Scarlet at Crystal River (The Haunted Shores Mysteries Series...

All Darrell Henshaw wanted was to enjoy his honeymoon with his beautiful wife, Erin, in the charming town of Crystal River on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida. But his carefully laid plans go sideways when they discover a hidden painting of two young Latino children, which turns out to be haunted. Is Darrell willing to derail their entire honeymoon in this perfect, quiet corner of the world to unravel the mystery of the children's deaths?

N N Light Bookheaven

"I whipped through the pages as I couldn't wait to read what happened next. A ghost story with a twist, Scarlet at Crystal River is a bestseller in the making. Highly recommend!" 5+ Stars"

Literary Titan, Gold Award Scarlet at Crystal River is a rollercoaster of a mystery, hurtling up and down hills and around sharp corners until the very end, when the reader is left slightly breathless, waiting for their hearts to beat back to a normal rhythm."★★★★★

"Scarlet at Crystal River is a suspenseful paranormal novel with compelling characters and an enigmatic mystery that drives the story to a riveting conclusion."★★★★★

InD'tale Magazine

"A mesmerizing story which consumes the reader from the very first page...Overbeck is a fantastic storyteller...perfect for those readers looking for a mystery that will keep them on the edge of their seats and up until the wee hours?" ★★★★★ "Crown of Excellence" award

From the Inside Flap

Darrell started, "Like I said back there it's complicated. We—"Erin's side window exploded. The fractured glass shot slivers across the front seat. The sound of an explosion followed, a beat behind. Erin screamed. Something stung Darrell's right arm. He grabbed a cut on his skin and then looked across the seat. Damn. Erin's arm was bleeding, bad. He couldn't breathe. "Erin?" He stared at her for a second and then jerked his gaze back to the road and straightened the car. Something hit the rear window. Luis yelped. The glass shattered and a second later, another crack followed. Luis fell forward. Was he hit? Darrell's gaze jumped from the road to Erin to the back seat. Luis had fallen to the floor. Darrell couldn't see him."Luis?" Erin called.No answer.Dragging his eyes from the road, Darrell shot another glance at Erin. Her entire arm was now turning red, the edge of her short sleeve wicking up the scarlet. The fingers of her left hand gripped tight around her right arm, the knuckles turning white. The blood still seeped through. Dragging his eyes from Erin for a second, he turned in his seat to try to look into the back. He screamed, "Luis!" Darrell wrenched farther around to look and his leg bumped the steering wheel. He heard an ugly thump. Too late, he jerked back around to see the car careen over the berm. In three seconds, it slammed into a tree. He heard another explosion and was slammed back against the seat. Everything went dark.

From the Back Cover

One central feature of this story is the portrait of two young Latino children, which to Darrell appears to have special powers and helps lead him to seek justice for the kids. The character I used for the artist who created that special painting is based on a very real artist who does indeed paint with his hands—as well as in more conventional ways. He heralds from South Carolina, where he has a flourishing studio. While I attempted to capture him as young man extending his artistic wings in northern Florida, the episodes I wrote into the narrative are wholly the fabric of my imagination, though I hope I did justice to his talent and character.In reality, Jared Emerson is today a world renowned and recognized artist who is perhaps most famous for his live painting of individuals, objects and even the Face of God. Jared has taken his charcoal, oils, acrylic and graphite to locations all over the world to perform and create. He is blessed and empowered by his strong Christian faith and brings an intensity to his creations not often seen in an artist. Millions have witnessed and awed, in person and on television, as his creations emerge on canvas from his inspiration, talent, and faith.Using careful, meticulous brushing or rapid, fluid motions of his fingers and hands, he has captured on canvas such memorable individuals as Mohammed Ali, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Albert Einstein as well as many athletes and celebrities. Because of his incredible talent, he has asked to perform his live paintings at fundraisers for such organizations as the Ronald McDonald House, Make-a-Wish Foundation and Big Brothers and Big Sisters. The venues where he has been asked to create his unique, artistic magic are many and varied, from cruise ships and major sporting events to small family gatherings and intimate wedding receptions. In fact, our paths crossed several years ago on board a Royal Caribbean cruise ship where he was doing a special event with Pittsburgh Steeler fans to raise money for charity.For Jared Emerson, his faith and talent are intertwined and interconnected. His own words capture it best: "My faith guides me. The focus of my work is to capture the essence of what I create, whether it's person, an object or anything you can envision. Christ has given me the strength to provide a level of intensity that pours onto the canvas at every event. With every stroke and every detail, I let my heart pour onto the canvas."

About the Author

Dr. Randy Overbeck: Award-winning educator, best-selling author, in-demand speakerDr. Overbeck has served children as a teacher, college prof and school leader for more than three decades and this experience has infused his writing with a rare authenticity. Using the canvas of the normal, sedate public school, he has crafted tales of suspense, mystery and breath-taking action, where his characters—teachers, prinicpals, janitors—face daunting, out-sized challenges such as a terrorist attack or a murderer. His work has captivated readers and has earned national awards including "Thriller of the Year" (ReadersFavorite) "Gold Award" (Literary Titan) "Mystery of the Year" (ReaderViews) and "Crowned Heart of Excellence" (InD'tale magazine). His first novel, LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND and his Haunted Shores Mystery trilogy have all earned numerous five star reviews from national and international reviewers. The first two entries in series, BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE (2019) and CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY (2020), have even become Amazon and B & N Bestsellers. Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers' critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences. When he's not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentations, "Things Still Go Bump in the Night" and "A Few Favorite Haunts," he's spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.

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