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His fire burns away my pain.

On a day like any other, a mysterious green fog covered the earth, ending the lives of a massive amount of people and leaving only a small fortunate number unharmed. Others were left seriously deformed by the toxin. The rest awoke to find they could do miraculous things. I was one of them.

The world is now filled with powerful people, and I’m burdened with daily pain from bleeding ice from my palms. While I’ve been tasked with cracking cold murder cases, my male coworkers are hunting down a powerful mob boss who has the ability to throw fire from his hands.

But I find him first.

It's simple: Apprehend the handsome criminal and prove to the men in my department that I am a skilled detective. But what if I gain his trust and use him to crack the murder cases I’ve been trying to solve instead? It shouldn’t be a problem, as long as my heart stays as frozen as my hands are…

What you'll get:
• Clean, slow-burning romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Mob boss villain
• No profanity (just a little name-calling and witty banter)
• His and her points of view
• Post-apocalyptic feels
• Historical Fantasy Fiction, set in the 1950s
• Two cold murder investigations
★THE GREEN will be a series of three to four books.

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2022

5 people are currently reading
28 people want to read

About the author

B.L. Twitchell

5 books17 followers
I’ve always enjoyed writing. It started off in grade school when I would write poems and enter them into contests listed in the backs of magazines, hoping to win it big and become famous like a lot of kids dream about. In high school, short stories replaced my poems. Even though I mostly kept those stories to myself, I continued to daydream about them as I got older. As an adult, I desired to write full-length books to get those larger stories out of my head and onto paper. And so here we are!

In life, I find it’s much easier to look on the positive side of things and to laugh every chance you get. Find what you love. Take those risks. After all, you miss out on 100% of the chances you don’t take!

If you would like to follow me on my writing journey, be sure to check out my website. I’m also a creature of Instagram, so be sure to follow me there for some funny reels and book talk! Let’s have some laughs! https://www.instagram.com/author_b.l....


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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
36 reviews9 followers
February 19, 2023
The Green is the first book in author Twitchell's newest book series. I was excited to get myself a copy of The Green after reading the author's last book, Average Joe (I loved that story!), and The Green did NOT disappoint!

Author Twitchell has a unique writing style that incorporates realistic elements from specific time periods to create her world building. In Average Joe, readers were immersed in the 1980's era due to the MC Joe's affection for all things 80's. In The Green, the setting is the 1950's. Characters deliver their dialogue in such a way that it enhances and preserves the illusion of that long-ago decade. While there are descriptive elements which lend to the world building such as clothing, hairstyles, and even gender roles in office settings, it’s the dialogue that delivers the 1950’s era unmistakably to the reader.

The female MC is an underappreciated, low-ranking detective who has to cater to her professionally superior male counterparts. She serves them coffee, accepts career-stalling assignments, and remains vigilant for opportunities to demonstrate her professional abilities to the men she works alongside.
As soon as the mood is set, the action begins. An inexplicable green fog rolls through the town and straight into buildings. Chaos and destruction ensue with an apocalyptic quality to the totality of the devastation that follows the passing of the green fog. “The Green”, as it comes to be known after the event, impacts the entire planet and all humans in any number of ways. Some are transformed and given abilities, some are deformed, some die, some are left unchanged, and so on. Individuals manifest their encounter with The Green depending on their personalities, too. A good person who develops a talent post-exposure to The Green, might not be problematic for society. However, a criminal mind exposed to The Green and then endowed with a power-enhancing talent, might prove difficult to interact with. Governments are forced to respond.

Author Twitchell does a great job creating characters with depth. From the female MC, Detective Josephine June, to the male MC, criminal Arlen “The Gent” Montgomery, the characters present motivations for their actions which drive their interactions with one another. There are quite a few characters in the story, but each has a well-defined personality. What’s left unsaid by the characters and the author, creates intrigue as the reader understands reveals will be coming as the story progresses. Oh, Arlen. What are you up to? I still don’t know. But I want to!

This is the second story I’ve read by author Twitchell. I really enjoy her writing style which is fun, creative, and unique. Her stories have characters with big personalities, and she writes them in such a way that they come across as realistic no matter what inventive setting she places them in. As with the first book of hers that I read (Average Joe. Highly recommend), I can see The Green as a movie on the big screen. While the characters have a ‘larger-than-life’ aspect to them, they also have very relatable personalities which makes it easy for readers to connect with them. My understanding is that Book 2 will be released soon, and I am definitely looking forward to continuing this story!

Profile Image for Βίκυ Χ..
186 reviews5 followers
September 14, 2024
🔥The Best - I’m completely enamored
with the characters!

“The Green: Book One” by B.L. Twitchell is a thrilling Sci-fi Enemies-to-Lovers Detective Romance. As the first installment of a trilogy, it promises the most delightful reading experience of a lifetime, blending murder investigations in a post-apocalyptic setting with a sizzling, slow-burning romance.

We’re in the 1950s, and the world is about to change forever! Josephine June, a stunning and brilliant homicide detective, struggles to prove herself in a strictly male-dominated society and field. Arlen Montgomery, a dangerously handsome crime lord, practically rules the city despite living in his father’s shadow. When a mysterious and powerful green fog covers the planet, no one is left unscathed. Even the few lucky people who are unharmed suffer dire consequences. Many die, others are deformed, and some are gifted with forceful superpowers. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Josephine’s and Arlen’s paths cross, their mighty personalities collide, and a fiery passion ignites.

B.L. Twitchell’s well-balanced and cinematic writing seamlessly crafts a marvelous, multilayered world and characters that are equally praiseworthy. The dual perspectives of the protagonists are presented in the most successful and exhilarating manner I’ve ever encountered in a book. The vivid prose evokes a balanced mix of emotions, ranging from tenderness and hope to rage and despair, all artfully embellished with fine humor. Ah, the protagonists’ inner dialogues are so delicious! This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who appreciates masterful storytelling and richly developed characters.

This first installment of “The Green” is a tapestry of mystery and romance, embroidered with morally grey main and side characters guaranteed to grip you until the very last page and leave you hungry for the next installment, which, thank God, is already out and I can’t wait to dive in right away. Highly recommended for book clubs, literature enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a deeply engaging read.
Profile Image for Michelle Monárrez.
Author 3 books23 followers
April 26, 2023
Life as a young detective is not easy, especially when you're the only female detective in your unit and it's 1950. Josephine June's biggest challenge is to get the recognition she deserves, or it was before The Green happened.

On a regular day, a green fog descends over Josephine's town and the world, changing her life forever. The fog claimed hundreds of victims, killing most and leaving some with extraordinary abilities. Josephine wakes to a new set of amazing and painful ice powers.

The world after The Green is different and crime is no exception. Arlen “The Gent” Montgomery, a mobster turned supervillain, has escaped prison and is now burning through the city. Can Josephine apprehend The Gent to prove herself a skilled detective? Can she keep her heart as cold as her powers or will she melt under the fiery gaze of this dangerous man?

A fun, clean romance by B.L. Twitchell that I really enjoyed! I had been waiting for this book eagerly ever since Twitchell announced the concept and it did not disappoint. This was a quick read with many moxie and a side of superpowers I finished in under a week. Both the setting and the characters kept me reading, but what I admire the most about Twitchell's style is her ability to immerse you in the plot and the era while throwing some humor in the mix.

Just like with Regular Joe, this book really immeresed me in the 1950s. I could have read the whole book as a black-and-white detective movie, but the ever mysterious Green mist continued to tint the scenes of
the first installment in the series.
Profile Image for Muhammad Samejo.
Author 4 books33 followers
November 26, 2023
A retro-50s-noir pulp-style story with superpowers? I’m sold! Okay, so not superpowers but instead talents. Set in a fictional America of the 1950s, The Green is aptly named after a mysterious green fog-like phenomenon that not only causes massive property damage but also changes the residents in strange and horrifying ways. Caught in the middle of this is Detective Josephine June who struggles to make a mark for herself in a police department full of men not ready to accept women for anything more than serving coffee. But once the green wreaks havoc, June is thrust into the spotlight as she takes on the mighty Montgomery crime family, with a 'talent' of her own.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Green; it hit all the right notes in tone and worldbuilding, capturing the socio-political dynamics of the 50s superbly (FEDORAS!). The characterizations of June, Donna, and others are done relatively well, while I thought some like Arlen could have been slightly better. But what’s really well done is the range with which Twitchell has shown the various superpowers, or talents as they’re called, throughout the story. Some are the more familiar ones that will make you love the storyline while others are truly horrifying and pay excellent tribute to franchises like The Twilight Zone that show how thought-provoking hard science fiction is.

My only gripe is that this is just book 1, which is all well and good but I would have wanted it to have much more than the way it ended. Still, I’m all in for The Green and would love to get to book 2 very soon. Both are available on Amazon.
Profile Image for Varsh.
99 reviews1 follower
November 14, 2023
This is a tantalizing mix of 50's slang, a gentle-only-for-her MMC, a stubborn-as-all-heck-and-witty-to-boot FMC and a vague-yet-intrguing sci-fi element.

The characters are well-written and the 'talents' they acquire as the story progresses are truly well-thought-out. I enjoyed the fact Josephine's and Donna's friendship is so far the strongest relationship our leading lady has, platonic be that as it may.

It's refereshing to see a couple other than the pair of MCs making heart eyes at each other. I am so very much rooting for Paul and Donna to get together in the next book.

The fire-and-ice, clichéd opposites-attract trope between the MCs, which is literal in this case, is fabulously utilized; bad-boy-being-a-gentleman-for-the-girl is always a win and Arlen Montgomery is a true gentleman in every sense; him siccing a prison guard on one of his own men for treating the lady(who he hasn't even decided to pursue yet) inappropriately is just *chef's kiss*. Who doesn't love a touch-her-and-you-die moment?!

The generous peppering of doll this and sweetheart that is absolutely endearing and made me giggle all through the book.

Overall, it was an endearing, fairly quick and interesting read. Can't wait to continue with book 2.

Voluntarily reviewed after reading a free ARC of the book from Booksirens.

Highly Recommended!
Profile Image for Romaine Heart.
2,337 reviews30 followers
October 1, 2022
Being a woman police detective back in the 1950's was hard in a man's world. No respect. Josephine was given the tasks of the bottom of the list.
Then everything changed. A green mist appeared throughout the world sending everyone into chaos. Now there were people who had talents. Some with defects while others passed away.
Arlen 'The Gent' Montgomery was in prison when the green mist attacked. A mobster but now one with powerful talents. After escaping with his men he was in hiding.
Being the men detectives we're no longer interested in the Montgomery case they passed it on to Josephine. Her dream came true to be able to work this case and find a way to bring Arlen down and back to prison.
Little did the hot blooded man and the ice queen know their journey was about to go in a completely different direction.
A unique story by a talented author. Can't wait for next installment in 2023!
Thank you Booksirens and the author for a digital copy. Read and reviewed voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
174 reviews9 followers
November 1, 2022
This book was so entertaining to me. I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the author's writing style. In fact, I would read some of the statements aloud to my husband. For example, "It irked me how dangerous men insisted on smelling delightful." Yes, there were many laugh out loud moments for me. I can imagine this book being a type of "super hero" movie - with a female lead detective. The premise to the story is that due to a layer of green fog, people either died or suddenly developed strange abilities, e.g., shooting ice from your hands or having elastic necks. These abilities turned the world upside down. The main character (who can shoot ice from her hands) is assigned to a murder case, and all kinds of chaos ensues. There is quite a cliffhanger that caught me off guard. So, naturally, I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
2,913 reviews90 followers
November 20, 2022
Set in the 1950s, a female forward detective is a pleasant change. I was hoping for a little more of a diesel punk or steampunk fantasy, but that is on me and my expectations. I liked the beginning of the story with the whip-smart talkback of Josephine, the setting, and the way the women & men dressed and got made up. I felt the heat burn between Josephine June & Arlen “The Gent,” and I wanted more, and feel there could have been more. There are several characters throughout the story, and you might miss the importance of some if you do not take note. The ending was light switch quick to me after the slow burn of everyone finding out about what they could and could not do after “The Green” descends upon the city.

Thanks to Book Sirens and B.L. Twitchell, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
167 reviews
September 20, 2024
Very interesting book with unique characters and I especially like Josephine and her friend/coworker Donna. It is set back in the times of criminal family gangs and their leaders but with a science fiction twist. Josephine works as a police officier and detective. She is hard put to get the respect from the rest of the force. After the green fog, everything changes. It affects some people in various ways, kills others and seems to leave some as "normal". This creates many unusual aspects to her chase of the son of one of the main crime bosses.

This book ends with many unanswered questions but I cannot wait to read the next book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
6,600 reviews240 followers
October 29, 2022
If you like Marvel and DC Comic superhero movies than you need to check out this book. I definitely was getting the superhero vibes. Although, my mind was instantly thought of the television show Gotham. This was a good show.

Back to the book. The superhero vibes and the time period both worked so well together. I love that Josephine was a main character. It is nice to see a female lead, especially in a detective role. She meets her match with Arlen. He is an interesting character.

The story does get interesting; especially with the fact that with the appearance of the green mist, it changed people. I look forward to reading book two and seeing how this story progresses.
Profile Image for Brittany Putzer.
Author 11 books58 followers
November 29, 2022
The Green transformed everyone mentally and physically. Some even lost their lives or loved ones. This book follows humanity as it heals through the unthinkable and attempts to navigate a terrifying new world.
Arlen is a powerful mafia boss’s son with a holy than thou attitude and an addiction to chewing toothpicks LOL. I LOVE his alpha vibes.
Josephine is an unappreciated detective learning how to live with her powerful but painful ability. I love her fierce loyalty and humor.
The flashbacks were oddly placed causing some confusion and some of the scenes were dragged out too long. But overall, I like the story and I can’t wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Danielle.
538 reviews10 followers
December 18, 2022
The Green is not my normal kind of book, but I thought the premise sounded intriguing, so I decided to give it a try.

The Green is set in the 1950's and reads like all the cop movies of that time. Meaning there is a lot of witty banter, 50's expressions, and the plot meanders along. While there were parts I really liked, I struggled to connect with the characters and had a hard time getting through the slow pace of the book.

Even though The Green wasn't for me, I think the idea was really cool and I think that a lot of people will enjoy it.

I received a free ARC from BookSirens, but I'm giving my opinion freely.
Profile Image for David Blankenship.
Author 4 books13 followers
April 15, 2024
This story takes place in the 1950s. A mysterious green fog rolls in and blows out all the windows as it drastically changes the world. Some people have enhanced abilities, some are deformed, some are unaffected, and some don’t survive. The MC is Detective Josephine June who learns to cope with her new ability while picking up a murder case.

The author did an awesome job bringing the story to the 1950s with the setting, the looks, and the dialogue. This was a lot of fun to read and I’m looking forward to Book Two!

Also check out Average Joe if you haven’t yet. That’s another book by this author and it was really cool.
Profile Image for Delphia  Von Heeder .
1,737 reviews50 followers
September 28, 2022
The Green is Book 1 in a new series by B L Twitchell. I thought that The Green was so original and well written. Set in the 1950s, I liked the main character, Josephine. She is a police detective and smart. The mobster, Arlen, was a great character and a foe for Josephine. I was not sure what “The Green “ was and I thought that the author was very clever. The Green is a must read for all lovers of wonderful stories. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
110 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2024
A highly unusual story about a detective and her pursuit for justice being a women in mans world. And then along comes The Green. There is the before and the after. What I did not expect was that I was drawn into this strange world, a world unlike no other I had heard or read about. So well written and explained that I then elected to read the next 2 in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Lara.
303 reviews
May 2, 2025
This was a fun and quick read. This first book was more of the buildup of the green and everyone's powers, as well as the slow buildup of the relationship.
This couple reminds me a lot of Warner and Juliette from shatter me series, because the guy wants the girl to embrace her powers and loves that she is powerful and he wants them to be a power duo.
I am really excited to read the next book, especially if we have more scenes of Arlen and Joesphine together.
Profile Image for A.M. McPherson.
Author 3 books96 followers
April 15, 2023
A fun superhero read that teases a promise of romance in future books! It's full of mystery and intrigue leaving the reader wondering what triggered "The Green" - a mysterious fog that causes some to develop superhero-like powers while killing others. This book introduces us to the world and our main characters to prepare us for what may be uncovered in future books. There isn't much romance in this book, but there are hints of a developing romance that'll probably be more flushed out in future books. I look forward to seeing what's revealed in book 2!
32 reviews7 followers
January 27, 2024
In the 50's women were not given the same respect in the workplace and Detective Josephine June is a perfect example. Her case load contains the hand-me-down, old and cold cases while the male detectives work on all the high profile stuff. If this isn't bad enough, her boss expects her to type all of his reports and serve coffee to the male detectives.

During a seemingly normal day, Josephine is talking with her best friend and they notice a green fog traveling into the city. When the fog hits, it leaves a path of destruction and those who breathe in the mysterious green fog either end up dead, disfigured or gain some sort of unusual ability. Josephine soon realizes she's among those with an ability, but unfortunately, hers comes with constant pain.

After The Green hits some use their abilities for nefarious reasons and Arlen Montgomery, a member of a notorious crime family, uses his to escape prison. With murders increasing, Josephine is finally given a case worthy of her talent and her investigation to find a killer puts her in the path of the dashing gangster Arlen.

Character development is well done and the plot is absolutely unique. If you like an out of the box good guys versus bad guys fantasy/sci-fi with a dash of dystopian sprinkled in, you'll love The Green. It's book 1 of a 3-part series and in my opinion, an excellent beginning.
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