Detective Ray Shields and the Mountain of Trial

by Cyle Tramel

Ray Shields isn’t your average private eye. He’s a little more like your traditional gumshoe than most, and in his line of work, being dedicated to the job is a good thing. Laura is his secretary and, as far as Ray is concerned, she is the best one he’s ever had. She’s never late to work, she keeps his affairs in order, and most importantly, she always has the coffee brewing. Then there’s Eddie, Ray’s partner. He’s a dedicated alcoholic with a troubled past, but he doesn’t let that affect his work. Together, the trio make up the Ray Shields Detective Agency, and the only thing separating the R.S.D.A. from the competition is a rusty chain-link fence.

But everything is about to change…

One day, after receiving a mysterious envelope in the mail, Ray, Laura, and Eddie find themselves thrust into the heart of an ancient prophecy that places them all in danger and unravels a secret about Laura that’s long been hidden.

Together, the R.S.D.A., with the help of a few made friends along the way, will face a myriad of mythical monsters, hunt for a magical relic powerful enough to stop a maddened cultist, and traverse the arid Atacama Desert to fight an ancient evil. Saving the world is all in a day’s work for the Ray Shields Detective Agency.

226 pages, Paperback

Published July 19, 2024

Reviews

[Kimblebee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me hooked…

This book was a very interesting read. The way the author writes scenery makes you feel like you are in the place with the characters. At first I was hesitant, but I found that I started to really enjoy the story more after the first couple of chapters. I will say that at times you have to really pay attention to who is speaking because the point of views change without you knowing however, after the first couple of sentences in each chapter, I was able to decipher who was speaking. Other than that, the story has an interesting twist between modern world and mythical world, and I cannot say enough about the descriptive parts in this book. I also feel like each main character was on their own journey a little bit and that was nice to see as well. I hope there is a second book ( maybe more with the gargoyle😉)
If you like action, mystery, humor,crime fighting and mythical creatures while fighting against an ancient evil, I would definitely recommend this book! take a chance on this indie author!

[Brooke Jiral · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a 4/5 stars. This was my first ever fantasy read. I was very nervous going into it. The first couple of chapters were a bit slower, but that’s because it was building up to the adventures and journey. I loved how Cyle made you feel like you were transported into the book when describing scenery and important details. If you were to ask me I would tell you this book is more detective/adventure with a sprinkle of myths and legends and some cool creatures. I also appreciate that the 3 main characters each have their own journey in a way throughout the book and grow at the end and find the truths they were searching for. Overall even though this genre isn’t my cup of tea the story was amazing and I’ll be super excited for book 2. Maybe some spice wouldn’t hurt either. Thanks for introducing me to the fantasy world. 4/5 stars.

[Kat📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover is incredible 👏

This was my first Fantasy read.

I really enjoyed Detective Ray Shields and the Mountain of Trial. It was really neat how he incorporated the real world with mythical creatures. I love the feeling of books that make you feel like you are in the action right along with the characters.

I really enjoyed Eddie’s story and everything that he faced along the way. And , the relationship between him and Scarr

And, who knew I could get emotionally attached to a Gargoyle.

Definitely recommend if you are into detective stories with twists and mythical creatures 👏

[Gabriella mance · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars overall. As a person who doesn’t like fantasy I had to rate it if it was overall a good book or not. So I’ll say this the first few chapters are slow since you’re getting the story line in order. After those few chapters it progresses and basically has you hooked! But after the next few chapters you’re gonna have one heck of a plot twist! I had a theory after reading chapter 5 well I’ll just say this so I don’t spoil it for anyone else…my theory was extremely wrong I didn’t expect the book to end the way it did!

[Shailyn Mathews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a page turner! I read page 40 to the end in one day! Once I started reading today I couldn’t put it down! I highly recommend this to readers who love fantasy! Scarr hands down is my favorite character in the story! I hope that there are my books with him! If you are looking for a slower build that catches you by surprise this is the book for you! The story is easy to follow and leaves room for conversation and fan theories for future books (hopefully!) Cyle does an amazing job with imagery and character development!

[Nyhma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I truly enjoyed this book. I usually take a couple weeks to read a book but just couldn’t put this one down. Being drawn in with such detail I could see, feel and smell what I was reading. I was pleasantly surprised by the plot twists, too. I look forward to the next book. So curious what the Author has planned!

[David Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing !!! Every chapter came with something I did not see coming and made me not wanna put the book down !!! Characters were very well developed as well as the world building! Very happy with it Cyle !!! You should be proud of your self bro!!!

[Sheila Teetor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never a Indiana Jones person however, this book was well written that I throughly enjoyed it. I loved all the mystical creatures in it. The character development was amazing with great twists. I am looking forward to the next one. Great job Cyle

[Angel aka BooksnCats007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique story that merged fantasy amd mystery with interesting characters and a case that takes you on a journey between the modern and mystical. Loved the banter and friendship of the main characters.
Be sure to pay close attention to the POV, sometimes I had to go back and recheck which character was speaking but overall a good read.

[Jessica North · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a little longer to read because it’s not my typical genre. I loved the concept and the storyline and I’m sure it would be a higher rating if I connected with it more! Absolutely fantastic if you love adventures!

[jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished Detective Ray Shields and the Mountain of Trial by Cyle Tramel, and it was such a great read! I’ll admit, the first chapters were a little slow, but you could tell it was building up to something worthwhile, so I kept at it—and I’m so glad I did.

The story kept me hooked with its twists and turns, and Detective Ray Shields is such an awesome character—smart, determined, and relatable. Plus, the characters I met along the way are now some of my absolute favorites. What made this book even more interesting was the mix of real, modern life with mythical monsters. It gave the story a unique edge that I didn’t expect but absolutely loved!

If you’re into detective stories with a bit of an edge and some mythical twists, this one’s definitely worth checking out!

[Bobby Molina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detective Ray Shields and the Mountain of Trial is the literary debut of Cyle Tramel. The book follows the titular main character, his partner Eddie, and his secretary Laura. It all starts when Detective Ray Shields receives a mysterious envelope in the mail. The contents of this envelope sends the members of the Ray Shields Detective Agency down the proverbial rabbit hole of prophecy, mythical creatures, and magic.
More of a magical realism book than a true fantasy, this book feels like Raiders of the Lost Ark, but if Indy was a detective with a gun, and magic and mythical beasts were real. The book starts off as a gritty noir but quickly shifts to a more lighthearted tone.
The author did a great job setting the scene with his immersive descriptions, and creating likeable characters.

There are some scenes where most of the action happens off screen, and I would have liked to experience those moments directly rather than their being mentioned off-handedly. Another example where “show don’t tell” could be applied is in moments when something, maybe a feeling or an idea, is described narratively and then immediately repeated in the character’s dialogue.
I also feel that the story could have benefited from richer world-building. All the focus is on the main characters and those that they directly interact with to the exclusion of all else. This leads to the world feeling vacant and quiet at times. I would have liked to see more of a supporting cast and some background characters to make the world feel alive.
Although there are some grammatical and spelling errors they do not detract from the story at all. The story really picks up its pace at the halfway marker. It was at this point where I could not put the book down. The ending does not disappoint. Our heroes’ journey ends cinematically. It is a story of growth, redemption, and unlikely heroes.
This lighthearted standalone is short enough to be read in a weekend. Which also makes it a perfect palate cleanser for when you're in between series or in a slump.
Overall I feel this is a solid debut from a promising new writer and I am interested and excited to experience any of his future works.

[Jackiedarkling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book; it draws you in and you can't seem to put it down with each chapter. It's filled with the twists of a Detective novel with a mixture of myths and legends. I thoroughly enjoyed the story building and the cliches that were in it, also the hidden easter eggs were amazing to find. The plot twists were well built, and while surprising definitely added to the experience. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Cyrel M Tramel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book merges detective noir with the world of magic, monsters, and myth. The author skillfully blends these elements, creating a thrilling story and a vivid introduction to his world. The legends and myths are clearly well-researched, grounding the story in elements of our own world’s lore, which makes the setting feel immersive and alive. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to the future cases of the Ray Shields Detective Agency!

[Kelley Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's not my typical read either. I was sucked in from chapter one , I didn't want to put it down for nothing. This is definitely a nice quick read that honestly you wont want to put it down.

[Kyle Huse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. The author really brings the book to life through his narration. It actually feels like you are with ray on his journey.