The author sent me a copy of this book (mobi format) in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Plot
(by Goodreads)
THIS BOOK IS AGE APPROPRIATE FOR “TWEENS”, TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS AND ADULTS INTERESTED IN THE PARANORMAL.
STROKE OF FEAR! (Denny Ryder Paranormal Crime Series) starts off with a bang! Denise Ryder is in the midst of a gruesome car accident. She’s thrown against the door, pitched to the floor, twisted upside-down, falling, as she claws her way out of a shattered window. She hears loud crashes, hysterical screams, screeching metal, and the voices of two dear friends. Her stomach heaves, and she’s choking, gagging, can’t breathe! Blood is everywhere.
10 YEARS LATER: Pleasant memories of her childhood. She grins at the antics of the two sisters, different as night and day. Denny is just waking up from a soothing, happy dream. She’s had “dreams come true” since she was a child. Sounds like a fairy tale, right? Wrong! It’s her nightmares from that come to life! Yet, she does everything in her power to deny the images.
Denny becomes embroiled in a missing child investigation. When a dream shows her where the boy is, she won’t let herself believe it. A twist of fate reveals that the dream “could” be true. She’s scared, but relieved that she can take action based on fact. She meets Detective Ted Collins, an investigator who doesn’t scoff at the paranormal. The two of them use facts, clues, and intuitive visions to piece the case together. Will they be able to save Jeremy?
A new piece of evidence pulls Denny into another horrific dream. She fears she’s had an out-of-body experience where she meets the psychopathic serial killer who feeds on the blood of innocent children. Denny isn’t even sure whether she believes in astral projection or not, but somehow she becomes caught between the dreamscape and reality. She knows she can’t be both places at the same time. Where does she go from here, and what about Jeremy?
| Genre(s): | Fantasy, Paranormal & Urban, Metaphysical & Visionary |
| Series: | Denny Ryder Paranormal Crime Series, #1 |
| Length: | 65 pages |
| Release date: | 2013-12-14 |
Teaser
Sometimes it startles me so much, I wake up. Sometimes I go back to sleep and forget it. That is, until I see it again or hear about it – days, weeks, or even months later. That’s the difference. These dreams are real! They come true! Why me?
My Opinion
This book introduces you to Denny Ryder and her gift and/or curse.
With Stroke of Fear!, Deborah A. Bowman has started a quite intriguing paranormal crime series. It is an unusual and compelling read, drawing you into Denny’s world. Deborah A. Bowman paints a clear picture of Denny’s mind while the story evolves. Denny is likeable, complex, and visibly suffering from what she has to experience during her visions. The story begins with a flashback to provide the reader with a solid background; it has a steady pace, comprises interesting turns, and has a really good flow. I kept my fingers crossed, hoping that Denny and Detective Ted Collins would capture the culprit.
This is a book for you if you like fantasy and paranormal crime series in novella format, and if you like female characters with a mission.
In brief:
| Cover | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Writing | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Plot | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Characters | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Mood | Dark, suspenseful |
| Pace | Steady |
| POV | Third person – past tense; Denny’s thoughts: first person – present tense |
| Language |  |
| Violence | 😳 – 😡 |
| Sexual content | |
About the author
Connect with the author:
Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂
My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about Stroke of Fear!? Or – if you did not yet read Stroke of Fear! – are you now interested in reading it yourself?
I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂
My train of thoughts on... 
I love Deb’s writing, and I too enjoyed this book. 🙂
This is wonderful, Debby. We certainly have more than one favourite in common. 🙂
For sure Karen. 🙂
After reading your book review, I’ve been pesuaded to buy this book. I’m intrigued by astral travel and I love crime books. Adding the paranormal and visions to the mix sounds perfect for me.
If you like this combination, this is a series for you, Suzanne. My reviews for the following novellas will be published in due course.
Great, I’ll look out for them.