I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The shocking murder of a talented young singer and special needs boy forces sleuths Dora and Missy to investigate the crime and untangle a web of shocking conspiracies no one would see coming in author David E. Feldman’s “A Special Storm”, the fifth book in A Dora Ellison Mystery Book series.

The Synopsis

A performance of a troupe of young people with special needs is backing one of their own, the beloved singer Julian Lockhart. As he is about to sing his penultimate note, he pauses … and a crack is heard, blood spurts from his neck, and he falls to the stage. Pandemonium and panic ensue. The boy’s father hires Geller investigations, and Dora Ellison and Missy Winters set out to find his killer.

Who would kill this beautiful and talented special young man with the voice of an angel? A local NIMBY activist? The father of another special young man whose object of affection is a special young woman who has eyes only for the young victim? Or could it be a parent who was not aiming at the young singer at all but at the school’s founder, Mason Montgomery, who reneged on his promise to fund the school in perpetuity? Or … could it be someone with another as yet unknown connection to the special young singer.

Secrets and danger abound!

Book 5 of the Dora Ellison Mystery Series is a murder mystery featuring a woman sleuth who is no ordinary private investigator. Dora’s brand of vigilante justice takes the reader on a suspense-filled journey that rivals those of Lee Child, John Sandford and Harlan Coben.

The Dora Ellison Mystery Series will appeal to readers who love books about LBTQ & mystery sleuths.

The Dora Ellison Mystery Series will also appeal to teen & young adult readers who enjoy thrillers & suspense novels, especially those surrounding law & crime.

The Review

This was a twisted and captivating murder mystery thriller The heavy atmosphere and rich character growth that the author introduces early on in the narrative were thoughtfully written. As someone new to this franchise, it was great to be able to get a sense of these characters even without prior knowledge of the series. The depth that these characters showed helped elevate the mystery greatly as it unfolded. It was also great to see the author truly represent the special needs community in a new way, both narratively speaking and as a theme overall.

To me, this story excelled due to its chilling plot and mystery elements. The way the author was able to make the reader feel like this crime was both heinous and shocking felt like something ripped out of the headlines, and the twists and turns that the protagonist goes on as she investigates showed just how personal the case became for her, taking the character in a whole new direction that speaks to her role as a new heroine in the mystery novel world.

The Verdict

Memorable, thrilling, and entertaining, author David E. Feldman’s “A Special Storm” is a great murder mystery thriller and a great fifth entry in the A Dora Ellison Mystery Book series! The twists and turns this narrative takes and the choking revelation of the killer and their motives will have readers hanging onto the author’s every word. The constant peeling of layers around this mystery will keep readers guessing until the very end. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

David E. Feldman has written seven books of his own and has ghostwritten many others. He has made three films, won 2 film awards and won a playwriting contest. He has an MLS degree in Library & Information Science.

You can find his books on Amazon.com and elsewhere, under his name, David E. Feldman.

They include:

The Neighborhood. (A standalone novel, about 4 fictitious families living in Valley Stream in 1973, one of whom is the first Black family in the neighborhood which was the author’s at that time.)

The Dora Ellison Mystery Series:

Storm Warnings, A Dora Ellison Short Story Prequel

Not Today, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 1 (a finalist for the Killer Nashville Claymore Best Mystery Award, 2022)

A Gathering Storm, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 2

A Sickening Storm, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 3

A Biological Storm, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 4

A Special Storm, Dora Ellison Mystery Book 5 (due out Feb. 21, 2023)

Percival (A standalone novel about a musician who contracts polio at the age of two and transcends his handicap and various mistreatments by an often cruel society, and finds joy and love. Based on the life of the author’s father.)

Pilgrimage from Darkness Nuremberg to Jerusalem

Bad Blood, a Long Island Mystery

Born of War: Based on a Story of American Chinese Friendship

How to Be Happy in Your Marriage – A Roadmap

His author website:

https://www.davidefeldman.com/books.shtml

His ghostwriting website:

https://longislandnyghostwriter.com/

His film, Everyone Deserves a Decent Life (directed, produced) won the Alfred Fortunoff Humanitarian Film Award at the Long Island Film Expo, 2014. His film, Let Me Out! (Written, directed, produced) won Best Psychological Thriller at the 2009 New York International Film Festival. His play, Love Lives On, was a winner of the inaugural Artists In Partnership Inaugural Playwriting Contest, and was produced in Long Beach, NY in Sept.-Oct. of 2022.

He has also been the owner of eFace Media (eface.com) since 1989, where he writes marketing and branding copy.