Spiritual Murder Encounters

The Two Doves

Fiction - General
211 Pages
Reviewed on 12/17/2018
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Two books written by Sannette Viljoen received four five-star reviews from Reader's Favorite: her debut children’s book The Kid Who Wants to Become an Engineer as well as her debut novel The Two Doves from the Trilogy, Spiritual Murder Encounters. The Kid Who Wants To Become an Engineer was inspired by her father, who is a Subject Matter Expert in Project Controls. She also published three technical engineering books Simplified Integrated Project Controls based on Earned Value Management Principles, One Integrated Work Breakdown Structure and How To Integrate Scope, Schedule, Budget and Risks as co-author with her father (Willem J Viljoen) and brother (W Viljoen). These technical books' methodology was a finalist in the Accenture Da Vinci Innovation Awards 2017.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

Warrant Officer Ryella Goode is called to the fourteenth brutal rape and murder committed by a serial killer. The victims are typically found in a shallow tidal pool on the beach. Each time, a black crow appears to Ryella immediately before another victim is found. Ryella has followed in her father’s footsteps as she has been a member of the South Africa Police Department for the past five years. Ryella and her sister, Kellina, lost their parents twelve years earlier, when they died from food poisoning. Their father had been investigating the death of Mayor Tom Brummer, and the case was never solved. Author Sannette Viljoen has written a gripping story in Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves. Although the main focus of the book is finding the serial killer, Ryella's and Kellina’s personal lives are also an integral part of the story. The negative spirit of the black crow is counterbalanced by the appearance of two doves who bring positive energies.

This book is a true page-turner; there are many unexpected twists and turns in this compelling story. Ryella’s drive to solve this case is supported by spiritual messages, adding an unique element to the mystery. The author is skilled in her ability to engage the reader from the first page to the last. Her writing is clear and succinct, with a perfect balance of factual information and emotional perspective. The character development is also well defined. Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves, written by Sannette Viljoen, is a fascinating work. It is the first book of a trilogy, and every reader will be anticipating the next two books of this series.

Ruffina Oserio

Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves by Sannette Viljoen is a mix of crime and the paranormal, the journey of Warrant Officer Ryella Goode as she navigates an uncertain path to solve the mystery of the murders in the town of Hermanus. Each murder is announced by a mysterious black crow. But then, there is a pair of doves with a kind of connection to the officer. But what is the connection between the doves and the crow and how can they help Officer Ryella Goode solve the murders?

This story is spiritually and emotionally rich. Told in the first person narrative and in the voice of the protagonist, the story explores themes of murder, juxtaposing grief with hope and showing a woman’s journey towards finding herself. The narrative is punctuated by lively journal entries. Sannette Viljoen has good storytelling skills and one of the things that will arrest the attention of readers is the ability to bring out the emotional and psychological state of the characters in prose that is simple and easy to understand. The present tense makes the story strong and adds to the realism infused into the narrative. I felt as though the action was taking place now. Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves shows how one’s work can allow someone to connect with themselves and find spiritual meaning. It begins in the midst of crisis — a murder — and develops with an emotional intensity that keeps the reader utterly engaged.

Justine Reyes

Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves is a paranormal fiction novel by Sannette Viljoen. The story follows Warrant Officer Ryella Goode. For the past two years, Ryella has been chasing a serial killer. The murders are gruesome and the murderer is methodical in their killings, leaving no trace of DNA behind or much of anything except for a feather. On top of all this, a darkness hovers over the death of Ryella's parents. Is there more here than meets the eye? Readers will surely find out in Viljoen's The Two Doves.

There is nothing more satisfying to read on a cold evening than a cozy mystery novel, regardless of how gory some details can get. Viljoen's novel opens with a hook: "There is a warm sea breeze. I pick out yet another bloodied crow's feather from the deceased woman's entangled hair." Readers will instantly be drawn into the mystery and will be delivered a deep narrative which centers around the sinister and Ryella's often neurotic state of mind. One of my favorite things about Viljoen's writing is how the author used the crow for symbolism. Viljoen uses birds as symbolism. Viljoen uses the crow to represent the mystery, mysticism, and darkness while the dove represents the opposite. It is always very refreshing to read between the lines and feel as though you are solving a mystery along with the main character. I thoroughly enjoyed Viljoen's Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves and I would recommend it to others who are fans of cozy mysteries.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves by Sannette Viljoen is a paranormal murder mystery. Warrant Officer Ryella Goode is desperately trying to solve a string of murders. A vicious serial killer has left a trail of mutilated bodies and there are no clues to help her catch the killer. To make matters worse, she is starting to doubt that her parents’ deaths were an accident. A black crow always appears to Ryella 24 hours before a murder, but a mysterious pair of doves always bring some light to her. When the doves reveal to her who they are, things start to fall into place. But family secrets are about to be unearthed; can Ryella and her sister face them and stay in one piece? Can Ryella solve these murders? And will she find the inner peace that she has so long sought?

Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves by Sannette Viljoen is a very different kind of murder mystery. Not only are we following the investigation into the murders, but we are also following the spiritual growth of the main protagonist. This is an odd mixture of the paranormal, spirituality and bloody murder that is strangely compelling. Written in present tense, it is a descriptive story that pulls you right into it, making you feel as though you are there. The characters are really well developed; we don’t get the whole backstory in one go, it comes out throughout the story, and there is more than enough action and tension to keep you hooked. I enjoyed this and I think fans of either the paranormal or murder-mystery genres will enjoy it too; just don’t expect your typical type of story!

K.C. Finn

Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves is a thrilling work of mystery and spiritual fiction written by author Sannette Viljoen. Focusing on the central themes of internal peace versus external omens and their connection through spirituality, this novel takes its readers through an alternative thriller and mystery plot. Ryella Goode is a warrant officer in the small town of Hermanus, where an elusive serial killer has been terrorizing and terrifying the residents for more than two years. Now, Ryella has started to notice strange omens that always occur before each killing, a pattern which will lead her deeper into the investigation and reveal some astonishing truths about tragedies in her own past.

This trilogy sheds new light on the crime and thriller genres with its clear focus on the spiritual well-being of its central protagonist, as well as the connection between the omens of the natural world and the evil deeds of man. Author Sannette Viljoen writes with thrilling clarity in the more tense moments of discovery, whilst also taking time to allow us to get to know Ryella and have our own contemplative moments with the fully descriptive details of the case at hand. The conclusion to the plot of this section of the trilogy was satisfying and well constructed overall, and I’d certainly be fascinated to read more of the series. Overall, I would certainly recommend Spiritual Murder Encounters: The Two Doves to readers who enjoy a credible mystery story line with just a dash of the paranormal realism genre.