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The Monarch
Fate seems to have mistaken Anne Serafini, a forensic photographer, for superwoman and she’s not amused. After being stabbed, witnessing a friend’s murder and shooting a man in self-defense, Anne realizes she’s been Fate’s puppet all along. Now she’s chosen Anna Maria Island to try and take back control of her life. Unfortunately—when a murdered girl washes up on the beach—she understands, once again, Fate has chosen this place for her. Anne’s two eccentric aunts decide it’s time to let her in on a family secret about her inherited gift, but the gift is also a curse. Each green-eyed woman has died before her twenty-eighth birthday. Anne will turn twenty-eight in three weeks. Can she embrace her gift and help stop this budding serial killer? Or is he the tool Fate will use to fulfill the family curse?
201 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2011
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Esposito
27 books147 followersShannon Esposito lives in a magical Gulf Coast town with fluorescent sunsets, purple dragonflies and the occasional backyard alligator. Her mysteries transport readers to Florida without the hefty price of airfare. Although she knew from the age of five she wanted to be a writer, she briefly entertained the idea of being a scientist, until she found out it involved math, which gives her hives.
She shares this little corner of paradise with her husband, twin boys and dogs. If she's not writing, you'll find her coddling one of the above, hiding with a book or daydreaming with her toes in the sand.
Get a free full-legnth mystery when you sign up for my newsletter at murderinparadise.com
She shares this little corner of paradise with her husband, twin boys and dogs. If she's not writing, you'll find her coddling one of the above, hiding with a book or daydreaming with her toes in the sand.
Get a free full-legnth mystery when you sign up for my newsletter at murderinparadise.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 31, 2012
I am thankful that I was able to receive a free copy of this novel by the author (Shannon Esposito). This is the second novel I have read from this author and, for me and hitherto, her writings fall into the "cozy mystery" genre. A genre I am only newly acquainted with but now love!
In this novel, 27-year-old Anne Serafini is obsessed with her destiny and fate. And for good reason. It seems no matter where she has been or where she has traveled to in her short life death and tragedy and violence are always right around the corner and right on her heels. Too much so to be coincidental. Death and violence stalk her and follow her like a magnet. Anne feels there has to be some sort of cosmic conspiracy at work to make the unbelievable BELIEVABLE. How could death and violence ALWAYS be at the precipice of her existence?
Trying to leave her past behind (and trying to run away from ongoing death and violence) Anne finds herself crossing the bridge that leads to Anna Maria Island with either fate pushing her there or simply out of her own volition to try to find a peaceful place to settle down. She wasn't sure of either herself. In any case, perhaps Anna Maria Island just may bring Anne peace for once in her life -- or at least for a little while anyway.
I am quite sheltered when it comes to geography so I was pleased to find that Anna Maria Island is a real place (off the coast of Florida). Sometimes it can make a book more interesting to have the setting in the novel taking place in an area or town that actually exists. Anna Maria Island is an ideal place to relax and get away from it all. A perfect setting for the author to choose for having this ideal place become just the opposite -- in the form of fiction.
Having been on the Island for only 3 days (3 glorious days) it seems inevitable that the fate of death and/or violence will make itself present on a regular basis in Anne's life yet again.
Anne is enjoying the sand and the ocean in the wee hours of a beautiful morning on the quaint little barrier island only to find a short distance away that what she thought at first might be a dead dolphin having washed up on the beach. Anne knew that happened on occasion and it was always a sad thing but, unarguably, just another part of life. From where she was she could not exactly see if ocean life WAS what she was seeing so she casually walked over to find out. As she got closer the stench was gut wrenching and what she began to see was even worse. It was the decomposed body of a very young girl zipped up in a plastic bag. Just great. In less than three days on the beautiful island death seems to have found Anne again. It was only a matter of time whereby she finds out that the girl was only 19 years old.
Prior to Anne's arrival on the Island, and unbeknownst to Anne, another teenage girl had been murdered just three weeks prior to the SECOND victim that Anne had been the first witness to. It didn't take long for the locals, the police and the press to realize they had a serial killer on their once peaceful piece of paradise. Anne could only think of what the gods, fate or destiny had in mind for her this time. Arriving at yet another place to begin her life without tragedy and horror yet, within 72 hours, death came nipping at her heels once again. She knew now not whether to stay on the island or to begin again on her merry way to escape such an awful fate that seems to have an unrelentless iron grip on her life. Poor Anne has no other place to go so her decision was to stay. At least for a little while anyway.
From that point on, this novel is your regular whodunit. Later on in the novel Anne finds out something about herself and her family that is not terribly original. For me, this has been my third or fourth novel over the last decade that included a very similar family theme. I will not hint at it or go into what it is to avoid spoilers.
When I learned more about who the serial killer was and WHY he was killing... that was also like a déjà vu for me from one of my favorite movies of which I will not reveal. So the reason or the WHY for the serial killer in this novel to continue killing was not terribly original either. For those two reasons I gave the book a 4 star rating. Yet, like all storylines, each one is different in its own way and I really enjoyed THE MONARCH's storyline!
I really really enjoyed the cozy mystery, the suspense, and the colorful, warm and loving cast of characters in somewhat of a small town area -- Anna Maria Island. Small enough anyway for 'people to know people' and who are the locals and who are the tourists. The author describes the wonderful strength of character (for both male and female characters) working together for the benefit of the common good of their island home; trying their best to fight off and find the rotten insect who has invaded their comfort and their home. This story leaves the reader relating to, and getting to know, each character and learns what Anne's place and purpose in this tale is.
While the reader is exposed to a protagonist who happens to have a supernatural inherent ability to attract death and violence on a regular basis... let it not deter any reader for its total unbelievability. I say this for the following reason :
Approximately a year ago I read a review from a reader about a certain book on Amazon. I have no idea what the book was now and what the book was is really irrelevant. It was part of the review for it that has forever stuck with me. This particular reviewer DID NOT LIKE THE NOVEL BECAUSE he (or she) thought that the fiction story was TOO unbelievable because it was impossible for the protagonist or the characters to have that many terrible things happen to them. Well, like the protagonist "Anne" in THE MONARCH, I am living proof that it CAN happen and DOES happen! I have lost EVERYONE I had ever loved before the age of 33 (and most before that). Since then, trauma and tragedy and never-ending bad luck continues to stalk me. It is a complete enigma and those who have known me and been around me for decades can't even believe themselves everything that happens to me. I certainly don't "go looking for" such ongoing tragedy or even expect it. But now, and after so many years of it happening over and over again, it no longer surprises me. Therefore, THE MONARCH touched me in a personal way in that regard.
In this novel, 27-year-old Anne Serafini is obsessed with her destiny and fate. And for good reason. It seems no matter where she has been or where she has traveled to in her short life death and tragedy and violence are always right around the corner and right on her heels. Too much so to be coincidental. Death and violence stalk her and follow her like a magnet. Anne feels there has to be some sort of cosmic conspiracy at work to make the unbelievable BELIEVABLE. How could death and violence ALWAYS be at the precipice of her existence?
Trying to leave her past behind (and trying to run away from ongoing death and violence) Anne finds herself crossing the bridge that leads to Anna Maria Island with either fate pushing her there or simply out of her own volition to try to find a peaceful place to settle down. She wasn't sure of either herself. In any case, perhaps Anna Maria Island just may bring Anne peace for once in her life -- or at least for a little while anyway.
I am quite sheltered when it comes to geography so I was pleased to find that Anna Maria Island is a real place (off the coast of Florida). Sometimes it can make a book more interesting to have the setting in the novel taking place in an area or town that actually exists. Anna Maria Island is an ideal place to relax and get away from it all. A perfect setting for the author to choose for having this ideal place become just the opposite -- in the form of fiction.
Having been on the Island for only 3 days (3 glorious days) it seems inevitable that the fate of death and/or violence will make itself present on a regular basis in Anne's life yet again.
Anne is enjoying the sand and the ocean in the wee hours of a beautiful morning on the quaint little barrier island only to find a short distance away that what she thought at first might be a dead dolphin having washed up on the beach. Anne knew that happened on occasion and it was always a sad thing but, unarguably, just another part of life. From where she was she could not exactly see if ocean life WAS what she was seeing so she casually walked over to find out. As she got closer the stench was gut wrenching and what she began to see was even worse. It was the decomposed body of a very young girl zipped up in a plastic bag. Just great. In less than three days on the beautiful island death seems to have found Anne again. It was only a matter of time whereby she finds out that the girl was only 19 years old.
Prior to Anne's arrival on the Island, and unbeknownst to Anne, another teenage girl had been murdered just three weeks prior to the SECOND victim that Anne had been the first witness to. It didn't take long for the locals, the police and the press to realize they had a serial killer on their once peaceful piece of paradise. Anne could only think of what the gods, fate or destiny had in mind for her this time. Arriving at yet another place to begin her life without tragedy and horror yet, within 72 hours, death came nipping at her heels once again. She knew now not whether to stay on the island or to begin again on her merry way to escape such an awful fate that seems to have an unrelentless iron grip on her life. Poor Anne has no other place to go so her decision was to stay. At least for a little while anyway.
From that point on, this novel is your regular whodunit. Later on in the novel Anne finds out something about herself and her family that is not terribly original. For me, this has been my third or fourth novel over the last decade that included a very similar family theme. I will not hint at it or go into what it is to avoid spoilers.
When I learned more about who the serial killer was and WHY he was killing... that was also like a déjà vu for me from one of my favorite movies of which I will not reveal. So the reason or the WHY for the serial killer in this novel to continue killing was not terribly original either. For those two reasons I gave the book a 4 star rating. Yet, like all storylines, each one is different in its own way and I really enjoyed THE MONARCH's storyline!
I really really enjoyed the cozy mystery, the suspense, and the colorful, warm and loving cast of characters in somewhat of a small town area -- Anna Maria Island. Small enough anyway for 'people to know people' and who are the locals and who are the tourists. The author describes the wonderful strength of character (for both male and female characters) working together for the benefit of the common good of their island home; trying their best to fight off and find the rotten insect who has invaded their comfort and their home. This story leaves the reader relating to, and getting to know, each character and learns what Anne's place and purpose in this tale is.
While the reader is exposed to a protagonist who happens to have a supernatural inherent ability to attract death and violence on a regular basis... let it not deter any reader for its total unbelievability. I say this for the following reason :
Approximately a year ago I read a review from a reader about a certain book on Amazon. I have no idea what the book was now and what the book was is really irrelevant. It was part of the review for it that has forever stuck with me. This particular reviewer DID NOT LIKE THE NOVEL BECAUSE he (or she) thought that the fiction story was TOO unbelievable because it was impossible for the protagonist or the characters to have that many terrible things happen to them. Well, like the protagonist "Anne" in THE MONARCH, I am living proof that it CAN happen and DOES happen! I have lost EVERYONE I had ever loved before the age of 33 (and most before that). Since then, trauma and tragedy and never-ending bad luck continues to stalk me. It is a complete enigma and those who have known me and been around me for decades can't even believe themselves everything that happens to me. I certainly don't "go looking for" such ongoing tragedy or even expect it. But now, and after so many years of it happening over and over again, it no longer surprises me. Therefore, THE MONARCH touched me in a personal way in that regard.
February 7, 2012
What a great book! The meat of the story–a serial killer is terrorizing beautiful Anna Maria Island in Florida–is brilliantly seasoned with hints of the heroine’s troubled past and a touch of romance with the equally troubled police detective on the case. As side dishes, we are served a host of interesting characters and lots of local color. Then a hurricane comes along to violently stir the ingredients.
I particularly liked the way the paranormal elements were handled. There are enough hints about Anne’s ‘gift’ to let the reader know this is more than just a good mystery. However, the paranormal aspects of the story never dominate the very human drama that is unfolding. And Anne’s own reluctance to embrace her fate is presented so realistically–her denial is neither exaggerated nor too easily overcome–that it makes her gift quite believable.
The ending is satisfying but also whets the appetite for more. I hope we’ll be hearing from Anne Serafini again.
I particularly liked the way the paranormal elements were handled. There are enough hints about Anne’s ‘gift’ to let the reader know this is more than just a good mystery. However, the paranormal aspects of the story never dominate the very human drama that is unfolding. And Anne’s own reluctance to embrace her fate is presented so realistically–her denial is neither exaggerated nor too easily overcome–that it makes her gift quite believable.
The ending is satisfying but also whets the appetite for more. I hope we’ll be hearing from Anne Serafini again.
August 20, 2013
Anne Serafini has a knack for being in bad places at bad times. After surviving a brutal attack, she lands on Anna Marie Island in Florida. Amidst the calming waters of the ocean and the friendly locals, Anne begins to heal. But she finds that fate is not finished with her. A serial killer is loose on the island.
This novel has a semi-supernatural element. Anne Serafini is last in a long line of woman blessed with psychic gifts. All died by the age of twenty-eight, and Anne is only a few weeks away from her twenty-eigth birthday. Will Anne make it? Or can she stop the killer?
Anne is an easy character to like. She’s survived a huge trauma and is running from fate. But it finds her anyway. She proves herself to be resourceful and smart and shows she can overcome adversity. The secondary characters, especially Sam, were finely drawn and believable.
The setting was just heavenly. It was obviously a place with which the author is very familiar.
This novel has a semi-supernatural element. Anne Serafini is last in a long line of woman blessed with psychic gifts. All died by the age of twenty-eight, and Anne is only a few weeks away from her twenty-eigth birthday. Will Anne make it? Or can she stop the killer?
Anne is an easy character to like. She’s survived a huge trauma and is running from fate. But it finds her anyway. She proves herself to be resourceful and smart and shows she can overcome adversity. The secondary characters, especially Sam, were finely drawn and believable.
The setting was just heavenly. It was obviously a place with which the author is very familiar.
December 12, 2011
Am I really the first reader to post a review of this novel on Goodreads? Wow! I feel...I'm not sure. Honored? Privileged? Surprised?
In the vernacular of my Aussie hubby this was a "fan-bloody-tastic" book! It had everything that I love in a novel - fast paced, great suspense, a little romance, and a touch of the paranormal. The author leads you along the path she wants you to follow and you follow eagerly because you can't wait to see what happens next!
Brilliant job Shannon Esposito!
In the vernacular of my Aussie hubby this was a "fan-bloody-tastic" book! It had everything that I love in a novel - fast paced, great suspense, a little romance, and a touch of the paranormal. The author leads you along the path she wants you to follow and you follow eagerly because you can't wait to see what happens next!
Brilliant job Shannon Esposito!
February 4, 2012
I simply could not put this book down. It is a fast-paced story and does not become boring as some mysteries can. You know just enough about the characters and their past to understand their present. The story keeps you guessing at every twist and turn, and you think you know who did it but you find out at the next chapter that you did not. I would love to read more by this author. By the way this story also has a little bit of paranormal.
March 18, 2019
Anne Serafini has the knack of being the wrong place at the right time. Having survived a brutal assault while trying to save a friend from an abusive husband, Anne has escaped to Anna Marie Island to recover. But Fate has once again chosen for her as she finds a body that's washed up on the shore. It seems the island has a serial killer and Anne is drawn into the investigation.
I got this book as a gift and really enjoyed it. The characters were well-rounded and I loved getting to know them. While the book did leave some openings as if it could make a series, it wasn't a total cliffhanger.
I got this book as a gift and really enjoyed it. The characters were well-rounded and I loved getting to know them. While the book did leave some openings as if it could make a series, it wasn't a total cliffhanger.
October 7, 2017
I know this author from her "pet psychic mysteries", which are cozy mysteries. The Monarch is in no way a cozy! This was an engrossing thriller that I stayed up late to finish. I couldn't put it down. Well written and keeps the reader guessing. Loved it!
March 15, 2023
Well constructed thriller
This thriller was well constructed and reasonably sophisticated. The author’s and/or editor's grammatical and punctuation errors made me very frustrated.
This thriller was well constructed and reasonably sophisticated. The author’s and/or editor's grammatical and punctuation errors made me very frustrated.
January 19, 2024
The Monarch, a stand-alone by Shannon Esposito is intense and fascinating novel. Serial murder mysteries are usually too much for me to read, but I could not stop!
January 9, 2012
From my blog @ http://theinfamousj.livejournal.com/4...
I will start with a disclaimer: I was given a free review copy of this book. The gift provided me with exposure to the book, but in no way made me feel obligated to provide a positive review. The content of the book did that on its own!
This is a fantastic, wonderful, and delightful book! Amazing! It is a page-turning paranormal mystery {a la Dean Koontz}. It has romantic elements, but no real romance to distract you from the edge-of-your-seat action and suspense. I actually managed to read this book in a little under 24 hours, including the time I spent sleeping. That is how engrossing this story is.
