Crone

Scarlet St. James #1

by Eva St John

In 1984, five Michigan youths opened a portal with intentions of toying with the dark side. The cold-hearted pack then terrorized, brutalized, and even sacrificed without conscience but ended up missing. Thirty years later, two more teens have disappeared, and Paranormal PI Scarlet St. James is called to investigate. The town needs answers, and despite the local authorities' best efforts, no evidence is forthcoming. To find the truth, Scarlet must work with her hunky ex, Sergeant Jack Hawk, and her current boyfriend, forensic biologist Dr. Stone Vargas. As the case picks up pace, so do Scarlet's nightmares, in which she sees the face of a killer and feels the victims' pain. Scarlet comes from a line of seers, so to stop the wicked supernatural force in the darkness, she must use her faith, her powers, and her team to prepare for an inevitable showdown. A monster was set free all those years ago in the Michigan woods--and it will take all Scarlet's strength to stop a bloodthirsty witch who waits to kill again.

478 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2015

Reviews

[Mads · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to me a Prologue or the 1st Chapter of a book is THE reflection - SO it must capture my attention from page 1 I will continue a few more chapters to give the Book a fair chance to change my mind!

My REVIEW!

LET ME JUST SAY if this book did not scare the living shit out of me or made my worst nightmares came true it would have been a 5 star review from me – more explanations below!

The predators would soon become the prey after dabbling with a force of evil they knew little more than what the ancient book revealed.

To the Author

For a debut novel I was pleasantly surprised – my 3 star rating has nothing to do with the novel or the author, the author writing skills amazed me, I think this is an author to watch out for, she has great potential for becoming one of the best horror writers out there, but my explanation of not liking Horrors is done below *My Feeling while reading this*!

Maria - for your debut novel and giving me nightmares on the nights of 12 and 13 September 2016, I was even to scared to go to the bathroom so a standing ovation from me!

I also gave my hubby the scare off his life when I screamed the roof down on the house on a specific chapter!



My feelings while reading this: →



YAY I done it I read a horror!

I never read a horror / fantasy before out of principle as I visualize novels, so why did I read this one DO NOT ASK ME AS I CANNOT GIVE AN ANSWER!

This is almost worst when watching horror movies, I just shut down the television.

While reading this book I had all this visualizing images running through my mind I imagined things crawling up my legs and arms while reading this, I had Goosebumps the entire time, and all the time thinking THIS IS MY WORST NIGHTMARE buried alive in a coffin GRRRR – I can just say WTF did I just read!

I really must say it again this novel scared the living shit out of me!



My 3 star rating → out of principle I do not think I will ever be able to read horrors again, but everyone must give things an try once in life and I tried BUT ALAS Horrors is not for me!

SORRY MARIA!

Then I see all my friends reading horrors almost every day and I think WOW!!

I wish I can be like them, my sister eats horrors for breakfast and dinner, she read almost every horror novel of famous horror writers – but that just shows you how persons differ in taste and beliefs, but I love to read the reviews of the horror books or just talk about them with my sister.



Prologue

The sinful heart shall be scaled against a feather at the gates of Hell.

The story speaks to the power of fear as well as the consequences of obsession and vengeance. CRONE inspired by a decades-old Michigan urban legend, depicts the classic struggle between good and evil, right and wrong, proving once more how the indomitable human spirit can rely on the pillars of faith and family to triumph over adversity.

Tapping into our deepest fears as humans we’re reminded that we are not always safe in our own back yards, warning us that those who go looking for trouble will most likely find it.

Story baseline


I read some reviews where other readers stated they could not relate to the characters – BUT I DID – I connected to Benny Davis, the worst kind of hell lying in a coffin, alone no air nor light, just you and your imagination!

The pack, youths also known as the Unholy 5, have no feelings – they are hard-core and do not blink when killing an innocent cat or person.

The story starts where these Unholy 5 nails a Benny into a coffin, not to die, but to test the voodoo rituals

6 entered the Elmira cemetery 5 left!

Once inside the coffin →

“the pack ceremoniously replaced the lid then BAM! SLAM! Pound… pound… pound with the head of the shovel!

The Unholy 5 left him buried alive, fate his only friend.”

They left me. They really left me! Benny finally admitted. Doing his best to gut it out, despair finally trumped the gullible belief that it was only a harmless initiation.

The bitter taste of reality started to choke in his throat, his stout body cramping tighter against the confines of the pine box.

They’ll be back, any time now…

Unfortunately for Benny, nature knows no loyalty as the warmth he initially experienced waned in the frigid underground.

The pledge quickly switched gears, turning his attention to the matches, finally managing to pull the smashed book free. Counting them, only ten remained.

After what seemed like an impossible struggle, he got the first one lit. The warm, yellow glow offered a brief respite from the dark.

To his relief maggots were not embedded in his skin, nor were scores of spiders and other insects crawling into his ears and nose the way he’d imagined, if they had been there at all. Greedy for every warm, wonderful second he held the tiny matches until they burned out one by one, singeing the tips of his thumb and index finger.

NOW imagine lying in a dark coffin, the only sounds being of insects crawling into the coffin, you have 11 matches, you need to use them sparsely, it is dark you do not know what you are hearing is imaginary and you cannot see what is crawling over your body!

It had all come down to choices. Benny’s worst fears became reality, his thoughts centering on regret. He had been too trusting and foolish, choosing to step willingly toward his own suffocating death chamber.

The lit matches used up much of what precious little oxygen remained.

Things were after Benny, chewing noisily through the pine.

Just then, a sliver of light found its way through the gloom, Benny remembered God! Why didn’t he think of that before? He knew a ton of prayers growing up Catholic…he just couldn’t think of one.
Whoosh…thud! Whoosh…thud! Scratch…Scratch…Scratch. Benny was dreaming. He was hallucinating, had to be. It couldn’t be real.

Benny choked out his final breath, helpless to stop the long, dagger-like nails from digging into his flesh. Raspy cackles rang out as she gauged and gnashed at the terrified pledge. Then his world, one that will be worse off without him, went black.

Benny’s missing body was a jarring dose of reality. The boys knew they used him for the sacrificial ritual, hoping to tap into the ultimate dark power.

NOPE not the end of the book just the beginning – that is what I am going to leave you with



A few paragraphs / quotes → I loved

On a cold, downward spiral, devoid of emotion the snowball is unstoppable until it runs its unpredictable course.

Nobody is born a monster, but given the right circumstances teenage years can be the breeding grounds in forming one.

“There are times when it takes more strength to let go than to hold on. Your heart will help you distinguish between the two.” MTM

Epilogue! →


What happened to the unholy 5 – READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!

DVBBS & Jay Hardway - Voodoo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOsjt...

Recommend to the following type of readers: →
Lovers of Horrors!
Over 18 etc.

Why my rating?→





P&M Blog = Book Monsters:
https://bookmonstersblog.com/
Mine
https://coyoteuglyswaggerbookblog.wor...
(¯`v´¯)♥♥




A BIG Thank you to the author for ARC! :D

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are called the Unholy 5… obsessed with all things of the occult, dabbling with the forces of evil, of which they know very little.

Thirty years ago five teen-aged boys disappeared. Today, two more boys have gone missing. Private Investigator Scarlet St. James, who also moonlights on occasion for the local police, is called in to investigate these latest disappearances.

What you find in this book …. Demons & devils, Ancient languages, witches & spells, Fire and brimstone, evil ceremonies & voodoo, and dark nights in cemeteries, with bodies both dead and alive.

Scarlet comes from a line of seers and this case will be the defining case of her life. It’s going to take all her faith, all her beliefs, and unique talents to uncover dark secrets that have been buried for decades, if not centuries.

I have a confession to make. This is definitely not my preferred genre. I like things much tamer, like serial killers, mass murderers, psychopaths and sociopaths with no redeeming qualities. This book gave me chills up and down my spine and I was sorely tempted to leave the lights on when I went to bed last night.

This morning, in the light of day, I wondered what the author’s mind was like, to come up with all these scenarios in her book …. Written as though this was a true crime novel. AHA! … being the budding detective that I am, I did a little research. Maria Mayer spent 11 years as a funeral director as well as assisting in autopsies. Fertile soil for the imagination! And she has used it perfectly!

I gave it 5 stars because it scared me to death!

Many thanks to the author who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Leigh Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crone: A Scarlet St. James Novel by Maria Mayer, 478 pages, Archway Publishing, December 15th, 2015, Format: Kindle, Genre: Horror. Warning: May Contain Spoilers.
 
Review by Leigh Holland.
 
    Those who go looking for trouble will most likely find it. In Crone, those who’ve gone looking for trouble reap what they’ve sown. The story deals with a recurring set of crimes in Michigan, a serial killer who returns every thirty years to murder several men, then disappear. So far, nobody has connected the crimes, much less discovered any clues as to the true nature of the killer. Over the course of the book, the slayings and events leading up to them are recounted in horrifying, spine-chilling detail.
    The murders take place in 1954, 1984, and 2014, respectively. Although events from the 1954 killings are mentioned, the main focus flips between the events in 1984 and 2014. Men are toyed with, psychologically tormented, ripped apart slowly, and devoured; pawns in a deadly cosmic battle between an immortal, evil witch and her demonic lover and master. While the police have tried to solve the crimes in prior years, forensics was unheard of in the 1950’s and barely used in 1984. However, this time they have forensic evidence to help them solve the crimes. As the mortifying evidence develops, clue by clue, they can’t believe what it suggests. Enter Scarlet St. James- a Private Detective, contractor for the cops, devoted sister and aunt, and an intuitive warrior against unseen evil forces.
    Eerie and ominous, I felt there was a good balance between frightening, creepy material and grim, graphic descriptions. The primary theme was good versus evil. Evil can never be truly defeated by good; but the reverse is also true. There is a cosmic interplay between forces that at times produces horrific events, at other times, the very things that make life worth living as a simple mortal being. We can’t completely defeat evil, but we can drive it back and shine the light. The plot gets right into the characters and action but doesn’t provide a hook. I felt the intention was to slowly build anticipation and a sense of horror.
    The Unholy 5 were bad boys who became obsessed with the occult. Biting off more than they could chew, they met what they’d been seeking, realizing too late what they’d done. It was gratifying to see them get what they deserved. I identified most strongly with the title character. While not perfect, Scarlet has many admirable qualities. Devoted to her family, fiercely protective of her loved ones, and dedicated to doing the right thing regardless of how terrifying it would be, Scarlet St. James was a likeable and relatable character.  
    I liked reading Crone. I’m interested to see where Mayer takes this character and the series. As a lifelong fan of Stephen King, I could feel his influence in sections of Mayer’s writing. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series. I’d recommend this book to fans of the horror genre.

[Suzanne Slate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the the BEST horror books I have ever read!!! Its a must read.
I am literally afraid of the dark now!

[Eva John]

After a few GR members berated and insulted me for supposedly giving my own book a top rating, something I hadn't actually done at that time, I went ahead and contacted several other authors regarding this very thing. I found that every single one of them gave their own books 5 Stars, and why not? If we don't believe in ourselves and our abilities as writers why bother?

"CRONE" is not just another blood spatter, body chopping dark thriller. Although it is mainly a product of my imagination, research into ancient languages and biblical artifacts, as well as personal accounts and newspaper articles were woven in for authenticity and to enhance the story. Readers looking for a good old-fashioned scary story with memorable characters and light humor will not be disappointed.

A frightening urban legend seems all too real as two more Michigan teens go missing. Killdeer Park is once again hurled into terror's darkest realm as the Crone hunts her prey and haunts her unwitting adversary in her dreams, leaving Scarlet with a sense of foreboding she cannot shake. The Seer comes into her own just in time to go head to head with true evil in an inevitable supernatural show down. Thirty years ago to the day a local rat pack nicknamed the Unholy 5 unleashed the most hated demon known to man, bringing a reign of terror they themselves will come up against in a horrifying chase to the death.

Seer and Paranormal PI Scarlet St. James is called to work alongside the drop dead gorgeous lead forensic biologist in what will become the most daunting case of her career thus far. Whether or not the reader believes the urban legend is true, one thing is certain...the woods will never be the same.

[Eldon Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most important elements that any successfully written book needs is a hook. There has to be something that grabs the reader's attention within the first few pages that makes them want to continue reading. In the case of Crone; unfortunately that is missing. Now, I did continue to read the book all the way to the end but I never really got over how disjointed the beginning was.

There seemed to me anyway to be at least three different sections masquerading as prologues, all of which combined served only to reduce my interest as opposed to increasing it. Now fair disclosure here, this is not my usual genre, so this type of structure could be popular in horror tomes.

And as a horror writer, Maria Mayer showed real talent and an ability to give the reader that uncomfortable feeling that only comes from the description of disturbing and terrifying situations. Some of her characterizations though...left me wanting. The Unholy 5 in particular. I very nearly stopped reading within the first 10% of this novel because of them. As characters I found them to be just off putting and annoying; I'd liken them to a pack of hyenas. I kept reading because, while they weren't for me, I did have to give Maria props for engendering a response toward the characters.

3 stars on the whole.

[Kayla Krantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

~Received a free copy in exchange for my honest review~

The Unholy Five are a particularly terrifying group. Seeing as how I’m from Michigan myself, I absolutely loved seeing a book of my genre set there. The horror elements within this story were very dark and chilling. However, as I noticed one of the other reviewers also noted, there wasn’t much in the way of a hook. It was hard for me to be drawn into the story, but when I was about halfway through, I was very delighted with it! The creepy factor in this book is exactly my level.

Another thing that made it a little tough to be pulled into the story was the characters. It was hard for me to connect to them, or even pick one out that I wasn’t wishing I could bury alive myself. While I don’t have a problem with profanity in stories, it seemed as if these characters were spewing curse words every three or four words. They are an unlikeable bunch, but I believe that to be the author’s intent so I can’t mark down on that.

Despite those issues, this book chilled me. I love books that can do that, and I’m glad I had the chance to read and review a fellow horror author’s work.

[Carol]

won this book on goodreads, was looking forward to reading it. happy to say I have not been disappointed. its a seating on the edge to your seat book. reminds us not to go into the cemetery at night, you never know who your going to run into. teens disappearing, body parts found, who or what is out there? I eagerly await maria mayer's next book

[Jamie]

Strange but compelling.

I received this book free though a goodreads giveaway.