TBR : To Be Read
72 stories
The Painted Altar by bigimp
bigimp
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WATTYS WINNER 2020 Two interconnected murders, 64 years apart. One woman's search for truth and identity. Readers' comments: 'a masterpiece', 'impeccably written', 'amazing', 'superbly crafted page-turner', 'hauntingly beautiful', 'tremendous plot and character development', 'one of a kind', 'fantastic story telling', 'loved this book', 'a wonderful read", 'absolutely beautiful', 'brought tears to my eyes' and many more Wattys judging panel: 'This is VERY good. We were HOOKED from the beginning, and the writing and plot hold up throughout. This is a very unique, polished, well-written and well-researched piece.' Plot Set partly in rural England, partly on the sun-kissed coast of southerm Italy, The Painted Altar is a murder mystery mixed with romantic and historical elements (World War Two). Given away at two days old, Mary Rice has spent her life in the shadows. When discovering the suspicious circumstances surrounding her biological mother's death, she embarks on a journey which will shine a light not only on the truth but also on her own identity. Brief extract Suddenly, the door had inched open, half a wrinkled face visible behind the tautened chain. "Hello. Who is it?" The words I was going to say had of course been well-rehearsed, repeated over and over in my mind like a mantra, but now that the moment had arrived I found myself struggling to remember them. "Mrs Harvey... I think that you might... well, that you might be..." The door closed, then slowly opened once more, the chain this time unlatched. And there she was before me - half a metre away, within arm's reach. Thin lips gradually crooking upwards at each corner like the slow beatific kindling of a summer's dawn. "Oh yes love, I know who you are." Length: 70,000 words About the author: Originally from England but for the last 16 years I've been living in Italy. I hope therefore that the Italian aspects of the novel will have a certain gloss of authenticity.
Consensus: Part 1 - Citizen by JasonTesar
JasonTesar
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In a society where morals are determined by a public opinion system, and social rating is the currency, truth can be a dangerous notion. Sixteen-year-old Rena has few memories of her childhood before adoption. The voice of the man who raised her. A forest teeming with wildlife. Mountains reaching up to a blue sky. The problem-they're not real. Such things don't exist in Esh, a self-governed metropolis shielded from the harsh environment by a transparent canopy. And beyond the city lie only the Barrens, an endless wasteland of fog and freezing rain. When Rena's violent instincts save the lives of her friends, her delusional past begins disrupting her prospects for the future. To find the source of her impulses, she'll have to sort through the fragments in her mind. What awaits is a connection between her true identity, the city's forgotten history, and the secret war being waged beneath the surface of her polite society.
In Saving the Imperfect by K_M_Braily
K_M_Braily
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A bastard, an alcoholic and a murderer - all have committed an equivalent crime. *** Layne Marks has always been a failure in the eyes of his family. The black sheep in the shadow of his more successful brother. At twenty-six, he still can't keep a stable job nor accommodation. Just another average person anywhere else in the world - but not in Eumain. In Eumain, there is no place left for imperfection. Here, a homeless person and a bank robber will both receive the same punishment - they will be declared as Rejects and taken away, never to be seen again. The citizens can only guess what will happen to them. One widespread rumour has it, that the Rejects are exiled into a remote, long-abandoned land, not fit for anything else - just like themselves. There, all the criminals of different degrees, have to depend on each other in order to survive in this harsh and dangerous place, infested with never before seen beasts. Layne Marks has always been reminded that it was only a matter of time before he would cross the line of what was seen as not perfect enough to live in Eumain.
The Key to Anchor Lake ✓ by lydiahephzibah
lydiahephzibah
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DOUBLE WATTY AWARD WINNER - mystery/thriller AND biggest twist! After her mother's death, Blaire Bloxham moves in with an aunt she never knew she had, and discovers the dark history of her new town. Armed with a mysterious book and a podcast with an enchanting narrator, Blaire's determined to crack the key to Anchor Lake - before it's too late.
Someone's In My Head (WATTYS AWARD WINNER 2015) by StevenSteel
StevenSteel
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BOOK ONE OF THE WICKERNHAM TRILOGY - WATTYS AWARD WINNER - - #1 IN SCIENCE FICTION - After a close brush with death, Jarod ends up in a hospital, traumatized but alive. He thinks he is lucky to get off with minor injuries, but he soon realizes that something is wrong when he starts behaving abnormally. Eventually, Jarod finds out the truth behind his erratic behavior―that there is someone in his head. From that point on, he is launched into a series of fast-paced and gripping adventures as he tries to find out the identity of the person in his head. But, as he digs deeper, Jarod uncovers more and more shocking truths that has been buried for decades, and is faced with deceptions so devious that they almost cost him his life at several points. Will he defy the odds and find the answers he so desperately seeks? Click the "Read" button to find out! NOW AVAILABLE IN EBOOK FORMAT ON AMAZON.COM PURCHASE A COPY (it's only $0.99) AT: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015898UUE OR READ IT FOR FREE WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED "Someone's In My Head" is the first book in The Wickernham Trilogy. Feel free to read, vote, and if you loved it (or hated it), please comment what you think of the story below! You can also watch the video trailer for this book at: https://youtu.be/9s2bor7qRQE Thank you! Cheers! :) #teamSIMH Highest rank for Someone's In My Head: #1 in Science Fiction
What Lies Beneath by Loutka
Loutka
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[Book 1 to the Lake Bellinor Duology] [UNEDITED] It can't be controlled. And it can't be ignored. Those were the two most important things Tyler Loftman came to understand the more he discovered about his strange ability; an ability that allows him to see into a dead person's past with just one touch. Nothing more, nothing less. So, when a nameless young woman is found drifting down the middle of the lake, Tyler realizes he just might have a chance to put his ability to the test, and figure out whether it is a gift or a curse. But he soon realizes that won't be easy. All of the locals in the small town of Lake Bellinor know how to keep a secret; and when push comes to shove, the blame game begins.
The Intrusion by AmyMarieZ
AmyMarieZ
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Are we really alone when we dream? From her apartment in downtown Vancouver, Jordan can see everything. But one evening, she observes a man in the apartment across the street and becomes convinced he is watching her. That night, she experiences a bizarre wakeful-dream in which a dark shadow figure enters her room and stands over her bed. She finally calms herself down by convincing herself it was just an episode of sleep paralysis. But there might be more to it than just that. The man she observed across the street is having similar dreams, but in those dreams, he isn't the one paralyzed in the bed...
The Invisible Hand - A crime novel by BenSobieck
BenSobieck
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A corrupt sheriff hires a ruthless vigilante to hunt down a murderer during the modern day North Dakota oil boom in this crime thriller full of unexpected twists and turns.
Sarah Benadine is Dead by thekitchensinktoo
thekitchensinktoo
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The year is 1955, and the death of beloved high school junior Sarah Benadine has left the town of Clearwater, Wisconsin reeling. It seems everyone in town has their own suspicions on what happened to the girl. But when Sarah's eleven-year-old neighbor, Shannon, is attacked by an unknown creature in the night, it becomes evident that things are not quite what they seem. Shannon is invited to attend the prestigious school on the outskirts of town and is suddenly swept into a whole new world she is only beginning to understand. As more bad things begin to plague the town of Clearwater, the question everyone wants answered is: What really happened to Sarah Benadine? ***The Fall of Clearwater Book One*** ***Cover by the wonderful @olga_godim***
To Be A Runner by GravityWillFall01
GravityWillFall01
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Highest ranking: #104 in Mystery/Thriller Placed 1st in 'Most Engaging' category of the Sour Apple Awards Placed 1st in Mystery/Thriller category of the Gem Awards Placed 2nd in 'Best of the Best' category of the Amethyst Awards Placed 3rd in Mystery/Thriller category of The Dreamcatcher Awards Also has stickers for winning first in other awards. A secret unknown mission, a shot down helicopter, a guilt-ridden heart, and no name. Yep, that sounds just about right. I came to Abel Township for one reason only, but after the unfortunate event of my helicopter being shot down by a rocket launcher of all things, I'm apparently going to be staying here a lot longer than planned. Because of it, I'm going to have to play nice in order to survive, which is a lot harder than it seems. Everyone carries a burden with them, me included. I'm a runner, and until I leave this pathetic little settlement I'm going to do my job, and run. But one of the things I'm learning it that nothing is ever as it seems. Each piece of the puzzle brings another question, another addition to the story shrouded in mystery and dripping with sinister intent. Maybe this settlement is as pathetic as I thought it was. Maybe my helicopter was shot down for a reason. I cannot wait around for an answer. I learned that long ago. Now deemed Runner Five, I have decided I will do what I have to do to find out every mystery here in Abel Township. And I'm going to start with my actual mission. What is Project Greenshoot... And how will it help this settlement survive the zombie apocalypse? Disclaimer: I do not own Zombies Run or it's characters. The only characters I own are the ones I created all by myself. This is my Runner Five's perspective on the missions in season 1 and just in Abel Township. Hope you enjoy. Cover by @_Thalix_