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Ebony Blood
With their personal lives in tatters and their own relationship at a low ebb, Greg and Tony Williams embark on a weekend's fishing trip to the Scottish Border Country in an effort to rekindle some much needed brotherly love. But a gruesome double murder wrecks their plans. When Tony disappears, Greg fears the worst and is drawn into a web of danger, deceit and death. The body count rises and he learns of Tony's dark and deadly secret; one which threatens to shatter their brotherhood forever. As the truth unfolds, Greg must face his own personal demons and save his brother. But can he do that, and, more importantly, will he want to?
250 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2013
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4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 24, 2013
Over the past few months I have downloaded a number of books on my kindle and have found pleasure reading those published by independent and small publishing houses. New authors need and deserve our support as readers. Some people write wonderful first novels - take Lisa Regan's Finding Claire Fletcher for example - a brilliant read. I have been particularly frustrated however at the lack of both editorial standards applied and proofreading being performed on new books. It is happening all too often.
A few examples from Ebony Blood:
"He was acting so erratically; had he completed flipped, or did he simply know a shortcut to the station?" (I think the author meant 'had he completely flipped')
"It may be nothing all but I need to do this." (I think the author meant 'nothing at all')
"....and he was determined to get to the bottom of all of it all." (I think the author meant 'get to the bottom of it all')
Given the amount of competition for readership by publishers and authors alike, it is important that more time and care be taken to get these fundamentals right. As a reader, while I appreciate the need to exercise patience, the greater the frequency of simple mistakes, the greater it robs me of my enjoyment of the novel.
But I digress.
Thankfully, despite the above, Ebony Blood's story telling was enough to hold my attention until its conclusion.
Ebony Blood
My rating - 3*
Ebony Blood is a recently published crime thriller by a new author, Ella Durham (pseudonym). While the author has had some success with short story writing, Ebony Blood is her first novel.
The following story synopsis is published on various websites:
With their personal lives in tatters and their own relationship at a low ebb, Greg and Tony Williams embark on a weekend's fishing trip to the Scottish Border Country in an effort to rekindle some much needed brotherly love. But a gruesome double murder wrecks their plans. When Tony disappears, Greg fears the worst and is drawn into a web of danger, deceit and death. The body count rises and he learns of Tony's dark and deadly secret; one which threatens to shatter their brotherhood forever. As the truth unfolds, Greg must face his own personal demons and save his brother. But can he do that, and, more importantly, will he want to?
Overall Ebony Blood is a pleasant enough read. It has a good story line, a reasonably well thought out plot and characters that one can relate to. While it did start off slow, it definitely improved such that I found myself being moved along, wanting to know the outcome. For me though, there was something missing in this novel...it lacked something unique. Maybe the plot line didn't feel new, or the pure power of prose and shock of language that I've seen from other new authors of this genre were missing. Whatever it was, I do think this is an author who has the goods and I'd be keen to see how she grows and develops as a novelist.
Note: I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for a review.
A few examples from Ebony Blood:
"He was acting so erratically; had he completed flipped, or did he simply know a shortcut to the station?" (I think the author meant 'had he completely flipped')
"It may be nothing all but I need to do this." (I think the author meant 'nothing at all')
"....and he was determined to get to the bottom of all of it all." (I think the author meant 'get to the bottom of it all')
Given the amount of competition for readership by publishers and authors alike, it is important that more time and care be taken to get these fundamentals right. As a reader, while I appreciate the need to exercise patience, the greater the frequency of simple mistakes, the greater it robs me of my enjoyment of the novel.
But I digress.
Thankfully, despite the above, Ebony Blood's story telling was enough to hold my attention until its conclusion.
Ebony Blood
My rating - 3*
Ebony Blood is a recently published crime thriller by a new author, Ella Durham (pseudonym). While the author has had some success with short story writing, Ebony Blood is her first novel.
The following story synopsis is published on various websites:
With their personal lives in tatters and their own relationship at a low ebb, Greg and Tony Williams embark on a weekend's fishing trip to the Scottish Border Country in an effort to rekindle some much needed brotherly love. But a gruesome double murder wrecks their plans. When Tony disappears, Greg fears the worst and is drawn into a web of danger, deceit and death. The body count rises and he learns of Tony's dark and deadly secret; one which threatens to shatter their brotherhood forever. As the truth unfolds, Greg must face his own personal demons and save his brother. But can he do that, and, more importantly, will he want to?
Overall Ebony Blood is a pleasant enough read. It has a good story line, a reasonably well thought out plot and characters that one can relate to. While it did start off slow, it definitely improved such that I found myself being moved along, wanting to know the outcome. For me though, there was something missing in this novel...it lacked something unique. Maybe the plot line didn't feel new, or the pure power of prose and shock of language that I've seen from other new authors of this genre were missing. Whatever it was, I do think this is an author who has the goods and I'd be keen to see how she grows and develops as a novelist.
Note: I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for a review.
August 12, 2013
Greg Williams is a well-to-do advertizing executive. His younger brother Tony is a slacker and always has been. The only time Tony calls is when he needs money which Greg never questions or fails to give. thinking he is helping. Tony wants to be Greg. He thinks he has found an easy way to obtain the lifestyle he craves.
While Greg is separated, agonizingly, from his wife and daughter, he and Tony go on a fishing trip. Tony's behavior on this trip gets more and more erratic until he just disappears altogether. Greg is worried because there have been two horrible murders already in the area, Will Tony be the next? Trish, Greg's wife surprises Greg when she comes to help him look for Tony. Does this mean they will get back together as Greg hopes?
As Greg, his wife Trish, and friend Marie look for Tony, along with the help of the local police there are twists and turns ahead. Another body is found. Greg finds himself in danger of becoming one of those dead bodies and he wants to know why.
Though I originally did not care for Tony or Greg as characters, I think it was because they seemed so distant. Conversations were stunted. They did not really relate to each other at all. By the end of the book I liked them both as humor set in and they began to truly relate to each other. (Oops, I just told you Tony survived..............but not without major consequences.)
The further I got into Ebony Blood the harder it was to put down. The killer, we meet early on, will give you the creeps right from the first. There are a number of people you will suspect of the murders. You will be surprised at the culprit and the things he has done in this small community that no one could possibly suspect.
While Greg is separated, agonizingly, from his wife and daughter, he and Tony go on a fishing trip. Tony's behavior on this trip gets more and more erratic until he just disappears altogether. Greg is worried because there have been two horrible murders already in the area, Will Tony be the next? Trish, Greg's wife surprises Greg when she comes to help him look for Tony. Does this mean they will get back together as Greg hopes?
As Greg, his wife Trish, and friend Marie look for Tony, along with the help of the local police there are twists and turns ahead. Another body is found. Greg finds himself in danger of becoming one of those dead bodies and he wants to know why.
Though I originally did not care for Tony or Greg as characters, I think it was because they seemed so distant. Conversations were stunted. They did not really relate to each other at all. By the end of the book I liked them both as humor set in and they began to truly relate to each other. (Oops, I just told you Tony survived..............but not without major consequences.)
The further I got into Ebony Blood the harder it was to put down. The killer, we meet early on, will give you the creeps right from the first. There are a number of people you will suspect of the murders. You will be surprised at the culprit and the things he has done in this small community that no one could possibly suspect.
August 25, 2013
Another ARC...which I thoroughly enjoyed. It reminded me of the old saying, 'there are only two stories...a stranger comes to town, or someone takes a trip.' My students often said that was really only one story...depends on whether you're the stranger or the traveler.
Greg and Tony plan a fishing trip to a town close to the Scottish border, with a notorious river and a treacherous stretch, Ebony Blood. Greg is hoping to get his life back on track, since alcohol has cost him his marriage, and his job depends on a project he SHOULD be working on instead of going fishing, but Tony insists, and Greg would do anything to mend his relationship with his younger, feckless brother.
This reads like a Spaghetti Western...or Kevin Brooks' ROAD OF THE DEAD. This little town is the site of horrible murders, and on their first day Greg and Tony find another decapitated body in the river. The town closes in against Greg, and he can't get any answers.
Then, Tony goes missing and the stakes are much higher. But still, the curtain between Greg's inquiries and the townspeople is firm. He becomes desperate to find his brother...but the answers to his questions are painful. Tony has history in this little town, with the drug trade, and possibly with the murder victims.
Will he be next, or will we find HE'S the murderer?
My only concern was the large cast of characters...when a new character would enter a scene, I had to search back to remember details that were important.
I believed Greg's desperation; I believed the townspeople closing ranks. I believed the layers of secrets that made Greg's job so hard. I liked him and I really wanted him to find his way through this nasty maze.
Greg and Tony plan a fishing trip to a town close to the Scottish border, with a notorious river and a treacherous stretch, Ebony Blood. Greg is hoping to get his life back on track, since alcohol has cost him his marriage, and his job depends on a project he SHOULD be working on instead of going fishing, but Tony insists, and Greg would do anything to mend his relationship with his younger, feckless brother.
This reads like a Spaghetti Western...or Kevin Brooks' ROAD OF THE DEAD. This little town is the site of horrible murders, and on their first day Greg and Tony find another decapitated body in the river. The town closes in against Greg, and he can't get any answers.
