Description
Since childhood, David Harris has suffered from debilitating nightmares. He has sought the advice of psychiatrists and other health professionals without obtaining any relief. When he meets an attractive young psychic, Emma Jackson, she encourages him to seek the help of her friend Anna Tungsten, a hypnotherapist. During an emotionally charged past life regression, David learns he was murdered in his most recent past life, thirty years earlier. When David realizes his murderer is still alive, he cannot move on and a build a new life with Emma until he has exacted revenge and stopped the murderer from killing again.
Past Life’s Revenge
Prerna Lakhina –
Angela P. Van Breemen’s “Past Life’s Revenge” is a gripping exploration of the intricacies of past lives and the haunting power of unresolved trauma. From the onset, readers are drawn into the tumultuous world of David Harris, a man plagued by recurring nightmares that defy conventional explanation.
The novel delves into the realm of the paranormal as David seeks solace from his torment in the arms of Emma Jackson, a charismatic psychic, and her friend Anna Tungsten, a skilled hypnotherapist. Through a series of emotionally charged past life regressions, David unravels the shocking truth of his past existence – that he was brutally murdered three decades earlier.
What sets “Past Life’s Revenge” apart is its seamless blending of mystery, romance, and supernatural intrigue. As David grapples with the revelation of his past trauma and the realization that his murderer still walks among the living, readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride of suspense and emotion.
Van Breemen’s prose is both evocative and immersive, transporting readers into David’s inner turmoil and the enigmatic world of past lives. The dynamics between the characters are richly drawn, with Emma and Anna providing both emotional support and a beacon of hope amidst David’s darkness.
At its core, “Past Life’s Revenge” is a tale of redemption and the quest for justice across lifetimes. As David embarks on a dangerous journey to confront his past and prevent further harm, readers are compelled to ponder the timeless questions of fate, karma, and the enduring power of love.
With its deftly plotted narrative and hauntingly vivid imagery, “Past Life’s Revenge” is sure to captivate fans of supernatural fiction and mystery alike. Van Breemen’s masterful storytelling will leave readers eagerly anticipating her next literary endeavor.
Chinaza N. –
Past Life Revenge by Angela Van Breeman tells the tale of David, who is a lawyer and works with his uncle Liam at the family’s law firm. He has always had terrifying nightmares since he was little, and despite visits to doctors and therapists, nothing seems to work. And he can’t get a good night’s sleep without being terrorized by the evil eyes. Doctors claim it is a figment of his imagination, but he knows better and instead records each encounter with his eyes in his journal. Emma is an empath with psychic ability and a web designer who lives with her mother in the country. One day, by accident, I crossed paths with David, and their attraction was instantaneous. On a date, Emma saved David from the evil eyes and offered solutions to David, thus beginning their journey through hypnotherapy, reincarnation, the paranormal, uncovering a murder mystery, facing an old nemesis, and love. All in a bid to get revenge and gain peace.
Reincarnation is a concept I struggle with due to the fine line between whether it’s real or a fantasy, but the way it was used in this book was amazing; I was almost convinced it was real. The author’s writing style was fantastic, and the book was well-paced. I struggled with how fast Emma and David’s relationship grew, but I chalk it up to fate, as their meeting couldn’t have happened at a more perfect time. I was curious to know what the evil eyes were, as I thought it had something to do with voodoo, but nothing would have prepared me for the truth. I know readers who enjoy books on reincarnation and revenge will appreciate this book.
Anthony Avina –
The Review
This was such a compelling and thought-provoking thriller. The author does a remarkable job of creating characters that readers can engage with and become invested in their journey. The action and suspense of the main journey and the tension that threaded its way into the narrative made this a remarkable story.
Yet the balance the author struck between mystery, suspense, and paranormal thriller really stood out to this reader. The concept of past lives and our connection to the universe as a whole stood out to me, and the twists and turns in the overall narrative as the protagonists delved deeper into this past life cemented the two protagonists as driven and capable characters that can drive readers further and further into this new paranormal mystery series.
The Verdict
Memorable, thoughtful, and entertaining author Angela van Breemen’s “Past Life’s Revenge” is a must-read mystery and paranormal thriller. The shocking revelations and the equally shocking twists that take the protagonists to the edge emotionally and physically will have readers eager to delve deeper into this new series.
Diane Bator –
5/5
Danielle Urban –
Past Life’s Revenge by Angela Van Breemen is a stunning suspenseful thriller. It’s filled with unusual things like past lives and things we cannot explain. The paranormal vibe though fit well for this story. The tale was dark, twisty, and kept me on the edge. Someone knowing he was murdered, and the murderer is hanging around is the greatest catch of all. There were so many questions that popped up as I read. It made me want to keep reading until I found all my answers. Especially, who was the murder and why. I loved reading this book. It also reminded me of one of my favorite programs, Unsolved Mysteries, a bit.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
Scribble’s Worth –
Past Life’s Revenge: A David Harris and Emma Jackson Mystery is the debut novel by Angela van Breemen, and readers who are looking for a suspenseful crime thriller with a twist of spiritualism then this is the novel you’re not going to want to miss.
Past Life’s Revenge intrigues readers with a blue cover that depicts a shadowy form with their hand reaching out, palm up. Is this someone reaching out from the other side? Or is the shadowy figure a deadly assailant reaching out with the intent to grab you and pull you into the darkness? Your guess is as good as ours, but it’s sure to pique your desire to pick up this book to see what it’s about.
Past Life’s Revenge: A David Harris and Emma Jackson Mystery is a strong dripping with intrigue from the very beginning. Immediately, author van Breemen alerts readers that there is something unique about David Harris, one of the main characters of the story. When you meet David he is struggling with a nightmare. Evil eyes full of malice and evil are haunting his dreams.
What do the eyes mean? Why has he been having these dreams since he was a small child? Why won’t they stop? Are they trying to tell him something? If so, what are they trying to tell him? All of these are questions that plague David, and will drive you to dig deeper into this story for answers.
While David may be on a quest for answers, he has a close call in chapter one that could have landed him waiting on his next life if it weren’t for Emma Jackson’s quick thinking. The two main characters of the story are on the scene pretty quickly in this book. Author van Breemen puts into play the romance angle pretty quickly between these two characters. More than that though is the fact that we get a glimpse of Emma’s empath abilities.
As the story progresses things are moving at a pretty rapid pace. Page-by-page readers get to discover who David Harris is. He’s a lawyer who works with his uncle in the family business. It’s not long before the bad guy makes an appearance. Things seem innocuous enough at first, but when author van Breemen allows readers a glimpse into this man’s mind…it’s apparent he has plans for young David.
Page by page Past Life’s Revenge unfolds. The truth begins to come out that there is more going on than meets the eye. Gradually it the truth will be revealed concerning David’s dreams. His dreams aren’t just “troublesome” nightmares, they are final moments of a past life breaking through.
As this story progresses and the more that David learns about those final moments he soon finds a target on not just his back, but the back of everyone he cares about. The suspense in Past Life’s Revenge really begins to ramp up and readers are going to find themselves devouring this book to find out what happens next.
Past Life’s Revenge is a serious page-turner as the intrigue is built page by page. One truly engaging aspect of this book is the level of drama. Some things go well for the characters, but then author van Breemen makes sure to throw in something that brings heartbreak and sorrow. Some elements of the story will be predictable, but there will be a twist or two thrown in to keep things interesting.
Overall, the majority of the characters come off as realistic. It would be easy to see Past Life’s Revenge playing out in real life. Or even see it play out on the big screen. Author van Breemen immerses readers in a variety of settings ranging from Canada to Costa Rica to the Maldives.
Past Life’s Revenge has just the right amount of detail throughout the story. The chapters are just the right length to keep readers eager to turn the next page to find out what is going to happen next. You get glimpses of the bad guys and little snippets of the past that help to bring the past into the present and connect all the dots.
The only real drawback when it comes to this story is the romance angle. Author van Breemen shoots for a “soulmate” connection between David and Emma. It’s not immediately apparent that this is the angle that author van Breemen is going for. As it is, until the “soulmate” connection is revealed, the romance feels rushed. They know each other a week and are already ready to start saying “I love you.”
When readers come to the end of Past Life’s Revenge they are going to get the feeling that this is just the beginning for David and Emma. They have managed to survive their first mystery together, and there has been a “passing of the torch” so to speak as well. So, it will be interesting to see where, if at all, things go from here. Should author van Breemen choose to make this book into a series, we’d be more than happy to read more.
Past Life’s Revenge is an engaging novel that is packed with suspense and is sure to pull readers who enjoy mystery novels to the edge of their seats. This book is a real page-turner and is one debut that you’re not going to want to miss. Be prepared to not want to put this book down until you reach the final page.
Anne Marie –
I just finished reading “Past Life’s Revenge”. It was excellent and very exciting to read. It keep me looking forward to what was going to happen in the next chapter all the way to the end. Looking forward to the next sequel.
Joyce –
Angela Van Breemen’s debut thriller, Past Life’s Revenge, is a fast-paced, suspense-filled, novel that incorporates all the criteria to be classified as a page-turner. The thread of anticipation throughout the book is based on the murder victim, David Harris, learning that he is reincarnated and subsequently pursuing his belief that his killer may still be alive. His love interest, Emma Jackson, is instrumental in “channelling” him in the right directions.
Ms. Van Breemen has a wonderfully descriptive writing style that brings her characters to life, thus, pulling the reader into the book’s pages to experience her characters’ emotions firsthand.
I am anxiously awaiting the next David Harris and Emma Jackson mystery!
Marni Walsh –
Fast paced mystery romance that went great with my morning coffee and read like a film script!
Reader Views –
David Harris is a young lawyer who has suffered from debilitating nightmares since he was four years old. They seem so real that he feels they are more than just night terrors, but rather memories, possibly from a past life. Even though he has consulted with psychiatrists, therapists, and doctors, no one has been able to help him. Until he meets Emma Jackson, an empath who can feel his traumatic experiences.
Emma encourages him to meet with her friend Anna Tungsten, a hypnotherapist who specializes in past life regressions and he hesitantly agrees to try. During one of these sessions, he learns that he was violently murdered in his most recent past life. This gives him some relief, but once he finds out his killer is still alive, he cannot let it go and vows to get justice for his past self. With Emma by his side, David begins a dangerous quest to finally put the past to rest and move on with his life.
As a lawyer, David is relentless when it comes to getting closure for his clients and it’s no different when his own life is in crisis mode. In “Past Life’s Revenge: A David Harris and Emma Jackson Mystery,” Angela Van Breemen creates a strong character whose life is disturbed by chilling visions and unexplained phenomena tied to his past life. He doesn’t believe in reincarnation, but he is running out of options as he feels like he’s losing his mind.
As he digs into the visions, he uncovers a trail of violence at the hands of Enrico, a ruthless killer. When fate brings Enrico into his life again, David is once again in the crosshairs. Risking his life and the lives of those he loves, he takes the information he has to the police in the hopes that this painful chapter in his life can be put to rest while stopping Enrico’s reign of terror.
Reincarnation is an interesting topic and one that is seldom mentioned in modern literature, so this is what drew me to this novel. I was curious as to how the author would handle the subject to make it natural and believable. Even before the topic of reincarnation comes up, I found myself relating to David. As someone who has experienced night terrors, after reading David’s experiences with them in the first chapter, I was hooked.
Since December of last year, he was once more oppressed by the nightly apparition, its black bottomless eyes drawing him into its circle of evil.
