Genre: Urban
Fantasy/Mystery/Native American
Description:
“Sam Firecloud’s job as a medium is pretty straightforward: along with
his partner, Lacy Fitzpatrick, he investigates hauntings, researches the ghosts
to find out what keeps them tethered to the earth plane, and he releases them.
But a new call for assistance brings a surprising request: a neurologist wants
to study Sam’s brain as he’s connecting with lost spirits. The study is one
thing, but when Sam and Lacey look deeper, they soon realize the doctor has a
hidden agenda, and it’s not scientific at all.”
Author:
“Melissa Bowersock is an eclectic, award-winning author who writes in
a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres: biography, contemporary, western,
action, romance, fantasy, paranormal and spiritual. She has been both
traditionally and independently published and is a regular contributor to the
superblog Indies Unlimited. She has a tattoo on the inside of her left wrist
that says IMAGINE. In her next life, she plans to be an astronaut. She lives in
a small community in northern Arizona with her husband and an Airedale terrier.
She also writes under the pen name Amber Flame.”
Learn more about Ms. Bowersock and her other books on her website or
on Facebook.
Appraisal:
I think we all have a clue how Sam Firecloud feels about mind games.
However, getting a chance to learn how his brain processes information
differently than others is too intriguing to pass up. Dr. Kaufman is heading a
study to learn how a medium’s brain functions by having the medium wear a
helmet that has electrodes attached in the key areas they want to monitor. It’s
a legitimate study at an Institute for Neurological Study. But Dr. Kaufman
hasn’t been wholly honest with Sam and Lacey about what else he is seeking.
The controlled study includes a control spirit located on an estate
which Cal State now owns. Sam easily picks him up as a creative scientific genius
who is bound to the earth plane by guilt. The source of his guilt is the
mystery and without that bit of knowledge Sam can’t release him. To top that
off the scientists don’t want the ghost unbound.
On the home front, Sam is experimenting with some new techniques with
his pots. The kids are excited to give these a try on a pot of their own. There
is also a new resident in the back yard of Sam’s studio. I was excited to meet
him, as he tickled my fancy, and brought up memories of my own childhood.
Back at the estate, Sam takes a second Walk in the back flower garden
and learns this ghost found a lot of solitude in the surrounding gardens. With
more information from the scientists, Sam and Lacey claim they are done and
leave the project. This is where the plot takes some interesting turns and
things start to look bad for Sam and Lacey. The climax is rather subtle and
Lacey starts to protest, but Sam shakes his head at her. I had a big chuckle at
the turn of events at the end.
As always, I was thoroughly entertained with this unique story that
almost went sideways. Emotions ran high, even for Sam. You don’t get to see him
lose his cool very often. I loved everything about this story, from the
neurological study, to the new pot techniques with the enthusiasm of the kids,
to the backyard visitor.
FYI:
Mind Walk is book
21 in Ms. Bowersock’s, A LACEY FITZPATRICK and SAM FIRECLOUD MYSTERY SERIES.
This series does not need to be read in order. However, you may miss some
character development.
Format/Typo
Issues:
No significant issues.
Rating:
***** Five Stars
Reviewed
by: ?wazithinkin
Approximate
word count: 25-30,000 words
2 comments:
Thanks so much!
Thanks for dropping in and commenting, Ms. Bowersock.
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