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The Map of Orbis Terrarum: Melanie Simpson Mystery Book Two (Melanie Simpson Mystery Series 3) Kindle Edition

4.8 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

Sally Altass Review: 5 Stars: Nothing is simple and straightforward. The story twists and turns and throws curve balls that even the most ardent mystery reader wouldn’t expect.

Her fate rests with the map…

Melanie Simpson’s world is falling apart. Her mother is near death, and her fragile relationship with her boyfriend, Frankie, swings between hope and heartbreak. Struggling to balance love, loss, and betrayal, Melanie fears which will ultimately win out.
Then an unexpected person enters her life, changing it forever. Faced with the possibility of leaving home and losing her closest friends, Melanie is thrust into a whirlwind of choices and truths she isn't ready to face.

Through all of this, she is determined to continue her late father's quest, searching for the Orb, a mysterious device gifted to him by an alien being. Her journey leads to a professor in Seattle, and a film showing her father using the Orb to project a hologram of the sixteenth-century
Map of Orbis Terrarum, revealing energy points across the globe, clues her father was tirelessly investigating. Could this map hold the key to her destiny?

As Melanie draws closer to the truth, danger and destruction follow her. With each step, she uncovers layers of her destiny, propelling her down a path where the stakes are life and death. Melanie’s journey is far from over—and its twists will leave readers breathless.

This is Book Two of the Melanie Simpson Mystery Series and follows the prequel, The Roswell Quest, and Book One, The Tale of the Tarot.


Praise for the prequel, The Roswell Quest. A B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree

Readers' Favorite review: 5-Stars. If you're a fan of TV shows like Stranger Things, you're going to love The Roswell Quest. Author D.J. Schneider masterfully incorporates real-life events to craft an engaging narrative thatkeeps you hooked from start to finish.

The UFO Detective: 5-Stars. DJ Schneider captures some of the very REAL truths about Roswell and delivering them in an entertaining novel.

The Night Owl: 5-Stars. I loved this book, plain and simple. The plot revolves around aliens which I love and had a great feel to it with the kids interacting in an honest, believable way.

Praise for Book One, The Tale of the Tarot:

Reedsy Reviewer, Sally Altass wrote: 5-Stars. An exciting teenage thriller set in the 1960s. Spies, UFOs, cover-ups, and much more. There's a rising tension throughout the book, and the ending had me gasping for breath.

Readers' Favorite Kim Anisi wrote: 5-Stars. A fantastic story!

Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
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 See full series
There are 4 books in this series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Sally Altass, Top Ten Reviewer for Reedsy Reviews: ★★★★★ Nothing is simple and straightforward. The story twists and turns and throws curveballs that even the most ardent mystery reader wouldn't expect.

About the Author

I love to write. I honed my creative writing skills first while studying creative writing at the San Francisco Art Institute, and then later at the Log Cabin Literary Center in Boise, Idaho with a writing group called the Magnificent Seven. I worked with Kelly Jones (The Woman Who Heard Color, Penguin Group), helping to edit her novel, The Last Madonna, and with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tony Doerr (All the Light We Cannot See, Simon and Schuster)-both instrumental in developing my craft. I also spent many years as a professional writer/producer in the advertising field for radio, television, and print, having owned an advertising agency at one point. I am a member of SCBWI, Alli (the Alliance of Independent Authors), and NIWA (Northwest Independent Writers Association.Right now, I am nearing the Orion Nebula, conducting a little research for an upcoming Melanie Simpson novel and touring the universe on a spaceship with two of my novel characters, Orbit and Slug (you don't know about them yet, but will). When I finally set my feet on earth again, it will be in Oregon where I live, returning to what I call 'The Writing Cave.' There, under the light of a gooseneck lamp, I will continue to work on Melanie's next great adventure, along with other novels.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B7C2RCR1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ deBoys Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 374 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8985145342
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 3 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Melanie Simpson Mystery Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

About the author

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DJ Schneider
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So, you may want to ask DJ Schneider— How did your Melanie Simpson Series come about?

Here is his answer: One day long ago, when times were simpler, while I was meandering the halls of the local library I happened upon a book by Charles Berlitz and William Moore titled, The Roswell Incident. I became instantly fascinated and ever since have read everything I could find about the Roswell crash, the world of UFOs and the possibility of life on other planets. Do I believe Roswell really happened? Absolutely! I actually was a bit of a sceptic at first, but after extensive research I am a true believer that intelligent life exists out there. Thus, it made sense (at least to me) to combine my love of writing with my interest in the UFO world. And why not write a novel series in the young adult genre? Roswell, and so many other significant events surrounding UFOs happened in the 40s through the 70s. I felt it important to write a novel that brought this information to our newer generations in a fun, yet informative way. And, it has also turned out to be a great crossover with the baby boomers who lived in those times.

On the conventional side-- I love to write. I honed my creative writing skills at the Log Cabin Literary Center in Boise, Idaho with a writing group called the Magnificent Seven. I worked with Kelly Jones (The Woman Who Heard Color, Penguin Group), helping to edit her novel, The Last Madonna, and with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tony Doerr (All the Light We Cannot See, Simon and Schuster)—both instrumental in developing my craft. I also spent many years as a professional writer/producer in the advertising field for radio, television, and print, having owned an advertising agency at one point. I am a member of SCBWI, Willamette Writers, and the Gresham Writers.

Right now, I am nearing the Orion Nebula, conducting a little research for an upcoming Melanie Simpson novel and touring the universe on a spaceship with two of my novel characters, Orbit and Slug (you don’t know about them yet, but will). When I finally set my feet on earth again, it will be in Oregon where I live, returning to what I call ‘The Writing Cave.’ There I will continue work on Melanie’s next great adventure, and on another book I am writing called River of Dreams.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
10 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
    Book 3 in the series (as I count the prequel), has lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing with a cliff hanger ending leaving you craving the next book. Definitely worth your time, but make sure to clear your calendar 'cause you won't put it down. Where will this all lead? Is she possibly connected to the sky people on a intimate level?
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2022
    I received an ARC of this book. This is the second book in this series, third if you count the prequel (which I would.) If you like 60s nostalgia, sci-fi, and young adult fiction, then this is the series for you.
    D.J. masterfully catches the flavor of the setting while the characters experience highs, lows, danger, and mystery in 1967 Oregon.
    The main character is 15 year old Melanie who has been dealing with more than her fair share of tradgedy. In this book, her journey to learning the truth about her destiny continues. The first half of the story introduces her to a new family member, and the second half is a wild ride that brings her closer to solving the mystery that is the orb.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2022
    This is the continuing story of fifteen-year-old, Melanie Simpson, and the alien debris she's protecting. The story begins with Melanie's mother getting in a terrible car accident. This sets off a chain of events that will change Melanie's life forever. She'll meet a grandmother she never knew she had, grow closer to her circle of friends, and learn about her family's past, all while keeping the alien debris away from dangerous men who want to use it for their own gain.

    The book is well written and engaging. It contains a wealth of information about UFOs and also tells an entertaining story. While this book can stand on it's own, it's clear that it's meant to be read as a part two, and that there is more of the adventure yet to come.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2022
    I enjoy DJ’s writing style so much. It is fast-paced and in constant motion with a few tender coming-of-age moments to balance the plot. Melanie is the girl we all wanted to be and probably even were from time to time. She is independent, takes chances, reasons out problems, and makes mature decisions. She protects her friends but also stumbles and makes mistakes like any teen. She is on a quest where the pages of the story practically turn themselves.

    Including the prequel, this is the third installment of this entertaining story and I am all ready for the next book. Great job, DJ!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2022
    A true page turner full of excitement—Alien artifacts, life & death chases, mysterious clues, and unexpected plot twists. Melanie Simpson and her three cohorts, all teens who are coming of age, are mired deep in a mysterious saga full of danger and intrigue. Don’t start this book unless you have plenty of time to read it straight through because you are not going to be able to put it down.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2022
    Another page turner! The main character Melanie has had a lot happen to her and has a great group of friends to support her! The mystery continues through this book as well and keeps you wanting more. Cant wait for the next book!
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2022
    The Map of Orbis Terrarum pays off on the promises of The Tale of the Tarot and raises its own mysteries to carry through to the next novel. There's more action and suspense but also plenty of breathing room for our young heroes to be fleshed out. A must read if you loved the first book.

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