Then, Tony goes missing and the stakes are much higher. But still, the curtain between Greg's inquiries and the townspeople is firm. He becomes desperate to find his brother...but the answers to his questions are painful. Tony has history in this little town, with the drug trade, and possibly with the murder victims.
Will he be next, or will we find HE'S the murderer?
My only concern was the large cast of characters...when a new character would enter a scene, I had to search back to remember details that were important.
I believed Greg's desperation; I believed the townspeople closing ranks. I believed the layers of secrets that made Greg's job so hard. I liked him and I really wanted him to find his way through this nasty maze.
January 4, 2014
I enjoyed this book immensely.
It was one of those that I found hard to put down, as my curiosity grew, as to what I would discover in the next few lines, the next page, and in the next chapter.
Ella paints very realistic pictures with her words, and as a result I found it easy to visualise in my mind, the characters, the rugged countryside, the horror and intrigue all packed into this novel.
Well worth a read in my opinion!
It was one of those that I found hard to put down, as my curiosity grew, as to what I would discover in the next few lines, the next page, and in the next chapter.
Ella paints very realistic pictures with her words, and as a result I found it easy to visualise in my mind, the characters, the rugged countryside, the horror and intrigue all packed into this novel.
Well worth a read in my opinion!
November 13, 2013
Let me start by saying I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a review. Please do not let the length of time it took me to read this short novella as a benchmark of the books quality, my personal life got in the way and left little time for reading. Now that my disclaimers are out of the way, let me commence with my review.
First, let me preface my review by saying I normally don't read books by authors from overseas. I know that seems biased, but generally speaking from past experience the authors use so much local slang that I get completely lost and dumbfounded trying to follow the dialog. I must say that with this book I didn't have that problem. As a new author, I feel she has great potential, I would classify this book more as a novella rather than a novel, at only 250 pages in my opinion it is kind of short. There were a couple editing issues in the book, but with self publishers, that is common with some of these books, I will say it wasn't enough to be distracting.
In my opinion the book does start off pretty slow, but I don't find her overly wordy or boring. She is a good descriptive writer with decent character development. I think she has great promise and she is someone that I will keep on my watch list as an up and coming author.
My last disclaimer if you are not familiar with my review style, I normally don't discuss characters or plot lines. I feel that is how spoilers are inadvertently given away. The synopsis of the book, ratings, and reviews should tell you if you are interested enough to read it. So my recommendation is this, it is an interesting read from a new author, mystery, suspense, who done it in the Scottish countryside, who could ask for anything more?
First, let me preface my review by saying I normally don't read books by authors from overseas. I know that seems biased, but generally speaking from past experience the authors use so much local slang that I get completely lost and dumbfounded trying to follow the dialog. I must say that with this book I didn't have that problem. As a new author, I feel she has great potential, I would classify this book more as a novella rather than a novel, at only 250 pages in my opinion it is kind of short. There were a couple editing issues in the book, but with self publishers, that is common with some of these books, I will say it wasn't enough to be distracting.
In my opinion the book does start off pretty slow, but I don't find her overly wordy or boring. She is a good descriptive writer with decent character development. I think she has great promise and she is someone that I will keep on my watch list as an up and coming author.
My last disclaimer if you are not familiar with my review style, I normally don't discuss characters or plot lines. I feel that is how spoilers are inadvertently given away. The synopsis of the book, ratings, and reviews should tell you if you are interested enough to read it. So my recommendation is this, it is an interesting read from a new author, mystery, suspense, who done it in the Scottish countryside, who could ask for anything more?
October 12, 2013
In spite of this ARC requiring some more editing, the story was well crafted and suspenseful. The reader keeps on guessing the identity of the murderer(s) right up until the end. The characters are well developed, each tormented in their own way. This book is not for the faint of heart; the murder scenes are well-described and a bit gruesome. Although not many, the sex scenes really did not add much to the story. The author crafts the story well and the descriptive language paints the picture of the Scottish borderlands beautifully. Certainly worth the read if you've the stomach for it.
March 20, 2015
I'll admit at first I wasn't so taken with the idea of this book. But then headless corpes start popping up all over the place and I'm hooked.
I never worked out who the murderer was until the book said. I'm fairly certain that I made the assumption that Ella Durham expects us to make, so it was lovely to be fooled. In fact nothing beats a book where the author tricks the reader.
This is an excellent debut novel from a promising author.
I never worked out who the murderer was until the book said. I'm fairly certain that I made the assumption that Ella Durham expects us to make, so it was lovely to be fooled. In fact nothing beats a book where the author tricks the reader.
This is an excellent debut novel from a promising author.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews