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DSA: Season One #1
The Clearing
The residents of Bellbrook, Ohio have vanished.
Seven thousand people in a four-mile radius disappeared overnight. A dead zone remains, no outgoing signals emanating from the ghost town.
Ben Riley, framed for a crime he never committed, is the latest recruit to the Department of Special Assignments—a secret agency handling unsolved cases, those with open questions and unexplainable circumstances. Unsure what to expect or whether or not he deserves this second chance, Ben is thrust into a bizarre case of science gone wrong.
Welcome to the DSA, the all-new sci-fi conspiracy thriller from Lou Paduano, author of the urban fantasy thriller series, Greystone!
Seven thousand people in a four-mile radius disappeared overnight. A dead zone remains, no outgoing signals emanating from the ghost town.
Ben Riley, framed for a crime he never committed, is the latest recruit to the Department of Special Assignments—a secret agency handling unsolved cases, those with open questions and unexplainable circumstances. Unsure what to expect or whether or not he deserves this second chance, Ben is thrust into a bizarre case of science gone wrong.
Welcome to the DSA, the all-new sci-fi conspiracy thriller from Lou Paduano, author of the urban fantasy thriller series, Greystone!
- GenresFiction
187 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2019
22 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 12, 2025
*Reread April 2025
4 🌟
Reread to refresh my memory to read the follow on books on the First Season.
Original Review: 4 🌟
A rip-roaring start to a new series of the weird and unexplainable being investigated by a clandestine government group.
This first book concentrates on how a Detective, Ben Riley, is set up for murder because he starts asking far too many questions about a very weird house he encountered chasing a suspect. He is saved from a life sentence in jail by the Director of the DSA and is secreted away and given a second chance by being an investigative agent.
This definitely has the feel of the beginning of the TV series The X-Files, right down to another secret society pulling strings behind the scenes. Although not about aliens it definitely encompasses cases that seem to make no sense. The author describes it as a Sci-fi conspiracy thriller, and it certainly ticks all those boxes.
Released in "episodes" equivalent to a novella, this reader has just preordered the June release of the boxset of the first series. I'm simply dying to read more of the next cases and how the team are being somewhat manipulated.
4 🌟
Reread to refresh my memory to read the follow on books on the First Season.
Original Review: 4 🌟
A rip-roaring start to a new series of the weird and unexplainable being investigated by a clandestine government group.
This first book concentrates on how a Detective, Ben Riley, is set up for murder because he starts asking far too many questions about a very weird house he encountered chasing a suspect. He is saved from a life sentence in jail by the Director of the DSA and is secreted away and given a second chance by being an investigative agent.
This definitely has the feel of the beginning of the TV series The X-Files, right down to another secret society pulling strings behind the scenes. Although not about aliens it definitely encompasses cases that seem to make no sense. The author describes it as a Sci-fi conspiracy thriller, and it certainly ticks all those boxes.
Released in "episodes" equivalent to a novella, this reader has just preordered the June release of the boxset of the first series. I'm simply dying to read more of the next cases and how the team are being somewhat manipulated.
November 1, 2019
Wow. How do 7000 people disappear. Can they be found. Totally intriguing. Loved it and waiting for another, hopefully soon.
November 12, 2025
I am so glad I found this book.
I recently met the author at a Buffalo festival right outside the main Bills Stadium. I saw that there was a book vendor, so I walked as quickly as I could over there like the complete book nerd that I am. He explained the DSA series to me and what it was about and I was sold instantly. I bought the book and even got it signed! (#humblebrag).
The first entry into the DSA series is an incredible adventure and immediately made me purchase the second one. I won't spoil anything, but all I can say is that this book was amazing and you should definitely start reading it. If you like a good mystery, action and a whole lot of great character building, then I suggest you give this book a try!
I recently met the author at a Buffalo festival right outside the main Bills Stadium. I saw that there was a book vendor, so I walked as quickly as I could over there like the complete book nerd that I am. He explained the DSA series to me and what it was about and I was sold instantly. I bought the book and even got it signed! (#humblebrag).
The first entry into the DSA series is an incredible adventure and immediately made me purchase the second one. I won't spoil anything, but all I can say is that this book was amazing and you should definitely start reading it. If you like a good mystery, action and a whole lot of great character building, then I suggest you give this book a try!
November 24, 2023
The Clearing is largely setup for the world the author is constructing, but it's good setup. The weirdness hits right away and it doesn't stop hitting, even right up until the end. It feels very much like The X-Files was a big inspiration for the Department of Scientific Anomalies, although a larger team leads to more interesting banter between them. I enjoyed the ride, and the conversations were a highlight, some very witty dialogue on display, but the narrative left me somewhat unsatisfied - again, largely because it was intended to set up further novels in the series. Still a very solid, quick read, and only time will tell if it's an excellent opener for the series.
July 19, 2023
OMG!! The adventures of Ben “I have come back for that remark” Riley. Outstanding, Ben whose a Buffalo Cop stumbles across a mysterious house and this only ignites his curiosity. After he is setup and offered Jail or work for the government, he em-“barks” on an adventurous fast pace mission with the DSA. The writing is fast and always keeps the reader inspired and riveted to finding out what happens to out reluctant hero and the team. I can’t wait to read the next episode.
July 14, 2022
Allow an afternoon for this first intricate PG paranormal procedural episode of the Department of Special Assignments, previously the Department for Scientific Anomalies, the existence of which many suspect but of which no evidence is allowed to remain. I had a copy via Booksprout and this voluntary review is my own opinion.
January 30, 2023
Received as a review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. The first season of The Clearing has been done if those stories that is beautifully confusing and complex as Ben Riley falsely accused of a criminal act gets himself with an organization that works to solve the " most " unique kind of cases that makes this a very gritty ride that's a visual treat.
March 30, 2020
Enjoyed it, can't wait to read more!
April 4, 2020
What can I say about this first book in a series? Breathless! I can’t believe I finished The Clearing in 2 days. A fast read that grabs you right from the first to last pages!!!!
January 1, 2021
Strange very strange. enjoyed it
June 18, 2024
More like 3.5 stars!
November 10, 2019
The story starts with the main character, Ben Riley a policeman, out on patrol and having to chase after a suspect after he and his partner try to pull him over for a simple traffic stop. His partner stays at the scene and he chases the man to an abandoned looking house. What he sees there amazes him and he can never forget it. When his partner arrives, what he saw has now disappeared. Did he imagine it, or was he mistaken? No-one believes him and he gets fixated on the building and spends all his time watching it.
Unfortunately, this fixation leads to him being found guilty of murder, for a body found in the very house he has been investigating. He had been warned off by his partner and friends, but couldn’t give it up. Now it has caught up with him and he has been framed. Upon being taken off to prison, he is set up in a meeting with a woman called Metcalf, a director of a secret team called DSA, the Department of Special Assignments, who help to investigate strange occurrences throughout the States.
He is added to the team, after the loss of a vital team member and also deputy director, Grissom. A well-loved member of the organization and key member of the team Riley has just joined. Shortly after arriving, he is already off on a job, to find out where a town’s worth of people have gone and why no signal can get through. The town of Bellbrook seems completely deserted and is covered by a huge forest, coming up everywhere. They will only find out later, that another place had a similar occurrence, but this has been made to disappear.
A loud signal seems to be heard by those that are affected or infected, shortly before they disappear. They find a couple of survivors, but one goes mad and the other knows more than he is willing or even able to tell them. Injuries occur and teamwork is not exactly something that any of the team are even thinking of, never mind acting as. Each has their own problems and secrets to hide or overcome and the recent death of a team member is weighing heavy on the remaining members.
A new deputy director has his own agenda and is working against the director Metcalf, so sparks are going to fly. This is only the first book in this series, so I am sure there will be more uncovered as the series progresses. There are hints of something very futuristic or advanced occurring and causing some of the things described in this book, but they are something still to uncover, leaving you waiting for more. It has hooked me and I look forward to more to come. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Unfortunately, this fixation leads to him being found guilty of murder, for a body found in the very house he has been investigating. He had been warned off by his partner and friends, but couldn’t give it up. Now it has caught up with him and he has been framed. Upon being taken off to prison, he is set up in a meeting with a woman called Metcalf, a director of a secret team called DSA, the Department of Special Assignments, who help to investigate strange occurrences throughout the States.
He is added to the team, after the loss of a vital team member and also deputy director, Grissom. A well-loved member of the organization and key member of the team Riley has just joined. Shortly after arriving, he is already off on a job, to find out where a town’s worth of people have gone and why no signal can get through. The town of Bellbrook seems completely deserted and is covered by a huge forest, coming up everywhere. They will only find out later, that another place had a similar occurrence, but this has been made to disappear.
A loud signal seems to be heard by those that are affected or infected, shortly before they disappear. They find a couple of survivors, but one goes mad and the other knows more than he is willing or even able to tell them. Injuries occur and teamwork is not exactly something that any of the team are even thinking of, never mind acting as. Each has their own problems and secrets to hide or overcome and the recent death of a team member is weighing heavy on the remaining members.
A new deputy director has his own agenda and is working against the director Metcalf, so sparks are going to fly. This is only the first book in this series, so I am sure there will be more uncovered as the series progresses. There are hints of something very futuristic or advanced occurring and causing some of the things described in this book, but they are something still to uncover, leaving you waiting for more. It has hooked me and I look forward to more to come. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
December 31, 2019
Overnight a whole town of over seven thousands of people disappeared without a trace. He was convicted of a crime he did not do is offered a second chance which he is unsure that he deserves. He must join others to investigate the town. Can they find out what happened? Will it happen to them? See if they can solve the mystery
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 1, 2019
The Clearing: DSA Season One, Book One is an intriguing start to a new sci-fi conspiracy thriller series. Ben Riley is framed and forced to work for the DSA (Department of Special Assignments). The characters in this story are well developed and the storyline is unique and well written. There is humour, mystery, suspense, supernatural happenings, conspiracies, and more for Ben and his team (who don't want him for their leader) to work with.
I will definitely be reading the second book in this fresh, new series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
I will definitely be reading the second book in this fresh, new series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
October 9, 2019
A new series and a completely different view from Lou in this book.
A wrongly accused agent, offered a "job" or jail. The team he joins are smarting from loosing their leader and don't take kindly to Ben.
An area where no signals work, phone radio etc all dead. No people to be seen. What has happened?
Be prepared for unusual and strange happenings, some action and adventure.
I received an arc copy of this book
A wrongly accused agent, offered a "job" or jail. The team he joins are smarting from loosing their leader and don't take kindly to Ben.
An area where no signals work, phone radio etc all dead. No people to be seen. What has happened?
Be prepared for unusual and strange happenings, some action and adventure.
I received an arc copy of this book
October 27, 2019
A bit of a departure from the Portents series - though again we have a police officer as protagonist. A chase leads to a mystery and the mystery leads to Ben Riley being framed and convicted for murder - and then he is 'recruited' by a covert organisation. He is immediately thrown into the field and yet another mystery engulfs him.
Scene setting for a new series - intriguing and worth pursuing.
Scene setting for a new series - intriguing and worth pursuing.
November 7, 2019
The Clearing - DSA Season One, Book One by Lou Paduano is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I have loved reading and can not wait to read book number two. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves readign about mysteries, thrillers and Sci-Fi.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 28, 2019
A whole town is no longer there just gone. The story keeps you on edge and you want to jump up and do something, anything to make it go away. Intense, a mystery to solve, getting to know a new team and nobody wants him there. Good story but it will drive you nuts if you think to hard on it. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
November 29, 2019
This amazing story has incredible creepy happenings, a whole town disappears. This is the first in what appears to be a 6-book series. I own the first three books and they are amazing! Ben is an amazing character who is realistic and well-developed. I am hoping to get all six books! Incredible story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 9, 2019
Well, I don’t know what to say really. This is different then this authors usual books, in so much as it goes into a lot more detail. More like an investigation into occurrences we don’t know about if that makes sense. I shall still read the second one to see where it goes from here. Recommended.
November 6, 2019
This book had me completely hooked throughout the book. The storyline is
well written and kept my interest. This was a hard book to put down. I highly recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
well written and kept my interest. This was a hard book to put down. I highly recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 10, 2019
Loved this book. I've read Paduano's Portents series...this is something completely different and refreshing. How does a whole town disappear? Can they be found? What's really going on? A fabulous and captivating opening novel. Anxious to read the next installment of the series.
October 5, 2019
Great new series by this author!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews