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A Blacklick Valley Mystery #1
Rain of Terror
"One night in early January, with dark clouds racing across a full moon that cast its ancient glow across the mountain top, they came. Clad in hooded black robes, carrying torches that blazed with evil fury, they came. With chanting—at first a distant murmur, then growing and building, louder and louder—incessant, demanding, hideous chanting, they came.
Mother had been rocking both Jeremiah, my four-year-old little brother, and me on our rickety rocking chair, its swaying motion in itself a soothing comfort on a dark night. But more than that, mother sang to us in her clear and lilting voice as she often did, chasing away the ghosts and goblins that sometimes haunt a young boy’s mind. As I was about to drop off to sleep, the noise and the clatter from outside our cabin startled me back to consciousness. Mother’s voice mixed with the incessant chanting that came closer and closer. Her voice faded. We could see the lights from their torches through the window panes, and mother rose quickly from the rocker and hurried Jeremiah and me into our bedroom. She cautioned us in whispery tones to stay quiet, to stay in our room, pretend to be asleep; and then on tiptoe, she rushed out the door, closing it quietly after herself.
Within minutes, I heard Mother scream a piercing wail that emitted both terror and defeat. They came through our bedroom door, robes rustling, wild eyes searching, hands reaching, and carried Jeremiah and I from our beds. They dragged Mother out the front door, through the dark forest, up the mountainside, our captors pulling my brother and I close behind. I remember the brittle sound of the fallen leaves under our feet, the cold chill of the night air brushing against my face, the pale moonlight frosting the tips of the last remaining leaves on the black, skeletal oak trees that rose above us. And we kept climbing, climbing, farther and farther up through the forest.
And as we walked, a cold wind came up, turning the leaves; and the racing clouds changed into thunderheads. And then the first bolt of lightning lit the sky and illuminated the hellish scene around us—the shadowy, dark figures stomping through the bushes and underbrush, the swaying glow of lanterns through the trees. All the while their chanting reverberated across the landscape, mixing with the sound of the howling, barking, snarling, pawing dogs that followed in their midst."
Mother had been rocking both Jeremiah, my four-year-old little brother, and me on our rickety rocking chair, its swaying motion in itself a soothing comfort on a dark night. But more than that, mother sang to us in her clear and lilting voice as she often did, chasing away the ghosts and goblins that sometimes haunt a young boy’s mind. As I was about to drop off to sleep, the noise and the clatter from outside our cabin startled me back to consciousness. Mother’s voice mixed with the incessant chanting that came closer and closer. Her voice faded. We could see the lights from their torches through the window panes, and mother rose quickly from the rocker and hurried Jeremiah and me into our bedroom. She cautioned us in whispery tones to stay quiet, to stay in our room, pretend to be asleep; and then on tiptoe, she rushed out the door, closing it quietly after herself.
Within minutes, I heard Mother scream a piercing wail that emitted both terror and defeat. They came through our bedroom door, robes rustling, wild eyes searching, hands reaching, and carried Jeremiah and I from our beds. They dragged Mother out the front door, through the dark forest, up the mountainside, our captors pulling my brother and I close behind. I remember the brittle sound of the fallen leaves under our feet, the cold chill of the night air brushing against my face, the pale moonlight frosting the tips of the last remaining leaves on the black, skeletal oak trees that rose above us. And we kept climbing, climbing, farther and farther up through the forest.
And as we walked, a cold wind came up, turning the leaves; and the racing clouds changed into thunderheads. And then the first bolt of lightning lit the sky and illuminated the hellish scene around us—the shadowy, dark figures stomping through the bushes and underbrush, the swaying glow of lanterns through the trees. All the while their chanting reverberated across the landscape, mixing with the sound of the howling, barking, snarling, pawing dogs that followed in their midst."
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2014
27 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Donna Cummins
8 books39 followersNew Release NIGHTMARE
I'm pleased to announce that my new release NIGHTMARE, Book 5 in The Blacklick Valley Mystery Series, is now available in print and eBook on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Blac...
I hope you will check out NIGHTMARE as the final webs of mystery are untangled and for the exciting and shocking conclusion of The Blacklick Valley Mysteries. Love to have you give it a read and leave your comments in a review on Goodreads and Amazon. It's your interest and opinions that keep us writers inspired to keep on writing!
Here's a little taste of the Prologue (slightly revised to avoid spoilers):
"The rain moved in from the west, over the hazy, steel-blue mountains and across the verdant valleys below like a sheer gossamer veil as fine as any Laotian silk. It moved slowly, steadily, forward—at first, silent as a Pharaoh’s tomb, then with the faintest whisper of sound. On it came as if by some invisible force, and with it came the change of light that cast the landscape in luminous green, almost as if the terrain itself projected some ethereal light from within. Then the whisper turned to a stirring and the stirring to a thrum, and jagged bolts of lightning zigzagged across the darkening sky, cutting with razor-sharpness through the swelling thunderheads on the charcoal horizon.
An evening thunderstorm in late April was not uncommon to the inhabitants of Blacklick Valley, and the man who hunched over the litter-strewn desk in the study of the neat, two-story colonial on Fennimore Street barely took notice of the oncoming storm. The patter of fat raindrops against window glass was little more than white noise, a mere distraction.
He rested his head in his hands, his splayed fingers slicing through a swathe of unkempt hair now receding from a high forehead. He sat alone, unmoving, his vacuous eyes staring at nothing but the desk’s wood-grained surface. In front of him rested a half-empty glass of Jack Daniels, the amber contents long ago grown warm and diluted, its filmy surface mirroring the overhead light in distorted reflection.
He was deep in thought. But he was not at peace. His mind tumbled with unformed thoughts like flickering scenes from a fast-forwarded film. An image of (XXXXX’s) face once again flitted across the canvas of his mind.
“Damn it!” he mumbled aloud, his words indistinguishable, slurred as they were by agitation and alcohol. “Why the hell couldn’t you have done it right? Why didn’t you stick to the plan? Stupid…! Should have taken care of it myself from the beginning.” He continued his angered and disparaging litany for some minutes, senselessly berating (someone) who was long dead and gone.
It wasn’t the first time.
Again, he ran trembling fingers back through his thinning hair, then rubbed at his burning, blood-shot eyes as his mind skipped back in time to that September day now over a year and a half ago when he’d run into (his former friend) on a busy street in downtown Pittsburgh.
He had (suggested they have coffee and his friend had) accepted—more from curiosity than interest. And thus, began the clandestine conversations over the next weeks and months that led them down a path of evil intent, each motivated by greed, avarice, and malicious vindictiveness….
(They) met as frequently as possible between the months of September and December, devising a plan, developing a scheme where they could kill two birds with one stone, as they often laughed about. By December they were ready to put their plan into action. No one would ever suspect their connection to one another nor the connection between (their victims’) demise—just another psychotic serial killer, choosing his victims at random.
Now, (he) picked up his lukewarm drink and took a sip, thinking that it all could have worked out so splendidly. Could have—if (his friend) hadn’t been so stupid. Had stuck to the plan. But, no. No! Did nothing but get … killed.
Thank God, he’d gotten away with his own part i
I'm pleased to announce that my new release NIGHTMARE, Book 5 in The Blacklick Valley Mystery Series, is now available in print and eBook on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Blac...
I hope you will check out NIGHTMARE as the final webs of mystery are untangled and for the exciting and shocking conclusion of The Blacklick Valley Mysteries. Love to have you give it a read and leave your comments in a review on Goodreads and Amazon. It's your interest and opinions that keep us writers inspired to keep on writing!
Here's a little taste of the Prologue (slightly revised to avoid spoilers):
"The rain moved in from the west, over the hazy, steel-blue mountains and across the verdant valleys below like a sheer gossamer veil as fine as any Laotian silk. It moved slowly, steadily, forward—at first, silent as a Pharaoh’s tomb, then with the faintest whisper of sound. On it came as if by some invisible force, and with it came the change of light that cast the landscape in luminous green, almost as if the terrain itself projected some ethereal light from within. Then the whisper turned to a stirring and the stirring to a thrum, and jagged bolts of lightning zigzagged across the darkening sky, cutting with razor-sharpness through the swelling thunderheads on the charcoal horizon.
