Book Review

Basic Details:

Book Title: The Curse of the Ruby Eyes

Subtitle: (The Twelve Gems of Murder #1)

Author: Shelly M. Neinast

Genre: Mystery/Romance

Part of a series? Yes

Order in series: 1

Best read after earlier books in series?

Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59464866-the-curse-of-the-ruby-eyes

Overall score:

I scored this book 4/5

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Short Summary of the book:

Amelia Albert comes from a long line of archaeologists. Although she is interested in the field, her chosen career lies in the solving of crimes, especially cold cases. In this first book in the series, she attempts to solve the murder of some archaeologists and also of her great-grandfather. She did not expect to find romance and the paranormal.

What I liked about the book:

The book is action-filled and fast-paced.

What I didn’t like about the book:

The book was enjoyable in its entirety.

My favourite bits in the book:

How Amelia accepts what few other people would.

My least favourite bits in the book:

The book was a good read.

Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author.

What books could this be compared to and why?

The book is different to most others I’ve read. A mixture of crime, cold cases and the paranormal.

Recommendation:

In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:

Children No

Young Adult Probably

Adult Yes

If you like to read fairy stories and horror, this book may be the book for you.

Book Description by Author:

Dark secrets lurk in Amelia Albert's family history, and the murder of her great grandfather spurs her to become a detective investigator. However, what she was about to discover was more than what she'd ever expected to find.

Amelia didn't believe in curses or the supernatural kind until she saw her first homicide case. They found a pile of ash on the ground, along with a small stone dragon at the scene, and a Burmese curse written on the wall reminded her of notes she had read from her great grandfather's unsolved murder in 1938.

Amelia partners with her boss, Detective Robert Flatterly, to work the case, and Amelia's ancestry becomes the focal point of the case. She discovers the roots go much deeper into the past than she thought. Seven hundred years in the past, to be exact.

She uncovers that a tattoo she received along with her best friend Serafina, when they were younger, was created with ink made by Serafina's grandma who practiced voodoo. When Amelia unknowingly rubs on her tattoo, it transported her to the past, giving Amelia a different perspective on the crimes committed.

After solving her first supernatural crime, Amelia decides to open a new secret department within her cold case department called, The Department of Investigations of Supernatural Crimes (D. I. S, C) at the Rose Arbor Island Police Department.

Can Amelia and Detective Flatterly find the scroll that can extinguish the curse and send the Naga Dragon back to the Netherworld permanently? Or will they become ash like the other victims?

About the Author:

I started writing at age 15 from extensive traveling when I was young. I went to college and received a BA in History and minors in Anthropology and Archeology. There, they introduced me to the cultural and mythological world, creating my desire to write in the supernatural and mystery genres.

In my spare time I also write folklore short stories, historical and romance time travel genres.

I have published book 1 The Curse of the Ruby Eyes, and have book 2 The Pearl of the Pirate Heart of the Twelve Gems of Murder series also on Amazon available now.