A ragged band of vampires are cutting a bloody path of destruction from Alaska to Washington State! As frost turns the leaves gold and paints the high mountain treetops silver, hundreds of hunters arrive in Swan Valley for their annual deer hunt. What they don’t know is an outcast band of vampires have arrived, as well. Raphael Goldhawk, king of the high vampire council, has decreed the taking of human life unlawful. Raul Stannard, an ancient enemy of the half-human king, is determined to overthrow the council, even if it means the exposure and eventual annihilation of the vampire race. Four people, a Ferry County forest ranger (Roger Atley), an Indian spirit-walker (Harley Truefeather), and a young married couple (Brian and Holly Jensen), are about to be caught up in an ancient power struggle, and in a love affair as old as time itself. This novel combines ancient history with modern times, in an epic show-down between good and evil, love and hate. Grab your camping gear and hold on tight! It’s time for DETOUR TO DUSK!
Over 27- 4 and 5 star reviews!
Over 27- 4 and 5 star reviews!
Detour To Dusk, is my first novel. I wrote it over 25 years ago, before vampires sparkled, and took girls out on dates!
Formerly known as, The Hunt, this vampire thriller has garnered over 26- 4 and 5 star reviews! It's a little bloody (of course), a little romantic, and a must read for fans of dark, urban fantasy and adventure!
Here a just a few of the reviews for, Detour To Dusk!
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Linell Jeppsen's THE HUNT is a modern day struggle with and between vampires. Dare you enter this thrilling adventure?, April 24, 2011 By Ellen Ekey-Hines - See all my reviews This review is from: The Hunt (Paperback) THE HUNT is expertly written, filled with beautifully descriptive passages. It now lives in my mind. I know these people. They are not just characters on a page; they are fleshed out, real just like you and me. It is not the usual 'vampire' story. Linell Jeppsen has given us a story of new friends, people you would like to know. (And some that you have to hate.) Primarily, you will meet Brian and his wife, Holly, Roger, a forest ranger and his friend Harley who is a spirit walker and of course exquisitely, handsome Raphael, a modern day vampire. As you learn of their lives you find that they will have something in common. I laughed, loved, cheered, hated and cried. Only an expert story teller can surface so much emotion in a reader. I did not want the book to end and I cried for my friends that have gone on without me. I hope Ms. Jeppsen writes another novel about the people in THE HUNT because to me they still live, somewhere.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, April 17, 2011 By Lori Little - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: The Hunt (Kindle Edition) I was caught up in this strange and wonderful story immediately, high in the forests of northeastern Washington State, with mysterious deaths at a remote campground. I couldn't put it down. Equal parts history, magic and suspense, THE HUNT is a novel of surprising scope. With a scholar's depth and the deft touch of a great storyteller, Linell Jeppsen has woven a gripping vampire tale of passion and perseverance, bravery and loss. Even so, the vampires are secondary to the resilience of the human spirit in this story. If you want a fast moving vampire story with a little more meat on its bones than the usual, try THE HUNT.
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Imagination To Bring Vampire Myths Into Modern Times., January 13, 2012 By J Bryden Lloyd "J Bryden Lloyd" (Author - UK) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: The Hunt (Kindle Edition) After reading the sci-fi offering, Story Time, from the same author towards the end of last year, I was looking forward to this book getting to the top of my reading list.
* * * SPOILERS IN THIS SECTION * * *
The Hunt follows the past history of the half-blood vampire, Raphael, who is taken into the vampire world, turned and trained from a young age; eventually becoming the 'King' and leader of the council.
The journey to get to this lofty position takes him hundreds of years, during which time he marries and turns another human and has a child. After the murder of his wife at the hands of a band of pure-bred vampires, he returns to the fold where he finally becomes leader.
In the present time, the story focusses on a young couple, and Indian Spirit Walker and a Park Ranger, along with a group of pure-bred vampires who are out amongst the humans, where they were forbidden to go.
As I had hoped - based on Jeppsen's previous novel - the descriptive work of the writing and the characterisations were both exemplary and I could easily visualise the areas and the people as the author intended. Even the countenance of the most evil of the vampires was beautifully offered.
Jeppsen's clear knowledge of the area and breathtakingly accurate descriptions helped make everything very real and pulled the story along smoothly. Even the `foreign' and mythical locations were given more than enough realism to add to the atmosphere of the various story-lines as they unfolded.
The kidnapping of Holly and Brian's determined efforts to find her, even when faced with the vampire, is covered with calm, creative writing which I feel has come to epitomise the style and strength of this author, and the way she builds the story to its conclusion is outstanding.
* * * END OF SPOILERS * * *
Interaction between the characters is handled with great attention to detail regarding the emotional and physical attachments between each group and as the story moves between the various times and groups, the subtle switches in the speech and the mannerisms of the characters in the sub-plots are carefully and accurately observed.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, an excellent story and one to recommend. The vampire genre doesn't have to be your thing to enjoy this.
* * * SPOILERS IN THIS SECTION * * *
The Hunt follows the past history of the half-blood vampire, Raphael, who is taken into the vampire world, turned and trained from a young age; eventually becoming the 'King' and leader of the council.
The journey to get to this lofty position takes him hundreds of years, during which time he marries and turns another human and has a child. After the murder of his wife at the hands of a band of pure-bred vampires, he returns to the fold where he finally becomes leader.
In the present time, the story focusses on a young couple, and Indian Spirit Walker and a Park Ranger, along with a group of pure-bred vampires who are out amongst the humans, where they were forbidden to go.
As I had hoped - based on Jeppsen's previous novel - the descriptive work of the writing and the characterisations were both exemplary and I could easily visualise the areas and the people as the author intended. Even the countenance of the most evil of the vampires was beautifully offered.
Jeppsen's clear knowledge of the area and breathtakingly accurate descriptions helped make everything very real and pulled the story along smoothly. Even the `foreign' and mythical locations were given more than enough realism to add to the atmosphere of the various story-lines as they unfolded.
The kidnapping of Holly and Brian's determined efforts to find her, even when faced with the vampire, is covered with calm, creative writing which I feel has come to epitomise the style and strength of this author, and the way she builds the story to its conclusion is outstanding.
* * * END OF SPOILERS * * *
Interaction between the characters is handled with great attention to detail regarding the emotional and physical attachments between each group and as the story moves between the various times and groups, the subtle switches in the speech and the mannerisms of the characters in the sub-plots are carefully and accurately observed.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, an excellent story and one to recommend. The vampire genre doesn't have to be your thing to enjoy this.
5.0 out of 5 stars A great way to re-tell the vampire myth!, January 27, 2012 By Edwin Stark (Venezuela) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: The Hunt (Kindle Edition) Ok, let's face it: I'm an old-fashioned writer who likes his tales traditional, the sort of "the times when men where men, women wore bustles and vampires were vampires"; I like them sucking blood, being vasquished by sunlight and sleeping inside coffins during daytime. I consider any variation from the original mythos an aberration and a complete anathema to my vampire literary tastes. However, considering all this, it comes as no small praise when I say that I loved Linnell Jeppsen's "The Hunt". During the opening chapters she manages to establish vampires as mankind's ages-old predator, less supernatural and more natural that the vampire tales that I'm used to, but besides this, she doesn't depart much from the traditional lore. Kudos for her! The rest of the book? It was the sort of novel that gets me to read very late into the night, completely ignoring that I was pretty much past my bedtime; 11 PM? I just need to finish this page... Midnight? lemme do this chapter and I'll put the book down.... This is the quality of the magic that the author has woven into her tale.