An evening thunderstorm in late April was not uncommon to the inhabitants of Blacklick Valley, and the man who hunched over the litter-strewn desk in the study of the neat, two-story colonial on Fennimore Street barely took notice of the oncoming storm. The patter of fat raindrops against window glass was little more than white noise, a mere distraction.
He rested his head in his hands, his splayed fingers slicing through a swathe of unkempt hair now receding from a high forehead. He sat alone, unmoving, his vacuous eyes staring at nothing but the desk’s wood-grained surface. In front of him rested a half-empty glass of Jack Daniels, the amber contents long ago grown warm and diluted, its filmy surface mirroring the overhead light in distorted reflection.
He was deep in thought. But he was not at peace. His mind tumbled with unformed thoughts like flickering scenes from a fast-forwarded film. An image of (XXXXX’s) face once again flitted across the canvas of his mind.
“Damn it!” he mumbled aloud, his words indistinguishable, slurred as they were by agitation and alcohol. “Why the hell couldn’t you have done it right? Why didn’t you stick to the plan? Stupid…! Should have taken care of it myself from the beginning.” He continued his angered and disparaging litany for some minutes, senselessly berating (someone) who was long dead and gone.
It wasn’t the first time.
Again, he ran trembling fingers back through his thinning hair, then rubbed at his burning, blood-shot eyes as his mind skipped back in time to that September day now over a year and a half ago when he’d run into (his former friend) on a busy street in downtown Pittsburgh.
He had (suggested they have coffee and his friend had) accepted—more from curiosity than interest. And thus, began the clandestine conversations over the next weeks and months that led them down a path of evil intent, each motivated by greed, avarice, and malicious vindictiveness….
(They) met as frequently as possible between the months of September and December, devising a plan, developing a scheme where they could kill two birds with one stone, as they often laughed about. By December they were ready to put their plan into action. No one would ever suspect their connection to one another nor the connection between (their victims’) demise—just another psychotic serial killer, choosing his victims at random.
Now, (he) picked up his lukewarm drink and took a sip, thinking that it all could have worked out so splendidly. Could have—if (his friend) hadn’t been so stupid. Had stuck to the plan. But, no. No! Did nothing but get … killed.
Thank God, he’d gotten away with his own part i
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 24, 2015
Blacklick Valley, PA has a problem. A child disappears on his way home from school as the thunder rolls. Another child is abducted from his bedroom on a storm-filled night. A young mother is murdered as the lightning flashes.
Sheriff Jed Tyler is plagued by nightmares when none of these children are found.. no clues, no DNA, no ransom notes. Jenny McConnell is new in Blacklick Valley and with her 6-year-old son plan to make it a permanent move. Jed and Jenny are attracted to each other ...
and someone is watching Jennie's son.
Excellent mystery with a little romance thrown in. The romance is well-done, as it does not distract from the story, but bonds with it. Jed is a finely drawn character and his background is quite disturbing. Jenny is a mom who wants nothing more than to keep her child safe.
The mystery is filled with questions. and plenty of possible suspects to choose from. There is a major twist to the story that I guarantee you won't see coming.
The ending is a cliff-hanger... sort of. The next book in line is A REASON TO KILL, followed by ANGUISH. If the other books are as well-written as this one, it will be a great series to follow.
Many thanks to the author for furnishing copies in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
January 8, 2016
This is not a bad book at all, but there were some things that I thought could be improved. I really got tired of the rainstorms popping up suddenly. I also didn't like the inclusion of the dog and the cat. The mystery of the abducted boys and who had taken them was well written, but the investigation was torture. How could the sheriff take time to go on a picnic during the search? I didn't really connect with Jenny because her dialogue made her seem weak and frail. She's a single mom and a teacher, and I think she should have had more of a backbone. I found Jed's story interesting and thought it was concluded, but nope! There's more to it as indicated by the cliffhanger.
September 21, 2014
Absorbing Suspense Thriller
Sometimes when you decide to read an author whom you have not heard of before, you know almost from the first page whether you have made a mistake or not, whether the pages remaining will present a hard slog or cause you to relax in anticipation of a good yarn. The clues are generally numerous. On the negative side the writing can be painfully inept, the scene-setting poorly presented and the dialogue, if there is any, stilted and unnatural. On the positive side…well…in the case of Rain of Terror I knew from the first page that I was going to enjoy this book no matter what the story was about. Cummin’s writing drew me in effortlessly and within minutes I was happily prepared to snuggle down and follow wherever she wanted to lead.
I was hooked early for two reasons. The writing is skilled, controlled and pacy. Here is a writer who knows her craft, who enjoys painting scenes with words and does so beautifully. But, and this is my second reason, my reviews often contain a phrase which has become for me almost a mantra, ‘…the story’s the thing' and here is a writer who does not neglect story, who makes time and effort to devise an imaginative plot, but most of all, one who is gifted with that most enviable of talents, the ability to seize the reader by the throat and pull him along from one incident to the next, scarcely allowing him time to appreciate the many wonderful, almost lyrical, descriptions with which the story is laced.
Characters come and go, and while we are given time to learn more about the key characters, to come to understand them, to empathise with them, even the minor people inhabiting the story and the dusty town all are fully realised with a few deft strokes of the pen. That, too, is a great skill.
Rain of Terror is an absorbing, suspense-filled story which offers interesting additions to the more discerning reader. Apart from the superb descriptions, the rain image is merged into the story with ingenuity, the cat’s perspective is an interesting ploy to ratchet up atmosphere, and the vivid portrayal of the book’s location is so authentic and so realistic that one can only assume Blacklick Valley almost certainly exists somewhere under another name.
Rain of Terror is a story that doesn’t disappoint, that takes the reader away from TV, from sleep, from food, until it is finished. The ending, with its several twists, comes a bit out of left field but I suppose something inherently horrific is needed to explain the killer’s schizophrenia. And the very last line is something of a shocker. It had to come from the murderer of Jed’s mother. Now what? Go get him, Jed!
Sometimes when you decide to read an author whom you have not heard of before, you know almost from the first page whether you have made a mistake or not, whether the pages remaining will present a hard slog or cause you to relax in anticipation of a good yarn. The clues are generally numerous. On the negative side the writing can be painfully inept, the scene-setting poorly presented and the dialogue, if there is any, stilted and unnatural. On the positive side…well…in the case of Rain of Terror I knew from the first page that I was going to enjoy this book no matter what the story was about. Cummin’s writing drew me in effortlessly and within minutes I was happily prepared to snuggle down and follow wherever she wanted to lead.
I was hooked early for two reasons. The writing is skilled, controlled and pacy. Here is a writer who knows her craft, who enjoys painting scenes with words and does so beautifully. But, and this is my second reason, my reviews often contain a phrase which has become for me almost a mantra, ‘…the story’s the thing' and here is a writer who does not neglect story, who makes time and effort to devise an imaginative plot, but most of all, one who is gifted with that most enviable of talents, the ability to seize the reader by the throat and pull him along from one incident to the next, scarcely allowing him time to appreciate the many wonderful, almost lyrical, descriptions with which the story is laced.
Characters come and go, and while we are given time to learn more about the key characters, to come to understand them, to empathise with them, even the minor people inhabiting the story and the dusty town all are fully realised with a few deft strokes of the pen. That, too, is a great skill.
Rain of Terror is an absorbing, suspense-filled story which offers interesting additions to the more discerning reader. Apart from the superb descriptions, the rain image is merged into the story with ingenuity, the cat’s perspective is an interesting ploy to ratchet up atmosphere, and the vivid portrayal of the book’s location is so authentic and so realistic that one can only assume Blacklick Valley almost certainly exists somewhere under another name.
Rain of Terror is a story that doesn’t disappoint, that takes the reader away from TV, from sleep, from food, until it is finished. The ending, with its several twists, comes a bit out of left field but I suppose something inherently horrific is needed to explain the killer’s schizophrenia. And the very last line is something of a shocker. It had to come from the murderer of Jed’s mother. Now what? Go get him, Jed!
February 28, 2016
RAIN OF TERROR, Book 1 in The Blacklick Valley Mystery Series, is a chilling, edge-of-your-seat Mystery/Thriller that will keep you awake long after midnight. Set in the Allegheny Mountains of western Pennsylvania, Rain of Terror is the story of a community's young children suddenly mysteriously vanishing one after another, a young mother murdered in her bed, and one man's determined effort to find the perpetrator and bring him to justice. The trail leads him to a satanic cult in the distant Sierra Nevada's and unlocks the answer to a dark secret from his own past.
The finale is fast-paced as one secret after another unfolds in rapid succession. Then just when you think you know all the answers, here comes the final twist, the unexpected surprise, that leads to the sequel, ANGUISH, Book 3 in the series.
Some people have asked me what my thinking was behind the writing of this book.
RAIN OF TERROR was written because of my deep and abiding concern for the safety and vulnerability of our children in today’s society and to remind us of our solemn obligation as parents, grandparents, educators, and concerned citizens to protect and safeguard them in every way possible.
http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Terror-Bla...
The finale is fast-paced as one secret after another unfolds in rapid succession. Then just when you think you know all the answers, here comes the final twist, the unexpected surprise, that leads to the sequel, ANGUISH, Book 3 in the series.
Some people have asked me what my thinking was behind the writing of this book.
RAIN OF TERROR was written because of my deep and abiding concern for the safety and vulnerability of our children in today’s society and to remind us of our solemn obligation as parents, grandparents, educators, and concerned citizens to protect and safeguard them in every way possible.
http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Terror-Bla...
July 20, 2014
I just finished reading Rain of Terror. Being a mystery fan, my expectations with this book was high, it doesn’t disappoint. The story takes place in town of Black lick Valley, calmness of which was disrupted by the sudden kidnapping of young boys. I like small place stories where everyone knows everyone and have a say in each other’s life. The author has done a commendable job to slow burn the suspense, keep the readers engaged till the very end. The town has been created with proper introduction to many characters and you can almost feel living in it.
What doesn’t click for me is the way story concludes. The ending was something you don’t see coming. Nor you can imagine. That doesn’t means it’s not properly executed, it just means you don’t get a chance to be SHERLOCK and needs to wait for the protagonist to unravel it. Secondly, I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, so as it happens when the book tries to focus on many people. Jed was okay, a very usual sheriff- nothing different about him. Jenny is your goody goody mom who predictably falls for the sheriff- one who can support her boy and provide both a sense of SECURITY. The cover art could have been more revealing. I found little punctuation issues though they are ignorable and doesn’t obstruct the flow.
The writing style is beautiful and makes reading a real fun. The mystery is strong, so readers would struggle to leave the book in between. Overall, Rain of Terror is right there at the top of mystery stacks. I’d recommend it to folks having even slight interest in this genre.
What doesn’t click for me is the way story concludes. The ending was something you don’t see coming. Nor you can imagine. That doesn’t means it’s not properly executed, it just means you don’t get a chance to be SHERLOCK and needs to wait for the protagonist to unravel it. Secondly, I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, so as it happens when the book tries to focus on many people. Jed was okay, a very usual sheriff- nothing different about him. Jenny is your goody goody mom who predictably falls for the sheriff- one who can support her boy and provide both a sense of SECURITY. The cover art could have been more revealing. I found little punctuation issues though they are ignorable and doesn’t obstruct the flow.
The writing style is beautiful and makes reading a real fun. The mystery is strong, so readers would struggle to leave the book in between. Overall, Rain of Terror is right there at the top of mystery stacks. I’d recommend it to folks having even slight interest in this genre.
June 20, 2014
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a beautifully written mystery set in Blacklick Valley, PA. Jed Tyler, sheriff of this small town, is on a mission to solve the mystery of the disappearance of two young boys. As the story unfolds so do the twists and turns, keeping the reader glued to the pages. I especially love the way the author paints such vivid scenes with great writing ability and finesse.
My only issue is that the majority of the characters' names started with "J" which sometimes added a bit of confusion to the storyline. I am hoping that there will be a sequel in the near future. If so, I will be sure to read it.
I highly recommend this book. Well done, Ms. Donna Cummins!
This is a beautifully written mystery set in Blacklick Valley, PA. Jed Tyler, sheriff of this small town, is on a mission to solve the mystery of the disappearance of two young boys. As the story unfolds so do the twists and turns, keeping the reader glued to the pages. I especially love the way the author paints such vivid scenes with great writing ability and finesse.
My only issue is that the majority of the characters' names started with "J" which sometimes added a bit of confusion to the storyline. I am hoping that there will be a sequel in the near future. If so, I will be sure to read it.
I highly recommend this book. Well done, Ms. Donna Cummins!
February 25, 2015
I had no qualms about rating RAIN OF TERROR as 5 stars. I enjoyed this book right from the beginning all the way to the end. Once I started reading it, I found it nearly impossible to put it down. Donna Cummins has a wonderful gift with words. Her descriptions allowed me to visualize the scenery, buildings, towns, and especially the characters. I felt like I was right there as the story unfolded. In addition to having the gift of putting the wording together properly, I believe writers also need to be a good story teller. Ms Cummins did a great job of developing the story line and the characters and weaving everything together in an intriguing mystery while integrating a few surprises along the way. Well done, Donna Cummins.
March 28, 2015
I really liked this book and loved the feel of the small valley of Blacklick. It is in this valley where the horrible kidnappings of young boys happen and small town sheriff Jed Tyler is at wits end trying to figure out who could have taken the boys. Along the way, Jed meets newcomer to the town Jenny McConnell and her son Timmy. He is trying to start a relationship with this woman who he knows is something special, while he is also trying to solve the mysterious kidnappings. This book had enough suspense and mystery to keep the reader interested and a filling in of background information to keep readers mystified.
June 2, 2014
Wonderful story! It kept me on the edge of my seat, but more than that, the style is reminiscent of the richly worded thrillers of more classic stories. I have to say I was drawn in both by the language and the captivating tale. I look forward to reading more from this author--she has a real talent. I'm hoping for a possible sequel to the first...an opening was certainly left for it. Well done. Powerful read.
June 26, 2014
Rain of Terror Review
I have Rain of Terror 5 stars. For the most part this book had me on edge wanting to know who did it. I didn't see the ending coming which was marvelous, because I am great at seeing how a book will enf by the half way point. There were moments where I was crying, moments I was so angry at a character, and I had some etc moments. Rain of Terror was very well put together and flowed amazingly. I am looking forward to the second book.
I have Rain of Terror 5 stars. For the most part this book had me on edge wanting to know who did it. I didn't see the ending coming which was marvelous, because I am great at seeing how a book will enf by the half way point. There were moments where I was crying, moments I was so angry at a character, and I had some etc moments. Rain of Terror was very well put together and flowed amazingly. I am looking forward to the second book.
September 28, 2014
Rain of Terror is a good book but a slow read. I prefer more fast-paced thrillers. I also didn't like when the perspective briefly changed to adjacent characters within the same scene. The characters were likeable and the story was interesting. In fact, I think the story's strongest point was its plot. I found the backstories and 'what-has-happened-here-in-this-town' stories more interesting than hearing about the main characters lives. 3 out of 5 stars.
June 4, 2016
Blacklick Valley my new favorite place to visit
Nothing makes me happier or poorer than finding a new series to immerse myself in (although this book was given to me free in an exchange for an honest review). Mystery, suspense, and romance what could be better? I didn't see the villain or the ending coming! A must read.
Nothing makes me happier or poorer than finding a new series to immerse myself in (although this book was given to me free in an exchange for an honest review). Mystery, suspense, and romance what could be better? I didn't see the villain or the ending coming! A must read.
April 30, 2014
This was an excellent book, I couldn't put it down because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I would highly recommend this book to any one who want's an exellent read. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
May 21, 2015
Riveting
Cummins has turned out a suspense-filled page Turner that deals with missing children and the efforts of the sheriff and other law enforcement officials to find them before it's too late. There's a nice romance for the sheriff as well. Highly recommended.
Cummins has turned out a suspense-filled page Turner that deals with missing children and the efforts of the sheriff and other law enforcement officials to find them before it's too late. There's a nice romance for the sheriff as well. Highly recommended.
September 20, 2016
Fantastic. This is what I would call a Mystery... Had me on the edge of my seat from Page 1 to the very end. Can't wait to read the next one..
I recommend this book to any adult over the age of Sixteen. It was a little scary and little gruesome in places.
I recommend this book to any adult over the age of Sixteen. It was a little scary and little gruesome in places.
July 15, 2015
Real page turner
I had no idea where this story was going to end up. I look forward to reading more books by Ms Cummins.
I had no idea where this story was going to end up. I look forward to reading more books by Ms Cummins.
July 13, 2014
i enjoyed reading the rain of terror...i read it from cover to cover and couldn't put it down...i know i'll read more books by donna cummins in the future
September 22, 2015
Suspenseful
Very good book full of twist and turns. You will enjoy it right up until the last page of book
Very good book full of twist and turns. You will enjoy it right up until the last page of book
September 24, 2018
Jenny McConnell has picked the wrong time to move to Blacklick Valley with her young son. A young boy has been kidnapped and Sheriff Jed Tyler's investigation is going nowhere. Then, another child is kidnapped and his mother killed. The town is in an uproar over the lack of progress and Jenny is terrified that her child may be next. Good story line-thought I knew who the kidnapper was but was pleasantly surprised when the kidnapper was revealed. Good mystery read with some romance thrown in. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
February 5, 2020
Being from Western Pa., I enjoyed reading about familiar places. The book was entertaining, but I found that the author used a bit too much "flowering description" . I do, however, look forward to reading more of the Blacklick Valley Mysteries.
June 30, 2021
Life in a small town is beautifully expressed. With the frequent storms, there is a real sense of place. The mystery/suspense element didn't really work for me.
July 25, 2014
The title suggests a horror story with paranormal effects. Indeed, Cummins snags us from the beginning with the scene of a boy fleeing for his life through a deluge. As we read on, we discover that the storms, though beautifully described, are nothing more than normal phenomena that frighten certain characters.
After the initial opening that suggests horror, we meet Jenny McConnell and her 6-year-old son, Timmy, who are moving to the quiet and safe community of Blacklick Valley. Except it is no longer safe. Boys disappear without so much as a demand from a kidnapper for ransom. Sheriff Jed Tyler is overwhelmed, but it doesn't stop him from falling for Jenny, whose son is soon targeted by the kidnapper. Consequently we find ourselves involved with romance as well as mystery. And because the point of view is universal, it is the early romantic interest between Jenny and Jed that lets us know who the protagonists are.
I have no complaints over the shifting point of view. The author uses it to bring a sense of the ominous at a chapter or section ending. I particularly like the cat's perspective.
At times the telling is exquisite with detail and atmosphere. The characters are distinct. The writing is active and vivid. We have a sense of author expertise in describing the investigation of the crimes.
However the writing is uneven, indicating the novel was published too soon. It needs line editing, to polish sentences, to check for proper word use, and to jettison wordiness and redundancy and the tendency to over explain. Also we are flooded with names, some of which could be omitted.
Nevertheless, here is an intense tale with a surprise ending that clears up more than one mystery.
After the initial opening that suggests horror, we meet Jenny McConnell and her 6-year-old son, Timmy, who are moving to the quiet and safe community of Blacklick Valley. Except it is no longer safe. Boys disappear without so much as a demand from a kidnapper for ransom. Sheriff Jed Tyler is overwhelmed, but it doesn't stop him from falling for Jenny, whose son is soon targeted by the kidnapper. Consequently we find ourselves involved with romance as well as mystery. And because the point of view is universal, it is the early romantic interest between Jenny and Jed that lets us know who the protagonists are.
I have no complaints over the shifting point of view. The author uses it to bring a sense of the ominous at a chapter or section ending. I particularly like the cat's perspective.
At times the telling is exquisite with detail and atmosphere. The characters are distinct. The writing is active and vivid. We have a sense of author expertise in describing the investigation of the crimes.
However the writing is uneven, indicating the novel was published too soon. It needs line editing, to polish sentences, to check for proper word use, and to jettison wordiness and redundancy and the tendency to over explain. Also we are flooded with names, some of which could be omitted.
Nevertheless, here is an intense tale with a surprise ending that clears up more than one mystery.
November 2, 2014
This is a fast-paced mystery/thriller set in the mountains of western Pennsylvania--a classic 'Who-Dunnit'--that will keep you on the edge of your seat as the story intensifies. The characters are warm, realistic, and well-developed, and the setting is described in rich detail keeping to the authenticity of the locale and culture.
The story begins with a child vanishing on his way home from school, then another is abducted from his bedroom on a stormy night. A young mother is murdered in her bed. When another young boy is targeted, the confidence of our protagonist, Sheriff Jed Tyler, is shaken; and he renews his efforts to find the madman who threatens Blacklick Valley--efforts which will careen him across country to a distant satanic cult in the Sierra Nevada's.
The following excerpt exemplifies the pace and style of the writing:
“The child ran through the dark forest, sobbing, breathless, oblivious to the driving rain that soaked his matted hair and plastered the flimsy shirt against his skin. Jagged streaks of lightning cut across the night sky, creating a stark backdrop for the swaying black oaks silhouetted above him. He ran, stumbled, fell, and ran again, heart pounding in his thin chest, the sound of his own blood roaring in his ears. Cold rain stabbed like prickly needles at his face and bare arms, and clutching fingers of underbrush tore at his clothing. But still he ran, driven not by reason or logic but by basic primal instinct—the instinct to survive.”
The story begins with a child vanishing on his way home from school, then another is abducted from his bedroom on a stormy night. A young mother is murdered in her bed. When another young boy is targeted, the confidence of our protagonist, Sheriff Jed Tyler, is shaken; and he renews his efforts to find the madman who threatens Blacklick Valley--efforts which will careen him across country to a distant satanic cult in the Sierra Nevada's.
The following excerpt exemplifies the pace and style of the writing:
“The child ran through the dark forest, sobbing, breathless, oblivious to the driving rain that soaked his matted hair and plastered the flimsy shirt against his skin. Jagged streaks of lightning cut across the night sky, creating a stark backdrop for the swaying black oaks silhouetted above him. He ran, stumbled, fell, and ran again, heart pounding in his thin chest, the sound of his own blood roaring in his ears. Cold rain stabbed like prickly needles at his face and bare arms, and clutching fingers of underbrush tore at his clothing. But still he ran, driven not by reason or logic but by basic primal instinct—the instinct to survive.”
September 22, 2014
Rain of Terror is a solid story with characters who feel realistic without being boring. The pace is kind-of slow, but I suspect this is intentional by the author. Perhaps "languid" is a better word for the pace. For the first two thirds we get roughly equal weight to the personal as we do to the awful crimes being committed and the subsequent investigation, so readers looking for a novel that pleases on both fronts should enjoy this novel. If you want a break-neck pacy thriller you should probably pass. The final third really picks up the pace, and knits the two halves nicely, and even though I say it was a little "languid" it was never boring. One for the sofa or the beach rather than your morning/evening commute.
May 2, 2014
3.5 stars. Really enjoyed the writing and the mystery was a good one. I am not sure the sheriff's behavior was always believable. Would he be picnicking for a day when his friend's son had just been kidnapped? I didn't think it showed the fierce dedication to his town as was described. The author's writing style was really so beautiful that I would be interested in reading it where the subject matter was not so grim! Overall, a really good read. Warning: the book does contain several scenes with unsettling animal issues.
April 2, 2016
Too descriptive. History of characters too many times. Too much world building whole describing an action for my tastes. I struggled through a few pages before dropping the book. The language is very fluent though and the concept sounded very interesting too.
June 13, 2015
The book takes place in my hometown area so I was excited to read it. It was good but didnt grab me like I had hoped.
April 12, 2016
Great book
Kept me interested. Well developed plot and characters. The ending was rather disappointing, but other than that I enjoyed it.
Kept me interested. Well developed plot and characters. The ending was rather disappointing, but other than that I enjoyed it.
April 12, 2016
Child abduction, torture - sad, heavy plot but keeps interest. Read in daytime.
TTS-enabled. _2012
TTS-enabled. _2012
September 1, 2016
Excellent
Very good, read the story in one day. Kept my interest throughout. Great editing and likeable characters. Reading the next.
Very good, read the story in one day. Kept my interest throughout. Great editing and likeable characters. Reading the next.
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