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Stella Hunter Mystery Series: Peacetaker #1
Ribbons of Death
Stella Hunter has stumbled onto an archaeological find of a lifetime. If her suspicions are correct, her tanked career will come out of cold storage and heat up like a rocket and professional redemption will be hers! The Legend of the Peacetaker is true and now she can prove it. The only thing is…she’ll have to live to tell the tale.
Agent Carter believes in the tangible—the here and now, down and dirty real. Curses, ancient relics and superstition have no place in his world…until he meets Stella Hunter. The things he sees and experiences are right out of a dark fantasy complete with murder and supernatural powers of death all against a backdrop of exotic international locales and an eclectic assortment of the rich and famous. Murder, mayhem and mystery, it seems, are the new normal!
Agent Carter believes in the tangible—the here and now, down and dirty real. Curses, ancient relics and superstition have no place in his world…until he meets Stella Hunter. The things he sees and experiences are right out of a dark fantasy complete with murder and supernatural powers of death all against a backdrop of exotic international locales and an eclectic assortment of the rich and famous. Murder, mayhem and mystery, it seems, are the new normal!
372 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2015
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March 16, 2015
Ribbons of Death by Edita A. Petrick is a novel I was looking forward to. I wanted to love this book and its’ angle on Egyptian Mythology. Petrick’s research on world mythology is expansive, but the pacing of the novel is off. Ribbons of Death is fulfilled but not inspired. It’s got every piece I would expect from a thriller-adventure with a supernatural spin, but none of the passion or urgency. The main characters Carter and Dr. Hunter were abrasive, monotonous and underwhelming, even with intimate backstories which should have gripped me emotionally.
The plot was the saving grace. There are gripping moments I clung to in great hope. Given the subject matter of supernatural mass murder and modern terrorism, I should have been deeply affected. When you have nearly a full page in the middle of a car chase down the I-5 where the narrator stops to explain speeding ticket procedures in the United States of America, the action stops and my attention with it. Why did the author include it? I wanted more adventure and less rental cars. I wanted more payoffs in Carter and Hunter’s search, less running around in lazy circles (why travel across a continent when a phone/video call and a series of high resolution pictures would do and if this is a modern adventure, why didn’t seasoned traveller Carter book plane tickets on his cell phone or laptop instead of waiting in line?), a deeper look into the motivations and counterpoints of the antagonists, and a tighter sense of prose.
Petrick does have a solid grasp of plot and the Peacetaker concept is fascinating. But there are several places where Petrick uses the same colloquials and this stumbled my enjoyment. The first time she said a character was “shaking with laughter” or that Carter’s eyelids drooped at Dr. Hunter’s lectures was fine and fun. It approached the ground of the gimmick when they continually reappeared.
It is clear Petrick knows how to write a solid story. What isn’t clear to me is whether Petrick did deep research in American Covert Operations, Department of Justice Contractors, or the FBI. Having a single contractor skip around an entire continent with little shown to his superiors in his efforts, when people were dying in homicidal-rage induced terror attacks is hard to swallow, especially when I felt none of that urgency in Dr. Hunter and Carter’s dialogue. There are a few moments where the main characters seem to feel guilt for putting more people on tertiary searches and passport/background checks. Why? Hundreds of people are dying and as Dr. Hunter puts it, the Peacetaker could put the entire world in danger. The Peacetaker's penchant for turning those around him into homicidal maniacs reminded me of the recently released Colin Firth movie Kingsman: The Secret Service, which I enjoyed.
Likewise, I do find Ribbons of Death entertaining. The seventy fourth page hit me in a glad blur, but that happy blur was lost by the one hundred and fiftieth. Petrick would have been better served to slice the redundancies and asides out of the prose with the Mighty Red Pen. When you read Ribbons of Death, you will encounter a hearty meal of a book, be left entertained and intimately aware of Petrick's folklore and the messiness of divorce.
Ribbons of Death does not disappoint in being a solid bit of fiction, but the pacing, asides and disconnect between character reaction and mood make me disappointed I can’t in good conscience rate the novel higher.
The plot was the saving grace. There are gripping moments I clung to in great hope. Given the subject matter of supernatural mass murder and modern terrorism, I should have been deeply affected. When you have nearly a full page in the middle of a car chase down the I-5 where the narrator stops to explain speeding ticket procedures in the United States of America, the action stops and my attention with it. Why did the author include it? I wanted more adventure and less rental cars. I wanted more payoffs in Carter and Hunter’s search, less running around in lazy circles (why travel across a continent when a phone/video call and a series of high resolution pictures would do and if this is a modern adventure, why didn’t seasoned traveller Carter book plane tickets on his cell phone or laptop instead of waiting in line?), a deeper look into the motivations and counterpoints of the antagonists, and a tighter sense of prose.
Petrick does have a solid grasp of plot and the Peacetaker concept is fascinating. But there are several places where Petrick uses the same colloquials and this stumbled my enjoyment. The first time she said a character was “shaking with laughter” or that Carter’s eyelids drooped at Dr. Hunter’s lectures was fine and fun. It approached the ground of the gimmick when they continually reappeared.
It is clear Petrick knows how to write a solid story. What isn’t clear to me is whether Petrick did deep research in American Covert Operations, Department of Justice Contractors, or the FBI. Having a single contractor skip around an entire continent with little shown to his superiors in his efforts, when people were dying in homicidal-rage induced terror attacks is hard to swallow, especially when I felt none of that urgency in Dr. Hunter and Carter’s dialogue. There are a few moments where the main characters seem to feel guilt for putting more people on tertiary searches and passport/background checks. Why? Hundreds of people are dying and as Dr. Hunter puts it, the Peacetaker could put the entire world in danger. The Peacetaker's penchant for turning those around him into homicidal maniacs reminded me of the recently released Colin Firth movie Kingsman: The Secret Service, which I enjoyed.
Likewise, I do find Ribbons of Death entertaining. The seventy fourth page hit me in a glad blur, but that happy blur was lost by the one hundred and fiftieth. Petrick would have been better served to slice the redundancies and asides out of the prose with the Mighty Red Pen. When you read Ribbons of Death, you will encounter a hearty meal of a book, be left entertained and intimately aware of Petrick's folklore and the messiness of divorce.
Ribbons of Death does not disappoint in being a solid bit of fiction, but the pacing, asides and disconnect between character reaction and mood make me disappointed I can’t in good conscience rate the novel higher.
June 1, 2017
Book Review: Ribbons of Death by Edita A. Petrick
Review by Dawn Thomas
372 Pages
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Women Sleuths, Fantasy, Mythology
Dr. Fineas Gahji is the Assistant Direct of the Cairo Museum of Antiquities. He has tried for ten years to get close to Nicola Moses, an international financier. He convinced a waiter to give Moses a note with a cartouche drawn on it. When Moses saw the cartouche, he summoned Gahji. The powerful amulet could release the Peacetaker, a creature capable of creating chaos.
Pascal Girous, a French reporter, invites Carter, an American hired mercenary to attend a women’s peace march in Cairo. This was an important event since the American Ambassador’s wife and three daughters were participating. The march turns violent for no obvious reason. Carter sustained severe injuries to his face, neck and shoulders but his friend Pascal died.
When information about an amulet surfaced, Carter looked for an expert. He found Stella Hunter who wrote a book on the subject. The two of them travel across the United States speaking with experts. After a few of the experts died unexpectedly in what appear to be accidental deaths, Carter and Stella realize they are working against the clock. They have to solve the puzzle and stop the Peacetaker before they become accidental statistics too.
This is the first book in the Stella Hunter mystery series. It is written in third person and in the present tense. The characters are well developed and the story is fast paced. The story is a great start for the series. When I finished the book, I could not wait to start the next one. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys mysteries or mythology.
Review by Dawn Thomas
372 Pages
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Women Sleuths, Fantasy, Mythology
Dr. Fineas Gahji is the Assistant Direct of the Cairo Museum of Antiquities. He has tried for ten years to get close to Nicola Moses, an international financier. He convinced a waiter to give Moses a note with a cartouche drawn on it. When Moses saw the cartouche, he summoned Gahji. The powerful amulet could release the Peacetaker, a creature capable of creating chaos.
Pascal Girous, a French reporter, invites Carter, an American hired mercenary to attend a women’s peace march in Cairo. This was an important event since the American Ambassador’s wife and three daughters were participating. The march turns violent for no obvious reason. Carter sustained severe injuries to his face, neck and shoulders but his friend Pascal died.
When information about an amulet surfaced, Carter looked for an expert. He found Stella Hunter who wrote a book on the subject. The two of them travel across the United States speaking with experts. After a few of the experts died unexpectedly in what appear to be accidental deaths, Carter and Stella realize they are working against the clock. They have to solve the puzzle and stop the Peacetaker before they become accidental statistics too.
This is the first book in the Stella Hunter mystery series. It is written in third person and in the present tense. The characters are well developed and the story is fast paced. The story is a great start for the series. When I finished the book, I could not wait to start the next one. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys mysteries or mythology.
April 27, 2016
Forget about romance. It is not romantic at all, at least in my understanding of the word. But it is a good thriller or suspense novel. Yet that is not the main interest from my point of view. The thriller is well structured and constructed but we know the end even before we start reading: it will have a happy ending. We know that because the characters pretend to be human and even humane from the very start. The point of view is not that of the terrorists, since we are dealing with that kind of suspense, not that of the victims but that of the law-enforcers and there can only be one ending that can mean their victory: a good and happy ending. Then you read to discover the details.
In that light the ending is far from being what it could and should have been. The terrorist’s (only one) last target could not be a random target and it should have been a big convention with thousands of people inside a closed arena. Then it could have been interesting to run after the terrorist in order to stop the massacre. The author chose a weaker ending. That’s a shame because terrorists never choose a random target. They plan and they look for causing the highest damage possible measured in human lives.
But the main interest is the mythological content. It is based on a myth that is asserted as universal of the existence of Peacetakers, as opposed to peacemakers. One child now and then in a Blue Moon is born with the power of casting anger and criminal impulses around him (he is a boy, I mean a male and the terrorist side is entirely dominated by men and only men, which is a false cliché) when he is activated by some talisman. In other words he is an anti-Superman. Like Superman he just dons an amulet around his neck and his criminal and lethal power radiates around him making people become just impulsively, compulsively and obsessively criminal and lethal. The myth used in the book is attributed to the Egyptians, meaning it is the Egyptian version that is considered. Note the Peacetaker becomes totally unconscious of what he is doing or causing when he is carrying the talisman.
This young man is here used by a terrorist of international stature in order to bring into the USA some deadly events that will kill thousands of people. But the author tries to escape the anti-Islam attitude that this Middle Eastern original location (actually Cairo) could bring to our minds by making this criminal and terrorist individual be a Lebanese man of a Christian religion, true enough a rather marginal Christian affiliation. At the same time the Peacetaker born in 2007 or so is the son of American missionaries working for the Red Cross in Sudan and these parents die of cholera. The Red Cross then is used as the covering up tool by this terrorist. It is the American passport of the uncle of the child, who was on the mission along with the parents and the child who was born in Sudan that is used by the terrorist to bring the Peacetaker and his controller into the US.
A little of Ancient Egyptian lore and folklore in the shape of mythology, some references to Isis, Osiris and Horus, plus Tet, the evil fourth character in the story horrific story of the dismembering of Osiris, actually not even alluded to, to provide some colorful environment and you have a wrapping that is attractive to an audience of sweet and sour thrillers. But do not think it is like Anne Rice and her use of very old Egyptian mythological folklore or very old Hebraic mostly apocryphal stories and tales. You will not get into the mind of the possessed, of the Peacetaker or his master, nor into the depth of the mythological characters and their terrifying violence and suffering. You remain within a soft terror suspense story with some Egyptian references. What some people reproach Anne Rice with, her extreme erudite knowledge of the supernatural stories she is founding her novels on, so elaborate and learned that the readers may get some headache at times, and not a mild headache mind you, rather a migraine, is in no way present here. The Egyptian references then are nothing but an environmental ambiance coloring.
The final end has to be discovered by the readers and all the twisting moments of the plot have to be explored by the audience, but it is altogether rather simple and conveying good intentions and proper humane feelings and human emotions. Even the criminals, the terrorists or anything you want to call them, are not depicted in any deep black, somber and monstrous colors. You will not be horrified nor terrified nor even grossed out, to use Stephen King’s classification. But you will read the story as what it pretends to be: suspense and you will have to suspend your disbelief quite a few times. But that’s the style of such stories.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
In that light the ending is far from being what it could and should have been. The terrorist’s (only one) last target could not be a random target and it should have been a big convention with thousands of people inside a closed arena. Then it could have been interesting to run after the terrorist in order to stop the massacre. The author chose a weaker ending. That’s a shame because terrorists never choose a random target. They plan and they look for causing the highest damage possible measured in human lives.
But the main interest is the mythological content. It is based on a myth that is asserted as universal of the existence of Peacetakers, as opposed to peacemakers. One child now and then in a Blue Moon is born with the power of casting anger and criminal impulses around him (he is a boy, I mean a male and the terrorist side is entirely dominated by men and only men, which is a false cliché) when he is activated by some talisman. In other words he is an anti-Superman. Like Superman he just dons an amulet around his neck and his criminal and lethal power radiates around him making people become just impulsively, compulsively and obsessively criminal and lethal. The myth used in the book is attributed to the Egyptians, meaning it is the Egyptian version that is considered. Note the Peacetaker becomes totally unconscious of what he is doing or causing when he is carrying the talisman.
This young man is here used by a terrorist of international stature in order to bring into the USA some deadly events that will kill thousands of people. But the author tries to escape the anti-Islam attitude that this Middle Eastern original location (actually Cairo) could bring to our minds by making this criminal and terrorist individual be a Lebanese man of a Christian religion, true enough a rather marginal Christian affiliation. At the same time the Peacetaker born in 2007 or so is the son of American missionaries working for the Red Cross in Sudan and these parents die of cholera. The Red Cross then is used as the covering up tool by this terrorist. It is the American passport of the uncle of the child, who was on the mission along with the parents and the child who was born in Sudan that is used by the terrorist to bring the Peacetaker and his controller into the US.
A little of Ancient Egyptian lore and folklore in the shape of mythology, some references to Isis, Osiris and Horus, plus Tet, the evil fourth character in the story horrific story of the dismembering of Osiris, actually not even alluded to, to provide some colorful environment and you have a wrapping that is attractive to an audience of sweet and sour thrillers. But do not think it is like Anne Rice and her use of very old Egyptian mythological folklore or very old Hebraic mostly apocryphal stories and tales. You will not get into the mind of the possessed, of the Peacetaker or his master, nor into the depth of the mythological characters and their terrifying violence and suffering. You remain within a soft terror suspense story with some Egyptian references. What some people reproach Anne Rice with, her extreme erudite knowledge of the supernatural stories she is founding her novels on, so elaborate and learned that the readers may get some headache at times, and not a mild headache mind you, rather a migraine, is in no way present here. The Egyptian references then are nothing but an environmental ambiance coloring.
The final end has to be discovered by the readers and all the twisting moments of the plot have to be explored by the audience, but it is altogether rather simple and conveying good intentions and proper humane feelings and human emotions. Even the criminals, the terrorists or anything you want to call them, are not depicted in any deep black, somber and monstrous colors. You will not be horrified nor terrified nor even grossed out, to use Stephen King’s classification. But you will read the story as what it pretends to be: suspense and you will have to suspend your disbelief quite a few times. But that’s the style of such stories.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
April 12, 2015
“Ribbons of Death” was published in 2015 and was written by Edita A. Petrick (http://editapetrick.biz). Ms. Petrick has published 6 novels.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘R’ as there are instances of Violence and Mature Language. This Fantasy Thriller novel is set in contemporary times in several locations, but mostly in the US.
The two principal characters are Timothy J. Carter and Dr. Stella Hunter. Carter has a long military career, including time in the Special Forces. At the time covered by the novel, he is a contractor for the US government. His role is not well defined, filling the area between the FBI and CIA allowing him to go where ever a situation leads him.
Hunter is a PhD with a focus on myths and mythology. She had been a professor at Michigan, but has left after her husband left her for a younger woman. Carter shows up at Hunter’s door one cold night asking for help.
Months earlier a riot had broken out at a peaceful demonstration in Cairo, Egypt. Hundreds were killed and injured. Carter was there and was uncontrollably drawn into the mayhem. Now, he is trying to track the cause. Similar deadly periods of mayhem break out in a few US cities. After talking with Hunter, they believe that the events are tied to a myth she had included in her book. Seeking to stop further deaths, Carter, with Hunter in tow, try to track down those behind the incidents.
They spend nearly a month traveling across the US trying to track down leads. They soon face deadly opposition to their investigations, but every step brings them a little closer to the source of the trouble. This 9 hour read was interesting, though the plot was not unusual. Unlike so many tales like this, there was no romance between the two major characters. I thought both of the characters were interesting, and the story compelling. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘R’ as there are instances of Violence and Mature Language. This Fantasy Thriller novel is set in contemporary times in several locations, but mostly in the US.
The two principal characters are Timothy J. Carter and Dr. Stella Hunter. Carter has a long military career, including time in the Special Forces. At the time covered by the novel, he is a contractor for the US government. His role is not well defined, filling the area between the FBI and CIA allowing him to go where ever a situation leads him.
Hunter is a PhD with a focus on myths and mythology. She had been a professor at Michigan, but has left after her husband left her for a younger woman. Carter shows up at Hunter’s door one cold night asking for help.
Months earlier a riot had broken out at a peaceful demonstration in Cairo, Egypt. Hundreds were killed and injured. Carter was there and was uncontrollably drawn into the mayhem. Now, he is trying to track the cause. Similar deadly periods of mayhem break out in a few US cities. After talking with Hunter, they believe that the events are tied to a myth she had included in her book. Seeking to stop further deaths, Carter, with Hunter in tow, try to track down those behind the incidents.
They spend nearly a month traveling across the US trying to track down leads. They soon face deadly opposition to their investigations, but every step brings them a little closer to the source of the trouble. This 9 hour read was interesting, though the plot was not unusual. Unlike so many tales like this, there was no romance between the two major characters. I thought both of the characters were interesting, and the story compelling. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
March 26, 2015
Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite
Ribbons of Death is a mystery by Edita a. Petrick. A government contractor named Carter, puzzled by bizarre occurrences linked to the controversial book she wrote, approaches Stella Hunter, a shunned professor on myths and legends. Stella’s research about a myth known as Peacetaker has become a reality. A Peacetaker is a boy born during a Blue Moon, who causes death and destruction wherever he goes with a special amulet that his power hungry controller lets him wear. The Amulet’s aura makes people and animals behave abnormally. Stella joins Carter following the devastating trail of the Peacetaker while attempting to locate more historical clues that may assist them to stop these enemies of civilization. However, their search reveals that historians who can help them have died while others believe Stella’s book is a sham.
Ribbons of Death is a very good mystery. Edita A. Petrick takes readers on an exciting journey with her well-written story about a myth that comes to life. I like the suspenseful build-up and clever amusing process she created that has Stella and Carter think of clues, and the friendship they have formed. The author has created a strong plot with nicely developed characters. Stella has bitter marital problems and I found it interesting to see how these blended into the story while she worked with Carter to catch the Peacetaker. Persons who enjoy books about ancient myths, legends, and archeology will find Ribbons of Death by Edita A. Petrick a delightful, but reflective one to read.
Ribbons of Death is a mystery by Edita a. Petrick. A government contractor named Carter, puzzled by bizarre occurrences linked to the controversial book she wrote, approaches Stella Hunter, a shunned professor on myths and legends. Stella’s research about a myth known as Peacetaker has become a reality. A Peacetaker is a boy born during a Blue Moon, who causes death and destruction wherever he goes with a special amulet that his power hungry controller lets him wear. The Amulet’s aura makes people and animals behave abnormally. Stella joins Carter following the devastating trail of the Peacetaker while attempting to locate more historical clues that may assist them to stop these enemies of civilization. However, their search reveals that historians who can help them have died while others believe Stella’s book is a sham.
Ribbons of Death is a very good mystery. Edita A. Petrick takes readers on an exciting journey with her well-written story about a myth that comes to life. I like the suspenseful build-up and clever amusing process she created that has Stella and Carter think of clues, and the friendship they have formed. The author has created a strong plot with nicely developed characters. Stella has bitter marital problems and I found it interesting to see how these blended into the story while she worked with Carter to catch the Peacetaker. Persons who enjoy books about ancient myths, legends, and archeology will find Ribbons of Death by Edita A. Petrick a delightful, but reflective one to read.
April 27, 2016
Ribbons of Death is a gripping mystery novel revolving around ancient Egyptian myths and legends, that takes place in the modern day. The two main characters, Stella and Carter, are a duo that you wouldn’t expect to be working well together solving a mystery, but they end up having a rather healthy relationship, with quite a few funny moments.
I was very pleasantly surprised – the story was gripping right from the start and it kept you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end. There was just the right amount of action, which was very well written. It is truly a novel like no other that I’ve read, and I found myself frantically turning to the next page to find out how it will turn out in the end. And I have to say, the ending definitely did not disappoint.
I am also very fond of Greek mythology and this novel has really peaked my interest in delving a little deeper into Egyptian mythology as well. It is obvious that Mrs. Petrick has a great knowledge of Egyptian myths and legends, and has done quite an extensive research on the topic.
All in all, Edita E. Petrick has created a great mystery series with very likeable but realistic characters, which can be enjoyed by anyone, in my opinion. Ok, maybe not by kids, because of the few rather gruesome scenes.
I was very pleasantly surprised – the story was gripping right from the start and it kept you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end. There was just the right amount of action, which was very well written. It is truly a novel like no other that I’ve read, and I found myself frantically turning to the next page to find out how it will turn out in the end. And I have to say, the ending definitely did not disappoint.
I am also very fond of Greek mythology and this novel has really peaked my interest in delving a little deeper into Egyptian mythology as well. It is obvious that Mrs. Petrick has a great knowledge of Egyptian myths and legends, and has done quite an extensive research on the topic.
All in all, Edita E. Petrick has created a great mystery series with very likeable but realistic characters, which can be enjoyed by anyone, in my opinion. Ok, maybe not by kids, because of the few rather gruesome scenes.
June 1, 2016
When a horribly-scarred man shows up at the door to her isolated cabin, and shows her a blood-stained book, Stella Hunter is convinced that her ‘Peace-taker’ theory, a theory that got her branded as a crackpot by her fellow researchers, and ended her marriage, is finally validated. She believes that once in a Blue Moon, a child is born with the ability to cause people to erupt into a frenzy of killing by merely walking among them. With the aid of the scarred stranger, Carter, she sets out to prove her theory and stop the madness that threatens to engulf the U.S. But, can she do it when she could easily be killed by a total stranger standing next to her?
Ribbons of Death by Edita A. Petrick is a chilling tale that combines the paranormal and international thriller genres effortlessly into a tapestry of horror and intrigue. The characters, in larger-than-life situations, are all too human, and even the supernatural is made logical in this finely-crafted story that will keep you reading—and breathless—until the very satisfying end. It has a few military inaccuracies—which won’t be noticed by anyone unfamiliar with the military—but, it didn’t keep even an old veteran like me from enjoying it.
Ribbons of Death by Edita A. Petrick is a chilling tale that combines the paranormal and international thriller genres effortlessly into a tapestry of horror and intrigue. The characters, in larger-than-life situations, are all too human, and even the supernatural is made logical in this finely-crafted story that will keep you reading—and breathless—until the very satisfying end. It has a few military inaccuracies—which won’t be noticed by anyone unfamiliar with the military—but, it didn’t keep even an old veteran like me from enjoying it.
June 7, 2015
In this novel, you spend most of your time with Stella and Carter. They are interesting characters as they stand. They are thrown together in a search against time to prevent harm to others and to catch the culprit. They will bring out the best in each other.
Carter is a government ‘contractor’ who has been investigating a particular businessman. He’s pretty sure he’s behind a violent phenomenon that has occurred. He seeks out Stella for her knowledge of legends and folklore that spans many cultures. I enjoyed getting to know both of them and hope to see them working together again in the future.
I felt that the way the author let us get to know other characters in each geographically separate incident was especially powerful. The theme of how our own anger can and does harm us was an important one. The pacing of the novel was good. I read this book on a vacation day from work. It was time well spent.
I was provided a copy of this book to read and write an honest review.
Carter is a government ‘contractor’ who has been investigating a particular businessman. He’s pretty sure he’s behind a violent phenomenon that has occurred. He seeks out Stella for her knowledge of legends and folklore that spans many cultures. I enjoyed getting to know both of them and hope to see them working together again in the future.
I felt that the way the author let us get to know other characters in each geographically separate incident was especially powerful. The theme of how our own anger can and does harm us was an important one. The pacing of the novel was good. I read this book on a vacation day from work. It was time well spent.
I was provided a copy of this book to read and write an honest review.
June 5, 2018
When federal agent Timothy J. Carter, undercover as an executive with an Ohio environmental firm, sets out to visit Stella Hunter, a disgraced academic, he expects to gain insight on possible causes of a recent outbreak of madness at a peaceful women's rally in Cairo. His scarred face and a short footage of the riot are the evidence he means to use to persuade her to help him without probing his reasons. What he doesn’t expect to hear is that a product of ancient myths and legends is causing these deadly riots. And that another crackpot academic spent ten years chasing after this mythological deity. But twenty-four hours later, when a peaceful rally at the Mall in Washington disintegrates into murderous riot that leaves hundreds dead and thousands injured, Carter is forced to consider the unthinkable: What if the product of ancient myths and legends somehow made it on to the US soil…?
May 28, 2015
Ribbons Of Death is full of action, mystery and with a great amount of myth and legend. It starts a little bit slow, but after the second chapter wham!! It was a non stop reading.
Both of the characters are excellent written, very complex and mature, and the plot is unique, a product of ancient myths and legends is causing deadly riots?? It really blew my mind, and the idea is amazingly executed!!
Highly recommended for readers of Horror/Myths/Legends
*I received a Free copy in exchange for an Honest Review*
Both of the characters are excellent written, very complex and mature, and the plot is unique, a product of ancient myths and legends is causing deadly riots?? It really blew my mind, and the idea is amazingly executed!!
Highly recommended for readers of Horror/Myths/Legends
*I received a Free copy in exchange for an Honest Review*
June 22, 2015
This book reminded me of the DaVinci Code. It was not the mirror image of it but the two characters trying to avoid a worldwide disaster are similar. With that being said it is an excellent read and I recommend it for those historical fiction enthusiasts. I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
June 7, 2015
Couldn't put it down!
Ancient legends and myths from Egypt, etc and add 21st century life made an awesome story that I couldn't stop thinking about. Great job! Would love to read more like this one.
Ancient legends and myths from Egypt, etc and add 21st century life made an awesome story that I couldn't stop thinking about. Great job! Would love to read more like this one.
October 17, 2017
An embattled professor of medieval studies, Dr Stella Hunter, has a wealth of knowledge about myths and legends and has written about these but her book, “Ribbons of Truth”, was not well-received by her academic peers, her career has stalled, her marriage and family disintegrated. One of the legends that she found transcended cultures, civilisations and time was that of the Peacetaker. The legend notes that, once in a Blue Moon a child is born who, when adult at 18 years of age and after their powers have been activated by the wearing of an amulet, can invoke mad murderous rages amongst others simply by walking near them. This is the Peacetaker.
A badly facially scarred man called Carter is a “government contractor” who knocks at Stella’s door one night in Montana to ask about the contents of the controversial book which he passes to her, complete with smudged brown fingerprints, together with the imprint of an Egyptian cartouche, and a possible link to some recent terrifying events.
Thus begins the pair’s efforts to track down a modern day Peacetaker and prevent further mayhem and death.
I quickly had to suspend my disbelief at whether a lone female would invite a man she does not know in to have dinner and stay the night after he turns up unannounced at her rural home … but I found the notion of myths and legends permeating different cultures entirely convincing. The way that the author described and conveyed her legend of the Peacetaker for the purposes of this novel was interesting and intriguing. I was gripped and wanted to know what happened next in this pacey, suspenseful, mysterious thriller. The pace was fast-moving but I suspect that the author had rushed her, albeit mostly good, writing. I wish that the author had taken slightly more care with her grammar as there was a surfeit of, for example, split infinitives which were rather distracting. I got the impression that this book had also been written with the idea of perhaps a sequel being written. Certainly the relationship between Stella and Carter was one strand, or ‘ribbon’, running through the book that keeps the reader’s interest. In addition, I liked the subtle moral strand, or ‘ribbon’, running through the book that anger is a doorway to hell.
Overall, I really enjoyed this thrilling book, with excellent cover artwork, sent to me by Good Reads for review, and, if Edita A. Petrick does write a sequel, I hope she will send me that for review for I suspect I will enjoy that too!
A badly facially scarred man called Carter is a “government contractor” who knocks at Stella’s door one night in Montana to ask about the contents of the controversial book which he passes to her, complete with smudged brown fingerprints, together with the imprint of an Egyptian cartouche, and a possible link to some recent terrifying events.
Thus begins the pair’s efforts to track down a modern day Peacetaker and prevent further mayhem and death.
I quickly had to suspend my disbelief at whether a lone female would invite a man she does not know in to have dinner and stay the night after he turns up unannounced at her rural home … but I found the notion of myths and legends permeating different cultures entirely convincing. The way that the author described and conveyed her legend of the Peacetaker for the purposes of this novel was interesting and intriguing. I was gripped and wanted to know what happened next in this pacey, suspenseful, mysterious thriller. The pace was fast-moving but I suspect that the author had rushed her, albeit mostly good, writing. I wish that the author had taken slightly more care with her grammar as there was a surfeit of, for example, split infinitives which were rather distracting. I got the impression that this book had also been written with the idea of perhaps a sequel being written. Certainly the relationship between Stella and Carter was one strand, or ‘ribbon’, running through the book that keeps the reader’s interest. In addition, I liked the subtle moral strand, or ‘ribbon’, running through the book that anger is a doorway to hell.
Overall, I really enjoyed this thrilling book, with excellent cover artwork, sent to me by Good Reads for review, and, if Edita A. Petrick does write a sequel, I hope she will send me that for review for I suspect I will enjoy that too!
October 5, 2017
Ribbons of death really starts in its narrative with a book about legends and myths: ribbons of truth.
This story describes a Peacetaker, an entity that sows violence and discontent in a swath around it when it is activated.
We meet first the destruction wrought by the Peacetaker in a gathering, a women's walk, ironically, for peace.
The destruction, once it begins, is cruelly violent, and massive: a child stabbing her mother in the face with a candle; a reporter without a single unbroken bone left in his body.
It takes quite a while to discover who and what the Peacetaker is, and how it is activated. Legends from many cultures explored, and experts destroyed. Parallel to the exploration of relics that tell more about the myths is the growing path of violence in heavily populated areas of the US: a super mall near D C, a small crafts fair at the edge of a metro area in Ohio.
Carter and the author of Ribbons of Truth, a disgraced Professor of history and myths, try to determine likely targets for the next attack as well. They are also pursued, as a trail of " natural deaths" of other experts grows.
The story is compelling: myth comes to life in the modern world. A child as a bringer of death, rather than as a herald for new life. Lots of intrigue and action surrounding the research. I received an advance copy of this book and my review is voluntary.
The details of the myth and the individual attacks tend to be too long and cumbersome though. Events like the crafts fair described in tens of pages, rather than a few sentences or paragraphs. Characters like the wheelchair bound grandmother who comforts the child are described for more than a chapter. The elements are colorful, but a bit tedious in length and detail of description .
Dostoyevsky comes to mind, War & Peace or Brothers Karamazov. Beautiful imagery, just quite a lot of it. In an age of electronics, too much extensive detail, especially for a single book. Perhaps easier to consume as part of a multi volume narrative, like a more gruesome Harry Potter.
This story describes a Peacetaker, an entity that sows violence and discontent in a swath around it when it is activated.
We meet first the destruction wrought by the Peacetaker in a gathering, a women's walk, ironically, for peace.
The destruction, once it begins, is cruelly violent, and massive: a child stabbing her mother in the face with a candle; a reporter without a single unbroken bone left in his body.
It takes quite a while to discover who and what the Peacetaker is, and how it is activated. Legends from many cultures explored, and experts destroyed. Parallel to the exploration of relics that tell more about the myths is the growing path of violence in heavily populated areas of the US: a super mall near D C, a small crafts fair at the edge of a metro area in Ohio.
Carter and the author of Ribbons of Truth, a disgraced Professor of history and myths, try to determine likely targets for the next attack as well. They are also pursued, as a trail of " natural deaths" of other experts grows.
The story is compelling: myth comes to life in the modern world. A child as a bringer of death, rather than as a herald for new life. Lots of intrigue and action surrounding the research. I received an advance copy of this book and my review is voluntary.
The details of the myth and the individual attacks tend to be too long and cumbersome though. Events like the crafts fair described in tens of pages, rather than a few sentences or paragraphs. Characters like the wheelchair bound grandmother who comforts the child are described for more than a chapter. The elements are colorful, but a bit tedious in length and detail of description .
Dostoyevsky comes to mind, War & Peace or Brothers Karamazov. Beautiful imagery, just quite a lot of it. In an age of electronics, too much extensive detail, especially for a single book. Perhaps easier to consume as part of a multi volume narrative, like a more gruesome Harry Potter.
January 1, 2019
This covers the first adventure of Dr Stella Hunter, a medieval history professor and expert, now disgraced and forced from the job she loves. Also along for the ride is Carter – not his real name, but one of many he has used over the years in his specialised working life. He survives the first known incidence of the Peacetaker being activated, whilst in Cairo and searches out Stella, to find out what has actually happened and who is behind it. Is it the suspected terrorist link he has been hunting down the past couple of years, or is it something new?
This offering, at such a good offer price at the moment, covers the first three books in the series, Ribbons of Death; The Harmony Scroll; and The Byzantine Connection; which are all involved in the tracking of the Peacetaker of the title of the series. The book mixes loads of ancient history, legends and very modern day worries of terrorist attacks and intelligence agencies. It takes a long time to wade through some of this and each book in itself is a long read, but keep with it and you will become entranced by the main characters and the story being told!!!
Most of the books in the series are on offer just now and I for one, have gone and bought every book in the series, as well as the initial trilogy. It is something I will certainly love to go back and read again. The book needs to go through an English native for editing, as there are bits that show the author is not a native speaker. Not too off-putting and certainly didn’t detract from the story itself. It didn’t put me off paying for books I had received for free nor from buying the rest of the series and some more of the author’s offerings.
I received an ARC copy of this boxset from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
This offering, at such a good offer price at the moment, covers the first three books in the series, Ribbons of Death; The Harmony Scroll; and The Byzantine Connection; which are all involved in the tracking of the Peacetaker of the title of the series. The book mixes loads of ancient history, legends and very modern day worries of terrorist attacks and intelligence agencies. It takes a long time to wade through some of this and each book in itself is a long read, but keep with it and you will become entranced by the main characters and the story being told!!!
Most of the books in the series are on offer just now and I for one, have gone and bought every book in the series, as well as the initial trilogy. It is something I will certainly love to go back and read again. The book needs to go through an English native for editing, as there are bits that show the author is not a native speaker. Not too off-putting and certainly didn’t detract from the story itself. It didn’t put me off paying for books I had received for free nor from buying the rest of the series and some more of the author’s offerings.
