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CUSP OF NIGHT
Hode’s Hill
#1
#1
by
Mae Clair
Mae Clair
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Pub
Date: 6/12/2018
Date: 6/12/2018
The truth hides in dark places…
Recently settled in Hode’s Hill,
Pennsylvania, Maya Sinclair is enthralled by the town’s folklore,
especially the legend about a centuries-old monster. A devil-like
creature with uncanny abilities responsible for several horrific
murders, the Fiend has evolved into the stuff of urban myth. But thepast lives again when Maya witnesses an assault during the annual
“Fiend Fest.” The victim is developer Leland Hode, patriarch of
the town’s most powerful family, and he was attacked by someone
dressed like the Fiend.
Pennsylvania, Maya Sinclair is enthralled by the town’s folklore,
especially the legend about a centuries-old monster. A devil-like
creature with uncanny abilities responsible for several horrific
murders, the Fiend has evolved into the stuff of urban myth. But thepast lives again when Maya witnesses an assault during the annual
“Fiend Fest.” The victim is developer Leland Hode, patriarch of
the town’s most powerful family, and he was attacked by someone
dressed like the Fiend.
Compelled to discover who is behind the
attack and why, Maya uncovers a shortlist of enemies of the Hode
clan. The mystery deepens when she finds the journal of a late
nineteenth-century spiritualist who once lived in Maya’s house—a
woman whose ghost may still linger. Known as the Blue Lady of Hode’s
Hill due to a genetic condition, Lucinda Glass vanished without a
trace and was believed to be one of the Fiend’s tragic victims. The
disappearance of a young couple, combined with more sightings of the
monster, trigger Maya to join forces with Leland’s son Collin. But
the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she comes to a hidden
world of twisted secrets, insanity, and evil that refuses to die…
attack and why, Maya uncovers a shortlist of enemies of the Hode
clan. The mystery deepens when she finds the journal of a late
nineteenth-century spiritualist who once lived in Maya’s house—a
woman whose ghost may still linger. Known as the Blue Lady of Hode’s
Hill due to a genetic condition, Lucinda Glass vanished without a
trace and was believed to be one of the Fiend’s tragic victims. The
disappearance of a young couple, combined with more sightings of the
monster, trigger Maya to join forces with Leland’s son Collin. But
the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she comes to a hidden
world of twisted secrets, insanity, and evil that refuses to die…
Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s
Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her
father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create
make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer
nights beneath the stars.
Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her
father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create
make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer
nights beneath the stars.
Mae loves creating character-driven
fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever
her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, romance and
elements of mystery. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives
in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a
good Maine lobster tail and cats.
fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever
her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, romance and
elements of mystery. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives
in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a
good Maine lobster tail and cats.
Within moments, Charlotte was outside in the dismal weather. The drizzle had steadied into a light rain,
pattering in a ceaseless rhythm against the cobblestones. The gas lamp on the corner was barely visible
through the thickening fog. It would be a rough ride back in the carriage, bordering on miserable, now that
she’d lost the opportunity to communicate with her deceased mother and share the news of Reginald’s birth.
Drawing the collar of her cloak about her throat, Charlotte hurried down Chicory toward the alley. How far to
the carriage? The fog played tricks with the
distance, shapes materializing from the mist with an abruptness that made her regret not taking the lamp
Frederick offered. When a cat shot out in front of her, she gasped.
“Silly animal.” Pressing a hand to her heart, she breathed deeply.
The feline darted across the alley, vanishing into the mist. Were those footsteps behind her?
She glanced over her shoulder, but it was impossible to see more than a few feet. Rain trickled from the edge
of the umbrella and splattered onto her gloves. Quickening her pace, she scurried forward. She’d only
managed a few steps when the footsteps echoed again.
Once more she looked over her shoulder. “Frederick.” Perhaps he’d left the carriage in search of her when the
rain grew heavier. “Frederick?”
The footsteps quickened, lengthening into a fleet run. Hair prickled on the back of her neck. She hesitated,
torn between fleeing and needing to see who followed. Within seconds, a painted face bobbed in front of her
from the fog. The macabre mask hung disembodied, a leering devil with ice white eyes and cadaverous grin.
The Fiend! Dear God, the monster was real.
Charlotte screamed and tried to run, her long skirts twisting about her ankles. Stumbling, she dropped her
umbrella. “Frederick!” Her frightened cry echoed through the night, swallowed by the fog. “Oh, Frederick,
please help!”
Fingers fisted on the back of her cloak and yanked hard, wheeling her around and tugging, until she was
pressed up against the hard body of the Fiend. Trapped mere inches from that demonic face and hateful
gaze, she swooned. Her vision spun into a funnel curtained with fog and rain as if the night had blindfolded
her. A stinging flare of heat ripped across her stomach, chased by something sticky and damp. She tried to
find her breath and wheezed out a faint bubble. “Oh!”
Pain ruptured upward from her navel. Fire seared her voice and left her choking soundlessly on cold air. Her
knees buckled. The Fiend released her, and she wilted to the cobblestones, conscious of a dark stain
spreading beneath her.
Blood.
The stench of hot metal and damp wool clotted her nostrils. She choked on tears, overcome by the realization
she would never cradle her baby again or see the husband who had given her such a precious gift. A foolish
woman, she’d paid for her folly. Why hadn’t she heeded Henry and stayed safe at home? Blood plastered her
bodice to her skin, sticky heat against the rain. She folded to the side—down to the damp press of
cobblestones
against her cheek, the thick gathering silt of the dead.
The Fiend stepped closer. Hunkered down near her head.
Charlotte forced herself to grip the hand that clutched the bloody knife. Twisting her neck, she stared up into
the awful leering face. “Why? Please…tell me why.”
The slice of the blade across her throat paid her passage to Summerland.
pattering in a ceaseless rhythm against the cobblestones. The gas lamp on the corner was barely visible
through the thickening fog. It would be a rough ride back in the carriage, bordering on miserable, now that
she’d lost the opportunity to communicate with her deceased mother and share the news of Reginald’s birth.
Drawing the collar of her cloak about her throat, Charlotte hurried down Chicory toward the alley. How far to
the carriage? The fog played tricks with the
distance, shapes materializing from the mist with an abruptness that made her regret not taking the lamp
Frederick offered. When a cat shot out in front of her, she gasped.
“Silly animal.” Pressing a hand to her heart, she breathed deeply.
The feline darted across the alley, vanishing into the mist. Were those footsteps behind her?
She glanced over her shoulder, but it was impossible to see more than a few feet. Rain trickled from the edge
of the umbrella and splattered onto her gloves. Quickening her pace, she scurried forward. She’d only
managed a few steps when the footsteps echoed again.
Once more she looked over her shoulder. “Frederick.” Perhaps he’d left the carriage in search of her when the
rain grew heavier. “Frederick?”
The footsteps quickened, lengthening into a fleet run. Hair prickled on the back of her neck. She hesitated,
torn between fleeing and needing to see who followed. Within seconds, a painted face bobbed in front of her
from the fog. The macabre mask hung disembodied, a leering devil with ice white eyes and cadaverous grin.
The Fiend! Dear God, the monster was real.
Charlotte screamed and tried to run, her long skirts twisting about her ankles. Stumbling, she dropped her
umbrella. “Frederick!” Her frightened cry echoed through the night, swallowed by the fog. “Oh, Frederick,
please help!”
Fingers fisted on the back of her cloak and yanked hard, wheeling her around and tugging, until she was
pressed up against the hard body of the Fiend. Trapped mere inches from that demonic face and hateful
gaze, she swooned. Her vision spun into a funnel curtained with fog and rain as if the night had blindfolded
her. A stinging flare of heat ripped across her stomach, chased by something sticky and damp. She tried to
find her breath and wheezed out a faint bubble. “Oh!”
Pain ruptured upward from her navel. Fire seared her voice and left her choking soundlessly on cold air. Her
knees buckled. The Fiend released her, and she wilted to the cobblestones, conscious of a dark stain
spreading beneath her.
Blood.
The stench of hot metal and damp wool clotted her nostrils. She choked on tears, overcome by the realization
she would never cradle her baby again or see the husband who had given her such a precious gift. A foolish
woman, she’d paid for her folly. Why hadn’t she heeded Henry and stayed safe at home? Blood plastered her
bodice to her skin, sticky heat against the rain. She folded to the side—down to the damp press of
cobblestones
against her cheek, the thick gathering silt of the dead.
The Fiend stepped closer. Hunkered down near her head.
Charlotte forced herself to grip the hand that clutched the bloody knife. Twisting her neck, she stared up into
the awful leering face. “Why? Please…tell me why.”
The slice of the blade across her throat paid her passage to Summerland.
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I really like the cover and enjoy reading mystery books. This one sounds really good!
I like the cover.
Sounds great, I like the cover, so mysterious.
Interesting cover.
The cover is very dark and brooding. I like the cover. The book looks like a good read
The book cover looks like a backstreet of Gotham City. Looks great!
looks like a good read
The book sounds very interesting. I love the cover very much.
The cover puts me in mind of an ominous type situation. City and smog and darkness… I am thinking suspense.
It looks very intriguing!
I like the cover because it gives the book a sinister feel of danger in the night. I have no questions for the author.
I like the cover.
It sounds like an interesting read.
The cover grabs my attention.
I love it!!! Mysteries of the night