New Age Noir: #1 Scorpio Rising, #2 Felonious Monk

8 Feb

thumb_SRThe long-awaited sequel to Scorpio Rising, #1 in the New Age Noir series by Alan Annand, is coming soon.

In Scorpio Rising, criminal profiler Axel Crowe investigates the killing of a New York heiress, and discovers her death is linked to two other murders on the same day: a dot-com millionaire in San Francisco, and the team leader of a CIA counter-terrorist project in Los Alamos, New Mexico. A finder of wayward people and stolen possessions, the enigmatic Crowe profiles subjects in a distinctly unique manner – using astrology, palmistry and other esoteric techniques. Facts are gross, but the truth is subtle, Crowe’s guru used to say. And although the truth behind this three-way conspiracy lies buried in the past, Crowe is relentless until he uncovers it.

The reviews thus far:

Scorpio Rising does for astrology what The Da Vinci Code did for art history.” ~ Suite101 Book Reviews

Scorpio Rising by Alan Annand, the first of his New Age Noir series, is a gripping murder mystery with a Hitchcockian twist.” ~ The Mountain Astrologer

“Annand is a terrific mystery writer who weaves a convincing working knowledge of a metaphysician’s world view into each page.” ~ Steven Forrest

“Axel Crowe, the brilliant investigator of Annand’s Scorpio Rising, is Agent 007 for the New Age noir set.” ~ Astrology Toronto

“Annand has done a masterful job in creating a whole new type of hero – astrologer as detective.” ~ North American Jyotish Newsletter

“Incredible power as a poet in prose – in the style of Hammett and Hemingway – to describe places and people.” ~ Michael Lutin

“If you like detective stories featuring astrology and palmistry, this is a terrific read that will keep you flipping the pages.” ~ NCGR Newsletter

“Scorpio Rising is an engaging mystery with a momentum that sends you rushing to the end.” ~ Horoscope Guide

“A fascinating murder mystery, and a wonderful book for anyone with even a little knowledge of astrology and palmistry to enjoy!” ~ Ray Merriman

“For those with a mystical blend and more than a touch of Scorpio darkness, you’re in for a treat.” ~ Dell Horoscope

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For more on these reviews, see Scorpio Rising on Pinterest. 

Because Mercury retrograde doesn’t always spell disaster, Scorpio Rising will be available for the whole of February and March as well, for an introductory price of only $0.99, after which the price will return to $2.99. 

The ebook is available at Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, KoboSmashwords and Sony.

The second installment in the New Age Noir series will be released on April 6, 2014. Pre-orders are now available at Apple, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

thumb_FMIn Felonious Monk, a  reporter is found dead on a Vermont ashram. Summoned by an old friend who runs the retreat, astrologer Axel Crowe barely has time to assess the situation before the police arrest his friend for murder.

Believing him innocent, Crowe suspects instead a mysterious devotee who may be ex-CIA, and the beautiful Thai woman who accompanied him to the retreat. But when Crowe follows them to New York, the woman disappears and the man threatens to make Crowe disappear.

In exchange for NYPD help, Crowe agrees to take a look at a cold case file – the Riverside Rapist – who killed eight Asian women over 12 years. The timing of the murders intrigues Crowe, who sees in it an astrological signature of the killer.

Coincidence or not, the cold case overlaps some of the stories the reporter was working on – sex trafficking, heroin smuggling and the theft of religious antiquities  – all from Southeast Asia. None of it hangs together until Crowe goes to Thailand, and then it all makes perfect, horrible, sense.

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Until then, remember, Mercury retrograde isn’t all bad.

~~~~~

Ashton Kutcher (b. Feb 07): “Don’t settle for what life gives you…”

7 Feb

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“Don’t settle for what life gives you; make life better and build something.”

~ Ashton Kutcher, b. 7 February 1978

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565463614966/

Ronald Reagan (b. Feb 06): “If Moses had run the Ten Commandments through Congress…”

6 Feb

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“I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US Congress.”

~ Ronald Reagan, b. 6 February 1911

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565463607597/

 

Don Cherry (b. Feb 05): “I think I’m a good Canadian…”

5 Feb

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“I think I’m a good Canadian, but I’m not the greatest Canadian.”  

~ Don Cherry, b. 5 February 1934

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565463600971/

 

Nathan Lane (b. Feb 03): “There really is no handbook about the celebrity thing…”

3 Feb

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“It’s a cliché, but there really is no handbook about the celebrity thing; you have to figure it out as you go along.”

~ Nathan Lane, b. 3 February 1956

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565463589209/

 

Shakira (b. Feb 02): “Writing songs has a therapeutic effect…”

2 Feb

Shakira

“Writing songs has a therapeutic effect, and it either kills off love or wins the heart of the lover.”

~ Shakira, b. 2 February 1977

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565463581013/

 

Ronda Rousey (b. Feb 01): “I’m scared all the time…”

1 Feb

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“People say to me all the time, ‘You have no fear.’ I tell them, ‘No, that’s not true. I’m scared all the time.’ You have to have fear in order to have courage. I’m a courageous person because I’m a scared person.”

~ Ronda Rousey, b. 1 February 1987

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565463573777/

 

Justin Timberlake (b. Jan 31): “I’m completely removed from any hype that comes my way.”

31 Jan

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“I’m completely removed from any hype that comes my way.”

~ Justin Timberlake, b. 31 January 1981

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565463567721/

 

Christian Bale (b. Jan 30): “I’d love to remain a secret and still work…”

30 Jan

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“I’d love to remain a secret and still work, but I also want people to see the movies I’m in and get a higher profile because of that. I like to think that as long as you continue choosing diverse roles, you can avoid becoming predictable.”  

~ Christian Bale, b. 30 January 1974

 http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565463562703/

 

Adam Lambert (b. Jan 29): “The minute a man does it, everybody freaks out…”

29 Jan

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“Female performers have been doing this for years — pushing the envelope about sexuality — and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out.”

~ Adam Lambert, b. 29 January 1982

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565463556187/