Crimson at Cape May by @OverbeckRandy is a Wintertime Reading pick #mystery #giveaway
top of page
  • N. N. Light
    • Jan 30, 2021
    • 5 min read

Crimson at Cape May by @OverbeckRandy is a Wintertime Reading pick #mystery #giveaway



Title: CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY


Author: Randy Overbeck


Genre: Mystery


Book Blurb:


Doing the right thing—exposing his town’s ugly secret—cost Darrell Henshaw his job, his girl and his dignity.


So, the offer to coach the summer football camp in Cape May, New Jersey comes at just the right time. The resort town, with gorgeous beaches, rich history and famous Victorian mansions, might be just the getaway Darrell needs.


Only, no one told him Cape May is the most haunted seaport on the East coast, launching his gift of seeing ghosts into overdrive. One resident ghost, the Haunted Bride, hounds him day and night, begging for help.


This time Darrell joins forces with a street-wise teen named Cassie, who also sees ghosts. They work together to unravel the mystery of the bride’s death and stumble upon a far more dangerous secret.


Can Darrell and Cassie find the killer and expose the secret before they become the resort’s latest casualties?


Excerpt:


Why would this woman pursue him?


Now a safe distance away, he studied her. She was thin, with a small, drawn face of pasty skin, and he would’ve guessed her to be about his age, mid-twenties. But there was something about her, something that made him shiver. Did she have a black eye? Were those cuts on her cheek? Why hadn’t he noticed those before, when he passed her on the Promenade?


He sped up, the street crowded, congested with tourists. Normally, the jostling bodies would’ve given him the creeps, but today he was grateful for the numbers so he could blend in.


Not sure where he was headed—except away from his boarding house—he kept up a brisk pace. He hurried past the legendary Inn of Cape May, with its ornate, white period architecture and four stories of ancient rooms facing the beach. Any other time, he’d be thinking about taking Erin there. The place had an interesting old-time vibe. That is, if she still wanted anything to do with him. But he didn’t have time for that now. He kept moving.


As he turned back onto Beach Avenue again, the sight of the beautiful blue ocean across the road struck him and he stopped for a moment, then chanced a peek back around the corner. No sign of his stalker.


He reduced his pace, easing past a beach shop, and saw his reflection in the store front. That gave him an idea. Ahead, he spied a coffee shop with two long windows facing the street, the panes so sparkling clean he could see the image of the sun hanging over the ocean in the glass. As he walked along, he turned his head to catch his image and, when he was far enough along, he glanced sideways at the window. Trailing behind him, he could make out, reflected in the glass, only two people, a gray-haired couple. No one else. He took a few more steps, watching and slowing a little, and exhaled. He’d lost her.


He turned and studied the man and woman, who’d paused to examine the restaurant menu posted next to the door. A few feet beyond the couple stood the woman. Darrell’s gaze darted. The couple. The woman. The coffee shop window. Back to her. The petite young woman in the tattered white dress stood hunched not more than ten feet away. Darrell searched for her reflection in the glass. There was not even a shimmer.


Oh no. Not again.


The side of the young woman’s face was beaten and bloodied. Her exposed neck bore a long, ugly purple bruise. The torn dress now had blood seeping across her torso and down her right leg. He looked back. Still nothing in the window. The hairs on his neck stood up.


“What do you want?”


In unison, the pair turned, peered behind and then back at Darrell. The man said, “Son, there’s no one there.”


Darrell kept staring and as he watched, the young woman walked through the older couple and stopped in front of him. This close up, her one deep blue eye—the one not blackened—seemed vacant and carried an emptiness that frightened Darrell. She again extended both pale hands, blood now covering them and dripping off her fingertips. Mesmerized, Darrell watched as fat crimson drops splattered red onto the gray sidewalk.


In her soft voice, she said again, “Please, help me. Help us.”


Darrell shook his head violently. “No. Hell, no. Not again.” Last time almost killed him.


Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):






What makes your featured book a must-read?


Here’s what readers are saying about CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY:


“Thrilling! Haunting! Convincing! Loved it as much, if not more, than “Blood on the Chesapeake!” Began reading the book on Monday and finished it at midnight on Tuesday!”—an Amazon Reader


“Overall a fascinating mystery and I was pulled in with trying to solve it. Would definitely pick up more in this series and written in such a way you could visualize every moment.” An Amazon Reader


“The mystery and suspense kept the pages turning, the writing flowed just as I remembered from the previous book (as well as the dialog), the characters were witty and had depth and the romance was sweet and just added to the overall feel of the story. “—a Goodreads reader


“I don’t normally read mysteries, but this story grabbed my attention from chapter one…His characters are complex and three-dimensional. There are a few twists and turns, which I wasn’t expecting but thoroughly loved.”—a Goodreads reader


“He's a mystery master! I love the way Mr. Overbeck sets a steady pace, but you can feel the intensity. This is one author on my auto-buy list. I can't put the book down once I open the first page.”—a Goodreads reader



Enter to win an e-book bundle of all 19 books featured in the Wintertime Reading Bookish Event:


Open Internationally.


Runs January 26 – January 31, 2021.


Winner will be drawn on February 4, 2021.



Author Biography:


Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker, capturing state and national accolades for his work. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, Leave No Child Behind (2012) and his recent mysteries, Blood on the Chesapeake (2019) and Crimson at Cape May (2020) have earned five star reviews and garnered top awards and recognition from sites such as Literary Titan, ReadersFavorite.com, ReaderViews.com and N. N. Lights Bookheaven. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck 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, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.


Social Media Links:


@OverbeckRandy

FB: Author Randy Overbeck

Tags:

bottom of page