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The St. Augustine Trilogy #1
Sliding Beneath the Surface
In America’s oldest and most haunted city, St. Augustine, Florida, teenager Jeff Golden is in trouble. Horrible dreams won’t let him sleep, and he is up to his eyeballs in terrifying, paranormal experiences.
Finally, Jeff turns to his girlfriend Carla, and Lobo, the mysterious Native American shaman, for help. But what he discovers is a lot more than he bargained for.
A ghostly presence linked to a local historic cemetery is not only threatening Jeff’s sanity but his life as well. And before he knows what’s happening, Jeff finds both himself and Carla pulled into one of the nastiest and bloodiest events in Florida history. It is a place from which they may never escape.
Finally, Jeff turns to his girlfriend Carla, and Lobo, the mysterious Native American shaman, for help. But what he discovers is a lot more than he bargained for.
A ghostly presence linked to a local historic cemetery is not only threatening Jeff’s sanity but his life as well. And before he knows what’s happening, Jeff finds both himself and Carla pulled into one of the nastiest and bloodiest events in Florida history. It is a place from which they may never escape.
292 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
26 people are currently reading
931 people want to read
About the author
Doug Dillon
7Ìýbooks139ÌýfollowersDoug Dillon is a husband, father, grandfather, author, blogger and former educator living in Central Florida. He writes for both adults and young people, mostly in the arenas of history and the paranormal. Doug has written for Prentice Hall, Harcourt, Boysâ€� Life, Learning Magazine, the Orlando Sentinel, Mitchell Lane Publishers and Old St. Augustine Publications.
The paranormal thread in this author’s work stems not only from extensive research but personal experience as well. In fact, his first published work, a book co-authored with his wife, Barbara, is a family history of paranormal discovery and understanding. Titled, An Explosion of Being: An American Family’s Journey into the Psychic, it was first published by a division of Prentice Hall in 1984.
Two of Doug’s articles for Boys� Life were selected for use in student assessment programs. One of those articles titled, “Gentle Pioneer: The Life of Johnny Appleseed,� was implemented through Educational Testing Service for the state of Washington from 2010 through 2015. The other article, titled, “Walt Disney: America’s Fun Maker,� was implemented through Harcourt Assessment for the state of Michigan from 2007 through 2015.
Doug is a recipient of a Disney Teacheriffic Award for his efforts as part of an innovative middle school program, and his book, Where Are Saigon, Kampuchea and Burma? A Brief Political and Geographic History of Asia, for reluctant readers ages 11-14, won first place in the history category for the Florida Writers Association’s Royal Palm Literary Awards program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
October 14, 2012
Okay I know I'm going to give this amazing, unique book 5 stars but I will have to come back to review later...
Well now, I do believe I am ready to review this book tonight as I say this I am currently thinking of what I would like to say about the book. I finished this book within two days as I started it on the 10th and finished it on the 11th, today being the 13th. I've given the book a few days to think about how I would like to review this book.
This book is a very unique book as I cannot compare it to any other book I have read in the past. And I have read a lot of paranormal books. It has history, paranormal experiences, mystery as it is like a puzzle to figure out, action and a budding romance. When I say history I mean that really did his research in order to recreate a scene that I believe no one will question. I have never read a book that has a shaman as a character in the book and it opened my eyes and mind to the possibilities. It also had me question some of my own past experiences and rethink a few things that has happened in my life.
Because this book has had such an effect on me as a reader I purchased just the other day as well.
This book hooked me from the beginning with Jeff and his telling of the story. Jeff is a unique teenage boy that is smart but has some family problems in which leads to anger management issues. He is then faced with paranormal dreams so he turns to his friend Carla, a witty teenage female that surprised me more than once with her smart mouth come backs. Carla then leads Jeff to Lobo, an old Native American Shaman, who is blunt and direct. Jeff doesn't know whether to run away or stay when things get worse, careful not to endanger Carla, he almost runs away from what could change his life and others forever.
With all that said, I must say I love the mystery of the books cover and finding out how it plays into the book itself, the visual is quite amazing. What is it you ask? Well I'm not telling, you'll have to purchase the book to find out. And yes it is a mystery and puzzle piece...and plays into the story itself.
Well now, I do believe I am ready to review this book tonight as I say this I am currently thinking of what I would like to say about the book. I finished this book within two days as I started it on the 10th and finished it on the 11th, today being the 13th. I've given the book a few days to think about how I would like to review this book.
This book is a very unique book as I cannot compare it to any other book I have read in the past. And I have read a lot of paranormal books. It has history, paranormal experiences, mystery as it is like a puzzle to figure out, action and a budding romance. When I say history I mean that really did his research in order to recreate a scene that I believe no one will question. I have never read a book that has a shaman as a character in the book and it opened my eyes and mind to the possibilities. It also had me question some of my own past experiences and rethink a few things that has happened in my life.
Because this book has had such an effect on me as a reader I purchased just the other day as well.
This book hooked me from the beginning with Jeff and his telling of the story. Jeff is a unique teenage boy that is smart but has some family problems in which leads to anger management issues. He is then faced with paranormal dreams so he turns to his friend Carla, a witty teenage female that surprised me more than once with her smart mouth come backs. Carla then leads Jeff to Lobo, an old Native American Shaman, who is blunt and direct. Jeff doesn't know whether to run away or stay when things get worse, careful not to endanger Carla, he almost runs away from what could change his life and others forever.
With all that said, I must say I love the mystery of the books cover and finding out how it plays into the book itself, the visual is quite amazing. What is it you ask? Well I'm not telling, you'll have to purchase the book to find out. And yes it is a mystery and puzzle piece...and plays into the story itself.
December 11, 2012
Loved this book!! Loved the history, the characters, all of it. Took me no time at all to quickly become engrossed I the world the author created!
If you want a paranormal book that is strictly unique then this is the book for you!
I was given this book for a honest review!
BRAVO
If you want a paranormal book that is strictly unique then this is the book for you!
I was given this book for a honest review!
BRAVO
August 3, 2015
I was given a free copy of this book by the author in return for a review. This has not impacted on my ability to be honest and critical of what I've read.
WARNING: (SMALL) SPOILER AHEAD.
20/10 - Before I comment on the story, I want to compliment whoever was in charge of the choice of paper used in the creation of the book. The pages have a wonderful, satiny feeling and are nicely heavy, giving the impression of a lot of thought and care going into the choosing of the paper (it almost feels like what I would imagine vellum feels like). Very impressed with the quality of the book itself (you can't get that with a kindle copy) and the cover art is great. It looks just like what is described in the story and what I would have imagined if I hadn't had a picture to see. Now, onto the story...I am really enjoying Jeff's voice. Although at the start he says that he is going to tell us what happened, it feels more like a series of diary entries, with Jeff telling the story in an unedited kind of way. It doesn't feel like an adult wrote it, it feels like Jeff wrote it, sort of as a stream-of-consciousness. Sometimes he goes off on a tangent and talks about unrelated or mostly unimportant topics, just like a teenager who's telling a rambling, complicated story would. I have read a lot of fantasy/sci-fi books and often when I'm reading a new one, I can see what's going to happen next, but not with Sliding Beneath the Surface. It has kept me guessing through all of part one. I have no idea how it might end. To be continued...
21/10 - Sometimes when you read a book it is unclear, just from the writing, who is telling the story. The voice of the book is bland and nondescript, without the narrator telling you who they are you can't tell man, woman, girl, boy. Not so with Jeff Golden's voice in Sliding Beneath the Surface. Jeff is so clearly a teenage boy that if I didn't know better I would think that Doug Dillon had only recently left his teenage years behind. While I'm reading, especially the dialogue, I see a shaggy-haired, not particularly neatly dressed, lanky teenage boy who has trouble believing in the supernatural, despite all the evidence dumped in front of him. At some points I have felt like yelling at Jeff, telling him to stop being so stupid,so in denial, that what's happening to him is OBVIOUSLY supernatural. The strange experiences over the last day or so cannot be explained by anything other than ghostly (or some other kind of supernatural being) intervention. The excitement has been really building since Jeff was confronted with a bloody ghost while sitting on a park bench, surrounded by unaware members of the public. I couldn't put the book down last night, or at least not until I nodded off in bed and lost my page, after I found my page I decided it was definitely time to go to sleep. To be continued...
22/10 - I have to say, guiltily, that I had never heard of the Seminoles or the first or second Seminole War that was fought in Florida, prior to reading Sliding Beneath the Surface. So I have Doug Dillon to thank for teaching me something new, as well as for writing this exciting, supernaturally themed book. I do have one small complaint though. Jeff never really describes Carla or Lobo's appearance, which made it very hard for me to imagine them as I was reading. As I said above I had a very clear picture of Jeff (although it may be way off as he didn't describe himself either), but Carla and Lobo didn't tell the story and so I couldn't see them like I could Jeff. Now, I'm wondering about what the sequel's going to be about, will it be more supernatural problems in St. Augustine for Jeff, Carla and Lobo; or will it be Lobo helping out a different couple/group of teens with their supernatural worries; or maybe Jeff and Carla will have gotten a few years older and will have to deal with the supernatural on their own this time. Whatever the plot is, I am really looking forward to reading it. I have rated the book as four stars because I can't give it 4.5 stars (boy, that's frustrating).
WARNING: (SMALL) SPOILER AHEAD.
20/10 - Before I comment on the story, I want to compliment whoever was in charge of the choice of paper used in the creation of the book. The pages have a wonderful, satiny feeling and are nicely heavy, giving the impression of a lot of thought and care going into the choosing of the paper (it almost feels like what I would imagine vellum feels like). Very impressed with the quality of the book itself (you can't get that with a kindle copy) and the cover art is great. It looks just like what is described in the story and what I would have imagined if I hadn't had a picture to see. Now, onto the story...I am really enjoying Jeff's voice. Although at the start he says that he is going to tell us what happened, it feels more like a series of diary entries, with Jeff telling the story in an unedited kind of way. It doesn't feel like an adult wrote it, it feels like Jeff wrote it, sort of as a stream-of-consciousness. Sometimes he goes off on a tangent and talks about unrelated or mostly unimportant topics, just like a teenager who's telling a rambling, complicated story would. I have read a lot of fantasy/sci-fi books and often when I'm reading a new one, I can see what's going to happen next, but not with Sliding Beneath the Surface. It has kept me guessing through all of part one. I have no idea how it might end. To be continued...
21/10 - Sometimes when you read a book it is unclear, just from the writing, who is telling the story. The voice of the book is bland and nondescript, without the narrator telling you who they are you can't tell man, woman, girl, boy. Not so with Jeff Golden's voice in Sliding Beneath the Surface. Jeff is so clearly a teenage boy that if I didn't know better I would think that Doug Dillon had only recently left his teenage years behind. While I'm reading, especially the dialogue, I see a shaggy-haired, not particularly neatly dressed, lanky teenage boy who has trouble believing in the supernatural, despite all the evidence dumped in front of him. At some points I have felt like yelling at Jeff, telling him to stop being so stupid,so in denial, that what's happening to him is OBVIOUSLY supernatural. The strange experiences over the last day or so cannot be explained by anything other than ghostly (or some other kind of supernatural being) intervention. The excitement has been really building since Jeff was confronted with a bloody ghost while sitting on a park bench, surrounded by unaware members of the public. I couldn't put the book down last night, or at least not until I nodded off in bed and lost my page, after I found my page I decided it was definitely time to go to sleep. To be continued...
22/10 - I have to say, guiltily, that I had never heard of the Seminoles or the first or second Seminole War that was fought in Florida, prior to reading Sliding Beneath the Surface. So I have Doug Dillon to thank for teaching me something new, as well as for writing this exciting, supernaturally themed book. I do have one small complaint though. Jeff never really describes Carla or Lobo's appearance, which made it very hard for me to imagine them as I was reading. As I said above I had a very clear picture of Jeff (although it may be way off as he didn't describe himself either), but Carla and Lobo didn't tell the story and so I couldn't see them like I could Jeff. Now, I'm wondering about what the sequel's going to be about, will it be more supernatural problems in St. Augustine for Jeff, Carla and Lobo; or will it be Lobo helping out a different couple/group of teens with their supernatural worries; or maybe Jeff and Carla will have gotten a few years older and will have to deal with the supernatural on their own this time. Whatever the plot is, I am really looking forward to reading it. I have rated the book as four stars because I can't give it 4.5 stars (boy, that's frustrating).
November 3, 2012
This is classified as a YA paranormal book. It is told from the viewpoint of Jeff Golden a 15yo who recently moved to St. Augustine. Jeff is telling the story of what happened a few weeks early to him and his neighbor, Carla, who he has a bit of a crush on.
I had just started to read this story when my 11yo saw it and wanted to know if she could read it with me. Every night we have some time put aside and she would read out loud. As we started a new chapter we would wonder what the name of that chapter would reveal to us. She also thought that seeing the Chinese puzzle ball on the cover and finding out later in the book how it relates was 'cool'. In the beginning she knew that I was further ahead of her in the story and she wanted me to tell her what happens but, I was not about to spoil it for her. I did not read any further so we could read it together but, I was too impatient and I ended up sneaking ahead in the story...I told myself just a few chapters...I have actually ended up finishing the book but, I will not spoil it for her.
Jeff has been plagued for the past couple of nights by some extreme nightmares. He was determined not to sleep as they were so real to him. Soon he confided to Carla what was happening. As soon as she heard what was going on, she knew exactly what to do----turn to her neighbor,Lobo, who happens to be a shaman. Soon it comes to light that these nightmare or paranormal experiences are related to the Seminole war. The whole book covers a brief time span of about 2 days.
Even though this is classified as a book for young adults, I found it intriguing and enjoyable to read as an adult. The author has done a great job with the teens---their mannerism, and things they said reminds me of how my teens act.
I am not going to spoil it by telling you what happens but, I am very surprised with myself. I enjoy reading paranormal books but I do not read a lot of history books. When I finished this book, I realized that I really, really enjoyed reading the history in this! I could picture in my mind vividly what was going on---kudos to Doug Dillon as he has taken something that I normally do not do (reading history) and kept me wanting to know more as to what happens. There are even some notes from the author at the end of the book that relate to the history in the book....very interesting.
The only downside is that book two, Stepping Off A Cliff, is not available until the springtime and I am wanting to read it now to find out what other experiences they have. I am sure that once it is out, that will be just as exciting as this one is.
I had just started to read this story when my 11yo saw it and wanted to know if she could read it with me. Every night we have some time put aside and she would read out loud. As we started a new chapter we would wonder what the name of that chapter would reveal to us. She also thought that seeing the Chinese puzzle ball on the cover and finding out later in the book how it relates was 'cool'. In the beginning she knew that I was further ahead of her in the story and she wanted me to tell her what happens but, I was not about to spoil it for her. I did not read any further so we could read it together but, I was too impatient and I ended up sneaking ahead in the story...I told myself just a few chapters...I have actually ended up finishing the book but, I will not spoil it for her.
Jeff has been plagued for the past couple of nights by some extreme nightmares. He was determined not to sleep as they were so real to him. Soon he confided to Carla what was happening. As soon as she heard what was going on, she knew exactly what to do----turn to her neighbor,Lobo, who happens to be a shaman. Soon it comes to light that these nightmare or paranormal experiences are related to the Seminole war. The whole book covers a brief time span of about 2 days.
Even though this is classified as a book for young adults, I found it intriguing and enjoyable to read as an adult. The author has done a great job with the teens---their mannerism, and things they said reminds me of how my teens act.
I am not going to spoil it by telling you what happens but, I am very surprised with myself. I enjoy reading paranormal books but I do not read a lot of history books. When I finished this book, I realized that I really, really enjoyed reading the history in this! I could picture in my mind vividly what was going on---kudos to Doug Dillon as he has taken something that I normally do not do (reading history) and kept me wanting to know more as to what happens. There are even some notes from the author at the end of the book that relate to the history in the book....very interesting.
The only downside is that book two, Stepping Off A Cliff, is not available until the springtime and I am wanting to read it now to find out what other experiences they have. I am sure that once it is out, that will be just as exciting as this one is.
October 29, 2012
I recieved this book for free through a R2R program on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ in exchange for an honest review.
This book is very different than anything I've read recently. I normally don't read books with a male lead. I have to admit, that was a bit weird at first, but I got the hang of it eventually and liked it. I usually don't read books that are historic. Its not that I dislike history, I just usually stick to certain aspects of history, and this isn't one of those timeframes. The history was fairly dry at times, but it did make it very obvious how much effort has been invested in this book.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I was fairly confused at first, but everything eventually locked into place. The story telling seemed as delicate as the carved balls in the story, and at times I felt like I was missing a piece, but then it all slid into place.
There were a few annoying things that kept me from giving it a 5 star. One of which is using OK so much. Its just a pet peeve, as I prefer okay. Another was near the end with the studdering from cold. I've never seen it done like "cccold" instead of "c-c-cold",and at first I didn't realize it was from shivering and I thought the editor went on lunch and missed a lot of typos. There were a few other small things, but not nearly as distracting as the two examples given. This book also didn't seem like a YA book. To me that fine, as I've technically aged past that group, but he characters seemed much older than their given age, which did throw me off at first.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, and would suggest it for anyone that would like a paranormal twist to a historic storyline.
This book is very different than anything I've read recently. I normally don't read books with a male lead. I have to admit, that was a bit weird at first, but I got the hang of it eventually and liked it. I usually don't read books that are historic. Its not that I dislike history, I just usually stick to certain aspects of history, and this isn't one of those timeframes. The history was fairly dry at times, but it did make it very obvious how much effort has been invested in this book.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I was fairly confused at first, but everything eventually locked into place. The story telling seemed as delicate as the carved balls in the story, and at times I felt like I was missing a piece, but then it all slid into place.
There were a few annoying things that kept me from giving it a 5 star. One of which is using OK so much. Its just a pet peeve, as I prefer okay. Another was near the end with the studdering from cold. I've never seen it done like "cccold" instead of "c-c-cold",and at first I didn't realize it was from shivering and I thought the editor went on lunch and missed a lot of typos. There were a few other small things, but not nearly as distracting as the two examples given. This book also didn't seem like a YA book. To me that fine, as I've technically aged past that group, but he characters seemed much older than their given age, which did throw me off at first.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, and would suggest it for anyone that would like a paranormal twist to a historic storyline.
January 19, 2013
What an awesome read. First, the fact that I lived in FL my whole life mad it feel even more relatable and because it was filled with such rich history. I love the paranormal aspect of it as well and that I was hooked right away. I want more and felt like I was part of the story from start to finish! I have never been to St. Augustine but my parents have and they have told me of the history there so this was just awesome to read.
Jeff is a young boy who’s fighting terrible dreams and headaches. So he seeks some help from his friend Carla, who is kind enough to help Jeff buy sending him to her next-door neighbor Lobo. With the help of Lobo and his Native American background they start to peace together the dreams Jeff is having, they start to find out that maybe they are linked to the past and that they need to find out what is underneath all this. Jeff needs answers and does he get them while his adventures out in St. Augustine to see if he can end all this?
