Thrillers, Suspense & Mystery

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...

The Vulnerable

Ed DeJesus (Indies United Publishing House)

| Reviewed by Sarah Harkness

In The Vulnerable, Ed DeJesus crafts a suspense thriller that masterfully intertwines themes of domestic violence, societal scrutiny, and the acts of violence perpetrated by and against vulnerable individuals. The narrative centers around Dan DeCosta, whose seemingly ordinary life spirals into chaos when his estranged girlfriend, Robin O’Rourke, goes missing after a tumultuous night of events leading to a confrontation with police that lands him in the hospital with severe injuries. As Dan struggles with the fallout from his actions, including...

Here There Is No Why

Philip Graubart (Koehler Books)

| Reviewed by Hannah Bietz

In Here There Is No Why, acclaimed Israeli author and Holocaust survivor Chaim Lerner’s tragic death in 1983 raises disturbing questions: Was it suicide or murder? In 2005, Judah Loeb, Lerner's former student, becomes a determined journalist on a quest for truth, accompanied by his teenage daughter, Hannah, and former roommate, Charlie, a Jerusalem detective. As they dig into Lerner’s enigmatic legacy, they uncover dark secrets within Israeli society, confronting personal betrayals and historical burdens. Philip Graubart masterfully weaves a na...

The Detective's Daughter:...

Darcy Flynn (Paper Moon Publishing (November 12, 2024))

| Reviewed by Jeff Klune

Darcy Flynn's The Detective's Daughter delivers a captivating blend of romantic suspense and mystery, a perfect read for sleuth fans. The novel follows Lucy Carmichael, a young woman returning to her childhood home in Diamond Creek, Arkansas, to uncover the truth behind her detective father's unsolved murder twenty years prior. She is armed with an old video and meager sleuth skills. The Victorian house harbors secrets beyond her past. Her investigation is fueled by fragmented memories and a vintage videotape, leading her to examine key evidenc...

Subversion: An Alliance o...

Ray Keating (Keating Reports LLC)

| Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro

The priest had raised the ire of a few parishioners when he spoke out against the growing menace of Nazism. His forthrightness sealed his fate, and Nazi sympathizers are ready to murder him on Long Island brutally. Father Patrick O’Riley was aghast when he learned of his friend and fellow priest’s murder. O’Riley accepts an offer to serve in his friend’s stead as parish priest in Yaphank. O’Riley plans to learn more about the circumstances behind the assassination, and he enlists fellow members of his covert group, The Alliance of St. Michael,...

The Wiros Chronicles:: Th...

Brett Bockhorst (Independently published (November 17, 2020))

| Reviewed by Cristina Prescott

  Brett Bockhorst’s The Wiros Chronicles: The Howling 20’s transports readers into a richly crafted world where the supernatural collides with the gritty truths of Prohibition-era America. Set against the backdrop of Boston in the 1920s, Bockhorst weaves together intricate detailing of historical context, social commentary, and supernatural lore, creating a narrative that engages and reflects its time. In the unforgiving underbelly of Prohibition Boston, the rival Wiros Dens clashes in a perpetual struggle for dominance – and survival...

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