RRR presents... BARNABAS TEW AND THE CASE OF THE CURSED SERPENT by Columbkill Noonan!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Rachel's Random Resources for a stop along their current tour featuring the latest in a Historical Cozy Mystery series that reads like Sherlock Holmes with a flair for finding the humor in pretty much ANY given situation, even if it's life or death!  Get ready, get set, and continue your journey onward through my review as we discover today's ebook of choice...

Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Cursed Serpent

by

Columbkill Noonan

Crooked Cat Books

About the book...
“For Queen, for Country, and for….Uncle Rabbit?” 

Just when Barnabas and Wilfred thought the world was safe at last, along comes a new threat: the Mayan Lords of Death have hatched a plan to overthrow the natural order of things, involving a cursed serpent god, two untrustworthy sets of twins, and a dead bunny that must be resuscitated at all costs. Only Barnabas and Wilfred can possibly unravel the convoluted plot, but they face danger after danger as they attempt to do so. If they fail, up will be down and down will be up, and the evil Lords of Death will take over the heavens.

Do Barnabas and Wilfred have the courage, skill (and luck!) to save the world yet again?

AMAZON US | UK

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“Well, nothing in the way that you mean,” sputtered Barnabas, flustered. “That is to say, I was thinking things, but not the things that you think I was thinking, if indeed I am correct in thinking what you thought I thought, which of course I may not be…”
(approximately 6% into the ebook)

...ah, yes, there's the Barnabas we know and love...

Honestly, you really can't go wrong with this series.  Every one is a new adventure into the great unknown with characters strewn about that are familiar enough to remember, but not SO much that they take over the story at hand.  Take this one as an example.  We've got our own hilarious version of Holmes and Watson (Barnabas and Wilfred, respectively) dutifully solving the next case they were asked to solve...okay, dutifully solving the next case they were BLIPPED to by Odin without any foreknowledge or agreement from them that they'd actually be interested in it after having JUST solved HIS case... *grumble grumble...on their behalf*  The duo find themselves face to serpents with Medusa seeking the answer to what sounds like the start of a bad joke involving a cursed serpent, a bunny, an assortment of twins (Sun and Moon, as well as Monkey and Spider...you'll understand when you read it), ball courts that aren't what you're thinking, and various other gods that will both help and hinder them in their quest.  You'll laugh, you'll cry (from laughing), you'll be confused, and you'll get somewhat dizzy talking in circles...but in the end, it's nothing that a good cup of tea can't set straight once again.

By the turning of the final epage, we had seriously had quite the adventure, but don't ask me to repeat any of their proper names because yeah, I'm with Barnabas...can't ANYONE have something simple to pronounce?!?  If you're a current fan of the series, you're gonna love it; if you're just getting your feet wet, it's not a bad place to join in, but if you REALLY want to get to know Barnabas and Wilfred, you need to start from the beginning.

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About the author...

Columbkill Noonan is the author of the bestselling "Barnabas Tew" series, which features the bumbling-yet-lovable Victorian detective Barnabas and his trusty sidekick, Wilfred. Columbkill combines her love of mythology and her affinity for period fiction to craft unique cozy mysteries that will leave you guessing (and chuckling!) till the very end.

FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER

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Special thanks to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ebook for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the series, the author, or those tours on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is newly available this month, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag a copy today!  Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun...

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!



RABT Book Tours presents... REPROBATION by Catherine Fearns - EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!

Reprobation

Crime Thriller/Mystery

Date Published: 16th October 2018

Publisher: Crooked Cat

Are You One Of The Elect?

Dr. Helen Hope is a lecturer in eschatology – the study of death, judgment, and the destiny of humankind. She is also a Calvinist nun, her life devoted to atoning for a secret crime.

When a body is found crucified on a Liverpool beach, she forms an unlikely alliance with suspect Mikko Kristensen, lead guitarist in death metal band Total Depravity. Together, they go on the trail of a rogue geneticist who they believe holds the key – not just to the murder, but to something much darker.

Also on the trail is cynical Scouse detective Darren Swift. In his first murder case, he must confront his own lack of faith as a series of horrific crimes drag the city of two cathedrals to the gates of hell.

Science meets religious belief in this gripping murder mystery.

Excerpt

In this scene Deaconess Margaret Mills, a figurehead of the Sisters of Grace, subjects the congregation of St Michael’s Church to one of her threatening sermons. Sister Helen’s feelings about the Deaconess are beginning to change, and at the end of the service, she tells her first lie.

‘All of us are sinners. All people are conceived in sin and are born children of wrath, unfit for any saving good. Inclined to evil! Dead in their sins! Slaves to sin! Without the grace of the regenerating Holy Spirit, they are neither willing nor able to return to God, to reform their distorted nature, or even to dispose themselves to such reform. I say again, All of Us Are Sinners!’

This last sentence was said with such venom and volume that several members of the congregation who were sitting in the front pews visibly recoiled. Deaconess Margaret Mills always began her Wednesday evening sermons from the pulpit, in a gentle voice tinged with a hint of menace. She would build gradually, moving from the pulpit to the floor, a crescendo of portentous threats as her whole body would come into play. She was a natural performer, with eyes widening and narrowing at just the right moments, catching individuals so that they wanted to look away in shame but couldn’t. Her voice would range from ominous low to shrieking high, the gentle Northern accent sounding impossibly grand in this part of the world. There was no comfort to be had from her sermons, only the fear of God struck into one’s heart, and this was the appeal. For the residents, for the visitors, for Helen. Most of the congregation loved the firebrand thrill of the performance, the horror-film quality of the fear. But for Helen, the fear was real, visceral. She craved this punishment, this constant, caustic reminder of her sin. After some more fire and brimstone, the Deaconness softened and brought kindness, a sweet manipulation for her audience.

‘Yes, all of us are sinners. And nothing brings the beauty of Jesus Christ to sinful people, believers, and unbelievers alike, as powerfully as God’s own Scriptures. The Scriptures are the basis of our teaching, of our Gospel, for the word of God is the only word. And we do not question the word of God. From this comes our happiness’.

She smiled for a moment then suddenly, spectacularly, turned up the anger again.

‘And to those who complain about this grace of an undeserved election and about the severity of just reprobation, we reply with the words of the apostle ‘Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?’

Her eyes were wild now and ranged from one person to the next in fury. St. Michael’s Church was small, more of a chapel than a church, having been built originally to serve only the Argarmeols family and their employees. There was no division between the nave and chancery, and no room for aisles flanking the nave at its edges. Therefore there was no escaping the Deaconess's wrath as she stalked the pews, allowing herself to be an eager vessel for the bitter rage of the Calvinist God. The majesty of this church interior lay in its absurd height; in typical Victorian Gothic style, it had been built to aspire to the sky, drawing the eye upwards and reminding the worshipper how very far above him his God was to be found.

‘God’s plan cannot be changed; God’s promise cannot fail; the calling according to God’s purpose cannot be revoked!’

She sighed with theatrical exhaustion, closing her eyes and raising her hands in supplication, before wringing them and returning to the pulpit. She was disappointed with her flock, this rabble of hopeless candidates for heaven. She looked from one face to the next, expectant. The Deaconness taught religious education part-time in a local private school, and Helen, sitting in her usual position on the front pew, sometimes amused herself at the thought of the terror she must instill in those teenagers.

‘May God’s son Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God and gives gifts to humanity, sanctify us in the truth, lead to the truth those who err, silence the mouths of those who lay false accusations against sound teaching, and equip faithful ministers of God’s Word with a spirit of wisdom and discretion, that all they say may be to the glory of God and the building up of their hearers. Amen’.

At the end of the service, Helen waited as the small congregation filed out in a silent purge, wrapping their coats against the cold autumn evening, Helen approached Margaret who was collecting her papers together at the altar.

‘Deaconness?’

Margaret spun around. ‘Yes, tell me.’

‘Would it be ok if I took the car overnight tonight?’

Margaret’s eyes and body language betrayed a momentary flicker of disappointment - she had been hoping Helen might ask something else.

‘I thought I might go and see my mother.’

‘Are you sure that’s a good idea, Helen? You’ve tried very hard, but it only seems to upset you every time. Has something happened?’

‘No, no, I… just think it’s important to keep showing I’m there for her, you know.’

‘Of course.’ There were those hands on Helen’s shoulders again. ‘Drive safely and come and see me tomorrow when you return, let me know how it went.’

‘I will Margaret, thank you. And may I take some money from the kitty? I think we need petrol.’

About the Author

Catherine Fearns is a writer from Liverpool. Her first novel, crime thriller Reprobation, was published by Crooked Cat on October 16th, 2018. Her second, Consuming Fire, will be out in February 2019. As a music journalist, Catherine has written for Pure Grain Audio, Broken Amp and Noisey. Her short fiction and non-fiction have appeared in Toasted Cheese, Succubus, Here Comes Everyone, Offshoots, and Metal Music Studies. She lives in Geneva with her husband and four children.

 

Contact Links

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Purchase Link

Amazon

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RRR presents... Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds by Columbkill Noonan - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

HI there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Rachel's Random Resources for a stop along their current tour featuring book 2 in the Barnabas Tew series from author Columbkill Noonan.  What's that?  Concerned that it's a sequel, not a starter?  Don't be...while yes, I think I would have enjoyed it even more so from the beginning, I didn't truly enjoy it any less because once you get into this story, accept their current state of being, and begin to understand the dynamic duo (yet for this particular story, it's more so a trio), you won't be able to turn away.  So, ready...set...today's blog tour guest and ebook of choice is...

Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds

Barnabas Tew, Book 2

by

Columbkill Noonan

Crooked Cat Books

About the book...

Hold your flying horses!

Barnabas and Wilfred, two earnest but bumbling Victorian detectives, travel through the Nine Worlds of Norse mythology, trying to stave off the impending end of the world, an event which the locals call “Ragnarok”. This time around, however, the intrepid twosome has some help: a brave Viking seer named Brynhild and her flying horse.

Can the two plucky detectives and the fearsome Brynhild outwit those who would bring about Ragnarok? Will they survive the harsh conditions and terrifying creatures of the Norse afterlife? Will they save the world…again? 

AMAZON  US  |  UK

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Brush off your Norse Mythology because this time, the case at hand is taking them across the Rainbow Bridge to Asgard on a truly fantastical adventure!

Admittedly, my info base came from what bits and pieces I've run across in life...and from watching Thor.  Yep, no shame in my game, and you know what?  Even THAT little bit of knowledge made connecting things throughout the story a bit easier...understandably so when you're dealing with two deceased detectives (sorta like a Holmes and Watson situation) who are just on the other side of the living...as in NOT...as in that is one of their reasons for traveling to Asgard in the first place....to see if the King can be appeased enough to allow them to return to the land of flesh and bone once again.  It's certainly not too much to ask...right?  Yeah...about that...

You see, Anubis (you know, the Egyptian god of the underworld?) was the one to send them to Odin, but Odin didn't request their presence to dole out favors.  He sent for them to solve a mystery...a rather unusual and not only life changing but WORLD ENDING type of mystery.   Without getting severely into all the ins and outs, it boils down to WHO STOLE THE BOWL?  What bowl?  Are you SURE you want me to get into that because it's not just a oh it belonged to so-and-so's-grandma sort of story.  Alright, maybe a quick version.  Sigyn (Loki's wife) dedicated herself to using that same said missing bowl to catch the venom that falls from the viper's fangs that is wrapped around Loki's (her husband) head as he remains tethered in place with a most ghastly material.  ~shudders~  It's punishment for a death he caused as well as a thousand others he orchestrated, but that venom dripping in his face bit was softened by Sigyn's kindness to the world, thus allowing him to suffer in silence...until he doesn't...and his discomfort is enough to move worlds.  No really, he thrashes, so does the earth, and eventually to the point of Ragnorak (it's the end of the WORLDS as we know it!) commencing.  Have I lost you?  Please say no because honestly it was SUCH a great read!

I truly enjoyed my time between the epages, and considering the book tops out around 400 pages, that's saying something!  Alongside the mystery to be solved is all the snark, whit, and wisdom shared between our leading detectives and their female companion and guide, Brynhild.  There's nary a situation that Barnabas couldn't foul up with his stiff British spine, but at heart he means well...even if time and again his actions have dire consequences, and Wilfred need to constantly save the day in his own little way.  So, if you're ready to embark on a grand adventure through the nine worlds, meeting giants, gods, goddesses, and mere mortals, you might want to add this one to your WISH LIST stat!   

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About the author...

Columbkill Noonan lives in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where she teaches yoga and Anatomy and Physiology. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. Her first novel, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab” by Crooked Cat Books, was released in 2017, and her latest work, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds”, is set to be released in September 2018.

In her spare time, Columbkill enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, aerial yoga, and riding her rescue horse, Mittens. To learn more about Columbkill please feel free to visit her website (www.columbkill.weebly.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ColumbkillNoonan) or on Twitter (@ColumbkillNoon1).

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Giveaway to win a signed copy of Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds!

(Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for fulfillment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun...

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RRR BOOK BIRTHDAY BLITZ: Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab by Columbkill Noonan!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Rachel's Random Resources for a BOOK BIRTHDAY BLITZ starring a new Historical Cozy Mystery that's ready and waiting for you by author Columbkill Noonan.  It's the first in what sounds like a rather interesting series, so if you like what you see, just think...there'll be more where that came from!  Right, so....let's get on with the show.  Ladies and gents, it's time to feast your eyes on today's title in the spotlight...

Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab

Barnabas Tew series, Book 1

by

Columbkill Noonan

About the book...

Barnabas Tew, a detective in Victorian London, is having a hard time making a name for himself, probably because most of his clients end up dead before he can solve their cases. His luck is about to change, though, for better or worse: Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, notices him and calls him to the Egyptian underworld. A terrible kidnapping has occurred; one that promises to put an end to the status quo and could perhaps even put an end to the entire world. It is up to Barnabas (along with his trusty assistant, Wilfred) to discover the culprit and set things to right. Can he turn his luck around and solve the most important case of his life?

AMAZON

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About the author...

Columbkill Noonan lives in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where she teaches yoga and Anatomy and Physiology. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. Her first novel, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab” by Crooked Cat Books, was released in 2017, and her latest work, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds”, is set to be released in September 2018.

In her spare time, Columbkill enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, aerial yoga, and riding her rescue horse, Mittens.

SITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to Amazon to snag your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!