The Tear Collector by Shawn Burgess – Blog Tour

Thank you to Sarah Hardy from @BOTBSPublicity for organising this tour and to Shawn Burgess for a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.

Synopsis

The misdeeds of our ancestors are debts passed from generation to generation. They lurk, hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right time to be collected. For the residents of Harper Pass—their debt is due.

* * *

MISSING PERSON:
Have you seen Margo Combs?
Contact Detective Holt (918) 555-0155
You may choose to remain anonymous.

* * *

When a young autistic girl goes missing from a small Appalachian community, the residents of Harper Pass descend into chaos. Brooks Raker and his friends stumble across the police investigation, and as they dig deeper into the mysterious events, the boys realize the fate of their missing classmate pales in comparison with the evil lurking in the shadows of the quiet little town.

With four boys who believe something sinister is at work, and an ambitious reporter breathing down his neck, Detective Holt of the Harper Pass Police Department must confront his doubts and follow the evidence. A chain of disappearances and suspicious deaths, leads Holt to the doorstep of the mysterious and reclusive Professor Wadlow who may know exactly what has come to collect in Harper Pass.

Can the detective and the boys work together to unravel the dark secrets of Harper Pass before those secrets devour them all?

Buy link:

Linktr.ee/thetearcollector

My Thoughts

What a superb, spine tingling debut novel!

Although this book could easily be placed in the horror genre, I found it more a psychological thriller. What could be more intense than the mysterious disappearance of a young autistic girl and a bunch of strange goings on that have little explanation? For me horror lies in the things I cannot see, the things that are there but can only be imagined and this novel really plays on those fears.

Fans of ‘buddy’ movies such as Stranger Things (I know, not a movie) and Stephen King esq. tales will find this enthralling and unputdownable. Accompanying the boys on their journey of friendship, loss and discovery adds a lighter and more heartwarming perspective in this novel and was a pleasure to read about. Each of the boys had their own unique personality and Burgess has captured the essence of different teenage personalities and vulnerabilities perfectly. I love seeing the story unfold thorough the eyes of teenagers.

The pace of the narrative is fast with no unused or unnecessary words. Each page left me holding my breath until I could read more. This book has a little of everything, woven together to create a compelling and addictive tale.

I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Author Bio

Shawn Burgess has a BA in English from the University of Florida, and he focused on literature for his postgraduate studies at the University of North Florida. His travels have taken him to most parts of the country, where he often drew inspiration for his stories through meeting interesting people and experiencing unique places. Beware! If you find yourself behaving curiously within the crosshairs of his vision you might end up on one of his pages. In his spare time, Shawn enjoys travelling, attending concerts, reading, and playing golf. He typically makes year-round preparations for Halloween by building props and elaborate sets. Shawn claims Jacksonville, Florida as his home, but he has lived all over the southeastern United States. Many of his stories are set in those towns he once called home, or in fictional places inspired by them. He says, “I enjoy building upon the natural mysteries surrounding those areas I’ve personally experienced.” The Tear Collector is Shawn’s debut novel, but he’s currently working on a YA Fantasy novel, as well as The Tear Collector’s sequel. He is active on social media, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Facebook: shawnburgessauthor

Twitter: ShawnBinJax

Instagram: ShawnBinJax

Goodreads Author Page: Shawn Burgess

Website: http://www.shawnburgessauthor.com