Blood on the Chesapeake


Fiction - Mystery - Murder
410 Pages
Reviewed on 04/04/2019
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Dr. Randy Overbeck is a veteran educator who has served children as a teacher, a college professor and school leader. During his more than three decades of experience, his roles have ranged from senior prom advisor to superintendent and he has lived the roles of many of the characters in his fiction.  A tireless advocate for literacy instruction, Dr. Overbeck has won state and national awards and has also served on numerous state and national boards with contacts throughout the U.S.

An accomplished writer for more than two decades, he has been published in trade journals, professional texts and newspapers. His first novel, Leave No Child Behind, was released in 2010 by Heroic Teacher Press. The novel, a thriller about a terrorist takeover of a high school in Ohio and the teacher who defeats the terrorists, earned rave reviews and was named the Silver Award Winner for 2011 Thriller of the Year from ReadersFavorite.com.
A members of the Mystery Writers of America, he is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest and Killer Nashville.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

Blood on the Chesapeake by Randy Overbeck is an unusual mix of mystery, murder, and sleuth genres. When Darrell Henshaw decides to move to Wilshire, Maryland, it's for him to start afresh. And here he finds love and the quietude most suitable for a man looking to rebuild his life. But then he learns that this quiet community holds a dark secret, a murder that happened thirty years ago in high school. He thinks it's none of his business but when a ghost haunts him, he knows he has only one choice; uncover the truth. The more he digs, the more he gets entangled in a history that involves the civil rights movement and the KKK. The conflict escalates when two people trying to help him are murdered. Is he going to be the next victim and can he uncover the truth before the worst happens?

Blood on the Chesapeake begins in a mild tone and quickly escalates into a gripping story filled with tension and twists. The protagonist is a complex character, one with a shady past, a man looking for a second chance. But then he finds himself embroiled in an investigation he never signed up for. The novel is compelling. The writing is great and Randy Overbeck has an uncanny way with words, using a phraseology that captures his strong narrative tone masterfully and this has a thrilling effect. The novel brings together elements of history and a setting that is vividly described. Blood on the Chesapeake is well plotted and skillfully written, a novel that entertains readers and appeals strongly to their consciences and sense of humanity. This author keeps it realistic and engaging.

Susan Sewell

Haunted by the ghost of a student who died several decades before, a teacher is caught in a web of intrigue in the murder mystery novel, Blood on the Chesapeake ( A Haunted Shores Mysteries Book 1) by Randy Overbeck. Darrell Henshaw takes a teaching position in the small town of Wilshire, Maryland. During his tour of the school, his guide laughingly mentions the school has a resident ghost. On his first visit to his new office, Darrell sees the apparition of a young man in a window. Curious about the young man's death, Darrell starts asking questions. However, those he questions either brush him off or have no details. Because incidents with the ghost intensify, Darrell begins researching the history of the area. Suddenly, people who have any knowledge about the student's demise die in suspicious circumstances. Someone is desperate enough to silence anyone connected with the school's ghost. Since he is behind the queries, will Darrell be the next victim? If Darrell dies, will the ghost obtain the justice he seeks?

Blood on the Chesapeake (A Haunted Shores Mysteries Book 1) by Randy Overbeck is a haunting story of a mysterious death with racial connotations. It is a sensational tale with an extraordinary backdrop, engaging characters, and an exciting and solid plot. Set on the coast of Maryland, my interest was immediately captured by the background's alluring charm. The incongruity between the monstrous deeds taking place and the enchanting setting provides the story with realism and authenticity. The characters are lifelike and relatable, making it easy to get caught up in the drama and the conflict affecting them. From the enigmatic start to the astounding conclusion, I loved every aspect of the book. With a ghost, murders, and a touch of romance, it is a thrilling novel that will delight fans of amateur sleuth mysteries.