Crone's Moon: A Rowan Gant Investigation (The Rowan Gant Investigations)

Rating:
Summary: Chills and the Macabre
Review: Rowan Gant is back, and this time it's a serial killer with a taste for the macabre.

M. R. Sellars presents us with the fifth mystery in this series and this one is as spooky as a mystery can get.

The focus this time is on the relationship between a witch and the subjects they can channel. There is a connection between Rowan and his wife Felicity and those poor victims of the serial killer. As they cry out to be rescued, Rowan and Felicity hear them, and are lead in a race against time and a chase to find the killer.

Character development continues with Lieutenant Barbara Albright, or "Bible Barb" as she has come to be known. We find her mind is still not changed regarding Rowan or Felicity. And we have the rest of the cast to fill out the balance of the story: Detective Ben Storm, his sister Helen Storm the psychiatrist and FBI Special Agent Constance Mandalay. The events take place again in the city of St. Louis. The victims this time are not witches, but that does not make any difference. These poor people are dying at the hands of a sadistic killer, and all of them share a linking element: they are missing their heads.

The interaction here is between Rowan and Felicity and their connections with the victims. We are lead inside the experiences of these two as they "channel" the victim. We view first hand what happens to these two as they experience the pain, the suffering and the hopelessness that each victim feels as they are tortured by their captor. This gives the book the spooky, eerie settings and feeling and makes this one a real spine tingler.

The Crone's Moon is that phase of the moon just before it goes to New Moon. We, as witches, associate this with the aspect of the Goddess as the old woman, or crone, the elder who is on in years. This book title deals with our image of the Goddess showing us that we are all mortal, we all die. This is explained in the book, but is not obvious from the onset. And it plays a part in how Mr. Sellars explains the different aspects of Rowan's beliefs as a witch.

This book also exaggerates some of the aspects of the Craft, taking artistic license to provide more atmosphere to the story. We all do not channel dead or dying people, especially at the level described in the book. Nor do we maintain constant connections to all our friends and families like suggested in the book. But some of us do have such talents to varying degrees. This is fiction, this is a scary story, and this is a mystery to be solved. Mr. Sellars uses this very effectively in his fictional story and makes the most of this practice to provide us with the needed thrills and chills.

The book is a real page turner with a well developed plot. The effects are carefully orchestrated to maximize the terror and engross the reader in the thrill of the chase.

Will the killer succeed in obtaining another victim? Will "Bible Barbara" successfully shut down the involvement of the "satanic witches" and allow another poor soul to suffer at the hands of a warped, deranged killer? Will Rowan, Felicity, Storm and Constance get there in time to prevent another killing?

Again, I am not giving away any story line. It is up to you to read and discover for yourself. If you have enjoyed the other stories in the Rowan Gant Investigations series, then you will totally enjoy this one. boudica

Rating:
Summary: Only the witches know the answer
Review: A serial killer and witches what else do you need to make a good read. Crone's Moon, a perfect name for a moon just before it turns full and the witches come out. This time it's not witches causing the trouble but a serial killer on the move. It's the witches helping find the killer. M.R. Sellars is at it again with the fifth mystery in the series and this book is a good one.
A husband and wife team use their skills to channel the victims cry for help. Time is running out as they hunt for the killer. Barbara Albright doesn't believe in the powers of witches and since she is a lieutenant in the police force she trys her own way to find the killer. Detective Ben Storm, his sister a psychiatrist and Constance Mandalay special agent for the FBI are also involved in the case. It seems the serial killer had a thing for killing witches but the tide has changed and in the city of St. Louis the killer strikes again and its not witches this time. There is one thing that ties them all together and that is a part of their body seems to be missing. While the husband and wife team channel there enegy to help find the killer they feel the pain of each person being killed.
A must read-Larry Hobson- Author- The Day Of The Rose

Rating:
Summary: It just keeps getting better!
Review: Crones Moon will keep readers hooked from page 1. Rowan is at it again- and this book takes some interesting twists and turns that will leave you at the edge of your seat, unable to put the book down. The characters keep developing and becoming more and more interesting (and, most of them, endearing) with each edition of the series. Sellars writes with amazing description that sucks you into the pages and leaves you surprised at the return to Real Life once the last page has been read. The only negative thing that I can say is that these books just can't come out *fast* enough! But they're MORE than worth the wait!

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable paranormal investigative tale
Review: Months have passed since witch Rowan Gant has worked police cases and he hopes that phase of his life is over, but on a subconscious level he knows his fate is to put the bad guys in jail using his psychic powers. His wife Felicity is also a witch but she grounds Rowan so that he never loses his connection to the world. His friend Detective Ben Storm believes in his powers but Lieutenant Barbara Albright, a right wing bible thumper, deems Rowan and Felicity are the Devil's tools.

When Rowan starts having seizures, he knows someone is being tortured and he is being called into the case by whoever is being killed. Rowan and Ben witness the kidnapping of the mayor's daughter and the mayor wants them on the case much to the chagrin of Albright. Felicity picks up the pain the woman is undergoing before she dies. Next Felicity's friend Kathy is captured and tortured; Felicity feels her pain and knows with her spouse and their police friend they must find serial killer although they risk becoming the next victims.

A Rowan Gant mystery is always a pleasure to read as the audience is taufgt that witches are benign people trying to do good deeds whenever they get a chance. The relationship between Rowan and Felicity is so romantic it is what legends are made of and his friendship with Storm shows that people of different religions can still be good friends. It takes respect for one another and an open mind as shown by Storm's trust in Rowan's powers. CRONE'S MOON is an exciting crime thriller with touches of the supernatural that add spice to a flavorful repast.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: four stars for the fifth book
Review: Rowan Gant wakes up to find that he's had a seizure. He's had these before and gets the sinking suspicion the malady has more to do with his practice as a witch than it does failing health. When Rowan and his best friend Detective Ben Storm witness the mayor's daughter being kidnapped and the headless corpse of a local school teacher is discovered, Rowan's suspicions become concrete. Once again, he is channeling the pain and torture of a serial killer's victims.

Felicity, Rowan's wife, and a strong witch in her own right, tries to protect Rowan with a binding spell. Unfortunately, the spell backfires, putting her on the receiving end of the victim's calls for help. With both witches being pulled into the ethereal world, they need the help of Detective Storm, his sister, psychiatrist Helen Storm, and old pal FBI special agent Mandalay in order to catch the killer before he strikes again.

M.R. Sellars's action packed paranormal suspense, CRONE'S MOON, is the fifth book in the Rowan Gant Investigation series. I've enjoyed each and everyone and highly recommend this book for those who like the genre.