Beyond the Veil

Haunted Durscombe

by Jeannie Wycherley

Upset the dead at your peril… Because The Keepers of Souls is not particularly forgiving. Death is not the end. Although Detective Adam Chapple has always assumed it is. When his ex-wife is killed, the boundaries between life and death, fantasy and reality, and truth and lies begin to dissolve. Adam’s main suspect for the murder, insists that she’s actually his star witness. She claims she met the killer once before. In an after-death experience. Fresh out of leads, Adam seeks the help of self-proclaimed witch, Cassia Veysie, a woman who insists she can communicate with the dead. However, the situation rapidly deteriorates when a bungled séance rips open a gateway to a sinister world beyond the veil, and unquiet spirits are unleashed. Can Cassia and Adam find a way to shore up the breach in the veil and keep the demons at bay? With time running out and a murderer on the loose, the nightmare is only just beginning… .~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Praise for Beyond the Veil
‘A 5-star winner from Queen of the Night Terrors’ – Amazon reviewer.
‘Really got my heart pounding’ – Amazon reviewer.
‘A nerve racking, nail-biting, spine tingling, sweat producing, thrilling storyline that keeps you on a razor’s edge the entire tale’ – ARC reviewer.
'Female Stephen King!’ – Amazon reviewer.
Jeannie Wycherley is the author of several books set in East Devon, UK, including Crone , recipient of a Chill with a Book Readers Award (2018) and an Indie B.R.A.G medallion (2017).

Genres: Horror

294 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2018

Reviews

[Apoorva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a beautifully penned paranormal novel including magical situations that's beyond human intelligence. The central actor, Adam, is seeking his missing son, Dan. One death leads to another & the way he discovers his son with the change of circumstances is interesting.

I enjoyed the complete account of how the cases are molded into the actors' everyday lives. But I didn't love the end at all. The entire idea of the book's title was wiped off by the end. I actually presumed a distinctive finish following all the hype.

The novel has a lot of emotion, drama, action & uncertainty. Thank you, BookSirens, for the e-copy of this book & I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars


Beyond the Veil is a well-written escapist paranormal mystery with a hint of the occult, centred on police officer Adam, who is desperately trying to track down his missing son, Dan. When Adam's ex and Dan's mother is found murdered, Adam is obliged to stay away from the case but of course that doesn't happen. Adam and a varied cast of characters are united in their shared strange experiences, beginning with the appearance of the sinister veiled woman, Abelia. Abelia is in fact an entity from beyond, tasked with retreiving an escaped soul, who has hitch-hiked back to the land of the living (I appreciated the parallel of Adam being a police officer and Abelia who is kind of 'policing' the souls of the departed).

I enjoyed the rural/coastal setting of this story and the idea of a loved one coming back from the brink of death but 'not quite themselves'. Heidi was the most likeable and relatable character for me. I thought perhaps the cast of characters to be a little much, and would have favoured more character development for the few core people involved instead, hence three star rating rather than four.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLD ON TO YOUR NICKERS!!!
Ok guys, I have to tell you I love a great read as much as the next guy. But holy hades. Talk about scaring your pants off. Whew! You have all the drama, excitement, action, suspense, and a triple dose of the OMGs! LOL. I loved it. I read this bad boy 4 times and I'm not finished yet. Talk about one wild rollercoaster ride thats as nerve racking, nailbiting, spine tingling, sweat producing, thrilling storyline that keeps you on a razors edge the entire tale. Oh baby are you at the right spot. I have never been more impressed by the style, insight, phrasing, plot or just plan nerve of any other author as Jeannie. And it definitely took alot of nerve and will power to pull the is masterpiece off. The characters are intriguing, complex and well balanced to stay the long haul. Their personalities played off one another with such life and individual qualities that was flawless. The scenes so vividly detailed that it paints one believably fantastic backdrop that adds other layers to this page turning, heart pounding masterpiece. The twists and turns along with some unexpected surprises that kept my adrenaline at an all time high. Phenomenal job Jeannie, thanks for sharing this remarkable read with us.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

*A Thank you to Booksirens for allowing me to read this book. This is my honest and unbiased review*

Hello Fellow Readers,

So, I just could not get into this book. I have no idea why since the premise is very interesting, and the mystery was actually pretty good. I almost DNF'd it at 26% but something made me push through, and that had to count for something right? I do feel like the pacing of the book was just a little slow and I understand that it was done to build tension and suspense, but I felt it never really picked up for me like I would have liked.

Also, I just couldn't connect to any of the characters. Adam and Cassia was okay but not enough for me to establish a connection with them. Wycherly does write well, but there was just something that was missing for me, and unfortunately I just can not pin point what it is. The book has a really good rating on goodreads, so I think I may sometime in the future reread when my mindset is different.

Overall, not a book for me right now but I will try to read it again at a later date.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense keeps you reading. Every time I thought I had the whole picture, there was more action. Also, how the surrounding world and the characters are described, is fantastic. I had very clean images of the characters and their surroundings. Bringing in so many main characters and still keeping a good flow is difficult, but this was just right. I always know who was the point of view. Its nice getting to know characters individually. Usually a book provides one point of view, and one idea of who a person is. Beyond the Veil lets you know the group from all angles

I wish I was Cassia. I grew up next to a cemetary, took walks there, why not live in one. And I could dress how I like. I cant wait for book two, and getting a deeper look in to Cassia's ancesters!

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Veil - a review by Rosemary Kenny

Cassia Veysey is a most peculiar young woman - for a start off she's the latest in a long line of witches and she lives in the family crypt in the local graveyard!
When she meets up with Heidi,Tom and Detective Adam Chapple things will never be the same for any of them again, in this 5-star winner from Queen of the Night Terrors, Jeannie Wycherley.

The lives and deaths of Heidi - who was knocked down by a car and died for three and a half minutes, Tom whose wife Laura died from a massive stroke, only to wake and laugh at the shock of those who pronounced her dead after 90 minutes and Adam's son Dan, whom Adam believed had gone backpacking in Europe and whose ex-wife Nicola has been found brutally and repeatedly stabbed to death, are threads that follow an 'after-life' experience by Heidi, Laura and Dan on the same day - that will link them inextricably together for ever!

[Joy Yehle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unlikely trio, a cop, a near-death experiencer, and a physic girl who lives in a cemetery are thrown together in the midst of a horrible crime. United in grief and horror they must face a terrifying soul warrior who will stop at nothing to collect a wayward soul, even murder! I could not put this book down and read long into the night, way, way after my bedtime! The characters were so multifaceted that I wanted to know more about each one. If you are looking for a rich and heart-pounding scare, this is your ticket.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He thought it was the end when you did but when his ex wife is murdered. She says she is his witness but they think she did it. He will be taken on an adventure which will make him question everything he had ever known. Will he find out the truth
I received an advanced copy and I enjoyed it so much that I want to review

[Debbie Alvarado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! I wasn’t prepared for this book. I loved it however, it scared me a few times. I was reading at night I heard all sorts of noises. I was to scared to look out front. I thought if I did an saw “Abelia” out there.... oh heck no!!
I can say if your looking for a great read to keep you entertained, here it is! I want more of these books. It really got my heart pounding.
You need Heidi, Polly, Cassia, Adam and of course Abelia...
A great read with a wonderful cast of characters involved in solving a mystery, and several deaths.
Oh I am ready for the next!!

[Amanda Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the Veil is an excellent read from start to finish. It crosses the boundaries of life and death and takes readers on a thrilling ride. There were parts in the story that really got my heart thumping and some things I just didn't see coming. The story centres around four main characters, Heidi who died and came back, Tom whose wife Laura died and came back completely different, Detective Adam Chapple whose ex-wife is murdered and his son is missing, and Cassie Veysie a witch.

All intertwined in this story they set out to face a great warrior in the form of Abelia. Abelia is keeper of the veil and when a soul escapes and takes refuge in the body of a live person, she must hunt them down and return them. Abelia is one scary warrior and she really does scare in parts of this book.

There's plenty of action and excitement as you read through the story and I have to say I loved it. If you enjoy thrillers and the supernatural this book is definitely for you. It's a mix of both that will have you biting your nails. It's intriguing, intense, and oh so good.

[Shona P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what a tangled web you weave!

Love the characters and the journey. Having read Crone I was keen to read more from this talented author. I was not disappointed and recommend this to you. To the author - please bring these characters back in another journey!

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily review an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Interesting story and looking forward for your other works...

[Tracy Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

A well written book. One of the few I've read in recent years that really held my attention. A proper page turner. I shall follow the author's future offerings with great interest!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story. Detective Adam always presumed death was final. What his ex dies, he finds out differently Such an intriguing story that kept me awake at night until I finished reading.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gosh woman, you write a darn good book!

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure what made me choose this book, the cover may have intrigued me because the blurb for it really didn’t do it justice in my mind.

The connecting thread in this story is the day when Adam, Heidi, Tom & Cassia’s life changes in a nano second.

Adam is trying to find his adult son Dan and is having a hard time finding him anywhere. As a police officer his mind keeps straying to the dark side of things, but as a parent he’s trying to keep hope.

On her way to work Heidi is struck by a vehicle and her entire life changes. During those moments when she is caught between living and dying she has been allowed behind the veil and now that she’s back among the living she is struggling to find her center.

Tom thought his world had ended when he almost lost his wife of 41 years to a massive stroke. A miraculous recovery and she’s back home, she however no longer acts like his loving wife.

Cassia is a witch that has had abilities her whole life, but part of her feels like she’s not good enough to have this power and as such has a tendency to doubt herself.

The pacing for the most part keeps you on the edge as you get caught up in the lives of these four characters as the try and navigate down a path that is leading them into unknown and uncomfortable territory.

While I did figure things out fairly early the characters have great depth and you are drawn into the family that they have created as they all try and make sense of events that are pushing them past their normal preconceived beliefs.

The peak behind the veil has consequences and now they all must work together to try and stop the bloody path of retribution that is creeping closer to them that may have far reaching consequences if it is not stopped.

I was very pleasantly pleased with this story and how it drew me in. It takes you on a journey where you will question what you believe happens when you die. What happens if you are given a second chance, what would you do with this reprieve?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Diana Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Veil (The Durscombe Novels) Kindle Edition

by Jeannie Wycherley

Thanks to Booksirens and the author for a complimentary copy. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
Set in the modern English countryside, this book hits the notes for a Gothic horror novel. Adam, a police officer in the small town of Durscombe finds himself in the middle of two crimes that seem to be tied for him, his ex-wife and his missing son's friend are both killed. Heidi, a survivor of a terrorist attack who returned from death, begins to see a figure in lace who stalks her. Throw in a possibility of a possession, a very British witch, and brilliantly British style and language, and you have a book that digs into your brain with terrifying images and wonderful characters
Ms. Wycherly manages to handle various horror tropes with finese, including things like a séance gone bad or teens in the woods playing with an ouija board. She does this without slipping into cliché and adds her own spin. The scenes are so, so much more terrifying and cinematic than what one would expect.
The antagonist is grim and physically repulsive. She is in fact one of the scariest antagonists I've run into in a long while. But that character isn't really the villain. That character was equal parts creepy and vile. I can't say more without some spoilers.
The cast of characters is a little too big and probably could be reduced by a third. But even with that in mind, they are well filled out and relatable. And they are most obviously British! The characters could easily appear on Doctor Who or Law & Order: UK. The page oozes Earl Grey and misty streets.
The story and plot are paced nail-bitingly well, utilizing the jump scare, the building of terror and small breaks to release tension. But even then, tension drips down the walls of this story like cooling blood.
Arthur Machen would be proud.
Complex, terrifying, with nail-biting tension, I loved this book.
5 stars out of 5

https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Veil-Je...

[Janine Bourdo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first Durscombe book by this author and loved it. I was looking forward to this one and was not disappointed. Setting is one of the most important things to me, and the author has so nailed the art of transporting us to a seaside English Village in different weathers and moods. Surprisingly, however, we’re not in 1860 as in the last book, but in modern days.

The book opening could be a rather standard English mystery, a corpse and a female detective. It takes a bit to get to the paranormal and to the man who is really the main character. The author handles scary paranormal and spiritual paranormal as well as I’ve ever seen it done and I’m an experienced and avid reader. I was interested in the growth of the witch character, Cassie. She is not an all -knowing sage.

I found the plot of the first novel was more believable than this one was. Still, this was a very enjoyable read. These books at first seem as if they may be cozies, and in fact they are something to curl up with on a rainy day because the characters are so likable, but both plots go further than the normal cozy and so give numerous surprises. I enjoyed knowing about this town more than one hundred years ago in, and seeing its changes and left-overs in modern times. I’m interested in reading other things by this author.

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Nikki Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different kind of book for me, however, I really enjoyed it.

A young uni student, A woman on her way to work and a stroke victim all have something in common, And they link rather dramatically to a stalwart police officer, who is going to have a lot more than he bargained for.

This book, a classic “who done it”, mixes into the melee, the beyond and what happens when we die, but also what happens if you don’t want to peacefully traverse onto the other side.?

Does the other side have a police force who apprehend “the I’m not meant to be here? “ of course they do, and it’s not someone you want strolling the streets of your quiet peaceful town.

But when the possible becomes impossible, and the only way to get answers is to call on the improbable, you can only hope you have got a job at the end of the day.

Give this book a go, you won’t be disappointed.

I received this book as an ARC via book sirens and am leaving an honest free review.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when someone dies, goes into the light, goes through the check-in gate, but then comes running out the gate against the natural flow of the line of the grey shadowed dead waiting to get in, all to go back to the land of the living? What happens if it isn't time to die for someone? That is what Jeannie Wycherley wants the reader to find out in her gripping story of death, murder, and suspense called "Beyond The Veil". The reader's emotions are subjected to a roller coaster ride as there are happy and not-so-happy times in the book. The characters are described in great vivid detail both physically as well as emotionally and in some cases, spiritually. The reader is sent on a myriad of short journeys in an attempt to find the answers to all the mysteries in a well-written and most enjoyable read. This is a very late voluntary review of an Advanced Review Copy from BookSirens.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read... Highly recommended.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved this book. However, I would give it 4.5 stars and not 5 stars as I expected it to be scary and it wasn't really that scary. Perhaps the blurb on the book comparing Jeannie to Stephen King built up my expectations, or maybe I don't scare easily.

Despite the non-scariness of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. It is a definite page-turner thrilling ride that left me turning the pages almost faster than I could read them.

I found myself relating to the characters in the book. Feeling their pain and their joy. An interesting delve into the world of 'what happens when we die' which I enjoyed as well.

Highly recommended that you read this if you enjoy a fast paced read with likeable characters.

[Dayna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Story!

I just discovered this writer with The Crone and now this book - both are excellent! I only wish the books were longer! I will certainly follow this author and read any other books she creates, she is very talented. Anyone looking for a good story with a perfect mix of the believable and the fantastic will enjoy this read.

[Stargazer976 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing read! well penned and you can tell a lot of research went into writing this. A Haunting murder mystery filled with death, murder and witchiness.
Loved the main characters and how they all worked together , a detective, a witch and a survivor of the afterlife . Kept me gripped all the way through.

[Caroline Arnott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller, super natural, suspence, dark, brilliant

Starts as a mystery, becomes a superatural story, then a thriller with the time running out - fast! Becoming darker as the tale unfolds, friendships forged, and an amazing heart wrenching closing chapter. Woudn't have missed this read for the world. Still wiping my eyes.

[Tena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A story that keeps you on your toes. Mystery and suspense with twist and turns. The more you read the less you seem to know. But it all comes together nicely. Definitely a page turner. A great book club read. You are going to want to take to someone about this book when you are finished!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by this book. I really enjoyed it. It was a spooky page turner, not my usual genre. However, it was well written. The characters and the relationships between them were captivating, even when the plot was slow I was given a free copy of this book. I am leaving my honest opinion.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a breath of fresh air! I haven’t read a book like this in years! Oh, it was good! Spirits, witches, the other side, crossing over! This had it all! I hope to read more from this author!

[Heaven Riendeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of twist and turns, unexpected delish moves. Not what I ex
press much better..

[Jill Haines · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was an entertaining, easy read with some twists and turns. It's my second book by this author and I will be looking out for more.

[Liz Otter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy reading and believable.