MAN, what is it about humans greedy nature? I loved the story but I was sad for everyone that played by the rules. I felt bad for the boy who was displaced by a hurricane and when he found a crystal necklace in a cave placed it on and went to do its bidding. No one could believe the gruesome deaths occurring in the South nor to strange tale of the necklace. Others sought to use the power of the crystal to gain world dominance. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR! ( )

Edge of your seat reading!

Enter the thrilling world of paranormal and psychic enticing suspense. Agent Caitlin Diggs, FBI profiler, is searching for a killer. The characters intertwine greatly with each other, even though there are many, but they are clearly there for a purpose. With links to the past and the present day, the story flows well and brings the reader in for more. The best part is that it's not predictable, and it's written very well. Very thrilling and enjoyable. Makes this reader want to read more from this author. ( )

Reviewed by Shawnee Goodnight

FBI Agent Caitlin Diggs is called back to work after facing a devastating tragedy. With her own focus on avenging the death of her partner, she must first track down a killer possessed by an ancient crystal that has a vendetta of its own.

The crystal has been waiting for over a hundred years to find someone to control and in the Colorado wilderness, teenage runaway Shenk is just the mentally troubled person the crystal need to unleash its supernatural powers.

However, Agent Diggs is not the only one after the killer. Hidden within her midst is a devious organization called the "Right Hand" that have been looking for a way to control the will of all civilization and the crystal is just what they need to complete their goal. And Agent Diggs is in their way.

With a sentient crystal that feeds on the darkest bloody desires of its hosts, Agent Diggs must stop the killer and destroy the crystal without falling prey to its desire for vengeance herself.

In Blood Web, Gary Starta has written a supernatural thriller with a charismatic leading character and some of the most despicable villains I have encountered in my reading in a while.

Questions for the author:

I noticed Blood Web is the first of a series of books about Caitlin Diggs. Have you finished writing any others in the series?

Yes, the next in the series is definitely in the works, just a question of when it will publish. I am even playing around with ideas for book three.

And can you give us a sneak peek into what happens next with Caitlin?

Caitlin now empowered with nocturnal visions becomes targeted by a secret organization run by a rogue member of a government agency. Eventually she will learn her current murder investigation is linked with the organization which just may have definitive answers about Geoffrey McAllister's (her former partner and lover) death. She will also learn she has a role in the fate of humankind.

Many male authors tend to write their leading character as males but you have chosen a female lead. What inspired you to create Caitlin (as opposed to a Carl)?

I simply feel it was high time a female took the lead role. I even gave her a female partner. Dana Scully was such a strong character in The X-files proving a female lead can captivate an audience.

In Blood Web you provided a lot of information on organic chemistry and geology. How much research did this novel entail for you?

I did a lot of reading via the greatest tool authors have nowadays - the Internet! I try to base my ideas upon scientific basis, hopefully leaving the reader wondering if such things could ever happen and making the story a bit more credible hopefully.

As a fan of science fiction and horror novels, what would you say scares you the most?

I would say the scariest monster of all is the human one. The wickedest or most devious thoughts are often borne from the human brain, and because of that I tend to believe humans are sometimes more frightening than the supernatural creatures which hide in the shadows. The most despicable humans walk among us in the light.

As an added bonus, a copy of Blood Web is to be raffled off to a reader. Enter by signing the guestbook at www.uponfurtherreview.org . To view other comments you just need to click on the View Guestbook tab.

The drawing will be held the first week in January. The winner will be announced on the website under Raffle Winners, and on the discussion group at Shelfari. ( )

A mysterious crystal is found…

A teenager drifter named Shenk unwittingly links himself to the powers of an arrowhead shaped crystal and begins a journey across America, not to sightsee, but to exact revenge for crimes committed more than a century ago.

Maybe becoming part of this network isn’t such a good thing…

Acting as the crystal’s host, the teen is endowed with super abilities, enabling him to track his victims via a biological conduit. He has only goal in mind…murder.

Only one investigator may be capable of stopping the paranormal vigilante, but she has revenge issues herself…

FBI Special Agent Caitlin Diggs suddenly experiences visions relating to the traumatic murder of her former partner and lover. Always intuitive, the agent’s new psychic abilities intrigue and confound her. She must fight feelings of grief and revenge if she is to outwit the murderer and his biological Internet.

A connection will be attempted…

There is only one way to stop the murders. Diggs must take control of the crystal. But contact with the rock may invite an undesirable paranormal connection. If the crystal doesn’t kill Diggs - it just might lure her into its murderous blood web.