Halvyn Dawn

Blood Becoming, #1

by

Gail Waterhouse

Edgy, futuristic paranormal murder mystery!

Blood Becoming: Halvyn Dawn is the first book in author Gail Waterhouse’s new futuristic paranormal crime thriller series, Blood Becoming, and it nails you to your seat from the very beginning, eager to discover the truth behind the murders. Detective Chief Inspector Eleanor Moore investigates a series of unusual murders in which the victims are eerily and methodically drained of blood. The first two deaths, a sister and brother, occur aboard the Mar Despierta, a ship carrying the desperate fleeing survivors of an environmental disaster in Puerto de Málaga, Spain, including Eleanor’s own son. Jamie Moore is the only individual who has been seen interacting with the deceased pair and naturally puts him at the top of the suspect list. But as the deaths continue, Eleanor discovers there may be a connection to a widely distributed vaccine with some surprisingly far-reaching and hastily covered-up side effects. 

DCI Eleanor Moore is renowned as a no-nonsense investigator but has recently suffered some personal setbacks. She is a very engaging and relatable main character. Although a clear conflict of interest exists, she must investigate the deaths of the Adebayo siblings even though her own son is among the passengers and suspects. She manages a large team, but her right-hand man is Detective Sergeant Zain Malik, also very likable, and they handle her son’s involvement like everyone else. They have their work cut out for them, as anyone on board the ship is a suspect, and there are few guaranteed criteria to rule anyone out. 

The story provides a first-person narrative from the shadowy, anonymous killer, who describes the hunger and need they feel and the details of their first kill: an accidental kill they never meant to happen, but one that initiated an unprecedented desire for blood. The author enhances the killer’s vampire-like addiction with a twist as they also receive the memories of the victim, vibrant, vivid, and as seductive as the hunger-assuaging blood. 

The 2046 near-future English setting includes expected changes and advancements, but the world remains quite familiar. Its close link to present reality makes the revelations Eleanor uncovers all the more frightening and believable. 

I recommend BLOOD BECOMING: HALVYN DAWN to readers of paranormal crime thrillers.

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