MY HIT LIST

READ THESE BOOKS. YOU’LL LIKE THEM.

THE PRICE YOU PAY

NICK PETRIE

Nick Petrie follows up on his previous grand entry, The Runaway, with another smashing thriller, The Price You Pay. All of the boys have gone legitimate after careers in violent crime, drug confiscation, and robbery. Ray owns a restaurant, and Nino supervises a community center. All perfectly straight and exemplary. Lewis is in love with Dinah, and all is seemingly well until trouble comes calling. Somebody wants Lewis dead, and if his friends also die, so be it. Nick and the rest of his friends are first to aid Lewis and keep him alive. Violence, terrific action, and unpredictability follow, and the reader is always kept off balance. Nick Petrie again shows why he is one of the best thriller writers on the scene. Grab The Price You Pay and prepare to spend the next few days glued to your seat on a wild and crazy ride.

SUNSET BLUFF

LAURENCE SHAMES

Sunset Bluff by witty long-time Florida caper writer Laurence Shames entertains and hands out laughs a word a minute. Featuring his long-time protagonist, retired organized crime figure Burt The Shirt, and his dog Nacho. From page one, the reader is engulfed in a crazy case of mutually mistaken identity between two bored writers, one a ghostwriting novelist of popular fiction and the other a ghostwriter of mafia-based autobiographies.

The novelist writes a continuing series initially created by a now-dead author. Both writers are bored, and on a lark, they agree to trade assignments. The novelist agrees to work with the Mafia member, and the Mafia writer agrees to take on the continuing popular fiction story. Add in an appearance by an aggrieved hitman and his girlfriend; the story only gets more unpredictable and beguiling. Sunset Bluff is an outstanding addition to the author's exceptional backlist, which is highly recommended to all.

IN YOUR MIND’S EYE

GARY NANSON

In Your Mind's Eye by former L.A.P.D. detective Gary Nanson stays in your eyes and the rest of you long after finishing the last page. Author Nanson knows precisely what he writes. After 33 years of chasing and catching gang members, In Your Mind's Eye takes you onto the vicious and perilous streets of Southeast Los Angeles, where nobody is safe and everybody is a potential victim. The book begins with a gang cop killed by a sniper hiding in the notorious and ironically named Nickerson Gardens housing projects. This homicide is the beginning of an eye-opening and realistic novel of violence, murder, rape, drug sales, and an over-arching passive attitude promulgated by L.A.P.D. brass and a sometimes sensational press. Lieutenant Jack Adams is the primary officer combating gang activity throughout the city. Aside from his street duties, he has to deal with the police brass, motivated by politics, money, and ambition. In Your Mind's Eye is the real deal told by a talented, knowledgeable, and exciting writer. The procedural genre is better with this new addition, and readers will anxiously await the return of Lt. Adams and his squad of Anti-Gang detectives.

BAD DAY BREAKING

JOHN GALLIGAN

Bad Day Breaking is author John Galligan's fourth entry into what has become an outstanding and unique thriller written by a supremely talented author. At the outset, a radical religious cadre has taken up residence in a temporary shelter while waiting for more permanent digs. Citizens of Bad Ax want them gone. Law enforcement worries that a standoff might result between the permanent Bad Ax residents and the newcomers. Visions of Jonestown swim in the minds of the local police. When a cult member is found dead, the action begins to accelerate. A man's appearance sent away by the Sheriff adds to a brew of trouble and volatility. John Galligan has written an extraordinary novel that deals with today's issues and tells a fascinating story: Another Bad Ax winner in a great series.

THE ASCENT

ADAM PLANTINGA

The Ascent by Adam Plantinga is an exhilarating journey that captivates the reader from the first page. Set against a backdrop that seamlessly blends suspense with vivid settings, the novel creates an immersive experience for readers. Plantinga's skillful portrayal of characters adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, making them relatable and engaging. The plot unfolds perfectly with intrigue and excitement, keeping readers on edge. What truly sets this novel apart is the clarity of Plantinga's writing, making the narrative easily accessible to a broad audience. Attention to detail enhances the overall reading experience. The Ascent is a masterfully crafted work that combines a great setting, fantastic characters, and clear prose to deliver a thoroughly enjoyable and unforgettable reading experience.

ANNA O

MATTHEW BLAKE

Anna O by Matthew Blake is an absolute gem that captivates readers from the first page. The novel is a testament to the author's skill in crafting a story with great characters, a thrilling plot, and excellent execution.

One of the standout features of "Anna O." is its characters. Each one is meticulously developed, bringing depth and authenticity to the narrative. Their unique personalities create a genuine connection to the reader. The author masterfully weaves together various elements, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The prose is engaging, and the author's ability to create vivid imagery allows readers to immerse themselves fully in the story. The dialogue is crisp, and the pacing keeps the narrative flowing seamlessly.

Anna O is a surefire winner and a great way to start the new year.

FIVE BAD DEEDS

CAS FREAR

Five Bad Deeds by multitalented writer Caz Frear is engaging and never lets you stop turning the pages. While I am not an art critic, the cover was well-designed and pulled me in. As new resident Ellen soon learns, all is not as it appears in her unique and idyllic neighborhood. At first, all goes well, but then she receives a threatening note mentioning consequences for actions that Ellen knows nothing about. As new characters appear, the story becomes more transparent, or at least we think so. When we believe there is nothing else to figure, boom- another twist appears that rocks our boat. Five Bad Deeds is a terrific example of a suburban suspense novel, and readers will look forward to finishing the book and looking out for the next one by author Caz Frear.

GOODBYE GIRL

JAMES GRIPPANDO

Goodbye Girl by talented and prolific thriller writer James Grippando is another outstanding legal procedural that combines all the required ingredients to produce a compelling story that keeps the reader glued to the page. Jack Swyteck is a well-known and highly regarded attorney in Miami, Florida. He has been retained to defend a singer who signed a disadvantageous contract at the beginning of her career. The singer wants back the rights to her songs that her ex-husband purchased. The story unfolds involving adultery, past and present crimes, and Russian oligarchs chasing billions of dollars from music pirated from the internet. Grippando has penned another winner, and readers would do well to read Goodbye Girl and the author's comprehensive backlist of equally impressive titles.

TRUE NORTH

ANDREW GRAFF

True North by Andrew Graff is a superior mix of nature described exquisitely and family dynamics that threaten to destroy a once happy mother, father, and children. Husband and wife Sam and Swami decide that a drastic move to the upper Mid-West will reset their flailing marriage. They choose to manage a decrepit resort, hoping that the drastic lifestyle change will reinvigorate their relationship and make their children appreciative of nature. The descriptions of the river and white-water rafting perfectly describe the imperfections and hopeful glimmers that the family urgently seeks to salvage their marriage and bring meaning to their lives. Readers of C.J. Box and others will thoroughly enjoy the vivid and picturesque phrasing, leaving readers wanting more from author Graff.

PRECINCT MEMPHIS

ERNEST LANCASTER

Precinct Memphis Cop Tales, short stories by Ernest Lancaster, a former Memphis, Tennessee policeman, focuses on law enforcement's infrequently good but primarily sad and dangerous work. Each vignette illustrates with bright line clarity the daily struggles of first responders who face what most of us never will.

And as in life, some of the stories are more poignant, and a few offer hope and optimism. Suffer and Let Suffer stands out among this substantial collection. A tortured cop contemplates life and death as she looks at the tools of her trade. The chilling and emotive pages whip by, trailing a whiff of hope and despondence.

Lancaster writes what he knows and does it unsparingly and with great dedication. This collection shines a light on the world of law enforcement while offering entertainment and education, a rare and pleasing combination.

MIDNIGHT ON BEACON STREET

EMILY RUTH VERONA

Midnight on Beacon Street by a practiced and talented writer, Emily Ruth Verona, is as scary as advertised. Shades of the early nineties horror movies ran through my head as I read this exciting novel. Eleanor is a single mom who is always looking for a reliable sitter. She has that in Amy, a seventeen-year-old with experience and maturity. Only this evening's events unfold that will never leave anyone in their right mind. Strangers show up at the house, telephone hang-ups, and lots of blood. Midnight on Beacon Street is a super novella and never ceases to frighten the reader. One only wonders what will come next from the creative and fertile mind of Emily Ruth Verona, a writer to watch.

NECESSARY DEEDS

MARK WISH

Necessary Deeds by Mark Wish is a fast-moving, twisty, and thoroughly entertaining mystery novel. The protagonist is a former literary agent. He killed his wife's lover and spent four years in a New York State prison. One day, while he is out in the yard, he is approached by another convict with a bizarre proposition—work for the F.B.I. to find a serial killer of predominantly female want-to-be authors. The story gallops along, and the reader is left to the mercy of the story, its characters, and the author's superior talent. Necessary Deeds by Mark Wish is an outstanding book by an entertaining and capable writer.

WHAT JONAH KNEW

ELAINE MURPHY

Barbara Graham has accomplished a remarkable feat. What Jonah Knew transcends a typical mystery. Graham examines life's memories, reincarnation, sadness, and other profound emotions throughout this windy and spiritual story. Helen Bird has a son, Henry, who has disappeared. Helen swears that Henry would never leave voluntarily, but the police are dubious about this claim. Years later, Helen runs into Lucie, who gives birth to a baby boy, Jonah. Johah has clear memories of living in another home, hanging out with his dog, and sounding exactly like the long-ago missing Henry.

What Jonah Knew is a terrific mystery, but it is more. Readers looking for a philosophical examination of the life and its unknowns will take to this book immediately. Mystery fans will enjoy this novel because it contains numerous elements that make mysteries enjoyable and thought-provoking.

I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN

ELAINE MURPHY

I Told You This Would Happen, the juicy and enthralling follow-up to Look What You Made Me Do, is superb as a stand-alone or a deft continuation of its predecessor. The author, Elaine Murphy, tells an engaging and alluring story that captivates the audience from the outset. Vividly drawn characters and plots combine to produce an intriguing story that is a pleasure to read. Murphy is an author that you will want to place on your radar.

ARMORED

MARK GREANEY

Mark Greaney of Gray Man fame has expanded his considerable talent and produced an action-packed, volatile, and realistic standalone thriller, Armored. Josh Duffy is an ex- infantry soldier due to an injured leg. A prestigious and influential security firm reaches out to Josh, and he accepts a protection job in Mexico. He is assigned to protect officials meeting with dominant leaders of various drug cartels that populate the country. Not surprisingly, events unfurl, and shots are fired. The action never stops, and the reader is treated to some of the most realistic and frightening action scenes found in any thriller. Greaney is a superior thriller writer who easily adapts from scenario to scenario, which makes him a writer of immense ability.

FIRST BORN

WILL DEAN

Will Dean's First Born is a winding story that keeps the reader captivated from page one. First Born tells the story of Molly and Katie, identical twins. Molly is an introvert living in London. Katie is a social butterfly in New York City. That is until Katie is murdered. With great hesitance, Molly travels to the states to recover her sister's body to return to England.

Once she arrives in the states, Molly discovers that she knows very little about her deceased sister. Twists and unpredictability abound in this psychological drama, and the writer demands that his audience go with the flow and follow along as the story unfolds, revealing facets of Katie that Molly could never have imagined.

CLOSER LOOK

DAVID ELLIS

David Ellis is a writer that I highly recommend. And Closer Look exemplifies his outstanding talent. Complex, multi-faceted, and mysterious characters abound in this highly successful and beguiling thriller/mystery.

Simon and Vicky are wealthy and successful citizens living in the typical upper-class style. Simon has a large trust fund, and Vicky wants it as severely as addicts need drugs. At first, the storyline seems straightforward. But as the pages fly, the reader is entangled in a story that unfolds from multiple viewpoints and revelations. Few likable characters appear in this vividly told tale about money, lust, love, and greed.

THE LOCKED ROOM

ELLY GRIFFITHS

The newest entry of the Ruth Galloway criminal forensic archeologist series is as intriguing as the prior adventures. Adding to the recipe is the ongoing occurrence of Covid 19 and the misery it created. Though the reader may not wish to be reminded of the pandemic, the author does a superior job of taking us back to those miserable days.

Archeologist Ruth Gallaway examines a skeleton, presumably a Black Plague victim. Was the corpse a crime victim or a casualty of the plague? Similarities abound during Covid and the epidemic from centuries ago.

Ruth's partner, Nelson, is busy investigating deaths that may or may not be suicides. The plot points connect nicely, and the reader is left demanding to see more in this outstanding series written as only Elly Griffiths can.

A SECRET ABOUT A SECRET

PETER SPIEGELMAN

Peter Spiegelman's mystery, A Secret about a Secret, is a vibrant, serpentine, thought-provoking novel that asks the reader to watch the bouncing ball. And when done, the reader is treated to a fascinating story of greed, promiscuity, corporate politics, and big pharma. And a unique investigator who works for a shadow agency called "The Standard." Think of it as the C.I.A. and F.B.I. combined into one harrowing and fright-inducing agency.

A murdered scientist, missing documents, and convoluted reasoning add up to an intellectual mystery that warrants the readers' attention. And once captured, they are amply rewarded.

TOM CLANCY ZERO HOUR

DON BENTLEY

Zero Hour by prolifically talented writer Don Bentley has all of the action and military jargon expected from Tom Clancy et al. It brims with rich imagery that puts the reader in the middle of unimaginable volatility and danger.

Jack Jr. is in South Korea recruiting a potential operative for use back home on the sub rosa intelligence gathering campus created by Jack Ryan, Sr., when he was President of the United States. Trouble arrives when North Korean intelligence officers disrupt Jack's efforts, and violence ensues. Zero Hour explodes with authenticity. The reader can smell the cordite and see the bullets flying. The only thing faster than the bullets is the speed at which the reader will turn the pages.

THE OMEGA FACTOR

STEVE BERRY

Author Steve Berry once again proves he is at the top of his game. The Omega Factor contains new characters that stand up exceptionally well despite their initial appearance. Readers may wish for Cotton Malone and his partner Cassiopeia, but I say bring on Nick and Kelsy, these superb new players. History and religion are once again integral to the plot, and nobody does it better than Berry. The mystery unfolds with unexpected turns and diversions that combine to make The Omega Factor a promising beginning to what will be a well-researched, exciting, and entertaining new series by a true professional.

ROCK OF AGES

TIMOTHY HALLINAN

Rock Of Ages by Timothy Hallinan is the eighth outing for professional burglar Junior Bender living in Los Angeles. Hallinan switches lanes quickly and creates a unique story that does not require Junior to rip off anybody. Junior's client is an old-time gangster. The client has agreed to sponsor a rock group of yesteryear. Junior's client suspects that money is missing. The group's behavior is unpredictable and dangerous as people have accidents that defy logic. Readers get a vivid behind-the-scenes look at the music business and the wacky characters who populate the music industry. The conclusion is remarkable and proves again that Hallinan and Junior Bender are friends you want to have around for a long time.

AURORA

DAVID KOEPP

Aurora by David Koepp is hugely entertaining and reads like a well-made movie. The premise is simple but frighteningly possible. And full of unpredictability, danger, insanity, and heroism. Aurora is constructed, supposing that the electrical grid that powers EVERYTHING is destroyed and soon the world will be no more. Good and bad, evil and greatness abound in Aurora. The pages read themselves, and the reader wishes the book would never end. I enthusiastically recommend Aurora and the author's first novel, Cold Storage which is every bit as good as Aurora.

CATCH AND RELEASE

TRACE CONGER

Catch And Release by Trace Conger grabs its audience at page one and never lets up. Readers stay engaged and laser-focused in Conger’s newest and memorable Connor Harding thriller.

Somebody needs finding, and Connor Harding is the go-to when trouble brews. Harding is asked, A.K.A. forced to find the person who killed a hit man's family. Connor has few clues and not much time to succeed.

He follows a trail of postcards sent to the hit man, each describing the violence suffered by the victims. The action is swift, and the writing concise as Connor gets closer to finding the doer of the crime. Or so we think.

Catch And Release is captivating, unpredictable, and great fun. Conger is an established crime writer with an extensive back list that should be read by anyone who appreciates a great crime novelist.

FINDING JAKE

BRYAN REARDON

This involving tale is not available until 2015 but please pick it up when you can. The novel deals with a family and a school shooting. I am not going to say anything else. The book is incredibly good.

POINT OF BALANCE

J.G. JURADO

I just finished this outrageously absorbing and fantastic thriller. I was completely taken in and captured by its premise, which is not new. Someone wants to kill the President of the United States. You say,” big deal”, seen it and read it. Sorry – you most definitely have not read this story. From the very beginning this book is imaginative and the characters are delineated with spectacular clarity and precision. You know who is good and who is not, but what will they do to remain that way? Betray everything that they believe in and for what? Read this book today. But today better be a weekend because there will be nothing more urgent than finishing this original, mesmerizing, and truly unpredictable novel. This is why you read.

THE SHADOW BROKER

TRACE CONGER

I was fortunate to obtain a promotional copy of this outstanding P.I. novel by Trace Conger. I had not heard of this writer and started reading it with minimal expectations. Wow—was I wrong. Believe me, Mr. Conger knows how to write and write amazingly well. I am in love with the Shadow Broker and Mr. Finn the protagonist in this creative, diverting, and involving novel. The characters are colorful, dynamic, and realistically drawn. The dialog is believable given what this wonderful novel is about.

I was dejected when I finished “Shadow Broker.” Only when I read that Mr. Conger is working on his second book was I again as happy as I was when reading this well-written and entertaining novel.

SCAR TISSUE

TRACE CONGER

I am not a snob when it comes to my P.I. novels. Give me believable characters, a plausible plot, and beautifully written prose. That is all anybody wants. Mr. Conger supplies all of these with style, grace, and elegant simplicity. Mr. Finn is a defrocked P.I who takes on jobs that others may not want or be able to accept. This time he does a good deed for his ex-wife. We all know the saying “No good deed goes unpunished.” Mr. Finn gets his in spades. A maniacal thug, a down-to-earth mobster and a misguided doctor all come at Finn with their own agenda. Money, drugs, violence in insignificant amounts and credible dialogue make Scar Tissue a must buy and read. More good news: Mr. Conger is hard at work with another Finn book. Stay tuned. I know that I will.

THE PRISON GUARD’S SON

TRACE CONGER

I am a huge fan of the Mr. Finn Novels. The Prison Guard’s Son is no exception. Right from the jump I was captivated and involved with the story. This time Mr. Finn is hired to find two men who would rather not be found. Why, I will not reveal. The story is straight forward, and the action is sudden and surprising.
The Mr. Finn novels are professionally written and offer a superior example of the P.I. novel. Here is my suggestion – Get on the case right now. Buy all three of the Mr. Finn novels and feel what it is like to be a P.I.

FIVE WILL DIE

TRACE CONGER

“Five Will Die” by Trace Conger is an enthralling and vastly superior police procedural. The pages disappear at astounding speed, and the novel holds you captive from page one. Five Will Die is a beautiful novel that delivers on every page.

The narrative unfolds in a rural Ohio town as we meet the Sheriff, a former Cleveland homicide detective relocated in hopes of getting cats out of trees instead of catching murderers. The Sheriff receives a threatening note, and soon after, bodies start dropping. Is a serial killer on the move, or are the crimes unrelated? Do the victims share common victimology, or is it all just coincidence? Soon the F.B.I. is asked to help. The interplay between the locals and the feds is entertaining, and mentioned databases like V.I.C.A.P. and N.C.I.C. ring actual. Conger knows his subject well. He is a gifted storyteller who has provided us with an extraordinarily satisfying procedural. Readers will hurry to buy and read the author's hugely diverting backlist.

GRAVESEND

J.L. ABRAMO

I was absolutely enchanted and enthralled by this outstanding crime novel. But it was much more than a novel about good guys and bad. It was a magic roller coaster ride through Brooklyn and the rest of New York.

The characters are as real as life and as difficult and memorable. Every page describes people and situations that have or could happens to any of us. The police are fragile and vulnerable, and their families suffer from their devotion to duty. We want the detectives to overcome adversity, make the arrest, and clear the case. But like life, some of the cases are too difficult to close and sometimes nobody gets collared

The bad guys in this gorgeous story are bad and deserve their fate. Their victims are innocents who are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Make sure that you buy this book. See Brooklyn and its inhabitants like you have never seen them. What a book.

BROOKLYN JUSTICE

J.L. ABRAMO

I am a huge fan of J.L. Abramo. In Brooklyn Justice we see just how talented a writer he is. P.I. Nick Ventura is scratching out a living in Brooklyn, the poor sister to the more glamorous borough of Manhattan. In Brooklyn Justice Nick has to deal with a variety of problems including a murdered detective, a film distributor who wants to be a gangster and the real thing, a dead Mafioso. Even though Brooklyn is known as the Borough of Churches, there is nothing saintly or reverent about this book. My advice – Buy Brooklyn Justice when it is available. Call in sick and be prepared to hang out in a dangerous neighborhood with a more than capable guide.

CONEY ISLAND AVENUE

J.L. ABRAMO

I absolutely loved this book. Mr. Abramo is one of my favorite writers. After reading GRAVESEND, I begged his publisher to have Mr. Abramo write a sequel. And what a sequel it is. Not only is it a continuation of GRAVESEND but even better. It stands by itself as a deeply involving, glorious, amusing, entertaining, and tremendously satisfying procedural. This is how great Coney Island Avenue is:

I was all over the boroughs this past week. The day before leaving I told my wife I was going to Coney Island. I wanted to get a first-hand look at the locations that had mesmerized me so much. Some of you may remember that on January seventh New York experienced a snowstorm. I was undeterred by the snow and only did not complete my mission due to my wife's insistence.

