“Elizabeth and Scarlett are young, attractive and independent women who buy a B&B in Blue Harbor Maine with romantic ideas about the quaint town and being in business for themselves. Instead, they walk into a decades-old nest of violence and prejudice, where dead bodies pile up day after day and a curse hangs over Blue Harbor like a guillotine. An epidemic of mistrust infects the townspeople as they worry who or what the killers are and who will be the next victim of The Curse. Events stymie even the police who are ready to assess blame on the two women, without any substantive evidence. Romantic entanglements complicate every aspect of a mystery that grows deeper moment by moment. Navigating the labyrinth of characters, clues, suspicions, frights and paranormal happenings keeps you turning the pages. Leist has created a breezy cozy mystery, a clean read that is suitable for teens and adults alike. Her writing is descriptive without weighing down the plot, and she keeps up the energy and momentum throughout. A good fun read that is very well written.”
Lots of twists and turns and I found it a very fast and interesting read.
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2021
Two friends decide to leave the big city and move to a small town–they are going to buy a Bed and Breakfast. They know it won’t be easy–but they both need a change of pace-so off they go to Blue Harbor, a small town in Maine.
Most small towns have their secrets but this one–yikes!! It doesn’t take long for Elizabeth and Scarlett to get involved in the curse of the town. They also meet some guys who they fall for immediately–well almost immediately. The sheriff in the town is always picking on them for no other reason than they are newcomers! They also happen to be where people are dying or disappearing–and there are a lot of them.
They do buy the Bed and Breakfast and all is going very well there—-until it doesn’t.
Just what is this curse–and who is the one who is causing it? Read this novel to find out! Lots of twists and turns and I found it a very fast and interesting read.
The very statement gives you a chill that races up your spine-The Dead at Heart captures you and launches the reader into the next adventure in the Dead Game ‘thrilogy!’ The new installment focuses on the relationship of Shana and William and the turmoil they face as they they work through their challenges.
Susanne Leist keeps the final book just as clever with her amazing talent for creating a world beyond our own. The tale remains true to the Goth style vampire setting adding twists in the story line to keep you turning the page. Love the setting of the book from the stoic mansions of Florida to the battles between vampires and werewolves. Leist’s series is a thrilling read, and highly recommend.
The Florida coast is beautifully evoked by water that ‘shimmered in alternating shades of azure and cerulean blue’ and ‘the scent of zinnias and lavender’ that ‘permeated the gentle wind.'”–Kirkus Reviews
The opening pages of “The Dead Game” grab you at the ankles and drag into the deeper story. There is something painfully wrong about the seemingly perfect town of Oasis. Without getting into spoilers, here’s my take. Leist’s cast of characters are interesting in and of themselves. They do leave you wanting to get to know them better; yet, as in real life you only get to see the sides and masks that others want you to see. That, to me, was the author’s point. Everyone in Oasis seems to have an agenda, and it’s hard to know what to believe. With that in mind, Leist does a great job of bringing to life the picturesque town of Oasis, and the menacing End House. The book is reminiscent of tales like “House on Haunted Hill,” yet with its own twists on the supernatural thriller. The story is well-paced and the dangers faced by Leist’s characters feels terrifyingly real. All in all, a good read. I look forward to reading more works from this author.
Author Susanne Leist weaves her magic in a story with all the elements to claim readers as her fan, enthralling them. Good and evil vampires battling for domination in Oasis.
Todd, a hybrid, born of a human and vampire love match, has a particular set of rules to follow. Linda, a girl from New York, has a traditional innocent who is ill prepare for the obstacles before her. Is the happy ending she craves outside of her reality? Early on in the meeting between the two, Linda and Todd, each fanned the embers of possibilities.
Taking a deep breath, she dashed to the boardwalk and banged headfirst into a hard chest. “Are you okay?” Todd steadied her, his hands grasping her shoulders. “I saw a shadow.” Linda gulped. “It was nothing.” “Let me walk you home.” As Linda strolled beside him to the boardwalk steps leading to the apartments, she glanced at his brooding face. “It’s quieter than usual this evening.” He took her hand as they descended the staircase. “Next time you work late, call me, and I’ll walk you home.” Her hand tingling from his touch, she nodded.
Author Leist develops this diverse cast of characters and their relationships masterfully. The story is engaging in every way if you are a fantasy fan. After reading The Dead Game, you may find yourself believing that vampires, hybrids, and humans coexist in your own town. Each page builds the story to the non-stop suspense ending that you won’t see coming. Recommended for young adults who adore fascinating stories. I added Book 2 to my reading list.
Linda and Greg’s love bond grows strong while William and Sam combat to attest their love for Shauna. A love triangle immerses. Elite vampires called ‘The Watchers’ live in a mansion concealed deep in the marshlands of Florida. Apprehension, divergences and tensions run high. The Watchers seize William and make him become one of them. Within the excitements and tumbles of the encounters among vampires and werewolves the realm is in turmoil. The 3rd book in ‘The Dead Game’ series is edgy and laden with tension, friendship bonds and passion. With astonishing twist and turns and rich word picture descriptions this paranormal read is a great addition to this series. Hats off to the creative author Susanne Leist.
