Death by the RiverYA Suspense, Thriller
Paperback & ebook, 357 Pages
October 2nd 2018 by Vesuvian Books
Summary
Some truths are better kept secret.
Some secrets are better off dead.
Along the banks of the Bogue Falaya River, sits the abandoned St. Francis Seminary. Beneath a canopy of oaks, blocked from prying eyes, the teens of St. Benedict High gather here on Fridays. The rest of the week belongs to school and family—but weekends belong to the river.
And the river belongs to Beau Devereaux.
The only child of a powerful family, Beau can do no wrong. Handsome. Charming. Intelligent. The star quarterback of the football team. The “prince” of St. Benedict is the ultimate catch.
He is also a psychopath.
A dirty family secret buried for years, Beau’s evil grows unchecked. In the shadows of the ruined St. Francis Abbey, he commits unspeakable acts on his victims and ensures their silence with threats and intimidation. Senior year, Beau sets his sights on his girlfriend’s headstrong twin sister, Leslie, who hates him. Everything he wants but cannot have, she will be his ultimate prize.
As the victim toll mounts, it becomes crystal clear that someone has to stop Beau Devereaux.
And that someone will pay with their life.
WARNING: Readers of Death by the River will encounter situations of violence and sexual abuse which could be upsetting.
Praise for DEATH BY THE RIVER
"... a thrilling psychological work ... Catching the current vogue of teen psycho and revenge tales like Bates Motel and 13 Reasons Why ... a horrifically brilliant book ... Beau Devereaux could have easily been a clichéd psycho, but the plot constructed around him and his development during the novel really shone as a masterpiece of character creation ... much in the style of Dexter or Hannibal." ―K.C. Finn, Multi-Award-Winning Author
"Rare is the story that simmers and rises to a boil so naturally and constantly that the reader manages to be repeatedly shocked ... a full-speed rollercoaster that doesn't slow down until the final page. Employing an evocative setting, powerfully defined characters, and taking along hard look at the darker side of human desire, this novel will catch your breath and hold it until the very end. RECOMMENDED" ―Michael Radon, US Review
"While the authors have written a chilling story here, there's more to Death by the River than thrills. It's actually a fascinating study into the effects of good and bad parenting on children. Do it badly and parents, children and society as a whole pay the consequences. This book is not just an exciting read; it's a sobering one." ―Viga Boland, Retired high school English teacher and Author of No Tears for my Father: Viga's true story of incest
"While the story follows compelling characters, it also plunges readers into an intriguing setting. It is ironical that the horrors are taking place along the river that runs so close to a seminary, an establishment that should evoke a powerful sense of God and reverence for life. The characters are sophisticated and readers will learn to honestly hate the villain of the story -- he is well imagined and developed with skill. In a subtle way, the authors allow his crooked mind to reveal itself. Like most serial killers, he is a charmer and an intelligent young man, but beneath the cool surface is a cauldron of simmering evil. Weis and Astor have written a riveting crime tale with strong psychological underpinnings. Death by the River is ingeniously plotted, written in gorgeous prose, and featuring a strong conflict that propels the narrative forward. The suspense intensifies as the story moves on, with the reader always feeling as though something awful could happen at any moment, and this feeling grows in intensity until the explosive climax. A real thriller!" ―Romuald Dzemo, Readers' Favorite
"A suspense-filled thriller steeped in equal parts atmosphere, insanity, and revenge." ―Mary Ting, Award-Winning Author of ISAN: International Sensory Assassin Network
"Weis and Astor have created something so dark, edgy, and gritty, it will stay with you long after you close the book." ―Julieanne Lynch, Dragon Award Finalist: Horror (2018)
"... a crime thriller that pulls readers into the twisted mind of the protagonist and holds them engaged till the exhilarating finish. The writing is flawless ... Death by the River is psychologically engaging, emotionally rich, and utterly absorbing." ―Christian Sia
Book Trailer
Excerpt
Beau froze, almost
afraid to move when he spotted him. Gage Devereaux rested his hip against the
black granite countertop. Except for their height and physical prowess, Beau felt
he had nothing in common with his father.
He attempted to relax
by shifting his book bag on his shoulder. “Didn’t expect to find you still
home.”
Gage set his coffee mug
on the kitchen counter. “I wanted to speak to you before you left for school.”
The hint of
condescension in his father’s voice tightened his chest—it usually signaled a
lecture.
“I got a call from Ms.
Greenbriar yesterday afternoon. She said you visited her office after a run-in
you had with Carol Foster’s boy.”
Beau’s fingers
twitched, the way they did when his aggravation got the better of him. Great.
The idiot woman had called his father. The last thing he needed was Gage
Devereaux up his a**.
“Derek is dating Dawn’s
sister, so I often see him at school.” He tempered the irritation in his voice,
not wanting to annoy his father. “I was talking to Leslie when Derek walked up.
I accidentally caught him with my elbow when I turned around. I apologized and
everything is fine.”
He waited, analyzing
every move his father made, searching his hard eyes for an inkling of his
mindset.
“I’ve spoken to you
before about this.” Gage came around the breakfast bar. “This family is in a
precarious position with everyone in town. I don’t want your actions
threatening our business or our good name.” He gripped Beau’s shoulder. “What
have I always told you? What is our rule?”
Beau cringed as the
words he’d spent a lifetime dreading screamed through his head. He faced his
father, standing at attention. “Self-control in all things. Never let anyone
see who you really are.”
Gage leaned closer. “No
matter what anyone says, no matter what they do, you walk away. This includes
your girlfriend. Do you understand?”
Beau stiffened at the
low, menacing tone in his father’s voice. “Yes, sir.”
Gage lifted the left
side of his mouth ever so slightly. “Go to school.”
Beau stood by the
breakfast bar, not moving a muscle as his father headed to the garage. The door
clicked shut and a trickle of sweat ran down his temple. His jaw muscles
cramped from clenching, his heart rate slowed, and he glanced at his fists. His
father’s warning spinning in his head, Beau slammed his hand down on the copper
bar.
Anger like molten lead
ran through him. Beau sucked in deep breaths to calm himself—something he
remembered from a long-ago therapy session. Then he relaxed his hand on the
bar, checking the indent he’d left in the copper. He wiped the smudge away,
stepped back, and raised his head.
I
am the master of control.
Copyright © 2018 by
Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor
About the Authors
PHOTO CONTENT FROM ALEXANDREA WEIS AND LUCAS ASTOR
Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, CRRN, ONC, PhD, is a multi award-winning author of over twenty-five novels, a screenwriter, ICU Nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable. A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured animals. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans. Weis writes paranormal, suspense, thrillers, horror, crime fiction, and romance.
Weis and Astor’s first collaboration was the multi-award-winning Magnus Blackwell Series.
Blast Giveaway
- 1 Winner will receive a Signed Copy of DEATH BY THE RIVER by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor
- 1 Winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
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