Crimson at Cape May by Randy Overbeck
Give a spooktacular welcome to Randy Overbeck author of Crimson at Cape May, second book in The Haunted Shores Mysteries. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron. Take your choice of a bat wing Chocolate Chip or Pumpkin, or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Randy and Crimson at Cape May.
- Tell us a little bit about Crimson at Cape May.
CRIMSON, like the first novel in series, has been described by a reviewer as “a cold case murder mystery wrapped in a ghost story served with a side of romance, all set in a beautiful location,” in this case the remarkable resort town of Cape May, New Jersey. Having lost his job on the Eastern Shore as a teacher and coach, Darrell heads to Cape May to help with a summer football camp. Little does he know that a resident ghost, the Haunted Bride, waits to plead for him to help her find justice. This time though he has help from another paranormal sensitive, Cassie, a street-wise teen, and together they work to unravel the mystery. Only they find out the young woman’s death is tied to an even more horrendous crime, which may well claim them as its next victims.
- Why did you choose to write ghost stories? Do you really believe in ghosts?
Let me answer the second question first. The short answer is yes, but I prefer Shakespeare’s eloquence, “There is more to heaven and earth, Horatio, than is dreamt of in your philosophy.” (That’s from Hamlet, by the way.) For those not fluent in Shakespearian English, he is simply saying there are just a great many things we simply can’t explain…and ghosts are one of these. And I’m hardly alone in my belief. In two surveys taken recently of the American public, about half of the respondents shared that they believe in ghosts. (And one in five said they’d had an encounter with the spirit word!) I’m hoping that’s a tremendous market to tap.
So when I began work on my new series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries, I decided wrap my murder mystery inside an eerie—though not terrifying—ghost story. I hope–and my readers confirm—the match works quite well. It does make it more challenging, but it’s a challenge I enjoy.
- What inspired this particular story?
You might find surprising, but I usually begin with a pressing social issue. Okay, I have to admit that the location got me started. I was so impressed with the intriguing town of Cape May—and its interesting haunted history—I knew it would be a great location for the second entry in my series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries. But the inspiration for the actual story evolved from my learning about the scourge of human trafficking. Like most Americans, I had seen and read a few items about sexual exploitation in the news, but I hadn’t really considered the problem much further. A recent trip to the Underground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio changed all that. The exhibits were so unsettling and powerful, I left aghast. The exhibit on modern slavery set my mind reeling. According to the research documented at the museum, there are more people in slavery today, right now, than at any time in human history! When I learned this, I decided my next novel had to address this issue. So I continued researching human trafficking and imagined how I could write a credible mystery that somehow connected to this abhorrent practice. CRIMNSON AT CAPE MAY was born from that inspiration.
- Why should we read this book/series and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book/series unique?
What a great question! There are so many talented authors, far more than a reader can ever get to, it’s difficult for a new writer like me to get noticed and find a niche.
Before I began my series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries, I read a great deal of “competing” fiction, both mysteries and ghost stories. While I enjoyed much of what I read, I decided to write something different, novels I hoped would stand out. So I worked to create what William Kent Kreuger, best-selling author, called “a nifty literary feat with a web woven from threads of different literary genres—a bit of romance, a lot of mystery and a good bit of old-fashioned ghost whispering [with] a pretty solid social commentary.” I believe my novels give readers more—a compelling whodunnit, an eerie ghost story, a bit of romantic suspense, and an escape that will take them to an intriguing location, not to mention a compelling look at a current social issue. I’m hoping this is enough to convince readers to give either BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE or CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY a try. Once they do, I ‘m confident readers will find my novels, in the words of Amazon reviewers “a roller coaster ride” “absolutely spellbinding!” “a haunting good time” “a real page turner” and “a thrilling read up to the very end.”
- What kind of research is involved in writing your novels?
I invest a great deal of time in researching the various aspects of the narratives, before I ever put the first line down on paper—well, okay, on the screen. Even though I’m writing fiction, my ultimate goal is to make every aspect of the narratives as credible as possible. I’ve meticulously researched the towns and setting for the novels, so much so readers who are natives have commented that I‘ve capture the essence of the places. Each of my characters is carefully crafted—often drawing from my extensive experience with a wide range of individuals in education—so that readers can recognize and empathize with them. I do my best to learn as much as possible about each of the social issues and develop my story so that the mystery arises logically from it, in CRIMSON’s case, human trafficking. Unlike most other ghost stories, I’ve even tried to make the spectral parts of the narratives as authentic as possible. Eschewing the common tropes of the “friendly ghosts” of many cozies and of the terrifying ghosts of horror movies, I strive to base my ghosts’ actions at least closer to what has been documented about spirits and hauntings—though I do take some literary license here.
- What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
Besides an enjoyable whodunnit and a little romantic escape for a few hours, I hope readers, after finishing either BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE or CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY, feel informed as well as entertained. I hope they can gain an appreciation of the really intriguing places where I set the stories, perhaps even an interest in putting these places on their “to visit” list. I’ve deliberately selected some less well-known shore locations which most readers are likely not familiar with, places with some distinctive character and color, great both for my narratives and for vacations.
Above all these, I hope I’m able to give the readers a little insight into a serious issue society is grapplling with presently. The stories are set in the past, twenty years ago, but the issues they confront—racial injustice in BLOOD and human trafficking in CRIMSON—are very much current. My hope is that by approaching these issues through a historical, fictional narrative, readers can achieve a more nuanced, and perhaps less partisan view, of these pressing problems. A few years ago, I had the privilege to meet the best-selling mystery author S. J. Rosan at a writers’ conference and something she said has stuck with me. “Nonfiction is about reality; fiction is about truth.” In this world where the truth itself seems to be in peril at times, I hope my novels give readers a broader understanding of some truths—even as the novels are, as one recent reviewer put it, “rollicking fun.”
- Any tips to share with fellow authors/aspiring authors?
Many writers say that writing is a solitary act, just you and the computer. While I can’t argue with that, I need to add that my writing would never have risen above the minimum without help from outside. I’ve participated in several really good writing conferences—Killer Nashville, Midwest Writers’ Conference, Sleuthfest—and have found these experiences invaluable for “priming the pump” and getting me to think beyond my boundaries. Not to mention all the connections I’ve made with fellow writers.
But I have found the greatest asset to my writing has been my regular participation in a really great writing group. These fellow writers have been both kind and cruel to my words and my writing has grown as a result. My advice is that if a new writer is serious about putting out his best work, attending writing conferences and working with other writers in a supportive writers’ group are critical.
Second book in The Haunted Shores Mystery Series – Click on the cover to read more or purchase.
Tells us a little more about Crimson at Cape May.
No matter how far you run, you can never really escape a haunted past.
Darrell Henshaw—teacher, coach, and paranormal sensitive—learned this lesson the hard way. With his job gone and few options, he heads for Cape May to coach a summer football camp. The resort town, with gorgeous beaches, rich history and famous Victorian mansions, might just be the getaway he needs. Only, no one told him Cape May is the most haunted seaport on the East Coast. One resident ghost, the Haunted Bride, stalks Darrell, begging for his help.
He can’t refuse.
Joining forces with Cassie, a street-wise teen and another sensitive, he investigates the bride’s death and discovers her murder is connected to a far greater horror. But can Darrell and Cassie expose those behind the crimes before they end up being the killer’s next victims?
How about a sneak peek between the pages of Crimson at Cape May?
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 boardinghouse—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.
Purchase Links:
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First book in the The Haunted Shores Mysteries – click on cover to read more or purchase.
Reviewers have been generous in their praise of the work.
“A haunting, yet fast-paced whodunit that captures the reader’s attention from page one. A wonderful book!”—Alexandra Ivy, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
“Delivers an unpredictable mystery along with a powerful look at people…Completely engaged by the intrigue.”—Long and Short Reviews
http://www.longandshortreviews.com/book-reviews/crimson-at-cape-may-by-randy-overbeck/
“With both elements of mystery and suspense, readers across genres will find this second book about Darrell Henshaw intriguing…I highly recommend it.” ★★★★★—Literary Titan
https://literarytitan.com/2020/02/04/crimson-at-cape-may/
“It’s a ghost/mystery story filled with suspense and action. The plot is so engrossing it had me hooked from the very first page.” ★★★★★—Nana’s Reviews, Greece
“The well-plotted storyline keeps a steady pace through two-thirds of the book and then gradually ups the ante, adds tension, grit, drops more pieces of the puzzle then explodes.”—V. Williams, Rosepoint Publishing
About the Author:
Dr. Randy Overbeck is a veteran educator who has served children as a teacher and school leader. For more than three decades, his educational experiences with responsibilities ranging from coach and yearbook advisor to principal and superintendent and he’s lived the roles of many of the characters in his stories. An accomplished writer, he has been published in trade journals, professional texts and newspapers as well as in fiction, with his third published novel. 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.
randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com
Twitter: @OverbeckRandy
FB: Author Randy Overbeck
It’s been great having you with us today. Good luck with Crimson at Cape May and The Haunted Shores Mystery Series.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Blood on the Chesapeake, Crimson at Capp May, Mystery, Randy Overbeck, The Haunted Shores Mystery Series by Tena Stetler with 1 comment.
Thank you for stopping by Randy! Good luck with Crimson at Cape May!