I received an ARC copy of this boxset from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
February 15, 2021
“The Ribbons of Death” is the first installment in the “Peacetaker” series by Edita A. Petrick. The book is good crafted and structured thriller/suspense novel set in Cairo (Egypt) that mixes mythology and ancient Egyptian lore with a terrorist plot.
Timothy Carter is an ex-military man, with a Special Forces background, who is currently working as a contractor for the US government, tracking the source of the riots that devastated Cairo some months previous, as well as the ones that keep breaking throughout the US. Dr. Stella Hunter field of expertise is mythology, who abruptly shows at Carter’s door asking for help in the middle of the night, to follow the links between some ancient myth about the “Peacetaker” she wrote about in her own book and the riots. According to Hunter the Peacetaker is a male born during a blue moon, with the power to wield destruction with the aid of a special amulet. Carter and Hunter begin their quest to find the necessary historical date to fight the Peacetaker and avoid the cataclysm. They are on the own, as the majority of Hunter’s peer don’t believe her and the ones who would do, have already been killed.
Edita A. Petrick is a classic adventure thriller, fast-paced, action-packed, a race against time to find all the necessary clues and be able to advent the danger. It has a solid plot, multidimensional and credible characters, with problems of their own, that are nevertheless able to overcome them to focus on the problem at hand. An interesting read for fans of archeology and mythology in general and Ancient Egypt in particular.
Timothy Carter is an ex-military man, with a Special Forces background, who is currently working as a contractor for the US government, tracking the source of the riots that devastated Cairo some months previous, as well as the ones that keep breaking throughout the US. Dr. Stella Hunter field of expertise is mythology, who abruptly shows at Carter’s door asking for help in the middle of the night, to follow the links between some ancient myth about the “Peacetaker” she wrote about in her own book and the riots. According to Hunter the Peacetaker is a male born during a blue moon, with the power to wield destruction with the aid of a special amulet. Carter and Hunter begin their quest to find the necessary historical date to fight the Peacetaker and avoid the cataclysm. They are on the own, as the majority of Hunter’s peer don’t believe her and the ones who would do, have already been killed.
Edita A. Petrick is a classic adventure thriller, fast-paced, action-packed, a race against time to find all the necessary clues and be able to advent the danger. It has a solid plot, multidimensional and credible characters, with problems of their own, that are nevertheless able to overcome them to focus on the problem at hand. An interesting read for fans of archeology and mythology in general and Ancient Egypt in particular.
September 16, 2017
Carter is a contractor that is used by enforcement agencies, like the FBI and the CIA. Strange things started to happen and he is sent to investigate. Dr. Stella Hunter teaches Medieval Studies but her passion is Mythology, the Peacetaker, specially. They work together researching and hunting down clues to the mythology of the Peacetaker. So far the strange happenings have been in three U.S. cities. I found this to be a don't put me down book, that held my interest from beginning to end. It is Intriguing, it seems one man is at the head of the bad things going on, but he seldom leaves the city he lives in. It turns out he is not a very nice guy at all. I enjoyed the tale, I thought it unusual but very suspenseful. You really need to read it, to understand. This is an author I have not read before but I am certainly looking forward to reading more of her work.
I received this ARC free and voluntarily reviewed it.
I received this ARC free and voluntarily reviewed it.
April 6, 2019
Edita Petrick uses “Ribbons of Death” to tie ancient myths with events terrorizing modern times. Great suspense, with great characters.
FBI contractor Timothy Carter consults Dr. Stella Hunter, hoping for enlightenment in the cause of a mass-murder event in Cairo. She tells him of The Peacetaker, an ancient figure that appears in myths of many different civil actions and times. What starts out as Stella’s dry lectures on explodes into more violence in Washington DC. Carter and Stella enter a race zigzagging across the US to stop the evil killer of legend. FBI and myths don’t gel, but Carter soon becomes a believer — but how do you profile an ancient deity? The urgency of finding and stopping The Peacetaker, and preventing the deaths of hundreds or even thousands of people, creates hold-your-breath suspense. I received this book in a free promotion, and hated to stop reading for work, eating or sleeping! It’s a great read!
FBI contractor Timothy Carter consults Dr. Stella Hunter, hoping for enlightenment in the cause of a mass-murder event in Cairo. She tells him of The Peacetaker, an ancient figure that appears in myths of many different civil actions and times. What starts out as Stella’s dry lectures on explodes into more violence in Washington DC. Carter and Stella enter a race zigzagging across the US to stop the evil killer of legend. FBI and myths don’t gel, but Carter soon becomes a believer — but how do you profile an ancient deity? The urgency of finding and stopping The Peacetaker, and preventing the deaths of hundreds or even thousands of people, creates hold-your-breath suspense. I received this book in a free promotion, and hated to stop reading for work, eating or sleeping! It’s a great read!
September 5, 2017
Ribbons of Death is an action packed, mystery/thriller. It was a long read, but overall interesting and gripping. The focus a mythology and terrorism was an unusual but successful endeavour. It meant there was always something new to learn and hold the readers interest, rather than just action and blowing up the bad guys.
I enjoyed the characters as they seemed real, gritty and honest, but I would have like a little more connection between the lead characters, as they had been through so much together, not necessarily turning into a romance, but saving someone's life and experiencing near death situations changes and connects people.
Overall, a gripping action mystery, which I recommend.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I enjoyed the characters as they seemed real, gritty and honest, but I would have like a little more connection between the lead characters, as they had been through so much together, not necessarily turning into a romance, but saving someone's life and experiencing near death situations changes and connects people.
Overall, a gripping action mystery, which I recommend.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
September 10, 2017
Ribbons of Death is the first book in the Peacetaker series. It is also the first book by Edita A. Petrick that I have read so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a well written suspense thriller. This is a standalone without a cliffhanger. Though the story continues in future books. There is violence.
The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat that all info here. The author did a good job of explaining what is going on and describing the characters and the setting of the story. The beginning part of the book really grabbed my attention and kept it all the way through.
I received a copy of this book from the author and chose to leave a review for other readers.
The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat that all info here. The author did a good job of explaining what is going on and describing the characters and the setting of the story. The beginning part of the book really grabbed my attention and kept it all the way through.
I received a copy of this book from the author and chose to leave a review for other readers.
August 11, 2017
I have been provided with a free copy of the book and it has been a pleasure to write this review,
This is a great book for anyone who loves mystery and adventure with a touch of supernatural elements smartly managed so it gives a feeling of something real and absolutely credible. Since the beginning the reader notes that the author has made a remarkable research.
Ribbons of Death is nicely written. It is a delight how the language is used and how the angle myth/legend is approached.
Readers can easily find themselves it could have been absolutely possible, anytime, anywhere in the past, or even in our present and future day to day life!
Characters are well constructed and as reader I enjoyed very much the way they look like to other characters and the way they feel themselves. The reader always knows what they feel and think and how others perceive them, at least the main charachters.
This story is so intelligently knitted, with twists and turns that kept me hooked since the very beginning.
This is a great book for anyone who loves mystery and adventure with a touch of supernatural elements.
This is a great book for anyone who loves mystery and adventure with a touch of supernatural elements smartly managed so it gives a feeling of something real and absolutely credible. Since the beginning the reader notes that the author has made a remarkable research.
Ribbons of Death is nicely written. It is a delight how the language is used and how the angle myth/legend is approached.
Readers can easily find themselves it could have been absolutely possible, anytime, anywhere in the past, or even in our present and future day to day life!
Characters are well constructed and as reader I enjoyed very much the way they look like to other characters and the way they feel themselves. The reader always knows what they feel and think and how others perceive them, at least the main charachters.
This story is so intelligently knitted, with twists and turns that kept me hooked since the very beginning.
This is a great book for anyone who loves mystery and adventure with a touch of supernatural elements.
September 18, 2017
Solid 3.5 star
This was a bit of a slow burn read for me to begin with and found I had to be in the mood to read it but I did still really enjoy it. There is some great characters ie Stella and Carter who have great individual personalities as well as so good mythology/history woven into the story to keep the interest in the book. This a book I think I would pick up and read again at a later date and look forward to seeing what book 2 has install for us!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This was a bit of a slow burn read for me to begin with and found I had to be in the mood to read it but I did still really enjoy it. There is some great characters ie Stella and Carter who have great individual personalities as well as so good mythology/history woven into the story to keep the interest in the book. This a book I think I would pick up and read again at a later date and look forward to seeing what book 2 has install for us!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
November 4, 2017
Four and a half stars
I stumbled upon this book while looking for a new book to read and downloaded the sample. I enjoy reading mystery and history but I rarely read books that include mystical powers or such nonsense. Although I expected to enjoy the historical aspect of this book, I was pleasantly surprised to find i enjoyed the entire book enough to read other books by this author. This is an intelligent thriller, the characters are well defined and create an interesting duo. There is lots of action, no skimming through the pages for me!
I stumbled upon this book while looking for a new book to read and downloaded the sample. I enjoy reading mystery and history but I rarely read books that include mystical powers or such nonsense. Although I expected to enjoy the historical aspect of this book, I was pleasantly surprised to find i enjoyed the entire book enough to read other books by this author. This is an intelligent thriller, the characters are well defined and create an interesting duo. There is lots of action, no skimming through the pages for me!
May 26, 2022
I've enjoyed this book enormously.
Admittedly, I had never heard of the peacemaker legend before however, it didn't take away from the overall impression.
Highly original, with somewhat dry humour and exciting twists and turns.
It can be described as an investigative thriller with a supernatural twist.
For those who complained about lack of action - I recommend switching to Methew Riley books.
You can't rush an investigation deeply rooted in legends and myths!!! And the most exciting things are happening in the dusty libraries and academic halls!
Admittedly, I had never heard of the peacemaker legend before however, it didn't take away from the overall impression.
Highly original, with somewhat dry humour and exciting twists and turns.
It can be described as an investigative thriller with a supernatural twist.
For those who complained about lack of action - I recommend switching to Methew Riley books.
You can't rush an investigation deeply rooted in legends and myths!!! And the most exciting things are happening in the dusty libraries and academic halls!
September 11, 2017
This is very original mystery novels. Mysteries and mythology, archeology, ancient history, danger and terror is in one book. The characters were so fully developed they not only sprang to life from the pages of this book and were strong, but flawed. It's a good series starter. This story has twists and surprises along the way that keep you reading until the end. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
September 25, 2018
Entertaining read
The story seemed slow to start, or maybe I just missed something that explained the storyline. But once I had things straight in my mind, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. So much so that I've already gotten the next book in the series to read. This is a stand-alone story, in my opinion, but I want to read the next adventure. And I like that in an author.
The story seemed slow to start, or maybe I just missed something that explained the storyline. But once I had things straight in my mind, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. So much so that I've already gotten the next book in the series to read. This is a stand-alone story, in my opinion, but I want to read the next adventure. And I like that in an author.
April 24, 2019
Great thriller/detective (kind of) story with an ancient occult theme. The author's writing style is very good and always in the service of the characters or the story's progression. The Peacetaker legend is a very interesting subject and it's being treated with intelligence and respect (and probably many, many hours of research) by the author. Fast pace, intriguing and tension filed moments is what you will get from the Peacetaker series.
June 12, 2019
I would categorize this book as action-adventure/sci-fi. It combines ancient curses from mythology with a totally new slant on terrorism. The plot is interesting but sometimes Stella gets long-winded telling Carter about her findings regarding the peacetaker. I enjoyed this book and it made me wonder if there are other curses in ancient mythology. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
June 13, 2023
This book is an interesting mix of myth, history, and thriller that more or less gets to where it needs to go in the end. There's some action that helps propel the story forward, and a lot of detail that sometimes bogs the reader down. However, there were several very gruesome spots and quite a lot of foul language. I would definitely not recommend this book for young readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and have left an honest review willingly.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and have left an honest review willingly.
October 10, 2017
This is a really good thriller. It kept me coming back and wanting to know what was going to happen next. The character development and the pull between these two characters is extraordinary and I was with them all the way. The author takes in the mindset of our law enforcement agencies and develops a riveting story.
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