Fiction-Psychological thriller/suspense
Whimsical Publications,
LLC/paperback 282 pages
April 2010
$13.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-936167-06-7
Whimsical Publications,
LLC/paperback 282 pages
April 2010
$13.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-936167-06-7
When the whispers in the night, the whispers of her lover, are the whispers of a killer, will Margot
escape before she becomes the next victim?
Deep in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon, a serial killer stalks. He leaves his signature—a skull mask on
the corpse. But when the homicide cop realizes the crimes are the reenactment of a case never solved
ten years ago--all fingers point to Michael DeVeccio. And when Margot realizes she is married to the
killer, her life becomes a living nightmare.
escape before she becomes the next victim?
Deep in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon, a serial killer stalks. He leaves his signature—a skull mask on
the corpse. But when the homicide cop realizes the crimes are the reenactment of a case never solved
ten years ago--all fingers point to Michael DeVeccio. And when Margot realizes she is married to the
killer, her life becomes a living nightmare.
Suspecting her affair with Carlos, he had surveillance equipment installed all over the mansion. Once
he showed her the very graphic video of her and his uncle going at it in the satin-lined coffin, he’d
used it to his advantage.
Michael suspected his uncle knew more about his parents’ accident than he’d let on, but couldn’t prove
a thing. Desperate to uncover the truth, Michael blackmailed Candace into getting Carlos to confess
on tape. If she failed, she’d be killed. Stuck between a rock and a hard spot, Candace had done things
to the old coot that disgusted even her. But those things had made the old man sing like a canary and
the taped confession had saved her life. After her mission was a done deal, Michael kicked her out of
Vegas and told her if she ever returned, he would rip her lungs out.
Reaching Carlos DeVeccio’s bedroom, she got a little thrill as old memories surfaced. Just a few more
seconds and she’d fall into the arms of her lover. She smiled to herself. She had returned to Vegas for
a reason. She was flat broke. But after tonight, Michael would be her ticket back into the world of
luxury. Then she’d be mistress of the manor once more. And more to the point, she’d have access to
his billion dollar bank roll.
With a devious smile, she pushed her way through the heavy mahogany door. Crossing the threshold,
she entered the house of horrors. Carlos DeVeccio had been a real nut, one straight out of the books.
But with her fetish for face masks, she loved his collection and had often come into his wing just to
admire them. What a thrill it had been to have sex in the coffin, howling along with the werewolf. Some
might think it a bit kinky, but they didn’t know what they were missing. Calling out to her lover, her pulse
quickened a beat. “Michael? Are you here yet, darling?”
That’s when she heard it, manic laughter from the final circle of hell. A slither of fear trickled down her
spine, releasing a wild rush of adrenaline. Carlos?
She thought about the death of Lacy Diamond. Two Ninja assassinations were no coincidence.
Sensing danger, she felt for her sword. It was gone. Panic soared through her. Where the hell was it?
The laughter got louder and louder, moving in closer and closer. It seemed to be bouncing off the
walls. She couldn’t tell from which direction it was coming. Just then, the bell in the tower gonged,
thundering off the walls like canon balls. Instinctively, she covered her ears with her hands. Where the
hell was Michael?
Evil eyes from the face masks followed her every move. She had to escape this hell before it was too
late. She couldn’t think over the gonging of the bell. Every few seconds, the werewolf howled at the
moon. She screamed, even though she knew no one would ever hear her. Floundering in wild disarray,
disoriented by the darkness and relentless gonging, she searched in vain for the door. Her arms swam
in mid-air, like a person drowning, desperate for an anchor, something to hold onto. She reached out
and grabbed at nothing. She had to find a way out of this mausoleum of the living dead before it was
too late. Where the hell was Michael?
The laughter got closer. Perspiration drenched her skin. The chilling laughter echoed in her ears,
louder and louder, closer and closer. The bell in the bell tower broke through the thin filament of sanity
she had left. The werewolf open his mouth and howled at the moon. Where was Michael? He’d know
what to do. He was a master swordsman. His fencing skills were extraordinary. He could wield a Ninja
star with his eyes closed and hit the mark. Where was he?
Blood thundered in her ears, but not loud enough to block out the manic laughter. It was close but she
couldn’t see a thing. She wished she had her sword. She turned to run; it was too late. She heard a
distinct click. The killer had just depressed the button on her Zorro sword, releasing the thirty-seven
inch blade. His psychotic laughter reached an ear-splitting crescendo just as the bell in the tower
gonged out its last chime. From the dark shadows, Valentino pounced, her Zorro sword gleaming in the
moonlight.
“Surprise!” he thrust the sword into her heart. “I promised to make you scream, darling Candace. Let
me hear you scream.”
he showed her the very graphic video of her and his uncle going at it in the satin-lined coffin, he’d
used it to his advantage.
Michael suspected his uncle knew more about his parents’ accident than he’d let on, but couldn’t prove
a thing. Desperate to uncover the truth, Michael blackmailed Candace into getting Carlos to confess
on tape. If she failed, she’d be killed. Stuck between a rock and a hard spot, Candace had done things
to the old coot that disgusted even her. But those things had made the old man sing like a canary and
the taped confession had saved her life. After her mission was a done deal, Michael kicked her out of
Vegas and told her if she ever returned, he would rip her lungs out.
Reaching Carlos DeVeccio’s bedroom, she got a little thrill as old memories surfaced. Just a few more
seconds and she’d fall into the arms of her lover. She smiled to herself. She had returned to Vegas for
a reason. She was flat broke. But after tonight, Michael would be her ticket back into the world of
luxury. Then she’d be mistress of the manor once more. And more to the point, she’d have access to
his billion dollar bank roll.
With a devious smile, she pushed her way through the heavy mahogany door. Crossing the threshold,
she entered the house of horrors. Carlos DeVeccio had been a real nut, one straight out of the books.
But with her fetish for face masks, she loved his collection and had often come into his wing just to
admire them. What a thrill it had been to have sex in the coffin, howling along with the werewolf. Some
might think it a bit kinky, but they didn’t know what they were missing. Calling out to her lover, her pulse
quickened a beat. “Michael? Are you here yet, darling?”
That’s when she heard it, manic laughter from the final circle of hell. A slither of fear trickled down her
spine, releasing a wild rush of adrenaline. Carlos?
She thought about the death of Lacy Diamond. Two Ninja assassinations were no coincidence.
Sensing danger, she felt for her sword. It was gone. Panic soared through her. Where the hell was it?
The laughter got louder and louder, moving in closer and closer. It seemed to be bouncing off the
walls. She couldn’t tell from which direction it was coming. Just then, the bell in the tower gonged,
thundering off the walls like canon balls. Instinctively, she covered her ears with her hands. Where the
hell was Michael?
Evil eyes from the face masks followed her every move. She had to escape this hell before it was too
late. She couldn’t think over the gonging of the bell. Every few seconds, the werewolf howled at the
moon. She screamed, even though she knew no one would ever hear her. Floundering in wild disarray,
disoriented by the darkness and relentless gonging, she searched in vain for the door. Her arms swam
in mid-air, like a person drowning, desperate for an anchor, something to hold onto. She reached out
and grabbed at nothing. She had to find a way out of this mausoleum of the living dead before it was
too late. Where the hell was Michael?
The laughter got closer. Perspiration drenched her skin. The chilling laughter echoed in her ears,
louder and louder, closer and closer. The bell in the bell tower broke through the thin filament of sanity
she had left. The werewolf open his mouth and howled at the moon. Where was Michael? He’d know
what to do. He was a master swordsman. His fencing skills were extraordinary. He could wield a Ninja
star with his eyes closed and hit the mark. Where was he?
Blood thundered in her ears, but not loud enough to block out the manic laughter. It was close but she
couldn’t see a thing. She wished she had her sword. She turned to run; it was too late. She heard a
distinct click. The killer had just depressed the button on her Zorro sword, releasing the thirty-seven
inch blade. His psychotic laughter reached an ear-splitting crescendo just as the bell in the tower
gonged out its last chime. From the dark shadows, Valentino pounced, her Zorro sword gleaming in the
moonlight.
“Surprise!” he thrust the sword into her heart. “I promised to make you scream, darling Candace. Let
me hear you scream.”
| Reviews for Mask of the Betrayer |
| Excerpt for Mask of the Betrayer |
Comment/review = I just finished Sharon Donovan's Mask of The Betrayer and it blew me away.
I couldn't put it down and kept thinking. What would I do?????
One of the best reads I have had in an awfully long time!
Amazon review by: Mary R
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Have you ever watched a really scary, creepy movie where the heroine is all alone
in this spooky house, and goose-bumpy music is playing, and the heroine reaches for a door where
the bad guy is lurking, and you're sitting on the edge of your seat screaming, "Don't do it! Don't do it!
Don't do it!" That's how you feel throughout this book. You're wanting to tell Margot, "Don't believe
him! Run away! Why are you sticking around?"
And I won't tell you the reasons why she does -- Again, read the book, and find out why.
Could this book become a movie, and Michael DeVeccio the next Freddy Krueger? Oh, yeah, but don't
ask me to watch it. The book terrified me all by itself.
Amazon review by: Miss Mae
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Ms. Donovan has written a gripping suspense- thriller meant to charm and chill her
readers. During the day you’ll run background checks on everyone you know and meet. Nights will
offer no respite, bringing only maniacal laughter with its starlit skies.
Recommendations:If you enjoyed the movies Touched by Evil, Sleeping with the Enemy, and Enough
you’re going to enjoy this novel. It’ll also appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, thrillers, and
anyone who watches the television show C.S.I.
My thoughts: It’s eerie when someone drugs Margot with hallucinogenic drugs. And when the murderer’
s last hold on reality slips, the emergence of his different identities is purely sinister.
Favorite scene: Detective Santiago knows the gravity of keeping duty and desire as far from each
other as possible. When he’s no longer capable of hiding his feelings for Margot, he’ll let her know.
Mmm-hmm, no question!
-Susan S., guest reviewer
Love Romance Passion
Rating: 4 Stars
I couldn't put it down and kept thinking. What would I do?????
One of the best reads I have had in an awfully long time!
Amazon review by: Mary R
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Have you ever watched a really scary, creepy movie where the heroine is all alone
in this spooky house, and goose-bumpy music is playing, and the heroine reaches for a door where
the bad guy is lurking, and you're sitting on the edge of your seat screaming, "Don't do it! Don't do it!
Don't do it!" That's how you feel throughout this book. You're wanting to tell Margot, "Don't believe
him! Run away! Why are you sticking around?"
And I won't tell you the reasons why she does -- Again, read the book, and find out why.
Could this book become a movie, and Michael DeVeccio the next Freddy Krueger? Oh, yeah, but don't
ask me to watch it. The book terrified me all by itself.
Amazon review by: Miss Mae
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Ms. Donovan has written a gripping suspense- thriller meant to charm and chill her
readers. During the day you’ll run background checks on everyone you know and meet. Nights will
offer no respite, bringing only maniacal laughter with its starlit skies.
Recommendations:If you enjoyed the movies Touched by Evil, Sleeping with the Enemy, and Enough
you’re going to enjoy this novel. It’ll also appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, thrillers, and
anyone who watches the television show C.S.I.
My thoughts: It’s eerie when someone drugs Margot with hallucinogenic drugs. And when the murderer’
s last hold on reality slips, the emergence of his different identities is purely sinister.
Favorite scene: Detective Santiago knows the gravity of keeping duty and desire as far from each
other as possible. When he’s no longer capable of hiding his feelings for Margot, he’ll let her know.
Mmm-hmm, no question!
-Susan S., guest reviewer
Love Romance Passion
Rating: 4 Stars
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| Whimsical Publications, LLC |
| "Creating worlds one chapter at a time." |
| Mask of the Betrayer Sharon Donovan |
