Book: No Man's Land
Publisher: Voo Doo Lily Press
Publication Date: June 16, 2016
Length: 159 Pages
Reviewed by Meredith
Synopsis
Amateur ghost hunters Cy and Zelda are invited to the BWCA in Northern Minnesota to investigate an alleged haunting at Brighton Lake Lodge. Mac, the owner, has returned home from London with plans to restart the family business, but the ghosts have to be dealt with first.
Interesting things happen the moment they arrive; it seems there isn’t one ghost, but many. One of them uses Zelda’s robot, Orwell, to communicate with them, and they find out the ghosts aren’t ghosts at all.
Set in a time in the not-so-distant future, the story destroys ideas of what is real, what isn’t, and the lengths people will go to in order to survive.
Excerpt
(Note: Orwell is a robot)
By dinnertime, Mac had given us a
tour and pointed out the areas where spooky things had happened. The lodge
seemed to be the central focus, but the largest cabin had also been favored.
Zelda and I set up game trail cameras in both places; they were an affordable
way to take pictures and video with audio in the dark, and a portable card
reader let us look at the results on our phones and then transfer the captures
to a laptop.
“Wildlife set those off too, right?”
Mac said.
“Yeah, but if they’re not inside the
cabins, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“What about mice? I guarantee there
are a few of those around.”
“Too small. The cameras would
capture raccoons and squirrels, though.”
Over grilled steaks and baked
potatoes in the kitchen, we decided to share the biggest bedroom on the second
floor in order to remain together at night. After washing the few dishes, we
took our things upstairs, then shoved a single bed in next to the double in the
only room with an ensuite bathroom; if anyone had to get up in the middle of
the night, they wouldn’t have to go down the hall. Then we trooped back
downstairs to wait for things to happen and sit in front of a fire until
bedtime; evenings in the North Woods were cool this time of year.
Orwell was set on his feet and
awakened. He gazed around the lobby, probably noticing details Zelda and I
hadn’t. “Where are we?”
“Brighton Lake Lodge,” Zelda said.
“We’re staying here a few days. We’re ghost hunting.”
“I like ghost hunting.”
“Do you believe in ghosts?” Mac
asked, smiling.
“I have never seen one. Their
existence is unsubstantiated. I hope to meet one soon.” Orwell walked over to
Zelda and put his hands on her knees. “Will you introduce me if one appears?”
She touched his shoulder. “Sure
thing, Orwell.”
“What will you do with the ghost
when you’ve located it?”
“Um….” Zelda shot me a look,
uncertain how to answer.
“Tell it to go away,” I said.
“Ghosts have another place to live, and they tend to scare people.”
The truth was we’d never once run
into a ghost, and I was starting to think they didn’t exist. But the
investigation was always fun, and I knew Zelda held out hope we’d one day find
evidence of spirits.
A door slammed on the second floor,
and we all jumped and looked up. I scrambled off the couch and raced up the
stairs, taking them two at a time. Zelda and Mac were at my heels. Not taking
the time to grab a digital camera, I went down the hall until I reached a room
with a closed door; the others were open, including the one to our shared
bedroom. The room was at the other end from where we were sleeping that night.
I opened the door and went in. It
was decorated with a made-up double bed, battered wooden dresser, and a small
desk and chair. Cheap prints of deer and ducks graced the walls. I crossed to
the only window and noted it was not only closed but locked.
“The wind didn’t slam the door,”
Zelda said, not the least bit scared.
Mac, on the other hand, looked worried.
“I didn’t see anything. Did you guys see anything?”
“Not a thing,” Zelda said, strolling
around the room. She was checking for cold spots.
“Anything?” I asked.
“Just the expected draft by the
window.”
The sun was going down, and it would
soon be cold enough to put on another layer of clothes. “Let’s set up a camera
in here, then return to the fire,” I said. “I’m chilled.”
Back in the lobby, Orwell was
standing where we’d left him. “Did you find a ghost?” he asked. When we told
him no, he seemed to droop with disappointment. “Maybe next time.”
Review
Normally when I review a book I talk about the plot a bit. I
say situations that I loved or didn’t so that I can explain my emotions. Well,
I can’t do that with No Man’s Land. I can’t because if I did that I’d
inevitably give something away. This story is a labyrinth and you have to
really be in it to get out of it.
Theo Fenraven is an eclecticist in his writing. Each book is
different. He has no steady pattern and because of that, you’re always
pleasantly surprised.
In No Man’s Land I wasn’t sure what to expect. Where would
this story take me? How will I feel? I must say, Theo never stopped my brain
from thinking. This story weaves around and when you think you’ve grasped it…
BAM… you don’t.
There’s suspense, frustration, and total wonder. This books
keep you on your toes and your head constantly turning.
Brilliant poetic writing. Memorable well-formed characters,
descriptive places and situations.
This isn’t a romance, there’s love, but that’s not the point
or focus of No Man’s Land. Only when you read it will that become clear to you.
This was a terrific read!
Giveaway
Theo will gift two people with copies of this book.
Simply fill out the rafflecopter below.
Contest ends July 4th
Thank you.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
