Dark Side of Noon

by Tierney James

An evil force lurks in a national forest, taking the most innocent of people while a killer uses superstition to cover his tracks.

In a small New Mexico town, the death of a young hiker puts law officials on high alert after no cause of death could be determined. It isn't the first-time strange things have occurred in their national forests and parks. The common denominator in a series of recent cases is the victim missing shoes, and the body posed peacefully near the area that has already been searched.

Detective Jacque Marquette and a time-jumping friend Wind Dancer, decide on a vacation in Northern New Mexico only to find themselves caught up in a kidnapping of a Down syndrome child. Accused of being involved, the two convince Police Chief Perez to let them team up with her department in order to rescue the little boy. When they discover their friend Dr. Cleo Sommers has also disappeared, they attempt to unravel the mysterious chain of events that beckon supernatural forces from a bygone culture and a killer who walks among them.

Time is running out as a solar eclipse summons evil forces, one from the underworld and one who is human. Can the mythical creature Chaveyo, be stopped in time, or will Dr. Sommers disappear into another realm of the universe she can't escape

Fans of Tony Hillerman will feel right at home with Dark Side of Noon.

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2021

About the author

Tierney James teaches Fundamentals of World Geography at a nearby college. Besides living on the Qualla Reservation for a time, floating down the Okavango River in Botswana, Africa and exploring China, Tierney has been fortunate enough to serve as Solar System Ambassador for NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab.She served as Astronomy Night Chairperson for several years in her school district and was awarded the Teacher of the Year award by her peers in 2007. The setting for An Unlikely Hero was a real life experience for Tierney in northern California. She later moved her family to a Missouri mining town where she raised her children. These days if Tierney isn't writing,teaching or traveling you'll find her working in the garden.

Reviews

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowsa! what a fantastic read! Very interesting and complex characters. A great story, lots of interesting things to learn in this book. Filled with mystery intrigue and bits of romance, this is a must read. The suspense will keep you turning the pages! I love this series and the author is fabulous! You feel like you are part of the events in this book, it really pulls you in! A Must read!!!

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished this book, my first two thoughts were "Whoa" and "Wow"! It is easy to get wrapped up in the story - humor, a touch of romance, action and fear (quite a combination). Individuals are disappearing in a national forest. The clues don't make sense in this world... maybe in Native American folklore. But that doesn't make sense either... I loved it!

[Shirley McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a fun book. An native American displaced by time, trying to communicate and learn about all the new things in this new world.

You'll laugh as well as be on the edge of your seat with the mystery thrown into the mix. Loved it.

[Patriciarobbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book just sucks you in and the characters just become your friends! It’s a good toss of paranormal and romance. A couple of chuckles along the way! Enjoyed from beginning to end!

[Susan Keene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thrilling ride with this author. This book has excitement, intrigue and just enough para normal to make the story believable.

[Linda Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tierney James wrote a roller-coaster ride of a romance, mystery, mystical book. What’s great about this book is that if you haven’t read Dark Side of Morning (which you really should), you don’t need to because she gives you the important details and you slip beautifully into Dark Side of Noon. You won’t be able to put this fast-paced thrilling book down.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I held my breathe all through the pages as if I too, were in the scenes of terror! New Mexico is in the middle of a mysterious environment: Native American history and folklore, settlers from multiple incursions, sparsity of settlements and residents. The feeling of aloneness pervades the pages as each new development steps into place and with it another unspoken hint of something foreign. A Chicago detective, an emergency room doctor, and a Pawnee time traveler from another parallel timestream become a team unto themselves and discretely part of the federal law enforcement associates. Women and children are missing from this rural park area under strange kidnapping/murder scenarios. Some are returned unharmed in areas searchers will explore and others murdered or never found. Jacque and Wind Dancer are going on a easy fishing campout while Dr Sommers, takes a brief delay in another city but will join them in the New Mexico camping site in time to witness the eclipse. The watcher brings a darkness that is palpable to anything living, man or animal. All victims are missing their shoes. Survivors can only say something dark, very large, and strong grabbed them and then they were gone. The reader is slowly stepping through the landscape waiting for the darkness to surprise them with each paragraph, each page. I found this was a entertaining mixture of suspense, terror, murder mystery, and small town secrets, and sheriff with personality problems. This was the second book in series that I will add to my list of "gotta-have" authors. A very deep read and keep the noises down low.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Jacque Marquette and Wind Dancer. He had taken the responsible to educate Wind Dancer in the ways of the modern world.
He was a Pawnee that had come from the other side, is fascinated with all the new gadgets. With humor we laugh as he asked what they are. He clings to his native ways, a world of spirits guides. In New Mexico on vacation when stopped for speeding, Wind Dancer mention that Jacque is a cop, a dirty cop, thus they were taken in for questioning, Chief Perez wants there help with a murder that puzzles them, he says no.
Then a little boy by there camp site is taken, and the world out there is scaring no one but all of them, what is going on.
A delightful series, humor, and mystery, well done.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Interesting book and some of the characters in it too. Has that Native American touch to it. Some of their believes and thought about going to the other side. Wind Dancer can smell and see and hear more than anyone. He can sense when the breast is around and if he had someone captive. His friend Jacque was suppose to help and protect him. But Wind Dancer had a lot of questions about things he did not understand. Would all of them have the strength and power to save everyone from the Kiva and the hole in the floor of the mountain.

[Bonnie Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent suspense, with humor sprinkled in. This author never fails to entertain.