write each book and that is obvious.
Good writing is difficult and the thing is, you can get away with almost any absurdity if you have sufficient skill. However, the repetition and crudity of the writing finally got to me. Carl Hiaasen at his best, is my example of a funny, irreverent, sexy and witty writer. 😊
August 29, 2020
Boring AF
Full confession: I didn't read all 10 books. I got about halfway through the second and asked myself why I'm reading it. I read a review comparing these books to the Dresden Files; not even in the same ballpark! Harry Dresden is one of my favorite protagonists ; he's funny and fierce with deep integrity. The guy in this series, whose name I've forgotten and don't care enough to look up is bland as dry, white toast. More time is spent talking about his dietary practices and workouts than the investigations. The part that I'd read seemed to be trying to set up a will they/won't they dynamic with the female cop but I found I didn't care. Not only did I not care, I actively hope they don't so their bland DNA won't infect any further literary crimes by this author. I got the books for free through Kindle Unlimited and I feel like I should get money back for my time. As a matter of fact the best part of the book is being able to write about how freakin' terrible it is.
Full confession: I didn't read all 10 books. I got about halfway through the second and asked myself why I'm reading it. I read a review comparing these books to the Dresden Files; not even in the same ballpark! Harry Dresden is one of my favorite protagonists ; he's funny and fierce with deep integrity. The guy in this series, whose name I've forgotten and don't care enough to look up is bland as dry, white toast. More time is spent talking about his dietary practices and workouts than the investigations. The part that I'd read seemed to be trying to set up a will they/won't they dynamic with the female cop but I found I didn't care. Not only did I not care, I actively hope they don't so their bland DNA won't infect any further literary crimes by this author. I got the books for free through Kindle Unlimited and I feel like I should get money back for my time. As a matter of fact the best part of the book is being able to write about how freakin' terrible it is.
July 20, 2024
The premise was brilliant, I really thought I’d like this but I’m not going to get to the end of this box set. His description of women is just awful even worse than the Dresden files. The character says repeatedly things like I don’t judge a woman by her body and then proceeds to do exactly that, It’s ok though the character would date a size 16 fatty (he says it in more words though) . He describes someone else’s boobs as two swollen mounds. I googled how old this series was and was surprised it wasn’t much older and can’t believe the editor didn’t just say cut all this out. You can definitely tell it was written by a man.
July 11, 2021
Ghosts? Werewolves? Yetis? There are no such thing.
An ex-military private investigator with two Dachshunds, an ability to screw up almost every potential romantic relationship, and a friend whose sole purpose in life is to bed every female he meets. Oh, and who finds himself Kent’s premier paranormal go-to due to a cock-up with his first advert for his newly-opened detective agency. Very entertaining.
An ex-military private investigator with two Dachshunds, an ability to screw up almost every potential romantic relationship, and a friend whose sole purpose in life is to bed every female he meets. Oh, and who finds himself Kent’s premier paranormal go-to due to a cock-up with his first advert for his newly-opened detective agency. Very entertaining.
June 8, 2020
Loved this series!
I loved the various characters and sometimes laughed out loud and had to explain to my husband what was so funny. Interesting paranormal investigations. I really enjoyed how it ended and an looking forward to the next one! Keep writing!!!
I loved the various characters and sometimes laughed out loud and had to explain to my husband what was so funny. Interesting paranormal investigations. I really enjoyed how it ended and an looking forward to the next one! Keep writing!!!
August 8, 2021
I really like Steve Higgs' writing. This series I didn't make it past the first book because the main character is majorly distracting in his discussion of his physical response to good looking women. It became very distracting to the story for me.
August 17, 2021
To much reference to sex
I enjoyed many of Steve Higgs series like Patricia Fisher Mysteries. I felt there is way to much references male sex parts etc for me to enjoy these series.
I enjoyed many of Steve Higgs series like Patricia Fisher Mysteries. I felt there is way to much references male sex parts etc for me to enjoy these series.
May 15, 2022
interesting read
Liked the characters and story lines.
Didn’t care for the women who constantly fell into Big Bens bed, felt the were portrayed as dimwits without morals just because he was good looking
Liked the characters and story lines.
Didn’t care for the women who constantly fell into Big Bens bed, felt the were portrayed as dimwits without morals just because he was good looking
June 18, 2025
Great read
Great read, had me laughing out loud, all the characters gel nicely together and the books are well written. Looking forward to reading the rest
Great read, had me laughing out loud, all the characters gel nicely together and the books are well written. Looking forward to reading the rest
September 6, 2021
Just could not get into this. Needed more dachshund time.