Take the adventure with Jeff, like me you will feel part of the book. Doug does an awesome job putting you in the story and never wanted to get out. There was great research put into this book and that was even better, I am not a fan of a book that does not know what they are talking about but this one for sure knows! It was page turning and the flow of this one was remarkable.
*Got this copy for an honest review and for a book tour! Thanks:)
Jeff is a young boy who’s fighting terrible dreams and headaches. So he seeks some help from his friend Carla, who is kind enough to help Jeff buy sending him to her next-door neighbor Lobo. With the help of Lobo and his Native American background they start to peace together the dreams Jeff is having, they start to find out that maybe they are linked to the past and that they need to find out what is underneath all this. Jeff needs answers and does he get them while his adventures out in St. Augustine to see if he can end all this?
Take the adventure with Jeff, like me you will feel part of the book. Doug does an awesome job putting you in the story and never wanted to get out. There was great research put into this book and that was even better, I am not a fan of a book that does not know what they are talking about but this one for sure knows! It was page turning and the flow of this one was remarkable.
*Got this copy for an honest review and for a book tour! Thanks:)
January 11, 2013
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for the purpose of review. The review is my honest opinion and I was not paid for this service.
Sliding Beneath the Surface is not my typical read, but I must say that Doug Dillon certainly has a way of capturing your attention and drawing you into the book. I liked how Doug not only introduces you to the characters but pulls you in as though you were old friends. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters Jeff, Carla and Lobo. Lobo, I must say makes you think of the old coot that you knew from your childhood. Every town has one. It's pretty creepy how he seems to know things before they happen and what someone is thinking. Without giving anything away, there were some pretty strange occurrences that happen throughout the story.
Sliding Beneath the Surface is a combination historical fiction story crossed with something out of the paranormal. This is a book was nothing short of extraordinary. Doug pulls you right into the story from the very first chapter and keeps you until the very end. He has an incredible story-telling ability and writes an incredible yet interesting story. I look forward to reading more books by Doug. If you enjoy reading a good book, I definitely recommend reading this one.
I give this book 4.5 stars out of a total of 5.
Sliding Beneath the Surface is not my typical read, but I must say that Doug Dillon certainly has a way of capturing your attention and drawing you into the book. I liked how Doug not only introduces you to the characters but pulls you in as though you were old friends. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters Jeff, Carla and Lobo. Lobo, I must say makes you think of the old coot that you knew from your childhood. Every town has one. It's pretty creepy how he seems to know things before they happen and what someone is thinking. Without giving anything away, there were some pretty strange occurrences that happen throughout the story.
Sliding Beneath the Surface is a combination historical fiction story crossed with something out of the paranormal. This is a book was nothing short of extraordinary. Doug pulls you right into the story from the very first chapter and keeps you until the very end. He has an incredible story-telling ability and writes an incredible yet interesting story. I look forward to reading more books by Doug. If you enjoy reading a good book, I definitely recommend reading this one.
I give this book 4.5 stars out of a total of 5.
November 20, 2012
I want to start by saying my first thoughts were to give this book 4 Stars- but after giving it some thought I've decided that this book is well worth 5 stars. This book has so many elements to it a perfect blend~ I enjoyed Doug Dillon's writing style* the book was well written and consistent- with likeable characters. A week or so has passed since reading this story and it's still on my mind. Although this book is aimed for younger readers I was able to stay fully engaged in this story- The Author managed to keep the pages turning while keeping the story clean. I loved the history in this book. (I liked that the Author added a page giving links to pictures of the real life cemetery where some events took place in the book) The ending of the book had just the right amount of mystery and suspense added. This is now a favorite of mine and I plan to have my 12 yr old give this book a try. I'm glad I was able to read this book it has become a favorite of mine for 2012. I can not wait to continue on with this trilogy.
January 17, 2013
Sliding Beneath the Surface is a very unique story filled with rich history, mystery and paranormal features. It only took me a few chapters before I was totally immersed into Doug Dillon's world. Once I started to connect with the main characters, I couldn't put it down.
Jeff Golden, a troubled 15 year old, moves to St. Augustine Florida. He begins suffering from excruciating headaches and terrifying nightmares. Desperate for relief, he confides in his friend Carla Rodriguez. Lucky for Jeff, she introduces him to Lobo, her native american and somewhat eccentric neighbor. Together they unlock the source of Jeff's troubles and find they are linked to the past. Can they help Jeff to find peace or will he be swallowed whole by the chaos that lurks beneath the surface?
This story is filled with detailed descriptions of St. Augustine. I had no problem visualizing Jeff's adventures through the city. I am anxious to see what the author does with the next book in the trilogy. I will be reading it!!
Jeff Golden, a troubled 15 year old, moves to St. Augustine Florida. He begins suffering from excruciating headaches and terrifying nightmares. Desperate for relief, he confides in his friend Carla Rodriguez. Lucky for Jeff, she introduces him to Lobo, her native american and somewhat eccentric neighbor. Together they unlock the source of Jeff's troubles and find they are linked to the past. Can they help Jeff to find peace or will he be swallowed whole by the chaos that lurks beneath the surface?
This story is filled with detailed descriptions of St. Augustine. I had no problem visualizing Jeff's adventures through the city. I am anxious to see what the author does with the next book in the trilogy. I will be reading it!!
July 11, 2013
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Mr. Dillon for offering up your story.
Ok, so first of all a disclaimer, this book is probably more of a 3 1/2 stars for me and loses a star because I absolutely hate when in a first person narrative the character talks to me knowing I'm reading their story. The whole, "oh wait I'll get back to that in a moment" thing drives me nuts. First person isn't my favorite narrative voice in the first place, but first person breaking the fourth wall, grrrrrrrrr!
Jeff has just moved to town recently. With a absent mother and no real home life he has developed a strong bond with a girl, Carla, down the street. As things begin to happen to Jeff he can't explain Carla takes him to meet her friend Lobo. An older Indian gentleman who has a strange ability to know what you're thinking and know things about you that he has no business knowing. Lobo explains to Jeff that after his bike accident he has abilities others don't. He can see the worlds within worlds of the reality around us. But Jeff has no control over those powers and finds himself in danger as an ancient spirit keeps trying to contact him. Jeff finds himself thrust into a world with rules he doesn't understand trying to figure out what is happening around him and gain even a little control over his new "powers." He finds himself splitting away from his body and seeing double, as things trip him up and send his consciousness to another reality. As more details of the ancient spirit trying to get his attention become known Jeff and Carla find themselves delving into the details of one particular battle in the Seminole War. Only finding out everything they can will help them free the spirit trapped in it's endless loop and let things return to normal.
And with that out of the way here's the good and bad of this book for me.
The Good
Oh man I do love me some history! The way Mr. Dillon incorporated his history of the Seminole Wars into this novel was fantastic! I loved the links to the future descendants and the descriptions of the battle they were trapped in. He made that very real for me. The last third of this book was AWESOME!
I really liked the characters here as well. Carla had such great spunk, Lobo was interesting and just enough off kilter to be interesting without being overly creepy, and Jeff is the great everyman foil for a kid thrust into circumstances out of his control.
The mythology of the worlds within worlds bit was an interesting concept as well. I liked seeing how our perception of the world could be very narrow. There's something very cool about how all knowing Lobo could be without really knowing exactly what was going to happen next.
The Bad
There's a saying in making films, show don't tell. You never want to leave your audience feeling like your just lecturing them or inundating them with information, you want them to discover it for themselves as they live through the circumstances you have going on. This, to me, was the biggest fault of this novel. I really felt through the first 2/3 of this book every piece of exposition was being lectured to me in big spats of words, most often coming from Lobo. I wanted Jeff to really discover more of what he needed to know himself through his actions, not be told outright by Lobo. It felt like something would happen to Jeff and then I'd have 5 pages of Lobo explaining theory and convincing Jeff that what happened happened before something else would happen to Jeff and the cycle would repeat. Right up until Jeff got sucked into the battle at the end. Then I was with him. He had to figure out what was going on and how to survive himself.
While it was also a really cool thing, Lobo's all-knowingness was frustrating as well. It took away from Jeff being able to figure things out for himself and instead lent to Lobo just telling him what was happening and how to react.
This is a minor thing, but Carla and Jeff's relationship in the beginning took me awhile to figure out. They felt like they were too close for such a short acquaintance. I was thrown when I found out they had only known each other for a month. I didn't feel like their surroundings and relationship was clear right off the bat. When I finally got told what the actual date was I was I did a mental "huh?" as I somehow had been picturing us in the middle of summer. Same thing when I found out how short of a time Jeff had actually lived there. Now it is also entirely possible I missed some clues in the early pages, but it still threw me a little.
In Conclusion
It took me some time to get into this one. But the story picked up pace the further into it I got. If it wasn't for a few small personal pet peeves this would probably have been a 4 star book for me. I think there's a good beginning with this authors work and see a lot of potential for his writing to develop.
Ok, so first of all a disclaimer, this book is probably more of a 3 1/2 stars for me and loses a star because I absolutely hate when in a first person narrative the character talks to me knowing I'm reading their story. The whole, "oh wait I'll get back to that in a moment" thing drives me nuts. First person isn't my favorite narrative voice in the first place, but first person breaking the fourth wall, grrrrrrrrr!
Jeff has just moved to town recently. With a absent mother and no real home life he has developed a strong bond with a girl, Carla, down the street. As things begin to happen to Jeff he can't explain Carla takes him to meet her friend Lobo. An older Indian gentleman who has a strange ability to know what you're thinking and know things about you that he has no business knowing. Lobo explains to Jeff that after his bike accident he has abilities others don't. He can see the worlds within worlds of the reality around us. But Jeff has no control over those powers and finds himself in danger as an ancient spirit keeps trying to contact him. Jeff finds himself thrust into a world with rules he doesn't understand trying to figure out what is happening around him and gain even a little control over his new "powers." He finds himself splitting away from his body and seeing double, as things trip him up and send his consciousness to another reality. As more details of the ancient spirit trying to get his attention become known Jeff and Carla find themselves delving into the details of one particular battle in the Seminole War. Only finding out everything they can will help them free the spirit trapped in it's endless loop and let things return to normal.
And with that out of the way here's the good and bad of this book for me.
The Good
Oh man I do love me some history! The way Mr. Dillon incorporated his history of the Seminole Wars into this novel was fantastic! I loved the links to the future descendants and the descriptions of the battle they were trapped in. He made that very real for me. The last third of this book was AWESOME!
I really liked the characters here as well. Carla had such great spunk, Lobo was interesting and just enough off kilter to be interesting without being overly creepy, and Jeff is the great everyman foil for a kid thrust into circumstances out of his control.
The mythology of the worlds within worlds bit was an interesting concept as well. I liked seeing how our perception of the world could be very narrow. There's something very cool about how all knowing Lobo could be without really knowing exactly what was going to happen next.
The Bad
There's a saying in making films, show don't tell. You never want to leave your audience feeling like your just lecturing them or inundating them with information, you want them to discover it for themselves as they live through the circumstances you have going on. This, to me, was the biggest fault of this novel. I really felt through the first 2/3 of this book every piece of exposition was being lectured to me in big spats of words, most often coming from Lobo. I wanted Jeff to really discover more of what he needed to know himself through his actions, not be told outright by Lobo. It felt like something would happen to Jeff and then I'd have 5 pages of Lobo explaining theory and convincing Jeff that what happened happened before something else would happen to Jeff and the cycle would repeat. Right up until Jeff got sucked into the battle at the end. Then I was with him. He had to figure out what was going on and how to survive himself.
While it was also a really cool thing, Lobo's all-knowingness was frustrating as well. It took away from Jeff being able to figure things out for himself and instead lent to Lobo just telling him what was happening and how to react.
This is a minor thing, but Carla and Jeff's relationship in the beginning took me awhile to figure out. They felt like they were too close for such a short acquaintance. I was thrown when I found out they had only known each other for a month. I didn't feel like their surroundings and relationship was clear right off the bat. When I finally got told what the actual date was I was I did a mental "huh?" as I somehow had been picturing us in the middle of summer. Same thing when I found out how short of a time Jeff had actually lived there. Now it is also entirely possible I missed some clues in the early pages, but it still threw me a little.
In Conclusion
It took me some time to get into this one. But the story picked up pace the further into it I got. If it wasn't for a few small personal pet peeves this would probably have been a 4 star book for me. I think there's a good beginning with this authors work and see a lot of potential for his writing to develop.
December 16, 2012
A new resident of America’s oldest and most haunted city, St. Augustine, Florida, fifteen-year-old Jeff Golden suddenly finds himself up to his eyeballs in frightening paranormal experiences. At the end of his rope in trying to figure out what is happening to him, Jeff decides to rely on his friend Carla Rodriguez, and Lobo, an old Native American shaman, for help.
Despite this guidance, things get even worse. Jeff’s spine tingling encounters increase in number and intensity at an alarming rate, scaring him even more. Eventually, he makes the startling discovery that unresolved circumstances involving a bloody event directly out of Florida’s distant past threatens his sanity and possibly his life.
Finally, overwhelmed by forces he cannot understand or control, Jeff’s world shifts from frightening to downright terrifying. In desperation, and on Lobo’s advice, he leaps headlong into the unknown in order to save himself. What Jeff discovers though is that he has entered a level of reality he is completely unprepared to handle while unwittingly dragging Carla with him.
Like all the books in THE ST. AUGUSTINE TRILOGY, the premise for Sliding Beneath the Surface is simply this: You create your own reality.
BOOK EXCERPT:
Someone called my name as if from very far away. It sounded like Carla, but I couldn't tell for sure.
I kept staring at the stained glass window with its surrounding mirrors and the clear glass oval as it hung there in the fog all by itself.
"Jeff?" It was Carla's voice. Carla and Lobo somehow appeared directly in front of me with the stained glass window behind them set in its door as it should be. How that all happened so quickly I had no idea.
The fog was gone and Lobo's house looked like it did when I first saw it. Once again, I stood on the porch.
"Are you OK?" Carla asked in a worried voice. "What is it? What's going on?"
I didn't say anything at first. Guess I was just too stunned. The change out of that horrible, dark fog had been so quick I found it hard to believe I had come back to Carla and Lobo. Where I had gone, I didn't know, but Lobo's words leaped into my mind: "Worlds within worlds within worlds."
MY REVIEW�
When I was asked to review this novel, I was iffy. This book was told in the perspective of a fifteen-year-old boy named Jeff. I'm not a fan of the male perspective, yet this novel changed my mind. I was intrigued from the first couple chapters when the introduced Carla's neighbor Lobo. I loved that it had a paranormal theme in it. The only thing it was lacking more of, was romance. This probably being one reason not like the persepective in this way. The characters mushed together well, the action was on point. And I never could have guess what was going to happen in the end. Which now a days, its hard to find anything with a suprising ending, that only deserved the high star rating.
Now my usual read, but none the less it was a delightful read. The author did a wonderful job at tell Jeff's story. I will be looking forward to reading more for this author. This is a younger teen novel, and I recommend this to anyone who loves a good paranormal read.
I give this novel four stars!
Despite this guidance, things get even worse. Jeff’s spine tingling encounters increase in number and intensity at an alarming rate, scaring him even more. Eventually, he makes the startling discovery that unresolved circumstances involving a bloody event directly out of Florida’s distant past threatens his sanity and possibly his life.
Finally, overwhelmed by forces he cannot understand or control, Jeff’s world shifts from frightening to downright terrifying. In desperation, and on Lobo’s advice, he leaps headlong into the unknown in order to save himself. What Jeff discovers though is that he has entered a level of reality he is completely unprepared to handle while unwittingly dragging Carla with him.
Like all the books in THE ST. AUGUSTINE TRILOGY, the premise for Sliding Beneath the Surface is simply this: You create your own reality.
BOOK EXCERPT:
Someone called my name as if from very far away. It sounded like Carla, but I couldn't tell for sure.
I kept staring at the stained glass window with its surrounding mirrors and the clear glass oval as it hung there in the fog all by itself.
"Jeff?" It was Carla's voice. Carla and Lobo somehow appeared directly in front of me with the stained glass window behind them set in its door as it should be. How that all happened so quickly I had no idea.
The fog was gone and Lobo's house looked like it did when I first saw it. Once again, I stood on the porch.
"Are you OK?" Carla asked in a worried voice. "What is it? What's going on?"
I didn't say anything at first. Guess I was just too stunned. The change out of that horrible, dark fog had been so quick I found it hard to believe I had come back to Carla and Lobo. Where I had gone, I didn't know, but Lobo's words leaped into my mind: "Worlds within worlds within worlds."
MY REVIEW�
When I was asked to review this novel, I was iffy. This book was told in the perspective of a fifteen-year-old boy named Jeff. I'm not a fan of the male perspective, yet this novel changed my mind. I was intrigued from the first couple chapters when the introduced Carla's neighbor Lobo. I loved that it had a paranormal theme in it. The only thing it was lacking more of, was romance. This probably being one reason not like the persepective in this way. The characters mushed together well, the action was on point. And I never could have guess what was going to happen in the end. Which now a days, its hard to find anything with a suprising ending, that only deserved the high star rating.
Now my usual read, but none the less it was a delightful read. The author did a wonderful job at tell Jeff's story. I will be looking forward to reading more for this author. This is a younger teen novel, and I recommend this to anyone who loves a good paranormal read.
I give this novel four stars!
October 23, 2012
So ah you know...The narration is sort of like this... Typical teenage boy speak...Where he says practically um...Nothing like Forrest Gump.
Oh Jeff tsk tsk freaking tsk.
Jeff would probably reply,"um...OK...Nowhere?"
I prefer the spelling of okay to OK.
Anyway, Sliding Beneath the Surface #1 is a refreshing paranormal book without the cliche romance in the teenage market. When I say refreshing! I mean I'm glad that Jeff didn't start smooching on Clara like his lips were going to shrivel and die in a few days (bad imagery, sorry about that :/)...Ahem...most Paranormal books are romances with paranormal aspects not the other way around! So that was a relief. Thank the lord! =P
What you should know about the book:
It's written in first person from Jeff's character. You have to get used to the narration because it goes a little like.......this.He reminded me of Odell Deefes and Forest Gump combined....(was that supposed to be shown that way).
Plus Jeff told me about his parents, I would have loved his mother to be introduced into the story. You know they talked about her so much but she never showed up. I would have rather seen her be a narcissist than be described as one.
Back to my review:
Jeff Golden(boy with basically no parents, just a negligent mother)and spitfire Clara (his interest whom he keeps ogling) go to a weird man named Lobo's house. At thiscrazy eccentric man's house the two friends to learn how to control their powers and dreams for a adventurous mission into the past.
Great Premise hunh? Time Travelers , Different Realms...
Hold on.....All of this is prepping for a mission that happens 75% into the book! It dragged out a bit to long for me to get to the past!
I wanted them to stay longer and find their way, I would have loved that! Dillon's descriptions and details of the past are so much more kick-ass. I wished the whole book was that way of they started their mission earlier! If that would have happened I would click four stars not three. Another thing is I wished is that the period of time that the story happened was longer , way longer. The climax was like blam! You're done. So speed it up and push in my beloved historical aspect a little more! You just grazed the surface!
All in all, I give the book three stars.
Why?
Star 1:I liked the layout of the pages and the paper.
Star 2:There wasn't a teenyboopper love triangle.
Star 3:The whole going in the time loop got me.
Thanks Dillon for the review copy!
Oh Jeff tsk tsk freaking tsk.
Jeff would probably reply,"um...OK...Nowhere?"
I prefer the spelling of okay to OK.
Anyway, Sliding Beneath the Surface #1 is a refreshing paranormal book without the cliche romance in the teenage market. When I say refreshing! I mean I'm glad that Jeff didn't start smooching on Clara like his lips were going to shrivel and die in a few days (bad imagery, sorry about that :/)...Ahem...most Paranormal books are romances with paranormal aspects not the other way around! So that was a relief. Thank the lord! =P
What you should know about the book:
It's written in first person from Jeff's character. You have to get used to the narration because it goes a little like.......this.He reminded me of Odell Deefes and Forest Gump combined....(was that supposed to be shown that way).
Plus Jeff told me about his parents, I would have loved his mother to be introduced into the story. You know they talked about her so much but she never showed up. I would have rather seen her be a narcissist than be described as one.
Back to my review:
Jeff Golden(boy with basically no parents, just a negligent mother)and spitfire Clara (his interest whom he keeps ogling) go to a weird man named Lobo's house. At this
Great Premise hunh? Time Travelers , Different Realms...
Hold on.....All of this is prepping for a mission that happens 75% into the book! It dragged out a bit to long for me to get to the past!
I wanted them to stay longer and find their way, I would have loved that! Dillon's descriptions and details of the past are so much more kick-ass. I wished the whole book was that way of they started their mission earlier! If that would have happened I would click four stars not three. Another thing is I wished is that the period of time that the story happened was longer , way longer. The climax was like blam! You're done. So speed it up and push in my beloved historical aspect a little more! You just grazed the surface!
All in all, I give the book three stars.
Why?
Star 1:I liked the layout of the pages and the paper.
Star 2:There wasn't a teenyboopper love triangle.
Star 3:The whole going in the time loop got me.
Thanks Dillon for the review copy!
September 13, 2012
Okay now how to review this book without giving anything away�.
So this book has it all, out of body experiences, ghosts from the past, a past that could kill those involved in the present, and all done under a dense fog of mystery which will keep you turning the pages to discover what will happen to these children.
The story begins with young Jeff who is having nightmares and horrible headaches. His best friend Carla takes him next door to meet Lobo, a Native American Shaman with a strange and unique ability and mystical powers. Between the three of them they struggle to discover what is causing these strange things to happen to Jeff and to help him solve the problem.
The amount of detail this author put into his writings is intense. The research he did on the St. Augustine Florida area is amazing. It is the perfect setting to a ghost mystery such as this one. I couldn’t classify this as strictly a young adult book so I’m making my own category, Historical Young Adult.
Only two things struck me with the book. One was that it really needs to be run through by an editor again because I found quite a few mistakes in the book not just in grammar but also in words being out of order at 65% through the book it says “We need to get begin.� That sentence doesn’t make any sense so I think a quick run by an editor will help greatly. Second thing was Jeff sounded more like he was telling the story from the past as if he wasn’t narrating the story as it went along; it was more like he was grown and was telling the story of what happened to him as a child. I’m not quite sure that’s the feel the Author was going for in the book.
I can say I did enjoy the book without a doubt and I personally would recommend this book to anyone from the Middle-school years on up not strictly just Young Adult. I can say that this is an enlightening book about being able to change our path by changing ourselves.
So this book has it all, out of body experiences, ghosts from the past, a past that could kill those involved in the present, and all done under a dense fog of mystery which will keep you turning the pages to discover what will happen to these children.
The story begins with young Jeff who is having nightmares and horrible headaches. His best friend Carla takes him next door to meet Lobo, a Native American Shaman with a strange and unique ability and mystical powers. Between the three of them they struggle to discover what is causing these strange things to happen to Jeff and to help him solve the problem.
The amount of detail this author put into his writings is intense. The research he did on the St. Augustine Florida area is amazing. It is the perfect setting to a ghost mystery such as this one. I couldn’t classify this as strictly a young adult book so I’m making my own category, Historical Young Adult.
Only two things struck me with the book. One was that it really needs to be run through by an editor again because I found quite a few mistakes in the book not just in grammar but also in words being out of order at 65% through the book it says “We need to get begin.� That sentence doesn’t make any sense so I think a quick run by an editor will help greatly. Second thing was Jeff sounded more like he was telling the story from the past as if he wasn’t narrating the story as it went along; it was more like he was grown and was telling the story of what happened to him as a child. I’m not quite sure that’s the feel the Author was going for in the book.
I can say I did enjoy the book without a doubt and I personally would recommend this book to anyone from the Middle-school years on up not strictly just Young Adult. I can say that this is an enlightening book about being able to change our path by changing ourselves.
December 13, 2012
I received this book for free through a Read to Review program on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ in exchange for an honest review. I do not believe my review would be any different if I paid for the book.
"Sliding Beneath The Surface," refers to a concept that there are many Worlds within worlds, in layers, as Shrek says, "Like an onion." This book centers on two teenagers and their adult mentor with unique abilities to split themselves and experience more than one layer at a time. There is a real, historical battle that they are connecting to, which is less well known, but similar to the battle of the Little Bighorn, and you can check the facts and find pictures if the Dec. 28, 1835 battle of Major Dade in Florida interests you. Doug Dillon did his research on that event very well.
There are several different elements combined uniquely in this book that make it a blend of genres. It is Historical-fiction, spiritual, paranormal, Young-adult with a touch of magic and time travel. It is fun and well written and easy to get sucked into. It reminds me a bit of the mentor/youth relationships in "Free Willie" or "The Karate Kid." It has the spiritual touch of "The Shack," or "Orange Petals in a Storm." There are characters you will come to care about and a sense of humor and playfulness and morality woven through the book.
Would I recommend this book to you? Yes, if you have an open mind and don't mind getting a bit off the standard genre paths. I give it 4 stars, not because I didn't love it, I very much did, but because, at times it feels like the story is rushed and the voice turns more lecturing than storytelling to make his point. To me 4 stars still means a book I very much enjoyed and might just read again someday.
"Sliding Beneath The Surface," refers to a concept that there are many Worlds within worlds, in layers, as Shrek says, "Like an onion." This book centers on two teenagers and their adult mentor with unique abilities to split themselves and experience more than one layer at a time. There is a real, historical battle that they are connecting to, which is less well known, but similar to the battle of the Little Bighorn, and you can check the facts and find pictures if the Dec. 28, 1835 battle of Major Dade in Florida interests you. Doug Dillon did his research on that event very well.
There are several different elements combined uniquely in this book that make it a blend of genres. It is Historical-fiction, spiritual, paranormal, Young-adult with a touch of magic and time travel. It is fun and well written and easy to get sucked into. It reminds me a bit of the mentor/youth relationships in "Free Willie" or "The Karate Kid." It has the spiritual touch of "The Shack," or "Orange Petals in a Storm." There are characters you will come to care about and a sense of humor and playfulness and morality woven through the book.
Would I recommend this book to you? Yes, if you have an open mind and don't mind getting a bit off the standard genre paths. I give it 4 stars, not because I didn't love it, I very much did, but because, at times it feels like the story is rushed and the voice turns more lecturing than storytelling to make his point. To me 4 stars still means a book I very much enjoyed and might just read again someday.
September 9, 2012
Review of Sliding Beneath the Surface by Doug Dillon St. Augustine Trilogy #1
This novel elicits a giant “Wow!� from me-Author Doug Dillon is one incredible storyteller. He has wrapped troubled adolescence, grief, being orphaned or partially orphaned, with history, legend, superstition, parallel dimensions, indigenous shamanism, and so much more, to deliver a story seamless in its coherence. I absolutely am on tenterhooks waiting for the next entry in Mr. Dillon’s “St. Augustine Trilogy.�
Jeff Golden and his widowed mother moved to St. Augustine, FL (“America’s most haunted city� and the oldest in the U.S.) following his father’s highway demise. Jeff is constantly angry; due to situations preceding his father’s death, and since then, the fifteen-year-old has become quite a manipulator, especially of adult authority figures. His only friend in the city is Carla, who also lost her archaeologist parents on an expedition in the Yucatan, and lives with her aged grandmother, who has virtually “adopted� Jeff. When a recurrent nightmare destroys what’s left of Jeff’s calm, Carla introduces him to her neighbor Lobo, a woodcarver and shaman. Lobo drills right to the heart of the problem, but in order to solve it, both Jeff and Carla enter into a terribly dangerous endeavor.
“Sliding Beneath the Surface� is targeted to a YA audience, but I am hear to validate that it is a great story for middle-aged and older readers just as much. I am very impressed with this debut novel, and it has my high recommendation.
This novel elicits a giant “Wow!� from me-Author Doug Dillon is one incredible storyteller. He has wrapped troubled adolescence, grief, being orphaned or partially orphaned, with history, legend, superstition, parallel dimensions, indigenous shamanism, and so much more, to deliver a story seamless in its coherence. I absolutely am on tenterhooks waiting for the next entry in Mr. Dillon’s “St. Augustine Trilogy.�
Jeff Golden and his widowed mother moved to St. Augustine, FL (“America’s most haunted city� and the oldest in the U.S.) following his father’s highway demise. Jeff is constantly angry; due to situations preceding his father’s death, and since then, the fifteen-year-old has become quite a manipulator, especially of adult authority figures. His only friend in the city is Carla, who also lost her archaeologist parents on an expedition in the Yucatan, and lives with her aged grandmother, who has virtually “adopted� Jeff. When a recurrent nightmare destroys what’s left of Jeff’s calm, Carla introduces him to her neighbor Lobo, a woodcarver and shaman. Lobo drills right to the heart of the problem, but in order to solve it, both Jeff and Carla enter into a terribly dangerous endeavor.
“Sliding Beneath the Surface� is targeted to a YA audience, but I am hear to validate that it is a great story for middle-aged and older readers just as much. I am very impressed with this debut novel, and it has my high recommendation.
November 7, 2012
First, I would like to thank Mr Dillon for giving me a chance to read this book much sooner than I would have otherwise. That said, get back to writing sir! I'm waiting, lol.
I don't (or almost never) write plot synopses. I don't really want to know more than what you find on the back of the book in advance and usually skip the ones my fellow GoodReaders write. I am usually tempted to skip prologues in books for the same reason, because too often they've given away the bad guy or too much of the plot. So no telling here from me.
I will say this, I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the trilogy. I have always liked historical fiction that is about real events. This fills that bill nicely. That it is paranormal/urban fantasy-ish makes it even better. Although the main characters were by necessity fictional, I really want to see what's next for Jeff, Carla and Lobo. Mr Dillon set the hook in my interest, lol. (Bad joke, you'll have to read it.)
I often deliberately wait when I see the first book out in what is touted as a trilogy, strictly because I don't like to wait. If I read the first one and like it, I'm greedy that way, I want them all now. I will just have to be impatiently patient waiting for the next book in this one, because it is definitely worth waiting for. Don't let the 'Young Adult' categorization fool you. Unless you're reading for the dirty bits (in which case, move along), there is plenty here to hold your interest. 'Sliding' is now shelved on my 'hurry up' shelf. And now I'm going to go read about Luis Fatio Pacheco.
I don't (or almost never) write plot synopses. I don't really want to know more than what you find on the back of the book in advance and usually skip the ones my fellow GoodReaders write. I am usually tempted to skip prologues in books for the same reason, because too often they've given away the bad guy or too much of the plot. So no telling here from me.
I will say this, I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the trilogy. I have always liked historical fiction that is about real events. This fills that bill nicely. That it is paranormal/urban fantasy-ish makes it even better. Although the main characters were by necessity fictional, I really want to see what's next for Jeff, Carla and Lobo. Mr Dillon set the hook in my interest, lol. (Bad joke, you'll have to read it.)
I often deliberately wait when I see the first book out in what is touted as a trilogy, strictly because I don't like to wait. If I read the first one and like it, I'm greedy that way, I want them all now. I will just have to be impatiently patient waiting for the next book in this one, because it is definitely worth waiting for. Don't let the 'Young Adult' categorization fool you. Unless you're reading for the dirty bits (in which case, move along), there is plenty here to hold your interest. 'Sliding' is now shelved on my 'hurry up' shelf. And now I'm going to go read about Luis Fatio Pacheco.
January 21, 2013
This is the first book in The St. Augustine Trilogy. It is certainly intriguing!
Jeff Golden is a fifteen year old who is caught up in some scary paranormal events. He is scared and he enlists the help of his best friend, Carla, and a Shaman by the name of Lobo to get to the bottom of things.
This is a fantastic YA paranormal horror that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story is told well, and has a fantastic flow. I'm not sure if the author was trying to tell a horror story, or give a history lesson though, as it went from an eerie and compelling tale into a brief foray into American history with a paranormal twist. I did, however, enjoy the story very much. I loved Jeff's character, as he tried to come to terms with dealing with the paranormal events. I could see his emotional growth as events unfolded. The other characters were intriguing too, and I am looking forward to reading the remaining books in the trilogy.
Doug Dillon has written a compelling tale that will capture the imagination of the reader, and take them on a journey filled with mystery, danger and intrigue. I recommend this book to younger readers (15+) and those who love YA, paranormal or horror genres. - Lynn Worton
Jeff Golden is a fifteen year old who is caught up in some scary paranormal events. He is scared and he enlists the help of his best friend, Carla, and a Shaman by the name of Lobo to get to the bottom of things.
This is a fantastic YA paranormal horror that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story is told well, and has a fantastic flow. I'm not sure if the author was trying to tell a horror story, or give a history lesson though, as it went from an eerie and compelling tale into a brief foray into American history with a paranormal twist. I did, however, enjoy the story very much. I loved Jeff's character, as he tried to come to terms with dealing with the paranormal events. I could see his emotional growth as events unfolded. The other characters were intriguing too, and I am looking forward to reading the remaining books in the trilogy.
Doug Dillon has written a compelling tale that will capture the imagination of the reader, and take them on a journey filled with mystery, danger and intrigue. I recommend this book to younger readers (15+) and those who love YA, paranormal or horror genres. - Lynn Worton
May 16, 2012
I finished reading this book yesterday. There are so few books that combine a picture of history, spiritual awakening, adolescent growth through crisis, 21st century shamanism, and just sheer fun in the process of knowing more about who we are as human beings. There are three characters in the story: the young, cocky boy who is challenged the most to expand his awareness, the young, pretty girl who is stronger and smarter than the boy (thank goodness for Jeff!), and, the archetype wise man who teaches them both about maturity under duress. Together, they help us understand how history does impact us, how our ancestors sometimes ask for our help in letting go of the past, how we can tap into an inner reservoir of Spirit that is truly endless in its ability to heal us, awaken us, play with us and love us. The only problem with reading Book I is that I will have to patiently wait for Book II and Book III to be finished! So, go for it, read this book and pass it on to any adolescents that you think might need to see that life holds a great deal more mystery, adventure, joy and healing than can be imagined. Thanks, Doug,for writing such a great book!
October 23, 2012
When I think of Ghost stories, I usually think of hauntings, or possessions. I think scary,terrifying or even sometimes unrealistic. This book put a new spin on the whole Ghost - haunting - you story.
We have a boy ,Jeff, with a very special gift. That gift takes him on a 2 day journey with what started out as horrifying nightmares. He shares these nightmares with his neighbor, African American girl named Carla. She too has a special gift. Her other neighbour, Lobo, has helped her with her special gifts, so the two trot over to see Lobo only to find themselves on a terrifying yet accelerating adventure.
I liked the fact that we see the Ghost, not as a devil or spiritual thing, but as a real human who happened to be caught in the afterlife. The Ghost seeks out Jeff to help him find rest and peace in the afterlife.
I would definitely let my teens read this book. It is clean, has little swearing, yet has a few small graphic scenes that might scare the Bajibers out of ya :)
Overall a great book that I was happy to read in exchange for an honest review.
We have a boy ,Jeff, with a very special gift. That gift takes him on a 2 day journey with what started out as horrifying nightmares. He shares these nightmares with his neighbor, African American girl named Carla. She too has a special gift. Her other neighbour, Lobo, has helped her with her special gifts, so the two trot over to see Lobo only to find themselves on a terrifying yet accelerating adventure.
I liked the fact that we see the Ghost, not as a devil or spiritual thing, but as a real human who happened to be caught in the afterlife. The Ghost seeks out Jeff to help him find rest and peace in the afterlife.
I would definitely let my teens read this book. It is clean, has little swearing, yet has a few small graphic scenes that might scare the Bajibers out of ya :)
Overall a great book that I was happy to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2012
Sliding beneath the surface is another one of those books that really stands out, to me at least, as an original piece. Doug Dillon does a great job incorporating history of St. Augustine into this book, and let me tell you...I'm not one for history...But he made it interesting. Of course, I'm not sure how much of it is actually true?? *guess she'll have to look that up >.>*
Following Jeff Golden, you see this story as told from his perspective. And boy was Dillon right on the money in portraying a 15 year old's mind!! Through this series you learn about Jeff's past, Carla's past and Lobo is kind of their guide through their "now" journey. The weird dreams, the alternate realities, copied images of people that they make themselves, ghosts, shaman's...and the list goes on. This book keeps you on your toes every step of the way.
I loved Sliding beneath the surface and I believe that people who like ghost stories and paranormal books will too! Give it a try, Dillon won't let you down!!
Following Jeff Golden, you see this story as told from his perspective. And boy was Dillon right on the money in portraying a 15 year old's mind!! Through this series you learn about Jeff's past, Carla's past and Lobo is kind of their guide through their "now" journey. The weird dreams, the alternate realities, copied images of people that they make themselves, ghosts, shaman's...and the list goes on. This book keeps you on your toes every step of the way.
I loved Sliding beneath the surface and I believe that people who like ghost stories and paranormal books will too! Give it a try, Dillon won't let you down!!
August 29, 2014
Thanks to Doug Dillon for the awesome opportunity to read this book!
This is one of those book that's mixed with a lot of things, not to the point of being annoying, it's so perfectly structured with romance, paranormal, history, suspense and more that you can actually enjoy it. I love things to be described thoroughly because you get a major view of the story and is easier to be part of it.
Jeff and Carla, both teenagers, it was credible how they develop as the story goes. Doug captured the voice of a teenage very well.
Mr. Jeff Golden (yes, it's "that" tone haha) is having nightmares, but not the normal ones, when Carla, his "crush" finds out about this, she decides to go and look for Lobo's guidance to help Jeff. Their journey is full of time traveling, ghosts and you can't help your heart race be as fast as long the story comes unfolding.
One thing: Chinese puzzle balls. So cool, I want one!
Are you a lover of ya paranormal stories about ghosts, with suspense and a little bit of romance? Definetely you should read this book!!!
This is one of those book that's mixed with a lot of things, not to the point of being annoying, it's so perfectly structured with romance, paranormal, history, suspense and more that you can actually enjoy it. I love things to be described thoroughly because you get a major view of the story and is easier to be part of it.
Jeff and Carla, both teenagers, it was credible how they develop as the story goes. Doug captured the voice of a teenage very well.
Mr. Jeff Golden (yes, it's "that" tone haha) is having nightmares, but not the normal ones, when Carla, his "crush" finds out about this, she decides to go and look for Lobo's guidance to help Jeff. Their journey is full of time traveling, ghosts and you can't help your heart race be as fast as long the story comes unfolding.
One thing: Chinese puzzle balls. So cool, I want one!
Are you a lover of ya paranormal stories about ghosts, with suspense and a little bit of romance? Definetely you should read this book!!!
November 22, 2012
The author did a great job of using historical facts to create this paranormal book. Jeff is connected to an ancestor that he must help with the aid of his friend Carla and a somewhat scary and intimidating shaman, Lobo. Lobo will be the only one who can possibly help the two teens out of this situation.
The author brings the reader into the story and you feel like you are actually Jeff going through these horrible situations. The descriptions of what is seen is very disturbing as you think of yourself seeing what they are seeing. I enjoy history so finding out this is based on real historical facts is very interesting to me.
As this is a trilogy I look forward to more work from the author and to discover Jeff's abilities, as he does, in future books. A great first book of this trilogy! Thank you to the author who gave me an opportunity to read the book for an honest review. If you enjoy the paranormal genre and history this is a great combination! Enjoy!
The author brings the reader into the story and you feel like you are actually Jeff going through these horrible situations. The descriptions of what is seen is very disturbing as you think of yourself seeing what they are seeing. I enjoy history so finding out this is based on real historical facts is very interesting to me.
As this is a trilogy I look forward to more work from the author and to discover Jeff's abilities, as he does, in future books. A great first book of this trilogy! Thank you to the author who gave me an opportunity to read the book for an honest review. If you enjoy the paranormal genre and history this is a great combination! Enjoy!
October 31, 2012
I won this book through a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ book giveaway contest--thank you Doug Dillon and Old St. Augustine Publications!
Overall, I thought this book was fairly well written. I liked Jeff Golden as a main character, but I especially liked Carla Rodriguez. She's...spunky. Yeah, I think that's the word for it :) Anyways, Dillon wove together a mix of adventure and mystery to create Jeff's story. I mostly recommend this book to middle grade/younger teens and ayone who likes paranormal stories.
***I reluctantly gave this book 3 stars, though I feel it deserves more. It's just my opinion. It's not the book or story, it's just that I'm not into a lot of the spiritual-ish paranormal stuff genre. But please don't let this stop you!
Overall, I thought this book was fairly well written. I liked Jeff Golden as a main character, but I especially liked Carla Rodriguez. She's...spunky. Yeah, I think that's the word for it :) Anyways, Dillon wove together a mix of adventure and mystery to create Jeff's story. I mostly recommend this book to middle grade/younger teens and ayone who likes paranormal stories.
***I reluctantly gave this book 3 stars, though I feel it deserves more. It's just my opinion. It's not the book or story, it's just that I'm not into a lot of the spiritual-ish paranormal stuff genre. But please don't let this stop you!
October 20, 2013
I had a hard time making it through this book. The first person point of view was at times too much. I felt like I was reading one of my fifth graders' papers. I tell them all the time " don't talk to the reader!" It was very interesting in the fourth part, but needed to move a little faster in the other 3 parts.
October 26, 2012
I don't normaly read read books by men,but this one is actually not bad at all.This book sort of got me intrested in reading books by men.It is actually almost as good as meg cabot's books.AMAZING!!!!!!
May 7, 2012
I really liked this book!! Read it in two sittings....only because I had to get the laundry done. Lol. Can't wait for the second book.
January 12, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail the author packs into this book. You are quickly pulled into an engrossing story of historic fact and paranormal fiction. Recommended reading.
December 15, 2012
The kind author, Doug Dillon, gave me this book to review. This does not impact my review in any way.
Sliding Beneath the Surface is a good read. The characters are well-established, the plot quickly grabs your attention and holds it, the setting is vividly described, and the historical elements are very well researched and explained.
Set in St. Augustine, Florida, the novel starts out with the protagonist, Jeff Golden. A new resident, he is already solid friends with Carla, a fun and well-read girl his age. When Jeff confides in her about the strange dreams he has been having, she takes him to her friend and mentor, Lobo. A Native American shaman, Lobo is as spooky as he is knowledgeable. Jeff is reluctant to talk to the surly man at first, but once he realises that Lobo is able to read his thoughts, he opens up and explains his dreams. This begins a journey of self-discovery through both the past and present for Jeff, with the aid of new friends Carla and Lobo. Filled with the rich history of St. Augustine and paranormal phenomena, Sliding Beneath the Surface never has a dull moment.
The book is narrated by Jeff. While this lends interest and an air of authenticity, it can also become annoying. The phrase "I tell you what." is used so frequently that the reader may be tempted to yell "enough already!" out loud. Besides the few annoying parts, it is fascinating to follow along with Jeff as he discovers a whole new world that he never before dreamed could be real. His scepticism and reluctance to listen to Lobo is how most kids in his situation would act and feel. Sliding Beneath the Surface would not be nearly as interesting if written in the third-person.
Jeff's journey is a non-stop adventure. Doug Dillon manages to weave tons of historical information into the story in such a way that it adds to the action, rather than distracting from it. It is clear that everything is very well researched, and no embellishment is needed to keep it interesting.
While a map of the area of St. Augustine area would have been helpful and certainly appreciated, Doug Dillon describes the town vividly enough that the reader can picture it. So much so, that it might even be a useful tourism tool for the town itself. From Lobo's jungle-like home to the 'Nights of Lights' festival and through the cemetery of America's Oldest City, the setting lends highly to the mood of the story and Jeff's subsequent feelings.
While the paranormal subjects of Sliding Beneath the Surface are a major part of the book, it is the historical facts and elements that truly bring it together. The character of Carla is well utilized as a tour guide for the reader, building up each new setting with a plethora of fascinating information.
While the story as a whole is quite good, the glaring grammatical errors and the repetition in Jeff's thoughts can become tiring, and tend to occasionally pull the reader out of the spell that the book weaves. Another run-through by a good editor is needed and would certainly fix these issues.
Sliding Beneath the Surface is clearly written by someone who loves it's setting and truly believes in the paranormal phenomena that he describes. This adds a realism that is too seldom felt in an era where supernaturally-centred books are more common than their 'normal' counterparts. Classified as a novel for young adults, this book would be enjoyed by readers young and old (though not necessarily for younger children, due to it's spooky tone and events). It is an adventure that will not soon be forgotten, and a great start to the St. Augustine trilogy.
Sliding Beneath the Surface is a good read. The characters are well-established, the plot quickly grabs your attention and holds it, the setting is vividly described, and the historical elements are very well researched and explained.
Set in St. Augustine, Florida, the novel starts out with the protagonist, Jeff Golden. A new resident, he is already solid friends with Carla, a fun and well-read girl his age. When Jeff confides in her about the strange dreams he has been having, she takes him to her friend and mentor, Lobo. A Native American shaman, Lobo is as spooky as he is knowledgeable. Jeff is reluctant to talk to the surly man at first, but once he realises that Lobo is able to read his thoughts, he opens up and explains his dreams. This begins a journey of self-discovery through both the past and present for Jeff, with the aid of new friends Carla and Lobo. Filled with the rich history of St. Augustine and paranormal phenomena, Sliding Beneath the Surface never has a dull moment.
The book is narrated by Jeff. While this lends interest and an air of authenticity, it can also become annoying. The phrase "I tell you what." is used so frequently that the reader may be tempted to yell "enough already!" out loud. Besides the few annoying parts, it is fascinating to follow along with Jeff as he discovers a whole new world that he never before dreamed could be real. His scepticism and reluctance to listen to Lobo is how most kids in his situation would act and feel. Sliding Beneath the Surface would not be nearly as interesting if written in the third-person.
Jeff's journey is a non-stop adventure. Doug Dillon manages to weave tons of historical information into the story in such a way that it adds to the action, rather than distracting from it. It is clear that everything is very well researched, and no embellishment is needed to keep it interesting.
While a map of the area of St. Augustine area would have been helpful and certainly appreciated, Doug Dillon describes the town vividly enough that the reader can picture it. So much so, that it might even be a useful tourism tool for the town itself. From Lobo's jungle-like home to the 'Nights of Lights' festival and through the cemetery of America's Oldest City, the setting lends highly to the mood of the story and Jeff's subsequent feelings.
While the paranormal subjects of Sliding Beneath the Surface are a major part of the book, it is the historical facts and elements that truly bring it together. The character of Carla is well utilized as a tour guide for the reader, building up each new setting with a plethora of fascinating information.
While the story as a whole is quite good, the glaring grammatical errors and the repetition in Jeff's thoughts can become tiring, and tend to occasionally pull the reader out of the spell that the book weaves. Another run-through by a good editor is needed and would certainly fix these issues.
Sliding Beneath the Surface is clearly written by someone who loves it's setting and truly believes in the paranormal phenomena that he describes. This adds a realism that is too seldom felt in an era where supernaturally-centred books are more common than their 'normal' counterparts. Classified as a novel for young adults, this book would be enjoyed by readers young and old (though not necessarily for younger children, due to it's spooky tone and events). It is an adventure that will not soon be forgotten, and a great start to the St. Augustine trilogy.
January 12, 2013
I’m pretty hard to please with Young Adult paranormal books, but this one was very good.
This is the story of 15-year old Jeff Golden discovering, accepting, and learning to use his psychic powers with the assistance of a shaman named Lobo and his friend, Carla Rodriguez. In the beginning of the story he is plagued by nightmares that keep him from sleeping at night. He shares this with Carla who introduces him to Lobo. Jeff learns about the supernatural cause of these nightmares and the three characters go on a paranormal adventure to a historic battle to deal with it. The battle isn’t fictional, and the obvious research that Dillon used in his descriptions of that conflict and its participants is impressive.
Jeff is a likeable character, a typical teenage boy trying to do the right thing but resisting every inch of the way for most of the story. He learns many things in the course of the story. One is that he can control his reactions to things that happen in his life - a valuable lesson for anyone to learn.
Carla is also very good character. She is sassy and strong and a good friend to Jeff. She has her own powers that Lobo helped her deal with previously, so she can relate to Jeff’s current dilemma and is eager to help him. I liked her very much.
Lobo is a good character but a bit flat. He’s stern, doesn’t smile, doesn’t like to be bothered. He is extremely wise about supernatural matters. Although there are times in the story when Jeff senses a hint of possible concern from Lobo, he seems largely indifferent, outside of anger and impatience.
While I would have liked more character development, the plot and the setting were exceptionally well done. The plot kept me curious, kept me reading, wondering what would happen next. Descriptions of St Augustine were striking, creating clear images of the setting in my mind. St Augustine itself was almost a character in the story. Historical themes in fiction are hit and miss with me. Sometimes I find them hard to follow, but that was not the case here. Dillon’s account of historical events throughout the story were clear, easy to understand and engaging. His ability to connect history with the setting and Jeff’s life is impressive.
There were two things that bothered me. One was the lack of development of the character of Jeff’s mom. It felt like the author made a decision to write her off as a disinterested mom instead of including her in the story. All we know about her is that she likes to drink and sleep at her boyfriend’s house. There are a few references to the death of Jeff’s father. I would have liked to know more about how that affected her and the relationship between her and Jeff. She could have added a fascinating layer to the story.
The other thing that bothered me was the relationship between Jeff and Lobo. It was fun in the beginning but became monotonous. Their reactions to each other and interactions with each other became predictable. Given the intense experiences they have together this relationship could have developed in some interesting ways.
I recommend this for a Young Adult reader, and I think that some adult readers would appreciate it as well. Despite some weaknesses with character development, the book is well written, and fun to read.
This is the story of 15-year old Jeff Golden discovering, accepting, and learning to use his psychic powers with the assistance of a shaman named Lobo and his friend, Carla Rodriguez. In the beginning of the story he is plagued by nightmares that keep him from sleeping at night. He shares this with Carla who introduces him to Lobo. Jeff learns about the supernatural cause of these nightmares and the three characters go on a paranormal adventure to a historic battle to deal with it. The battle isn’t fictional, and the obvious research that Dillon used in his descriptions of that conflict and its participants is impressive.
Jeff is a likeable character, a typical teenage boy trying to do the right thing but resisting every inch of the way for most of the story. He learns many things in the course of the story. One is that he can control his reactions to things that happen in his life - a valuable lesson for anyone to learn.
Carla is also very good character. She is sassy and strong and a good friend to Jeff. She has her own powers that Lobo helped her deal with previously, so she can relate to Jeff’s current dilemma and is eager to help him. I liked her very much.
Lobo is a good character but a bit flat. He’s stern, doesn’t smile, doesn’t like to be bothered. He is extremely wise about supernatural matters. Although there are times in the story when Jeff senses a hint of possible concern from Lobo, he seems largely indifferent, outside of anger and impatience.
While I would have liked more character development, the plot and the setting were exceptionally well done. The plot kept me curious, kept me reading, wondering what would happen next. Descriptions of St Augustine were striking, creating clear images of the setting in my mind. St Augustine itself was almost a character in the story. Historical themes in fiction are hit and miss with me. Sometimes I find them hard to follow, but that was not the case here. Dillon’s account of historical events throughout the story were clear, easy to understand and engaging. His ability to connect history with the setting and Jeff’s life is impressive.
There were two things that bothered me. One was the lack of development of the character of Jeff’s mom. It felt like the author made a decision to write her off as a disinterested mom instead of including her in the story. All we know about her is that she likes to drink and sleep at her boyfriend’s house. There are a few references to the death of Jeff’s father. I would have liked to know more about how that affected her and the relationship between her and Jeff. She could have added a fascinating layer to the story.
The other thing that bothered me was the relationship between Jeff and Lobo. It was fun in the beginning but became monotonous. Their reactions to each other and interactions with each other became predictable. Given the intense experiences they have together this relationship could have developed in some interesting ways.
I recommend this for a Young Adult reader, and I think that some adult readers would appreciate it as well. Despite some weaknesses with character development, the book is well written, and fun to read.
January 3, 2013
{ I was kindly provided a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. }
Sliding Beneath the Surface is a creative mix of Florida history and the supernatural. Jeff learns that there is more to the world than the one reality he has always perceived; he finds himself being dragged into other realities by a spirit from the past that relives the day of his death over and over again. Lobo teaches him about these different realities and how Jeff can slide into them, and Carla is there to help him out.
From the start, Carla is clearly Jeff's romantic interest. The development of their relationship is nice and slow, building to some very sweet moments at the end of the book. Carla demonstrates early on that she has some paranormal abilities of her own, but they are not explored in too much detail, which makes me wonder if (and hope that) she and her powers will take more of a central role in one of the other books in the trilogy.
Readers should note this is is not your typical YA paranormal book. I feel like Sliding Beneath the Surface is more supernatural than paranormal; it explores the idea of reality, how to move into other realities, how people in other realities can affect you, and how to control your own thoughts, actions, and destiny. It's very intellectual. In fact, you could wonder if the whole thing is in Jeff's head, except for some physical evidence he brings back from his journeys into other realities.
A little editing could have really improved Sliding Beneath the Surface. It felt a little long to me; while all the scenes and dialogue seemed essential to explaining the story, I feel like they could have been edited down a little to keep the pace of the plot moving at a good clip. The book could have used more editing for punctuation too; if you are like me and your eyes pick up every single unnecessary or misplaced comma, you'll find yourself stumbling over quite a few sentences. I also found Jeff's voice as a main character a little too interactive; he speaks directly to the reader quite a bit, giving a lot of "I tell you what"s and "know what I mean?"s in his narration. I guess I prefer to be a more voyeuristic reader - I like to be let into the character's thoughts and understand their motivations, but I don't like to feel like they're looking right at me and explaining themselves directly to me. But that's just my personal tastes.
Overall, Sliding Beneath the Surface is an intriguing and thought-provoking story of the supernatural. There are some really exciting moments that lovers of ghost stories will tear through , as well as action scenes that history buffs would appreciate . It's a solid introduction to the series and I'm interested to see where the story goes from here.
Sliding Beneath the Surface is a creative mix of Florida history and the supernatural. Jeff learns that there is more to the world than the one reality he has always perceived; he finds himself being dragged into other realities by a spirit from the past that relives the day of his death over and over again. Lobo teaches him about these different realities and how Jeff can slide into them, and Carla is there to help him out.
From the start, Carla is clearly Jeff's romantic interest. The development of their relationship is nice and slow, building to some very sweet moments at the end of the book. Carla demonstrates early on that she has some paranormal abilities of her own, but they are not explored in too much detail, which makes me wonder if (and hope that) she and her powers will take more of a central role in one of the other books in the trilogy.
Readers should note this is is not your typical YA paranormal book. I feel like Sliding Beneath the Surface is more supernatural than paranormal; it explores the idea of reality, how to move into other realities, how people in other realities can affect you, and how to control your own thoughts, actions, and destiny. It's very intellectual. In fact, you could wonder if the whole thing is in Jeff's head, except for some physical evidence he brings back from his journeys into other realities.
A little editing could have really improved Sliding Beneath the Surface. It felt a little long to me; while all the scenes and dialogue seemed essential to explaining the story, I feel like they could have been edited down a little to keep the pace of the plot moving at a good clip. The book could have used more editing for punctuation too; if you are like me and your eyes pick up every single unnecessary or misplaced comma, you'll find yourself stumbling over quite a few sentences. I also found Jeff's voice as a main character a little too interactive; he speaks directly to the reader quite a bit, giving a lot of "I tell you what"s and "know what I mean?"s in his narration. I guess I prefer to be a more voyeuristic reader - I like to be let into the character's thoughts and understand their motivations, but I don't like to feel like they're looking right at me and explaining themselves directly to me. But that's just my personal tastes.
Overall, Sliding Beneath the Surface is an intriguing and thought-provoking story of the supernatural. There are some really exciting moments that lovers of ghost stories will tear through , as well as action scenes that history buffs would appreciate . It's a solid introduction to the series and I'm interested to see where the story goes from here.
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