Cryptic (Garbageman)

A new supernatural adventure into the complex underworld of vampire nightclubs, werewolf cults, and psychic superheroes.A STANDALONE NOVEL.Finalist, Horror - 2018 IAN Book of the Year AwardFirst Place - 11th Annual National Indie Excellence AwardsOfficial Selection, Horror - 2017 New Apple Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing"Fun, yet brutal, with the same winning humor." ~ KIRKUS REVIEW"The pulse is powerful, the characters real and memorable, and they are crafted to create the kind of conflict that transforms a simple story into an extraordinary tale." ~ Readers' Favorite 5-star Review"This book mixes horror with Native American culture in Arizona (specifically, the Hopi tribe), and the two aspects are interweaved flawlessly."David and his wife, Julie, are still recovering from the previous events in Garbageman. David's telekinetic abilities have disappeared, and he’s eager to discover why. Meanwhile, Julie has immersed herself in Southwest Native American art and culture. She collects kachina figures — handmade dolls symbolizing strange and powerful spirits. Her knowledge of mythology will come in handy when the supernatural world comes to call on the couple and David finds himself in possession of a strange Hopi artifact.Dogging them both is a serial killer, the Fisherman, and other paranormal demons and enemies. To defeat these dark forces, the couple will have to put their trust in a mysterious new ally.Like its predecessor, Cryptic is written in author Erik Dean’s signature synthetic style. Science fiction, horror, mystery, the occult, and even the metaphysical, exist side by side in Dean’s rich world of the supernatural Southwest.GET YOUR COPY!Other Books by ERIK DEAN:GarbagemanCruel and UnusualCrueler and More UnusualConnect with Erik Dean on Twitter: @AuthorErikDean

Amazon.com Review

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite Cryptic is book two in a compelling series by Erik Dean: Garbageman. It is a gripping story that features humans, supernatural heroes, demons, werewolves, and vampires. Well, when some readers hear about werewolves and vampires, they immediately think about the clichés associated with this genre, but this is a unique story with memorable characters and a strong story line. David Turley has lost his telekinetic gifts after events he has lived through most recently and, while he is figuring out how to regain his powers,

From Kirkus Reviews

In this sequel, an artist finds his psychic powers waning as a serial killer and a supernatural horde descend on Arizona.It’s been two years since the Bangers shot David Turley and Dr. Newman saved his life. Using the experimental substance Neurogen, the doctor gifted David with healing abilities and telekinesis in Dean’s (Garbageman, 2015) previous installment. Now, David has married girlfriend Julie, and the two artists are enjoying life in Phoenix. One weekend, they visit a Hopi reservation. Julie acquires a new kachina figurine for her collection, and David finds a mysterious man who gives him the corner of a stone tablet. “With this piece of stone comes a great responsibility,” the man tells him. Later, news outlets report that a serial killer called the Fisherman is terrorizing the area, leaving mutilated bodies in his wake. David wonders about his responsibility to the city after using his psychic talent to create a trash monster that fought the Bangers. Recently he’s been visiting Newman—not only to develop a safer version of Neurogen, but also because his powers seem to be vanishing. At his latest appointment, David sits in the waiting room after some tests, anticipating the results. Newman, however, disappears. In this novel, Dean presents his hero—who’s a cross between the Hulk and a dumpster—with some familiar horror villains. Early in the narrative, the ghoulish Fisherman thread brings readers to an underground conclave of vampires and werewolves. The monstrous horde is led by Hellann, whose power over her minions isn’t quite what is seems. Add to this mix some Hopi lore about the shape-shifting Ya Ya, or as David’s mentor Bradley explains, “Have you ever wondered why nobody has ever caught...Bigfoot? It’s because they are Native American skin walkers.” Dean once again keeps the mood fun (at one point, David thinks, “It is time to do some recycling”) yet brutal (a werewolf rips “half a rib cage from a running man”). Sometimes the story flows too placidly, as when David learns about manipulating energy and his “third eye” with little resistance. Horror fans should nevertheless celebrate the author’s flair for demented action and gore.With the same winning humor, the Garbageman evolves to face deadlier challengers.

From the Back Cover

The place is Vietnam; the year, 1972. Hopi soldier Tov'okinpi--or Bradley, as his fellow US servicemen call him--has died in combat. Then he wakes up. Bradley is different now, and he has a job to do. As ordered by his spirit guide, he becomes a demon slayer and supernatural soldier. His fantastic powers, however,will not be enough to stop the forces converging in his home state of Arizona. Bradley's most important battle won't be in the jungles of Vietnam; it'll be back in the deserts of the southwestern United States. Decades later, David Turley and his wife, Julie, are questioning the disappearance of David's once-wondrous telekinetic powers. Their destinies become entwined with Bradley's, along with those of a brutal serial killer, a suspicious detective, and a cult full of supernatural entities. Who can possibly win when the spirits themselves go to war?

About the Author

Multi-award winning author Erik Dean lives in Arizona, where he has worked in the medical field as an X-ray technologist for over 25 years. Besides writing, he enjoys reading, watching new and classic movies, the Renaissance festival, the gym and traveling. He is an Autism advocate and his favorite animal is a border collie.

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