Ghosts of Mateguas: A Mateguas Island Novel

Genres: Dark Fantasy; Occult & Supernatural; Horror; Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

The body of a young girl, found floating in the icy waters of Scarborough Marsh...
Six men, over a span of thirty-five years, disappear without a trace...
A harbinger of evil, so ancient it defies memory, surfaces on the rocky shores of Mateguas...

Journey, with Karen and her family, back to the mythos, passion, and magic, and join her as she seeks to finally lay to rest the ... GHOSTS OF MATEGUAS.

GHOSTS OF MATEGUAS is the third full-length novel in highly acclaimed, award-winning, MATEGUAS ISLAND SERIES.

2017 FINALIST IN "THRILLERS," Book Excellence Awards
2017 FINALIST IN HORROR/SUSPENSE - IAN Book of the Year Awards..

"Ghosts of Mateguas joins others in the Mateguas Island saga in providing the third novel in a series that excels in blending supernatural forces with a family's relationships and the lure of an island which has changed all their lives ... Ghosts of Mateguas offers a compelling saga of grief, guilt, and perseverance that deftly combines suspense with supernatural intrigue. Prior fans of the series, especially, will find the further interactions between the characters to be engrossing and satisfying, staying true to prior events while adding deeper insights and tension and intrigue to the mix and adding a dose of revelations and truths that draw together prior events in a satisfying new story just as well-crafted as its predecessors." ~ Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

"...a vivid and poetic read that beautifully channels modern supernatural melodrama ... Watkins plays to some deeply apparent strengths in this series, and Ghosts of Mateguas is another home-run of a title. Anyone looking for something different along the lines of Shirley Jackson or Stephen King, your prayers have been answered. Ghosts of Mateguas stands as a spellbinding exemplar of modern Gothic Americana." ~ SELF-PUBLISHING REVIEW

"Linda Watkins' supernatural suspense novel, Ghosts of Mateguas: A Mateguas Island Novel, is dark, fast-paced and intense ...I had a grand time reading Ghosts of Mateguas and hope the author decides to write a fourth book in this terrifying and suspenseful series. It's most highly recommended." ~ Jack Magnus for READERS' FAVORITE (5-Star Review)

"Those who love stories with some touch of mystery will not be disappointed with this one ... Watkins writes with moving simplicity, a kind of prose that tantalizes and is difficult to put down, because it rings with an eloquence that is akin to the spell of the ghosts sauntering along the rocky shores of Mateguas. It can be difficult to believe a story told about humans and ghosts, but when that story is told by Watkins, it becomes as convincing as it is real ... The story is fast paced; the suspense is so skillfully built into the story to have the reader turning the pages, and the characters are solid enough that any reader will care about what happens to them. One would say that Ghosts of Mateguas comes with a spell that makes the book impossible to put down. Beautifully written by a writer of a rare caliber." ~ Romuald Dzemo for READERS' FAVORITE (5-Star Review)

"I found Ghosts of Mateguas to be a quick-paced psychological thriller/horror story. The various stories that made up the tapestry of the whole were equally engaging, and kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy books similar to Stephen King and Dean Koontz, be sure to check out the Mateguas Island books!" ~ J. Aislynn d'Merricksson for READERS FAVORITE (5-Star Review)

Release date: March 15, 2016

Publisher: Argon Press

Print pages: 284

Content advisory: Strong sexual situations

Sample

PROLOGUE

THE COASTAL ROUTE, JUNE 2005

THE FOG EMBRACED THE COAST like a desperate lover, clinging, refusing to let go. This part of the highway was precarious even in good conditions, but now, in the predawn stillness, it was almost impossible.

"This fog is as thick as pea soup," he muttered, chuckling at the image the adage conjured up. He leaned forward, gripping the steering wheel in an attempt to see what lay ahead as he tried to navigate the tortuous coastal route. He glanced toward the horizon, praying that once the sun began to rise it would burn off the fog, making the rest of his journey less harrowing. He estimated he still had another hour or so to go before he reached his destination. 

As he inched his way along the highway, his mind wandered back to the phone call that had motivated him to attempt this drive in the first place. Urgent, they said it was urgent. No details left on voicemail - just that I had to come in person. Knowing they wouldn't have asked him to make this unscheduled visit unless the situation were grave, he'd left early, hoping to arrive just before they opened. But now the damned fog was turning the two-hour drive into four.

A series of sharp switchbacks loomed ahead, and he forced his concentration back on the road. As he approached the first, he was startled when two bright lights bore down on him from out of nowhere, blinding him. Without thinking, he swerved the car to the right onto the narrow gravel shoulder, barely missing the ditch beyond. The semi driving in his lane blared its horn at him as it hurried past. 

Taking a deep breath, he brought the car to a halt and leaned back, trying to control the rapid beating of his heart. That was a close one, he thought. 

After a few moments, feeling steady again, he put the car back in gear and, with a prayer no one was coming up behind him, steered back onto the highway. 

This is crazy, he thought. I'm going to kill myself and what good will that do anyone? Better stop for coffee. Maybe the fog will begin to dissipate.

As if hearing his thoughts, a green sign appeared on the side of the road. The next exit was one mile ahead and there were services there - fast food and access to the beach. Nodding, he eased the car onto the ramp and, with a sigh of relief, drove to the nearest restaurant. 

The lights of the golden arches cast an eerie glow in the dense mist, taking on a surreal quality. He paid for his coffee, parked his car, and followed the signs leading down to the shore. 

Gazing out toward the sea, he could see the faint shimmer of the sun on the water as it began to peek over the horizon. He could hear the waves beating against the rocky shoreline and smell the salt air, but the fog still held everything else tightly in its grip. 

He waited, sipping the hot coffee, letting the phone conversation that had brought him out here play repeatedly in his head. 

Urgent, they said it was urgent.

Feeling the gravity of the situation, he emptied rest of his drink into the sand and returned to the parking lot, crushing the cup and throwing it into a waste receptacle as he hurried back to his car. He pulled onto the highway noting the fog ahead of him was finally beginning to lift and, smiling grimly, increased his speed. 

He checked his watch; one more hour to go. He would make it.