Vampires live disguised in a small town in Florida, mixing with the population. Newcomer Linda opens a bookshop and befriends Shana, who has an esoteric shop. There are young men and a blonde bimbo to go out with – and everything is fine until they get an invitation to a party at End House.
In Ms Leist’s village, there are several unexpected species. The hybrids, half-human, and half-vampire, are difficult to single out. Then there are two groups of vampires, one of them working to protect humans and hybrids. The other group, the DEAD, wants to take over the world and rid it of human beings. Of course, the humans just want to live normal lives. Also, the village, and especially, End house, is full of illusions, some resembling the scary house in a fairground, except for the fact that they are armed with real predators and flying saws just to mention a few. The horror isn’t absent, but it is accompanied by not a few winks. It was an entertaining read that gave an insight into the antics of humans – let alone the vampires.
An explosion at Chateau Frontenac in Quebec doesn’t stop Shana and her friends from saving their town, and maybe even the world.
William’s bite bonded Shana to him, but he didn’t ask her to mate with him for life. She isn’t ready for a lifetime commitment. Now, William excludes her from his vampire meetings.
Shana understands he’s an original vampire with immense powers. For them to be a couple, he has to treat as an equal partner. If William doesn’t respect her, then what are their chances of finding happiness?
Shana speaks to Linda, her best friend, of her fears.
“Paradise is an illusion.” Shana’s face grows heated as her frustration mounts. “Oasis is a haven for vampires. I’m tired of their battles. The Watchers get rid of an evil group of vamps, and another group arrives and attacks. It’s a vicious cycle. Vampires are trouble.”
“We will have a happy ending.” Linda lifts her head. “Don’t lose faith. The Watchers will protect us, and Gregg has an elite force of original vampires.” She touches Shana’s arm. “William loves you; he won’t let something happen to you.”
“The vampires keep secrets from us.” Shana swallows the lump in her throat. “I don’t want to live with vamps anymore, and I need time to decide on my relationship with William. One minute, I’m suffocating, and then the next, I’m lost without him.”
As a new enemy descends on Oasis, Florida, Shana turns to Sheriff Sam, who broke her heart. Can she trust the human-vampire?
This begins Shana’s journey to fight vampires and werewolves with Sam at her side.
An explosion at Chateau Frontenac in Quebec doesn’t stop Shana and her friends from saving their town, and maybe even the world.
Susanne Leist
Sampler: The Dead at Heart
As the howls echoed louder, Shana jumped. “Are the animals in the house?”
“How can that be?” Linda clutched Shana’s arm. “Where are the guards?”
A black form lunged at them.
She grabbed Linda’s as they raced from the room. The enormous beast blocked their path to the stairs. In the darkness, yellow eyes glared at them. They dodged the multiplying animals and climbed the steps as high-pitched cries resonated through the house. “Hurry.” Dragging Linda behind her, Shana rushed to Linda’s suite and bolted the door behind them.
“I didn’t know the wolves are so huge.” Linda gulped her words between frantic breaths as she leaned against the door. When the animals lunged at the door, Linda jumped back. “If they break through the door,” her voice trembled, “they’ll tear us apart. I thought the vamps could protect us.” She slid against the wall to the floor.
Shana raced to the window. Shadows darted back and forth across the backyard. A few forms lay lifeless on the grass. “Men and wolves are fighting. There’s nowhere for us to run.” Her gaze flew to the door as it cracked from the force of the wolves’ bodies. She spun to Linda. “The wolves have us surrounded. We can’t escape them.”
Linda ran to the window and pointed. “Wait. Is that William?”
A tall figure marched across the lawn. Shana recognized the confident stride as he approached a melee of men and wolves rolling on the grass. At his shout, the animals raised their heads and scampered away. “William chased the wolves away. How did he do that?”
“The wolves might have recognized him as an original.”
Chills raced through Shana’s body as she asked, “Aren’t Gregg and many of his vampires, originals?”
A loud noise made them turn. The door burst open, and the animals slunk into the room, backing them against the window. Growls and snarls melded into a cacophony of horror in Shana’s head. They filled the room, saliva dripping from gaping jaws, moonlight glinting against pointy teeth. Head canted to the side, one appeared taller and broader. It stepped forward on hind legs and watched them through slanted yellow eyes. His peers, the ones standing upright, gathered around him.
Linda cowered beside her. “What do we do?”
“We fight.” Shana’s heart raced as her gaze darted around the room, searching for a weapon.
“They appear almost human.” Linda pointed at the tallest one. “It’s as if he wants to speak to us.”
“Not he. It,” Shana yelled. She needed a weapon—an umbrella. There was one beside her bed. “We’ve faced monsters. We kill or are killed.”
SUSANNE LEIST 