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The Sapphire of the Dark Castle (The Twelve Gems of Murder Book 3) Kindle Edition
Another fast-paced creepily haunting adventure with Amelia Albert and the D.I.S.C. comes action-packed with unexpected twists and turns of magic, mystery, and lots of secrecy!
In this gripping new adventure paranormal investigator, Amelia Albert is invited to go to Crete to assist in an ongoing excavation at the ruins of a castle that is over 430 years old to offer her archeology knowledge in solving the mystery of some bones found beside numerous stone statues.
Amelia starts to investigate and uncovers an ancient mythology secret about the castle's inhabitants that stem back to 1587 A.D and are causing permanent devastation to all who get close to the castle.
As she delves deeper into the mystery of the bones, she finds more than she bargained for when she discovers that the inhabitants of the castle from hundreds of years ago are not only one, but two, shape-shifting mythological creatures that still reside in the castle today.
Can she destroy the unwanted guests at the castle before she becomes their next victim and permanently joins them at the castle too?
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMay 29, 2022
- Reading age14 - 18 years
- File size1.4 MB
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See full series- Kindle Price:$10.97By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
- Kindle Price:$14.96By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Shop this series
This option includes 3 books.
This option includes 4 books.
Product details
- ASIN : B0B2NQ7YFB
- Publisher : Shelly M Neinast
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : May 29, 2022
- Edition : 2nd
- Language : English
- File size : 1.4 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 283 pages
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 3 of 4 : The Twelve Gems of Murder
- Reading age : 14 - 18 years
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Shelly M. Neinast was born in Anaheim, California. Traveling had inspired her creativity in writing through her travels abroad in the cultural differences leading her to seek a BA degree in History and Anthropology introducing her to the fantasy and cultural folklore genres. She writes supernatural suspense mysteries, paranormal/time travel, and in the folklore genres. She has published three novels and is currently working on her next adventurous mystery. When not writing, she enjoys gardening, sewing, and traveling, and currently lives in Vancouver, Washington.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book's storyline, with one review highlighting its ancient myths and adventure, while another notes its rich Greek history. The book receives positive feedback for its beauty, with one customer mentioning its beautiful environmental descriptions.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, which features ancient myths and adventure, with one customer noting its rich Greek history and well-developed scenes.
"...Neinast is an artist with words that paints some beautiful and well developed scenes and characters...." Read more
"...The book is rich in Greek history and mythology and there are many beautiful environmental descriptions...." Read more
"...There are mysteries, but they do not stimulate the brain to decipher them; it reminded me of the Colombo series, where the crimes were revealed from..." Read more
"If you love a mixed of contemporary with ancient mythology tales, you’ll love the the Sapphire of the Dark Castle...." Read more
Customers find the book enjoyable, with one mentioning that every page is breathtaking.
"This is the third book in the series and it does not disappoint...." Read more
"...On the contrary, the book is light, simple and enjoyable; something to read on a Sunday evening after lunch, before taking a nap...." Read more
"...2nd for the storyline. And 3rd for the grammar. I really enjoyed this book, every page is breathtaking...." Read more
"...She added a lot if details making the characters believable and entertaining." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's beauty, with one mentioning its visually appealing cover and another noting its vivid environmental descriptions.
"...Neinast is an artist with words that paints some beautiful and well developed scenes and characters...." Read more
"...is rich in Greek history and mythology and there are many beautiful environmental descriptions...." Read more
"...Even the book cover is so beautiful." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2022This is the third book in the series and it does not disappoint. Neinast is an artist with words that paints some beautiful and well developed scenes and characters. This is one book you want on your summer reading list. For that matter, buy the whole series!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2022The protagonist, Amelia, flies to Crete to take part in an excavation in an old castle. She suffers from nightmares about diabolical monsters which seem to have a stronger and stronger connection to the real world as the story progresses. We get to experience horror and adventure at the castle as we meet the ancient creatures from the past.
The book is rich in Greek history and mythology and there are many beautiful environmental descriptions. You can tell the author has a passion for the places and story.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2023If this book was designed to be a horror story, then the end result is far from the scope. On the contrary, the book is light, simple and enjoyable; something to read on a Sunday evening after lunch, before taking a nap.
There are monsters, witches, spells, curses, but they do not trigger any sentiment of fear.
There are mysteries, but they do not stimulate the brain to decipher them; it reminded me of the Colombo series, where the crimes were revealed from the start of the episodes.
Nevertheless, the historical references are nice and the effort put by the author to document local myths is notable.
In conclusion, if you look to read something light, relaxing, and spiced with some mysteries and fantasy, then this is the book to read. But, if you look for intense experiences, then this book is not the best choice.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2022First I want to give a round of applause for the cover.
2nd for the storyline.
And 3rd for the grammar.
I really enjoyed this book, every page is breathtaking.
More interesting than any movie or book that I've read about the mythology of Medusa.
In this one Amelia is uncovering the mystery of a Gorgon than turns every one who wanders inside a dilapidated castle at night into a statue.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2023For some reason I'm stuck on why this paranormal investigator gets to have room service all the time in Greek hotels. She lives a life of luxury, having glasses of wine and looking out over the Parthenon, in between killing demons and setting right what magic has cast asunder. If all that sounds like fun, this book's for you. Don't worry too much about historical or grammatical accuracy or you'll be annoyed. Just follow this woman around, kick off your shoes, and enjoy room service.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2022If you love a mixed of contemporary with ancient mythology tales, you’ll love the the Sapphire of the Dark Castle. Even the book cover is so beautiful.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2022The author has a good imagination to craft a book with twists and turns. She added a lot if details making the characters believable and entertaining.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2022Any book that contains witches and the like call to me.
The story is written in the third person but can slip into the first person, which left me having to re-read passages. It is descriptive, which again is something I love in a book.
The story flows nicely from chapter to chapter.
I will read more from this author.
Top reviews from other countries
- Dillon HegerReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Magic, mystery & the paranormal
Magic, mystery, and the paranormal is what you will be met with in this amazing audiobook. I had to force myself to put it down it was so engaging, filled with interesting twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended
- jan fosterReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2023
3.0 out of 5 stars Huge potential
The premise of this book is intriguing - a mysterious creature, myths and historical legends and a modern-day paranormal detective/archaeologist. Sadly, what lets the book down is the execution of the plot. If you can overlook the poor editing and rambling style of writing, this story would suer a young adult audience or those looking for a little bit of (at times inaccurate) history with their paranormal mystery.
- FionaReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2022
2.0 out of 5 stars The prologue is hilarious - especially where the gorgon "threw her teeth"
Firstly, the blurb is misleading. Amelia is not an archaeologist, she does not dig one single trench, embark on any excavation, look at any stratigraphy or use any sort of geophysical equipment.
The setting of the king and his family in the castle is out of place/time. In 12000 BC there was no velvet (not until 7th or 8th century AD) or satin (not in Europe until 12th century AD). They did not wear “opera” gloves (16th century AD) and did not have “butlers” – perhaps a servant or slave who wore a loin cloth, not trousers or “pants.” “Chapels” are a Christian feature; in ancient Greece they would have had temples and sanctuaries. Latin was not used by the Romans until about the 1st century BC so would not have been used in Greece 1100 years earlier.
Apart from all the factual errors, the writing is very poor. There is no grasp of syntax. The sentences often ramble veering from the past tense to present tense and back again. The story is written in the third person but occasional slips into referring to “my husband” and “we did” as if it was originally written in the first person and changed. The writing gets progressively worse as if the author was in a hurry to finish the story.
There is no grasp of official procedures, such as when bones are found anywhere, including archaeological sites, police procedure, procedures for non-nationals buying and developing land in Greece etc, let alone an ancient and possibly historically important site.
There seems to have been no editing carried out by anyone that would have picked up these errors, plus there is poor spelling, such as “chuffer” for “chauffeur, “site seeing” for “sightseeing.”
However, my favourite bit was in the prologue were the gorgon spoke “threw her teeth” and I just imagined her taking out her dentures and flinging them across the room – hilarious.
I wonder if the other reviewers who rated it higher actually read the complete story.