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Haunted: Into the Abyss
Places aren’t haunted.
People are.
Strange apparitions, mysterious noises, glowing lights. In the depths of a remoteTexas lake, something otherworldly is stirring. Beneath the waves a flooded town is lead investigator Ford Montgomery’s dream dive. In fact, his paranormal show, struggling with an uncertain future, depends on it. But when he reunites with his twin brother, Joshua, and the family he had no idea existed, including a sixteen-year-old niece, Lily, who admires his daring dives, he struggles to reconcile his own enthusiasm and his brother’s old disbelief.
When the lake waters levels finally recede, and a storm looming on the horizon Ford sees his one chance to make the dive of a lifetime and salvage his show. But when Lily appears just as they descend to the depths, he has a let her dive or risk losing his show.
When she doesn’t surface with the team, Ford is forced to tell his brother the devastating news.
Out of desperation, together with Joshua’s brother-in-law Peter and Ford’s head-strong producer Ava, Ford returns to the depths. Entering a strange blue light, they’re transported to another world.
Ford finds magical, underwater kingdoms locked in a battle for survival as they search for Lily and a way to escape. Yet, lurking in the shadows is an ancient and elusive enemy known as the Schade, reminiscent of the very ghosts Ford has spent his life pursuing. But there’s more at work and Ford must let go of everything he believes in order to save his family. The truth will change the course of Ford’s life forever, unveiling the power of family bonds and revealing the true nature of what haunts us all.
People are.
Strange apparitions, mysterious noises, glowing lights. In the depths of a remoteTexas lake, something otherworldly is stirring. Beneath the waves a flooded town is lead investigator Ford Montgomery’s dream dive. In fact, his paranormal show, struggling with an uncertain future, depends on it. But when he reunites with his twin brother, Joshua, and the family he had no idea existed, including a sixteen-year-old niece, Lily, who admires his daring dives, he struggles to reconcile his own enthusiasm and his brother’s old disbelief.
When the lake waters levels finally recede, and a storm looming on the horizon Ford sees his one chance to make the dive of a lifetime and salvage his show. But when Lily appears just as they descend to the depths, he has a let her dive or risk losing his show.
When she doesn’t surface with the team, Ford is forced to tell his brother the devastating news.
Out of desperation, together with Joshua’s brother-in-law Peter and Ford’s head-strong producer Ava, Ford returns to the depths. Entering a strange blue light, they’re transported to another world.
Ford finds magical, underwater kingdoms locked in a battle for survival as they search for Lily and a way to escape. Yet, lurking in the shadows is an ancient and elusive enemy known as the Schade, reminiscent of the very ghosts Ford has spent his life pursuing. But there’s more at work and Ford must let go of everything he believes in order to save his family. The truth will change the course of Ford’s life forever, unveiling the power of family bonds and revealing the true nature of what haunts us all.
- GenresFantasy
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2024
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Dooley
14 books207 followersJ.R.R. Tolkien said: “Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory.” I’m taking him at his word. I’ll journey with Bilbo, take flight on Saphira, and cross swords with King Miraz (as soon as I get my letter from Hogwarts). There’s nothing more satisfying than dipping out of our world for a little while and joining forces with our favorite hero.
Not that I have anything from which I’m desperate to escape: A thirty-year marriage (which is magical in itself since I can’t possibly be old enough to be married that long,) two amazing kiddos, and a great home in north Texas. Plus, after a few side-quests, I’m finally back wielding a keyboard every day battling dragons in my own stories.
But life is an adventure, right? Raising children, navigating friendships, paying bills, rush hour. We wouldn’t storm Mordor without proper preparation and protection, would we? We need armor for our everyday battles. In this case it’s in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where we discover an impenetrable defense. “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground . . .”
What you’ll find in my stories are the same people who go to work, pay bills, struggle with relationships and self-doubt find themselves transported to worlds beyond their own where a different battle is waged and they must find a way to defeat the enemy. They’re you and me, everyday mortals, who discover there’s more beyond the veil, larger stakes, and a way to overcome it all.
Tolkien sums up what I believe to be the duty of every novelist, but most particularly storytellers of fantasy: “If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?....If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!” Find me: https://linktr.ee/SLDooley
Not that I have anything from which I’m desperate to escape: A thirty-year marriage (which is magical in itself since I can’t possibly be old enough to be married that long,) two amazing kiddos, and a great home in north Texas. Plus, after a few side-quests, I’m finally back wielding a keyboard every day battling dragons in my own stories.
But life is an adventure, right? Raising children, navigating friendships, paying bills, rush hour. We wouldn’t storm Mordor without proper preparation and protection, would we? We need armor for our everyday battles. In this case it’s in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where we discover an impenetrable defense. “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground . . .”
What you’ll find in my stories are the same people who go to work, pay bills, struggle with relationships and self-doubt find themselves transported to worlds beyond their own where a different battle is waged and they must find a way to defeat the enemy. They’re you and me, everyday mortals, who discover there’s more beyond the veil, larger stakes, and a way to overcome it all.
Tolkien sums up what I believe to be the duty of every novelist, but most particularly storytellers of fantasy: “If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?....If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!” Find me: https://linktr.ee/SLDooley
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 30, 2024
Ghost hunter Ford Montgomery just can’t let it go.
The drowned town at the bottom of the mysterious lake holds more than a secret. It has a pull on Ford that he cannot ignore. He secretly investigates, gathering data for a documentary to be aired on his Aquatic Interdimensional Research TV program, which could be cut by the network at any time if the ratings don’t improve.
The dive goes dangerously wrong. While exploring underwater archaeology in a supposedly haunted hospital, relics of the medical past aren’t the only things Ford discovers. Tragedy strikes when his niece, Lily, disappears during the dive.
Ford has inadvertently unearthed his family’s secret. With his brother, Joshua, and Ava, the show’s producer, and Joshua’s brother-in-law, Peter, he embarks on a mission hoping to save Lily. Ford yearns to win back his brother’s trust and approval, and find his niece.
Dooley takes the reader on a journey through a portal to another world in another dimension, where all is not always what it seems, allegiances are tricky, and deception is subtle. The author’s writing is clear and immersive, filling the senses with a watery world, which is fleshed out with skill as an imagined but relatable realm unfolds.
And there are dragons!
The plot is intense (I yelled at a character more than once) and the relationships are realistic with family conflicts and past misdeeds weighing down Ford, whose guilt drives and keeps him on this dangerous quest. Varied characters are met along the way, some false and some wise, who teach Ford many lessons. This story has plenty of action and mystery, leaving you wanting to know what’s going to happen next.
There’s got to be a sequel!
The drowned town at the bottom of the mysterious lake holds more than a secret. It has a pull on Ford that he cannot ignore. He secretly investigates, gathering data for a documentary to be aired on his Aquatic Interdimensional Research TV program, which could be cut by the network at any time if the ratings don’t improve.
The dive goes dangerously wrong. While exploring underwater archaeology in a supposedly haunted hospital, relics of the medical past aren’t the only things Ford discovers. Tragedy strikes when his niece, Lily, disappears during the dive.
Ford has inadvertently unearthed his family’s secret. With his brother, Joshua, and Ava, the show’s producer, and Joshua’s brother-in-law, Peter, he embarks on a mission hoping to save Lily. Ford yearns to win back his brother’s trust and approval, and find his niece.
Dooley takes the reader on a journey through a portal to another world in another dimension, where all is not always what it seems, allegiances are tricky, and deception is subtle. The author’s writing is clear and immersive, filling the senses with a watery world, which is fleshed out with skill as an imagined but relatable realm unfolds.
And there are dragons!
The plot is intense (I yelled at a character more than once) and the relationships are realistic with family conflicts and past misdeeds weighing down Ford, whose guilt drives and keeps him on this dangerous quest. Varied characters are met along the way, some false and some wise, who teach Ford many lessons. This story has plenty of action and mystery, leaving you wanting to know what’s going to happen next.
There’s got to be a sequel!
December 19, 2024
An interesting series opener. This one sets up a much bigger adventure. Once again, Dooley gives us a large cast and brings us into the story of a troubled family--one that will have to band together to save each other.
This one looks to be gearing up for some wonderful themes, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
This one looks to be gearing up for some wonderful themes, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
October 19, 2025
Excellent story mixed with the perfect combination of strong, believable characters and edge of your seat action. Can't wait for book two!!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews