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The Lykanos Chronicles #1
Criminal Beware
California, 1922. Terror grips the growing coastal city of San Diego.
A serial murderer has dumped the remains of his latest victim in the lake beneath the Cabrillo Bridge. Police have discovered no suspect or motive to explain the violent deaths nor any link between the victims. Authorities post signs throughout the city’s neighborhoods to proclaim:
CRIMINAL BEWARE - You Are Being Watched
When Daniel Archer arrives in San Diego, a dark vision of the city’s next murder seizes him. The young hotel executive has moved from New York to take control of the luxurious U.S. Grant Hotel. Gabrielle Roussade, a wealthy young heiress and significant hotel shareholder, welcomes Archer with a dinner party thrown in his honor. His evening of introductions and partying halts a terrifying vision of a dinner guest’s throat being ripped from his body seizes his mind.
When police find the man in Archer’s vision murdered days later, Roussade and her remaining guests find themselves at the center of a criminal investigation. In search of a protector, the young man becomes the heiress’s closest confidant and lover.
Can Archer’s visions save Roussade from a savage killer’s wrath?
The Lykanos Chronicles are dark fantasy, stand-alone memoirs that may be read independently.
A serial murderer has dumped the remains of his latest victim in the lake beneath the Cabrillo Bridge. Police have discovered no suspect or motive to explain the violent deaths nor any link between the victims. Authorities post signs throughout the city’s neighborhoods to proclaim:
CRIMINAL BEWARE - You Are Being Watched
When Daniel Archer arrives in San Diego, a dark vision of the city’s next murder seizes him. The young hotel executive has moved from New York to take control of the luxurious U.S. Grant Hotel. Gabrielle Roussade, a wealthy young heiress and significant hotel shareholder, welcomes Archer with a dinner party thrown in his honor. His evening of introductions and partying halts a terrifying vision of a dinner guest’s throat being ripped from his body seizes his mind.
When police find the man in Archer’s vision murdered days later, Roussade and her remaining guests find themselves at the center of a criminal investigation. In search of a protector, the young man becomes the heiress’s closest confidant and lover.
Can Archer’s visions save Roussade from a savage killer’s wrath?
The Lykanos Chronicles are dark fantasy, stand-alone memoirs that may be read independently.
Audiobook
First published October 1, 2019
About the author
Joseph Stone
11 books18 followersJoseph Stone is a historical, dark-fantasy novelist who lives in San Diego, California. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from San Diego State University and a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 19, 2020
this was a great start in the series, I liked the characters and I really enjoyed the plot and reading it. I loved the mystery and horror combination as I think they work really well together in the book.
July 25, 2020
Interesting take on Lykans. I look forward to the next in the series.
The murderer was exactly who i thought despite events that threatened my mind. There was a bit of foreshadowing, I felt, when he first moves into his house. Whether intentional or not, I picked up on something that would later happen.
Loved San Diego being the backdrop for the novel. Even though it's a 1920s version, the locale is very recognizable..I enjoyed the speakeasy part.
The murderer was exactly who i thought despite events that threatened my mind. There was a bit of foreshadowing, I felt, when he first moves into his house. Whether intentional or not, I picked up on something that would later happen.
Loved San Diego being the backdrop for the novel. Even though it's a 1920s version, the locale is very recognizable..I enjoyed the speakeasy part.
October 2, 2021
Excellent
I read book 2 first and was amaze by how well written it was so I had to read book 1. It is quite tamed compared to Book 2 but a great read. I must find Henry's chapter. This author is THE REAL DEAL! A rarity these days! Keep up the great work and you have a fan in me! I recommended you to all my avid reader friends and they all agree with me!
I read book 2 first and was amaze by how well written it was so I had to read book 1. It is quite tamed compared to Book 2 but a great read. I must find Henry's chapter. This author is THE REAL DEAL! A rarity these days! Keep up the great work and you have a fan in me! I recommended you to all my avid reader friends and they all agree with me!
February 9, 2021
I am a fan
I love love loved it. So well done I am intrigued and will continue this series of standalone chronicles.... you should too.
I love love loved it. So well done I am intrigued and will continue this series of standalone chronicles.... you should too.
September 9, 2020
Intriguing start
The story did a fantastic job of creating and describing that 1940s world plus I loved the bits of real life history brought into it. However, I wish the wolf element had been stronger and didn't feel like so much information was rushed to reveal toward the end. The way wolves were presented and the unique way they passed it onto others intrigued me, though the feeling of the explanation being rushed kind of took away from a more gradual reveal that would have helped build investment.
The story did a fantastic job of creating and describing that 1940s world plus I loved the bits of real life history brought into it. However, I wish the wolf element had been stronger and didn't feel like so much information was rushed to reveal toward the end. The way wolves were presented and the unique way they passed it onto others intrigued me, though the feeling of the explanation being rushed kind of took away from a more gradual reveal that would have helped build investment.
September 14, 2020
The Plaza Hotel Manhattan, NYC, NY. Lewis E. Riley (immediate supervisor, Westchester Corp. E. regional director) was offering Daniel Archer (Westchester Corp. hotel executive) about a chance of a lifetime for him.
Ruth (lover) was not pleased at all when Daniel told her he was moving.
She left his apartment door wide open on her way out, & Daniel never saw her again.
San Diego, CA. U.S. Grant Hotel. Bivouac Grill restaurant. Mr. Johnathan Richardson (husband, Westchester Corp. deputy regional director) greeted/welcomed Daniel when he arrived.
Mission Hills (San Diego River valley) Saint James Place. Daniel was shown his new house & a 1922 royal-blue Duesenberg Straight-8 convertible roadster comes with the deal.
U.S. Grant Hotel. Bivouac Grill restaurant. It was Daniel 1st day on the job.
Picking up the AM paper the front-page headline: Third Victim Identified in Cabrillo Bridge Murders discovered in the central park.
Henry Jackson introduced himself to Daniel. He is employed by M. Gabrielle Borchardt Roussade (widow, wealthy young heiress, Westchester Corp. hotel shareholder).
2/11/1922, 2055 Sunset Blvd. Mission Hills Mission Hills (San Diego River valley). Henry Jackson (butler) announced Daniel’s arrival for dinner to Gabrielle, Dr. Charlotte Baker (mother, San Diego Club Chair), Molly Baker (daughter), Ida Irvin (wife, Eleanor’s BFF), Morris Irvin (husband), Martin Jenson (Gabrielle’s attorney, law partner), Jeremy Ebink (law partner), Mr. Johnathan Richardson (husband, Westchester Corp. deputy regional director), & Mrs. Eleanor Richardson (Johnathan’s wife).
Valentine’s Day newspaper headline read Body of local attorney Jeremy Ebink discovered by SDPD under the Cabrillo Bridge. 3 other bodies were found also.
Detective Michael O’Connor (San Diego PD) & Officer Rizzo (San Diego PD asst.) were doing the murder investigation.
Later, Detective O’Connor gave Daniel the news he didn’t want to hear Gabrielle arrested on suspicion of a deadly assault.
The San Diego PD have irrefutable evidence that Mr. Johnathan Richardson is the Cabrillo Bridge murderer.
News headline: Cabrillo murder suspect captured.
San Diego, CA. Balboa Park. What were Daniel & Gabrielle discussion?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written paranormal book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters & facts to keep track of. This could also make another great paranormal movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an amazingly easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Silver Lion Publishing; ChoosyBookworm; YourNewBooks; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Ruth (lover) was not pleased at all when Daniel told her he was moving.
She left his apartment door wide open on her way out, & Daniel never saw her again.
San Diego, CA. U.S. Grant Hotel. Bivouac Grill restaurant. Mr. Johnathan Richardson (husband, Westchester Corp. deputy regional director) greeted/welcomed Daniel when he arrived.
Mission Hills (San Diego River valley) Saint James Place. Daniel was shown his new house & a 1922 royal-blue Duesenberg Straight-8 convertible roadster comes with the deal.
U.S. Grant Hotel. Bivouac Grill restaurant. It was Daniel 1st day on the job.
Picking up the AM paper the front-page headline: Third Victim Identified in Cabrillo Bridge Murders discovered in the central park.
