‘The Butterfly House’ is Katrine Enngberg’s new novel and the sequel to “The Tenant.’ Photo: amazon
A former dancer and choreographer with a background in television and theater, Katrine Engberg launched a groundbreaking career as a novelist with the publication of her fiction debut, “The Tenant.” She is now one of the most widely read and beloved crime authors in Denmark, and her work has been sold in over twenty-five countries. Her new book “The Butterfly House” is the sequel to “The Tennant,” and has detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner race to solve a series of sordid murders linked to some of the most vulnerable patients in a Danish hospital. Read an excerpt here. (amazon,2021)
“The Butterfly House” – Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. But in the coronary care unit at one of Copenhagen’s leading medical centers, a nurse fills a syringe with an overdose of heart medication and stealthily enters the room of an older male patient. Six days earlier, a paperboy on his route in central Copenhagen stumbles upon a macabre find: the naked body of a dead woman, lying in a fountain with arms marked with small incisions. Cause of death? Exsanguination—the draining of all the blood in her body. Clearly, this is no ordinary murder. Copenhagen investigator Jeppe Kørner, recovering from a painful divorce and in the throes of a new relationship, takes on the case. His partner, Anette Werner, now on maternity leave after an unexpected pregnancy, is restless at home with a demanding newborn and an equally demanding husband. While Jeppe pounds the streets looking for answers, Anette decides to do a little freelance sleuthing. But operating on her own exposes her to dangers she cannot even begin to fathom. As the investigation ventures into dark corners, it uncovers the ambition and greed that festers beneath the surface of caregiving institutions—all the more shocking for their depravity—and what Jeppe and Anette discover will turn their blood as cold as ice.
‘Threads of Yoga’ by Pamela Seelig will be released on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. Photo: amazon
Pamela Seelig is a yoga teacher based in New Jersey. She began her yoga and meditation journey in 1991 when an illness interrupted her Wall Street career. Along with helping her recovery, the impact of her meditation led to a lifelong pursuit of perceiving and sharing yogic wisdom through practice, teaching, and writing. She completed her teacher training in 2006 at Integral Yoga Institute in New York. Along with Hatha yoga, Pamela also studies Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and is a certified Raja Yoga instructor. Her new book “Threads of Yoga: Themes, Reflections, and Meditations to Weave into Your Practice” is a guide for students and teachers inspired by the Yoga Sutras. It will be released on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
“Threads of Yoga” begins with an Introduction that explains how to use this book, the meaning behind the movement, going beyond the postures, and how the author began her journey into yoga and meditation. “The primary aim of yoga is to quiet the mind” because once the mind quiets down, the body experiences a heightened state of being. This is more than just a how-to book on yoga poses; it does not come with illustrations or pictures. It explains yoga’s deeper spiritual teachings to help people deepen and enliven their yoga practice. Each chapter introduces a foundational yogi theme followed by ways to put the chapter’s theme into practice in daily life with rituals, meditation, physical practices, and savasana (relaxation) as well as appropriate quotes to contemplate on that chapter’s theme. For those who practice yoga, they get a more in-depth look at yoga than they would in a normal class. For yoga teachers, this book will help them bring yoga wisdoms to their students without sounding preachy. The author makes it a point to reassure that the yoga concepts are not based on a religion, so anyone can benefit from them because the sole purpose of yoga is to quiet the mind. “Threads of Yoga” is divided into three parts: Part One: Themes and Practices Inspired by the Yoga Sutras, Part Two: The Yamas and the Niyamas, and Part Three: The Chakra System. There is a Resources and Recommended Reading section at the end that lists titles for further reading if readers are interested in learning more about the subjects the author has written about.
Yoga has become more mainstream in the past few years but it has also become commercialized. It is easy to just go through the various yoga poses and gain the benefits, but there is much more to yoga than just physical exercises. Yoga practitioners keep coming back because of the sense of peace that they feel at the end of every session. In “Threads of Yoga,” Pamela Seeling shares her own journey of discovering yoga’s more spiritual assets when after a successful career in Wall Street, she developed Bell’s Palsy and had to alter her way of life. She delved further into yoga and meditation to help her body heal. After becoming a yoga instructor, she eventually opened her own studio and wholeheartedly believes in the benefits of yoga and as someone who has benefitted from it, it gives her writing an authentic voice. She does not use complicated terms so the language is easy to understand and since the ‘Parts’ are clearly divided by topic it is easy to come back and re-read whichever sections need re-visiting. Some of the highlights include Chapter 10: Meditation which focuses on meditation: “It is said that anyone can do yoga poses, but only the strong can meditate” and Chapter 8: Silence where the focus is on how beneficial silence can be in the pursuit of peace and mind. “If we slow down, get quiet, and open our hearts, beautiful states of awareness are already there.” The background on yoga’s spiritual teachings is interesting, so even if readers do not practice yoga, this alone is worth reading up on. “Threads of Yoga” is an exceptionally useful guide and is ideal for yoga teachers and practitioners who want to connect with the spiritual wisdom of yoga and deepen their yoga experience. It is recommended for readers who yearn for a closer connection with yoga or are just interested in yoga’s more spiritual teachings.
“Many people today don’t necessarily embrace silence. We are generally more comfortable talking, managing, teaching, humming, or just about anything else. Silence implies emptiness, and that can be uncomfortable or even distressing. Yoga develops our ability to quiet the mind.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
‘The Burning’ is the new Clay Edison novel by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman. Photo: amazon
Jonathan Kellerman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, “The Butcher’s Theater,” “Billy Straight,” “The Conspiracy Club,” “Twisted,” “True Detectives,” and “The Murderer’s Daughter.” With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored “Double Homicide” and “Capital Crimes.” With his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored “Crime Scene,” “A Measure of Darkness,” “The Golem of Hollywood,” and “The Golem of Paris.” He is also the author of two children’s books and numerous nonfiction works, including “Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children” and “With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars.” He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, and has been nominated for a Shamus Award. Jesse Kellerman won the Princess Grace Award for best young American playwright and is the author of “Sunstroke,” “Trouble” (nominated for the ITW Thriller Award for Best Novel), “The Genius” (winner of the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle), “The Executor,” and “Potboiler” (nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel). In their new novel, “The Burning: A Novel (Clay Edison),” which will be released Tuesday, September 21, matters get personal for Deputy Coroner Clay Edison when a murder hits close to home. (amazon, 2021)
“The Burning” – A raging wildfire. A massive blackout. A wealthy man shot to death in his palatial hilltop home. For Clay Edison, it is all in a day’s work. As a deputy coroner, caring for the dead, he speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves. He prides himself on an unflinching commitment to the truth. Even when it gets him into trouble. Then, while working the murder scene, Clay is horrified to discover a link to his brother, Luke. Horrified. But not surprised. Luke is fresh out of prison and struggling to stay on the straight and narrow. And now he has gone AWOL. The race is on for Clay to find him before anyone else can. Confronted with Luke’s legacy of violence, Clay is forced to reckon with his own suspicions, resentments, and loyalties. Is his brother a killer? Or could he be the victim in all of this, too? This is Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman at their most affecting and page-turning—a harrowing collision of family, revenge, and murder.
Coming up next week, September 26 through October 2 is Banned Books Week 2021. This year’s theme is “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.” Banned Books Weeks was established in 1982 in response to a sudden rise I the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. This event highlights the value of free and free access to information. It unites the community, including librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types, in their shared support of the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those that may be considered unorthodox or unpopular. (Banned Books Week, 2021)
By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles lists of challenged books as reported in the media and submitted by librarians and teachers across the country.
The Top 10 Challenged Books of 2020 are:
“George” by Alex Gino. Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community.”
“Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. Banned and challenged because of the author’s public statements and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people.
“All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely.Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism and because it was thought to promote antipolice views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now.”
“Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson. Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint, it was claimed to be biased against male students, and it included rape and profanity.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience.
“Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes and their negative effect on students.
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse.
“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas. Challenged for profanity, and because it was thought to promote an antipolice message.
Key West Film Festival announces the Diana King Memorial Fund in partnership with the King Family Foundation. Photo: google
The Key West Film Festival and The Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation are pleased to announce the creation of the Diana King Memorial Fund, in memory of the Foundation’s founder and longtime President and Chair, an outstanding philanthropist recognized for her commitment to educational opportunities in film, television and other media, who passed away in 2019. The five-year grant from the Foundation, beginning with the 10th Anniversary of the Key West Film Festival November 17-21, 2021, will support Key West Film Festival’s annual celebration of film and filmmakers, as well as student film awards and educational initiatives. (Key West Film Festival, 2021)
“We are beyond grateful for this generous grant from the King Family Foundation. Creativity is alive and thriving through the challenges of the past year – we have seen it in this year’s surplus of film submissions. The Diana King Memorial Fund will help us ensure we can celebrate film, education and student filmmakers for years to come.” – Key West Film Festival Chairman, Brooke Christian
Diana King grew up in the world of television, a daughter of the late Charles King (who founded King World Productions in 1964) and his wife Lucille King. King World became the leading distributor of television syndicated programming in the United States, including such iconic series as The Little Rascals, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy! The Oprah Winfrey Show, Inside Edition, and Dr. Phil. Diana began working in the accounting department of the family business in 1972, and at the time of King World’s acquisition by the CBS Corporation in 2000 served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Director.
Diana established the Foundation in 1988 to support individuals and organizations committed to educational excellence and professional development, in film, television, and other media. During her 30-year tenure as Board Chair and President, the Foundation awarded hundreds of scholarships to students with a focus in film, television and related media/communications studies at colleges and universities around the country, in many instances to individuals who would have been financially unable to continue their studies without this assistance. In addition, the Foundation has functioned as a longtime sponsor of programs at several leading cultural and educational institutions around the country.
Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 17-21, 2021. A diverse, entertaining, and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.
Early James releases Dan Auerbach-produced 7-inch featuring ‘Tumbleweed’ and ‘Mama Can Be My Valentine.’ Photo: google
Early James, an Alabama native, released his debut album, Singing For My Supper, via Easy Eye Sound and Nonesuch Records on March 13, 2020. The album spans hard-charging blues, wistful folk, and ages-old pop crooning, anchored by the singer’s voice that alternates from gravel-gruff shout to a honey-smooth whisper. James’ inspirations run from Fiona Apple and Tom Waits to the Southern gothic poets, as heard in the album’s darker themes and in the wry humor with which he writes about them. He recently released the Dan Auerbach-produced 7-inch featuring “Tumbleweed” and “Mama Can Be My Valentine.” (Early James, 2021)
“Don’t got no tattoos cause Grandma knew it’d keep you out of heaven,” sings the prolific, eclectic, and flat-out entertaining singer and songwriter Early James in the opening line of his newly released tune, “Tumbleweed.” Further cementing the Americana blend of styles and sounds he has becoming known for, “Tumbleweed” finds James delivering quick, gravelly verses over a jovial fingerstyle guitar part, exploring an idea he describes as “patting yourself on the back while getting pickpocketed.” Finding a song under a previously unturned stone or in the quickness of a passing thought is, his unique vocal delivery notwithstanding, James’s calling card, and “Tumbleweed” is very much on brand.
“‘Tumbleweed’ is about how you’re always kind of in this limbo of thinking you’re smarter than your older self while falling for someone’s new bullshit at the same time,” says James in his profoundly straightforward way. “Tumbleweed” and its b-side, “Mama Can Be My Valentine” are holdover tunes from James’s 2020 debut, Singing For My Supper, produced by Dan Auerbach and released via his Easy Eye Sound label. After a full year of touring was canceled, the tracks were shelved, but are now available digitally at this link and in 7-inch vinyl format through independent record stores, the Easy Eye Sound online store, and at all Early James tour stops. A complete tour schedule is available online.
“Mama Can Be My Valentine,” which fills up side two of this new release on Easy Eye Sound, leans a hair more Bakersfield country, grooving and swirling forward as James lists off his ideal “type” of a yet-unattainable lover. The refrain— “Until then, Mama can be my valentine”—came about out of hilarious necessity. “I didn’t have any songs about Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day so I killed two birds with one stone,” James recalls. Overall, the one-two punch of “Tumbleweed” and “Mama Can Be My Valentine” are a natural extension of the songs from Singing For My Supper, both different examples of just how well James can weave together a story and deliver it with his commanding, earnest voice. “Some people are good singers,” says The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who decided he needed to produce the singer’s debut album at his Easy Eye Sound studio after watching just two seconds of a video of him performing. “And some people are better than good singers, they just have this great form of expression.” That expression which James possesses is on full display with his new 7-inch release and will officially be getting the live treatment on a healthy run of tour dates with The Lone Bellow this fall.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Catch Early James On Tour: October 10 – Wildwood Revival – Arnoldsville, GA October 14 – Proud Larry’s – Oxford, MS # October 16 – Standard Deluxe Fall Boogie – Waverly, AL November 4 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN * November 5 – Majestic Theatre – Madison, WI * November 6 – Shank Hall – Milwaukee, WI * November 7 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL * November 8 – The Ark – Ann Arbor, MI * November 10 – Taft Theatre – Cincinnati, OH * November 11 – Asbury Hall Babeville – Buffalo, NY * November 12 – Center for the Arts of Homer – Homer, NY * November 13 – Gateway City Arts – Holyoke, MA * November 14 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA * November 16 – Webster Hall – New York, NY * November 17 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA * November 18 – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall – Troy, NY * November 19 – Vogel Theatre – Red Bank, NJ * November 20 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC * November 21 – Haw River Ballroom – Saxapahaw, NC *
JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora, Texas. Photo: JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, used with permission.
As summer gives way to fall and people continue to seek off-grid, outdoor-driven escapes, the picturesque JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa brings adventure at every turn with an array of activities, ranging from horseback riding and UTV off-roading to intimate group wine tastings. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2021)
Activities include:
Seven-day Schedule & Sips at MV Brew: The 13,000-acre resort is now accessible seven days a week for overnight guests seeking an immersive extended stay that captures the West Texas Lifestyle. New for overnight guests in August 2021, JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa opened MV Brew Coffee House, which proudly serves Starbucks Coffee alongside daily fresh- made pastries, grab and go snacks, and refreshments exclusively to JL Bar Resort Guests. The coffee house is named after resort owner James Archer’s MV2 Entertainment Company in Nashville and offers indoor seating and ample outdoor space to enjoy a fresh cup o’ joe, the closest of its kind within an 80-mile radius.
A Family Affair at Archer’s Nest, the resort’s private villa: Following a recent upgrade, the private and luxurious Archer’s Nest Villa now boasts seven bedrooms that accommodates up to fourteen guests in addition to a private oasis swimming pool, large pool house with fully equipped kitchen, and a full home theatre room. The grand accommodation is the ideal destination for family reunions and small groups.
JL Bar Takes Flight: As one of the leading point-to-point getaway destinations with its Full-Service Fixed Base Operator (FBO) Airport , the resort’s private airport offers an abundance of amenities that are rare for a private airstrip (especially at a resort), including a 5300’ x 80’ asphalt top runway and facilities capable of handling a variety of aircraft from a single engine Cessna to a Gulfstream 650, hangar space for multiple jets, crew and passenger lounges, single point or over-wing fuel, in-flight dining from the resort’s private chef, and more. JL Bar Ranch & Resort Airport provides FAA certified weather, minimal air traffic in the immediate area, and is one of the most efficient for refueling cross-country flights. While some guests may choose the few-hour drive to Sonora, TX, cross-country travelers looking to refuel and recharge for the night, aviation enthusiasts, and luxury travelers looking for a seamless getaway experience can arrive via privately chartered jet or personally owned aircraft.
Harvest Season Wine Excursions: The luxury resort and working ranch now offer a new all-inclusive day trip excursion to Fredericksburg, inclusive of transportation, a local wine tasting and lunch, and shopping along Fredericksburg’s iconic Main Street. For on-property wine experiences, Sommelier and Equine Experts Jon Joseph and Sydney Beique host wine tastings and have curated an extensive wine list to pair with the resort’s culinary offerings.
On the Hunt: As entrusted stewards of the land, the ranch manages the property to be productive for during the fall hunting season while conserving and nurturing vital habitat for wild game—orchestrating a harmonious balance between wild game and domestic livestock on the property, with horseback riding and a Horse Psychology Experience alongside world-class guided hunting excursions.
Whataburger presented the San Antonio Food Bank with a check for $31, 624.20. From left to right: Krystal Garza, Whataburger Field Marketing Coordinator, Tom Willet, Whataburger Director of Operations, Eric Cooper, San Antonio Food Bank President & CEO, Melba Harris, Whataburger Community Experience Manager, Brenda Cervantes Sanchez, Whataburger Field Marketing Coordinator. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
Orange Spirit Week is Whataburger’s annual tradition of honoring its legacy while giving back to the communities it serves. This year, in honor of its 71st anniversary, Whataburger partnered with Feeding America® to help provide more than three million meals through local food banks across Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Following its first-ever systemwide fundraiser benefitting Feeding America®, Whataburger is giving $31,624 raised in the San Antonio area to the San Antonio Food Bank to help fight hunger in the community. (Whataburger, 2021)
The local gift is part of more than $300,000 that Whataburger customers donated across its 10-state footprint during the company’s Orange Spirit Week celebration. Customers who donated $1 during the fundraiser received a free Whataburger coupon for their generosity. Funds raised benefitted the communities where they were given. It is all part of Whataburger Feeding Student Success, the company’s signature community program operating at the intersection of food insecurity and education and focusing on helping students at all levels of education achieve their goals and dreams.
The magic of Whataburger started on August 8, 1950, in a tiny burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. An entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson set out to build a burger so delicious that customers would take that first bite and say, “What a burger!” Today, Whataburger is known for delicious burgers, big flavor, and the brand’s pride in taking care of its guests, communities, and employees, known as Family Members. Orange Spirit Week celebrates its founding and the foundation for success that Dobson created.
India’s premier stoner doom rockers Bevar Sea signs with Metal Assault Records. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Metal Assault Records is thrilled to announce its first international signing. India stoner/doom metal band Bevar Sea joins the Metal Assault Records roster. Stalwarts of the Indian stoner doom scene for well over a decade in addition to carrying a solid fanbase internationally within the heavy underground, Bevar Sea has inked a multi-album deal with Metal Assault Records and will release the band’s third full-length studio album, The Timeless Zone, in early 2022. Album pre-orders will be launched in Fall 2021. (Metal Assault Records, 2021)
On signing Bevar Sea, Metal Assault Records owner Andrew Bansal states: “This one is special, and close to home (literally). When I briefly moved from Los Angeles to India in 2012-13, little did I know that I’d get to discover this amazing band. I happened to attend a gig in Mumbai wherein I got to see Bevar Sea live for the first time. It was their debut album release show and they left an indelible impression on me with their musicianship and performance that night. I made sure to attend as many of their shows as I could, particularly the ones in their hometown of Bangalore. Even after moving back to the US in 2013, I kept track of Bevar Sea’s progress and stayed in touch with the band members. Fast forward to 2021, they are now signed to my label and I could not be more excited!”
Bevar Sea issued the following statement in celebration of their signing with Metal Assault Records. “Having managed the first two releases ourselves and having seen where most of our fans and orders come from, we looked out for a North America or Europe based label to release The Timeless Zone, essentially to fix some of the issues we’ve had with worldwide distribution and logistics, and also to allow us to focus more on the music itself. We’ve known Andrew as a friend and a fan for many years, and quick trivia, he was also our manager for a short while back in 2012, so his label and its diverse roster is an ideal match for us for this album and beyond.”
Established in 2008, Bevar Sea roared into the live scene in 2011. The following year, their eponymous album was released and earned them rave reviews worldwide along with the title of “Best Emerging Act” at the Rolling Stone Metal Awards India. Bevar Sea also snapped up a performance slot at the coveted Maryland Deathfest in 2013. Their debut album was mixed and mastered by the legendary Billy Anderson. The enthralling 45-min hook-ladened stoner/doom experience quickly garnered the band a firm reputation among fans in their country and internationally. Album track “Abishtu” which tells the story of a serial killer out for hipster blood and on the run from the law quickly became a live show favorite among fans while the 14-min track “Mono Gnome” about a short-statured man and his love for a witch turned out to be the pick in the doom circles.
Bevar Sea followed up their debut album with Invoke the Bizarre in 2015. Drifting into new sonic territories, the band recorded at a breakneck pace over 10 days at Adarsh Recording Studio to complete the album. Mixing and mastering duties were managed by Matt Lynch (LA’s Mysterious Mammal Recording, also from the incredible band Snail). Invoke the Bizarre was well received by music media and fans alike for its intricate song arrangements, unique story-telling and mature, well-rounded execution. Now, five years after releasing Invoke the Bizarre Bangalore’s Bevar Sea utilized the Covid-19 imposed lockdown as an opportunity to regroup and begin working on their third studio album, The Timeless Zone. Against backdrop of enigmatic lyrics portraying a tryst with the consciousness of man during a period of deep introspection; The Timeless Zone pays homage to the glory years of the 70s and 80s hard rock era while keeping things heavy handed in a gloomy haze of gnarly guitar riffs, raspy vocals, and apocalyptic fuzz. Expect even more crushing from Bevar Sea amidst the arrival of The Timeless Zone slated for release early 2022 on Metal Assault Records.
Bevar Sea The Timeless Zone lineup (2021): Ganesh Krishnaswamy – Vocals Srikanth Panaman – Guitars Michael Talreja – Guitars Avinash Ramchander – Bass
The Timeless Zone track listing: 1. The Timeless Zone 2. Alpha None 3. Sterilise The Divide 4. The Circle 5. Kiss The Sigh 6. Cadaver Awake
The Timeless Zone. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
‘The Ice Coven’ is Max Seeck’s new novel. Photo: amazon
Max Seeck devotes his time to writing professionally. An avid reader of Nordic noir for personal pleasure, he listens to film scores as he writes. His accolades include the Finnish Whodunit Society’s Debut Thriller of the Year Award 2016. He is The New York Times’ bestselling author of “The Witch Hunter” and has a background in sales and marketing and loves to promote his works. Investigator Jessica Niemi is in a race against time to find the link between a body with strange markings that has washed up on a frigid shore in Finland and two baffling disappearances in his terrifying new novel “The Ice Coven.” It will be released on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. (amazon, 2021)
“The Ice Coven” – Six months have passed since Jessica’s encounter with the mysterious serial-killing coven of witches and the death of her mentor. Her nightmares about her mother and the witchcraft that undid her have only gotten worse, but she is doing what she can to stay focused. Her homicide squad, now under new leadership, has been given a murder case and a new series of disappearances to investigate. A young woman’s corpse has washed up on an icy beach, and two famous Instagram influencers have gone missing at the same time. The missing influencers and the murdered woman all have ties to a sinister cult. Jessica finds an eerie painting—of a lighthouse on a remote island—as she investigates, and under the picture is a gruesome poem detailing a murder. The nightmares about her mother suddenly seem all too real, making Jessica wonder if the dead woman might be trying to tell her something about the killings. And as Jessica works frantically to solve her latest case, her horrific past comes roaring back and threatens to destroy her.
SA Examiner 