Title: Scarlet at Crystal River
Author: Randy Overbeck
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Book Blurb:
All Darrell Henshaw wanted was to enjoy his honeymoon with his beautiful wife, Erin, in the charming town of Crystal River on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida. Only a pair of ghosts decide to intrude on their celebration. And not just any ghosts, the spirits of two young Latino children. Unwilling at first to derail the honeymoon for yet another ghost hunt, Darrell finally concedes when a painting of the kids comes alive, weeping and pleading for his help.
When he and Erin track down the artist, they discover the children’s family were migrant workers the next county over. But when they travel there, their questions about the kids get their car shot up and Erin hospitalized. Torn between fear and rage, Darrell must decide how far he will go to get justice for two young children he never even knew.
My Review:
Crystal River is an idyllic town, a perfect place to honeymoon, that is until two small children spirits plea for Darrell’s help. Darrell and his lovely wife Erin just got married and are honeymooning in Crystal River, on the Gulf Coast in Florida. Darrell’s ignoring his gift (helping and talking to ghosts) and just wants to spend time with his wife. After discovering a hidden painting of two young migrant children, the spirits appear. Darrell tries his best to keep it from his wife, but he finally confides in her. She agrees they need to help the lost ghosts move on. What they uncover leads them on a trail dark, dangerous, and foreboding. Can Darrell figure out what happened to the little children, or will their blissful honeymoon be tainted red?
Scarlet at Crystal River is an eerie paranormal mystery I couldn't stop reading. Randy Overbeck is a masterful writer of the paranormal, drawing the reader in before instilling shivers down the spine. This is book three in this series and Scarlet at Crystal River is the best one to date. The plot moves at a great pace with a terrific cast of characters, emotional tension, paranormal sub-plot, and a mystery to solve. The paranormal scenes are such a treat to read and add a spooky element to the story. What is it about children ghosts which cause gooseflesh to appear on my arms? Randy Overbeck feeds on that sensation with this paranormal mystery. I whipped through the pages as I couldn’t wait to read what happened next. A ghost story with a twist, Scarlet at Crystal River is a bestseller in the making. Brilliant descriptive narration sucks the reader in and doesn’t let go until the end of the story. Paranormal and mystery readers will love Scarlet at Crystal River. If you’re looking for a spine-tingling mystery, pick up Scarlet at Crystal River. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
Giveaway:
I’m one of the authors participating in the Read a Book a Month Giveaway and you can win a personalized signed print copy of Scarlet at Crystal River plus a $10 Amazon gift card (US only).
Runs September 1 - 30 and is open internationally for many prizes.
Winners will be drawn on October 1, 2021.
Author Biography:
Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children for four decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, Leave No Child Behind (2012) and his recent mysteries, the Amazon No. 1 Best Seller, Blood on the Chesapeake, Crimson at Cape May and Scarlet at Crystal River have earned five-star reviews and garnered national awards including “Thriller of the Year--ReadersFavorite.com, “Gold Award”—Literary Titan, “Mystery of the Year”—ReadersView.com and “Crowned Heart of Excellence”—InD’Tale Magazine. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation, “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.
Social Media Links:
Tik Tok @authorrandyo
Reviewed by: Mrs. N