Bobby Bin’s Busy Day

by

Rina Croft

Follow an unsung hero through his busy day of trash removal and recycling.

Bobby Bin’s Busy Day by Rina Croft is a vividly illustrated, interesting, and fun peek into the job of an island sanitation worker. Bobby is happy and confident in his job, keeping his island home free of trash, and in his actions, which make the most of what he collects while protecting the environment. 

Rina Croft uses deep, vibrant colors in her vivid illustrations of Bobby’s job, life, and the role he plays in the larger picture of controlling the waste humans generate daily. The jewel-like blues create a calm and beautiful backdrop for Bobby’s story, and, although it is a cartoon-type illustration, I was still ready to book a trip to Banana Island! Young readers will be drawn to the sumptuous colors and surprised by what goes on behind the scenes to keep our trash from building up and becoming a problem. 

Croft does a great service by highlighting one of the unsung heroes of daily life. I recommend BOBBY BIN’S BUSY DAY for use at home with young readers and listeners, schools, and after-school programs. Well done! 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

Mystery in Marseille

Sophie’s Adventures, #3

by

Nupur Tustin

A good art heist mystery for a fun, quick, entertaining story.

Mystery in Marseille is the third entry in author Nupur Tustin’s artworld mystery series, Sophie’s Adventures, and it is a fun, quick, and relaxing story to enjoy with your feet up and you’re ready to be entertained. When a little-known Matisse painting is stolen from the Musée Cantini in Marseille, Sophie and her friend Nicole are on the case and hot on the trail of the thief. 

Sophie and Nicole are best friends, and they finagle themselves a work trip to Marseille, ostensibly to safeguard a valuable Matisse on loan to the local Musée Cantini from Nicole’s employer, the Musée D’Orsay. In reality, the girls want a vacation, and Sophie’s boyfriend, FBI Special Agent Joe Wright, just happens to be in Marseille at an Interpol conference. But upon arriving at the Cantini, they are alarmed to hear that the Matisse has gone missing and is presumed stolen! The girls employ a variety of disguises and wigs, including impersonating the local gendarmes and Interpol agents, as they quickly get a break in the case. As a bonus, because their suspect has joined the same tour bus group as the girls, readers are treated to some of Marseille’s history courtesy of the tour guide. In addition, the narrative provides interesting tidbits about other famous artists and their works as the pair visits art museums and galleries in pursuit of their quarry. 

Sophie and Nicole are a fun pair and, while best friends, quite different from each other. Sophie tends to be quiet and conservative while chafing under the constant supervision of her guardian and cousin, Capitaine Pierre Poisson of the Calais Police. Her ride-or-die, Nicole, is a free-spirited, passionate person. While they make a great team, their investigation is wild and loose, and they continue to snoop even after being warned off by people they respect, risking blowing an ongoing undercover operation working on the same case. In the end, the resolution is appropriate and simple, and Sophie and Joe may finally get to enjoy some time together. 

I recommend MYSTERY IN MARSEILLE to cozy mystery readers, especially fans of the previous books in the series and those who are interested in art or the Marseille setting. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

Calypso Blue

Len Buonfiglio/St. Pierre Mystery, #2

by

Brian Silverman

Return to the island where murder and mystery await.

In this mesmerizing follow-up to the series debut, a beloved local man, a 95-year-old international celebrity in the world of calypso music, dies from a fall at his home, and rumors quickly fly through the community that his much younger wife killed him and made it look like an accident. Police Superintendent McWilliams, whose superiors have already closed the case, approaches Len to ask the questions he himself cannot and look into the circumstances of Lord Ram's death. Queen Sassy, the new widow and a calypso star in her own right, also asks Len to get involved to dispel the rumors that could jeopardize her career. Reluctantly, Len agrees and immediately senses things really aren't as straightforward as the official police report would have one believe. Meanwhile, Maurizio Loffredo, the absentee husband of Betta Baptiste, Len's long-time friend and sounding board, and the father of her small son, suddenly returns. He shows up literally on Len's doorstep, with trouble on his trail: dangerous men who are ready to do whatever it takes to get what they want from Maurizio, placing Betta and Paulo smack in the middle. 

Calypso Blue is the second book in author Brian Silverman's sleek and atmospheric Len Buonfiglio Mystery series; the title a reference to the startling color of the Caribbean at the end of summer on St. Pierre, and what an excellent new set of puzzles for bar owner, Mr. Len, to untangle! His business, The Sporting Place, which he co-owns with a friend, Tubby Levett, has gained a reputation that attracts not only local patrons but also crowds of tourists from visiting cruise ships, so Len is able to step away and let his partner handle things while he reluctantly attends to these new problems. His interactions and banter with Tubby, Maurizio, McWilliams, and other recurring characters are fun to watch. Maurizio, the errant husband, is still a charmer, and Len, while viewing Maurizio's choices as unbelievable mistakes, refrains from judging him due to his own situation with his ex-wife and children. 

