A Gathering of Vultures

by Donald Michael Platt

Overview

Murder, mutilation, and carrion... in paradise? "
"There shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate."
-ISAIAH 34:15
Professional ballroom dancers Terri and Rick Hamilton aspire to be world champions. Unfortunately, Terri's recurring back and health problems place that goal well out of reach. They travel to Terri's birthplace, Florianópolis, on the scenic island of Santa Catarina off the coast of Brazil to vacation and visit their best friends and mentors.
Along the picturesque beaches, dead penguins and eviscerated bodies wash up on the shores of paradise, and Antarctic blasts play counterpoint to the tropical storms that rock the island. The scenic wonder is home not only to urubús, a unique sub-species of the black vulture, but also to a clique of mysterious women who offer Terri perfect health and the promise of fame-at a terrible price.
Rick fears Terri is being drawn into a cult and that his own life may be in danger. Will it be too late when he discovers something even more terrifying lives beneath the tranquil, tropical veneer of the island? Idyllic one moment and nightmarish the next, you never know what you'll encounter in the city of Florianópolis-murder, mutilations, carrion, or the lure of eternal youth.

Praise for "A Gathering of Vultures

" "Discovering a truly different sort of horror novel is a rare pleasure... and cause for much rejoicing. Donald Michael Platt's A Gathering of Vultures provides a glimpse of singular evil. Even the exotic Brazilian locale and the back story-involving competitive ballroom dancing-may be unique within the genre. This is the darkest of dark fantasies. Through fevered imaginings of the first rank, coupled to macabre yet erudite prose, Platt crafts an unusual and involving nightmare."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781942756347
Publisher:	Penmore Press LLC
Publication date:	04/27/2015
Pages:	274
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

About the Author: Donald Michael Platt:

The experiences Donald and his wife Ellen had while living in Florianópolis, Brazil, and their adventures in ballroom dancing inspired him to write A Gathering of Vultures.

In Hollywood, Donald sold his writing to the TV series, Mr. Novak, and worked for and with diverse producers. After moving to Jupiter, Florida, Donald co-wrote Vitamin Enriched, 1999, for Carl DeSantis, founder of Rexall Sundown Vitamins; and The Couple's Disease, 2002, for Lawrence S. Hakim, MD, FACS, Head of Sexual Dysfunction Unit at the Cleveland Clinic.

Born and raised in San Francisco and a graduate of Lowell High school and U.C. Berkeley, Donald also has taught History, English, and Creative Writing and has been an Adjunct Professor of Writing at Polk Community College. He currently resides in Winter Haven, Florida with his wife, Ellen. His novel, Rocamora, was reissued by Briona Glen Publishing LLC in September 2011. The completed sequel to Rocamora, House of Rocamora, will be published by Briona Glen and is scheduled for release in 2012. He has completed a novel set in the 9th century Carolingian Empire, Bodo the Apostate, and has begun another set during World War II.