Book Review: Zodiac Lives by Rhoda D'Ettore

Synopsis: A child begins having dreams of things she could not possibly know. Things of another life. When her nightmares fail to subside, her mother researches the events and names the child keeps repeating. Unbeknownst to her, the daughter is remembering a past life. A life where she crossed paths with the infamous Zodiac Killer who terrorized San Francisco in the 1960s & 70s. 

The problem? The Zodiac was never caught, and he soon learns someone is online with intimate details about his identity. The Zodiac comes out of hiding to hunt down the mother and daughter who know too much.

Review: Well. Sit me down. In fact, pick me up off the floor. Before you think that's a bit over the top, let me just say that I do like serial killer stories, but they need to be clever, engaging, engrossing. Some go over the top with gore or other explicit details and it can spoil the enjoyment of the tale.

The author has crafted an excellent tale of the mysterious and very frightening Zodiac Killer. He reminds me a bit of BTK (Bind Torture Kill) a real murderer who killed many, and laid low for a while, until he was found out and after many years, prosecuted.

I have no interest in acting out what they do, in fact what they do repulses me, but in the world of fiction, a well drawn character like Z makes the story utterly enthralling.

It's hard not to rave about this book. I write as an honest reviewer and I can only say that each page was an utter joy to read. The characters are ones you feel for, even ones that are only in a few paragraphs (their existence cut short by Z). But the author pays attention to modern day ways in her tale too - the serial killer chat room for instance, where one of our heroines - Gail - may or may not be chatting to the actual Zodiac Killer. Even his online name - KillingIsFun, really creeped me out.

There's another story about the woman's young daughter inhabiting the soul of one of Z's victims. This is all plausible, well constructed and believable in its execution. I would argue that even if police / crime / serial killer mysteries aren't your typical genre, this could be the book to change your view.

Whilst reading this book (over two days - it's that readable) I felt I could guess who the killer really was. I will leave it to you to make your own discovery.

The story has its brutal and shocking moments, but it is always in context, and I loved that.

I've read some excellent books this year, but if you only have time / money to get a handful of books, make sure this is is amongst them. In short -I give this book SIX stars.

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Book Review: Newborn Nazi by Rhoda D'Ettore

There's a number of reviews here and as I scan through them, I am not sure what I can add.

What I can say for my own part is that Newborn Nazi starts with and continues for many of its pages at a blistering pace. This is a remarkable feat given the rather dry and unsettling nature of the SS.

It is a very dark tale, but told with great style and panache. The author, Rhoda D'Ettore, is an exceptional story teller.

The book has a little 'middle of the story' lag but maybe this is welcome.

After a particularly delicious build up between Hedwig and Johann, I still could not predict what was coming. After the event, I was unsure where the story would go.

But herein lies the author's talent. Through a myriad of excellent main and support characters, the author weaves a multi-layered and intelligent story.

At times, the dialogue is a little too much, but given the length of the story, blocks of heavy narration may have been off putting, so I congratulate the author for making a motley crew so engaging to read.

The ending is interesting, not what I expected, and very well done.

If you want a story that takes you away from a YA story filled with werewolves and mermaids, go for this very unique tale.

I loved it and think you will too!

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No One Is Safe While...

ZODIAC LIVES

A Novel by Rhoda D'Ettore

After surviving a car accident that killed her father, three-year-old Jennifer begins having nightmares. It's soon obvious she suffers from something more dreadful than the accident when she provides clues to a murder committed 3,000 miles away—and two decades before she was born.

Jennifer's nightmares set off a chain reaction that prompts the infamous Zodiac Killer to emerge from dormancy and terrorize San Francisco for a second time.

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Goin’ Postal & The Creek

Rhoda D'Ettore began her writing career by publishing humorous tales about working at the United States Postal Service. Fifteen years of dealing with bombs, anthrax, and human body parts in the mail made for an interesting read. Her co-workers laughed so hard at the nostalgia, they encouraged her to publish the writings. Since then, D'Ettore has fascinated readers with plot twists mixed with sarcastic humor.

D’Ettore knew postal workers would buy her story, yet she also wanted to show them she could write interesting, serious work with shocking twists. In Goin’ Postal & The Creek, the reader gets two very different stories in one book. The first containing the hysterical tales of postal worker life. The second story is a historical fiction that spans 200 years with a slightly supernatural twist. Topics include war, love, romance, death, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and how families survive such events.

Newborn Nazi

Newborn Nazi tackles the issues of right and wrong as well as self sacrifice when fourteen-year-old Edmund is forced into the Hitler Youth in 1935. His older siblings vow to destroy Nazi Germany, and the family gets swept up in espionage and the Underground Movement. When Edmund becomes an adult and joins the feared SS, his sister's secret endeavors to save Jews in her home endangers lives---including her own. This suspense thriller is sure to keep you guessing.

Newborn Nazi is based on Rhoda D’Ettore true family history. There was an Edmund who was forced into the Hitler Youth, and his sister did help Jews escape. D’Ettore found the story so riveting, she took the plot of the story and added murder and espionage to create this intense thriller.

Tower of Tears: The McClusky Series 1

In Tower of Tears: The McClusky Series, we find Jane traveling to America from Ireland with her three-year-old son. Expecting to find a better way of life, Jane finds nothing but intimidation, betrayal, violence, and heartache. This family saga includes blackmail, murder, mystery, and a touch of romance.

While writing Tower of Tears, D’Ettore gave her mother one chapter at a time for feedback. D’Ettore was undecided who the murderer in the book would eventually be, so she wrote the story with five characters hating and threatening the murder victim. Halfway through the book, D’Ettore’s mother shouted, “I know who killed him…. it was ####”. D’Ettore then finished the book with a different character as the murderer. When her mother read the final draft of the book, she replied, “That’s not who the murder is. I told you who is was.” D’Ettore then said, “I wrote the book, so I know who the murderer should be. Thanks.”

10 Shades of Blush: The Softer Side of Kink

10 Shades of Blush: The Softer Side of Kink is a collection of naughty fantasies of ordinary women. Teachers, mothers, and professionals submitted their wants and desires for kinky fun. All the tales are told as if the women are speaking directly to their partners. The audiobook of this has been called "Two hours of phone sex for $7".

Rhoda D'Ettore works are available as ebook, paperback, and audiobooks

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