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Under Dark Skies: A Witch and Werewolf Supernatural Suspense (NightShade Forensic FBI Files Book 1) Kindle Edition
Eleri Eames didn’t think she’d ever be allowed to work for the FBI again, so the special FBI division of NightShade seems like an amazing opportunity. But all too soon, her chance to start over starts to disturb her.
When the FBI offers Donovan a chance to leave his job as a medical examiner and try his hand at something new, he takes a chance on the NightShade division. Somehow, he has to try to escape from his shadows, but can he trust Eleri with the truth?
Thrown together on their first case, Eleri and Donovan must deal with a charismatic cult leader and his true-believers. The cult is mixed up with several decade-old kidnapping cases and the missing daughter of a prominent FBI Agent. As Eleri and Donovan dig deeper, they discover that NightShade’s mysteries aren’t coincidence.
Their secrets will save them . . . or destroy them.
Winner: Beverly Hills Book Awards for New Fiction 2015
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateNovember 4, 2014
- File size2101 KB
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See full series-
First 3$15.98
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First 5$31.96
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First 10$71.91
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All 13 available$95.88
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First 3$15.98
-
First 5$31.96
-
First 10$71.91
-
All 13 available$95.88
This option includes 3 books.
This option includes 5 books.
This option includes 10 books.
This option includes 13 books.
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From the Publisher
![Strange clues, strange cases](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/kdp/510e2c6e-cd9a-4c22-97d8-955901339cee.__CR0,0,1940,600_PT0_SX970_V1___.png)
![Stranger investigators](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/kdp/098303d8-8aab-4ee5-af24-d731b8af35cc.__CR0,0,1940,600_PT0_SX970_V1___.png)
![Great FBI with a supernatural twist, excellent plot and superbly written. 5 star read!](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/kdp/aa6f8960-a266-4c5a-bb9c-a16bf4df7737.__CR0,0,1940,600_PT0_SX970_V1___.png)
Editorial Reviews
Review
"After having read three of her books, I'd say she's in the top five of my best writers list. I have a list of King, Grisham, Koontz...you know, those guys. They are the authors you know will deliver." -The Lit Critic
"An excellent mystery with some very, very surprising twists." -Bookworks
"An action packed thriller. Highly recommended." -- Midwest Book Review.
Amazon readers say:
"She is on a par with Andrea Norton, Marilyn Zimmerman Bradley, Lois McMaster Bujold."
"...right up there with the best of Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov."
Product details
- ASIN : B00MY8JUD4
- Publisher : Griffyn Ink; 1st edition (November 4, 2014)
- Publication date : November 4, 2014
- Language : English
- File size : 2101 KB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 444 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,357 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
![A.J. Scudiere](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/ut3q0t8brkdm704i1sglhbuff._SY600_.jpg)
After not making the advanced reading group in kindergarten, AJ decided to 'show them all!' and become the best reader possible. This led to reading "The Amityville Horror," "Flowers in the Attic," and "Carrie" all before the age of seven. By eight, armed with a pen and notebook, she'd gone to the other side and written a novella . . . which shall never again see the light of day. As the daughter of a physicist and a lawyer, AJ always wants to make sure the stories 'work': by the time you get to the end, you'll realize you were holding all the pieces all along. AJ is the author of multiple award-winning suspense novels.
www.ReadAJS.com
www.AJScudiere.com
www.AJsAudioMovies.com
AJ can be contacted at:
AJ@ReadAJS.com
AJ Scudiere is published by Griffyn Ink Publishing
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book and find it a fun read with an interesting premise. They appreciate the well-developed characters and their uniqueness. The writing quality is praised as smooth and the author's perspective is appreciated. Readers appreciate the exciting forensics and detective work that make the book hard to put down. Overall, customers find the book gripping and hard to put down.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story engaging, suspenseful, and refreshing. The writing style is praised as good and the characters are well-developed and believable.
"...This series proves that thrillers can be both smart and deeply entertaining." Read more
"Wow I really enjoyed this, different type of story. Loved the special powers they used and developed...." Read more
"...NightShade books out of order, and one thing that makes A.J. such a good author is her ability to write books in a series that are also able to be..." Read more
"Loved this book! Got it free, and I was delighted to be introduced to A.J. Scudiere and some fascinating and well-developed characters...." Read more
Customers enjoy the story's engaging plot with layers to explore. They find the premise intriguing and the mystery plot intricate. The story is described as suspenseful, hard to put down, and unique. Readers appreciate the exciting action involved in developing the case and bringing it to a satisfactory conclusion.
"...Each case unfolds with meticulous precision, leaving you racing through chapters to uncover the truth...." Read more
"Wow I really enjoyed this, different type of story. Loved the special powers they used and developed...." Read more
"...She delivers a well thought out and realistic story with superbly crafted characters; one that is expertly proofed and edited...." Read more
"...and I was delighted to be introduced to A.J. Scudiere and some fascinating and well-developed characters...." Read more
Customers appreciate the well-developed characters and their uniqueness. They find the slow introduction of each main character's uniqueness fascinating. The plot is compelling, with tactical methods and nuanced character development. The chemistry between the two main characters is appreciated. The heroes are flawed and relatable, making them likable and relatable. Readers root for the good guys and nice guy to take down the bad guys.
"...The attention to detail is impressive, from tactical methods to nuanced character development...." Read more
"...I recommend this story, well done, great characters and interesting premise." Read more
"...The characters are written in such a believable manner that you begin to feel for them, growing attached and hurting for them as you learn more of..." Read more
"...to be introduced to A.J. Scudiere and some fascinating and well-developed characters...." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written with a unique perspective and smooth writing style. The author is described as talented and the book is edited well. Readers appreciate the realistic characters with genuine personalities.
"NightShade takes the FBI procedural to a whole new level, blending gritty realism with just a touch of the paranormal...." Read more
"...I recommend this story, well done, great characters and interesting premise." Read more
"...Her description of the characters' abilities is handled well and with subtlety, letting the readers' imagination fill in the blanks...." Read more
"I loved the realism and the characters with personalities that were not fake or dressed up to make the plot...." Read more
Customers enjoy the forensics and detective work in the book. They describe it as an exciting, mystery-filled FBI thriller with a twist. Readers appreciate the fresh take on the FBI and the new type of agents featured in the series. Overall, they find it to be a great criminal procedural and suspenseful read.
"Wow I really enjoyed this, different type of story. Loved the special powers they used and developed...." Read more
"...for anyone that enjoys a good criminal procedural/suspense book." Read more
"...The main characters – Eleri and Donovan - have unique abilities that could help them with the case, but each is reluctant to admit what their..." Read more
"...It has Forensics, Cults, FBI agents, and mystery... I recommend it," Read more
Customers enjoy the book's engaging plot and characters. They find it hard to put down and find it hard to stop reading until the end. The book is well-written and keeps readers hooked with enough plot and character development without being excessive.
"...story without any unnecessary fluff, that is fast paced and holds your interest, making it hard to put down...." Read more
"...The author knows how to keep you surprised and compelled to keep reading until the ending...." Read more
"...Good reading, not nail biting, but keeps you interested. If you can speed read, this'll be a good choice for you...." Read more
"This book kept my interest and I was pleasantly surprised at the special twist the author inserted...." Read more
Customers have different views on the book's pace. Some find it fast-paced and engaging, while others mention parts of the story are slow and repetitive. The book is described as a quick read that keeps you wanting to continue reading.
"...is a tightly written story without any unnecessary fluff, that is fast paced and holds your interest, making it hard to put down...." Read more
"...Still it is a fast moving story and it draws you in from the first page." Read more
"...flaw was it contained a lot of information,which made it a tad bit slow in a few spots.Even so it was very entertaining and very well written...." Read more
"This paranormal story was a different take than I've before. I loved the pacing, fast at times and slow others, but each perfect for what was..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the book's description. Some find the premise interesting, the characters and skill sets well-developed, and the research impressive. Others feel the book is repetitive and hard to follow, with too much explanation that can be boring.
"...It has Forensics, Cults, FBI agents, and mystery... I recommend it," Read more
"...There were no major twists, no major difficulties, and other than the one betrayal (and quick forgiveness) there was no major tension with any of..." Read more
"...With Southern charm mixed with dedication, smarts, and killer instincts on the job, there is more to the poor-little-rich-girl than Donovan first..." Read more
"...The fact that the author is a scientist (with the grad degrees to back it up) and that she works that science into the plot seamlessly and more..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2024NightShade takes the FBI procedural to a whole new level, blending gritty realism with just a touch of the paranormal. The attention to detail is impressive, from tactical methods to nuanced character development. Each case unfolds with meticulous precision, leaving you racing through chapters to uncover the truth. I couldn't stop reading, the twists and emotional depth are perfectly balanced. This series proves that thrillers can be both smart and deeply entertaining.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2024Wow I really enjoyed this, different type of story. Loved the special powers they used and developed. I recommend this story, well done, great characters and interesting premise.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2017I have now read eight of A.J.'s books. You can really see how she has grown as an author. When you read any of her newer works, you are guaranteed to find several things that make her a joy to read. She delivers a well thought out and realistic story with superbly crafted characters; one that is expertly proofed and edited. No matter if the story is of a paranormal nature, you can still suspend disbelief and see that it could be true.
Under Dark Skies is a tightly written story without any unnecessary fluff, that is fast paced and holds your interest, making it hard to put down. The dialogue is realistic, as are the characters. You are given an insight into the characters thought process. Many authors cannot get the "police talk" to sound right, whereas A.J. does it extremely well. Her description of the characters' abilities is handled well and with subtlety, letting the readers' imagination fill in the blanks. The characters are written in such a believable manner that you begin to feel for them, growing attached and hurting for them as you learn more of their inner turmoil.
I read the NightShade books out of order, and one thing that makes A.J. such a good author is her ability to write books in a series that are also able to be read out of order. Too often, an author just breaks the story at a certain word count and makes the story two parts because they were unable to edit their work down to one book. Some well-known authors (Dean Koontz in his Odd Thomas series) have the ability to make their books stand alone, while other famous authors (Stephanie Meyer's Twilight and Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games) had greater difficulty.
I don't normally talk about the actual story or give away spoilers, though in this case I will provide one that the author delivers fairly early in the book. Most authors (and film makers) portray the man wolf character as hairy, upright man (Lon Chaney's Wolfman and Michael I. Fox's Teen Wolf) or a super-sized wolf (ala Twilight). A.J. developed a realistic character that makes minor physiological changes to transition from man to wolf, which makes the story more believable, allowing the reader to readily suspend disbelief. I do not normally read paranormal books, but in this series, the story is not about their paranormal abilities, it is just a tool they use that happens to be more highly developed than most people's. I highly recommend this book (as well as others Ms Scudiere has written) for anyone that enjoys a good criminal procedural/suspense book.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2018Loved this book! Got it free, and I was delighted to be introduced to A.J. Scudiere and some fascinating and well-developed characters.
I won’t spoil the surprises for you except to say two very unlikely FBI agents find themselves partnered in a section called NightShade - which they’re not supposed to talk about. To anybody. That says a lot about the kind of cases they’re likely to be assigned. Think X-Files with a twist.
The main characters – Eleri and Donovan - have unique abilities that could help them with the case, but each is reluctant to admit what their ability is, and even less reluctant to share it. The relationship moves along as they gauge what, how much, and when (if) to tell the other about their abilities. Eventually the case requires them to use their abilities whether they like it or not.
Other reviewers complained about the characters eating too often, where and what they ate, and Eleri lamenting the lack of fruit in Texas. I understand how that can get boring after a while, but it did give us character development. Donovan craved steak and Eleri wanted fruit, which told us a lot about their characters. It also gave them time to talk and get to know each other.
There was one plot twist I thought would appear, but I was disappointed. They mentioned that the people in the City of God knew they were in town. I expected a certain person to be the “mole” feeding information, but that didn’t happen. It would’ve made an interesting twist and added more suspense.
There was one quibble I had, and that was the use of “she didn’t know her from Adam” several times. Probably not a familiar term for younger readers.
Those wanting heavy-duty sexual attraction won’t find it here. This is the “getting acquainted” book where Eleri and Donovan are getting comfortable with each other and with their abilities. It’s part of a series, which thrills me because I want to read more! We’ll learn more about Eleri and Donovan as we go, so I’m sure there will be some kind of attraction. Remember, it took Mulder and Scully a while to get to know one another.
Like I said – loved this book, and I can’t wait to read the next one!
- Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2017I really enjoyed this Story! And I feel bad only giving it 3 stars,
because this author is a talented story teller..
There were typo's, wrong names, and repeating the same info over and over, ...
pages of them eating, where they ate, what they ate, and saying over and over that
Texas has No Salads, or fruits, Nothing organic,
IMO things like that make the story longer for no reason...
SO for those reason this gets a 3 from me!
As for the characters, I loved them and felt like I knew them. I had to keep reading...
So if you get a chance to get this book for a decent low price grab it up, it is super good...
It is a 5 star story, but for the things I already mentioned brings it down to only 3 stars for the total book.
It has NO sexual content, No romance, Does have some Cussing, a few F... Bombs,
It has some Paranormal that I loved a lot....those parts were really super good!
It has Forensics, Cults, FBI agents, and mystery...
I recommend it,
- Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2024The book is good the plot is ok, the characters are interesting. The story was good but I don't feel compelled to go on with the series.
Top reviews from other countries
- carla fellowsReviewed in Canada on August 17, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Nightshade
Two FBI investigators, one seasoned, one rookie. Both with deep secrets and traumatic pasts.
As partners they investigate a religious cult with a sociopathic leader, who kidnaps children who become indoctrinated into the group.
When their supernatural abilities are revealed to each other, they work together to save the innocents of the cult, and convict the criminals within.
I enjoyed the originality of the plot, the interaction between the partners, and found their investigative methods interesting and intriguing. The details were extensive, and made the investigation come to life.
This book was very different from other detective stories and was completely entertaining! Loved it!
- serendipity5Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling
I really enjoyed this, it was like an episode of NCIS/FBI type show with a slightly supernatural twist, which made it far more interesting, and stretched out to get a real insight into our main characters and a very satisfying ultra long episode - it was a long read and that in itself was satisfying. The bad guys were truly rotten and as the purpose and existence of Nightshade was made clear, Eleri and Donovan's place in it all started to clear up. As fascinating as the case was, it was for our main cast that I read the books. I am looking forward to learning more about Nightshade and the other people who are part of the organisation. A solid read that had me turning the page without wanting to stop.
- rogerReviewed in Canada on October 3, 2021
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Strong characters. Enjoyed the supernatural aspect,makes for an interesting read. Looking forward to reading the rest of series and more from the author.
- AppleReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2018
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
I really have enjoyed this book. Well constructed storyline. The forensic parts are very detailed that you get a good picture in your mind.
I really liked the characters, Donovan and Eleri. They have a good development trough the storyline, both with very different abilities and you can be sure it's not always friendly, there both are having problems to build relationships, so there are both actually quite lonely because of their abilities.
Donovan is a really shy person and always a loner. Eleri is quite different,she is not shy but always a big thinker because been a profiler her mind is never quiet. It's a good mix for get together as partners, they both need each other.
The story is written very well, great plot with lot's of twist, turns and secrets. It was a enjoyable experience on some parts a bit slow, because not much happened. I would have liked a bit more humour to loosen up some situations. But overall a good book.
- BelReviewed in Australia on April 7, 2020
4.0 out of 5 stars Nightshade treads a fine line with some success
Interesting slant on what could have been a predictable crime/romance across species. Avoided the trap of moving professional partnership to love interest thereby offering a highly readable tale with what appears respect for research across the genre field. Look forward to the next 'episode'