This compelling mystery novel has something for everyone: supernatural suspense, mystery, and romance. It brings together the present and the past, offering readers an exploration of how unresolved issues from a past life can resurface with devastating consequences, creating a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking, even if you don’t necessarily believe in reincarnation or past lives. The characters are authentic and deeply developed, especially David, whose overall journey is emotional and harrowing.
With short chapters and consistent action, it’s a fast and easy read. The author’s use of vivid language often sets a calm and relaxing mood when David and Emma spend time together:
A soft breeze ruffled and billowed out the gauzy yellow curtains in the sunny kitchen.
Overall, “Past Life’s Revenge” by Angela Van Breemen is a fascinating read for fans of mysteries and crime fiction with a supernatural twist. It challenges readers to consider the possibility of reincarnation and how it may affect a person’s present life. By exploring the themes of identity, death, survival, and friendship, it delivers a thrilling and suspenseful narrative. Hopefully, there will be more David Harris and Emma Jackson mysteries to come. It is recommended for fans of mystery novels who are open to and appreciate mystical themes that include mediums, psychics, empaths, and seances.
The late afternoon sun refused to release its oppressive hold and the humidity in the air made breathing uncomfortable. The pavement shimmered like mirages on the Sahara Desert, its heat permeating into their feet through the soles of their sandals.
Rosemary McCracken –
Debut novelist Angela Van Breemen has crafted a page-turner with Past Life’s Revenge, the first installment in her paranormal mystery series. When David Harris seeks help from a hypnotherapist for his debilitating nightmares, he learns that he was murdered in a past life and his killer is still alive. David exacts his revenge with old-fashioned detective work and the psychic abilities of his sweetheart Emma. I couldn’t put it down!
Shubham Lakhina –
Angela Van Breemen’s *Past Life’s Revenge* is an intriguing blend of psychological thriller, supernatural mystery, and romance. The novel dives deep into the theme of past life regression and the emotional toll it can take on a person grappling with unresolved trauma from a previous life. The protagonist, David Harris, is a man haunted by relentless nightmares since childhood, dreams so vivid that they push him to seek professional help. Yet, conventional methods offer no relief, and his torment only worsens as he navigates the layers of his psyche.
David’s journey takes a compelling turn when he meets Emma Jackson, a psychic who introduces him to hypnotherapist Anna Tungsten. Through past life regression, David uncovers the startling revelation that he was murdered in his past life, thirty years ago. This revelation shifts the narrative from a tale of personal discovery to a tense pursuit of justice, as David learns that his murderer is still alive. The stakes are raised as David’s quest for revenge becomes the driving force in the plot, intertwining his growing relationship with Emma and his thirst for vengeance.
The novel’s exploration of past life regression is one of its most fascinating aspects. Van Breemen handles this supernatural element with care, balancing it with David’s psychological distress and his emotional struggle. It also introduces readers to a chilling moral dilemma: how far should one go in seeking retribution for a past wrong? David’s desire for revenge is understandable, but it also brings up questions about justice, morality, and whether one can ever truly move on from the past.
While the plot is fast-paced and engaging, certain moments could have been expanded for greater emotional impact. Emma, while central to David’s journey, could have been developed more fully to explore her own motivations and connection to the spiritual world. Nevertheless, the novel keeps the reader on edge as David closes in on his past murderer, with the line between present and past blurring along the way.
Gary D. McGugan –
A blend of suspense, crime, romance and the paranormal, Angela Van Breemen has crafted an excellent debut novel. I enjoyed every page!
TL Rose –
I picked up this book at a local author showcase
After listening to Angela read. Not only is she a great speaker she is also an amazing writer. I love the weaving of the crime-solving, romance, and the supernatural.
Great job anxiously waiting for the next book.
Patrick O’Reilly –
The story flows well along with the development of the characters. The past life and psychic references are very relatable and make the revenge much more compelling. This book is like a warm hug on a rainy day. A must read.