Moonset on the Desert Sands by Sherri L. Dodd
MOONSET ON DESERT SANDS
Murder, Tea, & Crystals, Book Two
By Sherri L. Dodd
Paranormal Thriller / Fantasy / Magical Realism / Witch-Lit
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Pages: 360
Publication Date: March 27, 2025
SYNOPSIS
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With a traumatic year of fending off a serial killer behind her, Arista has settled contentedly into her temporary home with Auntie in Sedona, Arizona. She enjoys her new job selling all things metaphysical and even has her eye on the hot security guard, Dakota, after her recent breakup with Shane.
But a series of new fainting spells has her worried, and when Auntie witnesses one, they decide the answer lies in her home of Boulder Creek. However, returning means not only dealing with her breakup and its heartache but also the possibility of drawing her bloodthirsty Uncle Fergus to her once safe haven in the redwoods. And this time he has recruited an even more dangerous alliance.
Arista's closest bonds will be strengthened, but the mounting tension of a death in the desert, a stalker on the streets, and the relentless pursuit of Fergus puts her in dangerous territory, and escaping sorrow proves impossible.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sherri L. Dodd was raised in southeast Texas. Walking barefoot most days and catching crawdads as they swam the creek beds, she had a love for all things free and natural. Her childhood ran rampant with talk of ghosts, demons, and backcountry folklore. This inspired her first story for sale, about a poisonous flower that shot toxins onto children as they smelled it. Her classmate bought it for all the change in his pocket. Shortly thereafter, her mother packed the two of them up and headed to the central coast of California. Since that time, she has worked corporate, married, raised two sons, and now writes full-time creating atmospheric paranormal fiction. Her debut novel – Murder Under Redwood Moon – shot straight to #1 on Amazon, holding firm as a Best Seller in the Occult Supernatural genre.
REVIEW
Moonset on Desert Sands is a riveting story that quickly pulled me into a world of tension and suspense. Within the first scene, I was gasping with dread and sitting on the edge of my seat.
Sherri L. Dodd’s knack for vivid description made the world she created come alive. Her distinct imagery contributed to the authentic voice of the story; I learned much about spirituality, mysticism, and the practices of the New Age community. Her lyrical passages also helped build foreshadowing and created a clear setting. One of my favorites was about the Sedona night sky:
“The speckling of celestial diamonds on deep, midnight blue set a bold contrast to the orange, glass-pebbled fireplace.”
The touch of horror and gore in the story does not fit my usual taste. However, those elements are integral to the suspense genre, and the author deftly uses them to enhance the book.
I appreciated the author’s cast of characters and the way each person served the plot. From Arista’s auntie to the local coven, to the relentless antagonist, and all the supporting characters along the way, Dodd had a plan and a purpose for every individual. While these story threads may have seemed disparate as they were introduced, the end of the story weaves them together in a clever, impressive way.
As for the finale, I especially liked the way that, while she didn’t end the story on a cliffhanger, she left the door wide open for the next book in the series. Speaking to that, while the story is self-contained, I think I would have benefited from reading the first book in the Murder, Tea, and Crystals trilogy, Murder Under Redwood Moon.
I enjoyed Moonset on Desert Sands and highly recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful, occult reads.
If you enjoyed this book, you might also enjoy watching: Charmed, Supernatural, Grimm
Sherri L. Dodd’s knack for vivid description made the world she created come alive. Her distinct imagery contributed to the authentic voice of the story; I learned much about spirituality, mysticism, and the practices of the New Age community. Her lyrical passages also helped build foreshadowing and created a clear setting. One of my favorites was about the Sedona night sky:
“The speckling of celestial diamonds on deep, midnight blue set a bold contrast to the orange, glass-pebbled fireplace.”
The touch of horror and gore in the story does not fit my usual taste. However, those elements are integral to the suspense genre, and the author deftly uses them to enhance the book.
I appreciated the author’s cast of characters and the way each person served the plot. From Arista’s auntie to the local coven, to the relentless antagonist, and all the supporting characters along the way, Dodd had a plan and a purpose for every individual. While these story threads may have seemed disparate as they were introduced, the end of the story weaves them together in a clever, impressive way.
As for the finale, I especially liked the way that, while she didn’t end the story on a cliffhanger, she left the door wide open for the next book in the series. Speaking to that, while the story is self-contained, I think I would have benefited from reading the first book in the Murder, Tea, and Crystals trilogy, Murder Under Redwood Moon.
I enjoyed Moonset on Desert Sands and highly recommend it to anyone who likes suspenseful, occult reads.
If you enjoyed this book, you might also enjoy watching: Charmed, Supernatural, Grimm
You might also enjoy listening to:
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Sounds like such an interesting series, though I'm not big on gore. Thanks for sharing!
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