What do you think?
Rate this book
Wisp
Ellerton, Alabama is a small town with practically no crime, and no homicides in five years. So Sheriff Stan Murphy is surprised when he is called out to investigate a death at Bowers Field, a popular hunting spot. Instead of finding an accidental shooting, he finds the mangled body of prominent business man Edwin Price. The 47-year-old real estate broker does not appear to be the victim of any known wildlife; in fact, there’s very little physical evidence except the presence of misshapen footprints that disappear just a few feet away from the body. Alex Fiedler is a reporter for The International Paranormal Reader and also Murphy’s nephew, who is in town to interview an alleged UFO abductee. The two men begin a quest for the elusive killer the papers refer to as “the Shadow Man.” A search that offers more questions than answers. A search for a figure of unspeakable horror that just may not be human… Over the course of the next week, the people of this quiet town face its worse nightmares, transforming this restful hamlet into a community of fear. Because what begins as a routine assignment soon becomes anything but routine.
300 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2011
1 person is currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Kevin R. Maze
7 books27 followersKevin R. Maze began his career in high school writing movie reviews for the high school newspaper. He has written short stories (“The Wake” appeared in the Winter 1995, No.2 Edition of the literary magazine Melting Trees Review) and was a regular columnist for www.critics.com (“Movie Previews”). In 2009, Kevin completed a screenplay with independent filmmaker, writer/director Ron DeSoto (First Draft). Shadow Man is his first novel. Kevin draws from influences like “The Twilight Zone” and “The X-Files”, and merge them with Biblical truths to create stories that are suspenseful and unusual while dealing with spiritual issues and confrontations between good and evil. Kevin is a Bible-believer, and when he is not working on his fiction novels, he co-ministers a weekly Adult Bible Class in the city. Kevin lives in Montgomery, Alabama with his wife, stepdaughter, four cats and a dog that can’t stand the outdoors.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 21, 2011
I won a copy of Wisp on Facebook and it came in on April 18th. I started reading it and couldn't put it down. Read it in a day and a half. It was awesome. It also has me a little creeped out. GREAT story! Sheriff Murphy and his nephew, a paranormal reporter by the name of Alex, have to find out who is killing people in the town of Ellerton, Alabama. There are hardly any clues to go on. Even when they find DNA, the person has a solid alibi. It had me guessing almost right up to the end who the killer was. I love stories that don't reveal who the killer is until the end. The characters were well developed and the story was wonderful. I highly recommend this to everyone over the age of 14.
The reason I was a little creeped out, was because tonight I had to go out to my car and I saw shadows and it reminded me of the killer. I got scared, like an idiot, and ran and got in my car. My imagination can go wild sometime. Read Wisp. You'll enjoy it!
The reason I was a little creeped out, was because tonight I had to go out to my car and I saw shadows and it reminded me of the killer. I got scared, like an idiot, and ran and got in my car. My imagination can go wild sometime. Read Wisp. You'll enjoy it!
April 8, 2011
There's a New Sheriff in Town...
"It could have been a scene straight out of Norman Rockwell, except for the bloodstain on the sidewalk." So scripts author Kevin R. Maze, and, indeed, "Wisp: A Small Town Nightmare," could have been.
Rife with that wonderful, small town feel, the quaint community of Ellerton, Alabama is but a pinprick on the map, much in the same vein as a Norman Rockwell portrait, our beloved Mayberry, or, more closely in nature, Frank Peretti's Ashton: where everyone knows everyone and everyone's business... including the dark little secrets.
"Wisp: A Small Town Nightmare" lives up to every letter of its title and then some. One ride around the outskirts with Sheriff Murphy or Deputy Bass, and the reader will be spooked by every creepy corner and dark nook the little town displays while guarding its collective secret. Fans of Peretti's "The Oath" or "Darkness" series will be eerily delighted with the spiritual warfare theme, as that sinister voice whispers over the shoulder, "Something's lurking about this close-knit community, some type of cryptic shadow, and it isn't pretty."
One word of warning: the reader will be mercilessly baited by "carrot dangling." Despite being a typical tool of an author's craft- enticing the mind with liberal doses of suspense upon the closing of each chapter- author Kevin R. Maze has proven himself an instant and atypical master of this art. Every chapter fades in a manner that implores the reader to burn through another page.
"The night had its own music..." and its closely guarded secret is whispered through the night-wind's wisp of Ellerton. Listen with your eyes!
There's a new sheriff in town in the supernatural thriller genre, and Kevin R. Maze bears that badge.
Teric Darken
4/5/11
Author: K - I - L - L FM 100 / U-TURN KiLLuR / Wickflicker
<><+><>
"It could have been a scene straight out of Norman Rockwell, except for the bloodstain on the sidewalk." So scripts author Kevin R. Maze, and, indeed, "Wisp: A Small Town Nightmare," could have been.
Rife with that wonderful, small town feel, the quaint community of Ellerton, Alabama is but a pinprick on the map, much in the same vein as a Norman Rockwell portrait, our beloved Mayberry, or, more closely in nature, Frank Peretti's Ashton: where everyone knows everyone and everyone's business... including the dark little secrets.
"Wisp: A Small Town Nightmare" lives up to every letter of its title and then some. One ride around the outskirts with Sheriff Murphy or Deputy Bass, and the reader will be spooked by every creepy corner and dark nook the little town displays while guarding its collective secret. Fans of Peretti's "The Oath" or "Darkness" series will be eerily delighted with the spiritual warfare theme, as that sinister voice whispers over the shoulder, "Something's lurking about this close-knit community, some type of cryptic shadow, and it isn't pretty."
One word of warning: the reader will be mercilessly baited by "carrot dangling." Despite being a typical tool of an author's craft- enticing the mind with liberal doses of suspense upon the closing of each chapter- author Kevin R. Maze has proven himself an instant and atypical master of this art. Every chapter fades in a manner that implores the reader to burn through another page.
"The night had its own music..." and its closely guarded secret is whispered through the night-wind's wisp of Ellerton. Listen with your eyes!
There's a new sheriff in town in the supernatural thriller genre, and Kevin R. Maze bears that badge.
Teric Darken
4/5/11
Author: K - I - L - L FM 100 / U-TURN KiLLuR / Wickflicker
<><+><>
April 4, 2011
Something is dreadfully wrong in Ellerton, Alabama. Small town and idyllic--I don't think so! The local officials are dirty, the local businesses are in hock to the bad guys, and the locals are just plain -- WEIRD. But that's life in a small town, right?
This place is cursed--literally, and it will take courage and stamina if good guy Sheriff Stan Murphy is going to get to the bottom of it and remain alive. Thankfully, he has his nephew helping him on this case, because Alex thinks outside the box--and the Ellerton Shadow Man cannot be captured by any natural means.
Written in a very noir style with descriptive elements like I've never seen, WISP doesn't feel like a debut novel.
Read this one, and I don't see how you can be disappointed.
Seriously,
Ellen C Maze
Author of RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER
*this is an unpaid review for my husband's new book. Did you see the similar last names? :-)
This place is cursed--literally, and it will take courage and stamina if good guy Sheriff Stan Murphy is going to get to the bottom of it and remain alive. Thankfully, he has his nephew helping him on this case, because Alex thinks outside the box--and the Ellerton Shadow Man cannot be captured by any natural means.
Written in a very noir style with descriptive elements like I've never seen, WISP doesn't feel like a debut novel.
Read this one, and I don't see how you can be disappointed.
Seriously,
Ellen C Maze
Author of RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER
*this is an unpaid review for my husband's new book. Did you see the similar last names? :-)
June 19, 2011
Kevin R. Maze takes the reader on a ride with this book. It's a crime mystery, thriller with a paranormal element to it. It's been a long time since I have read a book that I couldn't guess who the bad guy was. With Wisp I had no idea, I suspected a couple of the characters and was so for from the truth it was ridiculous. Lol.
I found Kevin R. Maze's writing so descriptive. I was right there with Sheriff Murphy and his nephew Alex on there Quest to find "The Shadow Man"
I found that this book reminded me a little of Lee Child's, Jack Reacher series. But with a paranormal twist.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery/thriller.
I found Kevin R. Maze's writing so descriptive. I was right there with Sheriff Murphy and his nephew Alex on there Quest to find "The Shadow Man"
I found that this book reminded me a little of Lee Child's, Jack Reacher series. But with a paranormal twist.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery/thriller.
June 10, 2011
The small town of Ellerton has a problem, someone or something has just killed the towns most successful real estate agent Edwin Price, and Sheriff Murphy is determined to find out who or what sliced him up. Sheriff Murphy’s nephew Alex Fiedler, a journalist who writes about paranormal occurrences, is visiting and investigating some unnatural activity in the same county. Together they look at this murder from different angles, and hope that they find the answer before more of Ellerton’s citizens die.
This is a quick read with a dose of scary. Kevin Maze left enough open ends to suggest that there maybe a sequel in the works. I read this on Kindle.
This is a quick read with a dose of scary. Kevin Maze left enough open ends to suggest that there maybe a sequel in the works. I read this on Kindle.
June 11, 2011
From the moment I read the blurb of this novel I knew I wanted to read it. The story sounded really good and well give me a book with a serial killer and I'm all happy (yeah I know me and my twisted little mind)
Wisp is what you get when you put some gruesome killings, well developed characters, a dash of horror and a great plot together.
The story is told from different points of view. We hear from different townspeople so we get see what these murders did to these people and how they reacted to them. But the most part the main focus are Stan and Alex trying to fit all the puzzle pieces together. Stan from a cop’s point of view and Alex is trying to get Stan to look outside of the box.
So now to the murders.
We have a few clues here. A few misshaped footprints at the first murder that stop a few feet from the body. Than after the third murder we get some DNA, but the person has a solid alibi and definitely couldn't have done it.
The three victims don't seem to have anything connecting them to each other. The first victim, a real estate agent, is killed in the woods. The second, a teenage girl who snuck out of the house to go on a date with her boyfriend, on the street a few meters from her home. And the third, a no good, lowlife, girlfriend beating, bastard (sorry can't think of another thing to call him, well maybe worse) inside a locked bathroom.
Then there are the townspeople who all know each other, who have their own little secrets and cannot be connected to all of the murders.
So who's done it?????
Yes well for that you will have to read the book because I'm not going to tell you and Kevin saves that one for the end.
Wisp is what you get when you put some gruesome killings, well developed characters, a dash of horror and a great plot together.
The story is told from different points of view. We hear from different townspeople so we get see what these murders did to these people and how they reacted to them. But the most part the main focus are Stan and Alex trying to fit all the puzzle pieces together. Stan from a cop’s point of view and Alex is trying to get Stan to look outside of the box.
So now to the murders.
We have a few clues here. A few misshaped footprints at the first murder that stop a few feet from the body. Than after the third murder we get some DNA, but the person has a solid alibi and definitely couldn't have done it.
The three victims don't seem to have anything connecting them to each other. The first victim, a real estate agent, is killed in the woods. The second, a teenage girl who snuck out of the house to go on a date with her boyfriend, on the street a few meters from her home. And the third, a no good, lowlife, girlfriend beating, bastard (sorry can't think of another thing to call him, well maybe worse) inside a locked bathroom.
Then there are the townspeople who all know each other, who have their own little secrets and cannot be connected to all of the murders.
So who's done it?????
Yes well for that you will have to read the book because I'm not going to tell you and Kevin saves that one for the end.
March 2, 2012
Wisp is a truly amazing story about a small town that is under a curse. It has a great story and even better characters. The story is told so well you really feel like the characters are people you know. The horror scenes are done awesomely without having to resort to gore. The final confrontation has you on the edge of your seat and biting your nails. The twist at the end was awesome. A must read for horror fans.
August 10, 2011
This book was a little slow for me in the beginning but after the first few chapters it really took off! I had no idea who the killer was until almost the end of the book! To me that is great writing. I can't stand a book that gives away too much right off the bat. This is the author's first novel and you would never know it by the writing! Great job Kevin! I'm looking forward to reading more by you!! Beware of shadows!!
February 15, 2013
Goodreads Description- Ellerton, Alabama is a small town with practically no crime, and no homicides in five years. So Sheriff Stan Murphy is surprised when he is called out to investigate a death at Bowers Field, a popular hunting spot. Instead of finding an accidental shooting, he finds the mangled body of prominent business man Edwin Price. The 47-year-old real estate broker does not appear to be the victim of any known wildlife; in fact, there’s very little physical evidence except the presence of misshapen footprints that disappear just a few feet away from the body. Alex Fiedler is a reporter for The International Paranormal Reader and also Murphy’s nephew, who is in town to interview an alleged UFO abductee. The two men begin a quest for the elusive killer the papers refer to as “the Shadow Man.” A search that offers more questions than answers. A search for a figure of unspeakable horror that just may not be human… Over the course of the next week, the people of this quiet town face its worse nightmares, transforming this restful hamlet into a community of fear. Because what begins as a routine assignment soon becomes anything but routine.
When I was offered to read Wisp for review I flew at the chance. There is nothing I like more than a murder mystery mixed with the paranormal. The story starts out with a great hook and doesn't let go. It is over 200 pages, and with each page, I couldn't wait to get to the next to see what was going to happen. Wisp is a well thought out and well written story that pulls you at a fast pace and will keep you reading through the night. I also really like that while I knew something paranormal is going on, the ending was still a surprise.
I just couldn't quite give it 5 stars, even though it is a great story because I didn't feel like the story had a great voice and that was disappointing. It feels incongruent to have this great story with a voice that either doesn't match or just "feel comfortable" to the reader and for this reader the book just never found it's voice. I would still highly recommend it to any mystery/paranormal mystery lover! 4 stars.
When I was offered to read Wisp for review I flew at the chance. There is nothing I like more than a murder mystery mixed with the paranormal. The story starts out with a great hook and doesn't let go. It is over 200 pages, and with each page, I couldn't wait to get to the next to see what was going to happen. Wisp is a well thought out and well written story that pulls you at a fast pace and will keep you reading through the night. I also really like that while I knew something paranormal is going on, the ending was still a surprise.
I just couldn't quite give it 5 stars, even though it is a great story because I didn't feel like the story had a great voice and that was disappointing. It feels incongruent to have this great story with a voice that either doesn't match or just "feel comfortable" to the reader and for this reader the book just never found it's voice. I would still highly recommend it to any mystery/paranormal mystery lover! 4 stars.
January 27, 2012
The subtitle of this book is "A Small Town Nightmare" and while the premise of the book would certainly be hard for any small town to deal with, I actually expected more of a nightmare quality. If you are thinking that this book was a "Nightmare on Elm" street type of thrill ride, it is not. What it is, though, is a captivating mystery thriller with a paranormal twist. Things have been so quiet in Ellerton, Alabama for so long, that a spate of murders takes the small town Sheriff by surprise. In his attempt to get to the bottom of things he is aided by his nephew, who just happens to be a reporter for a paranormal newspaper and in town for an interview. In fact, the characters were the thing that I liked best about this book. Maze fills his book with a number of characters that reek of small town personalities. I was fascinated by the ease with which he gave these characters life and a presence. The story line, though, left me a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong. It was a good story, and I will most likely read other books and stories by this author. I did not dislike it. I just expected something more. There were mainly two things that didn't live up to my expectations in the story. First, I felt Maze did not do an adequate job of describing the death scenes to really give this a horror bent. Secondly, I kept waiting for certain elements of the story to tie together, but they never did.
All in all, I feel this is a good first effort by a new author, and will willingly read more by him. In fact, I may like future books more as my expectations may be more realistic.
All in all, I feel this is a good first effort by a new author, and will willingly read more by him. In fact, I may like future books more as my expectations may be more realistic.
June 28, 2011
“Wisp – A Small Town Nightmare,” the debut novel from author Kevin Maze is a real treat for lovers of the supernatural, as well as lovers of dark mystery and intrigue.
The sheriff of a normally quiet, small southern town is suddenly faced with a series of bizarre murders. The strangely mutilated bodies are like nothing the sheriff or the local medical examiner have ever seen before. Strange footprints in the area of the body seem to vanish just a few steps from the bodies. No clues, no evidence and the victims appear to be random.
During the investigation, his nephew, who is a reporter for a paranormal magazine visits the sheriff. The nephew gets involved in the investigation and soon realizes that this is not a typical serial killer on the loose, and something much darker and more sinister might be happening in this small town.
The events unfold in the manner of a classic mystery as new information is introduced and the investigators start to piece together what they know. The character development in this story is very effective, and I realized a quick liking for them as they struggled for understanding.
Tightly written and cinematic in style, Wisp unfolds into a well-developed storyline that delivers a powerful narrative and keeps readers anxiously awaiting the next page.
I look forward to reading more work by this author, and congratulate him on writing such an engaging debut novel!
Donnie Light, author of Dark Justice, Ripper's Row and The Hotel California
The sheriff of a normally quiet, small southern town is suddenly faced with a series of bizarre murders. The strangely mutilated bodies are like nothing the sheriff or the local medical examiner have ever seen before. Strange footprints in the area of the body seem to vanish just a few steps from the bodies. No clues, no evidence and the victims appear to be random.
During the investigation, his nephew, who is a reporter for a paranormal magazine visits the sheriff. The nephew gets involved in the investigation and soon realizes that this is not a typical serial killer on the loose, and something much darker and more sinister might be happening in this small town.
The events unfold in the manner of a classic mystery as new information is introduced and the investigators start to piece together what they know. The character development in this story is very effective, and I realized a quick liking for them as they struggled for understanding.
Tightly written and cinematic in style, Wisp unfolds into a well-developed storyline that delivers a powerful narrative and keeps readers anxiously awaiting the next page.
I look forward to reading more work by this author, and congratulate him on writing such an engaging debut novel!
Donnie Light, author of Dark Justice, Ripper's Row and The Hotel California
April 17, 2011
Wisp by Kevin R. Maze is not a book I normally would have picked up to read. Don't get me wrong, it sounded good, but it didn't have the formula I usually look for in a book...That being said, I am thankful for the opportunity to read Wisp! I actaully won a copy of the ebook and am so glad I did!
The story starts out with a great hook and doesn't let go throughout the story. It is over 200 pages, and with each page, I couldn't wait to get to the next to see what was going to happen. Wisp is a well thought out and well written story that pulls you and and doesn't let go. While you realize something 'super natural' is happening, the ending was still a surprise.
I couldn't quite give it 5 stars, even though it is a great story...The only thing that kept it from getting the 5th star was the fact that some 'bad' people got away with being 'bad' in the end. There was one in particular that I would like to have seen, at the least, arrested. But I would still highly recommend this book to anyone that likes suspense, mystery and the paranormal!
Ursula Gorman
Author of Old Acquaintances
The story starts out with a great hook and doesn't let go throughout the story. It is over 200 pages, and with each page, I couldn't wait to get to the next to see what was going to happen. Wisp is a well thought out and well written story that pulls you and and doesn't let go. While you realize something 'super natural' is happening, the ending was still a surprise.
I couldn't quite give it 5 stars, even though it is a great story...The only thing that kept it from getting the 5th star was the fact that some 'bad' people got away with being 'bad' in the end. There was one in particular that I would like to have seen, at the least, arrested. But I would still highly recommend this book to anyone that likes suspense, mystery and the paranormal!
Ursula Gorman
Author of Old Acquaintances
February 12, 2015
This is just an OK book. It has all of the things a good creepy and scary thriller should have. Keeps you guessing until the end. Word of warning: If you don't like creepy, evil, paranormal books. This is not the book for you.
May 2, 2011
really enjoyed this book difinitely a page turner that will have u wanting more a must read !
May 8, 2012
Has a christian-fiction hint. A small town is secretly controlled by evil. The sheriff and his nephew save the day.
July 11, 2012
I don't usually read 'scary' books, but my bookclub read this..and I really liked it! Local author here in Montgomery, AL.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews