I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman’s new role as a TimeKeeper brings her into conflict with an imp and brushes against the Grim Reaper himself in author Ann Charles’s “TimeReaping in Deadwood”, the thirteenth entry in the Deadwood Humorous Mystery series!
The Synopsis
Time is a tricky devil. And so is that blasted imp!
Violet Parker needs to catch the little terror before it wreaks even more havoc in the Black Hills. But now that she’s saddled with this dang Timekeeper gig, she has a lot to juggle, like the real monsters wanting to tear the flesh from her bones just for fun.
If she can’t figure out how to wrangle “time” to save her family, the Grim Reaper might come swinging for them next.
But what about that danged honey-loving imp?
The Review
This was a captivating and action-packed mystery read. The author does a great job of balancing the human aspect of this story with the supernatural aspect, in multiple ways. From the balance, the author strikes in the protagonist’s life with her work life and her after-hours, slayer time, to the antagonists the protagonist faces, from her human foes in her home and work life to the monsters she must face and the chaos imp that pushes this narrative forward.
To me, the heart of this story rested in the imagery of this paranormal romance and mystery novel with the down-to-earth, grounded character development of the story. The detail that went into the writing was truly compelling, as it allowed the reader to visualize in their mind’s eye the gritty supernatural world that lies just under the surface of our own. The way the characters interact with one another and the dialogue between them really made the characters come to life on the page and made them feel alive and relatable all at the same time.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, entertaining, and memorable, author Ann Charles’s “TimeReaping in Deadwood” is a must-read paranormal mystery and romance novel and a great continuation of the Deadwood Humorous Mystery series. The twists and turns in the narrative, and the heart and imagery that goes into the story, made this a truly immersive reading experience and one book you won’t want to miss out on this holiday season. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Ann Charles is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes award-winning books that are splashed with humor, mystery, suspense, romance, supernatural elements, and whatever else sounds fun.
Currently, she has many fiction books available in several different on-going series.
From her ongoing multi-award winning Deadwood Mystery Series:
NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD (book 1–multiple award-winning book for both mystery and romance/mystery);
OPTICAL DELUSIONS IN DEADWOOD (book 2);
DEAD CASE IN DEADWOOD (book 3-one of Suspense Magazine’s BEST OF 2012 books);
BETTER OFF DEAD IN DEADWOOD (book 4);
AN EX TO GRIND IN DEADWOOD (book 5–Grand Prize winner in Chanticleer Review’s Paranormal category;
MEANWHILE, BACK IN DEADWOOD (book 6–one of Suspense Magazine’s BEST OF 2015 books);
A WILD FRIGHT IN DEADWOOD (book 7–one of Suspense Magazine’s BEST OF 2016 books);
RATTLING THE HEAD IN DEADWOOD (book 8)
GONE HAUNTING IN DEADWOOD (book 9)
DON’T LET IT SNOW IN DEADWOOD (book 10)
DEVIL DAYS IN DEADWOOD (book 11)
NEVER SAY SEVER IN DEADWOOD (book 12)
(Book 13 coming in early 2023)
Also available from Ann are the first five books in her Jackrabbit Junction Mystery Series:
DANCE OF THE WINNEBAGOS (book 1)
JACKRABBIT JUNCTION JITTERS (book 2)
THE GREAT JACKALOPE STAMPEDE (book 3)
THE ROWDY COYOTE RUMBLE (book 4)
A Thanksgiving novella titled, THE WILD TURKEY TANGO (book 4.5)
A Christmas novella titled, JACKRABBIT JINGLE BALLS (book 4.7)
IN CAHOOTS WITH THE PRICKLY PEAR POSSE (book 5)
TWISTY TORTOISE TUSSLES (book 6)
LOOK WHAT THE WIND BLEW IN (book 1) and MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT (book 2), the first two books in her Dig Site Mystery-Archaeology series set in the Maya jungle, are available on Amazon, too. These books star Quint Parker, the brother of Violet Parker–the heroine in her Deadwood Mystery series. They are filled with mystery, humor, adventure, and a plenty of heat.
She has a western paranormal Deadwood Undertaker Series in process that is co-written with Sam Lucky:
LIFE AT THE COFFIN JOINT (book 1)
A LONG WAY FROM ORDINARY (book 2
CAN’T RIDE AROUND IT (book 3)
CATAWAMPUS CHRISTMAS CAROL (book 3.5)
THE BACKSIDE OF HADES (book 4)–coming in Fall 2022
She has several short stories as well–DEADWOOD SHORTS: SEEING TROUBLE (book 1.5), BOOT POINTS (book 4.5), COLD FLAME (book 6.5), TEQUILA & TIME (book 8.5), and FATAL TRADITIONS (book 10.5). These are all short stories from her Deadwood Mystery Series. Also, she has THE OLD MAN’S BACK IN TOWN, a short story from her future Goldwash Mystery Series.
In addition, Ann has two novellas in the AC Silly Circus Co. Mystery series: FERAL-LY FUNNY FREAKSHOW and A BUNCH OF MONKEY MALARKEY.
Stay tuned for more new books by Ann coming soon!
Ann has a B.A. in English with an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Washington. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Western Writers of America. She is currently toiling away on her next book, wishing she was on a Mexican beach with an ice-cold Corona in one hand and a book in the other. When she is not dabbling in fiction, she is arm wrestling with her two kids, attempting to seduce her husband, and arguing with her sassy cats. You can find her on all major social media platforms.