So why, then, did I give it four stars? I did so because I found numerous spelling {adrenaline is the correct spelling of that word} and formatting {a paragraph with center justification for no reason, missing " at the start of a quote, letters and words in strike-through, words obviously left in a sentence from an earlier revision that should have been deleted but weren't} that annoyed me enough to break the trance that the storyline otherwise provided. I left me, the reader, feeling as if I'd just sat down to a delicious dinner only to be interrupted every five minutes by the telephone ringing. And for that, I docked a star. But only one star as the rest of the novel is fantastic.
This is the story of Anne who has found herself located on an island in Florida where a serial killer has just started his series of gruesome murders, and the local police department is in need of a forensic photographer; something Anne just happens to be. Anne's back-story is revealed as the mystery develops, a masterful intertwining of past and present that feels natural and honest. The ending suggests that this could be a one-off or the start of a series that features Anne. I hope it will be the latter.
Is this worth its price on SmashWords? Yes, and then some!
I will start with a disclaimer: I was given a free review copy of this book. The gift provided me with exposure to the book, but in no way made me feel obligated to provide a positive review. The content of the book did that on its own!
This is a fantastic, wonderful, and delightful book! Amazing! It is a page-turning paranormal mystery {a la Dean Koontz}. It has romantic elements, but no real romance to distract you from the edge-of-your-seat action and suspense. I actually managed to read this book in a little under 24 hours, including the time I spent sleeping. That is how engrossing this story is.
So why, then, did I give it four stars? I did so because I found numerous spelling {adrenaline is the correct spelling of that word} and formatting {a paragraph with center justification for no reason, missing " at the start of a quote, letters and words in strike-through, words obviously left in a sentence from an earlier revision that should have been deleted but weren't} that annoyed me enough to break the trance that the storyline otherwise provided. I left me, the reader, feeling as if I'd just sat down to a delicious dinner only to be interrupted every five minutes by the telephone ringing. And for that, I docked a star. But only one star as the rest of the novel is fantastic.
This is the story of Anne who has found herself located on an island in Florida where a serial killer has just started his series of gruesome murders, and the local police department is in need of a forensic photographer; something Anne just happens to be. Anne's back-story is revealed as the mystery develops, a masterful intertwining of past and present that feels natural and honest. The ending suggests that this could be a one-off or the start of a series that features Anne. I hope it will be the latter.
Is this worth its price on SmashWords? Yes, and then some!
March 25, 2012
This is a who-done-it with a paranormal twist. The paranormal aspect being serendipity, but introduced in a subtle and believable manor. The protagonist, Anne, really doesn’t believe she has a gift and is resistant to the idea. As the possibility is presented Anne, and the reader, are slowly convinced that anything is possible and fate does exist, along with the gift of serendipity.
The story line and characters in this novel are not new, but they are well developed and keep the reader guessing. With a few twists and turns it’s almost impossible to figure out who the killer is. There are hints throughout the story, but the full story behind the murders is hidden, until the reader is sitting on the edge of their seat cheering on the good guys, hoping for a positive outcome.
This novel is more than captivating, it’s believable.
You can read my full review here
The story line and characters in this novel are not new, but they are well developed and keep the reader guessing. With a few twists and turns it’s almost impossible to figure out who the killer is. There are hints throughout the story, but the full story behind the murders is hidden, until the reader is sitting on the edge of their seat cheering on the good guys, hoping for a positive outcome.
This novel is more than captivating, it’s believable.
You can read my full review here
May 26, 2012
A lighter book, on the shorter side. Being on the shorter side, the story moved along and wasn't bogged down with filler pages. A good read.
(I received this book from the author. However, I do not know the author and was not swayed in any way on my review.)
(I received this book from the author. However, I do not know the author and was not swayed in any way on my review.)
June 20, 2014
This is a poorly written plodder that I finally gave up on at about 40%. I'm reading the reviews and wondering if I was trying to read the same book as the other readers.
August 13, 2016
This book was a joy to edit. Shannon is a wonderful storyteller.
Karen Schindler
Karen Schindler
August 27, 2015
Different
Pretty good not as good as her Darwin stories but it held my attention and I was surprised who the killer was
Pretty good not as good as her Darwin stories but it held my attention and I was surprised who the killer was
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews