the setup…
There’s a blood moon out when Merle Beachy, an Amish man, makes his way home late at night in his horse-driven wagon. It’s foggy and visibility is poor but good enough for him to see the terrifying beast that spooked his horse, right before it took a bite out of him. After Police Chief Kate Burkholder is notified and begins investigating, two more sightings are reported with similar descriptions.
the heart of the story…
With three very similar descriptions and a blood moon present (moon is in total eclipse and appears reddish), it was hard not to think that something paranormal was going on. I loved how both the pragmatic and folklore coexisted in this story. Of course, I had to know what that thing was.
the narration…
McInerney continues to be “my” voice of this series but she added to the atmosphere and strangeness. The fear expressed by those encountering that beast came through loudly!
the bottom line…
I love these short stories that get my attention early and hold it to the end. You’ll have to read it or listen to it yourself to find out the source of that beast.
Book Info
- Release Date: June 7, 2022
- Series: Kate Burkholder #13.5
- Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
- Audio Length: 1 hour, 29 minutes
Listen to a Sample!
Blue Mood Café 
I love the folklore aspect of this story. A red moon definitely has many interesting things connected to it. Excellent review!
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Thank you, Tessa💜 There’s so much you can do with this phenomenon!
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I’ve read this whole series except for the .5’s.
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Heather, the short stories are really well done!
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Short stories are always ones to read because you get the message quickly. Wonderful review, and someday, I will read this author.
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Marialyce, she seems to have mastered the short story format. Castillo can get everything you need to pull off a good mystery done in less than 100 pages.
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Sounds like listen for spooky season Jo. Fab review!
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Thanks, Nicki💜 Perfect for the season!
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I have not read or listened to this one, I will have to see if I can find it. A blood moon is an interesting concept and a beast…..
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My apologies, Carla! I missed this comment. Since we read this series as a group, we didn’t skip over the novellas. I’m grateful we didn’t because she’s really great with the short stories.
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I agree! She is one of the best with short stories/novellas.
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I’ve added this one to my spooky reading list after your review hooked me, Jonetta. 🙂
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Yay! I hope you enjoy, Sophia💜
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