GYPSY BLOOD

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(Previoulsly titled Gypsy Crystal)

Everyone has secrets.

Homicide Detective Rita Moldova has a secret, a crystal amulet from her Roma bloodline that allows her to see the last image a victim had seen in their eyes before they died. Now, a ritual killer is terrorizing her town and the crystal’s magic has suddenly stopped doing its job.

FBI agent, Matt Boulet, is sent to lead the task force and gives the group strange orders. Worse, Rita senses he is holding back a deep, dark secret about the killer.

When she confronts her seer mother’s advice, she learns another secret about their clan that she finds impossible to swallow.

Rita swims through a whirlpool of confusion as the investigation continues. Can Rita deny the lore of the ancients? Can she deny her growing feelings for Matt Boulet?


 

(Excerpt from novella)

Detective Rita Moldova peeked around the corner to make sure the hallway was empty. Making a quick right turn, she slipped into the autopsy lab to have a few minutes alone with the body. She tucked her white shirt tighter into her jeans and zipped her windbreaker to stay warm in the chilly room. The harsh odor of formaldehyde hit her nostrils and stung her throat.

Her heart twisted at the sight of the young, auburn-haired woman lying on the stainless steel table. A white sheet covered her to the navel; bruises blemished the once pretty face. Contusions marred the pallid skin from elbow to shoulder. The gash on the front of her neck gaped, exposing open veins and torn tissue.

Rita flipped her thick, dark braid back over her shoulder, snapped on one latex glove, leaned over the corpse, and peeled back an eyelid. In her bare hand, she clasped a star-shaped crystal hanging from the gold chain around her neck, an endowment from her maternal Roma bloodline. The crystal heated in her palm, warm energy pulsing up her arm to her shoulder. The face captured in the victim’s eye coalesced and stared back. Rita drew in a sharp breath. Bobby Driscoll! She had known him since high school, and now he worked as a uniform in her precinct. What the hell was going on?

*****

READ WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT GYPSY BLOOD.

The story itself is tightly written and quick paced. Unlike a lot of paranormal fiction that has a romantic element, this is not what drives the plot of this book.

There are enough twists and developments to keep you turning pages, but not so many as to make the plot hard to follow. Lorrie Unites-Struiff has done an excellent job of explaining enough lore and legend of the back-story of the characters to add meaning to the plot. Some paranormal fiction books have a tendency to drift from the plot in order to explain myths, legends and fantastical histories, what this book does well is reveal them with the plot, rather than as a side note.

*

Over all I really enjoyed Gypsy Blood. At just over 100 pages it makes the perfect summer pool-side/winter duvet day read. It’s also the kind of book that cry’s out to be part of a series.

From that beginning, Gypsy Blood takes you on a wild ride from the modern world into a dark family secret. A major hunk, Matt, shows up to work the case. Rita is attracted, but tries to keep her distance. However, Matt knows things about the serial killer stalking the streets that Rita does not know. Together, they must find a horrible beast from the past who’s killing prostitutes, but only because the taking is easy and the beast needs blood.

Ms. Unites-Struiff carries the story into the realm of the supernatural, along with some hot scenes between Rita and Matt, to take the reader along on a wild, supernatural ride. Great read.

*

The supernatural is nothing to Matt or Rita but neither finds it easy to confide and their silence may put each other in danger. The killer is closer to Rita than she could ever imagine and it is only through Matt that the centuries old case will finally come to an end, but will they survive?

Gypsy Blood is a fantastic adventure through the paranormal. It is an outstanding story that is written by a talented author who paints a thrilling world full of possibilities. I enjoyed the characters, especially Rita’s family. This is one story that fans of the paranormal should not miss and one that mystery readers should read.

*

Gypsy Blood is a book that will intrigue your mystical mind, and engage your curiosity of Roma Traditions / Gypsy Culture. Curious on the ancient Roma traditions; You feel like family as you walk through different discoveries with Rita.

When the main character is faced with the climaxing issues, there are some movie moments where I starting thinking about characters that would play the various roles. Modern phrases and language gave this book a youthful quality in some areas working well to invoke barred emotions. Things are described very well, which makes it seem as though I stepped into another dimension of reality.

I would definitely try out another story by Lorrie Unites-Struiff!

*

Matt’s character is mysterious, and very sexy. He and Rita feel a connection to each other right away. Although Matt’s main objective is to solve the case, he doesn’t hide his attraction to Rita and makes it known he wants her. He’s keeping more than a few secrets from her which only adds to his allure.
Gypsy Blood is an action packed paranormal romantic thriller and I enjoyed the romantic chemistry between Matt and Rita. This is a fast paced read, and the mystery and final action scene held a few unexpected surprises.

*

I love this off-beat murder-mystery. Secrets abound from all directions. The characters are consistent throughout the book, and what fascinating characters they are. With Detective Rita Moldova’s Roma background, and as a “trailer park” kid in her school years, the stigma still sticks with this main character, especially with certain old classmates. Her mother is the keeper of tradition and maintains extraordinary senses and powers. I always enjoy learning something from all books I read and this one did not disappoint. The tradition and ancestral life of the Romanians tweaked my historical nerve.