An Automated Death

by Teresa J. Reasor

After his wife’s death, clockmaker Alan Cartwright focuses all his energy on his work and his eight-year-old son, Brenton. Father and son bond by building a lifelike automaton, designed to resemble Brenton in looks and talent: The boy is an extraordinary artist. Before the automaton is finished, Brenton is run over and killed by a carriage driven by Sir William Tyndale, a decorated soldier and knight who lost his own wife and son during service in India. The accident leads to strange occurrences and an unholy obsession.

The automaton comes to life, communicating with Alan through written messages and drawings of the past and the future. Alan is convinced Brenton’s spirit possesses the machine and refuses to sell it. Sir Tyndale sees the likeness of his own dead son in the device and is determined to have it by any means.

Driven by grief and fatherly love, the two men are set on a collision course with the soul of a young boy trapped between them, and Brenton's reasons for possessing the automaton a mystery to them both.

This book has two endings, one dark, one light.

46 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2013

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father's military career entailed. The transition from reading to writing came easily to her and she penned her first book in second grade. But it wasn’t until 2007 that her first published work was released.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy Romance, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

MILITARY ROMANTIC SUSPENSE:
Breaking Free (Book 1 of the SEAL TEAM Heartbreakers)
Breaking Through (Book 2 of the SEAL TEAM Heartbreakers)
Breaking Away (Book 3 of the SEAL TEAM Heartbreakers)
Building Ties (Book 4 of the SEAL TEAM Heartbreakers)

PARANORMAL ROMANCE:
Timeless

FANTASY ROMANCE:
Whisper In My Ear


HISTORICAL ROMANCE:
Highland Moonlight
Captive Hearts

SHORT STORIES:
An Automated Death (A Steampunk Short Story) Paranormal
To Capture A Highlander’s Heart: The Beginning (A Highland Moonlight Spinoff)
Caught In The Act (A Humorous Short Story) Contemporary Romance

NOVELLAS:
To Capture A Highlander’s Heart: The Courtship (A Highland Moonlight Spinoff
Breaking Ties: A Seal Team Heartbreakers Novella


CHILDREN’S BOOK:
Willy C. Sparks: The Dragon Who Lost His Fire

Her next children’s book will be Haiku Clue a book of Haiku poetry for children. The poems will act as clues for the reader to guess what the creature is before they turn the page. It will be out in the fall of 2015.

ANTHOLOGIES HER WORK HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN:
Malice, Mischief, and Men (Breaking Free)
SEALed With A Kiss: Heroes With A Heart (Breaking Free)
Mystery, Murder, and Mayhem (Building Ties)

Reviews

[Harry Sahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place in London in 1863 and was written very well. It is a fascinating little tale of a clockmaker (Alan Cartwright) who builds a lifelike automaton that resembles his only son (Brenton). The father and son bond over the project of building the automaton that resembles little Brenton. Their conversations seem believable and both characters are likable.
Before the project can be completed, the boy is accidentally killed when he is run over by a carriage driven by a soldier (Sir Tyndale). Sir Tyndale had lost his son while serving in India. The soldier sees his own dead son's likeness in the automaton which leads to an obsession for him to obtain it.
However, the clockmaker has been communicating with the automaton and is convinced that his dead son's spirit possesses the machine. Refusing to sell the automaton, Sir Tyndale is determined to get it by whatever means he can. With both men driven by their grief, the drama unfolds.
The story was written with two endings and being it was a horror/supernatural tale, I preferred the original ending which was dark. The lighter ending was too optimistic for my taste.

[Joshua Chaudry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very compelling and hard to put down. It is surprisingly intense. The characters are so well developed I really felt like I knew them; sometimes hating and feeling sorry for them at the same time. I had no idea what steampunk was and was somewhat turned off or intimidated by the genre until I read this story. I absolutely loved it!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story so much that I bought another of Reasor's books, Timeless. An Automated Death is a tale you won't soon forget. It's at the same time heartwarming and creepy. Reasor is a top notch writer and fine storyteller which means the story draws you in, grabs you, and you won't want to stop reading until you find out how it ends. In fact, there are two endings! (I liked the first one better.)

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating Original Storyline

A quick and pleasurable read by a wonderful storyteller. I enjoyed the supernatural aspect of the book, as well as the ability to read an alternative ending. I am fascinated with clockworks and automatons and the main character built both. This is indeed an entertaining short story. I recommend it!

[Whitebeard Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a surprisingly interesting and original tale that goes by too quickly. It certainly left me wanting more.

[Kc · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Automated Death

I genuinely liked this story. Rather Steampunk "light" but a very nice story overall and I preferred the second ending over the first. Much more optimistic!