Life on the island moves to a slower rhythm, and so does Len's investigation into Lord Ram's death. The story moves at a deliberate, thoughtful pace, especially as everyone on the island mourns their local hero's sudden demise. As he probes into both Maurizio's problem and the presumed accident, hints of Caribbean culture, combined with descriptions of St. Pierre, create a vividly atmospheric setting. However, Len's progress is steady and effectively leads him to the answers he's looking for while uncovering some shocking secrets that everyone seems to know but him. 

I recommend CALYPSO BLUE for mystery readers, especially those who enjoy a slower pace and an island setting. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

Show Game

by

Steve Anderson

Intriguing psychological thriller with twists all the way to its exciting conclusion!

Show Game by Steve Anderson is a riveting tale of vigilante justice, with twists and turns from start to finish. With an intricate plot that slowly reveals its secrets, like the peeling layers of an onion, and sympathetic, driven characters, this exciting tale gripped me immediately and never let me go. 

A vigilante known as "Alex" becomes judge and jury for the most blatant and heinous abusers, those who take advantage of the most innocent. After abducting the evildoers, he makes them play the "Show Game" and publicly confess, live on camera, their crimes. Seeking ultimate justice for the victims and the future of society, investigative reporter Owen Tanaka is determined to unmask the vigilante but in a shocking twist, he suddenly must decide whether to stop Alex or let the Show Game play out one more time. 

The story unfolds from two viewpoints: the mysterious Alex and the tenacious, guilt-ridden investigative reporter Owen Tanaka. I couldn't help rooting for Alex to continue to bring down and expose the powerful predators who had gotten away with abusing so many innocent boys, girls, and young women while still wanting Owen to unmask the vigilante and uncover the details of who and why. Alex's story, the motivation behind the vigilante campaign, is shocking and tragic. Owen is anxiety-prone and fearful of repeating a mistake that landed someone in jail. The guilt he bears, at times, threatens to paralyze him and prevent him from doing his job. 

The author's writing is smooth and easy to read; he's most assuredly an accomplished storyteller. This story of revenge and vengeance is an absolute page-turner. From the very first "Show Game" to the eventual fallout, I was compelled to keep reading to see things through to the final exciting conclusion. 

I recommend SHOW GAME to readers who enjoy tales of revenge, vigilante justice, and psychological thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

The Midas Touch

by

Gary Grossman, Charles Segars, and Oren Aviv

Twists upon twists!

The Midas Touch, a new thriller by the writing team of Gary Grossman, Charles Segars, and Oren Aviv, features the breakneck hunt for Jean Lafitte's rumored lost treasure, which may include the missing portions of the famed Rosetta Stone and the key to the creation of gold, the Alchemist Gold Theory that he retrieved for the defeated Napoleon whom he planned to rescue from his island prison. When his mentor, Dr. Hastings Kaufman, is murdered, CIA cryptologist Brady Donovan is determined to track down his killer by following the clues only Brady could decipher that Kaufman left behind. Desk jockey Brady, a somewhat socially awkward genius, talks his immediate superior into letting him go into the field to solve Kaufman's murder, beginning with a trip to London and the British Museum, where the Rosetta Stone may hide his first piece of inspiration. He teams up with Teppy Flynn, a young Egyptology student working on her Rosetta Stone-focused dissertation, and together they uncover that the killer's true goal was to use Brady's skills to unravel the secret of the Alchemist Gold Theory. Their research takes them from London back to the U.S., by car to Texas, and eventually to Lafitte's home port of New Orleans, all while dodging mysterious, dangerous-looking men in black SUVs. But the closer they get to solving the mystery, the more dangerous the stakes become, and Brady soon suspects someone back at Langley is playing for the other team. 

Brady Donovan is a sweet, innocent protagonist and a genius at what he does. Watching him work through the mental puzzles presented and expand on the cryptic clues Kaufman left him was such a clever part of the story, tucked between moments of sheer adrenaline as the bad guys tried to get their hands on him. Teppy Flynn is stalled on her dissertation and is immediately drawn into what he's pursuing. She finds a gentle, loyal, kindred spirit in Brady. She tackles every obstacle with her gusto and determination. I was all in on their growing relationship as the story progressed. The third member of their team, conspiracy theorist Avery Prophet, is not so game but sticks with the adventure even when the going gets tough. 

The storyline features several twists and action sequences with a bit of an Indiana Jones vibe thanks to the Egyptology angle. However, the pacing slowed down in between as characters were set up for the next big reveal, and I felt the story got a little overlong. The settings are vividly described with several well-known locations incorporated into the action, especially in New Orleans. Overheard phone calls between the major antagonists and unnamed parties heightened suspense, as readers don't know whom Brady can trust. I was completely engaged by their final push to discover what Lafitte had squirreled away just as the Category 5 Hurricane Nadine barreled their way. 

With its engaging characters and exciting, action-packed plot, I recommend THE MIDAS TOUCH to mystery, thriller, and suspense readers, especially those with an interest in Jean Lafitte, the Rosetta Stone, and the history of New Orleans. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.