I demand, plead, and cajole you to read this book. Mr. Abramo knows how to write cops, criminals, and everyone in between. And I implore him to write another entry in this outstandingly excellent series.

THE FORGOTTEN ROOM

LINCOLN CHILD

I like this author a lot. Yes, I know he is an eningmologist and shades of Dan Brown. Call me a sucker for weird science. I have read all his books and have liked each of them. This is about a room in a mansion. What goes on in this room and why are people flipping out and acting strangely? You will have to read this to find out. Do not worry, I read it in three days about two hours per day. A lot of fun.

A VOICE FROM THE FIELD

NEAL GRIFFIN

This is another winning entry in the Newberg Novels written by Neal Griffin. This time out Tia Suarez is in the middle of a human trafficking ring that threatens to destroy her career when she investigates a missing girl. The locals do not want the case. Eventually the feds—led by an unidentified and mysterious security agency—big foot the case, leaving Tia and her boss out in the cold. Tia has no doubt that a girl has been kidnapped but the federal boys have a different objective in mind. They want to bring down a pervasive gang who claim to want to defend America and what it stands for. Tia must convince her chief and her colleagues that there is a missing girl hiding in the small town of Newberg.

Readers will instantly like and care for Tia as she battles police department bureaucracy and as well as the Federal government security agency that nobody seems to have heard of. I read this in a few days. When you buy A Voice from the Field be prepared to do nothing but get involved in a splendid and absorbing story.

THE SECOND GIRL

DAVID SWINSON

I just finished The Second Girl by David Swinson. I am depressed because the second installment of this outstanding and absorbing P.I. novel is not due until the summer of 2017. Think Pelecanos, David Simon’s The Wire, and Homicide, Life On the Street, illustrious and legendary police procedurals whether on television or in book form.

Our hero is a drug addicted former Washington D.C. narcotics detective. The only thing he likes more than Valium, cocaine, and liquor is solving crimes that the cops cannot solve. He does not have to have probable cause to stop somebody, which means that he can do whatever he feels is necessary to find a resolution to the crime. Our P.I. is hired to find a missing girl. Is she a runaway or a kidnapping victim? Who took her and why? You must buy this book on June seventh. Then block out a day or two to travel the dirty, dangerous, and unpredictable streets that surround our nation’s capital. I assure you that you will never feel the same about gangs, kids, and crime.

BRIGHTON

MICHAEL HARVEY

I am going to quote Stephen King,“Brighton is the f**king bomb.” I started this outstanding and superb novel yesterday and finished it this afternoon. Brighton reminds me of Dennis Lehane at his best, and that is the highest praise that I can offer. Every page offers subtleties and inferences that ask the reader to keep on reading. And believe me, the rewards are absolutely worth the effort.

Brighton has it all. Crime, criminals, drugs, scumbags, inveterate gamblers, cops, lawyers, and reporters. This recipe for trouble starts in Boston in the 1970s. Families and friends doing what they must to survive. So, what if people are shot, strangled, drowned, and stabbed. All part of the fabric of America. The beauty is how the writer seams together all the events and characters to make Brighton one of the most intriguing, fascinating, and time monopolizing novels that I have had the privilege of reading.

THE SAMARITAN

MASON CROSS

I was unfamiliar with the author Mason Cross when I read this book. The Samaritan is simply a great piece of writing. Think of Lee Child and Jack Reacher. Once you have done that then you will know what to expect from this wonderful book. This is a book that begs you to keep on reading until the very end. Every character is well drawn and after a few pages you are immersed in a world replete with violence, mystery, crime, punishment, and revenge. This is a place that you will love to inhabit and be loath to leave.

No comment on the plot or denouement. Buy this today. I promise that you will get your money’s worth. And when you have finished this buy the first Mason Cross book, The Killing Season.

THE KILLING SEASON

MASON CROSS

This thriller captures your attention from the first few pages. When a book starts with, “the first thing you should know about me is that my name is not Carter Blake” you know it is going to be a fun and exciting novel. Mason Cross captures your attention and says to you, block out the next couple of days because you are not doing anything else except reading The Killing Season. And believe me, you will do just that. I am always looking for the next Lee Child and Jack Reacher and I have found them. Carter Blake is a man for all reasons, especially if you must find somebody. In The Killing Season he is hired by the F.B.I. to find an escaped serial killer. The only problem is that this guy has been trained to kill by the best, the United States Marines. Think of the movie, American Sniper, and how well the soldier was taught to kill. Now imagine the same caliber serial killer loose in the Midwest of the United States. Here is the premise of The Killing Season, a truly absorbing, exciting, and entertaining book written by Mason Cross.

WINTERLONG

MASON CROSS

I said this once before and it bears repeating: Mason Cross and his protagonist Carter Blake give Lee Child and Jack Reacher a run for their money. Winterlong is a tremendously suspenseful, engaging, and entertaining thriller. Carter Blake is our hero. And just like Jack Reacher he is immensely entertaining resourceful and engaging. In this the third installment of the Carter Blake series he is on the run trying to escape from his former employers, a shady deep cover operations group called Winterlong. I don't want to give away anymore intricacies of the plot. This is an utmost entertaining and absorbing novel. I read this book in about three days, postponing other reviews that I had been working on. Buy every single one of the three Carter Blake thrillers, they are simply outstanding.

DON’T LOOK FOR ME

MASON CROSS

Make no mistake, I am a huge Mason Cross fan. Every novel he writes is exciting and involving. Don’t Look For me is no exception. This time out, Carter Blake, formerly of the shadow laced government-sponsored agency, Winterlong, receives an email asking him to find somebody he knew six years ago. With very little to go on, we accompany Carter as he crosses America, looking for his target.
During this great novel, Carter meets and battles a hit-man type, dirty cops, and a do-gooder who does not know what she is in for. Is the person Carter is looking for a criminal or just somebody who has reasons of their own to disappear? And why are so many people interested in finding the missing person?
All of that and much more await the reader of this wonderful suspense novel written by Mason Cross. If you are smart you will read Don’t Look For Me, and then buy the first three entries in this well-written and engrossing thriller series.

DR. KNOX

PETER SPEIGELMAN

This is one helluva enjoyable read. Peter Spiegelman knows how to write an intriguing, absorbing, and colorful novel. Dr. Adam Knox is not like any doctor you know. He lives in downtown Los Angeles amongst the pimps, dealers, whores, and homeless. He patches them together and hopes for the best. To pay his bills he makes house calls on those who pay cash because they are too notorious or famous to go to a hospital or conventional clinic.

We find Dr. Knox rescuing and treating an abandoned child after doing the same for child’s presumptive mother. People are looking for the kid and his mom. And not people like you and me. What ensues is dangerous, exciting, horrible, and terrific.

Pick up Dr. Knox. I promise that you will experience a fascinating look at people who you do not run into during your everyday life.