November 20, 2021
It was ok. Higgs can't write female characters to save his life, but the dogs are cute.
March 26, 2022
I was soooooo bored, I could not get into it.
November 17, 2022
Not for me, I struggled to get involved with the plots.
February 13, 2023
Don't bother
How anybody can compare this writer with Terry Pratchett needs their head examined ! Definitely not funny really disappointed. 😥
How anybody can compare this writer with Terry Pratchett needs their head examined ! Definitely not funny really disappointed. 😥
February 9, 2023
Tempest Michaels is a paranormal investigator who doesnt believe in the paranormal. He has a fairly thriving business taking cases for people who think something supernatural has happened, and through investigation, he comes to the quite explainable solution. Yes, like Scooby-Doo mysteries, now that I think of it. The first book had some promise, but note how Tempest seems to effortlessly attract women, it becomes important later. If the author had stuck with this formula, the books *could* be considered clever, I'd still be reading the series, and would have gladly posted 4 stars. But, starting in book 2, things headed into 1 star territory. Tempest has a small supporting cast, the most noteworthy is Big Ben. Starting in book 1, Ben is quite accurately represented as an absolutely shameless womanizer. He regales Tempest and his buddies with lurid, but non-graphic tales of his conquests. But, starting in book 2, we start hearing more from Ben. One comment stands out, and it was kind of a wake up call for what I could expect from that point out. The "gang" are at their favorite pub, and Tempest orders a non-alcoholic beer, due to reasons in the story. Ben voices his displeasure with the NA beer by comparing it to "going down on your sister. It tastes the same, but you know something's not right". No, I didn't make that up. Tempest and his friends don't express disgust with the comment, because they already know what the reader just found out, Ben is *vile*. This is the same book Tempest gets *his* first one night stand (the lady's idea, primarily), a tenuous arrangement that falls apart when he texts the woman, but accidentally calls her Jane, the name of his office manager. Sounds innocent enough ? "Jane" is the alter-ego for a minor male character from the first book. Turns out "Jane", through a rapid, nearly unexplained series of events, decided he has a female and male personna, which show up on alternating days at the office. We're only in the second book, hold on. Third book, can't tell you much, started like a stereotypical romance, beautiful woman from first book meets millionaire businessman from second. He flies her to Paris, but she pointedly declares she will not sleep with him on the first date. Until she gets drunk, and far as I know, resolve goes out the door. Jumped over that one. The next book in the series contains a foreshadowed bunch of baddies named the Klowns. Early in the story, the Klowns get the drop on Tempest and the crew in a pub parking lot. Tempest gets broken ribs, Big Ben gets slashed, *supposedly* superficially. I was hoping some well-set up tension here signalled a turn from the appealing to the lowest common denominator tone the stories were taking. *Nope*. Tempest and Big Ben end up in the hospital, where Big Ben seduces any woman who comes near him. No, really, that's where we are now; the lead doctor and at least two nurses *overtly* overule the one sane intern who examines Ben and says the wound is superficial, no need for an extended stay, strictly for a chance for sex with Ben. Tempest later visits Ben to see how he is. Ben, by Ben standards, is *fine*; he's receiving oral sex from one of the nurses. Tempest quickly turns to leave the room, encountering a female police officer, who- no surprise- has also slept with Ben in the past. She enters the room, tells the retreating nurse "Wipe your mouth", then strikes up her own conversation with Ben, which is where I called it quits. To wrap this up, what started in book 1 as a great concept, seems to have quickly rotted to an appeal to the baser instincts of any and all reader groups the author can grab. You need a likeable Hero ? We have Tempest, a rugged ex-military man with two cute puppies. A strong (?) female lead ? We have the Beautiful Woman from books 1 and 2, (An excellent cliffhanger in book 1 prevents me naming her, but its not Debbie. Debbie is pure "comic relief"; an obese woman "with a Billy Dee Williams moustache" who is obsessed with Tempest. *The author himself admits she's only in the story for mocking*. Example: Debbie shows up outside Tempest's house in lingerie. The story makes note of her weird pubic hair.) who suddenly headlines book 3. If you need a cross-dressing main character, keep reading, because Jane headlines a book further along. There literally is something for *everyone*, but I feel the pandering comes at the sacrifice of decent storytelling.
