What do you think?
Rate this book
Blue Moon Investigations #19
Sparks in the Darkness - A Novella. Also featuring Big Apple Pie, a Patricia Fisher/Apple Orchard crossover story
Fire.
Every creature fears it.
Except one.
When a call late one evening leads Jane to Buckingham Palace, she holds no concern the dragon they want her to investigate is real.
Until she gets there, that is.
Every creature fears it.
Except one.
When a call late one evening leads Jane to Buckingham Palace, she holds no concern the dragon they want her to investigate is real.
Until she gets there, that is.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2021
293 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Steve Higgs
544 books801 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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 9, 2021
Oh my gosh, this was great. And the possibility of so many stories yet to come. Loved both short stories and can’t wait to hear more about Jane and Patricia :-)
September 11, 2021
A compilation of two stories. The first, "Sparks in the Darkness" takes a slightly different turn from the usual Blue Moon operations. I found it a bit disappointing but also intriguing (I know that sounds strange) as the culprit is exposed earlier than usual .......... or is he? It sets the scene for further plots and revelations further down the series. An interesting investigation for Jane who is just not being taken seriously. The unusual setting of Buckingham Palace adds a quirkiness that may raise an eyebrow or two.
Big Apple Pie is a great story. I have read Chelsea Thomas' books so I knew, with both authors doing their bit, it would be a good yarn. Packed with action in New York as Patricia and Chelsea try to find evidence to prove Barbie’s brother and his friend are innocent of murder. Lots of Chinese gangs, a biker bar and unbelieving police officers. Phew, I didn’t realise reading one book could be so tiring! If you like action taken to extremely funny limits, plenty of twists in the tale with a good ending then this collaboration between Steve Higgs and Chelsea Thomas is a must read for you.
Big Apple Pie is a great story. I have read Chelsea Thomas' books so I knew, with both authors doing their bit, it would be a good yarn. Packed with action in New York as Patricia and Chelsea try to find evidence to prove Barbie’s brother and his friend are innocent of murder. Lots of Chinese gangs, a biker bar and unbelieving police officers. Phew, I didn’t realise reading one book could be so tiring! If you like action taken to extremely funny limits, plenty of twists in the tale with a good ending then this collaboration between Steve Higgs and Chelsea Thomas is a must read for you.
September 17, 2021
Read all books in order of the Blue Moon Series And Patricia Fisher series with Apple Orchard stories.
Jane( James) anwers the call, a DI for the Queen is calling Reporting a possible Dragon is causing issues at the Palace. So Blue Moon Paranormal investigations to the rescue. I mean dragons don’t exist, really, do they? In this adventure Jane has to make sense of what is real or a very clever suspect causing mischeif. Loved the inspector who worked with Jane, Mabey she needs to get a position on Tempest’s team.
When Jane solves the dragon’s story and has to sign a Gag order of non-disclousure. Then Patricia and Barbie are traveling to New York City to rescue Barbie's brother and his friend from a murder charge.
They meet Chelsea Thomas’s cast from her Apple Orchard series. They have to team up together -both of them have a brother in the mix. Working together to prove that Bobby and Petey are innocent. I Loved it! Adventure, danger-as usual- the main plots are twisted as the teams together jumping into the middle of it, surviving, solving, once again. Loved it, now have another series to look into!
Jane( James) anwers the call, a DI for the Queen is calling Reporting a possible Dragon is causing issues at the Palace. So Blue Moon Paranormal investigations to the rescue. I mean dragons don’t exist, really, do they? In this adventure Jane has to make sense of what is real or a very clever suspect causing mischeif. Loved the inspector who worked with Jane, Mabey she needs to get a position on Tempest’s team.
When Jane solves the dragon’s story and has to sign a Gag order of non-disclousure. Then Patricia and Barbie are traveling to New York City to rescue Barbie's brother and his friend from a murder charge.
They meet Chelsea Thomas’s cast from her Apple Orchard series. They have to team up together -both of them have a brother in the mix. Working together to prove that Bobby and Petey are innocent. I Loved it! Adventure, danger-as usual- the main plots are twisted as the teams together jumping into the middle of it, surviving, solving, once again. Loved it, now have another series to look into!
November 1, 2021
Sparks In the Darkness
Jane Butterworth gets called to investigate a case at Buckingham Palace involving a dragon. DO Monroe is in charge of the case. Captain Raif Duncan is in charge of the guards and grounds of the palace. The Dragon has already killed two people a guard and a servant. Jane must figure out how to solve the mystery. Jane has become one of the detectives in the Blue Moon Paranormal Investigations firm after starting out as the office manager. The second book is a crossover book GalesbUrg Apple 🍎Pie and crosses over with the Patricia Fisher mystery series. Patricia and her friend Barbie head to New York from England when Barbie's brother is arrested for murder along with his friend Petey. Miss May and Chelsea head to New York after their friend Teeny gets a call from Petey that he had been arrested for murder. The four women meet when they go to visit the guys in jail.
Jane Butterworth gets called to investigate a case at Buckingham Palace involving a dragon. DO Monroe is in charge of the case. Captain Raif Duncan is in charge of the guards and grounds of the palace. The Dragon has already killed two people a guard and a servant. Jane must figure out how to solve the mystery. Jane has become one of the detectives in the Blue Moon Paranormal Investigations firm after starting out as the office manager. The second book is a crossover book GalesbUrg Apple 🍎Pie and crosses over with the Patricia Fisher mystery series. Patricia and her friend Barbie head to New York from England when Barbie's brother is arrested for murder along with his friend Petey. Miss May and Chelsea head to New York after their friend Teeny gets a call from Petey that he had been arrested for murder. The four women meet when they go to visit the guys in jail.
September 10, 2021
Jane is on duty when a case call comes in. The DI to the royal family needs help, all on the hush hush. A dragon is terrorizing the palace. Good thing the major royals aren't in residence, right? Well Jane does her best to solve it but there are definitely underlying tensions zinging around.
Great short story. I can see several ties ins to future stories. I am excited to see where it goes.
Big Apple Pie was a bonus story, and a good one featuring Patricia Fisher and some new friends, Miss May. Chelsea Thomas, and Teeny. It was very entertaining and got me started on a new series.
All in all, an action packed book of excitement.
Great short story. I can see several ties ins to future stories. I am excited to see where it goes.
Big Apple Pie was a bonus story, and a good one featuring Patricia Fisher and some new friends, Miss May. Chelsea Thomas, and Teeny. It was very entertaining and got me started on a new series.
All in all, an action packed book of excitement.
September 10, 2021
This book comprises two novellas - Royal Dragon (aka Sparks in the Darkness) and Big Apple Pie. Royal Dragon gives Jane, from Blue Moon Investigations, a chance to feature. I was a little disappointed in this novella because it seemed a little loosely written and, while enjoyable, it didn’t capture me as most Steve Higgs books do. Big Apple Pie, on the other hand, was a fun mash-up of characters from the Patricia Fisher series and characters from Chelsea Thomas, an author I hadn’t read before. It was fun and exciting and I hope it will lead to more of the same.
I received an ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review.
I received an ARC copy of the book in return for an honest review.
June 13, 2022
Just Sparks in the Darkness. This version did not come with "Big Apple Pie".
Jane takes a call from Detective Inspector Munroe. A fire breathing, impervious to bullets dragon has been seen flying around the grounds of Buckingham Palace, and has killed two people with his breathed flames. Jane figures out who the body inside the suit is and turns a hose on him to extinguish the fire, but the dragon suddenly drops from the sky and is found dead on the ground. Jane notices that there are no bullet marks on the suit and she see footprints from the scene heading towards the palace.
At the end of the story we know who the real killer is and why, but he remains free to kill again another day.
Jane takes a call from Detective Inspector Munroe. A fire breathing, impervious to bullets dragon has been seen flying around the grounds of Buckingham Palace, and has killed two people with his breathed flames. Jane figures out who the body inside the suit is and turns a hose on him to extinguish the fire, but the dragon suddenly drops from the sky and is found dead on the ground. Jane notices that there are no bullet marks on the suit and she see footprints from the scene heading towards the palace.
At the end of the story we know who the real killer is and why, but he remains free to kill again another day.
September 11, 2021
A lively, energetic Jane helps a policewoman tack down a fire-breathing dragon who has gone wild in Buckingham Palace. An enjoyable, jolly good short story. It is a puzzlement. Add to that
the Big Apple Pie and you have another delightful and entertaining story by the amazing
Steve Higgs. Well-rounded characters, exciting plots and action-packed scenes add up to an enjoyable and easy-to-read narrative.
Highly Recommended.
the Big Apple Pie and you have another delightful and entertaining story by the amazing
Steve Higgs. Well-rounded characters, exciting plots and action-packed scenes add up to an enjoyable and easy-to-read narrative.
Highly Recommended.
February 13, 2022
This is a fun pair of stories. The first is Jane Butterworth solving a royal mystery with a flying, fire-breathing dragon. The usual not-quite-serious Blue Moon mystery fun. Recommended.
The second is a cross over between Mr. Higgs' Patricia Fisher and Miss May of the Apple Orchard series (which I will have to read soon). A missing 'marker' worth $2 million, Chinese and biker gangs and a quintet of lady sleuths solve a murder. Consider me hooked again. Recommended.
The second is a cross over between Mr. Higgs' Patricia Fisher and Miss May of the Apple Orchard series (which I will have to read soon). A missing 'marker' worth $2 million, Chinese and biker gangs and a quintet of lady sleuths solve a murder. Consider me hooked again. Recommended.
September 11, 2021
Very amusing
Sparks in the darkness- Jane gets her own case and goes looking for a dragon at Buckingham Palace. Twisty and convoluted plot, with an amusing end to the story. I thoroughly enjoy this whole series, and I can definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fun mystery, with a quirky twist.
Sparks in the darkness- Jane gets her own case and goes looking for a dragon at Buckingham Palace. Twisty and convoluted plot, with an amusing end to the story. I thoroughly enjoy this whole series, and I can definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fun mystery, with a quirky twist.
November 3, 2021
This was a fun novella with Blue Moon being invited to Buckingham Palace to investigate a dragon. All of the usual fun and mystery is there and is a lead into the author's multi series cross over.
If you're new to the series, this novella is stand alone enough to give you a taste of the Blue Moon Investigations series. If you're up to book 19, then it's more of what you're used to.
If you're new to the series, this novella is stand alone enough to give you a taste of the Blue Moon Investigations series. If you're up to book 19, then it's more of what you're used to.
November 9, 2021
Snarky Paranormal 19
I love each of the characters in this story. Of course this story combines several characters from a couple different writers of mystery. I have read more than a few of both these authors books. I have yet to read a bad story written by either one! This is an ingenious method of developing new stories. Thanks to both authors for great reading !
I love each of the characters in this story. Of course this story combines several characters from a couple different writers of mystery. I have read more than a few of both these authors books. I have yet to read a bad story written by either one! This is an ingenious method of developing new stories. Thanks to both authors for great reading !
September 12, 2021
In typical Steve Higgs fashion, another great series has begun! Yayyy!
Dragons in the royal palace? Yikes! Jane has her hands full trying to solve this crazy mystery! Can she do it? A great short story to kick off a fab new series! Loved it!
Dragons in the royal palace? Yikes! Jane has her hands full trying to solve this crazy mystery! Can she do it? A great short story to kick off a fab new series! Loved it!
September 17, 2021
Looks are Deceiving
Any book by a Steve is GREAT! If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. Highly recommend ALL of his series. Can’t wait for his next book. Also found a new author to read.
Any book by a Steve is GREAT! If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. Highly recommend ALL of his series. Can’t wait for his next book. Also found a new author to read.
September 21, 2021
there was a lot of action, but I didn't care for Teeny or Chelsea. Drove me nuts. Felt overwhelmed with the number of main characters trying to solve the crime. couldn't wait to finish it. It was shorter than usual and I felt "rushed".
September 18, 2023
fabulous as always
Awesome short story - I love these books so much can’t wait for next one. Always keep you going and love the real life comments eg out of breath I really need to join a gym.
Awesome short story - I love these books so much can’t wait for next one. Always keep you going and love the real life comments eg out of breath I really need to join a gym.
October 11, 2021
Interesting blend of characters. Love the humour ❣️
November 29, 2021
This was the silliest one. And I didn't like the crossover story in the second part
February 4, 2022
Entertaining and interesting
December 29, 2022
Enjoyable cozy mystery.
September 21, 2023
If you like a twisty turn to a story, this novella is a must read and especially as it is linked to a future story.
April 21, 2024
just love the easy way the characters help each other, and the stories are brilliant
December 18, 2024
Liked this edition, but was disappointed that it ended so soon….well, on to book 20.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews