When it comes to talented new recruits at the Federal Underworld Agency, Nora Jacobs is only half the story…

The Devil to Pay is the first book in Jackie May’s companion series to Nora Jacobs, set in the same urban fantasy Detroit, sharing several supporting characters (hello, Nick Gorgeous), but with a new main character, Shayne Davies. This series can be enjoyed on its own, but readers of the Nora Jacobs books will be more familiar with the world and its characters.

As a fox shifter, Shayne Davies gets no respect in an underworld run by the fearsome and powerful—werewolves and vampires, sorcerers, demons, and mythical faerie creatures. Even at home, Shayne is still treated like the brat of the pack. Her mom constantly nags; her intended (but unwanted) mate ensures plenty of awkward silences, and Shayne is even expected to act submissive to the pack’s future alpha…a six year old.

Yeah. Time for Plan B.

For fans of Stranger Things and the works of Neil Gaiman, Pawned is a Young Adult novel that blends dark fantasy adventure and noir — on the New Jersey boardwalk.

You can hock almost anything at my family’s pawn shop…even your own soul.

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's TTT is Books on My Fall TBR!

In a world where people die and come back as immortal mythical creatures (vampires, werewolves, zombies, gods etc.) the mortal Elmer Jones scratches out a living as a private investigator. An elf hires him for a case that starts out with a dumped husband stealing a wedding ring and escalates into a plot to exterminate the human race. With the aid of his vampire assistant Val, Elmer must recover the ring, decipher its meaning, and save the world. 

All in a day’s work for the Last Living Detective...

The last Living Detective in a comic homage to the noir works of Raymond Chandler and Mickey Spillane, only with more dead bodies and funnier jokes.

INFINITY IN DEATH

Vienna, 1908

Gabriele Ziegler is a young art student who becomes infatuated with charismatic archeologist Dr. Emeryk Quintillus. Only too late does she realize his true designs on her. He is obsessed with resurrecting Cleopatra and has retained the famed artist Gustav Klimt to render Gabriele as the Queen of the Nile, using ashes from Cleopatra’s mummy mixed with the paint. The result is a lifelike portrait emitting an aura of unholy evil . . .

Vienna, 2018

The Mortimer family has moved into Quintillus’s former home, Villa Dürnstein. In its basement they find an original Klimt masterpiece—a portrait of Cleopatra art scholars never knew existed. But that’s not all that resides within the villa’s vault. Nine-year-old Heidi Mortimer tells her parents that a strange man lives there.

 
Quintillus’s desire to be with Cleopatra transcends death. His spirit will not rest until he has brought her back from the netherworld. Even if he has to sacrifice the soul of a child . . .

Catherine Cavendish does it again with an eerie tale in Damned By the Ancients.

The Mortimer family has moved into a new home in Vienna, closer to Ryan’s new job. Very quickly, they realize that things aren’t what they seem. There is a padlock on the basement door and they are told by the owners that no one is allowed down there. Their daughter Heidi very quickly imparts some very disturbing information about their new home.

Mum. Dad. There’s a man in the basement.

While her parents are quick to deny her statement as part of her active imagination, her mother Yvonne starts experiencing strange happenings herself. 

The rapping was coming from behind the locked basement door.

And then there’s the stray cat, who seems to commune with Heidi. Is the voice her parents hear that of Heidi, or of something more sinister?

These things however are only the beginning for the Mortimer family and Heidi. When they decide to find out for themselves what lies beyond the basement door, they will set into motion events that cannot be stopped. Dr. Quentillas’ obsession with Cleopatra is not halted even by death and he will do whatever it takes to have his true love brought back to him.

Cavendish has managed to write, not only a paranormal story that will raise the hairs on your arms, but one that is rich with Egyptian mythology.  During the very first chapter the tension is ratcheted up, leaving the reader on the edge of their seats. She then crafts an elaborate plot spanning from Vienna 1908 to present day. Everything falls into place as the mystery is unraveled and the secrets are revealed. Damned By the Ancients proves once again that Catherine Cavendish weaves creepy tales with believable characters in an atmospheric melding of history and horror.  

Get your copy here:

About the Author

Hello, my name's Catherine Cavendish and I write horror fiction - frequently with ghostly, supernatural, gothic and haunted house themes.

My novellas COLD REVENGE, MISS ABIGAIL'S ROOM, THE DEMONS OF CAMBIAN STREET, THE DEVIL INSIDE HER and THE SECOND WIFE have now been released in new editions by Crossroad Press.

Also out now- from Kensington-Lyrical - the second in a trilogy - WAKING THE ANCIENTS - set in Egypt and Vienna and featuring the sinister Dr. Emeryk Quintillus whose obsession has stayed with him past the grave. The first in the trilogy - WRATH OF THE ANCIENTS - is already available and the third - DAMNED BY THE ANCIENTS - is available for pre-order (out in October).

My novels THE DEVIL'S SERENADE and SAVING GRACE DEVINE have also been released in new editions by Crossroad Press, as have my novel of the Lancashire Witches - THE PENDLE CURSE - and my novellas, LINDEN MANOR and DARK AVENGING ANGEL.

I live with a long-suffering husband and a delightful black cat who has never forgotten that her species used to be worshipped in ancient Egypt. She sees no reason why that practice should not continue.

Our home is in a rambling building dating back to the mid 18th century, haunted by a friendly ghost, who announces her presence by footsteps, switching lights on and strange phenomena involving the washing machine and the TV.

When not slaving over a hot computer, I enjoy wandering around Neolithic stone circles and visiting old haunted houses.

You can find me on my blog: www.catherinecavendish.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatherineCav...
and on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cat_Cavendish