I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman arrives at the mansion of a billionaire in Kentucky to feature her horses in the upcoming Spring Meet, only to become engrossed in a mystery that forces her to escape a nefarious killer in author Sasscer Hill’s “Murder in the Bluegrass”, the latest entry in the Janet Simpson Cozy Mystery Novella series.
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The Synopsis
Janet is invited to stay with the billionaire O’Sullivan family in Lexington, KY, for Keeneland’s spring racing meet. Shipping her horses to the track, she arrives at the O’Sullivan estate only to discover it resembles a castle in a horror movie, complete with a dark and eerie tower.
Jealousy, rage, and sadness reside in this mansion. Sudden death and unraveling secrets leave Janet fearing for her life. Can she save herself or will a killer destroy her?
Sasscer Hill’s horse racing mysteries and thrillers have won multiple awards, including the $10,00 Ryan Award for Best Book in Horseracing Literature.
The Review
This was an engaging and fast-paced mystery. The tension that builds within this family unit that the protagonist comes across is felt early on, and the atmosphere the author builds made the story feel like a classic whodunnit, much in the style of recent films like Knives Out. The suspense the narrative builds as the mystery is unraveled layer by layer really keeps the reader engaged.
Yet it was the rich character development and the honest and thoughtful inclusion of the racehorse lifestyle that made this feel like such an authentic and gripping mystery read. The author’s ability to develop these characters and the long history many of them shared together in such a short amount of time was amazing, and the inclusion of the author’s personal experience with horses and the life of a racehorse breeder and trainer made the protagonist feel more alive on the page.
The Verdict
Mesmerizing, heartfelt, and chilling, author Sasscer Hill’s Murder in the Bluegrass” is a must-read mystery novel that you won’t be able to put down. The twists and turns in the narrative, including a surprise character arc and the reveal of the killer, will have readers eager for the next entry into this engaging series. If you haven’t’ yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Sasscer Hill: Author, Amateur Jockey, Horse Breeder and Mystery Lover
Sasscer Hill, a former Maryland racehorse breeder, trainer, and rider, uses the sport of kings as a backdrop for her mysteries. Her “vivid descriptive” prose about greed, evil, heart, and courage propelled her “Nikki Latrelle” novels to multiple award nominations, including an Agatha, a Macavity, and the Dr. Tony Ryan Best in Racing Literature Award.
Her 2020 novel, TRAVELS OF QUINN, is “A heart-stopping thriller of a murder mystery”– Charles Todd, Anthony, Edgar, and Barry Award-winning author.
Born an Irish American gypsy Traveller, can Quinn escape a dreaded marriage contract and the life of crime forced upon her?
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Morgan sisters are at it again, facing criminals, men believed dead but somehow spying on them, and big danger in the small Arizona town of Jackrabbit Junction in author Ann Charles’s “Twisty Tortoise Tussles”, the sixth book in the Jackrabbit Junction Mystery series!
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The Synopsis
When someone is dead and buried, they’re supposed to stay that way … Aren’t they? Claire Morgan thought so, but now she suspects the dead guy whose treasures she’s been digging up is not only breathing, but spying on her, too. Crap!
When someone is divorced from a pain in the ass, they’re supposed to stay that way … At least that’s what Ronnie Morgan had hoped when she dumped her husband. But then he rolled over on some bloodthirsty criminals. With him tucked away in prison, they’ll settle for taking their revenge on her. Fudge!
When someone is temporarily insane—Kate Morgan is not crazy, dang it! A few twitches and some mad laughter aside, she has a gut feeling her family is in danger. Big danger. The kind that ends with a lot of blood. Now, it’s her job to keep them alive.
The Morgan sisters are back for another round of twisty tussles and rollicking romps!
The Review
This was another brilliant addition to the Jackrabbit Junction Mystery series. The author does a wonderful job of balancing the humor and wit that the sisters exude throughout the novel with the actual mystery and suspense that the narrative tackles. The humor cuts through the tension of the plot perfectly as the mystery deepens and the sisters find themselves deeper and deeper into trouble.
While the action and the thriller aspects of the novel come through perfectly, it was the unique blend of romance and engaging dialogue between the characters that made the story shine. The funny moments between the sisters as they worked together and argued amongst themselves highlighted that perfect sibling tension that drives this series forward, while also giving the heated moments between the women and their respective partners their space to shine brightly. The emphasis the author gives to the supporting cast as well made the small-town element of the story really come to life perfectly on the page.
The Verdict
Thrilling, entertaining, and memorable, author Ann Charles’s “Twisty Tortoise Tussles” is a must-read romantic comedy meets mystery read that readers will love getting lost in. The relatability of the characters and their connection to one another, as well as the small-town life, made this story both compelling and exhilarating, and readers will not be disappointed in this fantastic addition to the series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Ann Charles is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes award-winning books that are splashed with humor, mystery, suspense, romance, supernatural elements, and whatever else sounds fun.
Currently, she has many fiction books available in several different on-going series.
From her ongoing multi-award winning Deadwood Mystery Series:
NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD (book 1–multiple award-winning book for both mystery and romance/mystery);
OPTICAL DELUSIONS IN DEADWOOD (book 2);
DEAD CASE IN DEADWOOD (book 3-one of Suspense Magazine’s BEST OF 2012 books);
BETTER OFF DEAD IN DEADWOOD (book 4);
AN EX TO GRIND IN DEADWOOD (book 5–Grand Prize winner in Chanticleer Review’s Paranormal category;
MEANWHILE, BACK IN DEADWOOD (book 6–one of Suspense Magazine’s BEST OF 2015 books);
A WILD FRIGHT IN DEADWOOD (book 7–one of Suspense Magazine’s BEST OF 2016 books);
RATTLING THE HEAD IN DEADWOOD (book 8)
GONE HAUNTING IN DEADWOOD (book 9)
DON’T LET IT SNOW IN DEADWOOD (book 10)
DEVIL DAYS IN DEADWOOD (book 11)
NEVER SAY SEVER IN DEADWOOD (book 12)
(Book 13 coming in early 2023)
Also available from Ann are the first five books in her Jackrabbit Junction Mystery Series:
DANCE OF THE WINNEBAGOS (book 1)
JACKRABBIT JUNCTION JITTERS (book 2)
THE GREAT JACKALOPE STAMPEDE (book 3)
THE ROWDY COYOTE RUMBLE (book 4)
A Thanksgiving novella titled, THE WILD TURKEY TANGO (book 4.5)
A Christmas novella titled, JACKRABBIT JINGLE BALLS (book 4.7)
IN CAHOOTS WITH THE PRICKLY PEAR POSSE (book 5)
TWISTY TORTOISE TUSSLES (book 6)
LOOK WHAT THE WIND BLEW IN (book 1) and MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT (book 2), the first two books in her Dig Site Mystery-Archaeology series set in the Maya jungle, are available on Amazon, too. These books star Quint Parker, the brother of Violet Parker–the heroine in her Deadwood Mystery series. They are filled with mystery, humor, adventure, and a plenty of heat.
She has a western paranormal Deadwood Undertaker Series in process that is co-written with Sam Lucky:
LIFE AT THE COFFIN JOINT (book 1)
A LONG WAY FROM ORDINARY (book 2
CAN’T RIDE AROUND IT (book 3)
CATAWAMPUS CHRISTMAS CAROL (book 3.5)
THE BACKSIDE OF HADES (book 4)–coming in Fall 2022
She has several short stories as well–DEADWOOD SHORTS: SEEING TROUBLE (book 1.5), BOOT POINTS (book 4.5), COLD FLAME (book 6.5), TEQUILA & TIME (book 8.5), and FATAL TRADITIONS (book 10.5). These are all short stories from her Deadwood Mystery Series. Also, she has THE OLD MAN’S BACK IN TOWN, a short story from her future Goldwash Mystery Series.
In addition, Ann has two novellas in the AC Silly Circus Co. Mystery series: FERAL-LY FUNNY FREAKSHOW and A BUNCH OF MONKEY MALARKEY.
Stay tuned for more new books by Ann coming soon!
Ann has a B.A. in English with an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Washington. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Western Writers of America. She is currently toiling away on her next book, wishing she was on a Mexican beach with an ice-cold Corona in one hand and a book in the other. When she is not dabbling in fiction, she is arm wrestling with her two kids, attempting to seduce her husband, and arguing with her sassy cats. You can find her on all major social media platforms.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An infamous Tech CEO accidentally discovers a means of sending back information into the past, but soon discovers the tech and financial gains pale in comparison to a far darker threat in author E.W. Doc Parris’s “The Dent in the Universe”.
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The Synopsis
It turns out “Move fast and break things” is terrible advice when developing a time machine.
To resuscitate his fading celebrity, tech CEO Stephen Lucas would sell his soul for one more hit. When the subspace network for his holographic gaming empire crashes, his hardware guru makes a discovery proving that Einstein was right once again— information can be sent backward in time.
Lucas sees a dream product for procrastinators. Want a pizza now? Send your order back in time 30 minutes. Forgot to make reservations at that chichi french restaurant two weeks ago? No worries. Buy that PowerBall ticket. Invest in that stock. Make a FaceTime call to a loved one that passed away a month ago.
It’s the time machine for the rest of us.
In a culture built on instant gratification, Lucas knows he has a hit that will seem like a dream come true on Wall Street. But when he rushes into beta testing before fully understanding the power he’s unleashing, he learns that the stuff dreams are made of can quickly become the stuff of nightmares.
The road to Hell is paved with cool inventions.
The Review
The author does a fantastic job of crafting a unique and powerful world that brings a rich blend of sci-fi and mystery storytelling. The detail the author puts into the more tech and scientific nature of the “time travel” element was great to see, and the inclusion of more business, mainstream-style approaches to the technology itself feels very real to the story being told and our own world as a whole.
This was the perfect emphasis on world-building and mythos that any hard-core sci-fi thriller has ever taken. The depths of character development and the realities of how our own modern-day “tech-bros” are seen by the broader public were greatly felt in this fictional world. The unique twist on the time travel element and the shift in tone as the sci-fi element soon takes a back seat to some more mystery, thriller, and even horror elements as the dark realities of any and all tech, but in particular this one, make themselves known and take the reader to a depth of internet hell that few could have seen coming.
The Verdict
Twisted, captivating, and thrilling, author E.W. Doc Parris’s “The Dent in the Universe” is a must-read sci-fi thriller you won’t be able to put down. The twists and turns in the narrative and the climactic finale will keep readers on the edge of their seats, and the atmospheric nature of the narrative will have readers invested in the author’s unique take on the sci-fi tech genre. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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E.W. Doc Parris has a new sci-fi/horror book out: The Dent in the Universe. And there’s a giveaway – a $50 Amazon gift card.
To resuscitate his fading celebrity, tech CEO Stephen Lucas would sell his soul for one more hit. When the subspace network for his holographic gaming empire crashes, his hardware guru makes a discovery proving that, though the mechanics may differ a bit, Einstein was right once again— information can be sent backward in time.
Lucas sees a dream product for procrastinators. Want a pizza now? Send your order back in time 30 minutes. Forgot to make reservations at that chichi french restaurant two weeks ago? No worries. Buy that PowerBall ticket. Invest in that stock. Make a FaceTime call to a loved one that passed away a month ago.
In a culture built on instant gratification, Lucas knows he has a hit that will make Wall Street sit up and beg. But when he rushes into beta testing, he learns that the stuff dreams are made of can quickly become the stuff of nightmares.
Warnings: violence, torture, body horror, branding, implied cannibalism.
Stephen picked up the keyboard and typed, Watson, come here. I want to see you.
Before he hit enter, the display on his right blinked and displayed a log entry. The display directly in front of him showed the log of the interaction, a white line of text that showed what he’d typed, Watson, come here. I want to see you, and the time sent, 630231 milliseconds. The display on the right, the one that flashed before he hit enter, showed the same.
Walrus said, “Look at the timestamps. The sending input occurred at 630231 milliseconds. The receiving event happened at 629931 milliseconds.”
Stephen looked puzzled. “The clocks are off? That’s a 300…?” he checked his math, “300-millisecond difference.”
Walrus grinned. “Negative 300 milliseconds. The clocks aren’t off.”
“The time server is off?” Stephen knew that was the culprit in the outage.
Walrus shook his head. “Nope. These two chips are in perfect sync to FTL time.”
Stephen stopped and thought. The message appeared to be arriving 300 milliseconds before it was sent. “I’m not getting it,” he said.
Walrus laughed and did his little dance again. “Yes! You are! Tell me what you see.”
Stephen said slowly, “The message looks like it’s being received before it was sent, 300 milliseconds before.” Walrus grinned, and Stephen continued, “But that’s not possible. What’s causing the discrepancy? If the clocks aren’t wrong and the time server was working properly…?” He shook his head.
Walrus’s grin widened. “It’s a time machine.”
Stephen leaned back a bit from the desk. “Right.” Walrus let it sink in. “What do you mean?” He thought Walrus was speaking metaphorically.
Walrus laughed and said, “I mean, this is a time machine.”
Stephen looked at the set-up in front of him. It was a hacked sChip on a breadboard and a couple of displays strung together with cables and alligator clips. This wasn’t a time machine.
Walrus relented. “I’ve tweaked the power supply to dial in a tiny phase variance in the I/O to this sChip, like our customer did by accident. The tensor array interpreted this as an attribute, sending the signal to a point in time before it was sent. 300 milliseconds before. About a third of a second.”
Stephen recalled the chain of events. The right display refreshed a fraction of a second before he hit enter. Examining the log, what he had typed was there. Watson, come here. I want to see you.
He frowned and thought for a few seconds. “A third of a second? It’s the least impressive time machine imaginable,” he said. “This crashed the time servers?”
Walrus nodded, finished his cola, tossed its crushed container in the recycling bin, and peeled open another. “Essentially. I’ve cleaned up the effect, and I’m not messaging the time server. The timeserver would have ignored an invalid time sync transaction. It’s programmed to dump garbage bits. This wasn’t garbage, it was a perfectly normal sync transaction, but the handshake was out of order. The time server software questioned its own reality. It wobbled, tried to regain its equilibrium, and tipped into cascade failure.”
“It’s fascinating, but…” Hard-wired by the last six years to search for a new product, Stephen’s mind was searching for a use for what he was seeing. “I mean, it is cool, but it’s useless—a weird trick of physics. What can we do with it?” He thought for a little more. “This is IP data?”
Walrus shrugged, “It’s a packet like any other packet.”
“So, if it’s packets, then it’s IP, then it’s anything. Form data, text, jpegs, audio, video, holo.”
Walrus nodded and grinned, “Sure. You could surf the web of 300 milliseconds ago…”
Stephen interrupted him, “Can we extend that? Could we rig these in series? Go back further?”
“We could do it more elegantly than that—How much further?”
“You tell me, what’s the theoretical limit?”
“Well, you’d need a receiver. So whatever we end up making would only go back to the first chips that go online. We make a chip today, turn it on, in a week, we could go back to that moment but not before, right? The longer we’re online, the further back we can send things.”
Stephen shook his head. “We couldn’t go back further than tonight?”
Walrus nodded. “There would be nothing to send it to. As soon as we flip the switch on our time machine, we’d be establishing a time horizon. But say we turned on a receiving device tonight. In a year, you could send a message back to tonight. That would be a year in your past. In two years, you could send a message back two years, on and on, until the end of the world.” He laughed and said, “You know that old site, The Way Back Machine? The internet archive? This would be like that but live. You could actually surf the web of the past. Leaving comments on a video from a year earlier.”
Stephen frowned dismissively and said, “What good would that do? I can leave a comment on that same video today. The entire internet is available back to the 90s.”
Walrus smiled, “But it’d be radical!” Radical was not the goal. Stephen needed a killer application, a product everyone would want. Walrus’s stomach growled loudly. “Man,” he said, “I’m starving. Wanna order a pizza? Hey man, that’s what we could do!” he said jokingly, “We could use it to order pizza a half hour ago, so it arrives…” and he snapped his fingers.
Stephen froze. His pupils widened. Instant Pizza. Instant delivery. Instant gratification.
The entire computer industry of the last forty years was built around delivering everything as quickly as possible. Meeting the desires of the customer. Right. Fucking. Now. If no one ever went broke underestimating the American people’s intelligence, as Mencken might have said, it would follow: no one ever went broke catering to their impatience.
Author Bio
E.W. Doc Parris is an American writer known for matter-of-fact, hard science fiction grounded in the current scientific weltanschauung, leavened with wit, and kindled by the warmth of human relationships.
Born within the nation’s capital Beltway, Doc makes his home in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. A self-taught software developer and solutions architect, he’s made a decent living over the years as a set designer, graphic designer, animator, 3D modeler, iOS developer, puppeteer, and educator.
In addition to his centuries-spanning WalrusTech Reality series, Doc is currently working on his next novel, Land of Nod, an exploration of A.I., nanotech, and the human brain’s neural network.
I received a free copy of this book in e exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A group of men at a ranch discover they have no memory of how they arrived at the location nor how their secrets connect to one another in author Brady Koch’s “The Forgotten Sons of Wyoming”, the second book in the All Our Forgotten Futures series.
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The Synopsis
The men at Trinity Ranch all have something in common: none of them can remember how they arrived there or the terrible secret they all share.
The Review
Author Brady Koch has done it again. The thrilling and captivating world that the author has built shows the depth of character development blending with the mind-boggling world-building that builds upon some of the mythos established in the author’s first book in this series. The imagery and atmosphere become quite prevalent early on in the narrative, allowing the reader to feel the contrast of the serenity the men in this facility feel clashing with the violence and shock that comes with working in a slaughterhouse.
The heart of this story came in the rich mythos of the greater story blending with the mystery and suspense that this particular novel brought to life. The compassion and intrigue that the protagonist and his fellow workers conjure up take several drastic turns as the secrets of their past come to life, even to them. The shock and awe that the narrative takes as the layers of the mystery peel away one by one will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
The Verdict
Memorable, adrenaline-fueled, and entertaining, author Brady Koch’s “The Forgotten Sons of Wyoming” is a must-read thriller! The tension and pacing of the author’s work really do an incredible job of drawing the reader in and the dynamic character development allows the reader to feel the shocking twists and turns that take the narrative into all new directions. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Feel free to read over Brady’s shoulder if you see him working on a new novel or short story at the coffee shop or library. Despite his penchant for crime, horror, and the unusual in his writing, he’s actually a nice guy and welcomes your feedback. Brady Koch’s first collection of short works, Guns, Gods & Robots, is now available. His debut novel, All our Forgotten Futures, will be available in Winter 2023.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Infamous partner of world-renowned detective Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson must unravel the mystery behind his friend’s sudden frightful state and determine whether the great detective came into contact with true time travel or instead is lost to a mad game in author Glenn Searfoss’s “Sherlock Holmes: A Question of Time”.
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The Synopsis
A shocking mystery or outrageous hoax?
Responding to an urgent summons, Dr. Watson arrives at 221B to find Sherlock Holmes swathed in filth and in a state of deep shock. To ensure Holmes’ safety, he must retrace the detective’s last movements and discover the source of his debility. The investigation leads to a fire-gutted warehouse where nothing remains except an open cesspit and the enigma of an unburned circle.
A convalescing Holmes unravels the mystery by relating his encounter in the riverside warehouse with a time traveler. But with a lack of physical evidence and only Holmes’ account of what transpired, Watson must determine if the related events actually happened or are a grand jest perpetrated by his friend.
The Review
This was a brilliant and captivating read. The author does an incredible job of meshing the worlds of H.G. Wells and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in a way that feels both natural and engaging. The blend of sci-fi with mystery and detective YA suspense stories not only captured the magic and wonder that the books The Time Machine and Sherlock Holmes were known for, but highlighted the Victorian era mindset and settings in a natural way.
The character development and mystery were two great elements in the story. The introduction of the time traveler and the keen eye and investigative work of Sherlock Holmes felt spot on to the iconic portrayal of these characters, while the breakdown of the investigation and the always-questioning mind of Holmes and Watson made for some thrilling adventure storytelling. Yet it was Watson as the narrator of the story that made this book so compelling. Through a great sense of world-building, the author shows Watson’s small-scale life that receives the shock to the system he needed, after personal loss and haunted memories come to life for him and force him to confront his pain head-on throughout the book.
The Verdict
Memorable, action-packed, and entertaining, author Glenn Searfoss’s “Sherlock Holmes: A Question of Time” is a must-read YA sci-fi meets mystery novel. The twists and turns in the narrative and the shocking developments and emotional ties the reader forms to the cast of characters, as well as the iconic settings and atmosphere the author manages to capture from these two distinct literary worlds, made this a compelling and masterful fusion and retelling of two great literary titan-level novels. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Engaging storytelling transports the reader to a different time/place/viewpoint and encourages their exploration of a subject.
A professional writer of 28+ years, Glenn Searfoss has authored numerous technical manuals (bills must be paid), as well as books in the arenas of computer science, natural history, science fiction, and mythology.
Glenn lives with his wife and two boxer dogs in a turn-of-the-century, brick farm house in Colorado, USA. When not busy making a living, he gardens, works on the house (there is always something to work on with an old house), reads classic and not-so-classic literature and does research for new book projects.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A former television host turned radio talk show host must help a friend’s son in legal trouble while also dealing with personal family medical drama and a troubled fanatic who escalates their attempts to get her to see the error of her ways in author Gail Ward Olmsted “Miranda Nights”, the latest in the Miranda Quinn Legal Twist series!
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The Synopsis
She has a loving husband and a successful career-who says you can’t have it all? Miranda Quinn is living her very best life… until she’s not.
It’s been two years since her legal advice TV show was canceled, but the former Assistant District Attorney has rebounded with a late-night radio show, Miranda Nights. When her closest friend’s teenage son gets arrested, Miranda tries to help but the evidence against him is overwhelming. Following a family member’s medical diagnosis, Miranda begins to wonder if her ‘happily ever after’ has been canceled as well.
But the real trouble arrives when a persistent caller, desperate for Miranda’s attention, embarks on an all-out effort to get her to see the error of her ways. Threatening messages and slanderous social media posts escalate to break-ins and arson when a fanatical fan claims to be her only path to salvation.
Miranda Nights is a fast-paced, witty story full of hidden dangers, with a strong and resilient woman at its core.
The Review
This was an incredibly well-written and captivating read. The author does a beautiful job of continuing to build upon the cast of characters introduced in the first book while elevating their stories with these fresh problems and issues to work through. The thread of storylines helps illustrate the difficulties many face in our world today, from the shocking realities of “sexting” between teenagers in high school and the social and moral problems that it presents, let alone the legal troubles. The stalking and moral superiority that breeds violence in our country is also apparent in the main plot of this narrative and kept the adrenaline and tension alive throughout the novel.
For me, the truly great things that stick out in this book are the author’s character development and the wonderful world-building that goes on. Seeing these characters interacting on such a personal and intimate level and seeing their camaraderie throughout the book, both in everyday life and in the struggles that this narrative provides, made the story feel real and relatable. All of the characters felt fresh and unique, and yet Miranda as a protagonist shined, as she showed true strength and courage in the face of the adversity of this novel while also showing vulnerability and true emotion to those she loves, a distinct growth from the first book.
The Verdict
Memorable, entertaining, and thoughtful, author Gail Ward Olmsted’s “Miranda Nights” is a must-read women’s fiction meets legal thriller that you won’t be able to put down. The twists and turns in the narrative, the mystery surrounding Miranda’s stalker, and the unique psychosis that goes into his motives, made this a compelling read, as did the personal moments in Miranda’s life with her friends and loved ones. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on July 6th, 2023, or preorder your copy now!!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Gail Ward Olmsted was a marketing executive and a college professor before she began writing fiction on a full-time basis. A trip to Sedona, AZ inspired her first novel Jeep Tour. Three more novels followed before she began Landscape of a Marriage, a biographical work of fiction featuring landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, a distant cousin of her husband’s, and his wife Mary. Her latest is a pair of contemporary novels featuring a disgraced attorney seeking a career comeback: Miranda Writes and Miranda Nights (7/6/23)
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An ambassador imprisoned in a castle prison somewhere in the Eastern Bloc tells his life story and keeps readers constantly changing whether his story can be trusted in author Lee Polevoi’s international political mystery, “The Confessions of Gabriel Ash”.
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The Synopsis
The Confessions of Gabriel Ash, a literary Cold War thriller with echoes of John Le Carre and A Gentleman in Moscow, alternates between the glittery backdrop of 1980s New York and the sinister grottoes of Eastern Europe. The story UN Ambassador Gabriel Ash has to tell—in a voice that’s sardonic, self-delusional, and uniquely his own—will result either in his release from captivity or the loss of his life.
The Review
This was a captivating and gripping thriller. The harsh Eastern European settings and the vibrant yet misleading glamor of New York not only elevated the narrative but showcased the fact that so much of our understanding of the world is based so much on perspective. The conflict between protagonist Gabriel Ash and his ties to his homeland with the life he’s built in America and the consequences that follow are rife with intrigue and tension that plays well into the Cold War Era setting.
For me, the heart of this narrative came with the fusion of genres with the powerful themes the author explores. The almost comic approach to the protagonist’s mindset and interactions with characters blended well with the dark and haunting realities of spy work and corruption within world governments, and the atmosphere of the novel provided enough room for romance, action, and suspense to reign supreme in a natural way. The themes of Communism versus Capitalism, perspective, and individuality all played major roles in the story and allowed the setting and tension to play out greatly as the story progressed.
The Verdict
Powerful, heart-pounding, and engaging, author Lee Polevoi’s “The Confessions of Gabriel Ash” is a must-read Cold War spy and political thriller you won’t be able to put down. The unique method of storytelling as a narrative device told from the character’s point of view worked so well in several of the scenes in this book and allowed the reader to analyze and work out the mystery behind the protagonist’s life and his struggles for themselves. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Lee Polevoi is the author of a new novel, The Confessions of Gabriel Ash, and The Moon in Deep Winter. He has received a Bread Loaf Writers Conference scholarship and a Chesterfield Film Project screenwriting fellowship, sponsored by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. A short film based on The Moon in Deep Winter screened at Cannes and New York’s Chelsea Film Festival. Lee is a graduate of Amherst College and the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A grieving husband hoping to give himself and his young son a fresh start after their loss finds himself caught between two warring criminal organizations in the wooded community he moves to in Vermont in author Mark Lavine’s “Windekind: A Novel”.
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The Synopsis
After the tragic death of his young wife, Sam Thibeau and his eight-year-old son Harry move from California to a co-housing community deep in the Vermont woods, where they hope to leave behind their painful memories and start over in an unfamiliar land of snow and maple syrup.
Just as they’re settling in, Sam comes across a series of strange clues and messages which appear to be meant just for him. The clues lead to what at first appears to be a financial windfall, but before long he finds himself caught between a Mexican cartel and a drug-running syndicate based in nearby Montreal.
Left with no other choice, he enlists the aid of Cindy Yates, a local police detective, who not only helps him begin the healing of old wounds, but also has an idea for a way out of his predicament. Together, they attempt a daring scheme to turn the tables on the cartel and free Sam and his son from its deadly reach.
Looking for peace and quiet in the Vermont countryside? You won’t find it here in this fast-paced thriller that’ll have you up late turning the pages.
The Review
This was a captivating and engaging crime thriller. The harrowing experiences the protagonist endures and the dynamic setting were brilliant marks in which the reader could get invested immediately. The layering of the criminal activities and the mystery surrounding this commune the protagonist finds himself living in, as well as the mystery surrounding its inhabitants, made this story really come to life on the page.
To me, the author found a really special balance of captivating character development, a rich setting, and dynamic imagery within the author’s writing that tied all of this together. The chemistry the protagonist found with Cindy and the complicated relationship he develops with her as he continues to mourn his wife’s loss yet still feels himself being pulled closer and closer to her makes for some stellar character arcs, and an emotional undercoat beneath the adrenaline-fueled crime story. The woods of Vermont have never felt more alive than in this thriller and kept drawing the reader in more and more.
The Verdict
Driven, captivating, and engaging, author Mark Lavine’s “Windekind” is a must-read crime thriller. The narrative, character growth and interactions, and stellar setting all reminded me of the rich stories found in the Fargo film and subsequent series. The blend of small-town life and ordinary people caught in chilling crime settings and set in a small, northern town made this compelling narrative that readers will be hard-pressed 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
Mark Lavine is the author of four novels: Dr Prozac, ForeverChild, Victimless Crimes, and Windekind. He lives in the mountains of Vermont with his wife, daughter, and King Charles Spaniel (Luna). Luna follows him tirelessly on his many hikes and cross-country skis through the woods near his home. Luna sleeps tirelessly while Mark spends a few hours of every day working on his next book. He also loves to play classical piano, and Beethoven in particular. To get acquainted with his work, Mark recommends ForeverChild for scifi fans, and Windekind for thriller fans.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A renowned brain surgeon begins struggling as he sees evidence of ghosts and spirits in author Gary Simonds’s “Death’s Pale Flag”.
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The Synopsis
Brain surgeon and unlikely war hero, Ryan Brenan, has it all. A booming practice, a beautiful home in an idyllic setting, and a happy loving family. Then, the apparitions begin.
Subtle at first, but soon there’s no doubt about it, he’s seeing ghosts, spirits, the undead. Of course, he could just be going nuts, cracking under the pressure of his constant exposure to death, mayhem, and tragedy. But, he believes he has proof that the ghosts are very real, and that they are specifically haunting him.
We join Ryan as he tends to the sick and injured in his hospitals’ trauma bays, intensive care units, and operating rooms, all the while seeking to understand why he has become a target of the dead. Will he break down? Will he lose all that is precious to him? Will he be drawn to the other side of the great divide?
The unique storyline, similar to the works of Blake Crouch and Jeff VanderMeer is a chilling thrill ride, straddling the real world and that of the paranormal.
This riveting psychological thriller uniquely blends a detailed peek behind the curtains of modern day neurosurgery with a fantastical journey into the paranormal. Written by a highly experienced neurosurgeon who takes the reader on an immersive journey into the behind the scenes world of the operating room where few people have ever been.
The Review
This was a compelling and captivating medical thriller meets paranormal fantasy read. The author does an amazing job of grounding this story in as much reality as possible, tying the paranormal aspects of the narrative into the protagonist’s work in the medical field. As someone interested in the paranormal and who has become fascinated with doctor’s studies and theories regarding life after death, the setting and atmosphere the author created in his work really struck home in terms of the tone they were trying to achieve.
To me, the heart of this narrative rested in the character growth and the emotional core related to the protagonist’s personal life and work-life imbalances. The way the author was able to bring realism and expertise to the protagonist’s story and work in the field of brain surgery made this a compelling read, and the way work and the experiences as a surgeon would impact his home life set the stage perfectly for the paranormal aspect of the narrative to come into play, making for an exciting story.
The Verdict
Memorable, thrilling, and entertaining, author Gary Simonds’s “Death’s Pale Flag” is a must-read medical thriller meets paranormal novel of 2023! The grounded realism of the characters and backstory with the engaging paranormal twists and fascinating connection between the mind and the paranormal the author touches upon made this a truly amazing 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
Gary Simonds practiced the full breadth of neurosurgery for decades in the US Army, Geisinger Clinic, and as the Chief of Neurosurgery at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. He has performed thousands of highly complex procedures on adults and children and cared for tens of thousands of patients. In addition to his expertise in neurosurgery and the neurosciences, he is interest in an array of related subjects including: medical ethics, medical socioeconomics, humanism, doctor patient interactions, patient advocacy, and burnout and psychological distress in healthcare workers. He has co-authored with Clinical Psychologist Wayne Sotile three non-fiction books on burnout and resilience in healthcare workers and has recently written a related award-winning novel, Death’s Pale Flag. Gary stepped away from clinical neurosurgery in 2020 but still teaches undergraduates and medical students at Virginia Tech. He lives in Black Mountain NC in a log cabin with wife, Cindy, and border collie, Hamish, and is excited to connect with his readers and interested parties over a range of subjects.
