At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming

This is the first Clare and Russ story I’ve read.  Interesting dynamics, Clare, an Episcopalian Priest and Major in the Army National Guard, is married to Russ, a former Police Chief in the unlikely named town of Miller’s Kill. Clare’s role as a priest frequently runs afoul of her past life as a tough ex-Army chopper pilot.  The relational aspects run pleasantly through the book.  This novel’s plot revolves around a white Nationalist militant group and their nefarious plans.

 

The subplot of the book is domestic violence.  The inclusion of Native Americans is a bonus.  Spencer-Fleming seamlessly blends a wide variety of characters with their strengths and foibles. 

 

The story moves fast, has plenty of action, and is captivating.

 

I recommend the book. 

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Spotlight on the Ice Princess: A Big Huna Novel by Ralph Griffith

If you enjoy dark, atmospheric crime fiction, this is the perfect time to dive in:

Set against the lush, sun-drenched facade of Honolulu, Ice Princess unspools a haunting tale of deadly obsession and decay, where paradise becomes a stage for madness.

When a young man’s lover rejects him for another, his world shatters, and his passion turns pathologically dark. Unable to surrender his vision of her, he commits a terrible act, then preserves her body in a bathtub of ice, clinging to a frozen illusion of love.

As days pass, his fixation deepens, spiraling into a dark descent where paradise becomes the stage for madness.

In this complex, haunting noir, the heat of the Hawaiian sun meets the cold brutality of obsession.

"A masterclass in contrast: A chilling, psychological noir that proves madness can bloom even in the relentless sun of paradise."

"Haunting and unforgettable. Ralph Griffith's latest Big Huna novel plunges into the dark heart of obsession, where love becomes a deadly, frozen illusion."

"The ultimate tropical nightmare. The collision of Hawaiian heat and ice-cold brutality creates one of the most unique and compelling thrillers of the year."

"Griffith delivers a complex, gripping tale of decay, fixation, and shattered reality that will hold you captive until the final page."

Buy it Here

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Thieves by Steve Russo

This may have been a morality play. It seems like it may want you to question what you would do if you were scrambling to survive and an opportunity came up to dramatically improve your life without causing major damage to someone else. Stir into that recipe a sociopath on the run from a cartel.

Russo portrayed a truly despicable character in Skooley. Skooley was a sociopath. Weak impulse control, sly, prone to bursts of rage, and occasionally able to feign sociability. His fate could ignite little or no remorse.
The inferences that Russo made to the Russells’ background were more than adequate to explain the cash-caching impulses that were demonstrated.

Esmeralda demonstrates a flexible morality that may accompany abject working poverty. The haves stru

ggle to understand have have-nots and vice versa.

Lorretta exhibits the emotional devastation that can result in a close encounter with a perverse predator.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Final Orbit by Chris Hadfield

Final Orbit by Chris Hadfield

 

There is a sense of authenticity when the author has actually walked the walk. This book chronicles a fictional orbital mission that goes dramatically awry.

 

Hadfield uses real people who are doing fictional things. The Chinese play a large part in the plot.  The reality of the situation provides extreme stress in the read.  The fact that it feels so real leads to an inability to put the book down.

 

I liked the book and recommend it

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned