The world of Adrian Bolt shattered as his wife lay butchered on the floor of Castle Verliege. His conviction by a German court was as swift as the sword that killed her. He maintained his silence knowing his story would not be believed. Though his reputation was impeccable there was nobody willing to stand for him. Another world lay in wait for anyone living within the walls of the castle; waiting, watching, for eternity to keep the Mueller name upon its registers. There is only one world here for those who choose to stay. To enter its doors is an invitation you will not soon forget!
Professional Reviews
Don't miss this one!
This fantastic book by Micheal Rivers gripped me from the very first page and would not let go of me! It begins with Adrian Bolt (who is accused of murdering his wife)confiding to his doctor James Pellitere. After two years of complete silence he tells the unbelievable story of Verliege.
The story is a very chilling one, Castle Verliege is haunted and the spirits inside of the castle took hold of Adrian's wife from the moment she took her first step into the castle. There is an incredible twist that not only took me by surprise, but had me ignoring my house phone for over an hour until I could finally drag myself away from this gripping story!
About half way through the story, it takes on a whole new direction which intrigued me further, James Pellitree assigns a team to go and stay at the castle in search of the truth. This is where it turns beyond chilling to a whole new level of fear...
Wow this really was one of those unforgettable stories I am so pleased I bought. The authors style of writing flows like water and draws the reader in from the offset. It keeps you wondering all the way through and really keeps your mind ticking over. Pure Genius! Well done to the author on a superb book. I will most definitely be reading more of his work.
AnUnsettling Tale for a stormy night...
It was something I approached unawares. I think I started the journey around 8 o'clock that night. As Adrian Bolt's tale began to unfold, it appeared as though time stopped, except that it was well past midnight when I chanced a glance at the clock again.
In a nutshell, Dr. James Pellitere, a psychiatrist of some renown finds himself on the grounds of Arlette Mansion--a sanitarium of sorts--faced with the baffling case of one Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Adrian Bolt, accused of the brutal slaying of his wife at the castle of Verliege, their newly acquired home in Germany. Not a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder or some catatonic fit, Adrian Bolt has merely chosen to not speak of the events surrounding the death of his wife. The problem is, he isn't saying anything about anything at all. His lack of defense results in his conviction on the charges and subsequent incarceration at Arlette. It is Dr. Pellitere's job to attempt to wring something--anything from the silent historian. He does.
The story woven by Bolt (and Rivers) is so believable that any assertion that the reader has to try to suspend any disbelief is nonsense. We do believe, and even though Adrian admonishes Pellitere (and us) that we should reserve judgment until the story has reached its conclusion, we all agree that everything that leaves his lips is not only plausible, but the God's truth.
I was reminded of Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892) and William Hope Hodgson's accounting of the final voyage of the Mortzestus (1909), and the telling of Lovecraft's "The Statement of Randolph Carter" (1919). Such is the narrative of this in comparison with these types of confessional stories. Like Gilman, Hodgson, and Lovecraft, the richness of dialog is not lacking in Rivers's prose. The creatures of Verliege have some similarities with Tim Powers's nephilim in The Stress of Her Regard, but without the vampiric tendencies. I hope the reader realizes that I am tossing out these comparisons to illustrate the depth of craft honed in Verliege. Rivers does not so much stand upon the shoulders of these giants as he rubs elbows with them.
I am loathe to give much detail of the story as it progresses because the twists and turns are all part of the charm and the fun of it (in a scary way, if that is your definition of fun). It does progress, rapidly, and the pacing is just in line for an excellent story of a haunting. Not overly graphic or exploitatively gruesome, it uses gore when necessary, but in such few words that Mr. Rivers believes his audience has good imaginations. That is refreshing because so many authors forget that. Sometimes the terror is in what is not said rather than what is said.
If you're looking for a well-crafted, spooky, unsettling tale for a wind-swept night, look no further. Verliege has just what you're after.
Verliege by Micheal Rivers is Haunting!
Verliege by Micheal Rivers is an incredible read. I love a good ghost story, but Verliege is so much more. The book begins with the current owner of Castle Verliege recounting his tale to a psychiatrist. For me, just this section of the book alone was enthralling. River's has a gift for description and writing in a smooth, fluid prose. I could imagine every inch of the castle and came to understand its complex and intriguing history as Adrian Bolt described it. It's the rare writer who can accomplish this without leaving the reader feeling bogged down by too much detail.
The second part of the novel takes place at the castle itself. Instead of choosing one point of view from which to write, Rivers' writes from several. He does this masterfully. Each character is well developed with a strong voice, and that includes the ghosts! This adds to the twists and turns of the plot in Verliege, leaving the reader wondering who the protagonist is and who the real villains are. Everyone at the castle wants something, including its ghostly inhabitants, but just what is it they want and who's willing to kill for it?
The combination of Rivers' use of detail and excellent command of characterization allow the reader to suspend reality completely. I walked down every Castle passageway, felt the chill of every ghost's approach, and saw sacred symbols in my head. Micheal Rivers' Verliege is part history, part ghost story, and part whodunit. It will keep you on your toes, delight your senses and whisk you away into another world!
Fast Track is a Mystery/Suspense novel about a young, strong-minded woman's quest to find purpose in life as she unravels the mystery of her parents' deaths 25 years earlier when she was an infant. The setting is Southern Wisconsin; the backdrop is j
Love, romance, innocence, intrigue, danger, and lust. Life is complicated, and love even more so. Life, and love, can be hazardous to a lady's health. Especially if she's fallen in love with a married pop star.
