Fatal Cut (A Suburban Noir Ghost Story #1) [Kindle Edition]

Cathryn Grant (Author)

Book Description

In FATAL CUT, the introductory novella to this Suburban Noir Ghost Story series, a man is brutally murdered in the church parking lot.  Madison Keith is the only one not surprised by the identity of the killer.  She has witnessed first hand the buried resentments and bitter hearts of the people at her new job, not to mention the lingering passions of those who have passed on.

Both the living and the dead like to reveal their secrets to Madison. As the administrative assistant in the basement office of a suburban church, she gets plenty of opportunity to hear from both. Through it all, Madison offers up a steady stream of opinions on everything from the subject of religion and ghosts to finding a soul mate. 

This ebook is approximately 73 pages. In addition, it includes the first two chapters of SHALLOW WATER, the 2nd Madison Keith novella, set in Half Moon Bay California. 

Other novellas in the series are UNHOLY CHILD (#3), STONE COLD (#4), and DEADLY STREETS (#5), LONELY GHOSTS (#6), and LAST CHANCE (#7). The 8th novella, EATEN ALIVE, is coming in August 2013.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Madison is one of those characters that you can easily relate to through her thoughts and feelings, and you instantly like her "take-it-or-leave-it" attitude. Overall, a fun, quick read that leaves you wanting more, and a definite recommend. -- Erin, Wedded Bliss Images

From the Author

FATAL CUT is the first book in the Madison Keith series which currently includes six novellas. In the first novella, readers get to know Madison and her quirky, opinionated views. She's curious about the supernatural, but her employers want her to keep those thoughts and experiences to herself. She also insists she's holding out for a soul mate. In the second novella, SHALLOW WATER, Madison meets a charming, good-looking guy who introduces her to a legendary ghost. Will he be "the one"?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 268 KB
• Print Length: 93 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: D2C Perspectives (May 28, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00538MKUC
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,958 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
  • #54 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Ghosts

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting character March 20, 2012

By C. Thilmany VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

Madison Keith takes the job of administrative assistant and receptionist at Central Avenue Church after leaving her higher paying job where she felt like one of many and wasn't needed. Her upbringing was a little unusual compared to other kids and it gives her the ability to see beneath the surface of a person's actions. She's got a different way of looking at things.

This is the first in a series of mystery novellas about Madison Keith. Much of this first one gives us Madison's background, taking on the job and learning about those who become central to the story. It begins with her telling us there is a corpse, and talking directly to the reader, tells us why she needs to give us some background first.

Madison's character is well-fleshed and someone I'd personally like to get to know. Since this is told in the first person we don't know a whole lot yet about Pastor Joe and Kate, the youth minister. We definitely need to learn more about Kate.

The novella is an easy pleasant read, although I feel somewhat mislead with the description of "ghostly psychological suspense series." I read a lot of urban fantasy and was expecting more on the paranormal angle.

Reviewed for Book Rooster.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Madison Keith, Not Your Typical Detective November 9, 2011

By Christi Craig

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

"...I knew who had killed the guy, but I wasn't sure the police would see it that way, being all caught up in forensics and proper procedure as they are. Procedures always seem to obscure things, in my view."

With that quote, Cathryn Grant introduces us to Madison Keith, a quiet detective of sorts, who finds herself working at Central Avenue Church -- solving a murder. In true suspense form, Grant introduces us to several shady characters, from Pastor Kate to the gardener Fred (even gives us a bit of paranormal in the mix), and keeps us guessing until the end as to who killed and why. Too, from Chapter One, Madison Keith admits that a little murder won't send her packing, which means there more great suspense to come in Cathryn Grant's next novella.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Bet you can't read just one! July 28, 2011

By Linda Cassidy Lewis

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Cathryn Grant has given her protagonist Madison Keith a delightful voice. Madison is smart, witty, and more than a little curious--perfect for a church receptionist. She's also tattooed, pierced, and unusually perceptive. In this first of a series, Grant introduces us to Madison's particular brand of detection and mystery solving. Fatal Cut is a page-turning tale that will satisfy, but leave you hungry for the next one.

More About the Author

Cathryn Grant is the author of Suburban Noir novels, ghost story novellas, and short fiction. Her writing has been described as "making the mundane menacing".

Cathryn's fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazines and anthologized in The Best of Every Day Fiction. Her short story, "I Was Young Once", received an honorable mention in the 2007 Zoetrope All-story Short Fiction contest.

When she's not writing, Cathryn works in high tech, reads, and plays very high handicap golf. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two cats. Visit her website at cathryngrant.com