THE SLATE

MATTHEW FITZSIMMONS

The Slate by veteran political novelist Matthew Fitzsimmons contains the topical drama of today's and the past: political machinations, misery, and corruption. Twenty years ago, Agatha C. was told by her boss to eradicate and make a typical Washington, D.C. scandal disappear. She does so successfully, and all is quiet until now when blackmail rears its inevitable ugly head. The Slate is an exciting and realistic story of politics, greed, lust, and temptation. The novel is for all, especially political junkies who will eagerly immerse themselves in this fascinating and true-to-life story of what makes the wheels go around in the U.S.A.

YOU BETTER WATCH OUT

JAMES MURRAY & DARREN WEARMOUTH

You Better Watch Out by authors James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth is an absorbing hybrid of the typical holiday adventure and chilling horror story that keeps you reading all day and night. Supposedly rehabilitated but still bad, Eddie Parker finds his victims while taking a rest before continuing his road trip. He comes upon an elderly couple and steals their money, or at least that is the plan. He wakes up along with other strangers in the town of Old Forge, where Christmas appears to be eternal, decorations and all.

Soon, these random strangers are being hunted and killed, with little hope of survival. The book reads like a horror story but has all the components that make a riveting mystery. With the holidays fast approaching, You Better Watch Out may not be the ideal read, but it is undoubtedly a great gift.

PALM BEACH PSYCHO

TOM TURNER

Turner's latest procedural, once again in Palm Beach and its environs, lives up to reader expectations. It does that and is also vastly entertaining and cinematic, providing the reader with many hours of diversion. Our detectives, Charlie Crawford, ex-NY.P.D., and Mort Ott, his plain vanilla but outstanding partner, have been given a seemingly unsolvable assignment. Somebody is killing rich people in Palm Beach. That means there are thousands and thousands of potential victims, as Palm Beach is the Mecca for the numerous uber-wealthy. What makes Palm Beach Psycho distinctive? This time, Turner, the author, decides to bring to play two cops from the wrong side of the tracks, West Palm Beach, home of the not-so-nearly wealthy. However, Crawford and Ott get along famously with their counterparts and eventually find the suspect who has been murdering people based on their net worth.

Palm Beach Psycho is another hugely captivating novel from the assured hand of one of the field's most talented writers. Pick up any of the Palm Beach procedurals—there are many—and then immerse yourself in witty dialogue, casual romance, and police drama. Tom Turner is one of my favorite writers, and this reviewer assures you that after reading Palm Beach Psycho and more, you will also consider Turner one of your favorite writers.

CHRISTMAS AT GLITTER PEAK LODGE

KJERSTI HERLAND JOHNSEN

Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge by Kjersti HerlandJohnsen is an intriguing story in a foreign location. The novel centers around a woman named Ingrid and her grandmother, both in the present day and in the past. In the present day, a young woman learns to deal with life and how difficult it can be. What I found interesting about this book was that each chapter was written as if it were a day in December leading up to Christmas, along with the unique customs of a foreign country in Northern Europe. We come across a mystery about a missing girl from the 1960s and criminal activity at a lodge called Glitter Peak. Ingrid, the lodge proprietor, is trying to stay in business while keeping the bankruptcy attorneys away from her door. And preserve her proud family heritage. During the book, we learn about the accident that brought Ingrid back home to Norway and Glitter Peak. The story is a fascinating mystery, offering a look inside a country unfamiliar to most.

WILLIAM

MASON COILE

William, by Mason Collie, is an intriguing book that deals with topical issues in a fascinating and somewhat horrifying way. The main character, Henry, is a brilliant Agoraphobic who has rigged his home to be controlled by devices standard on the market. William is the robot that Henry created, and unfortunately, this turns into a story like Mary Shelley‘s Frankenstein. As time passes, William, the robot, becomes more robust, intuitive, intelligent, and evil, which results in a fight for control over the house and life itself. This book is one of the most spooky and tense books I have encountered recently. The characters are well-developed, and the idea of a robot controlled by AI makes the reader wonder how close we are to that reality. The book ends with a tremendous twist that is unpredictable and terrifying.

78 DEGREES AND BLOODY

GEORGE PRIOR

George Prior, a new novelist, has accomplished something with 78 Degrees And Bloody that even veteran mystery and procedure writers don't. Degrees And Bloody is a well-written, exceptionally well-researched, and fun read. The terminology for readers unfamiliar with law enforcement jargon flows smoothly because of the contextual clues surrounding the writer's law enforcement vocabulary. The story starts with a simple theft of gold bars and spirals out of control until the reader is immersed in drugs, gangs, violence, kidnapping, and almost any other felonious crime. The dialogue is realistic, and the writer knows this from extensive consultation with law enforcement personnel. The locations are aptly described and convey the grit and grime that make up a large portion of the city of Angels. 78 Degrees And Bloody starts with a bang and never lets up. My only concern is that I will have to wait until Mr. Prior writes another book, which I am sure will be even better than his first. My advice is to find this book anywhere you can and stake out a two- or three-day period to familiarize yourself with the real-life violence that takes place in the parts of Los Angeles that the media and the politicians want to obscure. This is no trip down Rodeo Drive or the hills of Bel-Air. 78 Degrees And Bloody is a slap in the face and will make readers aware of precisely what happens in the nation's second or third-largest city.

THE ALASKA SANDERS AFFAIR

JOEL DICKER

The Alaska Sanders Affair by superior novelist Joel Dicker is just that. This far-flung, twisty, unpredictable, and fascinating novel is outrageously excellent. The writing is superb. The characters are vividly drawn. The procedural aspects are true to life, and the settings abound with cinematic imagery. Joe Dicker is one of my top three novelists. This book is stunning and wonderful, and, most of all, it is a book that begs to be read over an extremely short period. That says a lot because the book is lengthy, but every page is a delight. I recommend that readers finish this outstanding novel and check the writer's backlist. My only concern is that I must wait for Mr Dicker to write another book. This is one of the best mysteries I have read, and I am sure that after you read the Alaska Sanders Affair, you will agree with me wholeheartedly.

TALKING TO STRANGERS

FIONA BARTON

Talking to Strangers by master crime writer Fiona Barton is another winner. This time, Barton combines past and present timelines to investigate two deaths occurring at the same place. In addition to a problematic investigation that entrances readers, Barton’s characters are realistic as they share common feelings and thoughts.

Social media, especially online dating apps, can be rife with excitement and danger of the unknown. Detective King and a curious reporter are trying to solve a current homicide and the death of a child years ago. Talking to Strangers illustrates realistic women in law enforcement and the danger they face daily. Note that this is a continuation of the detective Elsie King series, but readers are advised that this superb book carries its weight as a stand-alone and continuing story.

HOUSE GUESTS

MIKE FARICY

House Guests by prolific and highly skilled mystery writer Mark Faricy continues the ever-entertaining exploits of protagonist private eye Dev Haskell. Faricy readers enjoy the original plotting, entertaining dialogue, and continued familiarity with the good and bad guys. Reading Houseguests is pure pleasure. It reminds the reader that there is more to life than TikTok and other forms of social media.

Local crime boss Tubby Gustafson orders our protagonist, private eye Dev Haskell to find out all there is to know about a newly arrived criminal who may be trying to infringe on Gustafson's many business ventures. The story plays out nicely as Haskell uncovers wrongdoing where it should be and where it shouldn't. Houseguests is another of author Mike Faricy's continuing and entertaining series featuring characters we have grown to like and would even share our homes with.

FATAL INTRUSION

JEFFERY DEAVER & ISABELLA MALDONADO

Fatal Intrusion by two superb writers, Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado, reflects each author's excellence. The story bobs and weaves throughout 420 outrageously well-plotted and thoroughly executed pages. The two investigators, one working for Homeland Security and the other as a government consultant mesh together, lending their respective talents. Think of a superior gumbo made up of genuinely outstanding ingredients. The action never interferes with the characters, as Fatal Intrusion revolves around the hunt for a serial killer extraordinarily well-versed in today's technology. The book is one of this year's best, and I urge all mystery and thriller readers to quickly go to their local bookstore and buy this tremendous novel by outrageously excellent writers at the top of their game.

SIN CITY:A BILLY CUNNINGHAM NOVEL

JAMES SWAIN

To nobody's surprise, Sin City's hugely talented veteran writer, James Swain, has done it again. No other author writes about Las Vegas with the panache and the reality he brings to his newest novel. Instead of focusing on the glamour and glitter that we all know in love, Sin City focuses on the underbelly, the sex workers, the drug dealers, the hustlers, cops, and the thieves who make up a substantial portion of the Las Vegas population.

This time, Billy Cunningham, a recurring character in Swain's previous novels, appears in Reno. Before long, circumstances ensure that he meets and assists an FBI agent in arresting dangerous felons in a crime gone wrong. After a continued conversation with the FBI agent, Cunningham decides that the agent would be a perfect fit for his crew of casino cheats. What happens in the following 220 pages is perfectly played out. There is enough action, double-crosses, crooked cops, and legitimate dialogue to satisfy anybody's wishes for a superbly entertaining novel about Las Vegas and the casinos that seduce us to spend hard-earned money with a smile instead of a gun.

THE BOY IN THE PHOTO

NICOLE TROPE

The Boy in the Photo by prolific and imaginative author Nicole Trope is a story that never lets up. The plot, characters, and dialog grab the reader, and the only way to escape is to finish this beguiling and thrilling psycho-drama as soon as possible.

A mother does what mothers do: she takes her son to school. When the school day ends, she returns to pick him up, but he is not there. He has disappeared, seemingly out of thin air. She supposes that her unstable former husband has picked up their son. Many years pass, and the mother has remarried a police detective. One day, he calls his wife, telling her that her son has entered the police station. Six years have passed, and her son is twelve years old. But bitter, hateful, and full of loathing. What happened to the child is revealed slowly, as seen by the boy and his mother. The Boy in the Photo is a hard-hitting, novel of what can go wrong when parents put themselves ahead of their children.

CONDOM EDDIE

TAYLOR BARTON

Condom Eddie By talented writer Taylor Barton is unique. It shines because Barton has done what many writers attempt and fail. She has combined an exciting psychological thriller with an in-depth character study. Condom Eddie offers insight into the protagonist plotting mine as opportunities for peace and love escape. But like a true psychopath, our protagonist cares not at all about the damage that he inflicts on herself or the people who are in her orbit. Taylor Barton, the writer of this fascinating novel, pulls back the curtain on obsession and narcissism. During these times of ubiquitous social media, Condom Eddie is eye-opening and perhaps shows us a realistic picture of what the world has become.

THE HOUSE HUNT

C.M. EWAN

The House Hunt by C M. Ewan is remarkable because its premise is straightforward but manages to build tremendous tension and suspense. Sam and Lucy are a couple who have been remodeling the house that Sam's grandparents gave them. Sam is at work when their real estate agent calls and tells Lucy that a potential buyer, Donovan, is on his way to look at the house. Lucy suffers from anxiety, and she is distraught and nervous anticipating the buyer's arrival, and for good reason. What happens in this novel is scary, puzzling, and suspenseful. Why is Donovan there in the first place? Is he there to buy the house, or does he have other reasons yet to be revealed? The House Hunt is well worth the time it takes to read because of its suspense and unpredictability.

WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE

RACHEL KOLLER CROFT

We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft is a fantastic accomplishment. The author transports us back to London at the height of the disco era, so think of John Travolta and other icons. The main character, Amber, is a dissatisfied American who decides to move to London and then get married. However, as often is the case, the marriage doesn't supply what she wants. She goes to a nightclub and meets a woman named Nicola; unbeknownst to Amber, Nicola is a vampire. Nicola very badly wants Amber also to become a vampire. Amber embraces the vampire lifestyle full steam ahead. Soon, Amber gets tired of being Nicola's pawn. The question is, how will Amber escape this deadly and suffocating friendship? There are many lessons to learn, and We Love the Nightlife explores friendships and what should and should not be. The novel is vivid and caters to mystery readers and anybody interested in friendship and what that entails.

HEADS WILL ROLL

JOSH WINNING

Heads Will Roll by veteran horror writer Josh Winning reflects the author's surname. Winning has accomplished what few can in his field, successfully combining two genres, mystery and horror.

Camp Castaway is for adults who have come undone. It offers peace, solitude, and, most of all, an opportunity to self-reflect. Willow is a famous television star who ends up at Camp Castaway after making inappropriate and destructive social media posts. At first, all is well. Then, she recognizes campers from her former world, and that is when circumstances change. People go missing, and nobody has answers. The story unfolds, and this ordinary camp becomes a scene of mystery and horror. Heads Will Roll is an outstanding example of what a talented writer can achieve when successfully combining two popular styles of commercial fiction.

THE LOST COAST

JONATHAN & JESSE KELLERMAN

What could be better than merging two excellent, talented writers, in this case, father and son, long-time veteran John Kellerman and his son Jesse? The answer is not much. The Lost Coast is another terrific entry in this outstanding series and a superb stand-alone.

Insurance investigator Clay Edison is hired to look into suspicious dealings in a town, Swann's Flats. The initial assignment leads to a missing persons investigation for a young man, Nick, who may or may not have problems. Clay faces multiple barriers, including impassable terrain and poorly built roads and trails within the isolation of Swann's Flats. Clay reunites with a past associate, and they hope to find Nick, even after he wraps up his initial assignment at Swann's Flatts. The Lost Coast is an exciting thriller written by two of the best in the business. Start and finish it within two days; that is how good it is.

THE BEST LIES

DAVID ELLIS

In his newest effort, The Best Lies,  David Ellis masters deception, plot twists, and reader incredulity. The Best Lies is reminiscent of the old card game of watching the ball and guessing under what cup it lands. 

Attorney Balanoff is arrested for the homicide of an infamous gangster with ties to multi-country espionage. The FBI offers Balanoff a deal if he goes undercover and infiltrates the criminal organization, hoping to implicate its leader. The story twists and turns as we meet Balonoff's former girlfriend/cop, now in private security. Told using multiple timelines, the author grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go until the final page.

PALM BEACH SCAVENGERS

TOM TURNER

Tom Turner's Palm Beach Scavengers et al. reads like a well-crafted movie from when audiences could depend on an entertaining and exciting three-hour escape from reality. From page one, the plot and its characters grab you by the throat, and there is no escaping what is another all-consuming and wonderfully plotted police procedural staring Turner's superb cast of characters. Once again, Detectives Crawford and Ott are tracking a suspect wanted for killing a famous and philandering big-time sports agent. Assisted by the detective's usual cast of colorful and amusing supporting players, Ott and Crawford narrow the list of suspects, but not without violence, lies, and general shenanigans. Palm Beach Scavengers is another jewel in the Palm Beach series. It is perfect as a Stand-Alone, but readers will be in for a treat if they start at the beginning of the Palm Beach series with Palm Beach Nasty.

THE HATERS

ROBYN HARDING

The Haters, by Robyn Harding, tells a stunning tale of ambition, internet abuse, and its potential for damage and ruination. And that is just the beginning of this terrifically engaging novel by skilled and prolific writer Harding.

A high school counselor wants to write the "Great American Novel." She does and receives vitriolic and loathsome reviews. That is part of the game, but the hate extends to her family. The counselor/writer looks for the people behind the malicious reviews and defamatory comments as her reputation nose dives.

The Haters is a super examination of social media and how it can be used to destroy a person or institution. The who-done-it aspect is engaging and will leave the reader wanting more—another winner by a sure-handed writer.