“Cape May: the country’s most haunted seaport.”
Book Blurb:
No matter how far you run, you can never really escape a haunted past.
Darrell Henshaw—teacher, coach, and paranormal sensitive—learned this lesson the hard way. Now, with his job gone and few options, he heads for Cape May to coach a summer football camp. The resort town, with gorgeous beaches, rich history and famous Victorian mansions, might just be the getaway he needs. Only, no one told him Cape May is the most haunted seaport on the East Coast.
When a resident ghost, the Haunted Bride, stalks Darrell, begging for his help, he can’t refuse, and joins forces with Cassie, another sensitive. As Darrell and the street-wise teen investigate the bride’s death, they uncover something far more sinister than a murder. Can Darrell and Cassie expose those behind the crimes before they end up becoming the next victims?
My Review:
When I participated in a blog blitz for the author’s book titled Blood on the Chesapeake, I was intrigued by the premise. Something about ghost stories pulls me in and I wasn’t disappointed with this—his second in the series. I suppose you might begin with Book 1 as it would explain about Darrell’s history—but I read this as a standlone and had no problem catching on pretty quickly that this was an unusual educator.
Darrell Henshaw is first a history teacher, and coach, and then a paranormal sensitive. He’s been asked to assist the coach at a summer football camp in Cape May. Oh my goodness…a quarter of the way into the book I was looking at pictures of the beautiful beach resort community and wondering how quickly I could make the trip to the East Coast. Sooo atmospheric. (I’m a big fan of the coast anyway—the Pacific though.) However, Cape May, with it’s history, Victorian Mansions, and no end of ghostly stories catches up to Darrell in a hurry. And the Haunted Bride is a douzy.
Darrell is an interesting protagonist. He has his foibles—for one, he’s OCD—and he’d lost his job back in Wilshire when he backed off defending himself in order that two of his player’s would keep their scholarships. So he grabbed this opportunity, leaving behind the bewildering state of affairs connected with his frame up and his sweetie, Erin, although she’ll soon join him.
It doesn’t take long before he sees a ghost—and she is very persistent. Then he meets Cassie. Cassie believes he might have the same powers of perception as she. And she’s seen the same persistent ghost. The Haunted Bride has found her conduits, unwitting and unwilling as though they may be, but she won’t let up.
Darrell is a personality I’d have a problem with in real life. He doesn’t scream romantic partner to me, but he can be endearing, sincere, and just as persistent. He must or he’ll just keep getting that ghost, cropping up where he least expects.
Erin is patient, understanding, kind, and still a bit skeptical of his visions, but is beginning to show interest—actually encouraging. She is feminine and motherly and seems to instantly know how to calm Cassie—pursue her visions. Cassie is a Goth, would be homeless except for the crib she’s sharing with a guy in exchange for favors. And she has contacts. They know where to get the good stuff and they share. The nervous interest in her character goes from cautious to compassion.
The well-plotted storyline keeps a steady pace through two-thirds of the book and then gradually ups the ante, adds tension, grit, drops more pieces of the puzzle then explodes. When the dust settles, all is right with the world. The main characters will go on to Book 3 and I’ll be looking for them there.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and these are my honest, unbiased thoughts. NB: CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY recently won its first national award, the Gold Award from Literary Titan.
Book Details:
Genre: Ghost Fiction, Ghost Mysteries, Mysteries
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Inc
- ASIN : B089P2PG1B
Print Length: 308 pages
Publication Date: July 20, 2020
Source: Direct Author Request
Title Link(s):
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Rosepoint Publishing: Four of Five Stars 
The Author: Dr. Randy Overbeck is a veteran educator who has served children as a teacher, a college professor and school leader. During his more than three decades of experience, his responsibilities have ranged from senior prom advisor to superintendent and he has lived the roles of many of the characters in his fiction. A tireless advocate for literacy instruction, Dr. Overbeck has won state and national awards for his work and has also served on numerous state and national educational boards.
An accomplished writer for more than two decades, he has been published in trade journals, professional texts and newspapers. His first novel, LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND, published by Heroic Teacher Press, is a thriller about a terrorist takeover of a high school and the teacher who defeats the terrorists. The work earned rave reviews and was named the 2011 Silver Award for Thriller of the Year from ReadersFavorite.com. His newest work, BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE, released in 2019, has also garnered five-star reviews and won a national award, the Gold Award from Literary Titan.
When he is not writing, Dr. Overbeck is often in demand as a speaker to groups, large and small. His speaking experiences run the gamut from delivering a keynote at a national conference to a participant in a federal policy debate on education. During the past several years, he has shared his tribute, “Teachers–the Real American Heroes” with more than 150 clubs and organizations, introducing audiences across the country to his first novel, LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND. Currently, Dr. Overbeck is sharing his newest presentation, “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” a fun and intriguing talk about the role of ghosts in our culture, and introducing audiences to his ghost story/mystery, BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE.
A member of the Mystery Writers of America, he is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Midwest Writers’ Workshop and Killer Nashville.
Dr. Overbeck is married to Cathy, his wife and partner for more than 40 years, and they have three grown children–settled in three different states across the country–as well as seven grandchildren, whom he loves to spoil. For him, time not devoted to writing and speaking is spent traveling to visit family and other favorite spots around the US.
©2020 V Williams 
The only quibble I had was the continuous use of places existing during WWII with no map or way to identify the locality. I suggest that anyone with a desire to learn history and feel the pain of war on the civilian population read this book. It is emotive and you will not be disappointed. Thanks to Chiara from Kazabo Publishing for my complementary copy. These are my honest and unbiased opinions. 4.5 stars – CE Williams
The juxtaposition of the two celloists is not lost but is the spice that pulls the story together. Remember this is a “Prequal” and is only an appetizer to the complete novel. Yes, I admit to being hooked. I would like to read the whole story and see how the connection is completed between the two family members!
Rosepoint Publishing 