Joule could hear the dogs in the distance. They were getting closer and she was in trouble. She had stayed out too long and now she would suffer the consequences. She was running flat out and still they were getting closer and closer. Her trembling legs could hardly hold her up and her heart felt like it was going to jump right out of her chest. Up ahead she could see her house, but she would never make it. There was an empty house just a few feet away and she ran in, shut the door and raced up the steps. The breaking of glass in the windows alerted her to the fact that the dogs were now in the house. She needed a weapon, but what. Looking around she spied just the same that would keep her safe.
The Hunted
Black Carbon – Book #1
by A. J. Scudiere
Griffyn Ink
June 2019
It all started a couple years ago in the small town of Rowena Heights. First it was just the small animals – cats, dogs and other small pets, then graduating to people. A lot of the houses were vacant as the people either left for a safer place or were caught by the dogs. They were called the dogs, but they were nothing like any dog that anyone had ever seen. They only came out at night and left in the morning. Where they spent the day no one knew as they had never actually seen one in the day time. People went around their normal business during the daylight hours, but when the sun went down they stayed indoors with the curtains closed, being sure not to make any noise and going to bed early.
Things were going along as usual for the Mazurs until one evening when the dogs got into the house. The family was hiding in the laundry room, being very quiet and all the lights were off. Suddenly an earthquake warning sounded and set the dogs off. They found their way into the laundry room and located Kayla. She said I got this and raced out of the room, the dogs following her. The next morning they found her on the floor. At least they had a body to bury, that was more than some families had.
Nate, the children’s father, was determined to get revenge for the death of his wife. He persuaded Jules and Gage to go with him to fight the dogs. One time was enough for them and they thought they had persuaded him not to go out again. One morning when they started looking for him, he was gone. They now knew he had been going out each night and he would never return. They had to figure out some way
to kill the dogs before the whole town was gone. They remembered Dr. Brett, a veterinarian, that came to the school on several occasions. He would help them find a way to eliminate the dogs.
Will Jules, Gage and Dr. Brett find a way to save the remaining residence of Rowena Heights or will they too lose their lives?
This book has a little bit of magic, mystery and a whole lot of imagination. It is best read in the daylight because there is a lot of scary parts.
I really enjoyed the book and highly recommended to adult readers.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is a founding book blogger for BookGateway.com and has generously provided this review. She describes herself as “an 88 year young great-grandmother and an avid reader.”
This book was provided by the publisher for review.