From CHIMERAS, Chapter 3:
Rhesus stares at the pistol. He wavers, for no more than a second, then snags the weapon and storms out of the car.
The bang. And then another, and another.
Rhesus slams the trunk shut and returns inside the car. He is sweating heavily, dizzy from the rush -- intoxicated. His face is sprayed with blood and gunpowder, so are his clothes.
The reek of a new initiation, the aspersion of a blasphemous baptism.
The above is my Sunday snippet submission for the Weekend writer Warriors (you can find the Snippet Sunday group also on Facebook, too). Check them out, it's a fun way to find upcoming books -- all genres welcome, there's something for everyone's tastes.
CHIMERAS is the first in a detective thriller series featuring LAPD Detective Track Presius. To be sure not to miss the release date, subscribe to the blog posts in the main page. To request an ARC (advanced reserved copy), in exchange for an honest review to be posted on amazon or goodreads, send an email to eegiorgi(at)gmail.com with the subject line "ARC copy."
Click to download sample chapters (ePub, Kindle and PDF available).
Book Description: Haunted by the girl he couldn't save in his youth, and the murder he committed to avenge her, Detective Track Presius has a unique gift: the vision and sense of smell of a predator. When a series of apparently unrelated murders reel him into the depths of genetic research, Track feels more than a call to duty. Children are dying, children who, like himself, could have been healthy, and yet something, at some point, went terribly wrong. For Track, saving the innocent becomes a quest for redemption. The only way he can come to terms with his dark past is to understand his true nature.
You can find CHIMERAS on Goodreads.
Details on how to order your free advanced copy here.
Interesting snippet -- great description, love the use of the senses.
ReplyDeletethanks so much!
DeleteThis is an amazingly tense and densely-written moment. He's done such damage to himself with this act---but I'm sure he had no real choice at all.
ReplyDelete(Rhesus . . . as in Rhesus monkey? Is he one of the kids who were experimented on? If so, that may be one of the coolest names ever.)
thanks for that question Sarah! I wanted to play along with the double meaning of the word chimera -- both in genetics and mythology, so I sprinkled the book with references to mythology. I gave my main character the name Ulysses (Track is a nickname), but then I had a hard time looking for Ulysses' nemesis. Turns out his nemesis was king Rhesus, he was the most befitting, the only downside is that most people when they hear the name Rhesus they think of the monkeys... but the origin is from Greek mythology!
DeleteWow! Powerful. What a picture you've painted, E.E. That last line gave me chills. Good 8! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt does seem kind of dense, but strictly in a good way. It doesn't feel overdone. Kudos on a great excerpt!
ReplyDeletethanks so much Marcia!
DeletePowerful snippet!
ReplyDeletethank you Sandra!
DeleteLove the last line...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Millie!
DeleteFast moving, gritty, well written - excellent excerpt!
ReplyDeletethanks Veronica!
DeleteGreat detail!! I'm picturing that blood sprayed all over him.
ReplyDeletethanks, glad you like it :-)
DeleteTense...and intriguing. I want to know more about this.
ReplyDeletethanks, Sarah!
DeleteOh, I love the imagery of him after he fires the shot. But he was intoxicated? I hope he realizes what he's done when he sobers up. Good snippet!
ReplyDeletewell, he's the bad guy, so... ;-) thanks, Frank!
DeleteI love that last line. The whole thing pulled me in and made me so curious.
ReplyDeletethanks so much Elaine ! :-)
DeleteYou've done a great job of showing Rhesus as a bad guy. LOVE those short sentences that indicate gunshots, as well as your description of his reaction afterwards.
ReplyDeletethank you Sandra, happy to hear that :-)
DeleteScary and the kill seems very quick too.
ReplyDeleteVery gritty and real!
ReplyDelete