ESCAPE CLAUSE

JOHN SANDFORD

This is another wonderfully entertaining, absorbing, and compelling police procedural. Virgil Flowers is the unorthodox Minnesota based Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent who is always involved in weird and dangerous crimes.

This time out Flowers is tasked to find a pair of rare and endangered tigers that have been stolen from the Twin Cities Zoo. Who would commit this crime and of equal import, why? Flowers has many tools at his disposal least of all his service weapon which he rarely uses largely because he is a terrible shot. Fortunately for him and for us, he is a superb investigator who relies on his experience, acumen, and network of associates, witnesses, and criminals.

Beside the missing tigers, Flowers must take care of a violent man who has beat up his girlfriend’s sister who is researching illegal employment practices at a local pickle factory. Add this to the intriguing tiger tale and you have another fascinating, gripping, and compulsively readable mystery written by Mr. Sandford, one of the absolute best in the field.

BURNING BRIGHT

NICK PETRIE

Nick Petrie is one of my favorite thriller writers. He reminds me of Lee Child which in my eyes Burning Bright is about as good as it gets. Petrie catches you from page one and never lets you go. You will need to clear your schedule as I did when you start this involving, exciting, and well plotted second entry of the Peter Ash series.

Burning Bright is a book that is perfect at any time, especially when you are in the mood for action, a fascinating and exciting plot, and a well-told story. My advice- read THE DRIFTER, the initial entry of this already well-established series and immediately buy BURNING BRIGHT. Then wait as I did for another wonderful book in this great series.

LIGHT IT UP

NICK PETRIE

I have read all three of the Peter Ash novels written by Nick Petrie. Each of them has been exciting, entertaining, and absorbing. Light it up is no exception. In this installment we find our hero, Peter Ash, a retired but still-in-the-game marine vet, employed by a high-end security company whose clients are commercial marijuana growers in Colorado. There is plenty of cash that cannot be deposited in banks due to federal banking prohibitions. Where does it go and how does it get there?

Peter Ash works for the security company, transferring cash to its destination. The problem – crooks are watching as the cash leaves the client’s businesses. A shipment of cash has been highjacked and people are dead. What happens after that is for you to find out. Buy Light It Up. You will have a terrific time.

A FALLING KNIFE

ANDREW CASE

Discovering Andrew Case and The Hollow City series is like discovering gold. The Big Fear was a tremendous novel, and A Falling Knife is just as good. In this the second entry into the series the reader is transported to the borough of Brooklyn where buildings are going up as fast as the stock market. However, something is not right. People are dying, money is changing hands and our hero, and his counterparts are desperate to find out why. Is a large development company at the heart of the problem, and most of all why a certain detective is more dedicated to doing his twenty than solving the case.

Andrew Case writes about what he knows. He knows cops, the inner workings of the N.Y.P.D and how it all comes together. My only hope is that Mr. Case continues writing more in this wonderful series. However, if he chooses to explore other areas, I know that I will be happy. Do yourself a solid buy The Big Fear and A Falling Knife as soon as possible. Andrew case is an author that once discovered is like gold that you will treasure and keep around forever.

THE DIME

KATHLEEN KENT

I really like THE DIME by Kathleen Kent. I hope that this is the beginning of a long and intriguing series. Det.Rhyzyk, our protagonist is a transplanted New Yorker who now works narcotics for the Dallas P.D. If that is not difficult enough, what make matters more challenging she is also a lesbian. Ordinarily that would not be problematic, but sexual orientation on the job is an issue. Our hero is involved in a variety of drug busts, dealing with your typical low-life scum and perps. Bodies start to accumulate when Det. Rhyzyk and her squad discover a meth dealing cult.

THE DIME is a well-written captivating police procedural. I highly recommend that you read this novel. After finishing, you will want another serving of this entertaining and involving story.

THE DRY

JANE HARPER

I was unfamiliar with the brilliant writer of the equally excellent mystery, The Dry. Ms. Harper’s writing is piercing while developing fascinating plots and back stories. I read The Dry in two days. The descriptions of Australia rang true which added authenticity to this mesmerizing, beautifully crafted debut mystery. The characters were mightily conceived and believable. The Dry transported me to a foreign land where anything can happen. Grab this book as soon as you can, you will have no regrets.

THE BRIDGE

STUART PREBBLE

This psychological drama grabbed me from page one. An unknown man commits a series of indescribable crimes, yet the consequences are as bad as the crimes themselves. Imagine a sunny day and then picture the worst thing that can happen. Now you have an idea about what this absorbing wonderful book is about. I don't want to say anything else about THE BRIDGE except that it is a book worth buying on March 17th the first day that is available. I adored this book and I heartily recommend it for those of you who have never read a psychological drama or for those of you who do nothing but read books like this.

THE INSECT FARM

STUART PREBBLE

This is one hell of an enjoyable read. At first the reader is not exactly sure what is going on but as the pages turn the reader finds himself immersed in a murky world of insects, mental retardation, and murder. The plot is involving, and the premise is interesting and uncommon. My advice to the any reader is buy this book and await the arrival of The Bridge, the writer’s next excellent novel.

FATAL OPTION

CHRIS BEAKEY

This twisty and unpredictable psycho-thriller reminds all of us how vulnerable we are to doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. The plot is amazingly simple; a family-oriented person gets into a traffic accident, but the results are far from uncomplicated. The book gains momentum and the reader must turn the pages to find out what happens to this ordinary family battling far from ordinary events. My advice to you is to not drive in the snow and if you do avoid what happens in this involving and irresistible look at something that could happen to all of us.

INVISIBLE DEAD

SAM WIEBE

Sam Wiebe is an impressive writer. I absolutely loved his first novel, Last of The Independents. As soon as I started it, I wanted him to draft another book. And he just did, writing another moody, atmospheric, grey, and pensive novel, Invisible Dead.

It takes place in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The plot is initially straight forward. A girl went missing a long time ago. Dave Wakeland, an earnest P.I. wants to find out what happened to the missing girl. Unfortunately, more than a few people, both good and evil, do not want her found. We accompany Dave as he deals with Vancouver’s meanest, deadliest, and scummiest. This is what being a P.I. is like. No glamour, girls, and glitz. Just hard-nosed reality in all its glory and gloom.

How Dave carries himself propels the reader rapidly through the story. Take a day or two to familiarize yourself with Dave Wakeland, a P.I. that has lived through a lot but can still talk about it. Once you read Invisible Dead you will cheer and root for another outstanding Dave Wakeland novel. I know I will.

SKITTER

EZEKIEL BOONE

Skitter is the second of Ezekiel Boone’s superbly entertaining, cinematic, and down-right fun end of the world novel. The Hatching, the initial entry was simply great fun and Skitter is even better. We pick up where we left off, spiders of unknown origin, have invaded the planet. Our heroes, if there are any, are the scientists madly working to find an answer to the ever-worsening catastrophe. So far, without any luck. The book follows a variety of characters as they cope with this invasion. What happens next is anybody’s guess. The only good news is that there is another installment on the way. Do yourself a favor – buy Skitter and The Hatching and settle back for tons of fun.

ZERO DAY

EZEKIEL BOONE

Zero Day by Ezekiel Boone is the third part of this tremendously fun and entertaining end of the world trilogy. In this case, it is imperative that you read the first two entries, The Hatching and Skitter.

The premise is simple. Man- eating spiders have infested the entire world and there is nothing to stop the rampant destruction and chaos. Hundreds of millions of people are in danger and nobody knows what to do.

Enter our players, politicians, Presidents, police, military, scientists of all stripes, and ordinary civilians.
What ensues in Zero Day is a marvelously entertaining and cinematic tale of destruction, redemption, and all-around fun. Buy The Hatching and Skitter and then read Zero Day. You will have a wonderful time.

PENDULUM

ADAM HAMDY

Pendulum by Adam Hamdy is just that. The story kept me swinging back and forth, racing along the streets of London and New York trying to avoid a nameless and faceless killer particularly good at his job. What captured my attention and held it long into the night was an elemental yet frightening question. Who is trying to kill our hero, and why? Along the way, in this entertaining and wild ride, we meet unknowing and undeserving victims from all occupations. But are they what they seem? The truth is revealed late in the game which means that you must race through to the end. The ride is wild, bewildering, and fantastic. I loved this book and hope for more by this talented and innovative writer.

THE ROOM OF WHITE FIRE

T. JEFFERSON PARKER

​The Room of White Fire burns with intensity and tension. T. Jefferson Parker has written an involving, passionate, and enthralling P.I. novel. You will finish this outstanding book within days of starting it.

A vet has escaped from a high-end mental hospital. Think of Betty Ford or Hazelden in Minnesota. Is he there due to what everybody believes, PTSD, or is it for another reason entirely? Roland Ford is the PI hired by the hospital. His job: find the missing vet and return him to the anxiously awaiting doctors at the hospital. It appears straight-forward, and it should be.

Ride along with Roland and experience bad guys, killers, dopers, CIA agents and whoever else has an interest in finding our vet. You will find out that there is no such thing as a straightforward case when you are a PI.

The Room of White Fire is the initial entry of what I hope will be a long series. There are few writers that compare with Parker. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. You will have an exciting time.

SWIFT VENGEANCE

T. JEFFERSON PARKER

I just finished reading a wonderful book by one of my favorite mystery authors, Jefferson Parker. Swift Vengeance has everything. Roland Ford is a P. I. in San Diego, California. Lindsay Rakes is a retired Air Force drone operator whose team killed a suspected terrorist along with nine civilians. The civilians killed were not terrorists and therein lies the problem and the plot of this tremendously exciting and beautifully written novel. Along the way our hero Roland Ford teams up with a truly dedicated FBI agent and has conflicts with another private investigator who may or may not be working for the suspected terrorist. The reader follows all this with rapt attention as time runs out before a terrorist attack plagues San Diego.

T Jefferson Parker is one of the world’s best crime and thriller writers. Swift Vengeance will be on sale 21 August. Rush to wherever you buy books and purchase this the second you do.

GANGSTER NATION

TODD GOLDBERG

Gangster Nation by Todd Goldberg is every bit as funny as GANGSTER LAND the initial entry into this Las Vegas- Chicago Mob tale of comic woe and laughs. Sal Cupertine is a deposed hit man. He has been relocated to Las Vegas and is a Rabbi. And such a Rabbi. Quoting the Torah and the Talmud, all the while calculating how he can escape his new identity, reclaim his wife and child, and get out finally. Unfortunately, the mob bosses back in Chicago have other ideas, as does a dedicated ex-F.B.I. agent who wants revenge for his murdered partner and a few other dead agents.

Goldberg has written a funny, unique, and sometimes poignant novel of mistake, regret, and faith. GANGSTER NATION is violent, unpredictable, and wonderful. Read it if you know what is good for you.

THE HANGMAN’S SONNET

REED FARREL COLEMAN

The Hangman’s Sonnet by Reed Farrel Coleman is wonderful. If I close my eyes, I can imagine Robert Parker saying “bravo” to Mr. Coleman. Reed Farrel Coleman tells a tremendously entertaining and captivating story. As always, it takes place in the imaginary New England town of Paradise, where Police Chief Jesse Stone has been holding sway since resigning from the L.A.P.D. due to excessive drinking, a flaw that he still battles.

Jesse is tasked with solving multiple murders as well as dealing with some people who are planning a big blow out for a rock star down on his luck.

How all of this does or does not tie in is left up to Jesse and his officers. The story is amusing and absorbing. I love Robert Parker and can only thank Mr. Coleman for maintaining the glow that emanates from all his characters.

KILLER CHOICE

TOM HUNT

Killer Choice by Tom Hunt is my kind of book. It asks the question; would you kill somebody to save the one you love? All I can say is I loved this book. At first, all is well with our heroic couple. Then Gary’s wife collapses and is rushed to the hospital for tests and a diagnosis. Our hero’s wife is sick and going to die unless she can receive expensive treatment available in Europe. The catch- it is experimental, and the insurance company will not pay the $200,00.00 that is required.

What to do? A mystery man approaches Gary and makes a proposition; kill this guy and I will give you the money that you need. That is Killer Choice in a nutshell.

I highly recommend this intriguing and fast paced novel. You do not have a choice – Buy and read this entertaining and terrific book.

ONE FATAL MISTAKE

TOM HUNT

One Fatal mistake is Tom Hunt’s second great suspense novel. This one asks; what would you do to protect your child? And what consequences would you be willing to face?
Josh is any child. A normal kid who happens to kill somebody in a fatal car accident. Karen, Josh’s mom decides to cover it up and put it behind them. Simply fine until they run into Ross and Amber who have just robbed a bank. How these events snake and twist together make for one incredibly entertaining, exasperating, and crazy a** suspense adventure that you will finish the same day that you start. Bravo for Tom Hunt.

BTW – thank you to the publicity department at PRH and Lauren Bernstein for the early review copy.

BIG GUNS

STEVE ISRAEL

Big Guns by Steve Israel is big fun. Mr. Israel writes what he knows. Politics, money, deals, back-room brawls and promises, most of which are bought and paid for with taxpayer money

Here we find a novice southern congressperson in search of popularity and political currency. What better way than to legislate your way to fame by requiring that all Americans be armed? As you wend your way through this extremely funny and topical satire you cry as much as you laugh. Because Big Guns is dead on perfect. The characters are comical and believable, and the pot they stir is reflective of today’s Washington. Along the way we meet the star of the show, a vivacious and pretty D.C. lobbyist, whose only desire is to increase her income and her reputation, by any means necessary. Throw in a leftist mayor from the Gold Coast of New York and her agenda and you end up with a tremendously funny, cogent, and marvelous read. You win my vote, Mr. Israel.

THE REAL MICHAEL SWANN

BRYAN REARDON

The Real Michael Swann is as good as I had hoped, and better. The premise is this: A bomb has been detonated in Midtown Manhattan. Who is responsible? And why. Is it terrorist from abroad, or domestic terrorists? The writer takes us into the heart and mind of the terrorist and his family. At first, Ms. Swann is incredulous. She cannot believe that her husband has committed this unspeakable act. True – their marriage is a bit rocky, and he has lost his job. But would that make Michael Swann throw away everything and kill hundreds? We follow along as the terrorist tries to explain to himself that he has done and why. How could he do what he did? These and other questions are answered in this fast paced, thrilling, and captivating novel.

PIRATA

PATRICK HASBURGH

Pirata by Patrick Hasburgh is a wild, crazy, fun, and refreshing beach/family novel.
Nick Lutz was a family-oriented person, selling cars in Southern California. That changed when he was hijacked while demonstrating a Chevy to a potential customer/car hijacker. Something happens, and Nick leaves his family and lands in a small Mexican beach village. Here he struggles to find a new life and to figure out what happened to his old one. Along the way he meets friends, girlfriends, thieves, and two kids who make him rethink what he is doing.

Throw in descriptive surf scenes, drugs and cartels and you have a fine book written by an equally gifted author. Surf’s up – buy Pirata and enjoy the wave.

CUT YOU DOWN

SAM WIEBE

Cut You Down is the second entry into what is an enjoyable and entertaining novel staring Vancouver, B.C. P.I. David Wakeland. Based in Western Canada, Cut You Down not only is a first-class story but also offers views of Vancouver, a city not familiar to many.

Wakeland specializes in finding missing persons. Here, he is hired to find Tabitha Sorenson, a college student who may have misappropriated university funds. This seems especially straightforward until it is not. Mix in a shady client who wants to find Tabitha, a mob connection related to another case, a dirty cop, and you have a compulsory P.I. novel of the best kind. And do make sure that you read Invisible Dead the initial Wakeland novel, as well as Last of The Independents, a tremendous stand alone.

ALL THE BEAUTIFUL LIES

PETER SWANSON

All The Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson is a beautifully written mystery that smacks of Patricia Highsmith and Alfred Hitchcock. The twists and turns are unpredictable, tantalizing, and unbearable. All The Beautiful Lies is a siren that compels you to read and finish in one sitting.

Harry Ackerson is a run of the mill college student who has just graduated. When his father dies unexpectedly, he rushes back to small-town Maine to reunite with his stepmother. Something does not ring quite true. Why is his stepmother so cloying? How did his father die? In addition, what is happening at the rare bookstore that his father ran with his part-time employee? Superficially, all is well, but is it? You MUST read this outstanding novel. It is great.

TWISTED PREY

JOHN SANDFORD

John Sanford always writes an enthralling and unique story. Twisted Prey is no exception. For those of us who have followed Lucas Davenport since his first outing, reading another installment is like hanging out with a friend who happens to be a police officer. In this instance Lucas is not working for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the B.C.A. but for the U.S. Marshall Service.

He is on the track of a doer who has attempted to assassinate a U.S. Senator. What happens next is why the book is entitled what it is. The reader is taken through a maze of twists and turns, meeting various bad dudes who are selling weapons off the books, plotting killings, robbery, and fraud on a massive scale. All of this is thrown at Lucas as he tries to decipher what is going on and who is responsible for the attempted killing.

My advice is to buy Twisted Prey as soon as it is available. If you have never
read Sanford, read his entire back list of Prey novels, and then hit the equally entertaining Virgil Flowers books. You will have a wonderful time.

BY HIS OWN HAND

NEAL GRIFFIN

By His Own Hand is the third compelling entry of the Det. Tia Suarez Newberg, WI series. The book is a great stand alone and is also fantastic for all who have followed Det. Suarez since the inception of the series.

Det. Suarez is an investigator on a small police force in a small town that has big city crime. Here she comes across an apparent suicide. All signs at the scene indicate death by shotgun administered by the victim. The story unfolds rapidly as we encounter players both within and ancillary to the department and the investigation. The action is realistic and well depicted by a practiced procedural writer. The Newburg series is a helluva lot of fun. It reads quickly, as you are propelled into the confusing, twisty, and realistic investigation.

THE DOLLAR-A-YEAR DETECTIVE

WILLIAM WELLS

​William Wells is a guy I love to read. He authors an involving story full of cool police procedural jargon. He also includes enough humor to remind me of Paul Levine, SV Date, and even the king of the Florida caper, Carl Hiaasen.

The Dollar-A-Year Detective starts with a couple taking a romantic sail of the coast of Florida. A minute later, they are dead from two head shots from an unknown assailant.

Jack Starkey, our protagonist, is a retired Chicago homicide detective living on his houseboat and running his bar. Occasionally he is asked to look at a case and lend a hand to the locals. That is exactly what he does in The Dollar-A-Year Detective. We meet your typical scummy politicians and others who populate that weird place called Florida. Why the victims are murdered and by whom is what this entertaining book is about. Throw in a great police sense of humor, memorable characters, and terrific scenery. You then have a must read P.I. novel that will keep you up all night, laughing and wondering what happened. And keep in mind the author’s initial entry, Detective Fiction. Worth the read.

WRECKED

JOE IDE

I review a lot of mysteries and thrillers. Many are mediocre and only a few standout, especially from first time writers. Joe Ide has written excellent mysteries, IQ and Righteous. Both are captivating. Wrecked is the third of the IQ series. Isaiah Quintabe, IQ for short is a Long Beach, California based P.I. He earned his rep by solving cases both small and big.

In Wrecked, Isaiah is asked to find a missing person, the mother of his putative girlfriend. The action starts from page one, and never stops until the novel concludes. I will not reveal much of the plot. Only those humans are capable of horrendous behavior, especially during war. Pictures, videos, and blackmail, all fragrant ingredients in Wrecked, the third entry into what should be a terrific series.

THE BIG GAMBLE

MIKE FARICY

Mike Faricy’s The Big Gamble is a sure-fire winner in the long-established and winning Dev Haskell Private Investigator series. Faricy writes with a sure and confident hand emblematic of Hiaasen, Sanford, and other luminaries writing in the P.I and mystery field.

The Big Gamble is populated with crooks, gangsters, attractive women, police officers, office mates, and one heroic dog. Dev is asked to investigate the apparent suicide of a woman he knew in high school. At first, it looks like any other suicide and the police classify it as such and close the case. But Dev sees inconsistencies that lead him to dig deep into the Minnesota winter and find out why a happy and outgoing young woman would take her life.

The Big Gamble is another winner in this long-running series that readers will hope continues until Dev is too old to pursue criminals and love.

BAD TO THE BONE

MIKE FARICY

Bad to the Bone is the 29th in author Mike Faricy's reliable and consistently entertaining Dev Haskell Private Investigator series. Bad to the Bone features all familiar characters that we have grown to like, if not love. The story plays out against a seemingly straightforward homicide that Dev is investigating on behalf of the accused's mother. Dev also investigates a suspicious recycling company with no equipment or employees. Amusing dialog with Louie, his office mate, various women, and Dev's loyal dog and companion Morton complete a fun filled P.I. novel that will leave fans new and old chomping for more.

SURPRISE, SURPRISE!

MIKE FARICY

Surprise, Surprise! by talented and entertaining author Mike Faricy again delivers the goods in spades. His loveable and less-than-perfect characters abound as the story unfolds as only Faricy can compose. Dev Haskell, our favorite private investigator, is summoned by his non-paying, dangerous client and criminal Tubby Gustafson to escort Tubby's daughter around town. Meanwhile, Dev picks up an attractive yet unpredictable female who claims her husband is cheating on her. Dev gladly takes on this seductive client but finds no wrongdoing. Matters heat up in both cases while Dev consults with Louie, his long-time office partner, and Mort, his ever-present pork rind eating Labrador retriever.

Surprise, Surprise! is Number 31 in this long-running, entertaining, and well-put-together series. Read every one of them. There is no better way to spend your time.

THE PLOT

JEAN HANFF KORELITZ

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz is a strikingly excellent novel that combines the best of literary fiction and commercial readability. With the publication of The Plot, Jean Hanff Korelitz has captured a willing audience that is always on the lookout for a fantastic story told in a gripping and unpredictable manner. The Plot centers on a failed writer who happens to come across a manuscript shown to him by a student. The undeveloped story has potential but remains stillborn until the failed writer decides to resurrect his career. What happens next is the stuff of one of the best novels of this or any other year. Fiction is a window to our souls. And the Plot rips open our skin and delivers a red-hot flame that burns until the reader is left gasping for air.

MATTERS OF DOUBT

WARREN C. EASLEY

Matters of Doubt by Warren C. Easley is the first of an eight-book series. It features a straight-ahead, honest, and determined attorney, Cal Claxton living in rural Oregon. Cal's client is a young man whose mother has been murdered. This egregious offense motivated Cal to do what he can to bring the killer to answer for his crime. Taking up the cause of his client offends Cal’s friends and some of his associates. But no matter what, Cal is obligated to collect the evidence and solve the murder. And along the way, we become familiar with Cal's personality and work habits. We also gain a picture of Portland, Oregon, and its problems typical of a large city in the United States. Matters of Doubt is a stand-alone winner and serves as an outstanding springboard for the author's future work.

THE BURNING

JONATHAN AND JESSE KELLERMAN

The Burning by John and his son Jesse Kellerman is another entertaining and thoughtful mystery involving more than just a who done it? The novel begins when Clay Edison, a deputy coroner for Berkeley, California, is called to a homicide of a wealthy victim. All is on the up and up until Clay finds his brother's old car in the victim's garage. Very strange because why would Clay's brother Luke, an ex-con, have a connection to the victim? Nobody hears from Luke, and Clay launches his search, hoping to reestablish his relationship. Clay discovers that somebody may have been following Luke, making Clay more determined to solve this mystery.

The Burning is mystery and suspense at its best.

WHERE THEY WAIT

SCOTT CARSON

Scott Carson, A.K.A. Michael Koryta, is a multi-talented author who knows how to scare the h**l out of you. With the ubiquity of apps, why not have one that will improve your mental state and outlook? That is what happens in Where They Wait. Nick Bishop decides to test an app that promises big rewards, increased sleep, and a perfect perspective. What he encounters is far more than what he bargained. Truths about his life and past emerge in ways unbeknownst and frightening. Where They Wait offers a fresh take on what disturbs us the most—our lives and regrets.

CHARLESTON NOIR

TOM TURNER

Charleston Noir by Tom Turner is an outstanding and entertaining mystery/procedural. The pages turn rapidly, leaving the reader wanting more adventures with Homicide cops Nick Janzek and Delvin Rhett.

History is a good teacher, and the perp in Charleston Noir is an exemplary student. Bodies abound from the get-go, and the determined investigators have difficulty making sense of the crimes, not to mention shedding light on possible motives. The story unfolds logically, inviting the reader to observe the detectives at their best and worst. Charleston Noir is a great read and part of Turner's ever-expanding list of titles.

SAVANNAH ROADKILL

TOM TURNER

Tom Turner’s Savannah Roadkill exceeds the high standards set with his first Savannah mystery, The Savannah Madam, based in and around Savannah, Georgia. The intrigue commences quickly as the father of a murdered professional tennis player hires Jackie and Ryder Farrell, private investigators, to find the perpetrators. The story develops rapidly and promptly becomes more intriguing than a straightforward homicide. Drug dealing, revenge, jealousy, and ambition are on stage as the plot comes into and out of focus. Turner keeps the pages turning as the reader attempts to solve the case before the action comes to a stop.

Turner is a pleasure to read. Fans will be thrilled to discover his lengthy backlist featuring Detective Charlie Crawford in the long-running Palm Beach series and a telling and contemporary stand-alone soon to come.

PALM BEACH PIRANHA

TOM TURNER

Palm Beach Piranha the prolific and talented Tom Turner, is another captivating, amusing, and eminently enjoyable procedural staring former N.Y.P.D. Detective Charlie Crawford and his partner, Mort Ott. And, of course, the supporting cast of various girlfriends and bosses in the Palm Beach Police department. The story unfolds as Charlie's ex-wife is found D.O.A. Recently marital problems point to the husband, but this guy is one intelligent and slimy perp. Making matters worse is that he is a doctor with money and excuses that make it difficult for Charlie to make a solid case. Ott and Charlie pursue the ex-husband to New York and back to Florida but come up with nothing.

Meanwhile, an older wealthy billionaire is being held ransom until he transfers 20 million dollars to a pair of stupid but entertaining low-lives. Charlie and Ott track them down to Puerto Rico and other islands before making their bust.

Palm Beach Piranha is another successful example of escapism at its best. Turner is a master and deserves the large readership that makes him an author to watch and follow.

THE FIELDS

ERIN YOUNG

The Fields by newcomer Erin Young is outstanding from the first page until last. The action is detailed and sometimes graphic, encouraging readers to remember Thomas Harris and The Silence of the Lambs.

The Fields takes place in the American Midwest, evoking images of millions of acres of farmland populated by never-ending corn stalks. It is here where newly promoted investigator Sgt. Riley Fisher of the Black Hawk County Sheriff's office starts her day. Farmers discover a body while using a drown. When Sgt. Fisher inspects the scene she finds that the victim was a friend many years ago. Bodies pile up as quickly as clues as Fisher attempts to untangle a frightening and logic-defying series of homicides.

The author plans on a series with Sgt. Fisher as the star attraction. Readers will hope that the author can write as quickly as they can read.

THE ISLAND

ADRIAN MCKINTY

A colleague asked me to review The Island by Adrian McKinty (May 17th.) The problem was that the book was on sale this Tuesday, which gave me three days to read and compose my coverage. Initially, I was reticent because three days is usually an insufficient time to read, absorb, and formulate an impactful review. In this instance, such was not the case. The Island is a beautifully written, horrifying, unpredictable, and terrorizing story of good versus evil.
A family on vacation stops at an Australian island to view rare and indigenous wildlife only found on this isolated strip of land. Unbeknownst, the animals are human and more dangerous than the imagination allows. What happens next is what makes The Island one of the great reads of this or any other year.

McKinty has a superior flare for the unpredictable and the rare ability to convey it in a way that will make all readers fans of this and his voluminous backlist. McKinty is a talent to watch.

MY SUMMER DARLINGS

MAY COBB

My Summer Darlings by May Cobb is not only a perfect beach book but also excellent at any time of year. The story is so familiar that you feel like a participant in this fun and somewhat salacious novel. Three best friends hang out and dish about their lives and others. Then handsome and virile Will moves in. And boy does he. All of the women want him, and the same goes for him. Details are revealed, keeping the reader on edge. Who is going to get lucky? And does luck have a downside? All looks good until the last moment when a new player steps onto the stage.

What happens to whom and the results make My Summer Darlings a book that you cannot afford to miss, even if you are in the middle of a snowstorm or rain like I am.