Sliding Beneath the Surface by Doug Dillon

The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I

Just as Jeff Golden is about to start classes at St. Augustine High, he finds himself up to his eyeballs in paranormal experiences. Scared out of his wits, he relies on his friend, Carla Rodriguez, and Lobo, an old Native American shaman, for help. Despite this guidance, things get even worse, making Jeff realize he is in danger of losing his sanity and even his life. Finally, forces he doesn’t fully understand push him to leap headlong into the unknown in order to save himself. In doing so, though, Jeff has risked something even more valuable than his own existence.

Although Sliding Beneath the Surface may be ordered from any bookstore, Old St. Augustine Publications supplies copies on a regular basis only to:

The Cassadaga Camp Bookstore
1112 Stevens Street
P.O. Box 319
Cassadaga, FL 32706
386/228-2880
Email Cassadaga Camp Bookstore

Published by Old St. Augustine Publications

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A review by Steve Ballou

I finished reading this book yesterday. There are so few books that combine a picture of history, spiritual awakening, adolescent growth through crisis, 21st century shamanism, and just sheer fun in the process of knowing more about who we are as human beings. There are three characters in the story: the young, cocky boy who is challenged the most to expand his awareness, the young, pretty girl who is stronger and smarter than the boy (thank goodness for Jeff!), and, the archetype wise man who teaches them both about maturity under duress. Together, they help us understand how history does impact us, how our ancestors sometimes ask for our help in letting go of the past, how we can tap into an inner reservoir of Spirit that is truly endless in its ability to heal us, awaken us, play with us and love us. The only problem with reading Book I is that I will have to patiently wait for Book II and Book III to be finished! So, go for it, read this book and pass it on to any adolescents that you think might need to see that life holds a great deal more mystery, adventure, joy and healing than can be imagined. Thanks, Doug, for writing such a great book!

A Review by Hopkins, Age 13, on Flamingnet.com

Dillon has engaged me in his suspenseful page-turner. At first, I began to think that his slightly sloppy use of language wouldn’t do him much good. But then I realized: Dillon brings out the reality of someone in such a situation. Through Jeff’s point of view, I could see that such events would be difficult for a character like him to describe. Through his paranormal thriller, Dillon keeps you glued to each page until they reach the startling conclusion, leaving you wondering: What will happen next? I would recommend this book for grades 6 and up, because of language that may not be appropriate for elementary schoolers. Also, if you enjoy historical fiction, there are traces of that in here that those of us who are interested in it would highly enjoy. If you find that you enjoy Doug Dillon’s first in this exhilarating trilogy, keep looking out for the his upcoming sequel, because I sure will be.

The Midwest Book Review

There are worse things than death. Sliding Beneath the Surface is the first book of Doug Dillon’s St. Augustine Trilogy. It follows Jeff Golden as his education ends up taking him a much different way than he ever thought it would. As he crosses paths with the spiritual, he ends up forced to ask questions about the nature of the world, endanger his sanity, and find that he may be responsible for something bigger than him. Sliding Beneath the Surface is an excellent pick with much to consider, highly recommended.

A Review by Charles R. “Chuck” Dowling, author of To Keep Our Honor Clean and The Mad Dogs

This is a frightening story about Jeff Golden, a self- pitying and rebellious teenage boy who is being attacked by ghosts and deadly entities. The setting, St Augustine Florida, the oldest city in the United States is an inspired location for this heart thumping mystery. The old Spanish fort, the curling mists that exude from Matanzas Bay, the old cemetery with the pyramids that burn, the historic buildings and the unwitting tourists that walk in and out of the tale, all provide just the right background for this marvelous story. I thoroughly enjoyed Sliding Beneath the Surface and predict the book will be a big seller.

A Review by Diane Ross, Author of Meditation for Miracles: The Keys to Life Mastery

Sliding Beneath the Surface is an excellent read! Although written in the “Young Adult” genre, it’s actually so well-written that I believe anyone at any age will enjoy it. The suspense lasts up to the very end, and I had a hard time putting it down. It’s also a great way to introduce the history of St. Augustine in a readable manner. I didn’t know history could be so fascinating! Makes me want to find out more. The element of the paranormal also adds to the overall excitement of the novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read! I can’t wait for the second installment of the trilogy.

A review by Kristy Nicole Jones, Dreaming by Day book blog

Dillon’s writing style is brilliant. It really sucks the reader in from the opening paragraph. I was thrilled when I decided to review this book, because I love the history of St. Augustine! Such a great idea and it really works well for the story. Suspense, paranormal, and history intertwine. I really liked the historical elements and I really appreciated how the author outlines them in the author’s notes after the end of the story. He explains the actual history mentioned in the book as well as websites for further reading.

I would recommend this book for young adults who like history and the paranormal, as well as adult readers who are interested as well. You’ll be glued to the pages and it may even ignite your interest in St. Augustine and wishing you could hop a plane and visit the oldest city in the country.

A Review by Laura, All of Everything book blog

Sliding Beneath the Surface is a book chock full of supernatural elements, which is what first drew me to want to read it. It follows Jeff Golden in the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida, and he’s been experiencing the strangest dreams lately. He confides in his friend Carla who brings him to Lobo, a shaman, for some answers. What they discover leads them on a frantic and exciting journey.

To top it all off, there was clearly a lot of research that went into this book and the history of St. Augustine and the real battle that took place there is richly re-imagined to fit into the plot— everything from describing the iconic cemetery monuments to the traditional battalion uniforms. It was pretty close to actually being there.

Sliding Beneath the Surface is a book that easily melded supernatural ideas like ghosts and alternate dimensions with the present day. The characters are great and ready to jump into helping each other. Check this one out if you can!

A Review by Kelly Durkin, Bibliomantics book blog

This book is heavy on ghosts, Doppelgangers, universes within universes. Jeff is being pursued by a desperate spirit who needs his help. While it seems like this would be the start of some fun ghost helping agency plot, it actually turns out to be dangerous.

As one can imagine, Jeff is a little freaked out by this. I’d probably be running away from all this stuff too. At one point, Jeff realizes how his choices affect his life. It was a nice moment of self-realization and awareness, making the character grow (and in turn become more likable). Even in a crazy world of ghosts and alternate dimensions, the very human act of choosing and being cognizant of this action is important.

One of the most engrossing parts of the story is the setting, St. Augustine, Florida. The history of the city is expertly woven into the plot, making me learn about a city that I had never given much thought to before. No spoilers, but you could say you get some firsthand experiences in the city’s past.

Overall, an interesting beginning to a trilogy. Looking forward to more adventures with Jeff and company. Pretty fast paced, good character interaction. If you really like paranormal Young Adult, try Sliding Beneath the Surface.

A Review by Thomas Reda

After I read this novel, I started to relate Jeff’s journey on this book to my own life. I believe a number of us might have had similar experiences at some stage in our journey on this earth. It is true that we are not immune from some kind of challenge in life. However, as it did in Jeff’s, we usually get a guide or assistance how to in our life in some mysterious way or through magic when we are ready to experience to live each day at purpose and to defeat any encounter in life.

I would like to thank Doug Dillon for his hard work in putting together such outstanding book and I am looking forward to reading number II of this trilogy. Even though this book was written in the young adults, I would strongly recommend it to all ages.