Blackbird and the Dark Side of the Moon
Jo-Anne Tomlinson has a real talent for creepy Halloween stories. I loved her space opera, Light Tripper, and I was fortunate enough to receive an early review copy of this novella.
Description
Sal Tripp is an intergalactic bounty hunter with simple needs, but when her father loses their credits at the gambling table, she must accept whatever work she can find. When a handsome-but-mysterious captain offers her an exorbitant rate to transport him and his new crew of delinquents to his ship, she suspects trouble. Her financial woes compel her to accept the job, and her curiosity compels her to peek inside the ship, but there she’ll discover that “trouble” was an understatement.
Characters
Sal Tripp has more grit than a resurrection plant during the Dust Bowl. As a bounty hunter, she faces down space pirates and galactic gangsters with sharp wit and her evolving electric powers, all while keeping track of her addict pilot/father, Morgan. While Morgan often complicates their lives, his charm and affection earn Sal’s forgiveness.
Plot
The plot moves at a good clip as Sal’s curiosity—not to mention her crush on the captain—drive her toward inevitable danger. Once on the ship, Sal progresses through the type of horrors you’d expect from a good scare-your-pants-off Halloween story.
Writing Style
Jo-Anne Tomlinson has a genuine talent for creepy Halloween stories. You can almost hear the ominous music building to a crescendo as you read, and the story twangs with tension.
Miscellaneous
Readers should note that this is a Halloween story, meaning it contains several creepy/gory scenes. Light Tripper itself is not that gory, so readers with sensitive stomachs will still enjoy it.
Conclusion
Jo-Anne Tomlinson’s love of Halloween shines through every word in this novella. Since I already loved the characters from Light Tripper, I knew I would enjoy this novella as well. With a twisty plot and intriguing side characters, this creepy tale is perfect for Halloween. If you enjoy this kind of story, I also recommend her fantasy short story She brings the Harvest, and her contemporary young adult murder-mystery-thriller Shadows in the Water.
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Blackbird and the Dark Side of the Moon
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C.C. The Word Nerd 
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