The Downwinders Series by Michael Richan

Downwind: the area of the United States that received the brunt of the fallout from nuclear testing. As a result, humans developed cancers and congenital malformations… and so did the creatures in the River, the place where people with “the gift” see things others cannot. Twenty-year-old Deem is gifted, but she is on her own without her mentor, her late father. Deem’s family is tormented by a strange creature that climbs on their roof at night and infects the house with poison... moreDownwind: the area of the United States that received the brunt of the fallout from nuclear testing. As a result, humans developed cancers and congenital malformations… and so did the creatures in the River, the place where people with “the gift” see things others cannot. Twenty-year-old Deem is gifted, but she is on her own without her mentor, her late father. Deem’s family is tormented by a strange creature that climbs on their roof at night and infects the house with poison. With help from the charismatic Winn, Deem tries to stop the attacks, but this is only the beginning, with more ghosts, Callers, and mutated creatures to come. Deem met Steven and Roy when she helped save their son from the ghosts at St. Thomas. She was impressed by Roy’s use of their ancestors’ journals to assist with their work. Deem is confident her father left behind a journal for her somewhere, but her dangerous search becomes riddled with menacing secrets and revelations, putting people’s lives at risk. Deem and Winn are not alone; they are helped by Awan, a handsome Paiute who knows Native American tradition and can explain the strange forces targeting Deem. They also meet Carma, a friendly soul with a fantastic and valuable secret buried in her house. Blood Oath, Blood River is the first book in The Downwinders series, a spinoff of The River series, in which Deem and Winn first appear in Book Six, Devil’s Throat. Blood Oath, Blood River is a stand-alone novel; no prior experience with The River series is necessary to enjoy it. Fans of The River series will be intrigued by this new exploration of the River, set in a place where downwind radiation has made the ghosts and creatures of the River strange and unpredictable. less

Downwind: the area of the United States that received the brunt of the fallout from nuclear testing. As a result, humans developed cancers and congenital malformations… and so did the creatures in the River, the place where people with “the gift” see things others cannot. Young Winn has recently discovered he has this ability, though he hardly knows how to use it... moreDownwind: the area of the United States that received the brunt of the fallout from nuclear testing. As a result, humans developed cancers and congenital malformations… and so did the creatures in the River, the place where people with “the gift” see things others cannot. Young Winn has recently discovered he has this ability, though he hardly knows how to use it. When his friend Brent suggests they search for treasure in the hills surrounding their Tucson suburb, Winn joins him and puts his newfound skills to use. They discover a cave filled with mutated ghosts possessing unusual powers. Here, Winn finds something so incredible, it begins a nightmare that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Winn’s mother is distant and uninterested in mentoring his abilities, so Winn turns to Marty, a neighbor who steers him toward a solution. On the way, they meet Jeanette, a crazy but prophetic resident of their trailer court, and Ida, a firecracker who gave up part of herself to confront a similar nightmare. If the ghosts in the cave were normal, Winn and Brent might stand a chance. But the ghosts are downwind, where radiation changed everything… The Impossible Coin is a fast-paced adventure with an unusual twist on ghosts. It is the second book in The Downwinders series, but can be read stand-alone. less

"One of the most exciting new series!" Downwind: the area of the United States that received the brunt of the fallout from nuclear testing. As a result, humans developed cancers and congenital malformations… and so did the creatures in the River, the place where people with “the gift” see things others cannot. Deem and Winn share this gift, and they are asked to help a young woman stricken with a mysterious ailment... more"One of the most exciting new series!" Downwind: the area of the United States that received the brunt of the fallout from nuclear testing. As a result, humans developed cancers and congenital malformations… and so did the creatures in the River, the place where people with “the gift” see things others cannot. Deem and Winn share this gift, and they are asked to help a young woman stricken with a mysterious ailment. The cure lies in the ancient cliff dwellings of Plague Canyon, hidden on the private property of a zealous and paranoid owner. Warren, a rancher patrolling the canyon, shows an interest in Deem. She agrees to date him, hoping to manipulate him into letting her enter the ruins. Deem is surprised to find her interest in Warren becomes more than just a way into the canyon. Winn is with her every step of the way as they explore treacherous mines and corpse-filled caves. Meanwhile, Carma and Lyman are planning a secret retaliation, and Deem is about to find herself in the middle of a deadly confrontation with Council forces. The Graves of Plague Canyon is a fast-paced adventure with an unusual twist on the paranormal. It is the third book in The Downwinders series. Fans of The River series will find the unpredictable ghosts and mutations of the River even more frightening and terrifying in this place where surprises lurk around every corner, and deception is the order of the day. less

"One of the most exciting new series!" Blackham Mansion was built next to a graveyard for a reason. Spiritualists who gathered there to make contact with ghosts knew the deceased were only a few feet away. Over the years, they became very successful at rousing the dead and inquiring about the afterlife. Too successful. Deem, a gifted nineteen-year-old, learns that the long-abandoned mansion holds secrets she must investigate... more"One of the most exciting new series!" Blackham Mansion was built next to a graveyard for a reason. Spiritualists who gathered there to make contact with ghosts knew the deceased were only a few feet away. Over the years, they became very successful at rousing the dead and inquiring about the afterlife. Too successful. Deem, a gifted nineteen-year-old, learns that the long-abandoned mansion holds secrets she must investigate. She becomes wrapped up with the unusual house located downwind, where years ago the brunt of Nevada’s nuclear testing fallout rained down from the skies. As a result, Blackham Mansion isn’t any ordinary haunted house. The entities inside — some helpful, some monstrously hideous — are things she’s never dealt with before. Her friends Winn, Carma, and David try to help, but the forces inside the house overtake them all. Winn and Deem come face to face with a terrifying reality: Be careful what solutions you hope for; sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. The Blackham Mansion Haunting is a fast-paced mystery with an unusual twist on the paranormal. It is the fourth book in The Downwinders series, part of The River universe. Fans of The River series will find the unpredictable ghosts and mutations of the River even more frightening and terrifying in this place where surprises lurk around every corner, and deception is the order of the day. less