{"id":38041,"date":"2025-02-24T08:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T13:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=38041"},"modified":"2025-02-23T17:02:21","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T22:02:21","slug":"switchblade-svengali-by-coy-hall-z-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=38041","title":{"rendered":"SWITCHBLADE SVENGALI by Coy Hall \/ Z-View"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

SWITCHBLADE SVENGALI<\/a> by Coy Hall<\/p>\n

First sentence…<\/p>\n

\n

The vamp drained me, but I couldn’t withdraw from the conversation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Overview:\u00a0 Beware of Spoilers\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s been over a decade since Royce Pembrook was lured back into a world he’d left behind.\u00a0 When Anna Vogel, his old crime partner, showed up needing help, Royce didn’t hesitate.<\/p>\n

And he was nearly killed for his kindness.<\/p>\n

But Royce Pembrook survived.\u00a0 He moved to a new city.\u00a0 Changed his name.\u00a0 And went back to doing what he loved and did better than almost anyone.\u00a0 Royce’s demeanor put folks at ease.\u00a0 He was great at reading people.\u00a0 With those two skills and a few others, holding s\u00e9ances was a breeze.\u00a0 Royce couldn’t really communicate with the dead.\u00a0 But his patrons didn’t know that. They always left feeling better.\u00a0 Word spread and the money came easy.<\/p>\n

Royce built up a regular clientele.\u00a0 He was smart.\u00a0 Royce didn’t bleed them dry.\u00a0 He provided a service that they could afford.\u00a0 No one was ever dissatisfied.\u00a0 Two of Royce’s best patrons were a couple of old sisters.\u00a0 Their brother didn’t care for Royce.\u00a0 He liked his sisters’ relationship with Royce even less.\u00a0 The brother didn’t believe there was a real friendship there.\u00a0 Royce realized this guy could be a problem.<\/p>\n

Then a real problem showed up.\u00a0 Someone from Royce’s past had found him.\u00a0 She knew Royce had changed his name.\u00a0 She didn’t just want to destroy Royce’s connections with his rich patrons.\u00a0 No, she wanted Royce exposed for a fraud… and then she wanted him dead.<\/p>\n

+++++<\/p>\n

This is Coy Hall’s second Royce Pembrook tale.\u00a0 If Royce survives this one, I’d love to see more. (Yeah, I know if he does, but I’m not ruining it for those who haven’t read the story yet.)<\/p>\n

Coy Hall is an excellent writer who isn’t afraid to create “lead” characters who are flawed.<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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