As the unremembered are raised from the murky depths of Asylum Lake, the search for answers intensifies. Who were these unfortunate souls and how did they come to rest beneath the dark waves. One man holds the answers and Brady Tanner, the one-time newspaper reporter, and his ragtag group of comrades set out to unearth the secrets of Dr. Wesley Clovis and his Grave Undertakings…
March 4, 1957
Lake View Asylum
The soiled rag did little to silence the screams echoing throughout the hospital’s dank subterranean basement, but it did keep the young woman strapped to the examination table from biting through her own tongue. Small consolation, however; her sky-blue eyes had already been removed and tossed carelessly onto the morgue’s green-tiled floor. Through her muffled cries, blood-filled tears streamed down her face and onto the cold metal table where they collected in a growing pinkish-colored puddle.
Tall and slender, with silver hair falling to his shoulders, Dr. Wesley Clovis stood at the table and surveyed his handiwork. The woman had been stripped naked, her head, wrists, and ankles secured to the table by soiled leather straps. With each spasm of pain her full breasts heaved and the restraints dug further into her cold flesh, causing the white-clad orderly standing at the foot of the table to squeal in obvious delight.
“Douglas, if you would be so kind,” motioning toward a cluttered tray of instruments near the table, Clovis directed his assistant, “I’ve need of my scalpel.”
“Indeed,” the diminutive orderly responded, moving to the side of the table and the instrument tray. Douglas’ unsettling grin widened beneath a pencil-thin mustache, revealing a jagged row of yellow teeth. “You gonna cut her?”
Clovis paused, recasting his gaze from the prone woman on the metal table to the impish man in white. “Yes, Douglas, her blood shall flow, he whispered tersely, and then continued, his voice filling with conviction. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood … for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”
Twenty minutes later Dr. Wesley Clovis walked from the morgue, his starched-white shirt soaked with the life of the flesh. Although no closer to unlocking the secrets which separated the living from the dead, he took solace in the knowledge that an unlimited supply of subjects remained at his disposal.
As the sound of Clovis’ thunderous footfalls echoed in retreat through the cavernous basement, Douglas Wyatt was left to care for what remained of young Debra Moored. Shrugging free from his pristine hospital uniform, the pony-tailed orderly climbed atop the table, eager to explore the woman’s still-warm flesh before it grew cold.
Terrific excerpt. Looks dark and intriguing. I love the cover. Very mysterious and makes me want to know more. Good luck with the book. Well done.
Thanks you, Lisette. The cover art was done by AJ Powers. he is very talented!
Wow! Incredibly well written. Intensel. Dark. It had my heart pounding and my brain begging for more. I can’t wait for the book!
Have you read Asylum Lake yet?
I just finished it …. Amazing !!!! I am so frustrated because I cannot find Grave Undertakings. Where can I get it ???? Please help I am so addicted to this story.
Grave Undertakings will drop soon! What was your favorite part of Asylum Lake?
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Can’t wait to check it out, Rich!
AJ – I will gladly send you an advance copy! You nailed the cover art.
Saweet! Can’t wait to check it out!
Oh how very exciting. This is gonna get good. The cover art is splendid. Great job. I can’t wait to see what Dr. Clovis has in store for the readers…
Thanks, Jen. I can;t recall are you an ebook or print reader?
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Can’t wait to read Grave Undertakings!
Thanks! I can;t wait to get it out to the masses.
Ok, so I just finished Asylum Lake. WOW! I loved every second of it. Once I started it I could not put it down. All I can say is thank God I was on a road trip and I had hours to spend reading or I do not know what would have happened. Thank you for this incredible story. I will be reviewing it shortly on Goodreads. Now, how long are you going to torture me and make me wait for Grave Undertakings???? I can’t stand it! I need to read the rest of this story! Please, Please, Please pick me to do an advanced reading!!!!!! I am not a writer. I am just an avid reader who loves great stories and the story of this mad man is one of the best I have read in a very long time!
P.S. The cover art is perfect!
Thanks, Julie. I appreciate your comments and am glad Asylum Lake could keep you company on your road trip. As for Grave Undertakings, check back here often as I will be sharing some exciting new in the very near future. When you write your review please post it to Amazon, as well!
Where oh where is grave undertakings and what is the delay?
I have been waiting very impatiently!
I promise Grave is coming – and will be well worth the wait.
I LOVED LOVED LOVED Asylum Lake…I got to the last page…saw there was a sequel and am now devastated that its not available yet!! I am a HUGE fan of books that have continuing characters. I will be impatiently waiting on pins and needles for Grave Undertakings!!!
I never post comments, but Asylum Lake warrants an enthusiastic FAN-FRICKIN-TASTIC!!!!! I’m ready to grab up Grave Undertakings as quickly as it’s available, and I truly hope this story line, with these oh-so-believable characters continues on and on and on and on…
Looking forward to the release of Grave Undertakings! Loved Asylum Lake!
Thanks, Lisa. May 22nd is the release date. You can pre-order now at http://www.schulerbooks.com