Spirit of Suspense

by C. Rae D'Arc

NO PHANTOM CHASES BETTER THAN THE PAST

The secret’s out. Private Investigator Aeron Spade isn’t just Noir’s best spiritual sleuth; he’s also heir to a royal duchy in the land of Fantasy. But abductions for ransom won’t stop him from hunting for answers or helping his amnesiac partner, Nita Incog, uncover the truth of her past. When a lead points to Arrowhead (a covert organization in the land of Thriller), Aeron and Nita arrange a facility tour. Hopes run high until Aeron receives conflicting news that his grandfather, the duke, is dying. Duty calls him home to confront the world he left behind and the title he never wanted.

With a literal deadline, Aeron must decide whether to accept his birthright or abandon it forever. As he and Nita draw closer—to the truth and to each other—revelations put them in enemy territory, and their hearts on the line. One thing Aeron knows for sure: he was not born for car chases, shoot-outs, and a life on the run.

For fans of high action romance, like "Jason Bourne" and "Mission Impossible" stories, plus a flair of supernatural fantasy!

LANGUAGE: none - replacement words only
VIOLENCE: 12+ high suspense, villain deaths, hero injuries
ROMANCE: 12+ passionate kisses only
TRIGGERS: ghosts/poltergeist, PTSD, scotophobia (fear of dark places), manslaughter, murder (off screen), betrayal, black ops, abduction, torture.

268 pages, Paperback

Published January 16, 2026

About the author

C Rae D'Arc has been involved in every stage of a book's life. As a writer, editor, retailer, reader, and reviewer, she has worked four part-time jobs at once. Thankfully, one of them actually paid her. She received her Bachelor's in English from Brigham Young University and now lives in the Tri-Cities of Washington with her husband and Aussie dog.
Next Release: "Spirit of Suspense: Dead and Back Again #2"
PS. To save you from hiccups, D'Arc only has one syllable.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

C. Rae D’Arc’s Dead and Back Again series chronicles the life of private investigator Aeron Spade, also known as Earl Aeron Fromm, the Haunted, of Margen. He lives in the magical world of Novel where each “land” represents a literary genre.
Spirit of Suspense continues the delightful stories in Novel where, from chapter to chapter, the reader may encounter anything from talking bears to modern, gun-toting assassins. This series achieves the promises of the variety of a multiverse without the downsides of that tired stereotype. Your engagement in the novel will likely be measured by how much you enjoy James Bond thrillers with a mix of fantasy. The plot has shadow organizations, car chases, safe houses, teleporting light sources, and even a magic hat.
Overall, Spirit of Suspense is an exciting read, stuffed with gadgets and magic galore. If the two prior Dead and Back Again offerings entertained you, this novel will continue the trend.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you been waiting for Nita to find out who she is? Her amnesia has blocked her from remembering who she is, but it hasn't made her lose any of her incredible skills! Thankfully she's on Aeron Spade's side! I love watching these two work together and combining their incredible skills and knowledge! Add in the banter between them and the brewing chemistry! I was once again hooked from the get go with this second book in the Dead and Back Again series! Each book this author has written with Aeron and Nita have been very captivating and I love getting to see what's next for them. And let me tell you, I'm really interested to see what comes next for them after reading this one. We get lots of answers, but then I have lots more questions!

The author gives us a really fun bonus story for what happens after this book ends. It made me very happy and set up the next book very nicely. This is my second time reading the book and being immersed in their story!

From the opening scene, the author had me laughing out loud...a lot! The humor in these books will have all readers connecting even more with the characters! They're funny and real and say it like it is but with the added humor it creates a great comic relief to the mystery and suspense happening. The twists and turns kept me guessing and recalculating my guesses. I love when an author can keep me guessing throughout the book to figure out what the end game is.

There's still romance brewing between Aeron and Nita and their friendship that has continued to strengthen and grow. Just sweet little things that will have you hoping for a happy ending for these two. You'll have to read the book to figure out if they get it. There are definitely some things that stand in their way, and more to come, but you'll see what I mean when you read it. You'll love seeing previous characters show up and meeting new characters as well.

Content: I consider this a clean read. This is what the author listed as content for her readers-
LANGUAGE: none - replacement words only
VIOLENCE: 12+ high suspense, villain deaths, threats of torture
ROMANCE: 12+ passionate kisses only
TRIGGERS: ghosts/poltergeist, PTSD, scotophobia (fear of dark places), manslaughter, murder (off screen), betrayal, black ops, abduction, torture.

I received a copy from the author but have also purchased my own copy. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Jazmin Lister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nita, one of my favorite characters from the series, finally got her day! She is absolutely the star of the show and Arron, is the awesome almost romantic interest.

I can’t wait for more!!