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Blood on the Chesapeake by @OverbeckRandy is a Fall Into Bookathon pick #paranormalmystery #giveaway


Title: BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE

Author: Randy Overbeck

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Book Blurb:

Wilshire, Maryland seems like the perfect shore town on the Chesapeake Bay—quiet, scenic, charming—and promises Darrell Henshaw a new start in life and a second chance at love. That is, until he learns the town hides an ugly secret. A thirty-year-old murder in the high school. And a frightening ghost stalking his new office. Burned by an earlier encounter with the spirit world—with the OCD scars to prove it—he does NOT want to get involved. But when the desperate ghost hounds him, Darrell concedes. Assisted by his new love, he follows a trail that leads to the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and even the Klu Klux Klan. Then, when two locals who try to help are murdered, Darrell is forced to decide if he’s willing to risk his life—and the life of the woman he loves—to expose the killers of a young man he never knew.

Excerpt:

Darrell listened to the secretary’s footsteps echo in

the stairwell, and when the sound died away, he said

aloud to the empty room, “O-kay, then.” Exactly what

he needed. Move halfway across the country and run

into another damn ghost. His gaze swept the small

office and took in the widow’s walk, remembering the

shadowy figure at the railing and the prickle on his

neck. He inspected the entire office for paranormal

evidence. He saw nothing, of course. Still, there was

someone or something there, he sensed it.

Ambling over to the picture window, he took in the

expansive scene, white posts and railing of the widow’s

walk up close and the water of the Chesapeake shining

emerald beyond. He could get used to this view.


He’d take the job and…deal with the rest, if it

came.

He strolled over to the door. Something drew his

attention, and twisting around, he glanced back into the

office. A draft of cold air struck him. He shivered

again.

He turned to go but couldn’t. His shoes were glued

to the floor. No, it felt like two huge hands held his

ankles and wouldn’t let him leave. He pulled on both

legs. He stared down at his legs but saw only the

smooth cuffs of his dress pants and his black Oxfords.

Ugly memories resurfaced as if it were yesterday.

His uncle’s ghost using him as a conduit. The death of

two friends. The crippling of his brother.

Buy Links (including BookBub):


What’s your favorite thing about the Fall season:

I’ve always been in love with autumn. It probably comes from my experience of 39 years as an educator as each fall brought a new group of students and gave me a chance for a new beginning. The crisp fall air, the incredible display of colors put on by the trees in the Midwest, and yes, even football—all lent to making autumn my favorite season of the year.

What inspired you to write this story:

Most of my stories have been inspired by the towns I’ve traveled to and the people and places I’ve encountered on my way. When visiting a new area, I’m always been intrigued by the possibilities of unfamiliar places, the “I wonder if” notion. The initial idea for Blood on the Chesapeake actually sprang from a visit to a coastal New England town. The town boasted an old high school with an unusual architectural feature, a faux widow’s walk atop the second floor of the school building—which readers will discover is a critical part of the setting and narrative of Blood on the Chesapeake. Then, when I later journeyed to the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, I was overwhelmed by the quiet, scenic beauty of the region, but also intrigued by the duality of the cultures there. Here was a region bearing the hallmarks of a proud New England tradition, but also with roots still very much in the South. (The area was home to famous slave plantations and was split in loyalties during the Civil War.) I thought it’d be interesting to explore that dichotomy in fiction. In this most peaceful and beautiful of settings on the Chesapeake Bay, what if something horrific happened in this small town and they tried to cover it up?

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Open internationally.

Runs September 1 – 30.

Drawing will be held on October 1.


Author Biography:

Dr. Randy Overbeck is a veteran educator who has served children for more than three decades as a teacher and school leader, winning national recognition and awards for his work. Over that time, he has performed many of the roles depicted in his writing with responsibilities ranging from coach and yearbook advisor to principal and superintendent. An accomplished writer, he has been published in trade journals, professional texts and newspapers. His first novel, Leave No Child Behind, won the 2011 Silver Award for Thriller of the Year from ReadersFavorite.com. His second novel, Blood on the Chesapeake, a ghost story/mystery, released by the Wild Rose Press, is the first in a new series called the Haunted Shores Mysteries. The second entry, Crimson at Cape May, was released Summer, 2020. Dr. Overbeck is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and an active member of the literary community.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: Author Randy Overbeck

Twitter: @OverbeckRandy

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