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The Dazzling Darkness
Librarian Note: This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B00CJH944U
A secret lies buried beneath the haunting statuary in Old Willow Cemetery. In Concord, Massachusetts, the surrounding woods are alive with the spirits of transcendentalists Emerson, Thoreau, and Alcott. Elias Hatch, the cemetery keeper, is the last of modern-day transcendentalists. Does he know the secret power buried in Old Willow Cemetery? Would he ever reveal it?
Next door to this cemetery is a lovely gabled house. When the Brooke family moves in, the secret of Old Willow strikes. On a cold afternoon in March, five-year-old Henry Brooke does not arrive home from the school bus stop. Antonia Brooke is frantic her child is missing, or—the unspeakable—stolen. Adam Brooke spends a harrowing night searching the Concord woods, fear gripping him as hours pass with no leads.
Finally, a police dog tracks Henry’s scent inside Old Willow Cemetery. Detective Mike Balducci suspects that Elias Hatch knows the truth about what happened to Henry. Balducci knows Hatch’s metaphysical beliefs. What Balducci discovers buried in the cemetery is beyond the grave, beyond apparitions or shadowy drifts rushing through the pine trees.
There are the dazzled faces in the darkened air … and their secret.
The Dazzling Darkness is a supernatural mystery that parallels science with spirituality by exploring consciousness, death, and the afterlife.
A secret lies buried beneath the haunting statuary in Old Willow Cemetery. In Concord, Massachusetts, the surrounding woods are alive with the spirits of transcendentalists Emerson, Thoreau, and Alcott. Elias Hatch, the cemetery keeper, is the last of modern-day transcendentalists. Does he know the secret power buried in Old Willow Cemetery? Would he ever reveal it?
Next door to this cemetery is a lovely gabled house. When the Brooke family moves in, the secret of Old Willow strikes. On a cold afternoon in March, five-year-old Henry Brooke does not arrive home from the school bus stop. Antonia Brooke is frantic her child is missing, or—the unspeakable—stolen. Adam Brooke spends a harrowing night searching the Concord woods, fear gripping him as hours pass with no leads.
Finally, a police dog tracks Henry’s scent inside Old Willow Cemetery. Detective Mike Balducci suspects that Elias Hatch knows the truth about what happened to Henry. Balducci knows Hatch’s metaphysical beliefs. What Balducci discovers buried in the cemetery is beyond the grave, beyond apparitions or shadowy drifts rushing through the pine trees.
There are the dazzled faces in the darkened air … and their secret.
The Dazzling Darkness is a supernatural mystery that parallels science with spirituality by exploring consciousness, death, and the afterlife.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2013
48 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
About the author
Paula Cappa
17 books513 followersFor her three novels, Paula Cappa is the recipient of the prestigious Eric Hoffer Book Award, the Gold Medal and the Silver Medal from Global Book Awards, the Bronze Medal from Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, and a Chanticleer Book Award. She is named a Best Book Award Finalist by American Book Fest and achieved the Gothic Readers Book Club Award in Outstanding Fiction.
She is the author of Greylock, The Dazzling Darkness, and Night Sea Journey—print editions published by Crispin Books, Milwaukee WI. Night Sea Journey was featured as an on-air reading at Riverwest Radio, Fearless Reader Radio in Wisconsin.
Cappa’s short fiction has appeared in ParABnormal Literary Magazine, Coffin Bell Literary Journal, Unfading Daydream, Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, Whistling Shade Literary Journal, SmokeLong Quarterly, Sirens Call Ezine, Every Day Fiction, Fiction365, Twilight Times Ezine, and in anthologies Journals of Horror: Found Fiction, Mystery Time, and Human Writes Literary Journal.
Paula Cappa is a freelance copy editor and writes a short story blog, Reading Fiction, at paulacappa.wordpress.com. She is Co-Chair of the Pound Ridge Authors Society in Pound Ridge, NY.
Follow her Reading Fiction Blog at her website:
https://paulacappa.wordpress.com/
Follow her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/paula.cappa.94
Follow her on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulaCappa1
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Paula-Cappa/e/...
She is the author of Greylock, The Dazzling Darkness, and Night Sea Journey—print editions published by Crispin Books, Milwaukee WI. Night Sea Journey was featured as an on-air reading at Riverwest Radio, Fearless Reader Radio in Wisconsin.
Cappa’s short fiction has appeared in ParABnormal Literary Magazine, Coffin Bell Literary Journal, Unfading Daydream, Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, Whistling Shade Literary Journal, SmokeLong Quarterly, Sirens Call Ezine, Every Day Fiction, Fiction365, Twilight Times Ezine, and in anthologies Journals of Horror: Found Fiction, Mystery Time, and Human Writes Literary Journal.
Paula Cappa is a freelance copy editor and writes a short story blog, Reading Fiction, at paulacappa.wordpress.com. She is Co-Chair of the Pound Ridge Authors Society in Pound Ridge, NY.
Follow her Reading Fiction Blog at her website:
https://paulacappa.wordpress.com/
Follow her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/paula.cappa.94
Follow her on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulaCappa1
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Paula-Cappa/e/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 4, 2026
I started this book and did not put it down until I finished it a couple of hours later after midnight. It got me from the first word and did not let go. I absolutely loved everything about this book, for me the mix of genres in the book was brilliant. This is a book that should be more highly read than what it is. A bit of a hidden gem. In 2026 this is my second read of this book and it did not let me down.
A secret lies buried beneath the haunting statuary in Old Willow Cemetery. In Concord, Massachusetts, the surrounding woods are alive with the spirits of transcendentalists Emerson, Thoreau, and Alcott. Elias Hatch, the cemetery keeper, is the last of modern-day transcendentalists. Does he know the secret power buried in Old Willow Cemetery? Would he ever reveal it?
Near the cemetery lives a family, one day whilst walking home from school with his sister, five year old Henry vanishes, goes missing, nowhere to be seen. A frantic search is undertaken, involving a massive police hunt led by Detective Balducci, sniffer dogs, community groups assisting with the search and eventually the FBI.
This cemetery is guarded and tended by old Elias Hatch, who lives in a house on the grounds, he has visitors that nobody sees, he knows things that nobody knows.
Do you sense the atmosphere, do you think that the trees might be a little alive? Something is in the air. You can feel it reading the book, you know something is coming, you get tingles and in my case all my spidey-senses were on high alert.
The book is really clever, the first part of the book is a very well written crime book essentially, the police are fully engaged, a reward is offered for the return of young Henry, the pond is dredged in case he drowned. It's tense. The family are distressed, but what of Henry's sister? She's made a new friend, a new friend, a girl who has secrets. She likes the way her friend braids her long hair. Her friend likes the trees, she talks of them.
The imagery in this book and how atmospheric it is was fantastic, I was sucked in to it totally, could not turn the pages quick enough. Paula Cappa weaves in glimpses of the supernatural, ghostly happenings into this modern day crime scene so well, it's like nothing I remember ever reading before.
It gets better dear readers oh yes! I cannot share too much as I will totally spill the beans and spoil it for you. But this cemetery, old Elias and the local Catholic Vicar know things that nobody else knows, things of old, secrets contained, energies buried waiting to burst into life again.
With brilliant writing the plot develops into something so special, as the hunt for Henry begins to cross lines, everybody is starting to realise that sometimes what you think is real has other facets to it, that just when you think you see all sides to things, a prism of secrets breaks through from the other side.
What they find is spectacular, what they stumble upon is jaw-dropping good. I know I am sounding a big vague, it's because the latter half of the book is all spoilers if I tell you what's happening. But the aspects of the metaphysical, science and the supernatural gets weaved into the plot. There is something so powerful it's dangerous in the wrong hands. Old Elias is a thanatologist (I had to look it up, it's a person who studies death and all things related essentially.) like his family before him.
"On the contrary. She died fully conscious of the death process. She was a thanatologist, just like my father, and me."
Is death the end of us? Or is there more?
I loved the way this book is written, the crime element, the drama of the missing boy, the ghostly atmosphere, the unusual characters, the supernatural, the paranormal, the religious, the hidden and the revealed. It's all here and it's fantastic. I did NOT expect this book to go where it did, I did not expect it to be as good as it is.
The characters are strong and well written, the plot is intricate and paced well, the atmosphere is thrilling, the ending was beautifully done too. Oh the ending! Oh my, I had a tear in my eye, but it was a happy/sad tear, one of those. I don't cry many of them when reading but I did reading this book.
The entire journey that crosses realms and genres is essentially all about the hunt to find five year old Henry. The hope that he is alive and well and not buried and dead or kidnapped and held hostage. Nothing is given away as to where the cookie will crumble in relation to Henry. But those that love him, and the police that are invested in finding him will stop at nothing to find him.
Let it take you to another place, one full of surprises, you won't predict what happens I guarantee it. There are some scenes in the second half of the book that have the most incredible imagery and information, I felt like I was absorbing new knowledge with my eyes wide open in delight and fear at the same time.
A book that I highly recommend, a review that has been hard to write as I want to share SO much more but I will spoil it for you. I want to babble and talk with others about what happens. But you read it, tell me what you think.
I received a copy of this book from the author, Paula Cappa, in exchange for a fair and honest review, I am delighted that I was able to read this book and share my views.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
A secret lies buried beneath the haunting statuary in Old Willow Cemetery. In Concord, Massachusetts, the surrounding woods are alive with the spirits of transcendentalists Emerson, Thoreau, and Alcott. Elias Hatch, the cemetery keeper, is the last of modern-day transcendentalists. Does he know the secret power buried in Old Willow Cemetery? Would he ever reveal it?
Near the cemetery lives a family, one day whilst walking home from school with his sister, five year old Henry vanishes, goes missing, nowhere to be seen. A frantic search is undertaken, involving a massive police hunt led by Detective Balducci, sniffer dogs, community groups assisting with the search and eventually the FBI.
This cemetery is guarded and tended by old Elias Hatch, who lives in a house on the grounds, he has visitors that nobody sees, he knows things that nobody knows.
Of the abundant trees hovering in this graveyard, there is one long-lived silver birch whose branches extend above a row of small headstones where three babies are buried. Elias, never having had children, sits by the babies' graves, deep in thought. At the back of the yard, he has a favorite trembling lilac tree. A nervous sort, the tree likes to hug the obelisk carved with two hands raised in benediction. And sometimes, that old wild-hearted pine at the corner swipes at the satin moon as if to snatch it down. Nature growing conscious, Elias might say.
Do you sense the atmosphere, do you think that the trees might be a little alive? Something is in the air. You can feel it reading the book, you know something is coming, you get tingles and in my case all my spidey-senses were on high alert.
The book is really clever, the first part of the book is a very well written crime book essentially, the police are fully engaged, a reward is offered for the return of young Henry, the pond is dredged in case he drowned. It's tense. The family are distressed, but what of Henry's sister? She's made a new friend, a new friend, a girl who has secrets. She likes the way her friend braids her long hair. Her friend likes the trees, she talks of them.
The imagery in this book and how atmospheric it is was fantastic, I was sucked in to it totally, could not turn the pages quick enough. Paula Cappa weaves in glimpses of the supernatural, ghostly happenings into this modern day crime scene so well, it's like nothing I remember ever reading before.
It gets better dear readers oh yes! I cannot share too much as I will totally spill the beans and spoil it for you. But this cemetery, old Elias and the local Catholic Vicar know things that nobody else knows, things of old, secrets contained, energies buried waiting to burst into life again.
With brilliant writing the plot develops into something so special, as the hunt for Henry begins to cross lines, everybody is starting to realise that sometimes what you think is real has other facets to it, that just when you think you see all sides to things, a prism of secrets breaks through from the other side.
What they find is spectacular, what they stumble upon is jaw-dropping good. I know I am sounding a big vague, it's because the latter half of the book is all spoilers if I tell you what's happening. But the aspects of the metaphysical, science and the supernatural gets weaved into the plot. There is something so powerful it's dangerous in the wrong hands. Old Elias is a thanatologist (I had to look it up, it's a person who studies death and all things related essentially.) like his family before him.
"On the contrary. She died fully conscious of the death process. She was a thanatologist, just like my father, and me."
Is death the end of us? Or is there more?
I loved the way this book is written, the crime element, the drama of the missing boy, the ghostly atmosphere, the unusual characters, the supernatural, the paranormal, the religious, the hidden and the revealed. It's all here and it's fantastic. I did NOT expect this book to go where it did, I did not expect it to be as good as it is.
The characters are strong and well written, the plot is intricate and paced well, the atmosphere is thrilling, the ending was beautifully done too. Oh the ending! Oh my, I had a tear in my eye, but it was a happy/sad tear, one of those. I don't cry many of them when reading but I did reading this book.
The entire journey that crosses realms and genres is essentially all about the hunt to find five year old Henry. The hope that he is alive and well and not buried and dead or kidnapped and held hostage. Nothing is given away as to where the cookie will crumble in relation to Henry. But those that love him, and the police that are invested in finding him will stop at nothing to find him.
Let it take you to another place, one full of surprises, you won't predict what happens I guarantee it. There are some scenes in the second half of the book that have the most incredible imagery and information, I felt like I was absorbing new knowledge with my eyes wide open in delight and fear at the same time.
A book that I highly recommend, a review that has been hard to write as I want to share SO much more but I will spoil it for you. I want to babble and talk with others about what happens. But you read it, tell me what you think.
I received a copy of this book from the author, Paula Cappa, in exchange for a fair and honest review, I am delighted that I was able to read this book and share my views.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
July 21, 2014
This book was quite a page Turner.
I was'nt sure when reading at the start if it was horror or
Mystery but it turned out to be a story of the supernatural.
Not a genre I usually read but this was very well written and
the author really is an expert in this area.
I liked the scientific explanations and the logic which made the story
all the more interesting.
For people that love stories of the supernatural then this is
a very good choice to read.
I really enjoyed this and particularly liked the character Elias!
I was'nt sure when reading at the start if it was horror or
Mystery but it turned out to be a story of the supernatural.
Not a genre I usually read but this was very well written and
the author really is an expert in this area.
I liked the scientific explanations and the logic which made the story
all the more interesting.
For people that love stories of the supernatural then this is
a very good choice to read.
I really enjoyed this and particularly liked the character Elias!
August 10, 2013
At the gates of Old Willow Cemetery, the twisted vines choke the bald ironworks, their thorny cords crisscrossed into images of wrinkled faces and hoodwinked eyes.
This excerpt is from the prologue. With such visually descriptive writing, Paula hooked me before I got to the first chapter.
Young Henry is missing.
His sister is burdened with guilt. She only let go of his hand for a moment.
The parents are struggling to keep it together as days pass and still no sign of Henry.
Eerie, unnatural occurrences, Henry’s laughter in the tree in the backyard, his voice counting in the cemetery, all point to Elias Hatcher, caretaker of the graveyard.
Detective Balducci has Elias firmly in his crosshairs. No one can get in or out of the cemetery without Elias knowing, and the tracking dog alerted to Henry’s presence all over the graveyard.
He feels sure, if Hatch didn’t do the actual kidnapping, he has knowledge of the crime. But he can’t seem to move forward in the case.
“This case is like writing with a black pen on black paper. I can’t see it, but it’s right there in front of me.”
After Balducci’s own strange sighting on the cow path where Henry first went missing he wonders, “Is this an illusion? Or is the fact of the illusion the lead?” He thought again. “What is speaking here?”
The Dazzling Darkness defies a genre. I would say it’s a supernatural mystery/thriller laced with Gothic horror.
The author fed me bits and pieces, like bread crumbs. I gobbled them up, knowing they led to some revelations, to answered questions. I would start to get rushed, to speed ahead, but then I would become so engrossed in such things as a description of a new morning or getting started on a new day, that I would pause and reread the scene, visualizing it, feeling the moment.
Much of the story feels like it was written in a long ago era, though it takes place in the present. I wish I could explain it better. It reads like a classic, reminding me of a vintage bottle of wine. I gently lift the bottle from the rack, dust it off, open it and breathe its essence.
With bold, fresh, almost poetic writing, I can honestly say, I was beguiled.
I received this book for my honest review. I will gladly buy other books by Paula Cappa.
This excerpt is from the prologue. With such visually descriptive writing, Paula hooked me before I got to the first chapter.
Young Henry is missing.
His sister is burdened with guilt. She only let go of his hand for a moment.
The parents are struggling to keep it together as days pass and still no sign of Henry.
Eerie, unnatural occurrences, Henry’s laughter in the tree in the backyard, his voice counting in the cemetery, all point to Elias Hatcher, caretaker of the graveyard.
Detective Balducci has Elias firmly in his crosshairs. No one can get in or out of the cemetery without Elias knowing, and the tracking dog alerted to Henry’s presence all over the graveyard.
He feels sure, if Hatch didn’t do the actual kidnapping, he has knowledge of the crime. But he can’t seem to move forward in the case.
“This case is like writing with a black pen on black paper. I can’t see it, but it’s right there in front of me.”
After Balducci’s own strange sighting on the cow path where Henry first went missing he wonders, “Is this an illusion? Or is the fact of the illusion the lead?” He thought again. “What is speaking here?”
The Dazzling Darkness defies a genre. I would say it’s a supernatural mystery/thriller laced with Gothic horror.
The author fed me bits and pieces, like bread crumbs. I gobbled them up, knowing they led to some revelations, to answered questions. I would start to get rushed, to speed ahead, but then I would become so engrossed in such things as a description of a new morning or getting started on a new day, that I would pause and reread the scene, visualizing it, feeling the moment.
Much of the story feels like it was written in a long ago era, though it takes place in the present. I wish I could explain it better. It reads like a classic, reminding me of a vintage bottle of wine. I gently lift the bottle from the rack, dust it off, open it and breathe its essence.
With bold, fresh, almost poetic writing, I can honestly say, I was beguiled.
I received this book for my honest review. I will gladly buy other books by Paula Cappa.
May 31, 2013
This was a book that I was not sure exactly what it was in terms of genre when I started, after a few chapters I was sure it was a ghost story, but it wasn't. Then I was sure it was just a murder mystery, but it wasn't.
This story wanders off into areas seldom tread, life after death, with some science and some faith. The fact that it touches the edges of Judeo-Christian beliefs makes it a bit more familiar to the average American but the story is really not about any religion since it is actually a paranormal urban fantasy at it's heart.
The thing here is that the story keeps trying to tug at your emotional strings and in most cases does it quite well but with the mixture of mystery, science, magic and faith it presents a story that really does not sit securely in any genre.
Henry is missing, nobody know what happened to him and the truth when it finally is revealed is a bit shocking but I was a bit disappointed in the author not taking advantage of trying to use the detective's sorrow to at least give the reader a bit of happiness by hooking him up with the scientist but I always think a touch of romance always helps a book but that was not the purpose of this book.
This is a book savored and not rushed, it takes on the feel of a drama for a lot of the book as far as the relationship of Antonia and Adam and so all I can say after finishing it is I am glad I read it, it was thought provoking and entertaining which is what I want out of my books.
This story wanders off into areas seldom tread, life after death, with some science and some faith. The fact that it touches the edges of Judeo-Christian beliefs makes it a bit more familiar to the average American but the story is really not about any religion since it is actually a paranormal urban fantasy at it's heart.
The thing here is that the story keeps trying to tug at your emotional strings and in most cases does it quite well but with the mixture of mystery, science, magic and faith it presents a story that really does not sit securely in any genre.
Henry is missing, nobody know what happened to him and the truth when it finally is revealed is a bit shocking but I was a bit disappointed in the author not taking advantage of trying to use the detective's sorrow to at least give the reader a bit of happiness by hooking him up with the scientist but I always think a touch of romance always helps a book but that was not the purpose of this book.
This is a book savored and not rushed, it takes on the feel of a drama for a lot of the book as far as the relationship of Antonia and Adam and so all I can say after finishing it is I am glad I read it, it was thought provoking and entertaining which is what I want out of my books.
July 16, 2013
Absolutely superb book!
Immediately this novel captures your focus and provokes your inner inquisitive nature.
You are first introduced to an abnormal character who spends the majority of his time in a cemetery, Elias Hatcher, just as his personality is intricately depicted, we are flown to the exotic and cultural Italy. Where two mysterious men grab the reader with a hook and pull you into an intriguing situation.
Then tragedy strikes the Brooke family when they discover their child is missing, which catapults the story into a hectic police investigation, exploring every possible angle, interviewing several suspects and uncovering hidden truths.
It is an intelligently written book that keeps you alert at facts and names being mentioned that you suspect may be later refereed to or to be a valuable clue in this mind-boggling puzzle.
My full review of this book will be published at www.horrornovelreviews.com in a few days.
Immediately this novel captures your focus and provokes your inner inquisitive nature.
You are first introduced to an abnormal character who spends the majority of his time in a cemetery, Elias Hatcher, just as his personality is intricately depicted, we are flown to the exotic and cultural Italy. Where two mysterious men grab the reader with a hook and pull you into an intriguing situation.
Then tragedy strikes the Brooke family when they discover their child is missing, which catapults the story into a hectic police investigation, exploring every possible angle, interviewing several suspects and uncovering hidden truths.
It is an intelligently written book that keeps you alert at facts and names being mentioned that you suspect may be later refereed to or to be a valuable clue in this mind-boggling puzzle.
My full review of this book will be published at www.horrornovelreviews.com in a few days.
September 14, 2014
When five year old Henry Brooke does not arrive home from school, his parents are frantic. His older sister Laura was suppose to keep an eye on Henry. The whole town of Concord was looking for Henry but he could not be found. Detective Mike Balducci was put in charge of the case. When Henry was not found, Balducci decided to use dogs to track Henry scent. The dogs track Henry to the Old Willow Cemetery. The caretaker of the cemetery was Elias Hatch. Balducci suspected that Hatch knew something about the disappearance of the boy. This book is a supernatural thriller with a mix of death and what happens after death. This is the first book that I have read by this author. I would highly recommend this book.
September 17, 2014
Full disclosure: I received this novel from the author in a Shelf Awareness giveaway.
A boy goes missing, yet his parents still hear him. His parents are frantic to find him. His sister as well.
Having overtones of the paranormal, this novel is difficult to define as it involves transcendentalism, religion, and faith all wrapped up together. What is really going on in Old Willow cemetery? Will Adam and Antonia ever find Henry? And if they do, will he be the same child?
A boy goes missing, yet his parents still hear him. His parents are frantic to find him. His sister as well.
Having overtones of the paranormal, this novel is difficult to define as it involves transcendentalism, religion, and faith all wrapped up together. What is really going on in Old Willow cemetery? Will Adam and Antonia ever find Henry? And if they do, will he be the same child?
March 18, 2015
I was lucky enough to be given a review copy of this book and found it to be a beautifully told and well written novel.
A boy is missing, his family, naturally frantic, are mystified about his sudden disappearance...as are the police.
As this story develops, it takes on a surreal beauty, mixed as it is with Emerson's poetic writings and an otherworldliness that both enchanted and mystified.
I don't give spoilers but will highly recommend this unique and thought provoking, excellent story.
A boy is missing, his family, naturally frantic, are mystified about his sudden disappearance...as are the police.
As this story develops, it takes on a surreal beauty, mixed as it is with Emerson's poetic writings and an otherworldliness that both enchanted and mystified.
I don't give spoilers but will highly recommend this unique and thought provoking, excellent story.
June 14, 2017
What do you get when you investigate the disappearance of a little boy, a "haunted" graveyard, shadowy figures, unexplained supernatural events, a mysterious priest, a creepy graveyard keeper, a gritty police detective and a shattered family searching for answers? The response is the Dazzling Darkness by Paula Cappa.
This engaging and entertaining book contains sprinkles of historical events and prose by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a real science narrative based upon the discovery of a crystal skull and the testing of one's own faith and religion. It is the perfect fictional blend of the real world with the supernatural world and the love of a family for their child and turning despair into hope.
The author, Paula Cappa, is a gifted writer as she captures not only the emotions of the characters, but vividly describes the action that is taking place. This gives the reader the sense that they are either in the home of the victimized family or the graveyard or the lab or other various scenes that are used as backdrops in this well-written imaginative story.
This novel is definitely a page turner as it seems that with each page there are new mysteries, twists and turns, unexplained events, suspense and excitement
This engaging and entertaining book contains sprinkles of historical events and prose by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a real science narrative based upon the discovery of a crystal skull and the testing of one's own faith and religion. It is the perfect fictional blend of the real world with the supernatural world and the love of a family for their child and turning despair into hope.
The author, Paula Cappa, is a gifted writer as she captures not only the emotions of the characters, but vividly describes the action that is taking place. This gives the reader the sense that they are either in the home of the victimized family or the graveyard or the lab or other various scenes that are used as backdrops in this well-written imaginative story.
This novel is definitely a page turner as it seems that with each page there are new mysteries, twists and turns, unexplained events, suspense and excitement
September 23, 2013
While my favorite fiction genre is horror, I am fond of mystery, suspense, and thrillers. I began my read of The Dazzling Darkness by Paula Cappa expecting a horror novel. But it started off as a gripping mystery, and I remember thinking this is a pleasant surprise as I was riveted to the story of a missing five year old boy named Henry. His parents Antonia and Adam, along with older sister Laurie, are frantic after he disappears walking home from school (just behind his sister who is perplexed because he was just right behind her). As time passes, anxiety turns to panic and terror as the boy does not come home. The police are called and soon the entire community is galvanized to search for the missing child.
The tension that comes with the territory in a story about an abducted child suddenly turns eerie when the family begins seeing strange people in the vicinity of their home and hearing the giggles and whisperings of Henry – who remains frustratingly out of sight. The atmosphere is influenced by the presence of a cemetery close to their home, both of which, by the way, are surrounded by woods. The caretaker of the cemetery, who lives on the grounds, is creepy Elias Hatch who has a friendship with a Catholic priest whose best intentions do not seem as straightforward as he wants everyone to believe. When it becomes clear that the strange people roaming the cemetery are ghosts, the mystery turns to horror as the supernatural elements rev the story into high gear.
Before the novel concludes, the reader is treated to secret underground passageways below the cemetery, crystal skulls that generate impossibly strong electromagnetic waves that leave traces of the skull long after it is removed from a location, rituals for raising the dead, more ghosts than you can count, discussions of transcendentalism, secret Vatican organizations, police procedural investigations, the poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the One True Cross, and heaven knows what else I am forgetting.
This summary may seem like a confusing mess of genres, but amazingly it is not. The story is wildly fascinating, and all of the plotlines dovetail nicely together. The conclusion, in which everything comes together, blew me away – I mean, I was really stunned.
The setting was very captivating. The home, woods, and cemetery were characters in their own right. Ms. Cappa described them so clearly that I could “see” the paths through the woods, the damp grounds of the cemetery and the dripping grave markers. The characters of Antonia and Adam were very well drawn. The anguish they display as they await the news of their son is portrayed vividly. Elias is fascinating when he is “on stage”, and even Henry, in his absence, seems astoundingly real.
If I have any criticism it would be the portrayal of the detective investigating the case – which is unfortunate because his point of view takes up at least one-fourth of the novel. My understanding of police investigations is based solely on what I have read and learned in novels and on TV shows like CSI New York and Law and Order. All by way of saying, my take on this might be incorrect, but here goes. The detective seemed to be reacting to events as they happened instead of investigating. Also, professional boundaries seem to be lacking in his decision making. He includes the parents in various aspect of the investigation, including interviews and access to crime scenes. I kept wondering if his behavior would destroy evidence or harm the legal case against a suspect. As result, his character just didn't ring true to me and his behavior distracting.
The Dazzling Darkness is not a traditional horror story full of shock and gore. Despite everything going on, it is a “quiet novel. I do not mean boring, far from it. I couldn't put the book down. Rather, the intensity comes from wondering what in the hell is going on as the author throws one curve after another. The novel is beautifully written and quite surprising in many ways. Highly recommended.
The tension that comes with the territory in a story about an abducted child suddenly turns eerie when the family begins seeing strange people in the vicinity of their home and hearing the giggles and whisperings of Henry – who remains frustratingly out of sight. The atmosphere is influenced by the presence of a cemetery close to their home, both of which, by the way, are surrounded by woods. The caretaker of the cemetery, who lives on the grounds, is creepy Elias Hatch who has a friendship with a Catholic priest whose best intentions do not seem as straightforward as he wants everyone to believe. When it becomes clear that the strange people roaming the cemetery are ghosts, the mystery turns to horror as the supernatural elements rev the story into high gear.
Before the novel concludes, the reader is treated to secret underground passageways below the cemetery, crystal skulls that generate impossibly strong electromagnetic waves that leave traces of the skull long after it is removed from a location, rituals for raising the dead, more ghosts than you can count, discussions of transcendentalism, secret Vatican organizations, police procedural investigations, the poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the One True Cross, and heaven knows what else I am forgetting.
This summary may seem like a confusing mess of genres, but amazingly it is not. The story is wildly fascinating, and all of the plotlines dovetail nicely together. The conclusion, in which everything comes together, blew me away – I mean, I was really stunned.
The setting was very captivating. The home, woods, and cemetery were characters in their own right. Ms. Cappa described them so clearly that I could “see” the paths through the woods, the damp grounds of the cemetery and the dripping grave markers. The characters of Antonia and Adam were very well drawn. The anguish they display as they await the news of their son is portrayed vividly. Elias is fascinating when he is “on stage”, and even Henry, in his absence, seems astoundingly real.
If I have any criticism it would be the portrayal of the detective investigating the case – which is unfortunate because his point of view takes up at least one-fourth of the novel. My understanding of police investigations is based solely on what I have read and learned in novels and on TV shows like CSI New York and Law and Order. All by way of saying, my take on this might be incorrect, but here goes. The detective seemed to be reacting to events as they happened instead of investigating. Also, professional boundaries seem to be lacking in his decision making. He includes the parents in various aspect of the investigation, including interviews and access to crime scenes. I kept wondering if his behavior would destroy evidence or harm the legal case against a suspect. As result, his character just didn't ring true to me and his behavior distracting.
The Dazzling Darkness is not a traditional horror story full of shock and gore. Despite everything going on, it is a “quiet novel. I do not mean boring, far from it. I couldn't put the book down. Rather, the intensity comes from wondering what in the hell is going on as the author throws one curve after another. The novel is beautifully written and quite surprising in many ways. Highly recommended.
September 11, 2013
Wow – a beautifully written book.
In Old Willow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts, you’ll find a statue said to weep tears. Behind the locked gate lives the caretaker of the graveyard , the elderly and reclusive Elias Hatch. His nearest neighbours are a young couple, Adam and Antonia, with two children. When their youngest child, Henry, goes missing, the spotlight shines down upon Elias. What exactly is he up to in his cottage? What secrets does he hold tight? Voices from the past whisper softly through Old Willow Cemetery, ghostly echoes that will raise the hair on your arms and make you wonder what life can happen after death.
The Dazzling Darkness showcases some of the most beautiful prose I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long while. “The rain surrendered, leaving fog to rest domed and drowsy on the trees. Arched hemlocks hung with wet cobwebs. Vapors drifted in.” It’s extremely well-written and engaging. Watching the family trying to cope when their child goes missing is heartbreaking. Antonia and Adam hear their son chuckling from the willow tree, but they can’t find him. He calls from his bedroom but his room is empty when they check. An eerie stillness hovers around the house and cemetery nearby.
The action picks up when the detective, Mike Balducci, gets on the case. Soon he’s ordering graves exhumed, crystal skulls examined, enlisting the help of professors and scientists. We’ve got history, archaeology, ancient curses, science, transcendentalists and the supernatural all nicely mixed in together. There’s a definite hint of Dan Brown at times – old secrets weaved into modern life, an air of the magical.
I’d have preferred the last few chapters to stick with Balducci and his investigation into the crystal skull rather than going full force into the supernatural. The step by step investigation (again making me think of Robert Langdon off on a quest from the Dan Brown novels) was intriguing and I’d have liked more of it before the conclusion. The flirtatiousness between the detective and Dr. Phillippa Anna was a fun breather from the seriousness of the rest of the story.
Overall, The Dazzling Darkness was a pleasure to read.
In Old Willow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts, you’ll find a statue said to weep tears. Behind the locked gate lives the caretaker of the graveyard , the elderly and reclusive Elias Hatch. His nearest neighbours are a young couple, Adam and Antonia, with two children. When their youngest child, Henry, goes missing, the spotlight shines down upon Elias. What exactly is he up to in his cottage? What secrets does he hold tight? Voices from the past whisper softly through Old Willow Cemetery, ghostly echoes that will raise the hair on your arms and make you wonder what life can happen after death.
The Dazzling Darkness showcases some of the most beautiful prose I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long while. “The rain surrendered, leaving fog to rest domed and drowsy on the trees. Arched hemlocks hung with wet cobwebs. Vapors drifted in.” It’s extremely well-written and engaging. Watching the family trying to cope when their child goes missing is heartbreaking. Antonia and Adam hear their son chuckling from the willow tree, but they can’t find him. He calls from his bedroom but his room is empty when they check. An eerie stillness hovers around the house and cemetery nearby.
The action picks up when the detective, Mike Balducci, gets on the case. Soon he’s ordering graves exhumed, crystal skulls examined, enlisting the help of professors and scientists. We’ve got history, archaeology, ancient curses, science, transcendentalists and the supernatural all nicely mixed in together. There’s a definite hint of Dan Brown at times – old secrets weaved into modern life, an air of the magical.
I’d have preferred the last few chapters to stick with Balducci and his investigation into the crystal skull rather than going full force into the supernatural. The step by step investigation (again making me think of Robert Langdon off on a quest from the Dan Brown novels) was intriguing and I’d have liked more of it before the conclusion. The flirtatiousness between the detective and Dr. Phillippa Anna was a fun breather from the seriousness of the rest of the story.
Overall, The Dazzling Darkness was a pleasure to read.
May 1, 2013
In her book The Dazzling Darkness, Paula Cappa captivates the reader from the start. The action begins immediately when a boy named Henry goes missing in Concord, Massachusetts and we are introduced to the people in his world who set out to find him. They include his parents, his sister and a determined detective who must look beyond the physical world for the evidence that will lead to him. There is also Elias, my favorite character, the mysterious old hermit who loves Emerson and spends his life guarding the secrets to Henry’s favorite place in Concord, the Old Willow Cemetery. This is not a simple detective story about tracking down the usual clues to find a missing boy. It is a complex story that encompasses history, the occult, legend, science and metaphysical philosophy and presents a unique and fascinating perspective on the life that continues after physical death.
I would caution the reader not to take all references to Emerson’s life and beliefs as factual, but in The Dazzling Darkness Paula Cappa succeeds in creating a fictional story that takes the reader on an adventure into dark and mysterious places. If you are looking for a book to read that you can’t put down you’ve found it.
I would caution the reader not to take all references to Emerson’s life and beliefs as factual, but in The Dazzling Darkness Paula Cappa succeeds in creating a fictional story that takes the reader on an adventure into dark and mysterious places. If you are looking for a book to read that you can’t put down you’ve found it.
October 27, 2014
I always look up for a good horror story, preferably the ghost story. Dazzling Darkness was just that, but with unexpected twists. The story was simple, although I found the plot a little complex, but a good writing and proper research on the topic made it all interesting. The story starts with a couple living near the old cemetery, who found their young son missing. What seemed earlier a simple case of abduction or hit & run, turned out to be a really intriguing mystery, with an element of supernatural.
The flow and synchronization between scenes as the story switches from POV of one character to another is really smooth and although there is no single main character in the book, the role of Balducci is something to check out. This book is sure to be read if you love a good mystery. And the paranormal element in it helps in garnishing the story, making it far richer and delightful.
I’d rate the story a 4 but the concept & execution deserves nothing less than a 5.
The flow and synchronization between scenes as the story switches from POV of one character to another is really smooth and although there is no single main character in the book, the role of Balducci is something to check out. This book is sure to be read if you love a good mystery. And the paranormal element in it helps in garnishing the story, making it far richer and delightful.
I’d rate the story a 4 but the concept & execution deserves nothing less than a 5.
March 7, 2015
REVIEW: THE DAZZLING DARKNESS by Paula Cappa
An enrapturing contemporary tale of the Supernatural, set in scenic, historic, Concord, Massachusetts, the community which played host to the Transcendentalist Movement, to Emerson and Thoreau. In this story suspending disbelief comes natural, and it s so easy to see Concord like a fly trapped in Amber, living its 19th century history alongside its present-day events. When a five-year-old adventurous boy disappears on his return from school with his eight-year-old sister, his family falls apart and the community is upturned. Rather like Henry James' TURN OF THE SCREW, the cast of characters includes both children and adults who are well-known to the children Henry and Laura, but invisible to the adults and investigating townspeople.
An enrapturing contemporary tale of the Supernatural, set in scenic, historic, Concord, Massachusetts, the community which played host to the Transcendentalist Movement, to Emerson and Thoreau. In this story suspending disbelief comes natural, and it s so easy to see Concord like a fly trapped in Amber, living its 19th century history alongside its present-day events. When a five-year-old adventurous boy disappears on his return from school with his eight-year-old sister, his family falls apart and the community is upturned. Rather like Henry James' TURN OF THE SCREW, the cast of characters includes both children and adults who are well-known to the children Henry and Laura, but invisible to the adults and investigating townspeople.
October 22, 2014
The story starts with five-year-old Henry Brooke walking home from school through the "Cow Path" with elder sister Laura, who runs ahead of him. Henry never makes it home, which is a parent's worst nightmare. This is not helped by the fact that Adam Brooke comes from a very rich family, Antonia does not and she was apparently "not approved" as suitable for Adam by the family, so Adam has more or less left his family. The story starts with the blame game, the guilt game (Henry should not have been left to walk home alone), but then we suspect he may have been playing in the cemetery and hence the keeper, Elias Hatch, is a suspect. Perhaps Henry was killed in an accident, perhaps he was kidnapped, the author takes the reader through all the possibilities that might have happened, all of which is hindered by the fact that apart from a cap, there is no sign of Henry. There is a sighting of Henry, or was there? Then we get questions of the supernatural, and religion also plays a part, including occasional returns to Helena (Flavia Julia Helena Augusta, wife of Constantius) in the fourth century. In short, the basic question is, what happened to Henry, and what are the effects of his disappearance on his parents, and also, what is going on in this book? The title is apt in more ways than one.
One of the oddities of this story is there are so many possibilities that I cannot even assign the book to a genre without providing spoilers. The writing of events happening is very skillful. There was one scene where I had more or less guessed in advance what the "surprise" would be, but nevertheless the scene was so well written that it still held interest. The author has a love of writing scene descriptions, and some may find she overdoes it. If you don't know what this Cow Path looks like at the end of the book, it is not the author's fault. On the other hand, I would have preferred more attention to giving a description of the local geography, because to some extent the story depends on it. While there were one or two parts of the plot that I thought failed the logic inspection (such as why character X was really at place Y at that time) overall it is an interesting and imaginative book, and even if you find the ending a little hard to take on board, I think you will find the story holds your attention quite nicely while reading it.
One of the oddities of this story is there are so many possibilities that I cannot even assign the book to a genre without providing spoilers. The writing of events happening is very skillful. There was one scene where I had more or less guessed in advance what the "surprise" would be, but nevertheless the scene was so well written that it still held interest. The author has a love of writing scene descriptions, and some may find she overdoes it. If you don't know what this Cow Path looks like at the end of the book, it is not the author's fault. On the other hand, I would have preferred more attention to giving a description of the local geography, because to some extent the story depends on it. While there were one or two parts of the plot that I thought failed the logic inspection (such as why character X was really at place Y at that time) overall it is an interesting and imaginative book, and even if you find the ending a little hard to take on board, I think you will find the story holds your attention quite nicely while reading it.
May 1, 2017
Paula Cappa quickly pulls in the unsuspecting reader in her novel, The Dazzling Darkness; a genre bending story. Taking place in Concord, Mass., and with vivid descriptions, a missing young boy, and the supernatural element, there is a lot of tension and action to enjoy in this story. When Henry goes missing on his walk home down the cow path from school, his family is understandably frantic. Elias Hatch, the Old Willow cemetery caretaker is the most obvious suspect, what with his mysterious, odd nature. Cappa includes overtones of religion, faith and even transcendentalism for a heady mix in this tale that will have your head spinning. All of the characters are well fleshed out by Cappa, especially appealing is Balducci, the lead detective. A riveting, unique story that revolves around every parent's worst nightmare, this is a highly recommended novel that will appeal to readers across the board.
October 22, 2014
An indulgent potpourri!
It all felt like watching an ‘Investigation Discovery’ criminal investigation episode turn ‘A Haunting,’ paranormal experiential documentary, all spiced up with competing religious debates between the Christianity of ancient Saint Helena and Transcendentalism of modern Ralph Waldo Emerson. The whodunnit story from the beginning to the end remains a labyrinth of science and fiction, thrill and mystery, fantasy and horror, drama and romance, stretching all the way from the Vatican City, Rome in Italy to Concord, Massachusetts, USA!
The story starts with the sudden disappearance of five year old Henry, the son of doting parents, Antonia and Adam Brooke and an ever more loving sister, Laura in Concord, Massachusetts. Henry has simply vanished into thin air on one of his daily walks back home from school, when his sister was supposed to be hand holding him. Thus begins the frantic search for the lost child. A long time suspect seems to be Elias Hitch, caretaker of the Old Willow Cemetery, and constantly on his chase is the short tempered cop Mike Balducci. But then comes in the very angelically unreal Catherine representing Saint Helena, perhaps partner in crime to the oddly real Elias Hatch, a modern day transcendentalist.
Time and again Henry seemingly makes some very visible and some not so visible appearances between the abutting Brookes and Old Willow properties. This doubles the dilemma of his being dead or alive as the search for him is dragged from hours, to days, to weeks.
The ever so elusive resolution of this hunt and chase hinges on the life versus afterlife debate.
It all felt like watching an ‘Investigation Discovery’ criminal investigation episode turn ‘A Haunting,’ paranormal experiential documentary, all spiced up with competing religious debates between the Christianity of ancient Saint Helena and Transcendentalism of modern Ralph Waldo Emerson. The whodunnit story from the beginning to the end remains a labyrinth of science and fiction, thrill and mystery, fantasy and horror, drama and romance, stretching all the way from the Vatican City, Rome in Italy to Concord, Massachusetts, USA!
The story starts with the sudden disappearance of five year old Henry, the son of doting parents, Antonia and Adam Brooke and an ever more loving sister, Laura in Concord, Massachusetts. Henry has simply vanished into thin air on one of his daily walks back home from school, when his sister was supposed to be hand holding him. Thus begins the frantic search for the lost child. A long time suspect seems to be Elias Hitch, caretaker of the Old Willow Cemetery, and constantly on his chase is the short tempered cop Mike Balducci. But then comes in the very angelically unreal Catherine representing Saint Helena, perhaps partner in crime to the oddly real Elias Hatch, a modern day transcendentalist.
Time and again Henry seemingly makes some very visible and some not so visible appearances between the abutting Brookes and Old Willow properties. This doubles the dilemma of his being dead or alive as the search for him is dragged from hours, to days, to weeks.
The ever so elusive resolution of this hunt and chase hinges on the life versus afterlife debate.
November 11, 2015
At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this book. I was intrigued by the introduction to Elias Hatch, the groundskeeper of Old Willow Cemetery, who seemed to be able to see ghosts. Then my heart broke for the Brooke family, whose son went missing.
Then I was a little peeved by the characterizations. For example, Detective Balducci longs for his dead wife, but has an unexplained superficial attraction to almost every female character (including to Antonia Brooke, while taking her statement about her missing son). He even compares another female character to a Vogue model (A detective familiar with Vogue? Huh? That one really stopped me). Adam Brooke had the classic wealthy, aloof parents who appeared to give Adam reward money, and then disappeared completely from the story. Antonia's roots to Umbria, Italy were mentioned enough times that I thought they might be important, but they weren't. There were also other POV scenes juxtaposed against the main story line that were interesting but confusing (i.e., what was the purpose?) until the very, very end.
About halfway through the novel, the plot twisted and slowly turned into beautiful, gothic, supernatural mystery centered on the question of how and when (and if?) we let go of the people we love. Despite my impatience with the pacing and some of the characters at the beginning of the novel, I became riveted at the halfway point and HAD to finish it. And the unique ending really made up for a few irritations with the beginning. I'd recommend reading it.
Then I was a little peeved by the characterizations. For example, Detective Balducci longs for his dead wife, but has an unexplained superficial attraction to almost every female character (including to Antonia Brooke, while taking her statement about her missing son). He even compares another female character to a Vogue model (A detective familiar with Vogue? Huh? That one really stopped me). Adam Brooke had the classic wealthy, aloof parents who appeared to give Adam reward money, and then disappeared completely from the story. Antonia's roots to Umbria, Italy were mentioned enough times that I thought they might be important, but they weren't. There were also other POV scenes juxtaposed against the main story line that were interesting but confusing (i.e., what was the purpose?) until the very, very end.
About halfway through the novel, the plot twisted and slowly turned into beautiful, gothic, supernatural mystery centered on the question of how and when (and if?) we let go of the people we love. Despite my impatience with the pacing and some of the characters at the beginning of the novel, I became riveted at the halfway point and HAD to finish it. And the unique ending really made up for a few irritations with the beginning. I'd recommend reading it.
August 7, 2015
GOTHIC READERS BOOK CLUB CHOICE AWARD WINNER
★★★★★ Outstanding Fiction "Dazzling sums up Paula Cappa's paranormal/supernatural novel ... an elegance and grace that seduces you."
★★★★★ BRONZE MEDAL WINNER, Readers' Favorite Book Award for Supernatural Fiction, 2014 "Beautiful and high standard writing style from start to finish ... a superb and classy supernatural novel." Readers' Favorite Reviews
Midwest Book Review "Paula Cappa is a master of the metaphysical mystery genre...an extraordinary and original storyteller of the first rank. Very highly recommended."
Review from Jonathan Stone, author of The Cold Truth, Parting Shot, Moving Day
“In Paula Cappa’s paranormal thriller, The Dazzling Darkness, the spirit of Dan Brown meets the darkest and most somber ruminations of Ralph Waldo Emerson. And while the story ranges fluently across time and across the globe—from ancient Rome to modern Italy to the American Transcendentalists—it is centered in an old cemetery in Concord Massachusetts, and a neighboring family’s struggle with unleashed forces that they cannot understand: the intersection and tension between the seen and the unseen; between the manifest and the spiritual; between love and loss. In smooth, highly descriptive prose, Cappa explores transcendence and eternity— sending a shiver down your spine all along the way. This is Paula Cappa’s territory, and her slant on them will bedevil your sleep and dreams as it does those of her characters.
★★★★★ Outstanding Fiction "Dazzling sums up Paula Cappa's paranormal/supernatural novel ... an elegance and grace that seduces you."
★★★★★ BRONZE MEDAL WINNER, Readers' Favorite Book Award for Supernatural Fiction, 2014 "Beautiful and high standard writing style from start to finish ... a superb and classy supernatural novel." Readers' Favorite Reviews
Midwest Book Review "Paula Cappa is a master of the metaphysical mystery genre...an extraordinary and original storyteller of the first rank. Very highly recommended."
Review from Jonathan Stone, author of The Cold Truth, Parting Shot, Moving Day
“In Paula Cappa’s paranormal thriller, The Dazzling Darkness, the spirit of Dan Brown meets the darkest and most somber ruminations of Ralph Waldo Emerson. And while the story ranges fluently across time and across the globe—from ancient Rome to modern Italy to the American Transcendentalists—it is centered in an old cemetery in Concord Massachusetts, and a neighboring family’s struggle with unleashed forces that they cannot understand: the intersection and tension between the seen and the unseen; between the manifest and the spiritual; between love and loss. In smooth, highly descriptive prose, Cappa explores transcendence and eternity— sending a shiver down your spine all along the way. This is Paula Cappa’s territory, and her slant on them will bedevil your sleep and dreams as it does those of her characters.
September 19, 2014
This book had me intrigued from the beginning. It immediately grabbed my attention as soon as I read about a little boy's disappearance.
The pain a family- a mother, father, and sister must feel to lose their son/brother, and so young.
The multiple strange/unexplainable events and other characters sharing some sort of connection that the family just can't seem to put their finger on...The frustration, the pain of the loss, the horror.
There are spirits, a lot of talk about death, and also magic and suspense.
As a mother of a little boy myself, I could not possibly imagine myself in the same situation. I would want to do EVERY single thing in my power to find my son. I wouldn't give up, no matter what.
Paula Cappa wrote a really good book with a ton of clues scattered throughout that don't really add up until you get toward the end. At no point during the book did I know exactly what to expect. There were so many surprising parts. It definitely kept me wanting to complete it. Then, when I finally thought I understood exactly what was going on, I was in for an even bigger surprise at the very end.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
The pain a family- a mother, father, and sister must feel to lose their son/brother, and so young.
The multiple strange/unexplainable events and other characters sharing some sort of connection that the family just can't seem to put their finger on...The frustration, the pain of the loss, the horror.
There are spirits, a lot of talk about death, and also magic and suspense.
As a mother of a little boy myself, I could not possibly imagine myself in the same situation. I would want to do EVERY single thing in my power to find my son. I wouldn't give up, no matter what.
Paula Cappa wrote a really good book with a ton of clues scattered throughout that don't really add up until you get toward the end. At no point during the book did I know exactly what to expect. There were so many surprising parts. It definitely kept me wanting to complete it. Then, when I finally thought I understood exactly what was going on, I was in for an even bigger surprise at the very end.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
May 14, 2013
The Dazzling Darkness
by: Paula Cappa
A harrowing tale of a couple that lost their child only to find him again, much altered!
This heartbreaking story details the plight of a mother and father who believe their child has been kidnapped, and the young sister who feels much responsibility for his being kidnapped on a routine walk home from school.
The detective in this case, Mike Balducci, follows lead after lead only to keep being drawn back to the old cemetery keeper, Elias Hatch. Who might be guiltily of knowing the unfathomable truth but is he guilty of the kidnapping?
This novel leads a reader in many directions yet manages to keep the reader in touch with what's happening without know TOO much, not always so easy to do! The characters are believable and as a reader you want so much for the couple to find their son and resume a happy life!
Overall, I really haven't any constructive criticisms to give, it's quiet honestly a well written story with an imaginative spin, focusing on a heartbreaking topic! Easily earning a 4 star rating!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and impartial review.
by: Paula Cappa
A harrowing tale of a couple that lost their child only to find him again, much altered!
This heartbreaking story details the plight of a mother and father who believe their child has been kidnapped, and the young sister who feels much responsibility for his being kidnapped on a routine walk home from school.
The detective in this case, Mike Balducci, follows lead after lead only to keep being drawn back to the old cemetery keeper, Elias Hatch. Who might be guiltily of knowing the unfathomable truth but is he guilty of the kidnapping?
This novel leads a reader in many directions yet manages to keep the reader in touch with what's happening without know TOO much, not always so easy to do! The characters are believable and as a reader you want so much for the couple to find their son and resume a happy life!
Overall, I really haven't any constructive criticisms to give, it's quiet honestly a well written story with an imaginative spin, focusing on a heartbreaking topic! Easily earning a 4 star rating!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and impartial review.
October 6, 2014
I can't imagine ever losing a child either by them going missing or by death, It is not something a parent ever wants to go through but unfortunately, it does happen. Author Paula Cappa, explores this subject with this book.
It is painful to see the main characters go through anguish as they look for their child. Each lead seems to lead to another but this is no ordinary missing persons case. I was absolutely intrigued as the author unfolded each piece of the mystery and was engrossed in their discoveries of just what had happened to Henry. Just as I thought the book was coming to a conclusion and end,..BAM...another twist in the plot.
This is a case of the unexplained intertwined with historical characters like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Marie Curie. Real scientific discoveries, crystals, paranormal, and myth were all here too, coupled with good old fashioned belief and a tad bit of religion.
This book is one you cannot put down once you start reading it. 5 stars!
Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book for my own collection. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ with yours. ~Naila Moon
It is painful to see the main characters go through anguish as they look for their child. Each lead seems to lead to another but this is no ordinary missing persons case. I was absolutely intrigued as the author unfolded each piece of the mystery and was engrossed in their discoveries of just what had happened to Henry. Just as I thought the book was coming to a conclusion and end,..BAM...another twist in the plot.
This is a case of the unexplained intertwined with historical characters like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Marie Curie. Real scientific discoveries, crystals, paranormal, and myth were all here too, coupled with good old fashioned belief and a tad bit of religion.
This book is one you cannot put down once you start reading it. 5 stars!
Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book for my own collection. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ with yours. ~Naila Moon
July 16, 2014
One of my new favorites, THE DAZZLING DARKNESS took me on a roller coaster ride I really didn’t want to be on, had the opportunity to jump off of at any time, but I couldn’t, because it was a ride I wanted to finish. I was so moved by the incredible tale of this missing child. Being the mom that I am, the "kind" of mom that I am, I am pretty often terrified of something happening to my babies and so maybe that is why I stuck with this book til the end. Just when you figured out "whodunit", Paula threw you a new curve to keep you on your toes and to prove that she was the puppet master here, and we were all following her lead.
I found myself getting upset with the author, saying out loud "OK, get to the end! Who did it? Where is he?" I had to realize that she was not around to hear my tongue lashings I was directing at her, but at the same time, I was praising her incredible work. Absolute perfection is what I’ve labeled this book and a must read for anyone who wants to believe in the unbelievable, and for those who doubt that Indie authors could ever hold a bestselling title.
I found myself getting upset with the author, saying out loud "OK, get to the end! Who did it? Where is he?" I had to realize that she was not around to hear my tongue lashings I was directing at her, but at the same time, I was praising her incredible work. Absolute perfection is what I’ve labeled this book and a must read for anyone who wants to believe in the unbelievable, and for those who doubt that Indie authors could ever hold a bestselling title.
February 17, 2017
First off, I want to state that the writing in this book is superb, full of lovely prose that creates haunting and lasting images for the reader. With that aside, let’s get to the story itself. I love a good spooky mystery novel, especially one like this that is so good at setting an atmosphere with language. The plot mainly revolves around a lost child named Henry. What happened to little Henry? How did he get into Old Willow Cemetery and was there some kind of foul play at hand? The little boy’s parents are understandably beside themselves trying to find answers where there seem to be none easily available. Enter in a detective who in definitely devoted to the case, but may have to start looking outside of known physical reality for the answers he is seeking. This is a suspenseful, multi-layered work of fiction that is definitely worth the time and effort to unravel. It delves into a lot of spiritual/esoteric philosophy that is fascinating for people who are into that kind of thing.
February 25, 2015
A very thought provoking story.
Paula Cappa has written a not to be forgotten supernatural mystery. This story is different to any others that I have read. It is an intelligently written book, with many twists and turns that will keep the reader enthralled. The story climaxes to a thought provoking finish.
Novelist Cappa shows her brilliance in the way she handles her characters.
A young lad Henry is lost, and his parents Antonia and Adam are left in an emotionally distressed state. They pursue every avenue to find their missing son.
Mike Balducci, a local detective, is another of the wonderful characters in this novel.
This story is refreshingly unique. I feel all ages would find it extremely entertaining. There is a mixture of science, mystery, romance and a lot if faith thrown in. I certainly enjoyed every page of this delightful five-star worthy story and have no hesitation in recommending it to others.
Paula Cappa has written a not to be forgotten supernatural mystery. This story is different to any others that I have read. It is an intelligently written book, with many twists and turns that will keep the reader enthralled. The story climaxes to a thought provoking finish.
Novelist Cappa shows her brilliance in the way she handles her characters.
A young lad Henry is lost, and his parents Antonia and Adam are left in an emotionally distressed state. They pursue every avenue to find their missing son.
Mike Balducci, a local detective, is another of the wonderful characters in this novel.
This story is refreshingly unique. I feel all ages would find it extremely entertaining. There is a mixture of science, mystery, romance and a lot if faith thrown in. I certainly enjoyed every page of this delightful five-star worthy story and have no hesitation in recommending it to others.
July 13, 2015
This book has all the turns necessaries to keep the reader's interest. In my case, from the beginning I felt the story with a moderate, intriguing and assertive pace. Keeping me eager to read the next paragraph, the next page ... to the last chapter because it is also a fairly quick read with just a little more than 280 pages.
The writer did an excellent job describing the characters deeply for us to approach them and their world to us. This novel is a sweet mix of intrigue, crime, fiction and ghosts. Perhaps too much for some but I found it very interesting.
Because the situations described by the author quickly touch your heart, and personally I think that the story can be visualized easily.
So definitely this is a book that you should read if you are looking for a somewhat different suspense novel. You will be hooked with the characters and you will be surprised with the events. And pleasantly, you will not be able to label this story with one genre due to its versatility.
The writer did an excellent job describing the characters deeply for us to approach them and their world to us. This novel is a sweet mix of intrigue, crime, fiction and ghosts. Perhaps too much for some but I found it very interesting.
Because the situations described by the author quickly touch your heart, and personally I think that the story can be visualized easily.
So definitely this is a book that you should read if you are looking for a somewhat different suspense novel. You will be hooked with the characters and you will be surprised with the events. And pleasantly, you will not be able to label this story with one genre due to its versatility.
April 24, 2015
It was the title and the cover that enticed me to open the cover or rather turn on my Kindle to settle into this one. For some, it is a book of fantasy. Still others it may be truth as they know it. Or it can be the possibilities standing in wait to fill an open mind. Whatever each of us believes about life after life/death this is one author's way of presenting his case on the subject. There is so much we do not know. So much we have yet to learn. This offering on the subject did not do it for me. Did I find it preposterous, no. I did find the connection to Ralph Waldo Emerson's poems and Mr. Cappa's interpretations intriguing. He casts a new eye to reveal hidden meanings therein. If anything he has peaked my interest to investigate Emerson's writings a little more closely. As to the proposed powers of the crystal skulls I prefer to leave that to others to explore.
June 10, 2016
This book struck close to home even though it is a Mystery with an edge of the supernatural. The premise, the disappearance of a young boy and the frantic search to find him, strikes close to home for any parents worst fears. Pair this plot with a cemetery, a mysterious caretaker, and some dangerous and otherworldly forces locked behind the cemetery gates and you have a unique blend that should be quite interesting to read.
I did like it overall, the descriptions were great and you felt you were truly immersed within the different places. The author took pride, you could tell in trying to bring each different location, to life for the reader.
You can also notice that this writer is an Editor, as I found no mistakes while reading this book, which is a major plus for me; I hate being jarred out of a story due to typos or grammar errors.
I did like it overall, the descriptions were great and you felt you were truly immersed within the different places. The author took pride, you could tell in trying to bring each different location, to life for the reader.
You can also notice that this writer is an Editor, as I found no mistakes while reading this book, which is a major plus for me; I hate being jarred out of a story due to typos or grammar errors.
June 19, 2016
This story is certainly on the creepy side and includes enough scary parts to set me on edge after I’d finished reading it. I say that so you have some idea of what to expect from the book but personally, I don’t feel that the is a bad thing. Beyond the scary and the supernatural elements, this story was also a good read because it interwove so many different areas and did so extremely well. One of my biggest problems with trying new books is that the stories are often superficial and I find myself predicting the twists before they are revealed. I especially enjoyed The Dazzling Darkness because it simply wasn’t predictable and because it was much more intellectual than many other books that I end up reading. Now, I admit, that this probably isn’t the perfect book for everyone but it is worth a try, especially if you want something a little bit different.
June 21, 2016
This is one of the best supernatural thrillers I have ever read. You can feel the panic and raw emotion on each page as the parents of young Henry worry each day, miss him, fear that the worst has happened. Henry goes missing after school one day and disappears without a trace. No one knows where he is. However, that is not entirely true. Perhaps someone does know where he is and is unwilling to say anything. The way that this real story entwines religious aspects and supernatural themes together and that the story still makes sense is something that is a real treat. I was unsatisfied with the ending, as I really felt bad for the Brookes. At the same time, the whole book lets you know that you don’t have to trust your eyes to know that something is real and every moment is precious in your life.
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