Thrall by Avon Gale and Roan Parrish
Publisher: Philtre Press
Release Date (Print & Ebook): September 27th, 2018
Subgenre: Mystery
Order here:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NNhs8v
All other vendors: https://www.books2read.com/u/bazLN6
Synopsis:
Dating Sucks & Love Bites
Happy couple Mina Murray and Lucy Westenra have begun to garner national attention for their quirky New Orleans true-crime podcast, Shadowcast. When Lucy’s brother Harker disappears while researching the popular new dating app Thrall, they’re thrown into a real-life mystery. Aided by their social media expert, Arthur, and Harker’s professor, Van Helsing, they follow the trail, hoping to find Harker before it’s too late.
When their investigation crosses the path of a possible serial killer, the line between fantasy and reality begins to blur. And as they race against the app’s countdown clock, so does the line between friendship and love. What starts as a flirtatious rivalry between computer-savvy Arthur and techno-averse Van Helsing becomes much more, and Mina and Lucy’s relationship is tested in the fires of social media.
As they get down to the wire, the group discovers that nothing on their screens is as it seems—including their enemy.
A modern retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Teaser Excerpt 1:
Van Helsing
I…no. You know you’re young enough to be one of my graduate students? Though much better dressed. But if your flirting is sincere, then I welcome it. I can’t deny that I felt something between us this morning.
Arthur Quincey
I, uh, definitely felt something
Ugh, sorry, that was a terrible joke—you should be impressed, I never get this nervous. but seriously, so did I. It’s definitely sincere.
Van Helsing
I am also nervous. I…I suppose I don’t quite know what to say next. I’ve never attempted to flirt on a—what is this, chat?
Arthur Quincey
OMG, Gus. (I’m…look, that name reminds me of the musical Cats, which I loathe so can I call you Van?)
It’s kind of hot you just said you were nervous btw (and yeah, it’s chat)
Van Helsing
I got the feeling you were calling me Professor on purpose, no? Yes, I suppose I can suffer through Van, if you must.
Ah, well, I’m very gratified you think so.
Arthur Quincey
Yeah, because I like it. The professor thing is totally a turn-on. And I like the idea of making you like that name, Van. Just because no one else has.
Teaser Excerpt #2:
Lucy Westenra
You there baby?
Mina Murray
I’m here. How are you holding up? You had nightmares last night, huh?
Lucy Westenra
Sorry i woke you 😦
Mina Murray
Shh no way. ❤
Lucy Westenra
❤
So um…I brought Harker’s tablet to work bc I knew today would be a slow day and uh…
I looked at his search history <_____________________<
Mina Murray
Oh god, is it porn that no sister should ever see?
Lucy Westenra
I wish it WAS
Mina Murray
Uh oh. What is it babe?
Lucy Westenra
Here I’m sending the screenshots I took to your email
Mina Murray
Oh. That is…a bit grim.
But you KNOW my search history is !!! bc of ShadowCast.
Lucy Westenra
Yeah, he clearly doesn’t listen to our podcast if he doesn’t even know where to hide a body 
Mina Murray
😀
Lucy Westenra
Ok I’m not trying to be paranoid buuuut…this is a creepy thing to find in Hark’s history! Why would he need to know where to dump a body? Mina is my brother a killer?!
I’m only half kidding!
Mina Murray
Well, ok hmm. He googled bars, so maybe he had a date and was coming up with…conversational topics? * hopeful emoji*
Lucy Westenra
Right like, Hey, come here often, want to know where the best place to hide a body is?
Mina Murray
I mean, can’t lie, that’d be way more appealing than 90% of my first dates soooo
Anyway.
Lucy Westenra
This is…god, what if he was abducted and the person who took him looked up where to dump his body!!!?
Mina Murray
That’s really scary, but seems pretty unlikely. There are a lot of more logical explanations than that a killer would use their victim’s own tablet to see where to dump him and then leave it behind. Don’t worry, L
Lucy Westenra
This is just not like him. I mean, sure, he’s weird but…this seems weird, even for him.
Mina Murray
For real, there is probably a totally reasonable explanation for his search history that has nothing to do with abduction or murder, just like there is for ours when we look up stuff like that.
Research or…hell, maybe he was watching a tv show and wanted to fact check.
There are tons of reasons.
Lucy Westenra
Yeah, you’re right, there are tons of reasons. It’s just this weird feeling I keep getting.
About the Authors:
Avon Gale
Avon Gale was once the mayor on Foursquare of Jazzercise and Lollicup, which should tell you all you need to know about her as a person. She likes road trips, rock concerts, drinking Kentucky bourbon, JRPGs and yelling at hockey. She’s a displaced southerner living in a liberal midwestern college town, and she never gets tired of people and their stories — either real or the ones she makes up in her head.
Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary Agency.
Connect with Avon: Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Instagram | Website
Roan Parrish
Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.
When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.
Connect with Roan: Parrish or Perish FB Group | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub | Newsletter
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