Showing results by narrator "J.F. Penn" in All Categories

Pastor David Thornwell has lost his wife, his faith, and any reason to keep preaching. When he's offered a week-long silent retreat at the Black Church of Búðir — a tar-blackened chapel on Iceland's remote Snæfellsnes Peninsula — he accepts, hoping the vast silence of winter will either restore his shattered belief or give him permission to let go entirely.

In mid-2020, I was not okay—and I didn't know how to find my way out of that darkness. But I could put one foot in front of the other until I figured it out. So, after tackling my fears of what might happen, I walked the Pilgrims’ Way from Southwark Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England. The following year, in October 2021, as I recovered from COVID-19, I walked the St Cuthbert’s Way from Melrose in Scotland to Lindisfarne, Holy Island, on the north-east coast of England.

Marine archaeologist Dr. Evelyn Price has spent her life uncovering the mysteries of the deep ocean. But when a violent storm uncovers an ancient timber circle off the coast of England, she faces a discovery that will challenge everything she knows.

Some things are not meant to be forgotten. An ancient timber circle emerges from a storm-lashed coast. A secret chamber is discovered beneath a Victorian zoo. A long-lost tomb of undead knights is unearthed beneath the streets of Paris. What happens when the buried and the drowned break free? The Buried and the Drowned is my collection of dark, thrilling short stories that will take you from the volcanic shores of Iceland to the silent depths of the Pacific, from the catacombs of history to the frontiers of genetic science.

Lara is part of a dive team exploring the sunken city of Thonis-Heraklion off the North coast of Egypt. When a storm threatens the site, there's only time for one last dive, and Lara is determined to be on it - even if it means diving with the man who threatened her this summer. Because the dark queen is down there, and Lara intends to find her before it's too late.

In "Sins of the Flesh", the mutilated corpse of a wealthy author is discovered with occult objects. Then, in "Sins of Treachery", twin brothers Simon and Gestas inherit a map covered in alchemical symbols that could lead them to great wealth and power. And finally, "Sins of Violence": In a brutal post-apocalyptic world, a young girl is about to be taken to The Minotaur. Can her sister gain access to the fortified city of Dis in time to stop the ritual and avenge her own lost youth?

When archaeologist Dr. Emilia Kaya uncovers a massive sarcophagus containing the remains of a mysterious winged creature, she sets in motion a chain of events that could lead to the resurrection of the Nephilim—the fearsome giants of biblical legend.

When down-on-his-luck busker Evan takes to the streets of Bath during the Christmas market, he hopes his music will earn him enough for a warm meal and bed for the night. But after a violent robbery leaves him broken and destitute, Evan unwittingly awakens an ancient evil that demands blood sacrifice in return for vengeance.

Conflict photographer, Sara Miles, loves being embedded with the military out in the desert. Her pictures pay tribute to those who fight, suffer, and die for freedom and the images she captures can turn public perception in the never-ending war. Her photography matters. But when Sara is caught in an explosion out on patrol, her eyes are damaged by a face full of shrapnel. She may never be able to see through a lens again.

When ARKANE archivist Martin Klein joins the Vatican digital archiving project, he finds an ancient letter mistakenly scanned along with the medieval papal decree Militia Dei, Soldiers of God. It points to a dark secret the Knights Templar once tried to erase from existence, hidden in a medieval fortress under the heart of Paris for almost a thousand years. As Martin follows the trail to the hidden Templar crypt, aided by biblical scholar Camara Mbaye, they discover something unspeakable in the vaults below Paris. Who are the Soldiers of God and why must they rest until needed?

Cass blows glass for a living. But when she's not cranking out tourist pieces to pay the bills, she creates unique glass art with the dream of winning a prestigious award that might just change her life. But Cass has a problem. The heat and intensity of the glassblowing hot shop have damaged her eyesight - and time is running out. She only has one chance left to win and a rival artisan stands in her way, the trophies on his shelf testament to his enduring popularity. When his son comes to work alongside Cass, she must make a choice that will change their lives.

Some secrets should stay buried. When renowned architect Arania Webb returns to Bristol Zoo—once her childhood sanctuary but now a derelict ruin—she discovers her late father’s hidden underground lab, which harbors a dark obsession. Inside, she uncovers his journals documenting twisted experiments to fuse arachnid DNA with humans, creating unnatural creatures that blur the line between species. As Arania descends into the shadowy depths and explores further, she realizes the terrifying extent of her beloved father’s attempts to play god.