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Umbra
Currently Published Under the Title:
Umbra: Shadows Over Hinge
No one knows how long ago the Visitation occurred, but the catastrophic event left mankind with little more than memories and ruins. The Circuit insulated a ring of communities from the descendants of society's dregs -looters, slavers, robbers, murderers- and promised a revival of civilization for the citizens who called it home. Hinge sat at its heart, a thriving capitol of trade and industry, and even spirituality, as the home of the Hosts of the Visitation and their patron, Umbra. But something feels very wrong, as maverick Vera Lynde senses on her return from the latest bride train run. Someone murders her good friend, the amiable Brother Adams of the Hosts, and steals a relic priceless to their order. The task falls to relative outsider Vera to take up the role of detective, along with some old and new allies, in order to break through the facades of the small city's denizens, to investigate the shadows and uproot scandals and plots reaching further than Circuit, maybe all the way to the Margin. Risking her home, her livelihood, and even her life, Vera seeks to bring back the relic -and justice-to the people of Hinge.
Novel
Umbra: Shadows Over Hinge
No one knows how long ago the Visitation occurred, but the catastrophic event left mankind with little more than memories and ruins. The Circuit insulated a ring of communities from the descendants of society's dregs -looters, slavers, robbers, murderers- and promised a revival of civilization for the citizens who called it home. Hinge sat at its heart, a thriving capitol of trade and industry, and even spirituality, as the home of the Hosts of the Visitation and their patron, Umbra. But something feels very wrong, as maverick Vera Lynde senses on her return from the latest bride train run. Someone murders her good friend, the amiable Brother Adams of the Hosts, and steals a relic priceless to their order. The task falls to relative outsider Vera to take up the role of detective, along with some old and new allies, in order to break through the facades of the small city's denizens, to investigate the shadows and uproot scandals and plots reaching further than Circuit, maybe all the way to the Margin. Risking her home, her livelihood, and even her life, Vera seeks to bring back the relic -and justice-to the people of Hinge.
Novel
ebook
First published March 10, 2014
About the author
T.R. Neff
10 books1 followerHead on over to her blog (link below), or sign up for the free newsletter here to get all of the latest, including updates on her current WIP, the sequel to Umbra: Shadows Over Hinge.
T. R. Neff, "Torrie" to her friends.
She refuses to be pigeonholed as a writer, and prefers the following genres:
Post-Apocalyptic Mysteries
Black-Humored, Roman-flavored and/or Eschatological Fantasy
Psychodramatic, Atavistic Horror (the more Lovecraftian / Barkerish, the better)
In other words, whatever the hell she feels like writing.
She loves Jesus/God/Holy Spirit, her parents and grandparents, peeps (the baby birds and her friends), opals (black, fire, milky!), MMA fighting, guns, Mustangs (all three kinds), her US Navy and shipmates, goats, rhinos (animal themes here, hm...), etc.
Contrary to popular belief (and outrageous* rumors), she's been VERY female all of her life and intends to keep it that way.
*Credit goes to John Cleese and the rest of the Monty Python crew for use of his Holy Grail pronunciation of "outrageous." I am ever indebted...
T. R. Neff, "Torrie" to her friends.
She refuses to be pigeonholed as a writer, and prefers the following genres:
Post-Apocalyptic Mysteries
Black-Humored, Roman-flavored and/or Eschatological Fantasy
Psychodramatic, Atavistic Horror (the more Lovecraftian / Barkerish, the better)
In other words, whatever the hell she feels like writing.
She loves Jesus/God/Holy Spirit, her parents and grandparents, peeps (the baby birds and her friends), opals (black, fire, milky!), MMA fighting, guns, Mustangs (all three kinds), her US Navy and shipmates, goats, rhinos (animal themes here, hm...), etc.
Contrary to popular belief (and outrageous* rumors), she's been VERY female all of her life and intends to keep it that way.
*Credit goes to John Cleese and the rest of the Monty Python crew for use of his Holy Grail pronunciation of "outrageous." I am ever indebted...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 23, 2024
This one is definitely not one you finish in a day. It's a slower paced mystery then most but the storyline is really engaging. I definitely had trouble finding the guilty party.
It's a futuristic, dystopian like where the workd is mostly desert like, dead land broken up into walled "cities" on a circuit. Vera Lynde or Detective Vera usually works the bride trains, think mail order bride. After the violent murder of her frien Vrother Adams, Vera is assigned to solve the case. Most of the book is the investigation and apprehension of the murderer as well as some other murders to distract from the real case. The relic. It went missing when Brother Adams was shot. With coded messages, weird apparitions, Umbra, their god, lots of drinking, and much more.
The plot may move a little slower than others but that just helps build up the anticipation. I was totally floored at the ending and the short blurb at the book has me so excited for the sequel. There are very few books I rush to check for sequels and this was one of them! Looking for a mystery this is it! Happy reading!
It's a futuristic, dystopian like where the workd is mostly desert like, dead land broken up into walled "cities" on a circuit. Vera Lynde or Detective Vera usually works the bride trains, think mail order bride. After the violent murder of her frien Vrother Adams, Vera is assigned to solve the case. Most of the book is the investigation and apprehension of the murderer as well as some other murders to distract from the real case. The relic. It went missing when Brother Adams was shot. With coded messages, weird apparitions, Umbra, their god, lots of drinking, and much more.
The plot may move a little slower than others but that just helps build up the anticipation. I was totally floored at the ending and the short blurb at the book has me so excited for the sequel. There are very few books I rush to check for sequels and this was one of them! Looking for a mystery this is it! Happy reading!
January 5, 2023
A good read. I enjoyed the post-apocalyptic world created by the author. Some strong characters and a convoluted story kept me engaged from the start. anyone who enjoys dystopian or apocalyptic novels will love this one. There is certainly room for a follow-up.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews