REVIEW and GIVEAWAY
Devil in the Grass
by Christopher Bowron
Author Christopher Bowron joins me today to share a guest post and an excerpt from his debut novel, Devil in the Grass. You can also read my review and enter the giveaway.
Description
Would you sell your soul to the Devil? ... even halfheartedly?
When his pro football career fails, Jackson Walker returns to his home in southwest Florida to sort out his life. He lands an internship with Republican state senator James Hunter, whose Clean Water Bill puts him at odds with influential members of The Brotherhood of Set, a Satanic cult. They have deep roots in Florida, and are led by the sinister Henrietta LePley.
After Walker begins a relationship with a member of the Brotherhood, he is framed for the horrific killing of two elderly people. To clear his name, Jackson turns to his Seminole family to evade the police and a particularly nasty bunch of malevolent characters who specialize in the disposal of dead bodies.
The Everglades provides an ancient and frightening setting for the unfolding action that will prove whether Jackson Walker will pull himself free from the dark evil that lurks there.
Recommended for readers who love a dash of horror, like a fast-paced, action-packed thriller, have a keen interest in southwest Florida and the Everglades, have an interest in the occult and the paranormal, enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Excerpt
Jack looked Henrietta straight in the eye. He didn’t believe in the devil - Satan, or Set, whatever they wanted to call him - yet he couldn’t help but feel he was selling himself, well, to the devil. He shook his head. “No such thing,” he told himself. “Is there anything that I have to sign? Do I owe you any percentages if I get a contract?”
“Absolutely not. I am a wealthy woman, Jackson. Having a piece of your soul is payment enough.” She laughed. “Of course I am just kidding. We Satanists are allowed humor.”
Jack felt the tingling of goose bumps forming on his arms and scalp.
[Want more? Click below to read the first two chapters.]
Praise for the Book
"Devil in the Grass, by Chris Bowron, is a clever and suspenseful thriller with an intriguing story and variety of unique characters. [...] A great sense of place, with a myriad of plot twists and turns, make this a page-turner which is hard to put down!" ~ Sheila Guenzer
"Devil in the Grass is an intense thriller filled with riveting suspense and chilling characters which quickly capture and a hold a reader's attention from beginning to end." ~ Stacie Theis
"A fast paced book that you can’t put down. I thought this would take me a while to read (from the kindle estimate) - wrong! You somehow know that Jackson is one of the good guys and is an innocent in a very bad situation. The scenarios are well written and the characters very believable. The ending is good and leaves a possible link into another book- please???!!" ~ Misfits farm
"You'll need a strong stomach and the ability to block out visualization to read this book, but it is not only cruelly graphic, it has a wonderfully crafted plot and well-developed characters, a pleasant flowing writing style, good life-like dialogues and a lot of Florida atmosphere." ~ Barbara Tsipouras
"What a pleasant surprise. [...] you really can't put the book down. A roller coaster ride of surprising twists and turns and I will have to read more of Chris Bowron's books. It feels so professionally written I would understand if a major publisher picks up this author. I loved this book." ~ Jack Gold
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
It all starts the day Jack Walker meets Sarah. She seems to be the
perfect woman - apart from the fact that she is a member of a Satanic cult, The
Brotherhood of Set. Jack finds himself at the center of a century-old feud and
is wrongly accused of killing two people. Could his current predicament have
something to do with the fact that he works for Senator James Hunter? Jack sets
out to prove his innocence, but he must contend with the cops, Satanists, and
the creepy McFadden brothers. Will he make it out alive?
Devil in the Grass is told from multiple points-of-view in the third person. Each narrator
lends a unique quality to the story and, while their accounts overlap, there is
no repetition. This is a clever technique used to reveal the motivations of all of the
different parties involved. The author skilfully uses the Florida Everglades
setting as a character in its own right; you can practically feel the "no-see-ums"
biting. While this story is complete, the author leaves it open for a sequel. I
read an ARC with a number of editing errors which have hopefully been corrected
in the final version.
This is a tale of intrigue, sex, and politics, with a bit of witchcraft thrown in for good measure. Sure to hold your attention until the last page.
Warnings: coarse language, sex scenes, graphic violence.
Guest Post by the Author (originally posted on the author's blog)
What the Heck is "Devil in the Grass"?
When I thought up the name, Devil in the Grass, more than anything I thought it sounded cool. It began as The Devil in Me. I progressed to grass as the theme shifted from a book that takes place in the city to one which takes place in the Everglades. Thus the sawgrass plains took over. The sawgrass found in South Florida can hide a lot of sins. It is a vast place with its own secrets. I sought to add one more secret, even if it is just make-believe.
I’ve had some comments that people were expecting Devils and a lot of paranormal stuff. Devil in the Grass is not a mwooo-ha-ha book. There are references to the Devil and there is a satanic cult, but it is not a book that goes beyond the scope of being realistic. I think that is why people are liking it. Devil can refer to inner demons, or the McFaddens who live in the Everglades, and while not devils, they are devilish.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some damn creepy parts in the book, but it’s not what most people think. At its heart, Devil in the Grass is a fast-paced, page-turning thriller. There is a little sex, a little paranormal, some violence and bad language ... I hate books that don’t have a bit of that. There are twists and turns and a lot of action and a bit of horror.
I don’t believe that I took anything over the top, so if you are concerned, there’s no need to worry. I encourage people to ask questions, even before you decide to give my book a try. If you do read my book, please be sure to do a review on Amazon, they are priceless!
About the Author
Christopher Bowron’s roots stretch back four generations in historic Niagara-on-the-Lake, voted the prettiest town in Canada. Christopher is the owner of a successful Real Estate Brokerage, Niagara-on-the-Lake Realty. He has a bachelor of arts from Brock University and is a lover of fine wine, sport and a story that takes you away. Christopher has a second residence in southwest Florida where he has spent a good part of his life since childhood. Southwest Florida is the backdrop for his first novel, Devil in the Grass.
Christopher is currently working on a sequel to Devil in the Grass, a thriller called The Senator. Jackson Walker returns to find himself in another paranormal mix up as he attempts to run for the Florida State Senate. Is the Church of Set seeking to derail his bid, or is it a new and if possible, more dastardly entity?
Giveaway
Enter the Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win one of 8 signed paperback copies of Devil in the Grass by Christopher Bowron (ends 17 March).
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