February 13, 2024
4.5 STARS, ENGLISH PI & MATES, ACTION
Steve Higgs gets 4.5 STARS for his Ten Book Bundle of his Series: Blue Moon Investigations. Why I deducted the .5 is because it is a bit dry reading at times figuring out which person is talking. The book is written in the characters point of view. Also, Tempest the main character that owns the Blue Moon is a no frills macho man at times because of his 17 or 18 years in the British Army; however, I don't know if I actually buy a man that gets in high danger situations would turn down as many offers as he does. Yes it sounds good, but then after several years to refuse, I don't know if I buy it. Especially if he then sits by and doesn't do anything about his supposedly dream one.
Ok, after all of that remember that was only negative .5 and the rest is a fast paced vampire hunting, vampire followers mobs, dead pirates from a ghost pirate ship off the Cornwall coast, a witch, a yeti, and some more as if this wasn't enough. An vampire hunter with his 2 helpers or dumbo employees. Oh my do these people get caught up into some crazy actions of other people.
You don't want to miss Jane/James depending on which drawer the underwear came out of in the morning who is a computer nerd genius & is the receptionist & researcher for Blue Moon Investigation. Really I think without Jane the cases would not be solved as quickly.
Take a chance and settle in with a nice drink & snack and prepare to be entertained with laughter, some shock, sexy oh ummm what, omg, I can't believe that & maybe a bit of the lengths people will go to. Yes, people will do about anything & these books prove it. Yet, has deep friendships, parents are great, & some people even like their marriage s even when others murder to get out of them.
RECOMMEND
ATTENTION: SEXUAL ACTIVITY INSIDE
Steve Higgs gets 4.5 STARS for his Ten Book Bundle of his Series: Blue Moon Investigations. Why I deducted the .5 is because it is a bit dry reading at times figuring out which person is talking. The book is written in the characters point of view. Also, Tempest the main character that owns the Blue Moon is a no frills macho man at times because of his 17 or 18 years in the British Army; however, I don't know if I actually buy a man that gets in high danger situations would turn down as many offers as he does. Yes it sounds good, but then after several years to refuse, I don't know if I buy it. Especially if he then sits by and doesn't do anything about his supposedly dream one.
Ok, after all of that remember that was only negative .5 and the rest is a fast paced vampire hunting, vampire followers mobs, dead pirates from a ghost pirate ship off the Cornwall coast, a witch, a yeti, and some more as if this wasn't enough. An vampire hunter with his 2 helpers or dumbo employees. Oh my do these people get caught up into some crazy actions of other people.
You don't want to miss Jane/James depending on which drawer the underwear came out of in the morning who is a computer nerd genius & is the receptionist & researcher for Blue Moon Investigation. Really I think without Jane the cases would not be solved as quickly.
Take a chance and settle in with a nice drink & snack and prepare to be entertained with laughter, some shock, sexy oh ummm what, omg, I can't believe that & maybe a bit of the lengths people will go to. Yes, people will do about anything & these books prove it. Yet, has deep friendships, parents are great, & some people even like their marriage s even when others murder to get out of them.
RECOMMEND
ATTENTION: SEXUAL ACTIVITY INSIDE
July 18, 2020
I didn't read the whole bundle of books in this collection, having read the first few in a different box set last week (I must be slipping; I didn't spot this (longer) set when I obtained it - must. try. harder!), so I was able to dive right in where I left off. Unfortunately there are the same issues of stilted, unrealistically-worded dialogue (especially as it's set, and the author lives, in Kent - I mean, come on!) that disturb my fluidity of reading (or, if you come from/live in SE London, Kent, or even estuary Essex; it jarrs my brain, man!) that I describe in my review of the other box set but, despite this, the stories are well thought-out and plotted, the characters are likeable (even with their occasionally sexist attitudes) and engaging, and the 'humour' is now actually becoming more humourous. Or, maybe I've now read enough of his books to understand his style of humour better. Either way, a great collection to while away the hours with. He has some other series' written which I will definitely try out once I've read the last few books available in the Blue Moon Investigations arc - thank goodness for KU!!!
February 2, 2021
Totally enjoyable!
I'm not really a sleuth/PI type of woman, unless it's sci-fi lol.
So this, in my opinion, would have been a one off book bundle.
Imagine my great surprise that I actually LOVED these books.
Very well written and a book without chapters! Just headings, brill.
Tempest a man I'm surprised made it this far in life being single! For goodness sake the man loves dogs!!!! Cute sausages at that, not big manly dogs, but awesomely wonderful mini sausages 💗💗😍
He has his own moral compass and follows it. Yes he has a 'thing' for the twenty-four hour clock, but he's ex Army.
Big Ben, best friend and man phwoar 😉 but will always be there when there's fighting or fun to be had!
Amanda, her character shows us the struggles some female police officers seem to still face in this day and age. But she's smart and resourceful and very beautiful, this is according to Mr Wiggly lol.
James/Jane. This is a wonderful character. Gender neutral, deciding each day which sex you're going to be. Love him/her.
All the other characters have a definite part to play in Tempest's life. I adore his dad lol.
Buy the books, you won't be sorry!!
I'm not really a sleuth/PI type of woman, unless it's sci-fi lol.
So this, in my opinion, would have been a one off book bundle.
Imagine my great surprise that I actually LOVED these books.
Very well written and a book without chapters! Just headings, brill.
Tempest a man I'm surprised made it this far in life being single! For goodness sake the man loves dogs!!!! Cute sausages at that, not big manly dogs, but awesomely wonderful mini sausages 💗💗😍
He has his own moral compass and follows it. Yes he has a 'thing' for the twenty-four hour clock, but he's ex Army.
Big Ben, best friend and man phwoar 😉 but will always be there when there's fighting or fun to be had!
Amanda, her character shows us the struggles some female police officers seem to still face in this day and age. But she's smart and resourceful and very beautiful, this is according to Mr Wiggly lol.
James/Jane. This is a wonderful character. Gender neutral, deciding each day which sex you're going to be. Love him/her.
All the other characters have a definite part to play in Tempest's life. I adore his dad lol.
Buy the books, you won't be sorry!!
October 22, 2024
Entertaining read, but needs a re-edit
The stories are good, but for UK based characters, there are just a little too many Americanisms dropped in, I can only guess it was done to appeal to the US market but it does no favours for me.
Some of the writing has not aged well at all, so all the books in this collection could really do with another edit as 'it' is not a pronoun for any person. I was never comfortable hearing a person being called an it even as a child in th 1980s and I find its use in these books even less distasteful today. So the author having Tempest describing their Assistant as it just makes my skin crawl in the worst way. As does having pretty much every character calling adults girls or boys even when referring to love interests, although I guess I'm grateful that the women aren't merely referred to as females.
Another thing that I keep struggling with is that other than the illustrations on the covers, there is very little description of any of the characters features other than height and build
The stories are good, but for UK based characters, there are just a little too many Americanisms dropped in, I can only guess it was done to appeal to the US market but it does no favours for me.
Some of the writing has not aged well at all, so all the books in this collection could really do with another edit as 'it' is not a pronoun for any person. I was never comfortable hearing a person being called an it even as a child in th 1980s and I find its use in these books even less distasteful today. So the author having Tempest describing their Assistant as it just makes my skin crawl in the worst way. As does having pretty much every character calling adults girls or boys even when referring to love interests, although I guess I'm grateful that the women aren't merely referred to as females.
Another thing that I keep struggling with is that other than the illustrations on the covers, there is very little description of any of the characters features other than height and build
April 5, 2024
OMG this is such an amazing wonderful series!
1. The characters are… hmmm… a tapestry of everything that could possibly be with a pumped up expansion on taking stereotypes to a quantum level of awesome.
2. The humor, frequent laugh out loud moments and other interludes of “wait wait, don’t you remember that bit about… “. Then there are the jolts of realizing I need to go to work or eat or sleep…
3. The plots… oh my what to say about the plot lines? Just when you think it might be going a bit formulaic, you get slapped with twist, or a new character that spins everything out of whack.
4. The downtime moments are so incredible as learning devices. The healthy eating and rewards for working out… why if I was not so glued to the story I might do all of that!
5. I came to this series after devouring the Patrica series… oh there must be a reunion…
Anyway 5 stars and off to live vicariously through more magical Higgs!
1. The characters are… hmmm… a tapestry of everything that could possibly be with a pumped up expansion on taking stereotypes to a quantum level of awesome.
2. The humor, frequent laugh out loud moments and other interludes of “wait wait, don’t you remember that bit about… “. Then there are the jolts of realizing I need to go to work or eat or sleep…
3. The plots… oh my what to say about the plot lines? Just when you think it might be going a bit formulaic, you get slapped with twist, or a new character that spins everything out of whack.
4. The downtime moments are so incredible as learning devices. The healthy eating and rewards for working out… why if I was not so glued to the story I might do all of that!
5. I came to this series after devouring the Patrica series… oh there must be a reunion…
Anyway 5 stars and off to live vicariously through more magical Higgs!
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