Today is the review for the third novel in the Noah Ravenswood series by Christopher C. Newman, available at Dark Roast Press.
Those Dangerous Times by Christopher C. Newman
There, standing completely nude in the pale dawn light, was Lisa. She was facing him and her body was quivering like she was having some sort of seizure. George watched in horror as a pair of dark gray arms emerged from her stomach– and the hands on the ends of those arms obscenely caressed Lisa’s ample chest. Blood ran down from the wounds that the arms had made in her stomach as those hands, pitch-black, clutched more like talons than fingers into the meat of the ex-barmaid’s bosom. Lisa’s eyes widened; they silently begged and pleaded with George to do something. A ragged rush of air passed between her clenched teeth as she found the strength to breathe.
“George,” she softly cried as the color of her flesh became pallor with a sickening speed.
“What the hell!” the big man spat, and he ran forward. As he approached, a creature’s face appeared over Lisa’s right shoulder.
The long wild black hair framed a dark expanse that was twisted into a hateful sneer. The thing had no eyes, just twin wells of deep darkness on either side of its nose. It smoked; rolls of gray steam seemed to waft off of the thing’s body, creating a strange misty background to accent Lisa’s trembling, pale skin. Lisa’s body shook even harder and blood erupted from her lips, painting her chin a dreadful crimson.
“Aaarrgggh,” the twenty-year old softly gurgled before slumping lifeless in the apparition’s hold.
The phantom smiled; it was horrible to behold and made George’s blood run icily in his veins. It lifted up Lisa’s limp form and tossed her aside like the wadded up remains of a fast food meal.
“George Dabrowski,” it hoarsely whispered with a chilling voice. “Do you remember me…?”
“No!” he shouted at the figure creeping upon the ground towards him. “I-it can’t be! You’ve been dead for… t-twenty-four years!”
“No, not dead,” it whispered in that terrible tone. “Just searching, searching and wandering until I could find those who murdered me. You will lead me to them all, George Dabrowski… I will have my revenge upon all of you!”
“Piss off!” he screamed at the smoking gray spirit. “They’re my brothers! I’ll never help you kill us all!”
George ran to the bike and jumped upon it. He fired it up with a roar and tore off down the road as if his ass was on fire. Behind him he could hear the creature laugh. It was one of the few sounds he would never forget. It was more of a coughing bark than a laugh, but a laugh it was all the same.
My review:
If you liked the first two books of the Ravenswood series, you’re going to love this one. In my favorite of the series, Those Dangerous Times, the main characters really evolve. You’ll get a glimpse into Noah’s past as a soldier, an insight into what makes him so gruff and jaded today. If you liked Sarah, then this one is a must read, I won’t give anymore away about that, but the relationship between the two characters if finally defined completely.
As for storyline, this novel is a real whodunit, with all the twists and turns we’ve come to expect from this author. If you cross Agatha Christie and Stephen King what you get is Christopher Newman and Those Dangerous Times. I can’t recommend it enough an give it 5 stars and two thumbs up!
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