Genres: Adult, Mystery, Paranormal
Shadow of the Moon
Kwen D. Griffeth
Publication date: September 25th 2017
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Paranormal
The grisly murder of a diplomat’s son in Central Park draw NYPD Detective Gerald Meeker and FBI Special Agent Andee Trakes into a twisted and confusing investigation. Within hours, the evidence indicates the man was executed in the manner saved for werewolves. Andee Trakes is assigned to liaison with a history professor, who is an expert on folklore and legends.
Professor Alwyn Lloyd, handsome, articulate and successful, not only agrees the method of death was indeed an execution, he claims to be a werewolf. Andee is torn between the desire to date the man and the suspicion to arrest him.
From the initial killing in the park, a bloody spree is ignited that soon has Andee and Lloyd forced to work together to protect themselves and family members.
Shadow of the Moon explores the world of werewolves and paints a picture of what is good about them, as well as bad. The story explains what is beautiful as well as ugly about the wolf.
The story is fast paced and full of interesting characters and several twists and turns to keep both the fantasy as well as the suspense and romance enthusiasts entertained.
Excerpt
“It’s nothing,” Miranda giggled, “Don’t worry about your dog. There’s nothing wrong with him.”
The agent frowned, “How do you know? You’re not a vet.”
“No, I’m not, but trust me, I know. There is nothing wrong with your dog.”
Andee’s expression became dark. Her sense of humor faded.
“Tell me what is going on. Right now.”
Miranda shrugged, “I told him not to do it, but what do I know? I told him you wouldn’t understand, but he went ahead and did it anyway.”
“Did what?”
“He was trying to protect you.”
“What did he do?”
“He marked the entrances to your building. At least, when you’re in here, you can sleep and not worry about a break-in.”
“What does that mean? He marked my entrances? Do you mean the doors to my apartment?”
“Only the outside doors. He didn’t come inside the building. He rang the buzzer and when you didn’t answer, he left his mark.”
“He left his mark?” Andee’s eyes narrowed, “Left his mark…? Are you telling me Alwyn peed, ah, urinated on my front porch?”
Miranda shrugged, “I told him you wouldn’t understand.”
“Is that what you are saying?”
Miranda sighed.
“And your back porch too.”
“What?”
“It wouldn’t do any good to just protect the front door, now would it?”
The snide remark lit the fuse of Andee’s anger.
“I have never met a family as overbearing as yours. You think you can move into a person’s life and just take over. When I ask questions, I’m told nonsense like, ‘oh, he’s an alpha,’ or other such rot. I’m tired of the bunch of you. I had a life before I met you. Now I’m making oaths, kissing necks and learning secret handshakes. I had a friend. That friend is dead. Jerry was more than a friend; he was like an uncle. I’m tired of the bunch of you. I’m tired of you telling me to date him, him acting like I’m not good enough, and I’m tired of the old woman telling me to stay away from him. I’m done, you hear me? And when you see your uncle, tell him not to call me, not to come see me, and most important, tell him to stay the hell off of my stoop.”
Tears of anger brimmed in Miranda’s green eyes, and she blinked them back. She and everyone she loved had been insulted. She stood tall, and unlike the agent, controlled her breathing and therefore her voice. She had learned much watching her Aunt Gennie, and now that training paid off.
“I thought you were different than most of your kind. I thought you were strong, and I thought you would be worthy of my uncle. I was wrong. Both he and my aunt recognized your weakness. I did not.”
She stopped and studied Trakes, who said nothing. Then, she continued.
“You are petty, foolish and bigoted. There are things, many things, of which you know nothing. You, like most of your kind, choose to walk through life and close your eyes. You will miss much that is good and beautiful, and never even know it. I feel sorry for you, Agent Trakes.”
Miranda turned away from Trakes and stepped to the doorway. Her hands shook as she opened the door. Without a backward glance, she walked through and closed it behind her.
The wolf watched the redhead exit the building and descend the steps of the stoop. She was beyond pretty. She was ripe. The lust to possess her rose in him. He smiled when she turned and headed toward an alley. While the woman had been in the building, he had searched the area and found her car. Found it by her scent. It was an intoxicating odor, and he knew he had to have her. Have her in as many ways as he chose.
Miranda continued to silently lecture the agent as she stormed to her car. She had such high hopes for Alwyn and the woman. Alwyn was lonely and passed the age when he should have found a mate. Alwyn, always taking things to extreme, had to find the perfect woman, just like his whole mantra about not eating greens.
“What a jerk you are,” she mumbled to herself. “What a fool.”
People she passed on the street noticed her, partly due to her beauty and partly due to her strange behavior.
“Why must you continue to buy into all the nonsense your mother feeds you? Most Unums gave up the monk’s life generations ago. Why not Alwyn? Oh, no, you have to please your mother. Andee was a beautiful woman who adored you, and you messed it up.”
She stopped and looked back the way she had come as if trying to see the agent. She shook her head and continued on her way.
“And you, Andee, what kind of fool are you? Can’t you see how special Alwyn is?”
She turned into the alley, and her nose caught a strange odor. An odor out of place in the city. It was a woodsy scent with the promise of nature, wild game and room to run. It didn’t belong. She stopped at the door to her car. She didn’t see the man behind her. She sensed the danger much too late.
“Hello, pretty lady,” the wolf said.
Author Bio:
Winner of Readers’ Favorite Silver Award for Historical Fiction/Western, Kwen knew he wanted to be a writer when he was fourteen years old. He felt the urge when he finished Earnest Hemingway’s masterpiece For Whom The Bell Tolls. The story touched him in a way no other book ever had. It transported a kid born and raised on a farm and ranch in Idaho to the mountains of Spain. It took him back in time forty years to witness the Spanish Civil War. Kwen knew he wanted to share that wonder with other people.
John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you make other plans.” While Kwen lived a full and varied life, his dream of writing remained in the back of his mind.
Finally, in 2012, he wrote a novella named Dear Emma. He self-published through Amazon and asked people to read it. “The best way to see if I can write is to let people check it out,” he said. Like it, they did. Currently, Dear Emma enjoys a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon.
Often asked what genre he writes, Kwen replies he writes stories about people and uses the genre that best fits the story. “I think of the genre, or setting as another character that interacts to help tell the story,” he says.
His most often received and constant comment is how real his characters seem. Upon the completion of his historical fiction trilogy Sam and Laura books, a reader telephoned Kwen and directed him to write more stories about the couple. When asked why the reader was so adamant about more stories, he replied he “wasn’t ready to tell Sam and Laura good bye yet.”
Kwen considers that comment one of his highest compliments.Kwen’s books are getting some attention from the literary community. The Law of Moses, the Silver Award winner from Readers’ Favorite, and The Tenth Nail both received the Gold Award from Literary Titan Book Review. The Gold Award is given to books “found to be perfect in their delivery of original content, meticulous development of unique characters in an organic and striking setting, innovative plot that supports a fresh theme, and elegant prose that transforms words into beautifully written novels.” Many of Kwen’s books have received the Gold Award from Literary Titan. In addition, The Law of Moses was awarded five 5 Star Reviews from the reviewers of Readers’ Favorite.
Kwen’s books are available in several formats; e-Book, paperback, and audio. He invites you to check his writings out. Who knows? He might become your next favorite author.
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I really enjoyed reading the excerpt, thank you!