Tag: historical fiction thriller

Swallowing the Muskellunge by Lawrence P. O’Brien Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A family’s journey to a better life takes a dark turn in author Lawrence P. O’Brien’s “Swallowing the Muskellunge.”

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The Synopsis

London Oxford was prepared to do whatever it took to get to the promised land, but can he get his family safely across the border?

Young Abner Oxford has kept something of his mother’s. Something else needs what he has. It’s patient, can be quite disarming, and has a monstrous, fierce appetite. Abner and his family, along with a caravan of sleighs, are moving north.

The frigid cold and the blinding white have made the adults slow, weary, and numb. Very few questioned the drag marks in the snow or the mounting number of disappearances. Abner’s father felt like that—until it woke him up.

Fans of The Terror, the Fisherman, and El Norte will be hooked.

The Review

This was such a rich and compelling historical fiction meets folklore horror novel. The powerful imagery of the harsh, wild landscapes the characters traverse, along with the tension that fills the air in every chapter, kept readers on the edge of their seats. At the same time, the balance the author found between the violent supernatural events of the story and the need for survival that takes center stage in the narrative made this novel soar.

As a fan of fantasy, horror, and folklore storytelling, I loved the idea of the Wìsakedjàk being such a powerful force in the worlds of North American folklore and culture, and taking on a physical presence in the wilds of this setting. Yet it was the powerful themes of this book that stood out. The exploration of Manifest Destiny at the expense of indigenous people, as well as the struggle for identity, is what many people in the Black community felt when they attempted to create their own path in life, but felt the confines of labor for others take control. The exploration of freedom vs servitude, as well as the freedom of nature versus the conquest of land and the rights mankind has to dominate the world, made this narrative so compelling and thought-provoking.

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The Verdict

Harrowing, dynamic character arcs and powerful themes, author Lawrence P. O’Brien’s “Swallowing the Muskellunge” is a must-read historical fiction meets folklore horror novel. The emotional resonance readers will have with these characters, the struggles they endure, and the depth of survival they must go through highlight the hardships of life in this era, while also bridging the gap by infusing supernatural terror into the narrative fabric that feels strangely natural. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Lawrence was raised across from a hill shadowing Black Rapids Creek in Ottawa, Canada. The towering toboggan hill fed an early appetite for challenge, tall tales and doing the impossible. The black forested river valley set his dreams.

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Push Me Off The Cliff by Marina Osipova Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A soviet woman searches for an Armenian man as both face the events haunting them from their past to find solace once more in author Marina Osipova’s “Push Me Off the Cliff.”

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The Synopsis

March of 1948. Three years have passed since the Great Patriotic War ended in victory, disposing into the streets of the destroyed and hungry cities and villages brave decorated soldiers: thousands of them having been burned, maimed, or disfigured beyond recognition.

On a crowded commuter train, Maria hears an invalid singing, which painfully connects her to her time at the front and to the love that failed to happen to her. Why, then, since that day, does the voice from the past echo so insistently in her present life? The torture of uncertainty—was it really Armen?—intensifies after the next encounter and leaves her with an unsettling compulsion to do . . . what? Help him? Or, rather, rescue herself from her lonely and unassuming existence her heart subtly rejects? She must decide whether she is willing to let go of the life she knows for feelings she had never thought she could experience.

But, first, she has to find him.

As the genocide of 1915 within the Ottoman Empire destroyed the lives of Armen’s parents and about one-and-a-half-million ethnic Armenians, his future is shattered by this other war and betrayal. Incapacitated and totally alone, it seems the most merciful thing for him would be to end his miserable existence by leaping off a cliff. Otherwise, he must find the courage to continue living in the condition the war left him and find his place in the bitter every-day reality full of difficulties prone to men like him.

Maria and Armen. Each carries private wounds. In the face of despair, will fate offer them a chance to heal their souls and hearts?

The Review

Wow, what an incredible novel. I am always amazed by the level of research and detail the author pours into the historical fiction novels that she writes, and this one was no different. The honesty with which the author crafts these strong character-driven narratives was inviting to readers who wanted to delve deeply into this historical fiction read. The visceral imagery in the author’s writing style captured the notes of horror that war brings, as well as the notes of hope underlying those horrific moments. 

The central theme of how war and genocide impact the human mind and spirit was on full display in this narrative. The protagonists in this story were both heavily emotional and compelling in their own right, and not only their connection to one another but their emotional experiences, especially Armen and his life with his mother growing up and the impact the Armenian Genocide had on him, not only kept readers invested in this story but educated over the details of these moments in time as well.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, compelling, and enthralling, author Marina Osipova’s “Push Me Off The Cliff” is a must-read historical fiction. The twists and turns in the narrative, the emotional connection readers felt with these characters, and the shared experiences and mutual respect that the two protagonists share elevate their journeys, making this a remarkable character-driven narrative to get lost in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Marina Osipova was born in East Germany into a military family and grew up in Russia, where she graduated from the Moscow State Institute of History and Archives. When she was five, she decided she wanted to speak German and, years later, she earned a diploma as a German language translator from the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Languages. In Russia, she worked first in a scientific-technical institute as a translator, then in a Government Ministry in the office of international relations, later for some Austrian firms. For many years, she lived in New York, working in a law firm, and then in Austria for several years. In the spring of 2022, after spending ten months in Russia, some unfortunate world events brought her back to the United States.

A long-standing member of the Historical Novel Society, she is dedicated to writing historical fiction, especially related to WWII. Her books garnered numerous literary awards, including a 1st Place WINNER of the 2021 Hemingway Book Awards novel competition for 20th Century Wartime Fiction (a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards). At some point or another, all her books hit the Amazon Top 100 lists in Historical Russian Fiction and Historical German Fiction and How Dare the Birds Sing even #1 or #2 in War Fiction in Canada, the UK, and Australia.

Her readers praise her books for “emotional realism,” for “taking on a subject that few authors have touched,” for “writing with heart and compassion while not holding back from hard cold realities of war,” for “giving an authentic and in-depth look at a culture that tends to baffle westerners.”

To learn more about Marina Osipova and her captivating books, visit her website at marina-osipova.com.

You can find her also on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marina.osipova.14/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4701687.Marina_Osipova

Twitter: https://twitter.com/marosikok

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-osipova-65b81418/

The Ageless by Timothy Hernandez Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A series of disappearances in early 20th-century London leads an investigator into a dark mystery in author Timothy Hernandez’s “The Ageless.”

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The Synopsis

From the Personal Archives of Richard Matthews – London, 1905

What follows are the recovered journal entries of Richard Matthews—a private investigator by trade—and his involvement in the infamous case of London’s vanishing children. These documents, long thought lost, shed new light on one of the city’s most perplexing mysteries, and the man Commissioner Edward Richard Henry trusted to solve.

The official records confirm 12 disappearances—9 of which were children. With no signs of forced entry and no helpful clues, the lead inspector assumes foreign spies are the culprit, eager to get their hands on naval shipping secrets.

But these journal entries suggest a darker tale.

Whether these pages contain the ramblings of a man lost to his vices, or a truth too terrible for history to acknowledge, I leave to the reader’s judgment. The journal, along with its accompanying letters, offers a window into one of London’s most enigmatic cases—a mystery that has come to be known as “The Ageless.”

What follows is his story, presented in its entirety for the first time.

Reader, be warned: some doors, once opened, cannot be easily closed.

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The Review

This was such an engaging and captivating read. The author found an outstanding balance between late 19th-century and early 20th-century London investigations with Gothic, dark fantasy-driven horror. The narrative was delivered at a quick pace, yet still managed to create a haunting, dark atmosphere that captured the cold, cobblestone-laden streets of London in the 19th century. 

What stood out as the heart of this story was the natural development of mythology and fantastic character development. The protagonist, Richard Matthews, is a figure haunted by the past, and yet determined to stop a great injustice from being unleashed on London once more. The first-person narrative allowed the reader to experience the setbacks, frustration, and determination that Richard exuded on the pages, while also sensing the mystery behind the words Richard wasn’t saying throughout the investigation.

The Verdict

Memorable, entertaining, and thrilling, author Timothy Hernandez’s “The Ageless” is a must-read thriller that blends dark fantasy and horror. The Gaslamp fantasy element of the narrative, the haunting atmosphere of the setting, and the shocking twists and turns that upend a classic children’s story, as well as the origins of this mystery, make this a compelling novel to get lost in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Drawing from his experience working for several fortune 500 companies, coupled with his passion for visual storytelling and digital cinematography, Timothy Hernandez brings a filmmaker’s eye to the complexities of corporate culture and personal transformation. After building a successful career in regional and training management, a recent disability shifted his perspective, inspiring him to craft a powerful narrative about adaptation and resilience—weaving together his deep understanding of storytelling techniques with raw, honest insights about how unexpected life changes reshape our journey.

https://linktr.ee/timothyhernandezauthor

A Gilded Redwood Coffin (The Roddy and Val DeVere Gilded Age Series by Cecelia Tichi Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A mission to save a young woman’s life turns into a twisted murder investigation in the Gilded Age in author Cecilia Tichi’s “A Gilded Redwood Coffin,” the latest entry in The Roddy and Val DeVere Gilded Age Series.

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The Synopsis

Western silver heiress Val DeVere expects nothing but joy at an elegant Newport picnic in 1899, only to be abruptly summoned to New York by a close friend’s urgent and cryptic plea: “PLEASE HELP…THEO B.”

In New York, Theo confides in Val, begging her to save his lively cousin Phoebe from a cunning Irish manservant who, he claims, is plotting her “accidental” death in the Rocky Mountains—just as he allegedly orchestrated the death of her twin sister in Boston a year earlier.

Determined to help her friend, Val, now Mrs. Roderick DeVere, tries to convince the headstrong Phoebe to delay her trip to the Rockies. Yet the Irish servant, whom Theo accuses of murder, reminds Val of her beloved late father, an Irish immigrant and “Silver King,” whose charm and brogue are unsettlingly familiar.

When Phoebe is found murdered in her New York apartment, suspicion falls squarely on the Irishman, appearing to wrap the case up neatly. But for Val, the truth feels far more elusive. Is she blinded by sentiment, or is there another killer lurking in the shadows? As doubt creeps in, Val faces a race against time to uncover the real culprit, all while risking arrest as an accessory to murder.

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The Review

It is a genuinely tremendous and engaging read. The author does an excellent job of finding the means of balancing the high society background of Val’s character with the mystery and intrigue that the narrative provides. The imagery and atmosphere of the Gilded Age translate perfectly on the page, and the historical aspect of the setting draws the reader into the story more and more.

The character arcs in this novel were engaging. Val’s strength and resilience showcased her character’s overall growth throughout the series, yet the book allows new readers to jump into the story quickly. The haunting nature of the case and the shocking twists and turns the narrative takes will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager for more adventures in this fantastic historical fiction thriller. 

The Verdict

A brilliant fusion of high society meets gritty murder mystery, author Cecilia Tichi’s “A Gilded Redwood Coffin” is a must-read historical fiction meets mystery thriller. The twists and turns in the author’s story and how the narrative builds upon the character development of previous entries in the series will keep readers engaged throughout the narrative. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

AUTHOR LECTURER PROFESSOR

A fresh start for every new book, and author Cecelia Tichi’s zest for America’s Gilded Age and its boldface names draws this seasoned writer to a crime fiction series while uncorking the country’s cocktail cultures on the printed (and ebook) page. Tichi digs deep into the Vanderbilt University research library to mine the late 1800-1900s history and customs of Society’s “Four Hundred,” its drinks, and the ways high-stakes crimes in its midst make for a gripping “Gilded” mystery series that rings true to the tumultuous era. The decades of America’s industrial titans and “Queens” of Society have loomed large in Tichi’s books for several years, and the titles track her recent projects:

Civic Passions: Seven Who Launched Progressive America (and What They Teach Us)

Jack London: A Writer’s Fight for a Better America

What Would Mrs. Astor Do? A Complete Guide to the Manners and Mores of the Gilded Age

Gilded Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Golden Age

Jazz Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Roaring Twenties

A Gilded Death (crime fiction)

Murder, Murder, Murder in Gilded Central Park (crime fiction)

A Fatal Gilded High Note (crime fiction)

COMING SOON IN THE ‘GILDED’ CRIME SERIES:

A Gilded Free Fall.

She enjoys membership and posting in Facebook’s The Gilded Age Society. You can read more about her work by visiting www.cecebooks.com.

Sufferance by Charles Palliser Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

One family must make difficult decisions while protecting a young girl during a hostile invasion of their country during WWII in author Charles Palliser’s “Sufferance”. 

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The Synopsis

From the author of the international bestseller The Quincunx

Set in Eastern Europe during the Second World War. When his nation is invaded and occupied by a brutal enemy, a well-intentioned man persuades his wife that they should give temporary shelter to a young girl who is at school with their daughter. He has no idea that the girl belongs to a community against whom the invader intends to commit genocide. Days stretch into weeks and then months while the enemy’s pitiless hatred of the girl’s community puts all of the family in danger. Nobody outside the family can be trusted with the dangerous secret and the threat from outside unlocks a darkness that threatens to derail them all. From the bestselling author of The Quincunx (over one million copies sold worldwide), comes a deeply unsettling psychological novel about the hideous decisions that people are forced to make when living under tyrannical regimes. 

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The Review

A genuinely haunting, compelling read, author Charles Palliser does an incredible job of capturing the tone and the atmosphere of a war-torn, occupied country. The honest yet chilling experiences and trauma that can come from living under such conditions and the lengths people are willing to go to survive were able to shine in this novel’s narrative. Yet, the psychological thriller aspects of this story, as one man faced the mind games and mental experiences of both a war survivor and a man, pushed to the edge, made this story one that couldn’t be put down.

The heart of the narrative lived through the strong themes that the author explored and the depth of these characters that were effortlessly brought to life. The exploration of the fruitless, seemingly worthless nature of heroism without reward speaks to the motivations that often serve mankind and holds a mirror to the darkest parts of ourselves in the process. This can be seen clearly in the narrator’s tale, showing the true motivations for helping this young girl and the mind games that develop from that point.

A Quiet Place: Day One is now streaming on Paramount+. Try it FREE!

The Verdict

Chilling, haunting, and enthralling, author Charles Palliser’s “Sufferance” is a must-read psychological thriller meets historical fiction novel. The thoughtful approach and contemplation of mankind’s motivations for acts of “heroism” and the downward spiral that can transpire when one’s motivations aren’t pure were perfectly illustrated throughout this novel, and the psychological aspect of this story will stay with readers as they return to this story time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Charles Palliser’s first novel, The Quincunx, became an international best-seller in 1990 and sold more than a million copies in ten languages. He has published five further novels: The Sensationist, Betrayals, The Unburied, Rustication, and, in 2024, Sufferance.

Charles Palliser has both US and Irish citizenship but has lived most of his life in the UK. After graduating from Oxford, he taught English Literature and Creative Writing at universities in England, Scotland, the US and France. He has taught workshops in creative writing for the Arvon Foundation as well as in France, Greece and Switzerland.

He became the first Deputy Editor of The Literary Review when it was founded in 1978. He has had one stage play produced and the BBC has broadcast two radio plays and a short film for television.

He lives in London.

The Quincunx was awarded the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction by the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters which is given for the best first novel published in North America. It was chosen by Waterstone’s as Book of the Month and it was short-listed for The Saltire New Author, the Yorkshire Post First Novel, and the Hawthornden Prize.

The Galilean Codex by Les Jauron Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

When a series of murders within a German family leads to an investigation into a WWII raid a century earlier, the head of the family hires a university professor to help investigate a conspiracy that leads back to ancient Judea in author Les Jauron’s “The Galilean Codex”. 

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The Synopsis

The von Wittelslebens are one of the wealthiest and influential families in Germany. But the men in the family are being murdered because of an artifact one of their distant ancestors uncovered a century earlier in Mesopotamia.

Wilhelm Graf von Wittelsleben, the leader of the family, recruits Chris Cadwalader to investigate an unknown World War II German raid on an Egyptian monastery.

Von Wittelsleben believes the raid is connected to the murders. The raid was ordered by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, at the personal direction of Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler. It was led by a notorious SS Gruppenfuehrer and war criminal named Franz Frink. Himmler believed that if the raid was successful, Germany would win the war.

Chris Cadwalader, West Point graduate, retired Army officer, and university professor, recruits a team to conduct his investigation. But powerful forces oppose his every move. These mysterious forces are willing to do anything to prevent Chris from discovering the object of Franz Frink’s raid.

But Chris perseveres. Following clues laid out by a distant von Wittelsleben ancestor, Chris’ search takes him through the forests of central Germany to the deserts of Egypt.

Along the way, Chris discovers a conspiracy that began in first century Judea and lasted for centuries. This conspiracy involved the most powerful people in Judea and several Roman emperors, including the infamous Nero, Constantine the Great, and Julian the Apostate.

And the Catholic Church is committed to preventing Chris from learning the truth. Despite the opposition from the church, Chris persists and his quest uncovers a secret that could rewrite history and upend the faith of billions of people …..

The Review

This was a thrilling historical fiction meets suspense thriller. The exploration of ancient cultures and the obsession that the Nazi regime had with appropriating relics and findings from those cultures was expressed perfectly throughout this novel. The balance between the history being explored and the personal family mystery that protagonist Chris is hired to investigate for this German family was so engaging and allowed the reader to feel transported to the globe-trotting adventures this protagonist would end up on.

The intersection of faith, politics, and power was a monumental theme to dive head-first into, and the author showcased that perfectly here with a mystery that brought the Catholic Church, world governments, and big businesses all converging into one investigation. The conspiracy angle and the heavy atmosphere this mystery brought to the novel allowed the reader to get lost in this drama, unraveling each clue that the protagonist uncovered with intrigue and fascination.

The Verdict

Author Les Jauron’s “The Galilean Codex” is a fantastic mystery meets historical fiction novel that is memorable, remarkable, and entertaining. The twists and turns of the story and the exploration of what would happen if new information contradicted centuries of long-held beliefs made this a compelling novel that is impossible to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Les Jauron is a retired military officer and college administrator. After graduating from West Point, where he was number one in his class in military history, Les served in a variety of assignments in the United States Army. These included five assignments as the commander of artillery batteries and battalions as well as a number of staff positions. Les is a graduate of the School for Advanced Military Studies, which focuses on planning military operations and campaigns. After retiring from the Army, Les became a community college administrator where he was, at times, responsible for planning, facilities, technology, accreditation, public relations and marketing, and overseeing state technology projects. Les is fascinated by how the Romans managed an empire the size of the United States in an era when communications moved at the speed of a horse or a ship. Les and his wife, Zoela, live in their motor home and travel extensively. They have three children and nine grandchildren.

Mushroom Cloud: First Strike Series Book One by Thomas J. Yeggy Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young scientist working to prevent nuclear war must face a wrathful DOJ and fight against trumped-up espionage charges in author Thomas J. Peggy’s “Mushroom Cloud”, the first in the author’s First Strike Series.

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The Synopsis

For a decade, Dr. Caleb Young, a gifted physicist and chief science officer for the CIA, had shaded National Intelligence Estimates and Rand reports on war gaming. He wanted to thwart the US military’s push for a nuclear first strike. Soviet GRU Colonel Oleg Penkovsky had passed information to Young at more than one Pugwash Peace Conference, revealing how inept Soviet capabilities were. A US preemptive strike would destroy the earth’s ozone layer.

Dr. Young, secretly an Einstein schooled pacifist, felt a personal obligation to prevent a globally destructive nuclear war. However, the realities of US nuclear superiority were progressively becoming harder to manage. By mid-1953, the United States had 1,169 deliverable atomic bombs. It could drop them with 160 B-36 heavy bombers and 350 B-47 medium bombers. The Soviet Union had 120 atomic bombs that could only be delivered to the US by a handful of one-way TU-4A experimental bombers through thousands of F-86 Sabres. By 1962, the US had more than 3,000 thermonuclear warheads and 5,000 tactical nuclear weapons. U-2 flights and Corona satellite images were exposing Khrushchev’s lies about “grinding out missiles like sausages.” The US had a 17-1 advantage in deliverable warheads.

The Soviets intercontinental ballistic missiles (only four were verified) took four hours to prepare for launch. US B-52s twos could easily destroy them from fail- safe points with a pair of 20 megaton bombs. Even more ominously, the Thor and Jupiter intermediate range ballistic missiles could deliver warheads in less than 8 minutes after launch from England, Turkey, or Italy. The US could locate and destroy the Soviets’ 150 round- trip bombers before they left Soviet runways. Soviet SSBN subs were noisy and had to surface to fire missiles. They were easy prey for the US Navy. In late October 1962, President John F Kennedy stopped the US military from initiating a first strike. It came to be known as the “Cuban Missile Crisis.” “We lost” Air Force general Curtis Lemay shouted at Kennedy. Military leaders wanted a nuclear war that day while they had a clear first strike advantage.

Now the Department of Justice (DOJ) has many questions, and they believe Dr. Caleb Young has the answers. Nicholas Katzenbach, the DOJ’s chief deputy, is ready to prosecute Dr. Young on trumped up espionage charges. And he wants to know about the CIA’s involvement in the November 22, 1963, assassination of President Kennedy

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The Review

This was a compelling and captivating read. The blend of almost spy thriller tactics with historical fiction and government intrigue made the story feel larger than life, and the powerful imagery brought the horrors and terror of the Cold War and nuclear war as a whole made this a truly atmospheric read.

The heart of the narrative was in the history and the character growth of the story. The struggle that Caleb went through will play well with fans of the recently released film Oppenheimer, as the character struggles with his role in the development of nuclear warheads and the journey of redemption he finds himself on made this story so compelling, and the amount of detail the author was able to put into the story from a historical standpoint made the story shine with realism and heart.

The Verdict

Thrilling, enthralling, and chilling, author Thomas J. Yeggy’s “Mushroom Cloud” is a must-read historical fiction thriller and a great entry into the First Strike series. The twists and turns in the character development and the heart-pounding moments that keep the protagonist on his toes constantly will keep readers drawn back into the story more and more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Thomas J. Yeggy, a University of Iowa Law graduate, practiced law in Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. As a mental health judge Thomas served for 25+ years, where he developed a deep understanding of life’s challenges. Authoring more than 1,500 opinions with minimal reversals, he served diligently.

Yeggy, a licensed Series 7 broker, explored nuclear weapons’ control after witnessing Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s devastation. Prompted by McNamara’s remark on the Cuban Missile Crisis, he delves into our fortunate survival in the First Strike series. Currently residing in Pensacola Beach, Florida, with his wife Eileen, he enjoys summers with grandkids Jeff and Ashley Brown. Find them at Emeis Park, Davenport, with granddogs Otis and Emme.

https://www.thomasjyeggy.com/

Damian’s Workshop by Deborah Kaminski Review 

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A young woman finds herself thrown into a maelstrom when an accidental invention of the time machine sends her hurdling backward in time to the 4th Crusades, living in the body of an ancient ancestor in medieval Constantinople in author Deborah Kaminski’s “Damian’s Workshop”.

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The Synopsis

Brooke didn’t expect to invent a time machine. But when she is cast into the body of a distant ancestor, she sees every scene, hears every sound, and feels every pleasure…. and pain. She should be finishing her college degree, but the distant past calls to her. Bit by bit, she learns about medieval life, until she realizes her new family is directly in the path of the Fourth Crusade. Set alternately in a modern day university and medieval Constantinople, Brooke’s struggle is filled with adventure, romance, science, history, and a touch of deception. It all comes together in the finale, where past and present collide.

The Review

This was a brilliant display of multi-genre mashups coming together in the most natural and exciting way possible. The blend of historical fiction and sci-fi brought similar feelings and emotions that fans of Assassin’s Creed feel, getting the rich culture and history of the past with the more modern science fiction and cutting-edge tech that brings our ancestors to the contemporary world in a unique way. 

The author’s use of imagery and atmosphere really drove the narrative forward. The rich settings and unique displays of both past and present cultures and behaviors amongst the cast of characters really highlighted the evolution of this family line and the human race overall. Yet at the end of the day,  the narrative shined best when the character development was focused on. Between Brooke’s modern-day outlook on life clashing with her exploration of the past and Damian’s struggles in the past, the intimacy, and heart of this narrative were found in human relationships more than anything else, allowing the more spectacular elements of the story to shine brightly.

The Verdict

Thrilling, engaging, and heartfelt, author Deborah Kaminski’s “Damian’s Workshop” is a must-read sci-fi and historical fiction thriller novel. The historical accuracy and settings did a great job of balancing the rich character dynamics and relationships that made the story feel relatable and entertaining. The twists and turns will keep readers hooked on this developing narrative until the book’s final page. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

I am a traveler, an explorer, and a dreamer. My fiction takes you to exotic places that I love and treats you to new ideas to chew on. Before my writing career, I was immersed in scientific research, working at General Electric, RPI, and the National Science Foundation, so it may not surprise you that my science fiction is of the hard variety – striving for internal consistency and (more or less) realistic possibilities. You can count on me for an adventure with a satisfying ending.

Alternative Facts by Gary Westphalen Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

In a stunning and thought-provoking twist, author Gary Westphalen challenges readers to explore a historical fiction world set in our near modern times as one of the most disturbing and heartbreaking attacks on American Soil, 9/11, is examined in a new lens in the novel “Alternative Facts”.

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The Synopsis

The 9/11 attack on the United States was horrific. Even as it claimed thousands of lives in a single morning, it also changed all of our lives forever. But what really happened on that morning? The U.S. government would have you believe that the 9/11 Commission report is the definitive examination of the catastrophic events. But this report raises many more questions than it answers, and the government has not been forthcoming in further explanations.

There was a conspiracy at work that morning. The 9/11 Commission says a couple of dozen radical Muslims conceived, planned and executed the plan with miraculous precision. It says they hijacked four airliners and managed to fly three of them with absolute pinpoint precision into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon. It says the heat from fires fueled by nothing more than paper and office furniture was enough to cause the collapse of both WTC towers, along with another building on the property that hadn’t even been struck by an airplane. It says they defied aerodynamic possibilities to fly an airliner into the Pentagon at a speed that would have torn the plane apart long before it made it to the building.

In Alternative Facts author Gary Westphalen posits another possibility. It was indeed a conspiracy, but it extends way beyond a cabal of eager jihadis. This conspiracy extends to the highest levels of the U.S. government and would have failed miserably without the guiding hand of dark forces in powerful positions.

This work of Historical Fiction contains so many actual facts along with fantastical but highly probable scenarios that it’s impossible to know where the facts end and the fiction takes over. By the time you turn the last page, you’ll be wondering to yourself whether Alternative Facts tells a truer story than the 9/11 Commission report.

The Review

I was 11 years old when the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon occurred. I remember it vividly, watching in horror as the towers fell. I ran to my parent’s room and told them what had happened, and a quiet hush fell through our home. No one wanted to send their kids off to school. Life seemed to crawl to a snail’s pace all around us as the enormity of this event hit us hard. Every corner of our nation felt the pain and fear that this event brought on. 

Yet while the immediate aftermath instilled a need for unity and patriotism like never before, in the years since the attacks, many questions have always popped into my mind, and author Gary Westphalen has done an excellent job of bringing this to life in his novel. The amount of research and actual history that went into this novel was spectacular to see, and the thoughtful approach to detail went into every aspect of this novel, from the construction of the towers and the initial attack in 93’ to the devastating events of that fateful day.

The way that the author still managed to craft a fictional narrative with rich and emotionally-driven characters made this story flow smoothly, and gave readers more to relate to while also being respectful of real-life individuals by changing names or creating entirely new ones to fuel this narrative. The pacing and atmosphere that the author managed to develop made this story just come alive on the page, and managed to capture both the somber nature of the reality this narrative was based upon and the mystery that was the conspiracy the author laid out.

The Verdict

Captivating, shocking, and thought-provoking, author Gary Westphalen’s “Alternative Facts” is a must-read novel of 2022. The mystery and historical fiction are read to capture the heart of the suspense thriller genre while also giving voice to those affected by this real-world tragedy. While nothing, both the official story and the possible “truth” behind that day, can ever bring back those we lost, the heart of this narrative does a great job of keeping us always looking for truth, justice, and the means of bringing those who hide in the shadows into the light. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Gary has spent a lifetime as a documentary film maker and journalist. His pursuit of telling the story of the human condition has taken him to dozens of countries all over the world. He has interviewed Presidents and Kings, the homeless and destitute, and everything in-between. His work has been seen on nearly every major television and cable network. It’s almost a guarantee that you have seen the results of his story-telling. He has now turned to a life filled with narrating audiobooks for other authors, and writing his own books as well. Learn much more at garywestphalen.com , @GaryWestphalen on Twitter and facebook.com/gary.westphalen.

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