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Sizzler
When Lexi-Jo Lyman, a Freelance writer, and Herbert Duvane, a mysterious computer technician, find themselves caught up in a bizarre takeover of the tranquil city of Margate, Florida, the heat is on. Personalities and behaviors are changing in the locals against their will, and no one can figure out why. Crime, murder and promiscuity are on the rise, and the gentle city is in utter chaos. Looking through some curious journals, Lexi-Jo and Herbert discover that the only hope to extinguish the gripping phenomenon is to recover a lost amulet in the Everglades — the key to the hostile invasion. An expedition is set up, and the search for the amulet is on.
Staggered by the dark web that is closing in all around them, Lexi-Jo and Herbert realize they are in way over their heads and reach out to Kellie Sierra, a Margate detective, for help. Will it be too late, or will they crack the dark puzzle that is threatening their lives and tearing the city apart?
Staggered by the dark web that is closing in all around them, Lexi-Jo and Herbert realize they are in way over their heads and reach out to Kellie Sierra, a Margate detective, for help. Will it be too late, or will they crack the dark puzzle that is threatening their lives and tearing the city apart?
300 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2019
1 person want to read
About the author
Wolf Schimanski
4 books7 followersWolf Schimanski epitomizes everything thriller. His 'Meter' trilogy is now complete and available at all major online retailers. 'Sizzler' is his first collaboration with South Florida author B.J. Tiernan. Wolf lives in London, ON. Canada and is now working on 'Overdone', the sequel to 'Sizzler' with B.J. Tiernan.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 7, 2020
“Sizzler” is one of those fast-paced, thrilling reads which are nearly impossible to put down once you dive into them. For some reason, it reminded me of Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction with its smartly organized vignettes and unforgettable characters. The plot itself is very original and absolutely riveting: when Lexi-Jo, who is on the run from her past, decides to make a quiet suburban town her hideout, she has no idea what she’s about to encounter. The town has a shady quality to it and its inhabitants are acting rather strange. With the help of Herbert, her new acquaintance, Lexi-Jo eventually gets to the bottom of this mystery; however, it seems that their troubles have just begun. Now they know their enemy’s face, but how does one fight something that is moved by the forces not quite out of this world? Dark, gritty and so very compelling, “Sizzler” is a great choice for all fans of the genre.
November 19, 2019
A freelancer writer and a computer technician would hardly seem the sort of folk to become involved in the takeover of an American city, but Lexi-Jo and Herbert's investigation into the changing face of the small Florida city of Margate leads to uncovering a phenomenon that holds its roots in an amulet lost in the Everglades.
The race is on to find a small talisman in a vast swamp that holds the key to Margate's fate and future, but again—these two are hardly equipped to undertake this kind of search based on their skill sets.
It will take the involvement of an unusually savvy detective and the risk of both their lives in encounters with gators, snakes, and deadly forces to confront a psychic phenomenon and violence which leads them to move well outside their comfort zones and personalities.
Captivity and torture changes people, as Lexi-Jo discovers. It can also lead the victim to become as aggressive and violent as the aggressor, when positions change.
But, somehow, more than people are involved in this struggle. As a father discovers his daughter is dangerous, women uncover forbidden passions, and Lexi-Jo struggles to trust strangers in her life, the plot lives up to its name and, indeed, sizzles with unexpected nuances, twists, and turns.
Sizzler combines the atmosphere of an Indiana Jones-type adventure expedition with the cat-and-mouse intrigue of a thriller. It moves back and forth between the two and adds elements of tension and revelation that keep readers on their toes, but doesn't neatly fit into any predictable formula genre story.
Wolf Schimanski and B. J. Tiernan's approach keeps the writing fresh, the characters vivid and unique, and their relationships centered on growth-inducing discoveries and confrontations as they navigate an unfamiliar world embedded within their own.
Will the ordeal bring two disparate souls together, or ultimately drive them apart? This and many other questions give this thriller a multifaceted blanket of intrigue and depth designed to keep readers engaged and wondering right up to the surprise conclusion.
Fans of suspense stories and relationship explorations on many levels will find Sizzler crackles with nonstop action and intrigue.
The race is on to find a small talisman in a vast swamp that holds the key to Margate's fate and future, but again—these two are hardly equipped to undertake this kind of search based on their skill sets.
It will take the involvement of an unusually savvy detective and the risk of both their lives in encounters with gators, snakes, and deadly forces to confront a psychic phenomenon and violence which leads them to move well outside their comfort zones and personalities.
Captivity and torture changes people, as Lexi-Jo discovers. It can also lead the victim to become as aggressive and violent as the aggressor, when positions change.
But, somehow, more than people are involved in this struggle. As a father discovers his daughter is dangerous, women uncover forbidden passions, and Lexi-Jo struggles to trust strangers in her life, the plot lives up to its name and, indeed, sizzles with unexpected nuances, twists, and turns.
Sizzler combines the atmosphere of an Indiana Jones-type adventure expedition with the cat-and-mouse intrigue of a thriller. It moves back and forth between the two and adds elements of tension and revelation that keep readers on their toes, but doesn't neatly fit into any predictable formula genre story.
Wolf Schimanski and B. J. Tiernan's approach keeps the writing fresh, the characters vivid and unique, and their relationships centered on growth-inducing discoveries and confrontations as they navigate an unfamiliar world embedded within their own.
Will the ordeal bring two disparate souls together, or ultimately drive them apart? This and many other questions give this thriller a multifaceted blanket of intrigue and depth designed to keep readers engaged and wondering right up to the surprise conclusion.
Fans of suspense stories and relationship explorations on many levels will find Sizzler crackles with nonstop action and intrigue.
November 14, 2019
An intriguing and imaginative read mixing dark, gritty, modern-day crime with a paranormal twist, in the shape of an ancient amulet. The action takes place against the well-described setting of Florida and the Everglades. Fast-paced, exciting read.
Recommend to thriller readers especially those who enjoy a paranormal element.
Recommend to thriller readers especially those who enjoy a paranormal element.
September 20, 2019
"You're giving me a 3-Asprin headache" - love it!
I adore action packed mysteries and Sizzler delivered the goods. I will be looking for more from this author!
I adore action packed mysteries and Sizzler delivered the goods. I will be looking for more from this author!
January 16, 2020
An interesting storyline, a writer and computer geek are caught up in bizarre happenings in a Florida town. When the city is swept into pandemonium with crime and murder statistics rising, no one knows why. When the light shines on what is happening and the two set out to solve the disruptions the story tension rises as they encounter alligators, pythons, and sociopath killers. Added into the action are paranormal episodes and enough sensuality to move the scenes at a good pace. The interjection of spirts and what they gained power from added extra spice to this well-written, well-cast story. An enjoyable read.
October 13, 2020
Entertaining, dark and more than a little bit disturbing Sizzler promises to be a scorcher of a read as it delves into the manipulation of base desires and otherworldly influences. An unlikely team up of characters who are in over their head adds to the tension of this compelling plot. Little by little the veil peels back, the plot thickens, and unlikely discoveries add to the building tension of this suspenseful read.
January 27, 2020
Sizzler is one of the most enjoyable novels I have read for quite some time. An interesting story concept, an eclectic cast of characters and a fast-moving plot make Sizzler a special read. Absolutely recommended!
July 1, 2020
Sizzling Thriller...
A unique mix of the paranormal and modern day thriller. This story has it all: intrigue, mystery, fantasy, gore, creep factor, and well blended characters. You will never look at the Everglades the same!
A unique mix of the paranormal and modern day thriller. This story has it all: intrigue, mystery, fantasy, gore, creep factor, and well blended characters. You will never look at the Everglades the same!
May 29, 2020
Niel Gaiman meets Carl Hiaasen in the Florida "Glades". Lots of oddball characters to sink you teeth into. If you love a good horror/mystery/paranormal, you'll get caught up in this one.
December 4, 2019
This is a mystery/thriller with a humorous feel (at least to me, but then I have a strange sense of humor). Although there are intense moments with alligators, pythons, and deranged killers, the overall tone made me wish I could see it played out as a movie. It's paranormal, so the oddities are a welcome change to this normally high-intensity type of genre. The overall effect was entertaining and kept my interest. Surprises and sad moments await you as well.
September 17, 2019
I read Standing on a Whale by B.J. Tiernan a while back and enjoyed her style of writing. I ran across Sizzler by Wolf Schimanski and B.J. Tiernan and decided to try it and read a little paranormal thriller genre. Here are my thoughts!
Synopsis (from the author):
When Lexi-Jo Lyman, a Freelance writer, and Herbert Duvane, a mysterious computer technician, find themselves caught up in a bizarre takeover of the tranquil city of Margate, Florida, the heat is on. Personalities and behaviors are changing in the locals against their will, and no one can figure out why. Crime, murder and promiscuity are on the rise, and the gentle city is in utter chaos.
Looking through some curious journals, Lexi-Jo and Herbert discover that the only hope to extinguish the gripping phenomenon is to recover a lost amulet in the Everglades — the key to the hostile invasion. An expedition is set up, and the search for the amulet is on. Staggered by the dark web that is closing in all around them, Lexi-Jo and Herbert realize they are in way over their heads and reach out to Kellie Sierra, a Margate detective, for help. Will it be too late, or will they crack the dark puzzle that is threatening their lives and tearing the city apart?
What I liked:
I enjoyed the premise of the book. The idea of spirits controlling the actions of humans and drawing power from their evil behavior hooked me. I also liked the way the authors handled the sex and violence. It had an almost cozy mystery feel to it. It was there, but it wasn’t front and center in your face. Herbert and Lexi-Jo are good solid characters, Teddy is a nice distraction as they kid that helps them, and Toni and Ghost made great characters to dislike. Overall, a paranormal thriller that will keep you entertained!
What I didn’t like:
Despite the good things about Sizzler, I had a couple of issues. First, the relationship between Kellie Sierra and Lempke was stereotypical. Secondly, there were slow spots that I skimmed.
Overall impression:
Sizzler by Wolf Schimanski and B.J. Tiernan entertained me. Nicely crafted characters, an interesting paranormal twist, and lots of intrigue kept me reading. There were a few slows spots and the interaction between Kellie Sierra and Lempke was predictable. If you like paranormal thrillers, though, read this one!
My rating:
4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)
Synopsis (from the author):
When Lexi-Jo Lyman, a Freelance writer, and Herbert Duvane, a mysterious computer technician, find themselves caught up in a bizarre takeover of the tranquil city of Margate, Florida, the heat is on. Personalities and behaviors are changing in the locals against their will, and no one can figure out why. Crime, murder and promiscuity are on the rise, and the gentle city is in utter chaos.
Looking through some curious journals, Lexi-Jo and Herbert discover that the only hope to extinguish the gripping phenomenon is to recover a lost amulet in the Everglades — the key to the hostile invasion. An expedition is set up, and the search for the amulet is on. Staggered by the dark web that is closing in all around them, Lexi-Jo and Herbert realize they are in way over their heads and reach out to Kellie Sierra, a Margate detective, for help. Will it be too late, or will they crack the dark puzzle that is threatening their lives and tearing the city apart?
What I liked:
I enjoyed the premise of the book. The idea of spirits controlling the actions of humans and drawing power from their evil behavior hooked me. I also liked the way the authors handled the sex and violence. It had an almost cozy mystery feel to it. It was there, but it wasn’t front and center in your face. Herbert and Lexi-Jo are good solid characters, Teddy is a nice distraction as they kid that helps them, and Toni and Ghost made great characters to dislike. Overall, a paranormal thriller that will keep you entertained!
What I didn’t like:
Despite the good things about Sizzler, I had a couple of issues. First, the relationship between Kellie Sierra and Lempke was stereotypical. Secondly, there were slow spots that I skimmed.
Overall impression:
Sizzler by Wolf Schimanski and B.J. Tiernan entertained me. Nicely crafted characters, an interesting paranormal twist, and lots of intrigue kept me reading. There were a few slows spots and the interaction between Kellie Sierra and Lempke was predictable. If you like paranormal thrillers, though, read this one!
My rating:
4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)
August 23, 2019
This is not the type of book I normally read! However, as I watched my husband zip through the pages of this book in no time, I asked him what he thought. He told me that it was a must read for our summer vacation and that I would be captivated by it just as he was. Wowza, was he right! The paranormal is not my genre and books of this nature generally give me nightmares, but since it was based in a south Florida town with which I was familiar, I decided to see what it had to offer. From the first page, the names cracked me up and invited more exploration. I could so easily imagine the characters who were portrayed as having frequented the bars, and restaurants of the city of Margate in Broward County and the swamps of the nearby Everglades. The crafting of this book was so full of dichotomies of light and darkness, kindness and evil, humor and mayhem, surreal and real, life and death, meditation and damnation that every single page was an invitation to read on which I, too, quickly did I just loved it and would suggest it to even the faint of heart, such as myself, as a journey into the realm of imagination and possibility in our world. In the beginning we find out that the two authors. Schimanski and Tiernan are located 2000 miles away which was all the more interesting as I kept asking myself who wrote what and what the collaborative process must have entailed to put together this zany, fun read! Whatever it was, the two authors did a great job and I look forward to their next creative process.
Did I say I loved it? I did and I do !
Did I say I loved it? I did and I do !
August 22, 2019
I was familiar with Wolf Schimanski’s thriller novels beforehand. I enjoyed the fast action of his ‘Meter’ series. B. J. Tiernan was a new author to me, however. When two writers co-author a novel, the task can be fraught with dangers such as style clashes, different pacing, and a host of other technique-related issues, which can spoil an otherwise good story for the reader. In the case of ‘Sizzler’, however, no such problems manifest.
The tale is a paranormal crime thriller, which takes off from, page one, and draws you into the dark and dank world of the Florida Everglades. The protagonists, Lexi-Jo and Herbert, are superbly draw, though of the two, it was Herbert that intrigued more. The villain was a masterstroke of evil who changed all he touched. Both authors paid great attention to all the characters, though, something that showed throughout. From the despicable motel-owner Toni, to Cueball and his daughter Saige, the professional assassin Ghost, and the two cops, Sierra and Lempke, each had depth and multi-faceted emotions, which added to the narrative.
One of the standouts from this tale was the descriptions of the Everglades and every scene that took place there transported the reader to this primeval place where alligators and constrictor snakes are the top of the food chain. The authors’ ability to create the foreboding menace that accompanied the events there was remarkable. I thoroughly recommend this thriller.
The tale is a paranormal crime thriller, which takes off from, page one, and draws you into the dark and dank world of the Florida Everglades. The protagonists, Lexi-Jo and Herbert, are superbly draw, though of the two, it was Herbert that intrigued more. The villain was a masterstroke of evil who changed all he touched. Both authors paid great attention to all the characters, though, something that showed throughout. From the despicable motel-owner Toni, to Cueball and his daughter Saige, the professional assassin Ghost, and the two cops, Sierra and Lempke, each had depth and multi-faceted emotions, which added to the narrative.
One of the standouts from this tale was the descriptions of the Everglades and every scene that took place there transported the reader to this primeval place where alligators and constrictor snakes are the top of the food chain. The authors’ ability to create the foreboding menace that accompanied the events there was remarkable. I thoroughly recommend this thriller.
September 20, 2019
A writing duo is always taking the risk that style, tempo, and characterization of their co-operation show the differences between them. It isn’t the case with Beverly Tiernan and Wolf Schimanski. This dynamic duo took even bigger risks by mingling an atmospheric suspense story set in the foreboding swamps of the Florida Everglades with a paranormal - even horror-ish - theme. Using dark entities in a story often poses the danger of getting trapped in stale clichés, but I must say that Schimanski and Tiernan evaded most elegantly this pitfall and present the reader with a truly chilling and well-substantiated creature that gave me the creeps. I must add that the wildlife of the Everglades, and a lot of humans, were nearly at par with the supreme villain. Schimanski and Tiernan use a high-voltage tempo, but that doesn’t mean that their characters are cardboard contraptions. They are all well developed. Some of them you’ll love to love, others love to hate. All in all, this is not your average thriller but an ambitious novel of two talented writers, dedicated to present the reader a high-quality tale. Buckle up, reader; this is going to be a breath-taking ride.
November 2, 2019
SIZZLER was a fun read for me. I have been to south Florida quite a few times, and I recognized some of the places mentioned in the book. Even though the plot was quite serious, the characters were fun with quirky names which balanced out the read for me. I am not one to read anything involving the paranormal, but this one drew me in. I happen to be a big fan of the Everglades and felt that the descriptions and scenes that took place there were realistic and rich. I also enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns along the way which brought me to the ending too quickly. About that ending...you'll have to read it to find out. An enjoyable book that I would recommend for anyone who wants to escape the real world. Well done.
October 25, 2019
From the first chapter, I was drawn in and hooked. It was immediately apparent that this thriller was not like other thrillers I have read. The book was rich in characters, location and has a plot that kept me up nights turning the pages. The evil was evil to the core and the characters battling it were believable and real. Mix in humor, some spicy scenes, and the eerie Everglades, along with an ending I did not see coming, Tiernan and Schimanski really hit the mark with this one. I can't wait to read their next novel. Bravo !
November 7, 2019
This is a weird book, but weird is good. I can't say it reminds me of any other book. Unique with a fun voice. Highly recommend.
My only negative was there was room for more description of what was going on in the world around them as a spirit controlled humans, but this could be argued against so that's just my personal preference.
My only negative was there was room for more description of what was going on in the world around them as a spirit controlled humans, but this could be argued against so that's just my personal preference.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews