Kindle Edition Amazon Category:  Crime Publisher: Enigma Press/Ravenswood Publishing g ISBN-10:  149356501X Type: Fiction Pages: 152 Copyright: 2013 ISBN-13: 9781493565016 Price: $2.94 (eBook) CRY OF THE MACHI is a supernatural Crime Thriller originally published in the U.K in both hardcover and ebook formats. The novel was subsequently republished in the U.S as a paperback whilst also remaining as a Kindle ebook. Like all English villages, the quiet and charming Thorpe Amberley in the heart of the Suffolk countryside has it secrets, mysteries and legends.  It also has its traditions such as the Tamberley Morris Men, a dysfunctional band of blow-ins, mainly professionals, who rehearse their dancing every Thursday and drink in the local pub.  Nothing much has served to disturb the tranquility of Thorpe Amberley for centuries.  Until now.  A stunningly beautiful American woman comes to the village to teach at a nearby school and her arrival coincides with the resurrection of deadly seeds of jealousy, evil and murder.  When the village is rocked by a series of gruesome and apparently ritualistic killings, it soon becomes clear that the local police are up against dark forces which they are wholly unequipped to deal with. Unlikely help comes from the shamanistic connection with a Patagonian Machi through the Morris Men's Squire and the unexpexcted assistance of an ex-NYPD policeman. The hunt for not one but two serial killers, is on, and Thorpe Amberley will never be the same again. Excerpt In a state of semi-consciousness, Farnsworth thought he had received a severe blow to the head. He was vaguely aware of a human shape standing over him and thought he recognized it. Some form of liquid was being forced into his mouth. Before his eyes closed again, he thought the figure was holding something that resembled a spade and was also aware of severe pains shooting through his body from the area of his stomach. As he began to drift off, his last recollection was the howl of a large dog.

CRY OF THE MACHI
An enjoyable read
By Darian Wilk on March 31, 2012

Alan Blood wastes no words, doesn't fill the pages with fluff or empty words, he jumps right into a world most can only imagine. Deep inside the heart of Chile, where strange rituals are performed, and those practices live on in one of Thorpe Amberely's own proud Morris Men dancers. You then jump into the peaceful life of Thorpe Amberely, the beautiful village on the outskirts of the countryside, where in a single day the news of an American woman moving in has swept through the entire town.

I found Blood's description of the village, their townsfolk, and the peacefulness of its simple life quite pleasing. He gives enough description to spring images alive in your mind, yet not so much detail that it hampers your imaginations freedom to paint its own picture of living in the British countryside.

As you come to know the town's residents, you can easily see their own personalities, habits, and voice come to life on the page. I rather enjoyed getting a glimpse of British life, how they speak, how they seem to love simplicities - in contrast to America's constant craving for more technology and constant busyness. Many of the characters are rather lively, quirky, and fun people to get to know. And coming from an Englishman, I think Blood did a rather good job at portraying the American characters that come into the story; right down to the New Yorkers somewhat gritty tongue. The only aspect that sometimes jarred me out of the story was the occasions when the American characters spoke like the Brits. The average American, I personally don't think, would be saying things like "Bollocks" in their first week or two of visiting the country. Yet despite those instances, you quickly dove back into the story. I don't think it was enough to make the characters unrealistic or un-relatable. Even with that in mind, I appreciated that each character was their own, none blending into the other, and all colorful and adding to the story.

The ways of Morris Men plays a heavy role in this book, it's very intertwined in the lives of everyone in the town. While I thoroughly enjoyed this for the most part (because it is something I had never heard of before - a quick search on Youtube will show you the athleticism and beauty of the dances), I wish that the mystery aspect (that comes full force later) came to the forefront of the story a tad earlier on. It came in bits for roughly the first half, I just wish the bits were a smidgen more prominent from the start. That being said, when the plot twists kick in, the intensity really picks up. You're then quickly wrapped up in these gruesome murders, suspecting everyone in the town, and trying like hell to figure out who the mysterious murderer is - and if he'll be discovered.

The ending of the novel was perfectly paced, the suspense building at just the right moments, and keeping you turning the pages. And while this was a quick read (only 152 pages), I never felt let down, or as if the story had more to play out, or left anything unfinished. For being such a short novel, Blood did a fine job at keeping an even, steady plot pace, and fleshing out the story to its fullest potential.

Overall this was a pretty good read for me. I really loved getting a glimpse of British life, having a beautiful picture painted of the country I would love to someday visit, and getting to know the quirky people of Thorpe Amberely. And the mystery buff in me was more than satisfied with the devilish murders and secret killer. There's no denying that Alan Blood is a talented writer, surely to thrill many readers! This book is a mix of the strange, fascinating ways of the Machi, the ways of Morris dancers, and a dash of evil with a side of murder. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, enjoyable read!