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Bad Lands
CSI Meets Medium On Survivor
Maggie Holmes, a retired forensic pathologist, is obsessed with the paranormal activity surrounding crime scenes. She has written one fairly successful book and is working on her second titled Bad Lands, when she runs into a roadblock. The heirs to Knight Island—site of two mass-murders—deny her access to the mansion unless she can pay them one hundred thousand dollars.
When the greedy Knight clan allows the reality show, "Chicken Out," to film on the island, Maggie plays the long shot and signs herself and her neurotic, bartending, psychic friend Vivian Storm up for the show, and when they are chosen to play the game—which challenges the players to stay in the "Haunted" house the longest—Maggie drags Vivian kicking and screaming to the island.
But Maggie never gets to do the research she wants to do because no sooner do they settle into the haunted mansion with the rest of the "cast" then the murders start. Maggie must use all her knowledge, and Vivian must tap into her "gift" to try to survive and unmask the killer but will it be enough? And how can they hope to survive if the killer isn't human at all.
Maggie Holmes, a retired forensic pathologist, is obsessed with the paranormal activity surrounding crime scenes. She has written one fairly successful book and is working on her second titled Bad Lands, when she runs into a roadblock. The heirs to Knight Island—site of two mass-murders—deny her access to the mansion unless she can pay them one hundred thousand dollars.
When the greedy Knight clan allows the reality show, "Chicken Out," to film on the island, Maggie plays the long shot and signs herself and her neurotic, bartending, psychic friend Vivian Storm up for the show, and when they are chosen to play the game—which challenges the players to stay in the "Haunted" house the longest—Maggie drags Vivian kicking and screaming to the island.
But Maggie never gets to do the research she wants to do because no sooner do they settle into the haunted mansion with the rest of the "cast" then the murders start. Maggie must use all her knowledge, and Vivian must tap into her "gift" to try to survive and unmask the killer but will it be enough? And how can they hope to survive if the killer isn't human at all.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2007
12 people want to read
About the author
Selina Rosen
115 books37 followersSelina Rosen’s short fiction has appeared in several magazines and anthologies including Sword & Sorceress, Witch Way To The Mall, Turn The Other Chick, the two newest Thieves’ World anthologies, Aoife’s Kiss, and Here Be Dragons.
Her novels include How I Spent The Apocalypse, Black Rage, Queen Of Denial, Strange Robby, and Jabone’s Sword.
Her mystery novels, Bad Lands, and Bad City, the first two Holmes and Storm Mysteries, were co-written with Laura J. Underwood.
One of Selina’s recent projects was a novelization of the first Duncan and Mallory graphic novel that was co-written by Robert Asprin and Mel. White, tentatively entitled Duncan and Mallory I.
Selina was honored by Deep South Con/FenCon in Dallas this past September where she was awarded the Phoenix Award.
Check out her website for her continuing series, The House. It’s posted in episodes—approximately two per month.
In her capacity as editor-in-chief of Yard Dog Press, Ms. Rosen has edited several anthologies, including the five award-winning Bubbas Of The Apocalypse anthologies and two collections of “modern” fairy tales including the Stoker-nominated Stories That Won’t Make Your Parents Hurl.
Her novels include How I Spent The Apocalypse, Black Rage, Queen Of Denial, Strange Robby, and Jabone’s Sword.
Her mystery novels, Bad Lands, and Bad City, the first two Holmes and Storm Mysteries, were co-written with Laura J. Underwood.
One of Selina’s recent projects was a novelization of the first Duncan and Mallory graphic novel that was co-written by Robert Asprin and Mel. White, tentatively entitled Duncan and Mallory I.
Selina was honored by Deep South Con/FenCon in Dallas this past September where she was awarded the Phoenix Award.
Check out her website for her continuing series, The House. It’s posted in episodes—approximately two per month.
In her capacity as editor-in-chief of Yard Dog Press, Ms. Rosen has edited several anthologies, including the five award-winning Bubbas Of The Apocalypse anthologies and two collections of “modern” fairy tales including the Stoker-nominated Stories That Won’t Make Your Parents Hurl.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 16, 2013
Take the worst in fear-based "reality" shows, add the tv show Supernatural and sprinkle liberally with a dose of Hunter Thompson and you'll come close to what you get with Bad Lands.
The story is by turns hilariously funny, scary, graphic and gonzo.
The story is by turns hilariously funny, scary, graphic and gonzo.
July 17, 2013
Funny, scary, touching and occasionally appalling--a real roller coaster of moods and direction. Looking forward to another book by this duo.
January 29, 2016
A very entertaining book, not quite as effective as a murder mystery but great fun to read.
It started out slowly with the introduction to the characters, and it took a few chapters for them to gel and feel real and at first I didn't think I was going to like the Vivian Storm character, but by the end of the book she felt less like a characture and became more believeable and sympathetic.
I didn't do any research on this, but I would love to know if the authors each wrote one of the characters and then put them together. The chapters fit well, but they did feel distinctly different, which I feel worked in this case, you got a real feel for each character without one taking prominence over the other.
My pet peeve about this book is a common one in "mysteries". People acting blindingly stupid throughout the whole book.
At least in this one they gave a good reason for people to be acting stupid. Participating in a reality show gives great license for stupidity in my book.
But the main crime solving characters, who in theory have a better understanding of the dangers they face? They shouldn't have been THAT stupid, not and get to not only solve the crime but simply live.
Still, it was fun, the humor felt natural and not forced and I would read a book with these two characters in it in a heart beat.
It started out slowly with the introduction to the characters, and it took a few chapters for them to gel and feel real and at first I didn't think I was going to like the Vivian Storm character, but by the end of the book she felt less like a characture and became more believeable and sympathetic.
I didn't do any research on this, but I would love to know if the authors each wrote one of the characters and then put them together. The chapters fit well, but they did feel distinctly different, which I feel worked in this case, you got a real feel for each character without one taking prominence over the other.
My pet peeve about this book is a common one in "mysteries". People acting blindingly stupid throughout the whole book.
At least in this one they gave a good reason for people to be acting stupid. Participating in a reality show gives great license for stupidity in my book.
But the main crime solving characters, who in theory have a better understanding of the dangers they face? They shouldn't have been THAT stupid, not and get to not only solve the crime but simply live.
Still, it was fun, the humor felt natural and not forced and I would read a book with these two characters in it in a heart beat.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews