Marcia Meara, author of the popular Wake-Robin Ridge books, sets her second series in the sleepy little town of Riverbend, Florida, where the hungry creatures swimming in the dark waters of the St. Johns River aren’t nearly as dangerous as those walking along the quiet neighborhood streets.
Wildlife photographer Gunnar Wolfe looked like the kind of guy every man wanted to be and every woman just plain wanted, and the St. Johns River of central Florida drew him like a magnet. EcoTour boat owner Maggie Devlin knew all the river’s secrets, including the deadliest ones found in the swamps. But neither Maggie nor Gunn was prepared for the danger that would come after them on two legs.
On a quest to make history photographing the rarest birds of them all, Gunnar hires the fiery, no-nonsense Maggie to canoe him into the most remote wetland areas in the state. He was unprepared for how much he would enjoy both the trips and Maggie’s company. He soon realizes he wants more than she’s able to give, but before he can win her over, they make a grisly discovery that changes everything, and turns the quiet little town of Riverbend upside down. A serial killer is on the prowl among them.
About the Author
Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years, four big cats, and two small dachshunds. When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. At the age of five, Marcia declared she wanted to be an author, and is ecstatic that at age 69, she finally began pursuing that dream. Three years later, she’s still going strong, and plans to keep on writing until she falls face down on the keyboard, which she figures would be a pretty good way to go! Marcia has published six books to date, all of which are available on Amazon in both print and Kindle format: Wake-Robin Ridge A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2 Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3 Swamp Ghosts: A Riverbend Novel Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2 Summer Magic: Poems of Life & Love You can reach Marcia via email at mmeara@cfl.rr.com or on the following social media sites: The Write Stuff: http://marciamearawrites.com/ Bookin’ It: http://marciameara.wordpress.com Twitter: @marciameara Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marcia.meara.writer Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marciameara/ To keep up with the latest news and giveaways, sign up for Marcia’s Mail List here: https://marciamearawrites.com/mail-list-win-free-stuff/
Excerpt from Swamp Ghosts
The stream, clear and wide at first, rapidly became darker, and then narrow, as it disappeared into the trees. Lined on both sides with ferns and crinum lilies, it curved along its crooked way for three miles, before connecting with a slightly larger stream. That stream connected to another stream, larger still. This progression went on, each stream getting wider, before the last emptied into the St. John’s River. Even that last one was navigable only by canoe, the rest being too shallow and overgrown for anyone to explore. It was highly unlikely, if not downright impossible, that anyone could ever find their way upstream this far.
As Whitey walked along the narrow, shady path, he knew he was well protected from both the burning rays of the late-day sun and the prying eyes of strangers, which suited him just fine. No one will ever find out what’s back here. My treasures will always be safe, and my secrets, my own. He could hear the burble of the water rushing up out of the ground, and a smile spread across his face. Whitey loved his home and property, loved his snakes, and most of all—more than almost anything in the world—he loved Big Blue. He rounded the last curve of the narrow path, and a concrete block building came into view. Squat and low, it was painted a drab olive color to blend with its wooded surroundings. There were no windows on the back side. Just a door, heavily padlocked. He walked around the area for a moment, inspecting his handiwork, and making sure everything was still secure. He was, as always, a careful man…
Our Review
I have long been a fan of this author’s writing, especially the Riverbend series.
So it came as a shock to discover I had missed Swamp Ghosts, the very first book in this series.
I expected another gentle mystery laced with suspense. I also found romance, a serial killer, and enough suspense to keep me awake at night!
I loved some of the characters, including the wildlife, which I won’t describe, as you need to meet them for yourself.
There are ghosts in this story. I loved meeting Lester Purvis and his rare and unusual creatures. A very special man with an extraordinary hobby…
I recommend this series; every incredible story will stay in your heart forever…
