Review by Cheryl Malandrinos of The Book Connection
Suspense, action, and betrayal in the most evil of forms, Lea
Schizas has packed all this and more into her paranormal thriller, Doorman's
Creek.
Doorman's Creek by Lea Schizas captured me from beginning to end. I literally could not walk away from this story, reading it in one sitting. Lea Schizas did a superb job of keeping the action moving along at a quick pace, making the transitions between chapters smooth and seamless. Schizas drew real characters who I connected with and cared about and whose emotions were so real that I felt my heartbeat racing when they were scared. The backstory was just enough and never dulled the present day action. Schizas created the perfect paranormal thriller.
To read the full review, click on the link (in red) above to go to The Book Connection.
DOORMAN'S CREEK
Lea Schizas
Electronic book Publication: 2006
Cost $4.00
ISBN: 0-9740537-4-0
www.etreasurespublishing.com
Restlessness or gut instinct? To follow it or not...would you?
How many times have we heard of 'woman's intuition' or a 'cop's gut feeling' and
what about those dreams that seem so very real. DOORMAN'S CREEK takes us on a
journey of one family's emotional ride.
Richard Anderson is a cop. His wife, Susan, has been having nightmares of him
dying. Their teenage son has been feeling drawn to a cave by Doorman's
Creek...only to find someone's skeleton once he gets there. Is this the remains
of one of the missing girls that have plagued Richard Anderson? Whose voice is
telling them to look for a killing cop?
Yes, there is some paranormal aspects to Lea Schizas' story; however, nothing so
over the top as to be unbelievable. Just enough to feel very real. The story
plays out swiftly, but with all the clues right there I'm surprised I didn't
figure it out in the end.
Emotionally, it hit me in the gut. Missing daughters assumed dead; fear of
husband dying; protecting one's child...wish I felt I could say more, but to do
so would give too much away. A perfect example of crisp, tight writing. Whether
it was the fast-paced storytelling or my being pulled into the
story...both...but I finished reading in under two hours.
Sadly, I started reading just before bedtime and now will spend tomorrow
overtired due to another can't-be-put-down story. Thank you, Ms Schizas, well
done!
Superbly written.
Review by The Book Pedler:
Susan Anderson has been having nightmares.
Her husband, dead by Doorman’s Creek and a strange man dressed in black
watching her through the trees. She doesn’t know why the dreams frighten her
so much, or who the man in black is, but there is something about Doorman’s
Creek that frightens her. They say that old Mr. Doorman still roams the forest,
though Susan is sure this is just an urban legend.
Her son, Kyle, is drawn to the Cave by mysterious forces. His friends Shawn and
Bradley feel the same way; something is drawing them to the Cave but they
don’t know what it is. They only know that they must go to it, that they must
follow their impulses even if they have no explanation.
They all know the story of Doorman’s Creek. Years ago, two girls were found
dead with bite marks on their necks. They were placed side by side, as if they
were a sacrifice. The town suspected Old Man Doorman as he had a passion for
vampires and information about the unusual. Claiming he was innocent, Doorman
disappeared and a killer was never found.
The boys know the stories, the rumors, but still they are drawn to the cave. It
is as if something is calling them. Shawn, Bradley and Kyle head for the cave,
not knowing that finding it will change their lives forever; for when they
arrive, they find a skeleton that was buried in the cave floor.
Soon there are reports of missing girls about town. The boys suspect that a
killer is on the loose, the same serial killer that killed the two girls years
before. They return to the cave to explore further, digging around the skeleton
to see if they can find another. The feeling that they are being watched is
stronger and more powerful, but only Kyle really feels it. He knows this is what
he was led to the cave at Doorman’s Creek to do, knows that they were meant to
find the skeleton.
When the bones of the skeleton start glowing, however, and Kyle has a vision of
a woman running away, frightened for her life, from someone that Kyle can’t
see, Kyle knows they have done more than find a long dead woman.
They have released evil…
Doorman’s Creek by Lea Schizas has to be one of the best books I have ever
read, period. Part mystery, part paranormal thriller, Doorman’s Creek is an
incredible read that starts with a bang and just keeps going. From the moment
the novel starts, you’re taken on a whirlwind of secrets, murder, sacrifice
and death that just gets better with every page.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. Doorman’s Creek had me
gripped from the first word right up until its incredibly unexpected ending.
This novel is just simply fantastic. I’ve read a lot of thrillers, especially
ones with a paranormal bent, so to read one that was so fresh, one that took
chances, was very refreshing.
The characters were real, alive and I felt like I knew them. There are no
cardboard cut out people here. What I love most about Schizas’ characters is
that they're human, they're real people. She even has the dialogue of teenage
boys down pat which is no easy feat, believe me. Susan and Richard are
incredible characters with flaws and depth that make them all the more
enjoyable.
What I love most about this book is the story, the writing. Schizas manages to
never let the story lag for a minute, not an easy task for any author. This book
was one hell of a thrill ride and I look forward to any new releases by Schizas
with anticipation. Doorman’s Creek was un-put-downable and one hell of a book.
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