Early Snow

Guy Hogan Mystery, #2

by

Kevin Wolf

Intriguing and original mystery series with a paranormal twist!

Early Snow is the second book in author Kevin Wolf's refreshingly original Guy Hogan Mystery series, where 1980s-set mysteries and suspense rub elbows with the paranormal. In this sophomore outing, Guy goes to work with his old friend, Dalton Cummings, now retired from the Fish and Wildlife Service, who has started his own security business. Their task is to keep watch over a weekend art auction at an historic hotel in Estes Park. But as the art prepares to move in, a massive snowstorm hits, and Guy, Dalton, hotel staff, and guests must hunker down, snowed in and without power. But as ghost stories about the hotel are passed around, those stranded there, including Guy himself, start seeing things that hint they are not alone. 

Guy Hogan is such a relatable character, a widower still adjusting to life without his Jenny, he's kind and considerate, and trying to help Dalton with his new, post-retirement gig. While Dalton is definitely in charge of the job, he has his limitations when it comes to dealing with the public, especially the ladies, and those tasks fall to Guy. As the guests were still arriving for the weekend when the storm hit, the big-name celebrities expected to bid at the auction had gradually canceled, so at least they weren't having to deal with that extra bit of distraction. However, I loved reading the "Who's Who" of early 80s celebs mentioned in the story. 

The mood is deliciously creepy and was kicked off by early arrivals taking a ghost tour of the hotel, heightened by loss of power, and galvanized by the ghost stories shared around the lobby fireplace the first night by the in-house tour guide and professional storyteller. The ghost stories, the heavy, falling snow, the extreme cold, the dark, and the sudden isolation due to the storm all contribute to a brooding, expectant atmosphere and building suspense. 

The story moves steadily onward with the frightening sightings of child ghosts from days gone by; the hotel had been a happy, memorable setting for these children when they were living. But as Guy, the story's narrator, doesn't believe in ghosts, he is thoroughly thrown off, wondering if what he's seeing is real. The murder is sudden and surprising, with much mystery surrounding it from the very beginning. The reader is kept in suspense for quite a bit before the identity of the deceased is revealed, while we hear accusations immediately regarding who the murderer is. The resolution, while probably closer to what happens in real life than most mystery novels, leaves everyone with questions. However, Guy may have finally found someone he can start spending some time with, other than Zac, his beagle, and that's a good thing.

The audiobook is narrated by Greg O’Donahue, who does a great job crafting Guy’s persona and a variety of supporting characters, both male and female. After listening to both this book and the debut novel in the series with O’Donahue performing, his voice has become Guy Hogan’s for me. Somehow, he makes Guy sound old enough to have been around the block a time or two, while still retaining a touching vulnerability. The narration and production are clear and clean, so I never had to re-listen to any passages to figure out what was being said.

I recommend EARLY SNOW to fans of mystery and suspense stories with a ghostly touch. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

Murder On Site

The Rizk Brothers Legal Mysteries, #1

by

TG Wolff

Great characters and an intriguing murder mystery land this book on my list of top books of the year!

Murder On Site is the first book in veteran author TG Wolff's new Rizk Brothers Legal Mysteries series, and I couldn't imagine a better start. With a host of great characters working together to solve a baffling murder, I happily read this book in one sitting, riveted to its pages. 

The main characters, the titular Rizk brothers, Jakob and Seth, are twins and, though physically alike, personality-wise are as different as night and day. However, both are called to lives of service, Jakob as a prosecuting attorney and currently the interim attorney general for the state of Indiana, and Seth, a Miami police detective, back home in Indianapolis for the funeral of Harrison Stanley, the previous AG and a father figure to the brothers, especially Jakob. Harry had died while he and Jakob were playing golf, and Jakob was really struggling with his sudden passing. 

Jakob assumes the position of interim AG at the governor's behest until a new one can be elected, and he faces intra-departmental competition and sabotage from his former supervisor, Jessica Hartley, and a state senator who's in her corner. As Jakob settles in, a former colleague calls for advice on a difficult case. The family of a woman whose body was found on the construction jobsite where she worked as an inspector is pressuring his office to charge the only suspect in her murder immediately. The case against the man is extremely weak, with little evidence truly tying him to the murder. Unfortunately, the family is politically connected to the same state senator already causing Jakob grief. Jakob needs help to find the killer and find them fast, so he turns to Seth, who has his own struggles, personal and professional, he needs to face back in Miami. Together, they function like a machine as they conduct a solid investigation. With few clues to start with, it is up to Seth to open new, productive lines of inquiry and, perhaps, prompt some forgotten observations or answers to previously unasked questions from potential witnesses. 

The plot is well-paced, with details of the case, the twins' backstories, and other exposition seamlessly woven into the narrative. While the subject, a tragic murder, is serious, the author works quite a bit of humor into the story through dialogue. I laughed out loud several times at snarky comments, clever comebacks, and even at attorney Andrew Rosenfelt's name. Having worked in a city engineering department for almost two decades, I found the construction elements relatable and familiar, and the setting perfect for intrigue. 

I recommend MURDER ON SITE to readers of mysteries, especially those who enjoy a legal or construction setting. 

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

The Throwback

West Coast Mystery, #2

by

C.S. Cowan

Complex and compelling, a riveting mystery of murder, betrayal, and revenge.

The Throwback is the second book by author C.S. Cowan in her riveting West Coast Mystery series, a series tied together by its Canadian Sunshine Coast setting rather than recurring characters, so it works perfectly as a standalone. This entry features a mystery writer, Skylar "Skye" Whelan, who returns to her small coastal hometown of Sechelt after her financial advisor husband is revealed as a conman who's bilked his senior citizen clients out of their retirement funds. Skye plans to focus on her next novel and keep a low profile, but finds herself drawn into a decade-old disappearance that someone doesn't want her meddling in. 

Skye Whelan is a wounded soul after her husband betrays his clients, and the victims and the public find it hard to believe she wasn't in on his scheme. She dropped her married name and returned to Sechelt, hoping to fade from the limelight and the public's memory. Still, her notoriety keeps following her. The discovery of bones at a local construction site brings her to the attention of the new RCMP supervising detective, Staff Sergeant Noah Rimes, who replaced her father in that position on his retirement from the service. There is an immediate connection between her and Noah, but her unfortunate past colors their budding relationship. 

Noah has a complicated and tragic past as well. His career move from Vancouver to this small coastal outpost is an attempt at a second chance at life. He's settling in but is concerned about whether he will fit into the slower pace of his new jurisdiction. However, he is soon facing a baffling rash of petty break-ins and incidents of vandalism, when he really needs to focus on the newly uncovered murder. 

Along with strong characters, the story is complex, featuring twists and turns everywhere and some seemingly unconnected subplots. There is a storyline involving two inept young criminals that is particularly absorbing, and their unexpected relevance to the bigger picture really had me fooled. However, while the narrative included understandable, easy-to-follow flashbacks, a couple of scenes in the present-day timeline seemed out of order. While these instances made me question what I had previously read, they didn't affect the plot's trajectory. For example, an injured pet is rushed to the vet, only to reappear next, frolicking on the beach with a neighbor's dog, with no mention of the medical emergency. A chapter or so later, the emergency incident comes back up, and the dog is recuperating, not yet up to any frolicking. Still, the story returned to page-turner status, keeping me reading and engaged until the final reveal. 

I recommend THE THROWBACK to readers of mystery, suspense, and thrillers, especially those craving an intriguing West Coast Canadian setting. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

Puerto Rico Payback

Ray Ramage, #2

by

Jack Heape

Riveting geopolitical thriller pitting the US against Chinese incursions into the Caribbean.

Puerto Rico Payback is the second book in veteran author Jack Heape's thrilling Ray Ramage series, and this time, the "retired" naval intelligence officer's unique instincts and special skills are needed in Puerto Rico. Ray is tasked with uncovering suspected wrongdoing in San Juan's busy seaport, which could have far-reaching impacts on the balance of power in the strategically critical Caribbean. Ray has been recuperating on his yacht, moored in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, since his experiences in the Virgin Islands months earlier, and he's almost relieved when he gets the call from now-Director of Homeland Security Cynthia Clarkson that he is needed for an off-the-books mission in Puerto Rico. He allowed himself to be talked back into action to 'return a favor,' but his life in luxury was getting a bit stale. However, once in San Juan and embedded in his cover story role, he soon realizes that the problem he's there to investigate is just the tip of a much bigger scheme, one that may have ties to his previous operation in the Virgin Islands. 

Ray Ramage is a likable and accomplished operator who gives off plenty of the classic men's action series vibes of characters like Matt Helm, but with the modern-day sensibilities and knight-errantry of a Jack Reacher. Monied and living on a yacht with a private captain and crew, including a chef, and a personal assistant holding down the fort in Charleston, Ray is mobile and ready to move at a moment's notice. His situational awareness makes for exciting on-the-fly action that occasionally incurs collateral damage, which Ray carries in his head and heart, repeatedly rethinking his actions and riddled with guilt. However, Ray and his hand-picked veteran support team plan their operations to the nth degree, accounting for a variety of alternate scenarios. Still, they can't cover every possibility, and the plot's twists and turns provided big surprises. 

The San Juan setting provides a unique and colorful backdrop for the fast-paced action. With the author's vibrant descriptions, the wonderfully sun-drenched location comes alive with vivid sights, the sounds of salsa music, and the scents of the local cuisine. Sprinkled throughout the narrative are the names of actual places that those familiar with the city will recognize and that those who are not will hope to experience for themselves one day. 

The action is nonstop as Ray and his local contact, Ruth Ramos, infiltrate operations at Zoros Integrated Shipping Services, ground zero and pivot point in the suspected Chinese takeover. Their adversaries are heavy hitters working both inside and outside the company, including Rita Acosta, the firm's own security director; Miguel Rojas, an evil assassin Acosta's brought in as an enforcer for her local misdeeds; and a behind-the-scenes Chinese mastermind and Acosta's play caller. While the Chinese link remains hidden, Acosta must deal with Ray's daily presence on-site in his role as a 'security consultant' and is immediately suspicious of his probing questions. Rojas also operates from the shadows, but vignettes from his past reveal his motivations for his life choices. His skills and planning acumen make him a perfect nemesis. I enjoyed the fun subplot of what was going on back home on the yacht between Jay, the captain of the Two Deuces, and an unusually territorial and aggressive seagull that had launched its own takeover. 

The author's writing style is compelling yet easy to read. At times, there was a tendency to repeat facts unnecessarily, which seemed to occur in consecutive chapters. One quibble I had with the plot was that Ruth Ramos, a major character involved in Ray's infiltration of Voros, drops out of the action for noticeable blocks of time, only to reappear later without comment. As she is part of Ray's cover story, she is also long overlooked by his adversaries. 

Although this book is the second in the series and can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel, there's not much backstory or introduction provided for many recurring characters. Readers may have to figure out relationships from context clues alone. For the best enjoyment of the series, I suggest reading the books in order. 

I recommend PUERTO RICO PAYBACK to readers of action-adventure and geopolitical thrillers.

For these and other reviews, visit my blog at Boys' Mom Reads!

In Her Own Backyard

by

Ashley Hanna-Morgan

A new mom suffering severe postpartum depression searches for clues to a local woman’s disappearance.

In Her Own Backyard by Ashley Hanna-Morgan is a riveting tale of a mother’s struggle with severe postpartum depression after the birth of her second child and her discovery that a young woman who lived in their home before they bought it had disappeared without anyone raising an alarm. Social worker Marlowe Moore is deep in the grasp of depression, anxiety, and trouble nursing her new daughter. Baby Valorie demands to eat, sleep for an hour, and eat again, and completely refuses bottle-feeding. Her three-year-old daughter, Violet, is also experiencing big feelings as she transitions from ‘only child’ to ‘big sister.’ But when a neighbor casually mentions that a young woman who had rented a room from the previous owners of Moore’s new home had disappeared one day, Marlowe and her circle of women friends and moms get concerned when they realize Aria Middleton had never even been reported missing. 

Marlowe’s pregnancy and postpartum experiences are so realistic and relatable; every mother will see something of themselves in her childbearing and childrearing story. Her depression was overwhelming and gut-wrenching to read about; I ached for this young woman. However, her focus on finding out what happened to Aria provided a challenge external to her mental health struggles and helped her regain her stability. Her spouse, Aaron, is sweet and wonderful, but he is still unable to fully relate to what Marlow is experiencing, no matter how much he wants to or how hard he tries. 

The plot is well-paced, and I had a hard time finding a good place in my reading to take a break. I enjoyed how the women all came together to support Marlowe (and each other) and to collaborate on finding Aria. They use clever methods to find answers and gather clues, and I loved how they reached out to people with whom they had the remotest contact for help in their search. My only quibble was that a noticeable amount of the dialogue, especially between Marlowe and her husband and Marlowe and her daughter, Violet, sounded like clinical examples of appropriate responses to certain situations; it didn’t sound natural or organic. On the other hand, this same style of language was fascinating when Marlowe described what she was going through and the impacts on her daily life. I loved the story’s eerie, brooding atmosphere and rising tension, and was delighted with the many surprises and plot twists. The final confrontation was absolutely gripping. 

I recommend IN HER OWN BACKYARD to thriller readers, especially those with an interest in motherhood and the processes and impacts of childbearing. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.