★★★★★ “A book that I could not put down. I read the last 250 pages in a single day. It grabs your attention right away and doesn’t let go…” — an Amazon ReviewerA dangerous love, the hope of never being discovered.A new school. A new start for a teacher devastated by a cheating fiancee.Please Help Me Find Justice. The cry from a desperate ghost.★★★★★ “Beautifully written, with many exciting … “Beautifully written, with many exciting twists and turns…” — another Amazon Reviewer
A Murder Mystery, a Ghost Story, and a Dangerous Romance all combine to make Blood on the Chesapeake a Suspense Thriller That You Just Cannot Put Down.
Wilshire, Maryland. A quaint shore town on the Chesapeake, 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, Darrell does not want to get involved, but when the desperate ghost hounds him, he 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 Ku Klux Klan.
Then, when two locals who try to help are murdered, Darrell is forced to decide if he is willing to risk his life – and the life of the woman he loves – to expose the killers of a young man he never knew.
Blood on the Chesapeake is an incredible suspense thriller that forces the reader to recognize the ignorance and evils of a history that seems not so long ago. This murder mystery is skillfully written to present a cold case that should never have been forgotten.
This ghost story challenges our sense of right and wrong, and condemns the injustice of complacency and of letting silence hide the truth.
One great read, one story you won’t easily forget, one thoroughly entertaining novel that you’ll save – to read again, to share with friends, to ensure we learn from the past.
Ideal for book clubs! You can even arrange your own personal book club Skype with the author.
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“Blood on the Chesapeake” is a tale to be savored in a darkened room, with an eye to all the possibilities lurking just out of sight.
Could not put it down. Fast-moving and relevant. Even with a supernatural twist, storyline is relevant to our world today.
Author Randy Overbeck knows how to raise the goosebumps from head to toe on the reader. Darrell Henshaw arrives at the new school set on the Chesapeake Bay to teach and coach the students. Darrell has a gift that manifested initially at 13; he sees and senses ghosts. Upon touring the school and his new office, Harriet Sinclair reveals that a young black man committed suicide many years before. When he felt the unworldly sensation, thoughts of outrunning his gift vanish as he learns more about the young man.
The suicide took place in the 60s at the height of civil rights unrest. The author adds in an event with Dr. M.L. King to help frame the times for readers. Young black boys and white girls were not permitted to have romantic involvement, but love can be blind.
He visits a medium, an interesting minor character who helps clarify his elusive visitor.
“Here in Wilshire, you have had a second encounter…vith another spirit.”
“Yes.”
“This spirit is not someone known to you.” She squeezed his hands again. “I see…the essence of a young man…a large black youth.”
“Yes,” Darrell said again, no longer concerned with how she knew these things, only relieved she did.
“Tell me what you have encountered, and I vill interpret.”
So, there in the darkened apartment, wrapped in the aroma of vanilla and human perspiration, Darrell talked. In hushed, urgent tones, he told this sultry, exotic woman about the apparitions and about his visions and dreams of the ghost, while flickering candle flames made the shadows of their figures sway. Her hands never released their grip on his, but halfway through his narrative, her eyes returned to normal, and her intent gaze focused on his again. When he finished, the words spilling out of him like water from a burst dam, she said nothing at first.”
This story takes readers on a journey thirty years in the past of thrills, chills, and coverups. No one in town wants to relive or remember the events of the past. The theme being let sleeping dogs lie. The characters, both primary and secondary, are distinctive and memorable as Darrell tries to uncover those who know the truth about Hank. As things start happening, someone clearly doesn’t want Darrell investigating the past.
There is an excellent romantic element with Erin, the fearless, helping Darrell and Pogo, the puppy, having a vital role in the outcome. The suspects are surprising even as the guilty parties go to great lengths to keep their secret dead.
Not only is Randy Overbeck an accomplished storyteller, but he takes this paranormal to the high-water mark. This story races along like a sailboat with perfect wind, cutting in suspense, surprise, and an unexpected yet satisfying ending. This book is recommended to lovers of thrilling paranormal and ghosts.
I look forward to more stories from this author. Thank you for the imagery that will not fade.
What a fun ride this was. Wonderful character development, twisty storyline, and great writing made this an enjoyable book.
New coach and teacher Darrell Henshaw encounters a school ghost, H for Hank. H is trapped between worlds while seeking justice over the circumstances of his death thirty years prior. Darrell becomes enamored with the spirit’s sightings and the school’s history. He isn’t quite sure who in the town or administration to trust, but he motors on, researching H’s death. He finds himself in grave danger after several people involved lose their lives.
Inspired to take this job because of a breakup with his girlfriend, when Darrel meets the spunky Erin Caveny, this story heats up. Erin jumps on board to investigate Hank’s death.
Without a spoiler, I’ll say Overbeck masterfully combines a tale of social justice, love, and the paranormal. If you like a good paranormal romance, you’ll love this story because its plot is meatier than most.
Loved! Five stars. Looking forward to reading Overbeck’s next novel.
I loved this book. This was the first Randy Overbeck book I’ve read. I was so impressed; I have a second one ready as soon as I finish this review.
The description doesn’t really give you an idea of the extent this story goes to with thrills, chills, and trickery. If you like a truly scary story, (without too much blood, guts, and gore), you’ll find it here.
The main character, Darrell has an odd personality, which I thought the author conveyed well. Events in his life have left him with a few quirks. However, he’s willing to go to any lengths to uncover the secret that’s caused thirty-plus years of haunting at his new job.
Some of the town’s people don’t want the old story dredged up and throw obstacles in his way which include a few dead bodies. You really don’t know how he’ll survive let alone reveal the truth.
The secondary characters are strong enough to stand on their own. Some are good and some are questionable. With knowing how many bad guys had caused the initial event I had to wonder which of the suspects they were – big surprise.
There’s a great romance story weaved into all this. I loved Erin. She was no shrinking violet when it came to digging into the investigation by his side. She was the perfect partner for Darrell.
To sum it up – this is the kind of story that sticks with you. Full disclosure: I read it twice. Congratulations, Randy Overbeck, for being a skilled storyteller. Five stars from me.
A Teacher/Coach looking for a new life; a tormented ghost who won’t let him have it!
Dr. Randy Overbeck’s Blood on the Chesapeake is a top-notch mystery novel and ghost story from start to finish. As I completed one chapter, my fingers reached for the next! Characters are well-developed and believable, and Randy masterfully weaves lead character Darrell Henshaw’s new and blossoming love interest together with thrilling episodes from the “other-world” (wouldn’t you break into a cold sweat if your prized souvenir – a basketball signed by Michael Jordan, fell from it’s resting place and emerged, donning a different player’s signature, when you went to return it?). I have just ordered Randy’s newest book (the second in his Haunted Shores Mystery Series), Crimson at Cape May. Thank you Randy, for a great read with “Blood”. I’m looking forward to “Crimson”!
This is a thrilling mystery with a paranormal twist. The author does a fantastic job building the story and had me glued to the pages with all the suspense. He brings both his characters and scenes to life with his detailed and descriptive writing and delivers a realistic read. It’s well written,moves fluidly and is a true page turner. Loved and would recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
The ghost of a young man who was killed by racially arrogant men in 1964 reaches out to the new teacher in Wilshire, Maryland Will this evil continue to kill the innocent to remain covered or will the truth finally be revealed?
I enjoyed this edge-of-your-seat book. It is both hopeful and frightening to look back to the 1960s and see some of the changes we have made. But the evil is still there: the ugly prejudice and hatred. We have much to overcome!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
suspense, ghosts, racially-sensitive, murder, thriller, friendship, mystery, historical-research
The original crime/ghost hail from the Civil Rights era but the backlash is felt by the current ghost sensitive who is the new teacher at the local high school and already has enough baggage from the last ghost he encountered. This exploration into crimes committed in the 20th century is written with sensitivity and imagination with very realistic characters and a suitably twisty and suspenseful plot. Rather timely and very well done!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from The Wild Rose Press via NetGalley. Thank you!