Review of Murder Under Redwood Moon

[N parvin]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Murder Under Redwood Moon" by Sherri Lynn Dodd.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Murder Under Redwood Moon by Sherri Lynn Dodd is a gripping murder mystery thriller beautifully blended with dark horror and witchcraft that will make you gasp with anticipation at every turn of the page. This book offers an array of elements: love, friendship, romance, sacrifice, violence, murder, suspense, witchcraft, black magic, and more. The plot gradually builds up as you read, with rising suspense. You will witness torment and gruesome torture, the sick mind of a serial killer, and bone-chilling instances of black magic, alongside the unconditional bonds of love, friendship, and family. Readers will then experience a fully action-packed climax with a creepy touch, which is sure to satisfy any mystery and thriller lover.
 
The book begins with Ian having foresight in his dream about his brother-in-law, Fergus, cruelly hurting his precious eight-year-old daughter Arista using black magic. Trembling with rage and fear, he and his wife, Kiera, immediately rushed to their daughter's room to check on her, only to find her peacefully sleeping. Relieved, he asked Arista some questions to confirm nothing was wrong, but his suspicions became reality when he discovered a dried scar on her belly. He knew immediately that it was Fergus's doing. This situation sets the basis of the plot.
We then see Arista, now twenty-three, living in her inherited mountain cottage at Redwood, with her aunt living a block away. She works in a crystal store and leads a happy and peaceful life surrounded by friends, family, and nature.
 
Arista's family is gifted with powers—they are witches who perform only white magic to protect themselves and sometimes their community. Arista was born with unique powers, which is why her evil uncle Fergus wanted to use black magic to steal them when she was eight. Her parents, deeply bonded with their powers, decided to leave Arista with her aunt Bethie to protect her from Fergus.
 
Now grown, Arista has learned all the good witchy rituals and chants from her aunt. One day, she briefly encounters her middle school friend Michelle, who later goes missing and is found brutally murdered. The town initially thinks it’s an isolated incident, but when another girl named Lilith is found dead in the same river, they realize a serial killer is at large. As more girls disappear, the town is terrorized, and the authorities are desperate to find the killer. Will they be able to save the latest victim, Tiffany? Could Arista be the next target? Is there a connection to Fergus? Prepare for a tale of chilling horror, inhuman brutality, dark black magic, and the divine power of white witchcraft that will blur the line between reality and the supernatural.
 
What I truly admired about the book was the author's ability to maintain suspense until the climax. The author skillfully reveals just enough to keep readers from feeling lost, yet preserves the suspense to maintain interest. It's commendable how well he balances this. Additionally, the blend of serial-killing thrillers and spooky witchcraft was unique. I don't think I've ever read a book with such concepts, which made it twice as interesting and appealing to me. The author's engaging writing style is worth mentioning. As you move from one chapter to another, you may initially be unsure of which character's perspective you're reading, but it all connects perfectly. Each chapter, written from different characters' perspectives, is beautifully interconnected, ensuring you don't feel lost or disconnected. Furthermore, the author's attention to detail is spot-on. The vivid descriptions of surroundings, characters' features, and especially nature, weather, and environment create a clear, serene image in my mind. This level of detail is highly commendable. 
 
On a lighter note, I learned many tea recipes from the book. As a tea lover, I was amused by the variety. Another noteworthy point is the strong message about the effects of neglected or overly strict parental behavior on children’s mental health. The genuine bonds of relationships portrayed were heartwarming. The romance between Arista and her boyfriend Shane was super cute and steamy, making me blush at times. The climax is the book’s most thrilling part, with action, spookiness, and unpredictability making it super enthralling. The author ends the book on a cliffhanger, hinting at a potential sequel, which I am very much looking forward to, as there are still questions left unanswered.
 
There's nothing to dislike about the book. It was a very fulfilling experience for me. I should mention that it contains curse words and descriptions of violent brutality, which may be sensitive for some readers. I found very few errors, and overall, it’s well-edited. These elements didn’t affect my reading experience, so I rate this book a well-deserved 5 out of 5. I recommend it to mystery, thriller, horror, and witchcraft enthusiasts. The book exceeded my expectations.

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Murder Under Redwood Moon
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[Sandre Lamar]

The pacing of the story was perfect, keeping me hooked throughout.

[NetMassimo]

This novel can be really dark in some violent contents but those seem to be part of a plot that mixes thriller and horror in a story centered around magic and witchcraft. Thank you for your great review!

[Kristin Cowan]

I love a good witchy book. Thank you for the review!

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

Everyone loves a good thriller and one that’s infused with the supernatural can be riveting. Sheri Lynn Dodd has written a good book which develops well. A real page turner. Thanks for the review.

[Jorge Leon Salazar]

This is a gripping murder mystery thriller mixed with dark horror and witchcraft. It offers a variety of elements like: love, friendship, romance, sacrifice, violence, murder, suspense, witchcraft, and black magic. The mystery of a serial killer usually keeps you on the edge of your seat with suspense as the plot progresses. It sounds appropriate for mystery, suspense, horror, and witchcraft enthusiasts.

[Brienna Cooper]

Excellent review! This book seems like a good choice for prepping ahead of the Halloween season.

What I truly admired about the book was the author's ability to maintain suspense until the climax. The author skillfully reveals just enough to keep readers from feeling lost, yet preserves the suspense to maintain interest. It's commendable how well he balances this.

This is definitely not an easy feat! My hat goes off to any writer that can achieve such balance (or as close to it as possible).

On a lighter note, I learned many tea recipes from the book. As a tea lover, I was amused by the variety. Another noteworthy point is the strong message about the effects of neglected or overly strict parental behavior on children’s mental health. The genuine bonds of relationships portrayed were heartwarming.

All of this is my cup of tea (no pun intended lol). It’s the “fluffier” aspects that help me get through stories with a ton of darkness and intensity, like this one. Sometimes, they’re what makes it all worth it!

[Seetha E]

Riss, born with unique powers, faces an evil eye in the form of her uncle. The sample read is absolutely captivating, filled with intriguing themes and a beautifully crafted narrative and a well-written review; saving for future reading.

[Nerea]

I enjoy reading crime thrillers, however, I may want to skip this book because some aspects featured are not to my liking. For instance, dark horror and witchcraft are aspects that would turn me off. I hope readers who'd get a taste of the story will enjoy reading the book.

[Princevic Ekeoma]

This book seems to be an all-encompassing read of love and romance, violence and murder, witchcraft and black magic, and a lot more. Even though I'm not a lover of fairy tales, however my interest is already aroused to read this book. A beautiful review.

[Kaviarasi Rathnavelu]

Thank you for such a brief review. It helps readers to make better choices. This isn’t my cup of tea but I would recommend it to others who love to read Murder mystery. Congrats on BOTD..

[AJIBOLA Olasunbo Aminat]

A book that combines murder mystery, thriller, dark horror, and witchcraft is perfect for me. I like that your review is detailed. Reading it makes me want to add "Murder Under Redwood Moon" by Sherri Lynn Dodd to my shelf now! Congratulations!

[Rupali Mishra]

Congrats on BOTD!
Unusual powers from birth, Riss must deal with her uncle's evil eye. Amazing topics and a masterfully written story. Everyone enjoys a good thriller, and those with a supernatural bent can be particularly compelling. This well-developed work by Sheri Lynn Dodd is well-written.

[Alex Davis 4]

Reading 'Murder under Redwood Moon' was like stepping into a foggy night in a mysterious forest.The prose is elegant and the descriptions evocative, transporting the reader into a world of shadows and suspense.

[Bertha Jackson]

This is the first book I have encountered that mixes witches and serial killers in its storyline. I am sure it will be a thrilling read that I don't want to miss. Thank you for your informative review.