New Release!
Ghost Haunting (Maggie York Paranormal Mystery 3)
Genre: Paranormal mystery/ghosts
Publisher: Etopia Press
Release date: March 2, 2018
PG-13
Her most dangerous suspect may not be flesh and blood...
Since recovering from a sniper's bullet, homicide detective Maggie Girard has been able to see ghosts. With her partner, Josh Brandt, away on an undercover assignment, Maggie begins looking into two apparent suicides with odd paranormal elements. Surely the reports of ghostly sounds at both scenes were imaginations running wild. But she quickly discovers things aren't as they seem. These were murders...and something otherworldly is involved, a malignant entity unlike any she's encountered before. Something far more dangerous than a mere ghost.
The investigation takes another wild turn when a powerful stranger with quicksilver eyes begins showing up at the murder scenes. She can't decide if he's an ally or an enemy...or whether he's even human. When the strange deaths continue and the mystery deepens with no end in sight, she knows something is very wrong in New Orleans...and she can't fix it alone. For the first time she's facing an enemy who could kill her with a single touch...
YouTube Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/RD2foDCyXKM
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B3V4WCN
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/ghost-haunting
B & N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghost-haunting-ally-shields/1128068541?ean=2940159134004
ibookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ghost-haunting/id1353284721?mt=11
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ally_Shields_Ghost_Haunting?id=SQJODwAAQBAJ
Etopia Press: http://www.etopiapress.com/brands/Ally-Shields.html
All Amazon: http://authl.it/B07B3V4WCN
EXCERPT:
Chapter One
Detective Maggie York glanced at the first fingers of an April dawn and shortened her stride, the impact of her running shoes nearly silent on the paved path. Mist rose off the Mississippi River, curling across the New Orleans' riverwalk. Next to the outdoor canopy of Cafe du Monde, she slowed to a jog and took note of its only customers—an elderly couple with cameras and tour books, starting their sightseeing day with its famous coffee and beignets. Neither seemed awake enough to pay attention to Maggie. That was good. If she'd been followed or there was even a hint of surveillance, he wouldn't risk showing himself.
Her cop partner and steady boyfriend Josh Brandt had been undercover for the vice squad for a week now. An atypical assignment for a homicide cop, but the info that the gang was looking to recruit a dirty cop had come from his own informant. Since Josh and Maggie had just finished an assignment, he'd volunteered to follow up. Nobody thought he'd actually get inside the most entrenched drug gang in the city, but somehow he'd made it work. Relying on old drug charges (false but handy now) embellished by a much longer, imaginary rapsheet inserted into LE databases, he had played the role of a disgruntled cop and with the aid of his informant, he'd gained the attention of the gang leader.
The PD had known his activities, especially those outside the gang, would be under the intense scrutiny of drug lord Elias Moreno, but no one had anticipated Josh would call in to take emergency family leave instead of continuing to report to the station each morning. Something had changed his plans, making contact with Maggie or any of the PD tricky—and dangerous— since he was officially out of state.
But Maggie and Josh had planned ahead for the unexpected. Jackson Square overlook, 5:30 this morning. Although no one from the department had heard from him in four days, he'd be there…if he could.
She gave a final check for observers before climbing the stairs and stopping at the top to lean casually against the iron railing. The morning air carried the sweet scent of magnolias and an underlying hint of fish from the river, typical and reassuring. The historic French-style park of Jackson Square spread out before her, but she hardly noticed the statue or the sculptured grounds, her senses attuned to nearby sounds and movements. She tensed at a soft step on the stairs, but a familiar scent, an awareness unique to him, tugged a smile to her lips; a hand slipped around her waist.
Sighing in relief, Maggie turned into Josh's arms. "You're OK," she murmured leaning her forehead against his chest. It was the only sign of her fears that she would allow herself to show. He didn't need the extra burden.
Josh tightened his arms, and his lips brushed her temple. "I miss you, Red. That's the hardest part of this." They stood for several moments, absorbing the sensation of just being together, then he stepped back, cupping her face between his hands. His blue-gray eyes met her gaze. "I can't stay. We're off to South America in an hour. Some kind of trouble with the suppliers."
"Why are you going? Haven't you already done your part?"
"Yeah, I'm not exactly sure. I think Moreno is afraid I heard too much about the operation. Which I did." Uncertainty flashed across his face. "But I can't back out now. That would make him suspicious for sure and blow the entire op."
Maggie's heart skipped a beat. If everything had gone as planned, Moreno believed Josh had bought off the cops working afterhours as wharf security, and his drug shipments would be assured easy entrance. Josh should have returned to his normal detective work until the drug boss needed him again. The South American trip was an unexpected glitch.
"Does he suspect something?"
"I don't think so. At least nothing specific. Moreno is a cautious guy. I'm sure he's keeping me close until the deal is done to guarantee his trust wasn't misplaced."
"I don't like it."
"Neither do I, but if he was seriously troubled, I wouldn't be standing here."
She drew in a quick breath, knowing what he meant. "Don't even say that."
"And don't you borrow trouble, Maggie. I'll be out of touch a week or two, but I'm going to be the model gang member. I promise. I'm coming back to you. Now, tell Captain Jensen we're bringing in a large shipment of cocaine, and I'll get word to my contacts regarding when and where to make the bust. If everything goes smoothly, that'll be it. We'll have the gang, and my job for Vice will be finished."
Maggie bit her lip, forcing down a protest. He made it sound so simple, but a million things could go wrong. She might never know…except he wouldn't come back.
Maybe they should have called in another agency, DEA or border patrol. Maybe it wasn't too late to change their minds. But NOPD, like other border departments, prided themselves on handling their own cases without getting entangled with the feds. And Josh had volunteered.
She studied the shadowed planes of his face, the two-day growth of beard, the dark hair curling across his forehead and around his ears. He looked a little scruffy and needed a haircut. But she'd never loved him more…or been more afraid for him. She couldn't imagine what life would be like if he didn't come back. But she didn't say that. "Don't stay away too long. Captain
Jenson has me on boring desk duty. And starting Monday, I'm babysitting a new transfer. That will get old fast. I want my partner back."
Josh gave a deep chuckle and tucked her copper hair behind her ears. "That's my girl. Stay safe, Red." He pulled her into a hard kiss, then turned and bounded down the steps.
"Love you," she murmured.
Chapter One
Detective Maggie York glanced at the first fingers of an April dawn and shortened her stride, the impact of her running shoes nearly silent on the paved path. Mist rose off the Mississippi River, curling across the New Orleans' riverwalk. Next to the outdoor canopy of Cafe du Monde, she slowed to a jog and took note of its only customers—an elderly couple with cameras and tour books, starting their sightseeing day with its famous coffee and beignets. Neither seemed awake enough to pay attention to Maggie. That was good. If she'd been followed or there was even a hint of surveillance, he wouldn't risk showing himself.
Her cop partner and steady boyfriend Josh Brandt had been undercover for the vice squad for a week now. An atypical assignment for a homicide cop, but the info that the gang was looking to recruit a dirty cop had come from his own informant. Since Josh and Maggie had just finished an assignment, he'd volunteered to follow up. Nobody thought he'd actually get inside the most entrenched drug gang in the city, but somehow he'd made it work. Relying on old drug charges (false but handy now) embellished by a much longer, imaginary rapsheet inserted into LE databases, he had played the role of a disgruntled cop and with the aid of his informant, he'd gained the attention of the gang leader.
The PD had known his activities, especially those outside the gang, would be under the intense scrutiny of drug lord Elias Moreno, but no one had anticipated Josh would call in to take emergency family leave instead of continuing to report to the station each morning. Something had changed his plans, making contact with Maggie or any of the PD tricky—and dangerous— since he was officially out of state.
But Maggie and Josh had planned ahead for the unexpected. Jackson Square overlook, 5:30 this morning. Although no one from the department had heard from him in four days, he'd be there…if he could.
She gave a final check for observers before climbing the stairs and stopping at the top to lean casually against the iron railing. The morning air carried the sweet scent of magnolias and an underlying hint of fish from the river, typical and reassuring. The historic French-style park of Jackson Square spread out before her, but she hardly noticed the statue or the sculptured grounds, her senses attuned to nearby sounds and movements. She tensed at a soft step on the stairs, but a familiar scent, an awareness unique to him, tugged a smile to her lips; a hand slipped around her waist.
Sighing in relief, Maggie turned into Josh's arms. "You're OK," she murmured leaning her forehead against his chest. It was the only sign of her fears that she would allow herself to show. He didn't need the extra burden.
Josh tightened his arms, and his lips brushed her temple. "I miss you, Red. That's the hardest part of this." They stood for several moments, absorbing the sensation of just being together, then he stepped back, cupping her face between his hands. His blue-gray eyes met her gaze. "I can't stay. We're off to South America in an hour. Some kind of trouble with the suppliers."
"Why are you going? Haven't you already done your part?"
"Yeah, I'm not exactly sure. I think Moreno is afraid I heard too much about the operation. Which I did." Uncertainty flashed across his face. "But I can't back out now. That would make him suspicious for sure and blow the entire op."
Maggie's heart skipped a beat. If everything had gone as planned, Moreno believed Josh had bought off the cops working afterhours as wharf security, and his drug shipments would be assured easy entrance. Josh should have returned to his normal detective work until the drug boss needed him again. The South American trip was an unexpected glitch.
"Does he suspect something?"
"I don't think so. At least nothing specific. Moreno is a cautious guy. I'm sure he's keeping me close until the deal is done to guarantee his trust wasn't misplaced."
"I don't like it."
"Neither do I, but if he was seriously troubled, I wouldn't be standing here."
She drew in a quick breath, knowing what he meant. "Don't even say that."
"And don't you borrow trouble, Maggie. I'll be out of touch a week or two, but I'm going to be the model gang member. I promise. I'm coming back to you. Now, tell Captain Jensen we're bringing in a large shipment of cocaine, and I'll get word to my contacts regarding when and where to make the bust. If everything goes smoothly, that'll be it. We'll have the gang, and my job for Vice will be finished."
Maggie bit her lip, forcing down a protest. He made it sound so simple, but a million things could go wrong. She might never know…except he wouldn't come back.
Maybe they should have called in another agency, DEA or border patrol. Maybe it wasn't too late to change their minds. But NOPD, like other border departments, prided themselves on handling their own cases without getting entangled with the feds. And Josh had volunteered.
She studied the shadowed planes of his face, the two-day growth of beard, the dark hair curling across his forehead and around his ears. He looked a little scruffy and needed a haircut. But she'd never loved him more…or been more afraid for him. She couldn't imagine what life would be like if he didn't come back. But she didn't say that. "Don't stay away too long. Captain
Jenson has me on boring desk duty. And starting Monday, I'm babysitting a new transfer. That will get old fast. I want my partner back."
Josh gave a deep chuckle and tucked her copper hair behind her ears. "That's my girl. Stay safe, Red." He pulled her into a hard kiss, then turned and bounded down the steps.
"Love you," she murmured.
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