One barbarian tribe has a prophecy saying the legendary hero Bishortu will unite the three warring tribes. Another has a prophecy that directly contradicts this, and they want Bishortu dead. And a third, which may or may not be comprised of werewolves, refuses to let anyone know what their prophecy says. Meanwhile, the Duke on whose land the barbarians live wants them all gone.

In the middle of all of this is squire Terin Ostler, who has been mistakenly identified as the great Bishortu. Under the Duke’s orders to get rid of the barbarians, he heads to their lands without the slightest idea of what to do.

Along the way, he has to avoid assassins, werewolves, lovesick barbarian princesses, and confused goblins, while attempting to figure out the meaning of the magical and mysterious Wretched Axes.

Nobody said being a hero would be easy.

Pocono Liar Michael A. Ventrella‘s third novel in his “Terin Ostler” series is now available in paperback and ebook formats.

“Here Michael A. Ventrella takes up the mantle of Christopher Stasheff. Terin’s exploits are as entertaining as those of Rod Gallowglass, and fans of The Warlock in Spite of Himself will hugely enjoy The Axes of Evil.” – Gregory Frost, author of Shadowbridge and Lord Tophet

“The Axes of Evil is a taut nail-biter of a thriller. Edgy, funny and dark.” – Jonathan Maberry, multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author of V-Wars and Rot & Ruin

“Humor, danger and a twisted tangle of unlikely prophecies make for a page-turning adventure.” – Gail Z. Martin, author ofThe Chronicles of the Necromancerseries

Cincinnati, August 1966 – After an eventful Beatles concert at Crosley Field, threatening (and badly-spelled) ransom notes begin appearing from unknown persons claiming to have kidnapped George Harrison. But the Beatles’ lead guitarist is not missing. The puzzled police, including Sergeant Malcolm Mitchell, at first dismiss the messages as a bizarre hoax.

Enter Malcolm’s irrepressible wife, Professor Augusta McKee—music teacher, singer, and amateur sleuth—who begins connecting the dots to identify the actual kidnapping victim, and even points the police to the possible perpetrators.

As always, Augusta is all in, dealing with bumbling but dangerous mobsters, disguises, guns, and even a heart-stopping car chase—in a race against the clock to keep what started as a bungled kidnapping from turning into a vicious murder.

THE CASE OF THE BOGUS BEATLE is Pocono Liars Club member Susan Moore Jordan‘s eighth novel in her Augusta McKee series, and is available now in paperback or on kindle!

Augusta McKee, amateur sleuth, professor of music, and former opera singer, is invited to perform in the musical Carousel at the Pocono Playhouse in Northeastern Pennsylvania. With the encouragement of her husband, Cincinnati P.D. Homicide Detective Malcolm Mitchell, she accepts this chance to be on a stage again,

Two nights after the show opens, a woman’s body is found in the theater’s parking lot. An old beau of Augusta’s, Evan Llewellyn, who plays the male lead in the show, is the prime—in fact, the only—suspect in the murder.

Because the victim was from Cincinnati, Malcolm becomes involved in the case and joins Augusta in the Poconos. Their search for clues reveals Llewellyn’s past as the child of coal miners in the nearby Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania may be an essential element in the case.

As the puzzle pieces of the case fall into place, Augusta finds herself in a harrowing, life-threatening confrontation with the killer—at a remote, long-abandoned coal mine.

THE CASE OF THE ‘CAROUSEL’ KILLER is the latest novel in Pocono Liars Club member Susan Moore Jordan‘s Augusta McKee’s mystery series.

You can order your copy here!

If you haven’t walked the old golf cart trails at the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge (CVNWR), you need to get out to a safe environment to enjoy some fresh air and natural beauty. As the name implies, it’s also a haven for local animals and plants. With the imminent arrival of spring migrating birds, the place will soon be filled with bird song, and is already croaking with the clamor of spring peepers and bull frogs. 

Support the Refuge and admire an array of Pocono wildlife by purchasing a copy of an e-book, The Case of the Missing Monarch by Pocono Liar M. A. Moore and Friends, a Fundraiser for the Friends of CVNWR. Not only will you get a detective story set in the Pocono Mountains, the tale weaves around the seventy images donated by seven local nature photographers. All proceeds from the sales stay local, and will enable this citizen-based group in their efforts to support activities at the refuge. Just go to amazon.com and put in the title of the book! A free sample is available for download, and Kindle offers a free reader for any device. The pictures are so engaging, that you’ll want to see them on a devise larger than a cell phone. 

Here’s the direct link: www.amzn.com/dp/B091D882QH

Life is hectic for new co-directors Camille and Willa and they must balance their home and work lives – which isn’t always easy. Camille struggles with marriage and teenager issues while Willa battles bad work colleagues and juggles her love and family life.

JC tries to work well with his bullheaded business partner and struggles to navigate the slow-moving foster care and adoption system. Sammi pushes to move her and Trevor’s relationship forward but hits some major roadblocks in her pursuit.

The dogs and cats at Ocean Pals are put in jeopardy when a new leader infiltrates the shelter’s board of directors. Adoption, surrender, protection, sickness, and sadness weave their way through the story and squeezes at our hearts.

Join in on the journey and get ready to fall in love with all the adoptable animals who come through Ocean Pals’ doors.

SHELTER ME is the second book in Pocono Liar Jamie Mitchell’s “Ocean Pals” series and is available through her web page and from Amazon.

The prophecy said that The Chosen One would save the duchy from the evil gryphons that were about to escape from behind the magical arch.

Too bad they got the wrong guy.

When cowardly young bard Terin Ostler is called before the Duke and told that he fits the description of the hero of the prophecy, he is certain there has been a grave mistake. When the Duke’s own men later try to kill him and he is forced to go into hiding, he realizes that it may be his own grave that is in question.

Our young hero struggles to overcome his inexperience and limitations to figure out the meaning of the mysterious prophecy, accompanied by two squires who are torn between obeying the orders of the knight they have sworn to follow and doing what they believe is right.

Pocono Liars Club founder Michael A. Ventrella‘s first fantasy novel has now been reissued from Fantastic Books, and split into two smaller, more manageable books for the young adult reader. He blogs about the experience here.

Both books are available in paperback, kindle, and nook versions.