Thrillers, Suspense & Mystery

Messenger for the Dead

Matthew Fults (Tradecraft Werks Inc.)

| Reviewed by Rachel Groover

Messenger for the Dead is an entry in the Mathieu James Thriller series by Matthew Fults. This intense, globe-trotting thriller follows the ongoing hunt for the world's most wanted terrorist, Aadan Mukhtaar. Last seen leaping off a Scottish pier pursued by justice, terrorist mastermind Aadan Mukhtaar vanishes into the shadows, leaving chaos in his wake. Investigative journalist Mathieu James and British operative Conan MacGregor race across Europe and beyond, unraveling a web of deception that spans Oslo, Moscow, and Washington. The story featu...

Murder Under Redwood Moon

Sherri Dodd (Black Rose Writing)

| Reviewed by Jayne Anne Rooney

Murder Under Redwood Moon by Sherri L. Dodd delivers a captivating blend of supernatural mystery and psychological thriller set amidst the majestic redwoods of California. At eight, Arista Kelly’s parents bring her to a small, isolated town in California redwoods, and disappear right after that. She grows under the care of her great-aunt Bethie, developing a deep connection with herbs, nature, and crystals. At twenty-one, her serene life is disrupted when the body of a girl she has known is discovered in the river. She is disturbed by the...

The Dunes

JJ Richards (Simulacrum Press Publishers)

| Reviewed by Elena Enger

The Dunes by JJ Richards is the fourth book in the DCI Walker Crime Thrillers and a gripping crime thriller that follows DCI Walker as he investigates a series of chilling murders occurring in a strange pattern along the coastal dunes of Lytham St Annes. The story begins with the discovery of human remains—three young women buried in the dunes, each with distinctive necklaces featuring a deathstalker scorpion. As Walker digs deeper into the cold case, he uncovers a pattern linking the victims, their ages, and the gruesome trophies left behind....

Misery Plaza (A Southern...

J.J. Alo (J.J. Alo)

| Reviewed by Jayne Anne Rooney

 Misery Plaza by J.J. Alo is a supernatural Western that plunges readers into a world where the past is never truly buried. William Potter is on the run, a notorious outlaw trying to outrun his past as Joseph Griffin. He seeks refuge in the strange, isolated village of Missouri Plaza, hoping to shield his children from the violence he's known. But this town has its darkness. Surrounded by liars, thieves, and killers, Potter stumbles upon a buried treasure that could buy their escape. Instead, he unearths a nightmare. Missouri Plaza holds s...

Zero Knowledge

Arnaud Pascolo (Warrington Publishing)

| Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro

Luc Starck is a man on the brink of disaster, the kind that leads to financial ruin and a probable prison term. When he hears about a potential lifeline involving bitcoins, he jumps at the opportunity. However, he is unaware he has walked into a trap from which he won’t emerge. His death doesn’t come as a shock to his wife, Gail, who has become Luc’s target of anger for his shortcomings. Duan, a friend of both Gail and Luc, knew that Luc was in dire financial straits but couldn’t foresee an outcome like this. As Duan attempts to com...

Murder Of Innocence

Laura Burke (Barnes & Noble)

| Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro

The FBI has an asset in Jolene, a shrewd woman who can get to the bottom of cold cases. The local agents give her carte blanche in picking the unsolved mystery and then begin the investigation. The two FBI agents place a bet on the most likely case Jolene will choose, but Jolene manages to surprise them with her selection. When choosing from a sword murder, an unexplained death of spouses, or skeletal remains, Jolene selects the case involving skeletal remains. The latest case involves a trip into Wisconsin where Jolene along with Agents Bley...

Toxic Minds

Anthony Lee (Anthony Lee)

| Reviewed by Meg McKinnon

In Toxic Minds, Anthony Lee delivers a gripping medical thriller that melds the harrowing effects of a devastating clinic explosion with the growing dangers of a cult-like organization known as the Path to Purity. The story follows Dr. Mark Lin, who struggles with the aftermath of his patient Shannon Dixon's tragic death during the bombing at Ivory Memorial Clinic. As he investigates the cult that seems to incite its members into committing dangerous acts, he also faces his dilemmas of morality, guilt, and the relentless pursuit of truth. The a...

Secrets of the Royal Dani...

Barb Goodwin & Doug Penikas (Barb Goodwin)

| Reviewed by Franklin Bauer

Secrets of the Royal Danish Egg by Barb Goodwin & Doug Penikas follows Becca Becca Hunter Lake, an 18-year-old high school graduate who is unwittingly thrust on a thrilling adventure after stealing a priceless Fabergé cigarette case from a museum. The case contains a cryptic message that leads Becca and her companion, Reed Alexander Carter (RC), on a treasure hunt to uncover the location of the Royal Danish Egg, one of the seven missing Fabergé eggs of inestimable value. However, they are not the only ones on the hunt as an influential orga...

Invaders of the Heartland

James Bultema (P.D. Publishing)

| Reviewed by John Grossman

Invaders of the Heartland by James Bultema interweaves the story of LAPD detective Jake Dalton, who faces the consequences of a fierce bank robbery turned deadly, with the escalating tension of a Chinese drug operation infiltrating rural Oklahoma. The plot peaks when Dalton resigns from the police force under scrutiny yet seeks peace and purpose back in his hometown. In Fairview, his hometown, he is convinced that he has left the big crime scenes behind. That is, until the Chinese Mafia shows up, creating a booming marijuana business. The narra...

Guilt

Maisie Moon (Maisie Moon Books)

| Reviewed by Elena Enger

In Guilt, the first book of the Nancy Flanagan Chronicles by Maisie Moon, we are introduced to Nancy Flanagan, a young Irish Catholic woman who migrates from post-war Ireland to England to train as a nurse. The narrative chronicles her inner turmoil as she struggles with the guilt surrounding her decision to leave her illegitimate child, Maeve, in Ireland. The story unfolds as Nancy navigates life in a new country post-World War II, encountering haunting memories, building friendships, and witnessing tragic moments as she diligently pursues her...

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