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The Tale of the Tarot
Her destiny lies in the cards…
Fifteen-year-old Melanie Simpson uncovers a secret her father held for twenty years—material he smuggled out from a crashed UFO near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947 and has hidden somewhere. Now he is dead, killed by a Russian agent who was after it. Her father never gave it up, and Melanie has now found it, and along with it, the interest of dangerous men and their organizations who will do anything to get this valuable material from her.
She also learns of a device, still hidden away somewhere, that was given to her father by a dying alien at the Roswell site. In a letter left behind for her he tells of a quest, and that if she is reading this letter, he must be dead and it is now up to her to finish it.
She knows the device must have something to do with the quest, but where is it? With the help of her boyfriend Frankie, and friends Beanie and Katch, she searches for clues, all while facing the dangers of those after the alien material.
Then, during a tarot card reading she learns there is even more to what is happening to her, much more—a link to the stars and a destiny revealed within the cards.
Set against the historical backdrop of UFO sightings, events, and government cover-ups of the time, Melanie is driven toward that destiny, and with each step she finds herself falling deeper into a world of lies, deceit, doubts about her sanity, real danger, and even possible death.
This is Book One of the Melanie Simpson Mystery Series.
Fifteen-year-old Melanie Simpson uncovers a secret her father held for twenty years—material he smuggled out from a crashed UFO near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947 and has hidden somewhere. Now he is dead, killed by a Russian agent who was after it. Her father never gave it up, and Melanie has now found it, and along with it, the interest of dangerous men and their organizations who will do anything to get this valuable material from her.
She also learns of a device, still hidden away somewhere, that was given to her father by a dying alien at the Roswell site. In a letter left behind for her he tells of a quest, and that if she is reading this letter, he must be dead and it is now up to her to finish it.
She knows the device must have something to do with the quest, but where is it? With the help of her boyfriend Frankie, and friends Beanie and Katch, she searches for clues, all while facing the dangers of those after the alien material.
Then, during a tarot card reading she learns there is even more to what is happening to her, much more—a link to the stars and a destiny revealed within the cards.
Set against the historical backdrop of UFO sightings, events, and government cover-ups of the time, Melanie is driven toward that destiny, and with each step she finds herself falling deeper into a world of lies, deceit, doubts about her sanity, real danger, and even possible death.
This is Book One of the Melanie Simpson Mystery Series.
275 pages, ebook
Published May 10, 2022
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 8, 2022
I was given an ARC of the book to be the first in a series of tales about a very complicated time in history. Mel, the 15 year old heroine in the story finds a backpack filled with debris from a UFO sighting and crash in New Mexico in 1954 left by her father after he was murdered.
Unfortunately, because the people that murdered her father did not get what they wanted they are now after Mel.
Combine this with the angst of being a freshman in a new to her High School and Community and a Mom that can’t cope with what has happened to her family, and you have a fast moving story I couldn’t put down.
This series would be especially enjoyable by young readers plus teaching them a bit of history painlessly. As an older adult I thoroughly enjoyed the trip down memory lane of that particular time in history and how challenging being a teenager was in retrospect.
Unfortunately, because the people that murdered her father did not get what they wanted they are now after Mel.
Combine this with the angst of being a freshman in a new to her High School and Community and a Mom that can’t cope with what has happened to her family, and you have a fast moving story I couldn’t put down.
This series would be especially enjoyable by young readers plus teaching them a bit of history painlessly. As an older adult I thoroughly enjoyed the trip down memory lane of that particular time in history and how challenging being a teenager was in retrospect.
May 10, 2022
Book review
Wow! What can I say? I can say that I am so glad I received an advanced copy of this book to read early! If you like UFOs and the muster that comes with this, this is the book/series for you. This book is AMAZING! I feel like I connect with the characters so much. Mel seems so much like me in every aspect of her life, I picture myself going through what she is. Frankie and Beanie remind me of two of my friends from high school. We were so close and always getting into things. The intro to the book has me wanting more and I didn’t want to stop reading! I am upset that I finished the book so quick. I can’t wait for the next part to come out so I can experience more. If you liked the first books and want more, read this book! You’ll love it and fall in love with the characters, just like I did.
Wow! What can I say? I can say that I am so glad I received an advanced copy of this book to read early! If you like UFOs and the muster that comes with this, this is the book/series for you. This book is AMAZING! I feel like I connect with the characters so much. Mel seems so much like me in every aspect of her life, I picture myself going through what she is. Frankie and Beanie remind me of two of my friends from high school. We were so close and always getting into things. The intro to the book has me wanting more and I didn’t want to stop reading! I am upset that I finished the book so quick. I can’t wait for the next part to come out so I can experience more. If you liked the first books and want more, read this book! You’ll love it and fall in love with the characters, just like I did.
July 8, 2022
I picked this up because the cover and blurb made me think that I’d love it, and they didn’t lead me wrong. I adored Mel, and the mystery surrounding both the debris and her father, family, and everything else. My one complaint was it felt like you were reading the second in a series, with an important chunk of the story having already happened before this one begins. I’d have liked more detail of those events rather than recapping as if there was a first book missed. Overall, I did love the twists and turns, the intrigue, the possibilities of more to come, and that ending almost killed me. I loved it, and it was a good solid read!
November 6, 2022
5/5 ⭐
D.J Schneider brings the Stranger Things of novels, offering up the 1960s from the perspective of a teenage girl who is trying to keep debris from an alien crash site away from the government.
I bought the book directly from the author, and at the time he promised that by the end of Melanie Simpson's first adventure, I'd be eager to dive into the second installment. Only now can I tell you that he was absolutely right.
D.J Schneider brings the Stranger Things of novels, offering up the 1960s from the perspective of a teenage girl who is trying to keep debris from an alien crash site away from the government.
I bought the book directly from the author, and at the time he promised that by the end of Melanie Simpson's first adventure, I'd be eager to dive into the second installment. Only now can I tell you that he was absolutely right.
April 16, 2022
I was lucky to receive a copy prior to the release! I loved the book. Fast read! If your a fan of Stranger things, UFO’s and government cover ups, you will enjoy this book. Looking forward to the next book in the Melanie Simpson series!
August 18, 2022
I always like to find a new series and author I can enjoy reading. This is one of them. The first story about Melanie Simpson is a great start. So much anticipation is now there for the next book still to come. I look forward to it coming with an 'I can hardly wait' feeling!
February 22, 2024
Excellent references to both tarot cards and ufo. Educational and intriguing, well worth your time.
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December 26, 2024I was an ARC reader for this series and as someone who came from a childhood rife with fascination into the strange and the unknown, this was a very fun read! Chances are if you are like me, this book will hit that familiar note too.
Melanie Simpson is very much like the renegade we all were in our youth. She is a strong willed, brave young woman who is not afraid to fight for her beliefs and for the well being of her loved ones. At the same time, she is a boy crazy, charming teen who wants to live her best life despite what anyone says.
She is also the focus of an intense government hunt for missing spaceship debris from the infamous Roswell crash in 1947. Tasked with safeguarding evidence of alien life from her late father, Melanie must contend with rogue agents, vicious peers, assistance from strange and fantastical sources and decide what lengths she must go to be both a normal girl and the keeper for secrets the world is not yet ready for.
While this story is a fantastic mix of suspense, teen drama and adventure, I also learned a lot about historical events regarding extraterrestrial events as well as diverse interpretations from the various characters. It is such a colorful adventure that it is hard not to put the book down once you begin!
Melanie Simpson is very much like the renegade we all were in our youth. She is a strong willed, brave young woman who is not afraid to fight for her beliefs and for the well being of her loved ones. At the same time, she is a boy crazy, charming teen who wants to live her best life despite what anyone says.
She is also the focus of an intense government hunt for missing spaceship debris from the infamous Roswell crash in 1947. Tasked with safeguarding evidence of alien life from her late father, Melanie must contend with rogue agents, vicious peers, assistance from strange and fantastical sources and decide what lengths she must go to be both a normal girl and the keeper for secrets the world is not yet ready for.
While this story is a fantastic mix of suspense, teen drama and adventure, I also learned a lot about historical events regarding extraterrestrial events as well as diverse interpretations from the various characters. It is such a colorful adventure that it is hard not to put the book down once you begin!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews