Editorial Content for At First Light
Book
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Barbara Nickless is the #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Sydney Rose Parnell crime novels.
AT FIRST LIGHT kicks off a new series for Nickless, who introduces readers to Dr. Evan Wilding, a brilliant forensic semiotician. Evan is an expert at studying signs --- systems of communication --- whether they be road signs, hand gestures or hieroglyphics. In this case, they are Viking Age runes, ancient symbols used by the Vikings to tell stories or give meaning to their existence.
[AT FIRST LIGHT has] believable characters, a strong plot line, twists and turns, and plenty of action..."
When a body is discovered on the banks of the Calumet River in Chicago, detective Addie Bisset is summoned to the scene. The corpse has not just been dumped on the ground; it has been situated in such a way as to suggest that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. The man is partially submerged in the river, and his body has been staked in place so the water can’t wash him away. Surrounding him are animal bones that have been carved with strange symbols. All these signs point to some kind of a ritualistic slaying.
Addie has no idea what this all means, so she consults Dr. Wilding for some guidance. Evan has a deep crush on Addie, but she considers him to be just a good friend. Besides, she is attracted to men of at least average stature; he happens to be a “little person.” Despite Addie’s inability to see him as anything more than a colleague, Evan is dedicated to his job. Together, they work to determine who the killer is, what the runes mean, and the motive for the crimes as more bodies are found.
Readers not only will be treated to a good story --- one with believable characters, a strong plot line, twists and turns, and plenty of action --- they also will learn a great deal about dwarfism, runes and the Viking culture.
Teaser
On the muddy banks of the Calumet River, a body has been found posed next to a series of mysterious glyphs and bearing wounds from a ritualistic slaying. Chicago detective Addie Bisset knows only one man who can decipher the message left by the killer: her friend, Dr. Evan Wilding. A brilliant forensic semiotician, Evan decodes the etchings as Viking Age runes. They suggest either human sacrifice or righteous punishment. But to what god? And for what sins? Only one thing is clear from the disturbing runic riddles: there are more victims to come. As Evan races to determine the identity of the Viking Poet, he and Addie uncover the killer’s most terrifying secret yet: the motive.
Promo
On the muddy banks of the Calumet River, a body has been found posed next to a series of mysterious glyphs and bearing wounds from a ritualistic slaying. Chicago detective Addie Bisset knows only one man who can decipher the message left by the killer: her friend, Dr. Evan Wilding. A brilliant forensic semiotician, Evan decodes the etchings as Viking Age runes. They suggest either human sacrifice or righteous punishment. But to what god? And for what sins? Only one thing is clear from the disturbing runic riddles: there are more victims to come. As Evan races to determine the identity of the Viking Poet, he and Addie uncover the killer’s most terrifying secret yet: the motive.
About the Book
Ritual murder. Archaic clues. A visionary killer. In this heart-stopping novel by the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Sydney Rose Parnell series, words can kill.
On the muddy banks of the Calumet River, a body has been found posed next to a series of mysterious glyphs and bearing wounds from a ritualistic slaying. Chicago detective Addie Bisset knows only one man who can decipher the message left by the killer: her friend Dr. Evan Wilding. A brilliant forensic semiotician, Evan decodes the etchings as Viking Age runes. They suggest either human sacrifice or righteous punishment. But to what god? And for what sins?
Only one thing is clear from the disturbing runic riddles: there are more victims to come.
As Evan races to determine the identity of the Viking Poet, he and Addie uncover the killer’s most terrifying secret yet: the motive. This startling discovery puts Evan’s life in mortal danger, and verse by ancient verse, time is running out.
Audiobook available, read by Tim Campbell
