Here's your invitation to visit Civil War America, to go to the seat of war and the seat of domesticity as well, to know not only the fears of the soldier but the worries of the family he leaves behind. Once Candle in the Wind takes hold, you will not want to put it down. It's lively, evocative, and bursting with drama.”
-- William Martin, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Lincoln Letter
Dark Angel Reviews ~ The Scrimshaw
Ric Wasley has penned a terrific tale in THE SCRIMSHAW. He’s actually written two parallel stories that flow together and apart as they follow somewhat different paths but are forever intertwined. We meet and follow Jeptha Dawes on his quest for a scrimshaw, and simultaneously become as transfixed on Mick and Bridget as they try to unravel the long-ago mystery. Bridget, a feisty Irish lass full of passion and temper, and Mick, the tough son of a former south Boston cop, fairly jump off the page, and their relationship brims with life, although it’s a bit rocky at times. Wasley has done his research well or visited all the places of which he writes, depicting scenes so rich I could almost feel the sea breeze on my cheek. I particularly enjoyed descriptions of the same place in both 1858 and 1969 with such authentic detail. The intricate plot never falters, a difficult feat with two storylines to craft, and Wasley ends each section at a point where I could hardly turn pages fast enough to find out what happens next. THE SCRIMSHAW is actually the third book in Wasley’s McCarthy Family mystery series, and I look forward to reading the first two, ACID TEST and SHADOW OF INNOCENCE. This is a must-read for any fans of suspense and the paranormal.
MR Review ~ The Scrimshaw
The Scrimshaw, written by Ric Wasley, tells the parallel stories of Jeptha's life in 1858 Nantucket Harbor as he secrets the sea chest, and searches for the remaining scrimshaw, meanwhile, in 1968, Mick and Bridget struggle to understand, and to survive the terror that they have become entangled with during their vacation. As the deaths mount up, and the terror escalates, will Bridget and Mick survive, or will the evil break free, and destroy them? The escalating tension builds to a climax as events in the past are reflected in the present, and evil is unleashed.
The Scrimshaw, written by Ric Wasley, tells the parallel stories of Jeptha's life in 1858 Nantucket Harbor as he secrets the sea chest, and searches for the remaining scrimshaw, meanwhile, in 1968, Mick and Bridget struggle to understand, and to survive the terror that they have become entangled with during their vacation. As the deaths mount up, and the terror escalates, will Bridget and Mick survive, or will the evil break free, and destroy them? The escalating tension builds to a climax as events in the past are reflected in the present, and evil is unleashed.
This reader had to continually remember to stop reading for a second, and take a breath. I was holding my breath due to terror so often I became lightheaded. This is a story where good men and women take a stand against evil, and its minions. The plot is thrilling, and the mechanism of switching back from 1858 to 1968, and then returning to the past ratchets up the tension as similar events are happening in both time periods.
This is an amazing story, one that will keep the reader awake at night thinking about it after said reader had stayed up the night before to finish the story! I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves adventure, mystery, suspense, and love. This is the first book by this author that I have read, and I am looking forward to reading his previous novels. This story is a 5 star keeper!
Advance Praise for Shadow of Innocence:
“Colorful and exciting.” Says David Pitt of Book List
“Wasley is well versed in the 1960s New England music scene (he was a folksinger and rocker), and he is able to make us feel as though we are in that time and place.”— David Pitt – Book List
From the Library Journal...
P.I. Michael Prescott McCarthy, half Irish and half Boston Brahmin, and his partner Bridget Connolly go to Newport, RI, to rescue the cousin of his Vietnam army buddy. A killer in the tony resort is murdering people in vicious ways. Debut novelist Wasley uses his knowledge of music and personal experience in the Sixties to bring a certain reality to this tale.
And from NYT Best Selling Author William Martin…
“Here's a recipe for a page-turner: Take a moment of high American drama - the tumultuous year of 1968. Add some cool New England locations - Harvard Square and the Newport Folk festival. Throw in a wisecracking Boston detective. No, wait... make that a whole family of Boston detectives. Let Ric Wasley cook it all up for you. Then sit down and enjoy. You'll be glad you did.”
William Martin, bestselling author of Back Bay, Harvard Yard, and The Lost Constitution
Kathy’s Review ~ Midnight Blue:
The summary for Midnight Blue sounded really good, but it’s just a pale reflection of the actual story. When I started I had the impression, wrongly as it turns out, that the story would be a tale of a pleasure-seeking young man whose sole goal in life is self-gratification. I was totally unprepared for the reality of Michael’s (aka Blue Eyes’) story and was captivated by Ric Wasley’s storytelling.
Back to 1968 and the age of free love, of sex, drugs & rock ’n’ roll: combine with vampires and you’ve got a story that you won’t want to miss.
Michael may seem to be the quintessential example of self-centered youth, but he grows and changes as the years go by. Then somewhere along the line it becomes quite obvious that this story is very much about battle between good and evil. I was actually quite surprised by this direction; I really didn’t expect it. I was also appalled at what occurred at points in the book. Evil revels in destruction and degradation and Ric Wasley displays this to perfection; that may seem an odd word choice but it’s right. I was on edge for a good part of the book, and yet I never felt as though I’d had too much.
