The Rowan Gant Investigations Series

NEVER BURN A WITCH: A Rowan Gant Investigation (Book 2) THEY BURN WITCHES, DON'T THEY? Take one part twisted sociopath and add a double shot of psychosis-fueled misinterpretations of Bible scripture and prophecy, then toss in a copy of a fifteenth-century Witch hunting manual known as the Malleus Maleficarum. Mix well. What do you get? An even more twisted sociopath who now believes he is on a divine mission from God to single-handedly resurrect the Inquisition of medieval Europe—and he is armed with the instructions for doing so. Set him loose on the world and he becomes a serious problem. Set him loose in Saint Louis and he becomes my serious problem. My name is Rowan Gant. The police call me their “Occult Practices and Alternative Religions Consultant.” That is just their media-friendly spin on what I really am—that being the unofficial Witch of the Major Case Squad. You see, there is a bit more to me than just a cranium filled with arcane knowledge of religious history and the occult. I also have this unwanted affliction—I can hear the voices of the dead. To be specific, I hear murder victims crying out to me from the dark hereafter. The more heinous their deaths, the louder they are. Not all Witches can hear them. I’m just unlucky that way, I guess. At any rate, you can rest assured, given the torture and murder spree this latest psycho is on, the din inside my head right now is damn near unbearable...

HARM NONE: A Rowan Gant Investigation (Book 1) THE WITCH AND THE DEAD... They say dead men tell no tales. I really wish that was true, because the dead tell me more than I ever wanted to know. My name is Rowan Gant. I’m just an average guy...well, except for the fact that I’m a Witch. That last part is the reason I’m the go-to-guy for the local cops whenever a murder is a little beyond the pale and they need a consultant with knowledge of the Occult. I didn’t actually want the job, but apparently the job wanted me. It all started when I was asked to decipher some symbols found at a crime scene. The police needed answers, and as it turns out so did I. You see, fate being what it is I had a personal connection to the victim when she was still among the living. It gets worse, though... The images in the crime scene photos gave me a sick feeling that the killer wasn’t finished. I could see—even feel—what was coming next, and it was not going to be good. In fact, it was going to be downright evil...

PERFECT TRUST: A Rowan Gant Investigation (Book 3) DEAD I AM, DEAD I AM... Apparently coming toe-to-toe with two different spree killers in less than two years can cause you to suffer from PTSD—or so they tell me. I suppose I can’t really argue the point since I actually do have all of the associated symptoms. Unfortunately, I have even more trauma and stress coming my way, courtesy of a serial sexual predator that is prowling Saint Louis, and he has just added homicide to his resume. I know this because a dead college cheerleader told me all about it. I guess that last comment sort of begs an explanation, doesn’t it? To make a long story short, my name is Rowan Gant. The spirits of murder victims talk to me—actually, scream at me would be a better description. The police seem to find this curse of mine useful, so they call me in to help out from time-to-time. On the paperwork it says I’m their “Occult Practices and Alternative Religions Consultant.” That’s the fancy title for the brass and the media; not that they’re fooled, mind you. Everyone knows that what I really am is the unofficial Witch of the Major Case Squad. But back to those voices... Some are louder than others. Some are more insistent that I help them move on. And others...well, others are downright demanding and won’t take no for an answer. They do more than just talk. They crawl inside my skin, and then things get really weird. Like right now with this dead cheerleader, for instance. She takes demanding to a whole new level, and ever since she showed up I haven’t been feeling at all like myself. To be honest, I’m not sure I even know who I really am anymore...

THOU SHALT NOT SUFFER ROWAN GANT TO LIVE... No good deed goes unpunished, but that hasn’t stopped me yet. My name is Rowan Gant. I’m a Witch with an unfortunate gift—I can hear the voices of the dead. Not just any dead, mind you. I hear the spirits of murder victims. Personally, I think of it as a curse. The cops, on the other hand, consider my uncommon talent an invaluable investigative tool, which is why I often work for them as a consultant. Too often, unfortunately, and believe me, it is taking a serious toll... Just over one year ago I was called in to help the Major Case Squad track down Eldon Andrew Porter, a spree killer determined to resurrect the Witch hunts, trials, and executions of the 15th century. He left a string of tortured bodies and screaming souls in his wake, and then he turned his violent attentions to me. Fortunately, I survived our face-to-face encounter, though just barely. After that, Porter disappeared—vanished without a trace—and he stayed that way. Until now, that is... Eldon Porter is not the kind of fanatical sociopath who simply gives up, and to be honest, I never believed he would. I’ve been expecting this all along. Now he is intent on giving me a one-way ticket to Hell, with an extended preview right here on Earth. But he should make no mistake—if I’m going, I have absolutely no intention of taking the trip alone. If I have to kill him before he kills me, I will. Whatever it takes, I am going to end this...

SILENCE OF THE DEAD My name is Rowan Gant, and it has been far too many days since I have heard the voices inside my head... No, I’m not insane—at least I hope I’m not. Actually, what I am is a Witch with a rare talent, even for Witches. I can hear the voices of the dead—murder victims, to be specific. Personally, I consider it less a talent and more a curse, especially given all the grief it brings me. But the cops think otherwise, which is why I find myself consulting for them on a regular basis. In fact, the running joke is that they should just go ahead and give me a badge. I sometimes fear they might make good on that threat. However, like I said, it has been a while since any dead people have so much as given me the time of day. I’ll be honest, even though I never really wanted them to talk to me in the first place, now that they have stopped it seems almost like a piece of me is missing—a big piece. As fate would have it, at the same time I’ve become persona non grata with the dead, it looks as if a serial killer is at work in the St. Louis area. The murders are pretty heinous, too, and that’s just the sort of thing that usually turns the rumbling chatter of the victims into a deafening roar and a blinding migraine for yours truly...but not this time, and I have no Earthly—or even unearthly—idea why. What I do know is the Major Case Squad could benefit from my help on this, but I’ve got nothing to give them. Nothing at all... Unfortunately, it seems that there is now someone else with my rare affliction instead of me. I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but I want my curse back...

BEAT ME, WHIP ME, KILL ME... I have this unusual problem on my hands—a female serial killer...a female sexual predator serial killer, to be exact. That makes her not only unusual, but incredibly rare as well. She has an intense appetite for sadistic kink when it comes to the demise of her prey, and she definitely doesn’t constrain herself to just “whips and chains,” if you get my meaning. I’m sure you are wondering what makes her my personal problem. Well...that’s kind of a long story, so I’ll just give you the high points. My name is Rowan Gant, and I’m a consultant for the Greater Saint Louis Major Case Squad. It’s a sometimes rocky partnership, but in general the cops find me useful to have around since I can hear the voices of the dead. Talking to “ghosts” is a bizarre affliction, yes, even for a Witch like me, but I’ve learned to live with it—sort of. Mind you, I’m not at all happy about this curse of mine, but it’s not like I have any say in the matter. I didn’t choose it... It chose me. The worst part, though, is that every single time I help the police with a case, the psychic garbage that comes along with it follows me home. And, that brings me back around to the homicidal sociopath in high heels. There is more going on with her than just your average crazy, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. Not yet, anyway... I’m pretty sure that’s why I’ve got an extra bad feeling about this one—a very extra bad feeling. In fact, I think this mess is going to do more than simply follow me home. I think it is planning to move in...

FATAL SECRETS AND GRAVE LIES... How about this for a dark night of the soul: I’m angry, I’m confused, I’m exhausted, I’ve been betrayed, and the one person who matters to me more than my very life has been taken away—all because I listen. I’m Rowan Gant, and I’m a Witch who has the misfortune of being able to hear the voices of the dead. Not just any Witch can do that, but rest assured I don’t consider it a gift. Truth is, I think of it as a curse, and I’m not at all happy about it—especially right now. You see, I’ve been using my unwanted ability for several years to help the police track down the really bad guys. The worst of the worst... Spree killers, serial killers, you name it. I’ve purposely dragged myself through the depths of Hell time and time again, all for what I saw as the greater good—stopping deranged killers and saving innocent lives... Now, after all that, the cops I’ve helped are turning their backs on me. My best friend—former best friend now—just walked my wife out of our house in handcuffs. She is being charged with a homicide he knows damn well she did not commit. I do too, because I know my wife. Besides, I know exactly who the real killer is—Miranda. But, the cops aren’t listening. In fact, they won’t even talk to me. I’ve become persona non grata to the law enforcement community that once came to me for help. So I guess I’m going to have to find this Miranda bitch all by myself. Maybe that’s a good thing, because if I’m not playing on their team, then I’m not playing by their rules anymore either...

SOME EVIL JUST WON'T STAY DEAD How do you kill someone who has already been dead for better than 150 years? Weird question, I know, but I'm serious, believe me. My name is Rowan Gant, and I'm the Unofficial Witch of the Saint Louis Major Case Squad. I was branded with that title for two reasons: I'm a Witch, and I consult for the police. You see, I'm not a normal Witch. I'm afflicted with a terrible curse--I can hear the voices of the dead. The loudest are always those of murder victims, hence the gig with the cops. Honestly, it has brought me nothing but trouble--like the need to kill someone who is already dead, for instance. Some months back I was involved in an investigation that culminated in the capture of a sadistic serial killer who called herself Mistress Miranda. The thing is, the woman who is now behind bars is Annalise Devereaux. She's not innocent in this, trust me, but Miranda herself is the real problem. Long story short--Miranda is the spirit of a long dead, 19th century serial killer, and spirits aren't deterred by prison bars and razor wire. Sounds crazy, I know, but it gets even weirder. It turns out that Annalise is a half-sister my wife never even knew she had until this mess hit the fan and the sins of the father were laid bare. However, don't let the soap opera of adultery and illegitimate siblings fool you. This is a real horror story; just ask the victims... Better yet, just ask me. You see, now that Miranda's corporeal host is behind bars, she is looking for a new body to use, and she's keeping it in the family--by that, I mean she has set her sights on my wife, Felicity, and I don't intend to let that happen. Unfortunately, how this drama plays out may not be up to me at all...

HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE MIRANDA... 3 Full-Length Novels in 1 E-book... DEATH WEARS HIGH HEELS is a 3-in-1 compilation of the pivotal MIRANDA TRILOGY story arc from the Rowan Gant Investigations supernatural thriller series by M. R. Sellars, containing: LOVE IS THE BOND, ALL ACTS OF PLEASURE, and THE END OF DESIRE, plus a bonus - the first two chapters of BLOOD MOON, book 9 in the RGI saga. THE ROWAN GANT INVESTIGATIONS Rowan Gant is the unofficial Witch for the Greater Saint Louis Major Case Squad. He never wanted the job, but when you can hear the voices of the dead begging for help you aren't left with much choice in the matter. Unless, of course, you are completely devoid of a conscience. Unfortunately for Rowan, he still has one... ----- LOVE IS THE BOND: A Rowan Gant Investigation (RGI Book 6 - Miranda Trilogy Book 1) When the wind blows from the south, love will kiss thee on the mouth. And then, she will kill you... Rowan Gant's unwanted gift of hearing the dead has placed him at the center of some of the most heinous serial murder investigations imaginable. This one, however, not only comes knocking on his front door, it steps across the threshold... Of existing serial homicide cases, women make up less than one-tenth of American serial killers. However, among female serial killers in existence worldwide, American women have the dubious honor of snagging better than three-quarters of that total. Within the characteristics of the Kelleher Typology nine point categorization of serial killers is that of SEXUAL PREDATORS- those who systematically kill others in clear acts of sexual homicide. They are sociopaths, sometimes harboring a form of paraphilia, but almost always killing in order to fuel or even validate an ongoing fantasy. In the case of female serial killers, however, this classification is so distinctly rare that there has only been one documented instance of it in the United States. Still, there are those who wonder if that case was merely an isolated anomaly, or in fact a harbinger of what is yet to come. Rowan Gant is about to find the answer to that question. The problem is, it might just be one he doesn't want to hear... ALL ACTS OF PLEASURE: A Rowan Gant Investigation (RGI Book 7 - Miranda Trilogy Book 2) Who really pays for the sins of the father? Rowan Gant's wife is at the center of an investigation involving a string of brutal, sexually-motivated murders. What that investigation reveals will change her life in ways she never imagined. ALL ACTS OF PLEASURE is the powerful and revealing sequel to the Rowan Gant Investigations biggest cliffhanger to date, LOVE IS THE BOND. THE END OF DESIRE: A Rowan Gant Investigation (RGI Book 8 - Miranda Trilogy Book 3) Evil has a name, and it is Miranda... On his own and without any official sanction, Rowan Gant finds himself in Katrina devastated New Orleans hot on the trail of the sadistic serial killer calling herself Mistress Miranda. His every waking thought is consumed with stopping her before she kills again, but his dedication to the task is based on a deeply selfish reason - to save his wife, Felicity. There are greater forces at play, and he knows it. An unfortunate blood connection is cemented on all sides by misguided WitchCraft and Hoodoo Magic. Now, the expression "thicker than water" takes on a whole new meaning. To bring an end to the personal horror, a forgotten spell must first be broken. An incantation bound in love, but cast in fear; and one that is now growing stronger every minute it remains unchecked. But even then, that is only half the battle. The End Of Desire is the final chapter of the gut wrenching Miranda Trilogy... ...Or is it?

EVIL HAS A NAME, AND IT IS MIRANDA Getting lost is easy when you chase shadows in the dark, but when you do it on your own, with no official sanction, and on unfamiliar ground, getting dead can be an even bigger worry. Post-Katrina New Orleans is a far cry from Saint Louis where this all began, and chasing a twisted, Hoodoo-magic-practicing, female serial killer here, then playing hide-and-seek with her throughout this flood-ravaged city isn't something I'd normally consider doing... However, here I am, with no authority, no backup, and breaking all the rules--including my own. What can I say? We do what we must, and for me, this goes beyond a mere imperative. The life and sanity of someone I hold dear hinges on it. My name is Rowan Gant. I'm a Witch with an unfortunate curse--I can hear the voices of the dead. As you probably guessed by the fact that I call it a curse, I'm not overly fond of the affliction. It brings me nothing but grief, including a second career consulting for the police to help track down killers, mostly because the dead people who do the loudest talking are the victims of those very same killers. But this time it's different. I'm off the books, and the cops aren't very happy about that. I'm also chasing someone who appears to have even more clout with the dead than I do, and that definitely doesn't bode well. However, she made a big mistake--she came after my wife. When she crossed that line, she started something I don't think she expected. Now, I'm going to finish it, even if she kills me...

Hell has a way of changing a person; I’m proof of that, because I’ve spent the last several years there—figuratively, of course—although I sometimes wonder if there really is any difference. Am I living proof? Well, that remains to be seen. I’m alive, yes, but I’m not sure I’m what you would call living. My name is Rowan Gant, and I’m a Witch. Unfortunately, I’m not just your average, run-of-the-mill Witch. I’m afflicted with a horrible curse—I can hear the voices of the dead. Murder victims for the most part... The more heinous their deaths, the louder they scream inside my head, and that’s my E-ticket ride on the proverbial “lake of fire.” Trust me, skip it and go for the roller coaster. The voices in my head are also why I used to have a love-hate relationship with the police. Most of them thought I was certifiable, and to be honest, I’m not so sure they were wrong. A few were more open-minded about my ability. Even so, love me or hate me, they all agreed on one thing—I cleared cases for them. But, that was then... I’m retired now, and I’m putting all of that behind me. They say the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long... If that’s true, I must have burned like a blowtorch, because I’ve got nothing left to give; not even a spark. I just want to go back to normal. I want to return to the days before the spirits of the dead started using me as a marionette in the world of the living. So, like I said, I’m retired now, or that’s what I keep telling myself, anyway. You see, there’s a little snag in my new life plans—apparently the dead won’t accept my resignation...

THE DEAD ARE SHAMELESS GOSSIPS. AFTER YOU HELP ONE OF THEM, WORD GETS AROUND FAST... 3 Full-Length Novels in 1 E-book... GHOUL SQUAD is a 3-in-1 compilation of the first three award-winning Rowan Gant Investigations supernatural thrillers by M. R. Sellars, containing: HARM NONE, NEVER BURN A WITCH, and PERFECT TRUST, plus a bonus - the first two chapters of THE LAW OF THREE, book 4 in the RGI series. HARM NONE: A Rowan Gant Investigation (Book 1) Satan always gets the blame... A ritual killing, complete with Occult symbols. The chilling words, ALL IS FORGIVEN scrawled in the victim's own blood. This is definitely NOT just another run of the mill crime scene for Metropolitan Saint Louis Homicide. Wary of the lip service from the department's "cult expert," Detective Benjamin Storm contacts his long time friend, Rowan Gant for advice. A freelance computer consultant with a penchant for studying religions and spirituality, Rowan also happens to be a practicing, modern-day Witch. He easily sheds light on the meanings behind the symbols, however, what they reveal is that this murder is only a prelude to much more ritualistic bloodletting, all in order to feed the killer's delusions. As the body count starts to rise, and the dead begin to speak to Rowan, he finds himself torn from his mundane life, and thrust into a pivotal role in a race to stop a sadistic serial killer. NEVER BURN A WITCH: A Rowan Gant Investigation (Book 2) They burn Witches, don't they? A killer armed with gross misinterpretations of the Holy Bible, and a 15th century Witch hunting manual known as the Malleus Maleficarum, has chosen to resurrect the Inquisition, and the residents of Saint Louis are his prey. With the unspeakable horrors of "The Burning Times" being played out across the metropolitan area, Rowan Gant is again enlisted by Homicide Detective Benjamin Storm and the Greater Saint Louis Major Case Squad to help hunt down a killer who is on a relentless spree. Rowan's knowledge of religion and history are invaluable to the investigation. The fact that he seems unable to escape the voices of the dead, even more so. But being a Witch can only mean one thing - the hunter is also the hunted. PERFECT TRUST: A Rowan Gant Investigation (Book 3) Dead I am... Dead I am... I do not like that dead I am. Rowan Gant used to be just an average guy who just happened to be a Witch. However, when the spirits of murder victims found out he could hear them, they started coming to him for help. His life just hasn't been the same since... In a span of less than two years, Rowan's curse of hearing the dead has brought him face to face with not one but two serial killers. Now still recovering from the post-traumatic stress of those investigations, all he wants is to spend a peaceful Yuletide season at home with his wife and friends. Unfortunately, the vengeful spirit of a dead college cheerleader has a different holiday celebration in mind, and she's not going to stop until he listens. Once again, Rowan is thrust headlong into a murder investigation as a civilian consultant to the Greater Saint Louis Major Case Squad. However, the dark visions now playing out in his mind's eye bring the twisted desires of a deranged sexual predator far too close to home, making Rowan doubt his sanity - and perhaps even his own innocence...