Henry Jackson introduced himself to Daniel. He is employed by M. Gabrielle Borchardt Roussade (widow, wealthy young heiress, Westchester Corp. hotel shareholder).
2/11/1922, 2055 Sunset Blvd. Mission Hills Mission Hills (San Diego River valley). Henry Jackson (butler) announced Daniel’s arrival for dinner to Gabrielle, Dr. Charlotte Baker (mother, San Diego Club Chair), Molly Baker (daughter), Ida Irvin (wife, Eleanor’s BFF), Morris Irvin (husband), Martin Jenson (Gabrielle’s attorney, law partner), Jeremy Ebink (law partner), Mr. Johnathan Richardson (husband, Westchester Corp. deputy regional director), & Mrs. Eleanor Richardson (Johnathan’s wife).
Valentine’s Day newspaper headline read Body of local attorney Jeremy Ebink discovered by SDPD under the Cabrillo Bridge. 3 other bodies were found also.
Detective Michael O’Connor (San Diego PD) & Officer Rizzo (San Diego PD asst.) were doing the murder investigation.
Later, Detective O’Connor gave Daniel the news he didn’t want to hear Gabrielle arrested on suspicion of a deadly assault.
The San Diego PD have irrefutable evidence that Mr. Johnathan Richardson is the Cabrillo Bridge murderer.
News headline: Cabrillo murder suspect captured.
San Diego, CA. Balboa Park. What were Daniel & Gabrielle discussion?
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written paranormal book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters & facts to keep track of. This could also make another great paranormal movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an amazingly easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Silver Lion Publishing; ChoosyBookworm; YourNewBooks; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
September 10, 2019
Stone’s entertaining first installment in The Lykanos Chronicles series set in the 1920s San Diego finds young and ambitious Daniel Archer trying to adjust to his new identity in a city which is rocked by brutal serial killings.
Daniel Archer is a young, striving hotel executive who gets transferred to his company’s San Diego office from Manhattan. Wary of his new surroundings, Daniel meets the young and wealthy widow Gabrielle Roussade and strange things start happening to him. Struggling to understand changes within himself, Daniel finds himself drawn into a murder investigation.
Daniel and Gabrielle are interesting characters, and Stone develops their relationship subtly and convincingly. With its atmospheric setting, the book takes the reader from the Spanish Colonial revival in Mission Hills and the grand Italianate villa to the marvelous U.S. Grant Hotel on Broadway. A few prominent historical figures also make an appearance in the story.
Stone leads readers slowly through a murder investigation to a paranormal shift and neatly ties up all the loose ends, revealing Daniel’s newfound abilities toward the end. The first two-third of the book is heavy on mystery, but Stone’s sudden shift of the story after he introduces the paranormal twist will feel like a betrayal to some mystery lovers as the mystery element gets sidelined in the story. Nonetheless, the depth and passion of Stone’s debut won't disappoint paranormal historical fiction aficionados who love their stories with a diverse set of sparkling casts, an intriguing narrative, and a strong sense of place.
Totally engrossing!
Daniel Archer is a young, striving hotel executive who gets transferred to his company’s San Diego office from Manhattan. Wary of his new surroundings, Daniel meets the young and wealthy widow Gabrielle Roussade and strange things start happening to him. Struggling to understand changes within himself, Daniel finds himself drawn into a murder investigation.
Daniel and Gabrielle are interesting characters, and Stone develops their relationship subtly and convincingly. With its atmospheric setting, the book takes the reader from the Spanish Colonial revival in Mission Hills and the grand Italianate villa to the marvelous U.S. Grant Hotel on Broadway. A few prominent historical figures also make an appearance in the story.
Stone leads readers slowly through a murder investigation to a paranormal shift and neatly ties up all the loose ends, revealing Daniel’s newfound abilities toward the end. The first two-third of the book is heavy on mystery, but Stone’s sudden shift of the story after he introduces the paranormal twist will feel like a betrayal to some mystery lovers as the mystery element gets sidelined in the story. Nonetheless, the depth and passion of Stone’s debut won't disappoint paranormal historical fiction aficionados who love their stories with a diverse set of sparkling casts, an intriguing narrative, and a strong sense of place.
Totally engrossing!
November 8, 2019
Criminal Beware is my first book by Joseph Stone. Though I liked the premise of this book some things were missing for me.
1. The process of becoming a Lycan is only very vaguely explained. It definitely need some serious explaining because these Lycans seem very interesting and something new.
2. Character development: well I couldn’t detect any. The main character Daniel seems nice but that is all. Gabrielle has potential, she must have some pretty crazy past but only bits are revealed in the first book.
3. The description says the story focuses on a couple of murders, a city gripped by terror but these murders were only in the background, the prepetrator and the cause explained awyay in a couple of sentences. Instead there were chapters upon chapters about what Daniel does during his days and his pining for Gabrielle.
All in all ths way an okay story and could get better later in the series.
Thank you to NeGalley and the publisher for my copy. All opinions are my own.
1. The process of becoming a Lycan is only very vaguely explained. It definitely need some serious explaining because these Lycans seem very interesting and something new.
2. Character development: well I couldn’t detect any. The main character Daniel seems nice but that is all. Gabrielle has potential, she must have some pretty crazy past but only bits are revealed in the first book.
3. The description says the story focuses on a couple of murders, a city gripped by terror but these murders were only in the background, the prepetrator and the cause explained awyay in a couple of sentences. Instead there were chapters upon chapters about what Daniel does during his days and his pining for Gabrielle.
All in all ths way an okay story and could get better later in the series.
Thank you to NeGalley and the publisher for my copy. All opinions are my own.
December 3, 2019
Since I am from San Diego, when I read the description about the Cabrillo Bridge I was intrigued, especially since I drove back and forth under the Cabrillo Bridge for work for many years. I did not know this was a paranormal story but was pleasantly surprised. This takes place in the early 1920’s so the language is from that time rather than now. The characters were so interesting as was the story line. I really liked this book—it kept me thinking about it long after I finished reading it.
February 17, 2025
Well written; attention to detail and captivating storyline!
Thoroughly enjoyed and disappointed when turned the page and the story had ended!
Thoroughly enjoyed and disappointed when turned the page and the story had ended!
October 16, 2020
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this.
Daniel Archer has come to San Diego to manage a hotel there. He is invited to a party and meets the beautiful and intriguing Gabrielle Roussade. After the party a guest is murdered and Archer had a vision of the murder. How did he have the vision and what does it mean for him.
This was an interesting read but not quite what I was expecting, I thought it was more of a murder mystery but it has a very paranormal feel. It focuses more on Gabrielle and Daniel than the murders. That being said I enjoyed the setting and the atmosphere created. I liked Daniel as well. The plot was quite slow but built to an interesting ending. I did guess who the murderer was though. Maybe not the book for me but it was well written.
Daniel Archer has come to San Diego to manage a hotel there. He is invited to a party and meets the beautiful and intriguing Gabrielle Roussade. After the party a guest is murdered and Archer had a vision of the murder. How did he have the vision and what does it mean for him.
This was an interesting read but not quite what I was expecting, I thought it was more of a murder mystery but it has a very paranormal feel. It focuses more on Gabrielle and Daniel than the murders. That being said I enjoyed the setting and the atmosphere created. I liked Daniel as well. The plot was quite slow but built to an interesting ending. I did guess who the murderer was though. Maybe not the book for me but it was well written.
January 24, 2024
I’m not sure exactly what I’d expected but it wasn’t this. To be fair it’s a hard book to pin down. Yes there’s a killer and yes Daniel has a vision of one of the murders but…
That’s not quite it.
Anyway I’m not sure where to start with this review.
It’s a well written descriptive read but…
for me far too much time was spent with Daniel. His thoughts, his need for Gabrielle and just his daily routine. The murders were sort of in the background to a certain extend and brushed aside very quickly.
It was definitely a slow build and maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for it.
I’m not ruling out continuing on but it won’t be now.
That’s not quite it.
Anyway I’m not sure where to start with this review.
It’s a well written descriptive read but…
for me far too much time was spent with Daniel. His thoughts, his need for Gabrielle and just his daily routine. The murders were sort of in the background to a certain extend and brushed aside very quickly.
It was definitely a slow build and maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for it.
I’m not ruling out continuing on but it won’t be now.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews