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Cicada Summer
For rookie park ranger, Matt Holmes, life couldn’t be better. He’s met the woman of his dreams, lives in picturesque Thunderbird Falls, and spends his days working in nature’s majesty. But Matt’s picture-perfect life is about to take a turn for the surreal when his investigation into a string of accidental deaths reveals terrifying similarities with a series of fatalities seventeen years prior, including the drowning of his mother.
Pagan ceremonies, unexplained occult rites, and a mysterious preacher are just a few of the difficulties Matt, girlfriend Colleen, and fellow ranger Andy Zimmerman must face as they uncover the source of an evil which has fed on the town of Thunderbird Falls for generations. The only question remaining. Can they stop it?
Pagan ceremonies, unexplained occult rites, and a mysterious preacher are just a few of the difficulties Matt, girlfriend Colleen, and fellow ranger Andy Zimmerman must face as they uncover the source of an evil which has fed on the town of Thunderbird Falls for generations. The only question remaining. Can they stop it?
- GenresHorror
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2018
70 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Dosser
21 books11 followersAward-winning author, Jeff Dosser is an ex-Tulsa cop and current software developer. When not writing, Jeff spends his days working for the man and cycling through the Oklahoma hills.
Jeff’s short stories can be found in magazines such as Iridium Zine, Tales of Terror, Shotgun Honey, Bewildering Stories, and Down In the Dirt just to name a few. He's also been published in the Deadman’s Tome, Mother’s Revenge, Hindered Souls and Bringing It Back anthologies.
His novel, Neverland, was the 2018 Oklahoma Writer's Federation winner for best new horror. He is also the recipient of the 2016 Writing.Com Quill award for best short fiction. When not writing, Jeff can be found wandering the woods behind his rural home pondering the mysteries prowling the darkness.
Find out what Jeff's been up to on his website. jeffdosser.com
or follow him on Twitter @JeffDosser
Jeff’s short stories can be found in magazines such as Iridium Zine, Tales of Terror, Shotgun Honey, Bewildering Stories, and Down In the Dirt just to name a few. He's also been published in the Deadman’s Tome, Mother’s Revenge, Hindered Souls and Bringing It Back anthologies.
His novel, Neverland, was the 2018 Oklahoma Writer's Federation winner for best new horror. He is also the recipient of the 2016 Writing.Com Quill award for best short fiction. When not writing, Jeff can be found wandering the woods behind his rural home pondering the mysteries prowling the darkness.
Find out what Jeff's been up to on his website. jeffdosser.com
or follow him on Twitter @JeffDosser
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 14, 2021
This is a 4.5 star read.
March 30, 2019
Cicada Summer - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Cicada Summer by Jeff Dosser is a horribly fascinating (in the way that a facial deformity subliminally 'forces' one to keep looking at it), series of gruesome murders occurs in a 17 year cycles in the small rural town of Thunderbird Falls.
MCs in this case are junior Park Ranger Matt Holmes and senior colleague and friend Andy Zimmerman. The pair accidentally stumble into a nightmare race against time before the killer strikes again, riddled with pagan worship, cult ceremonies and an ancient evil too awful to contemplate, except when the evidence of conspiracy and murder puts unwelcome evidence before their very eyes.
Can the men escape unscathed, or will they, like the next victims fall prey to an unspeakable embodiment of darkness that will be almost impossible to escape from?
Get your copy of Cicada Summer today and prepare to be shocked, thrilled and terrified in equal measure - you'll sleep with the lights on for a month!
Cicada Summer by Jeff Dosser is a horribly fascinating (in the way that a facial deformity subliminally 'forces' one to keep looking at it), series of gruesome murders occurs in a 17 year cycles in the small rural town of Thunderbird Falls.
MCs in this case are junior Park Ranger Matt Holmes and senior colleague and friend Andy Zimmerman. The pair accidentally stumble into a nightmare race against time before the killer strikes again, riddled with pagan worship, cult ceremonies and an ancient evil too awful to contemplate, except when the evidence of conspiracy and murder puts unwelcome evidence before their very eyes.
Can the men escape unscathed, or will they, like the next victims fall prey to an unspeakable embodiment of darkness that will be almost impossible to escape from?
Get your copy of Cicada Summer today and prepare to be shocked, thrilled and terrified in equal measure - you'll sleep with the lights on for a month!
December 17, 2024
I received a complimentary electronic copy of this excellent horror tale from TheFussyLibrarian and author Jeff Dosser. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Cicada Summer of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Jeff Dosser to friends and family. He writes a tight tale with personable folks and brings alive the Oklahoma hills around Chickasaw County, Oklahoma.
He leads us on a fine path through the terror of a tale crossing generations, timed to the 17-year cycle of the Cicadas and the pretty hills around Norman, Oklahoma. Even if horror is not your favorite genre, you will enjoy this read. I sure did.
REVIEWED on February 23, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available for review on B&N or Kobo.
He leads us on a fine path through the terror of a tale crossing generations, timed to the 17-year cycle of the Cicadas and the pretty hills around Norman, Oklahoma. Even if horror is not your favorite genre, you will enjoy this read. I sure did.
REVIEWED on February 23, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Not available for review on B&N or Kobo.
January 21, 2019
Over 100,000 books are published monthly and finding an audience is a tough sell for an author. If you like horror with a touch of the paranormal then this author is for you. Be aware that the text contains profanity and the storyline includes a sexually predatory priest. Those cautions aside the book is very readable and well edited. This is not my usual genre but I’ll read anything that is well written. The main characters Matt and Andy are quite likable.
As each new character is introduced one has the eerie sensation that one is meeting the next victim. In this serial murder mystery the reader is at least partially in possession of the facts. Matt’s involvement is rather personal, his mother being one of the potential victims. The part his boss Rachel plays in the affair is one of Matt’s growing suspicions. The priest Grady is already under suspicion. The challenge for Matt is finding proof and doing so before harm comes to his girlfriend and himself. Where his partner Andy stands in all this is open to question.
As each new character is introduced one has the eerie sensation that one is meeting the next victim. In this serial murder mystery the reader is at least partially in possession of the facts. Matt’s involvement is rather personal, his mother being one of the potential victims. The part his boss Rachel plays in the affair is one of Matt’s growing suspicions. The priest Grady is already under suspicion. The challenge for Matt is finding proof and doing so before harm comes to his girlfriend and himself. Where his partner Andy stands in all this is open to question.
January 27, 2019
Great Concept, Sloppy Execution
The byline was great and so I picked this one up, being familiar with some of the author's short fiction. The concept was great and the plot moves along at a great place, but unfortunately either the author felt like he could self-serving and missed a number of grammatical and continuity mistakes that a good editor or a competent beta-reader would have picked up.
The good: Great pacing, good writing in places, well written main characters.
The bad: Missed out on some really good potential on some secondary characters to add more depth.
The ugly: There were a number of grammatical errors and continuity errors early on that nearly had me put this one down.
Bottom line: If you're willing to put up with a handful of grammar mistakes and a couple of continuity errors, then proceed, the ending is sufficiently satisfying. But don't push this one to the top of your list.
The byline was great and so I picked this one up, being familiar with some of the author's short fiction. The concept was great and the plot moves along at a great place, but unfortunately either the author felt like he could self-serving and missed a number of grammatical and continuity mistakes that a good editor or a competent beta-reader would have picked up.
The good: Great pacing, good writing in places, well written main characters.
The bad: Missed out on some really good potential on some secondary characters to add more depth.
The ugly: There were a number of grammatical errors and continuity errors early on that nearly had me put this one down.
Bottom line: If you're willing to put up with a handful of grammar mistakes and a couple of continuity errors, then proceed, the ending is sufficiently satisfying. But don't push this one to the top of your list.
January 9, 2020
The beginning was not what I expected. I actually swiped the book closed and was ready to move on. But something lured me back for one more try. I'm so glad I turned the page and kept going. This book was an awesome supernatural suspense with the best parts of both genres. And you need the beginning parts to understand what happens later, so don't skip those. Keep reading. It's worth it. I inhaled the rest of this book. Didn't want to put it down. Read straight through with the television on and not even hearing the TV. Good stuff here, folks.
August 31, 2018
Entertaining Supernatural Mystery/Thriller
Dosser’s Cicada Summer is a quick read, but it is entertaining from the beginning and keeps your attention through the end. The book has a “Scooby-Doo” flair in the best way, but the monster and danger are real. Looking forward to seeing what else Jeff Dosser has to offer!
Dosser’s Cicada Summer is a quick read, but it is entertaining from the beginning and keeps your attention through the end. The book has a “Scooby-Doo” flair in the best way, but the monster and danger are real. Looking forward to seeing what else Jeff Dosser has to offer!
July 16, 2018
Cicada summer
Being from Oklahoma brought the book closer to home,and my brother was a law officer . The writing got your attention from the start and keep up till the end , I look forward to reading more of he's bookd
Being from Oklahoma brought the book closer to home,and my brother was a law officer . The writing got your attention from the start and keep up till the end , I look forward to reading more of he's bookd
May 16, 2019
Interesting and Entertaining
I enjoy learning about different cultures and the Native American angle to this story was interesting. When I started reading this I wasn’t aware of the supernatural part but it blended well with the story.
I enjoy learning about different cultures and the Native American angle to this story was interesting. When I started reading this I wasn’t aware of the supernatural part but it blended well with the story.
March 30, 2019
Loved this story. Great monster
November 30, 2019
Loved it!
A different kind of paranormal mystery, but I enjoyed the story immensely. Jeff Dosser is an exceptional storyteller and has a hit on his hands with Cicada Summer.
A different kind of paranormal mystery, but I enjoyed the story immensely. Jeff Dosser is an exceptional storyteller and has a hit on his hands with Cicada Summer.
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August 24, 2018Struggle Bus Book Club August 2018
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews