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Blue Moon Investigations #8
Crop Circles, Cows, and Crazy Aliens
There are crop circles in the fields near Cliffe Woods and unexplained lights in the sky at night. Does Amanda's latest case have aliens at its core?
Of course not, because there is no such thing!
But, when a farmer hires paranormal investigator Amanda Harper to look into his glowing milk, she doesn’t sense how crazy things are about to get, and before she can even start investigating, a frozen body is found and the conspiracy theory nutters arrive to argue about the inner workings of an alien freeze ray.
Leading the bunch is none other than Jack Hammer, the handsome, self-proclaimed star of the internet show Alien Quest. He wants Amanda as a co-host to boost his ratings and won’t take no for an answer. But Amanda has other distractions, not least of which is her estranged uncle Knobhead arriving unexpectedly to offer his assistance – he was kidnapped by aliens, you know.
Amanda is going all out to solve this case, so let’s just hope the help she gets from Patience Woods, her sassy police officer best friend doesn’t, slow her down too much.
Crop circles, doped cows, spacecraft sightings, and a mysterious government agency trained to repel alien invasions all combine to give Amanda Harper her toughest test yet in this funny, cozy mystery.
The Harper Files are a spin off from the Blue Moon Investigation Series where Amanda is introduced and recruited by Tempest Michaels. You can read this series without ever reading the other books, but I have to raise a minor spoiler alert if you decide to read the Harper Files first and then go back to the Blue Moon series.
Please be aware that this book contains some mild cussing and occasional sexual references. There are no elements that should be considered worthy of an R rating though.
Of course not, because there is no such thing!
But, when a farmer hires paranormal investigator Amanda Harper to look into his glowing milk, she doesn’t sense how crazy things are about to get, and before she can even start investigating, a frozen body is found and the conspiracy theory nutters arrive to argue about the inner workings of an alien freeze ray.
Leading the bunch is none other than Jack Hammer, the handsome, self-proclaimed star of the internet show Alien Quest. He wants Amanda as a co-host to boost his ratings and won’t take no for an answer. But Amanda has other distractions, not least of which is her estranged uncle Knobhead arriving unexpectedly to offer his assistance – he was kidnapped by aliens, you know.
Amanda is going all out to solve this case, so let’s just hope the help she gets from Patience Woods, her sassy police officer best friend doesn’t, slow her down too much.
Crop circles, doped cows, spacecraft sightings, and a mysterious government agency trained to repel alien invasions all combine to give Amanda Harper her toughest test yet in this funny, cozy mystery.
The Harper Files are a spin off from the Blue Moon Investigation Series where Amanda is introduced and recruited by Tempest Michaels. You can read this series without ever reading the other books, but I have to raise a minor spoiler alert if you decide to read the Harper Files first and then go back to the Blue Moon series.
Please be aware that this book contains some mild cussing and occasional sexual references. There are no elements that should be considered worthy of an R rating though.
244 pages, ebook
Published December 24, 2018
335 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Steve Higgs
576 books822 followersLet's start this off with an invitation to get some FREE books. No, you didn't read that wrong, we are talking about multiple free books. I love giving away free books because once people delve into the fast-paced mystery thrills I write, they go on to buy lots more.
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 3, 2025
Crop Circles, Cows, and Crazy Aliens by Steve Higgs is the 8th book in the Blue Moon Investigations series. A farmer hires paranormal investigator Amanda Harper after his cows start producing glowing milk shortly after mysterious crop circles appear and a neighbouring farmers wife is killed and found frozen. Another entertaining book in the series where Amanda has to fend off internet show Alien Quest producer Jack Hammer and an uncle who was allegedly kidnapped by aliens. Lots of fun and an enjoyable cozy mystery, although a bit crude in parts.
January 5, 2019
Aliens invading Earth? Could things be that simple?
The premise of this story is that someone is implying that a trio of farms are receiving visits from aliens. With crop circles, luminous milk, alien sitings and lights in the sky, this was a good case for Amanda Harper to get stuck into. But just as she begins, a woman, the wife of one of the farmers, is killed. Now things are going in a different direction, and Amanda is thrown in at the deep end.
This story was really engaging. The plot was a good one and the characters were interesting enough to capture my attention. There were laughs aplenty in the story and lots of cryptic details, enough to keep me guessing until the end. I loved the clever and witty dialogue and the odd group of players in the story. They made the book very appealing and I found myself quite engrossed, trying to figure out who had done what, and why?
I like this authors writings. I like his style and his dry sense of humour. His mysteries are always good reads. They are the sort of stories that you curl up with whilst sipping a hot drink in front of a roaring fire, as you relax and unwind after a long hard day at work. So very tantalising and satisfying to read.
The premise of this story is that someone is implying that a trio of farms are receiving visits from aliens. With crop circles, luminous milk, alien sitings and lights in the sky, this was a good case for Amanda Harper to get stuck into. But just as she begins, a woman, the wife of one of the farmers, is killed. Now things are going in a different direction, and Amanda is thrown in at the deep end.
This story was really engaging. The plot was a good one and the characters were interesting enough to capture my attention. There were laughs aplenty in the story and lots of cryptic details, enough to keep me guessing until the end. I loved the clever and witty dialogue and the odd group of players in the story. They made the book very appealing and I found myself quite engrossed, trying to figure out who had done what, and why?
I like this authors writings. I like his style and his dry sense of humour. His mysteries are always good reads. They are the sort of stories that you curl up with whilst sipping a hot drink in front of a roaring fire, as you relax and unwind after a long hard day at work. So very tantalising and satisfying to read.
November 6, 2023
What a convoluted and confusing case this one was. So many moving pieces and so many subplots going on. It is somewhat hard to judge the story here because of it. Still, I would say it was good at least.
The characters were as always, a little over the top. That said, they all fit the bill for their roles. Though I do have to say some of them were more annoying than others. The main protagonist, Amanda Harper, was actually one of the less interesting characters in the story. That said, she was a great POV for the whole story to play out.
I don’t do spoilers, but I’ll say the case in this was overly complex. There were too many ways and connections that had to be made and made the book run longer than I feel was necessary.
Overall, good but not the best in the series thus far. I’m happy to have continued reading the Blue Moon Investigation series. This entry into it was, to say the least, entertaining and made me read way past my bedtime.
The characters were as always, a little over the top. That said, they all fit the bill for their roles. Though I do have to say some of them were more annoying than others. The main protagonist, Amanda Harper, was actually one of the less interesting characters in the story. That said, she was a great POV for the whole story to play out.
I don’t do spoilers, but I’ll say the case in this was overly complex. There were too many ways and connections that had to be made and made the book run longer than I feel was necessary.
Overall, good but not the best in the series thus far. I’m happy to have continued reading the Blue Moon Investigation series. This entry into it was, to say the least, entertaining and made me read way past my bedtime.
December 28, 2018
It's Amanda Harper's turn to take on the bogus supernatural in the Kentish countryside, much to the chagrin of the numerous local UFO disciples. One of them turns out to be her very own Uncle Nobby, aka 'Knobhead'.
The mystery ratchets up appreciably when the wife of one of the farmers afflicted with glowing milk they can't sell turns up dead!
And billionaire boyfriends can be a letdown, even when besotted with a girl. Amanda must content herself with doing an absolutely bang-up job of exposing the conspiracy to make the farmers sell out to the fossil fuel industry. All while having to keep the self-proclaimed Internet celebrity Jack Hammer, conspiracy salesman, at a good distance.
We are also treated to the timely assistance of PC Patience of the Rochester Constabulary and her equally spectacular sisters, Hope and Charity.
The mystery ratchets up appreciably when the wife of one of the farmers afflicted with glowing milk they can't sell turns up dead!
And billionaire boyfriends can be a letdown, even when besotted with a girl. Amanda must content herself with doing an absolutely bang-up job of exposing the conspiracy to make the farmers sell out to the fossil fuel industry. All while having to keep the self-proclaimed Internet celebrity Jack Hammer, conspiracy salesman, at a good distance.
We are also treated to the timely assistance of PC Patience of the Rochester Constabulary and her equally spectacular sisters, Hope and Charity.
August 30, 2022
"Crop Circles, Cows, and Crazy Aliens" sees the focus back on Amanda Harper.
Three linked farms locally are experiencing strange events, crop circles, space ships, lights in the sky, aliens, and their milk their cattle is producing has turned green.
The book is played mostly for laughs but there is a darker core to at least one of the mysteries.
The wife of one of the farmers is found dead outdoors - frozen through and through even though the weather was mild.
Amanda's relationship with her billionaire boyfriend is having a rocky time.
It's the sort of book that it is best read for the ride.
I enjoyed it but it is not particularly memorable
3 Stars.
Three linked farms locally are experiencing strange events, crop circles, space ships, lights in the sky, aliens, and their milk their cattle is producing has turned green.
The book is played mostly for laughs but there is a darker core to at least one of the mysteries.
The wife of one of the farmers is found dead outdoors - frozen through and through even though the weather was mild.
Amanda's relationship with her billionaire boyfriend is having a rocky time.
It's the sort of book that it is best read for the ride.
I enjoyed it but it is not particularly memorable
3 Stars.
December 5, 2021
Another hilarious entry in the Blue Moon series. I'm in awe of Amanda's capability to solve these. Especially since we have multiple evil doers this time. I love Patience and her sisters, Hope is my favorite. Uncle Knobhead is a neat touch; we all have people we know who were nicknamed by a child who couldn't pronounce their name. To say I enjoyed this one is an understatement; I love the Amanda Harper books in this series more than the Tempest Michaels ones. Recommended. (And anxious to read more.)
July 4, 2023
Racist much?! How is it that when Amanda talks about how horny she gets at the thought of some guy, it's cute, but when Patience does the exact same thing, it's a dig at how sexist sexualized Black folk are. Also, why is a trained police officer (ex) not prepared with proper equipment for her job? She seems to just continue to go by the seat of her pants without first researching the people, the area, or what might be necessary to investigate. What stupid logic. Clearly written by a man who spends all of his time with his Habs hands in his pants.
November 15, 2019
CCC & CA is a convoluted tale of greed, murder and, of course, aliens. Although I did solve a small bit of the mystery, I was very happy to discover many surprising elements and a great solution of all the bits involved. I missed male protagonist Tempest Michaels but Amanda shows intelligent sleuthing skills in this, book 8, tale of the Blue Moons series. I recommend this book and the entire series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Read via Kindle Unlimited
May 30, 2022
Amanda investigations strange happenings in a co-op of 3 farms. Their cows'milk is glowing green, an alien has been seen, and there are strange crop circles on their land. Two of the farmers' wives let Amanda know that she is not wanted there.
Amanda breaks up with Brett when she learns that he does not want children. Even though he said that he might re-think his position, Amanda does not want to marry him and find out down the line that he will never agree to children.
Amanda breaks up with Brett when she learns that he does not want children. Even though he said that he might re-think his position, Amanda does not want to marry him and find out down the line that he will never agree to children.
December 30, 2018
Mysteries within mysteries... And this one is hilarious! It's driving Amanda crazy trying to solve it, but she's determined to get to the bottom of what's going on. There are several twists in the plot and the characters range from overly serious to downright funny. I definitely enjoyed this new book by Steve Higgs.
February 13, 2019
There an ad in the middle—wtf?!
I don’t know why I even bothered to read this since the first one was so bad. I won’t even get into the story line but what pissed me off was at the end of one of the chapters there was an advertisement for another book by this author. Seriously who does that?!
I don’t know why I even bothered to read this since the first one was so bad. I won’t even get into the story line but what pissed me off was at the end of one of the chapters there was an advertisement for another book by this author. Seriously who does that?!
March 6, 2022
What do crop circles, luminescent milk, UFOs, mysterious lights, an alien, murder, a death ray and a mysterious group known as BARF have in common.
This is the conundrum facing Amanda Harper when she is asked to investigate the sighting of an alien on a nearby farm, one of three that is facing bankruptcy due to their suddenly luminescent milk. Aided, or hindered, by the host of an internet show called Alien Quest and an uncle whose nickname of ''knobhead'' is strangely appropriate she pulls on her wellies and gets stuck in to the investigation.
Are aliens responsible or is there another, more mundane, reason for all of the above occurrences. A great book with several discoveries/results/endings that I did not see coming in my wildest dreams. Well worth reading.
This is the conundrum facing Amanda Harper when she is asked to investigate the sighting of an alien on a nearby farm, one of three that is facing bankruptcy due to their suddenly luminescent milk. Aided, or hindered, by the host of an internet show called Alien Quest and an uncle whose nickname of ''knobhead'' is strangely appropriate she pulls on her wellies and gets stuck in to the investigation.
Are aliens responsible or is there another, more mundane, reason for all of the above occurrences. A great book with several discoveries/results/endings that I did not see coming in my wildest dreams. Well worth reading.
November 16, 2022
This is an Amanda case. Quite complicated as two ne'er do wells piggyback on the first nefarious plan and so muddle the facts as to what is happening. The two girls seeking the two farmers and wanting to get married right away was way too fishy but totally dismissed. Amanda did a great job figuring out what was happening, I am just not as fond of her cases as the ones with Tempest.
April 6, 2019
Brilliant
Five stars, I have read all the books by this author. They just keep getting better and funnier. I like Amanda she gets to the truth. Jane/James is lovely and Patience well she just cracks me up. 😂 I can't wait to read the next one.
Five stars, I have read all the books by this author. They just keep getting better and funnier. I like Amanda she gets to the truth. Jane/James is lovely and Patience well she just cracks me up. 😂 I can't wait to read the next one.
January 31, 2021
I can't understand why all the people in these books seem to use American words and descriptions when the book is set in middle England. Perhaps it's my age and all 20 somethings talk this was in other parts of the country.
February 9, 2021
This book featured Amanda Harper as the protagonist. Love that Steve Higgs features strong, clever women in his books. As always with Steve’s books, interesting and original plots, plus lots of laughs!
July 15, 2021
a murder, a bit of comedy, sex is mentioned but the book is mainly about solving the crop circles and the alien invasion, will be nice when amanda actually works on a case with tempest. love the characters, jane /james, patience who is a bubbly person.
July 25, 2023
science geeks will live this one with Harper tracking down what is happening in the farms - having to deal with a well meaning uncle and a nutter trying to get her to work for him its sweet funny and fast moving
October 11, 2024
Alien invaders, host of a show about Aliens who keeps showing up in the middle of the investigation and messing things up in the process and Amanda keeps getting turned every which way, lots of misleading clues and confusion but in the end she soles the case, Great read.
July 31, 2025
Amanda has her own case to solve, with crop circles, alien lights in the sky and glowing milk from the farm. Intriguing puzzle with some nice twists. Only a three because of the continual references to the sex life of the MC.
November 11, 2025
Fun read
Entertaining story as usual. Although i have read enough mysteries to solve it well before i finished. Higgs tells a great story with detailed descriptions and dialog. The characters are entertaining and easy to visualize. Quite ready for the next volume!
Entertaining story as usual. Although i have read enough mysteries to solve it well before i finished. Higgs tells a great story with detailed descriptions and dialog. The characters are entertaining and easy to visualize. Quite ready for the next volume!
December 30, 2018
Interesting and entertaining
January 14, 2019
Fun book
I enjoyed reading and trying to solve the mystery. There were a couple places i laughed out loud. Getting ready to start his other series. Keep the books coming.
I enjoyed reading and trying to solve the mystery. There were a couple places i laughed out loud. Getting ready to start his other series. Keep the books coming.
August 19, 2019
Swear these are getting worse!
March 22, 2020
Another enjoyable romp around East Malling.
June 23, 2020
What a Fun Series
Every book in this series is well written. The characters are funny and the plots interesting. I'm reading my way through and look forward to book nine.
Every book in this series is well written. The characters are funny and the plots interesting. I'm reading my way through and look forward to book nine.
April 1, 2021
Different
Steve's books are different, light reading -- fun and interesting. They have great characters and interesting settings. Sit down, relax and enjoy. Good reading.
Steve's books are different, light reading -- fun and interesting. They have great characters and interesting settings. Sit down, relax and enjoy. Good reading.
March 7, 2022
I give these books a 5 rating because of the entertainment factor. I just can’t put them down.
March 18, 2022
Great story!
Well thought out and characters were well played! Great story from start to finish!
Well thought out and characters were well played! Great story from start to finish!
May 22, 2022
twisty
Twisty plot and I didn’t know why things happened. Some really funny scenes and pretty decent character development. I like Amanda Hotstuff.
Twisty plot and I didn’t know why things happened. Some really funny scenes and pretty decent character development. I like Amanda Hotstuff.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews