Sunday, August 23, 2026
The Hanged Man by Jane Brookwood
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan
Annie Gore is a private eye.
A former Air Force special investigator, she now finds herself wondering
where the money to fix the AC is going to come from. A distraught daughter comes to her for
answers on her estranged father.
Annie discovers that it isn’t quite that simple. The town of Mount Zion seems to harbor a wealth of dysfunctional citizens. The estranged father is a snake-handling tent preacher who seems to have alienated half the community while endearing himself to the other half.
There is a Hell Hole, the smell of brimstone, missing bodies, drug traffic, ex-cons, vision-seeing waitresses, and much more to provide this book with a plethora of entertaining characters.
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
Thursday, July 16, 2026
THE ADVENTURES OF JUAN PLANCHARD by Jonathan Jakubowicz.
The initial preoccupation with sexual encounters with far too much detail initially turned me off this book. If that is your jam, you will love the fact that it occurs throughout the book. Juan is an opportunist who successfully games the Venezuelan political climate. In his mind, he is a revolutionary; in actuality, he is the capitalist of the worst kind.
Personally, I recommend reading the author’s notes at the end first. When I discovered that the author was chased from Venezuela due to his controversial movie, his credibility soared. His explanation as to what I saw, as gratuitous sex, was calculated to capture readers in a society that has little love for reading.
Juan considers himself a man of the world while demonstrating self-defeating naivety. His relationship with Scarlet is a harbinger of his future difficulties.
The description of Venezuelan corruption is daunting.
The book has a wealth of eye-opening vignettes.
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
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
PENDERGAST the Begining by Preston & Child
This is an origin story for Pendergast. Note, I said, “an origin” story. This goes
back to Pendergast’s beginings in the FBI. It does not delve deeper into how he
ended up in the FBI. The story takes
place in New Orleans. A serial killer is running amok under the radar of local
law enforcement. Pendergast identifies the crime and eventually the killer.
In a typical Preston and Child book, one comes to expect
nuances, abundant misdirection, and intricate plots. This book admirably continues those
practices.
I’ve read books written individually by the authors, but I
feel that when they work collaboratively, their work is superior.
I enjoyed this book and highly 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
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Death at the End Zone by Lynn Slaughter
Two outstanding scholar athletes end up dead in the end zone of the football field they dominated. Detective Caitlin O’Connor, and partner Stan catch the case. Things in the two detectives' lives complicate solving the case.
Slaughter addresses alcoholism and the inherent dangers that
accompany an occasionally dangerous career. Homophobic reactions to otherwise “normal”
crimes contribute to the complexity of the case.
Pedophiles, drug dealers, gun dealers, small needy boys, big
needy boys, and needy men are all factors in the case.
It was a good book and a good story. I 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
Friday, May 29, 2026
Dead Weight by Hildur Knutsdottir
This is an interesting
little book, little is an accurate description, not in any way a demeaning
description. Knutsdottir explores the myriad
ways men demean women, intentionally or through cultural indifference. It seems
that Iceland, like many areas in our own nation, has a rather large supply
of misogynists.
I recommend the book.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
Thursday, May 28, 2026
The Hunted by Steven Max Russo
The Hunted by Steven Max Russo
Action abounds in Russo’s latest book. You can depend on Russo to give you plenty of action in his books, the kind of action that makes you hate putting down the book. The lives of an intelligence analyst and an Army Ranger, unbeknownst to them, are dramatically changed by shared experience in Afghanistan. A chance encounter subsequent to their return to the States launches a deadly chase.
Ophelia Harris is misidentified as a target due to a coincidental circumstance beyond her control. Austin Medford, a former Army Ranger, becomes enmeshed in her tumultuous world as a result of a friendly wave years before.
Russo sets a fast pace and then puts the pedal to the metal for this high-octane adventure.
I enjoyed the book and highly 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
Monday, May 25, 2026
Storm Tide by Paul Doiron
Storm Tide by Paul Doiron
Mike Bowditch, a Maine Game Warden, has been demoted from investigator to field warden. As a first responder to a house fire, he risks his life trying to save someone. That is the trigger factor in this Bowditch plot.
Mike is short-tempered all too often, and it has resulted in a reputation, note not a good reputation. He becomes embroiled with a wealth of folks who apparently want to harm him. His wife, a leavening factor, as for many of us, keeps him focused on his job. Working, despite being suspended, means that his backup system is Stacy, his wife, Billy, his scary friend, Charley, his father-in-law, and Shadow, his wolf-dog. Law enforcement back-up doesn't exist for Mike.
The plot gets intricate and leads to historic introspection to discover the motive for all the Bowditch animosity. There is plenty of action. Mike is a terrific, flawed, and believable character.
I highly recommend the book and hope to read more of the sixteen current books.
This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.
Friday, May 15, 2026
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer
I loved this book. Rainy March is a book witch. Her job is to see that books are protected. She loves her job and the Duke of Chicago. Her job is real, but the Duke is not, or is it fiction or fictional?
This was a delightful book detailing shared fantasies about
fiction. At least shared by the author
and me. I suspect we are in a large
group of fiction readers who see themselves in some of their favorite characters,
or maybe as their favorite character.
The author alludes to current events, but carefully keeps
the story on track for witchery.
I reiterate, I loved this book, I highly recommend it, and
hopefully have intrigued you enough to read it without generating any spoilers.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Like Snow Before Sun by Marianne Rabalais Sulser
Like Snow Before Sun by Marianne Rabalais Sulser
Acadia, a place you probably aren’t familiar with, because a
British conspiracy mostly eradicated its population. Arcadia was the area of Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Northern Maine. In 1755, a plot between
the Lt. Governor of Arcadia and the Governor of Massachusetts removed between 11,000
and 15,000 Arcadians from their land and homes.
The book is historic in nature, but a fictionalized version
of what happened. Jeanne LeJeune is the progeny
of a French merchant trader and a Mi’kmaw woman. She meets an English militia colonel who
changes her life.
The book is a sad commentary on the despicable actions of
many of our ancestors. How we treated First
Citizens like the Mi’kmaw people, and immigrants that preceded the later
colonists, is shown.
It isn’t too hard to look at the current issues with
immigration and draw parallels. Imagine
the current immigrants relocating the present population. Makes one think, I like books that make me
think as well as entertain me.
In addition to the historical commentary, it is a love story
between two people, laden with the burden of societal differences.
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
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Massawa by Pam Webber
This book is set in Eretria. Admittedly, I had to Google that
to find out where the setting was for the book. If you are not better informed
than I am, Eretria is across the Red Sea from Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It has along coastline which figures into the
plot. Rommel was terrifying the Middle East. The Allies needed a reliable and
accessible harbor for all the supplies they needed to defend against
Rommel. Eretria had an excellent harbor
that had been devastated by the Italians when they surrendered. A US officer
was getting the harbor cleared, but his payroll for the paroled Italian POWs
and locals kept disappearing. The US
Office of Strategic Service sent a new agent to rendezvous with a British Mi6
agent to solve the problem.
Kit is a newly minted OSS agent. She is shocked that she has romantic feelings for Jake, her handler. Denying those feelings she welcomes her opportunity to serve her country. Her British counterpart, Mark Williams, is far more seasoned. He works diligently to help her improve her tradecraft.
Kit surprises herself, as well as all of the above players, with her skills, and success.
I recommend the book.
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
The Geomagician by Jennifer Mandula
Mary Annning has a serious inferiority complex. It is the driving force in her life, although
she isn’t aware that is what fuels her ambition. She is a fossilist, one who finds
fossils. Her livelihood is finding and
selling fossils; her goal is to be a Geomagician. Her mentor, Professor William Buckland
encourages her work. A spectacular find leads Mary to think her lifelong goal
may be within reach.
Henry Stanton is Mary’s perceived nemesis. Lucy is her friend, and Edgar, Lucy’s brother,
is the fourth in an unlikely group of friends. Mary, impoverished, parents
dead, scrapes by in the little seaside village of Lyme Regis. The other three
are “tourists’ who visit in the summers.
The tourists have wealth and privileges, while Mary struggles to put
bread on the table. Surprisingly, that does not prevent them from becoming fast
friends, until they aren’t.
This is not an action-adventure. This is more of a tale of friends and
relationships.
There is magic, but it doesn’t dominate the plot. The discovery that there are different kinds
of magic is a crucial part of the story.
Economic inequality plays a large part in the overall plot, and a
driving force for Lucy.
It was a good story and I 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
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Authors Beware
New scams appear every day. Now AI enters the picture, and the sophistication jumps exponentially. This week, I received a very flattering email from the Acquisition Editor of a major publishing house. The letter spoke glowingly of my work and my interest in the welfare of children. Then a query as to whether we could have a chat about my upcoming work.
So to my fellow authors, beware of silver tongues that will lead you down a prickly primrose path
Saturday, April 18, 2026
A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper
This is a tale of multiple characters facing what they see
as an implacable group of enormously wealthy misanthropes.
The “kids in the candy store” hardly sounds like a group of
amoral criminals. Words can have many
meanings. These words mean death and
terror for their victims.
The author depicts a near-future Los Angeles in a
not-quite-dystopian environment through a filthy brown lens that casts humanity
in a harsh light. Harper depicts
depravity in detail. Occasionally, far
too much detail for my taste but detail seems to be a Harper trademark.
I found the book discouraging at times, with the depiction
of so much depravity plus the wealth of bad actors, and voyeurs, it seemed like
there was no hope for the future.
There did not seem to be any “good” people in the book, just
marginally, and sometimes grossly less bad.
With all that said, it was a captivating book, somewhat like
a train wreck; you just can’t bring yourself to look away.
I recommend the book, but not if you are already depressed.
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
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Questioner by Steve C. Posner
Funny thing on the way to writing a review on a book whose
main “villain” is an aware AI self-named as Q. I asked ChatGPT to write a five-star
review on the book. I don’t care for vanilla
ice cream because I find it bland. This
was way worse than vanilla ice cream. Any
educator who read the review would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to
realize it wasn’t a real review. Now, if
ChatGPT had been trained on the book, I suspect the review might have read
realistically. Regardless, no self-awareness there yet as it would be anticipated
a self-aware AI would want to read a book about a self-aware AI.
This book is a sobering, albeit fictional, megacorp who has
a MMO as well as a VR legal assistant.
Think Lexis+ type software on serious steroids.
A retired Federal judge is pulled into a colleague's case
and discovers that all is not well in the VR legal world or the MMO gaming both
being run by his old special operations partner.
The conflict between Felix, the friend, and the Judge is
exacerbated by intentional self-centered intervention by an alluring female and
a maniacal AI.
Questions are both posed and implied in this book as to the
future of AI, its dangers and uses.
I’m, perhaps a naïve proponent of AI. This book provides a wealth of thought.
I 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
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Dog Person by Camile Pagan Now Available for Purchase
Dog Person by Camille Pagán
I’m annoyed, I didn’t expect to like this book, and I didn’t! I loved the darn thing. This is a romance novel disguised as a dog book, or that was what I expected. It was a disgustingly sweet book about a lonely guy and his dog.
The setting is a bookstore.
Harold is the dog, and Miguel is the guy. Miguel’s wife passed away. He is not coping well. Harold is trying to
take care of his human, who isn’t terribly cooperative.
Bookstore events, a tween, and a mysterious author combine to add complications to the story.
It is a book about feelings, acceptance, grief, love, and understanding.
Begrudgingly, it was a wonderful book, and I highly
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
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Hope Rises by David Baldacci
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
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Felony Review by Randy E. Barnett
Considering the popularity of “True Crime” podcasts and
reality TV shows, Barnett’s book should be a hit with crime aficionados. Barnett doesn’t just talk about it; he lived
it. That puts this book in a category of its own.
The characters are real-life people, some laudable, and many
despicable. Real life is often more
interesting, and sadly, sometimes more disturbing than fiction. A horrific placement of a shotgun will haunt
me, as I have no experience to relate that type of depraved behavior to, for
which I am thankful.
The style is dry but the crimes are not.
This is a good book for fans who are entertained by
eye-popping, criminal behavior.
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
Monday, February 23, 2026
Lethal Fortune by Mark Nolan
Jake Wolfe is an on-call fixer. His background as a Marine and an assassin for the government has pulled him into a black operation whose deniability aspect targets enemies of the state. Jake accepts the responsibility of operating under a cloak of deniability because of his love for his country. Suffering from PTSD, Jake has times of intense vulnerability. Sarah, his veterinarian girlfriend, is one of the few people who can pull him back from the edge.
This story is set on the Baja Peninula.
I did think that Cody, Jake’s wonder dog could have had a bigger role.
Nolan made a major effort to ensure that this book could be
read as a stand-alone. The book is part
of a series but Nolan does an excellent job filling in back stories.
I seldom read afterward, but Nolan is an exception. He provides explanations and definitions of
many of the scenes or items in the book.
I also appreciate the extensive list of people he thanks for their help in his research and support.
An outlaw motorcycle club provides a wealth of villains.
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
Friday, February 20, 2026
Vodka Express by Ralph Griffith
Vodka Express: A Dmitri Petrov Crime Novel by Ralph Griffith
Dimitri is a St. Petersburg police detective. He is mild-mannered, and lives alone except for his miniature hamster Lenin. He is average height and appearance. This is a plus in his line of work. He has a partner, Manislov, is large, aggressive, and a good counterpoint for Dimitri.
Manislov is more of a bit player in the book. Dimitri and he are tasked with multiple crimes,
the most interesting is the mysterious theft of six Faberge Eggs from a minor
Oligarch.
Russian police work appears to be a bit more aggressive than
the U.S. counterparts. Perhaps I’m naïve but the two detectives overlook some
serious mayhem by victims and perpetrators.
The stories are interesting.
I don’t know how accurate they are in terms of Police procedure but they
are very entertaining.
I recommend the book.
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
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Chain Reaction by James Byrne
Chain Reaction by James Byrne
Desmond Limerick is a retired Gatekeeper. Gatekeepers are an elite, special forces group that can open any door and keep it open until the operation is complete. Dez is a resourceful fellow, playing fill in bass for bands since retirement. A friend with a band sends him a message that he desperately needs him for a gig across country since his bass player has dropped out. Thus begins the story.
Dez finds himself in a hostage situation, and then that
leads to a series of killings. He finds
himself allied with a previous opponent who just happens to be devastatingly alluring. In the course of dramatic action that
demonstrates that Dez makes Jack Reacher look like a sissy, and MacGyver look
unresourceful, Dez runs into a previous lover with mayhem on her mind.
Byrne has gotten the formula for producing an action packed
thriller with abundant plot twists, and a highly likeable protagonist.
I highly recommend this book, and all the rest of the
Desmond Limerick books.
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
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Side Hustle by Wendy Gee
Sydney is a no-holds-barred investigative reporter for a Charlestown
TV station. Sydney brings a capital I to
investigative reporter. She is not
willing to wait for the police or any other authority to solve a crime. When a close friend is murdered, Sydney jumps
into the investigation with both feet.
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
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Spotlight on Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman
From New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winner Matt Goldman comes Liar's Creek, which asks how far we'll go to protect the people we love.
Riverwood, Minnesota is a scenic town threaded with trout streams carving their way through limestone bluffs. But beneath its picturesque facade, danger runs rampant.
Clay Hawkins isn’t a stranger to the secrets of his hometown. After twenty years away, Clay has recently returned home from abroad with his twelve-year-old son, and his relationship with his father, the recently replaced sheriff, is as strained as ever.
But when Clay’s beloved uncle disappears, the three
generations of Hawkinses must overturn every stone in Riverwood and confront
deep familial wounds to find the one person who brings them together. As danger
looms, Clay worries that it might be too late to save his uncle—and that the
rest of the family might be next.
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
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Dog Person by Camille Pagán
Dog Person by Camille Pagán
I’m annoyed, I didn’t expect to like this book, and I didn’t! I loved the darn thing. This is a romance novel disguised as a dog book, or that was what I expected. It was a disgustingly sweet book about a lonely guy and his dog.
The setting is a bookstore.
Harold is the dog, and Miguel is the guy. Miguel’s wife passed away. He is not coping well. Harold is trying to
take care of his human, who isn’t terribly cooperative.
Bookstore events, a tween, and a mysterious author combine to add complications to the story.
It is a book about feelings, acceptance, grief, love, and understanding.
Begrudgingly, it was a wonderful book, and I highly
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
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Storm Warning by James Byrne
Dez Limerick is back! Dez’s self-deprecatory humor may be
his most charming feature. Dez is a Gatekeeper.
His skill set enables him to open any door and keep it open as long as
necessary. A mine and research facility in
Newfoundland ceases communication with the outside world. Due to the international staffing of the
research facility, a diverse group of diplomats and police are sent to discover
why communications have ceased. An FBI associate asks Dez to accompany the
group.
Corporate entities represented by heavily armed mercenaries,
as well as foreign special forces, provide a wealth of villains. The weather is
also an implacable enemy, thwarting the efforts to discover why the facility has
gone incommunicado.
Byrne’s Machiavellian mind provides extraordinary
complexities and a wealth of action. I
find his work exceptionally entertaining and exceedingly difficult to put down.
I strongly recommend the book!
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




































