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Silent Killer

by

Tracy Burnett & Ross Weiland

 

An unconventional, autistic, and unrelenting protagonist.

 

Silent Killer by Tracy Burnett and Ross Weiland is an exciting, suspense-filled novel featuring Special Agent Gordon Stone of the Food and Drug Administration, a dedicated and relentless investigator whose autism is both a curse and a gift. While his gift is hyper-focus and the ability to see the important details others overlook, the difficulties he encounters, the anxiety in social situations, and his emotional struggles were a tough reminder of what he had to overcome just to show up and function.

When an FDA investigator is ordered to close his current case involving what appears to be one of those ubiquitous African charity scams, he has a gut feeling that this time, there's more to what's going on than meets the eye. Gordon Stone is autistic, and, oftentimes, he accurately identifies connections that no one else can. This time, his perception compels him to go rogue and follow the clues. 

The plot grabbed me from the beginning, and I really enjoyed how the authors employed multiple points of view to tell their story, even though there was considerable setup required to get everyone in place. The authors do a great job developing their characters into real human beings, and their depiction of the manifestations of Gordon's autism was realistic and emotionally affecting. Having said that, he makes for an engaging and memorable main character I enthusiastically rooted for. 

I recommend SILENT KILLER to readers of mysteries and thrillers, especially those with an interest in a unique protagonist or representations of autism. 

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

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Lefse Holmes: Murder in Hotdish County

by

Annabelle Lewis

 

Entertaining who-done-it, sprinkled with family, food, and a hint of romance.

 

Lefse Holmes: Murder in Hotdish County by Annabelle Lewis is an entertaining cozy “who-done-it” mixed with family drama, regional food, and a hint of new romance on the horizon. Lavinia Dahl returns to her hometown of Arendal, Minnesota, from her new life in Minneapolis for the wedding of her best friend, Nora Hedstrom, to her childhood sweetheart, Isaac Pitt, whose family has been locked in an ongoing feud with each other for over a century. But rather than uniting the two families, the joining of this young couple tragically invites death and the revival of old grudges to the ceremony. 

Events unfold through the eyes of Lavinia Dahl, who grew up in Arendal but had left for college and, subsequently, a career in the Twin Cities. Although not a frequent visitor to her old hometown, she maintained regular contact with her parents, who still lived there, and I enjoyed her parents’ playful and loving banter with each other and their daughter. Lavinia also remained in touch with her school chums, Nora and Isaac, both of whom had returned to Arendal after college, even traveling together when possible. Their wedding is a labor of love, and perhaps a little bit of showing off, by Nora’s Aunt Effie, and the descriptions of the scenes were vivid. The characters were so well developed already that I teared up as I read of the groom’s reaction to seeing his bride coming down the aisle. 

After the initial setup, the plot progresses quickly with not one, but two unexpected murders occurring early in the story. Lavinia decides to investigate the suspicious deaths on her own because they are interfering with Nora and Isaac’s honeymoon plans, and the fear that these may be just the tip of the iceberg in the resurrected feud. The investigating officer is the local sheriff who plays his cards close to the vest, as he should. 

The small Minnesota farming town setting was a lot of fun, with its popular town bar, shared culture, holidays, and traditions, as well as a charming and strong sense of community. I enjoyed Lavinia’s enthusiasm for the familiar dishes of her childhood, especially her self-admonishment to pace herself in sampling them, as it was going to be a long day. I loved that the author appends a generous collection of recipes for many of the foods mentioned at the end of the book. 

It turns out the little town of Arendal is no stranger to secrets. The resolution to the original conflict that put the two families at odds with one another was an unexpected and heartbreaking surprise. The reveal of the who, why, and how of the deaths happened suddenly, the clues to the answers are in plain sight, yet I still thought some of it felt a little under-explained. I can’t say more without providing spoilers, though. 

I recommend LEFSE HOLMES: MURDER IN HOTDISH COUNTY to cozy mystery readers. 

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

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The Wrong Liza

by

Jazz Voss

 

Clever psychological thriller about identity with twists you won’t see coming!

 

The Wrong Liza by Jazz Voss is a short, suspense-filled psychological thriller about identity and the ultimate example of identity theft. While the initial setup was somewhat confusing and, perhaps, compounded by a staccato stream-of-consciousness narrative style, the plot soon coalesced into a riveting tale of deception and frightening manipulation —one I couldn’t put down. 

Set in present-day Manhattan on the Tuesday after Labor Day, Liza Connors prepares for work at her corporate job like any other normal business day, when she discovers a notice affixed to the door of her apartment building displaying her picture on it, along with the sentiment “In Loving Memory – Liza Connors,” with the eyes ‘X’ ed out with black marker. Was it a sick joke? A heart-stoppingly tragic error? Or, if possible, was it something even more alarming, like a truthful indication of her actual condition? Neither Liza nor the reader knows for certain at this point, but it is absolutely attention-grabbing. 

Continuing to her office, the situation gets odder as her access badge is no longer functioning, and security confirms it had been deactivated the previous Friday. Kara, a coworker, arrives just as Liza is on the verge of collapse and escorts her to Janet Thompson in the HR Department for their firm to figure out what’s going on. Unsurprisingly, HR is no help except to add to the mystery. Janet claims Liza resigned by email early Friday morning, and there is both digital and video evidence to corroborate her statement. Unfortunately, the company has a policy of no “take-backs.” 

Accompanied out of their offices, things are about to take a turn for the worse as Liza begins to receive reports from friends and family about interactions with her that she has no memory of whatsoever. From that point, it is a non-stop barrage of gaslighting and taunting indications that someone is literally taking over Liza’s life as she watches helplessly from the sidelines. With Kara still by her side, Liza no longer knows who she can trust or who could possibly be behind the unrelenting takeover. 

Time after time, just when I thought I knew where Liza’s story was headed, a new twist in the action was introduced. By the final page, the story resembled nothing I could have possibly imagined it could have evolved into. I was compelled to return to the beginning and read the whole story again to see how it ended up where it did. I recommend THE WRONG LIZA to readers of psychological thrillers, mysteries, and suspense. 

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

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Amethyst, The Shallows

by

Kellye Abernathy

 

Return to Dipitous Beach for the exciting and satisfying continuation of the story begun in THE AQUAMARINE SURFBOARD!

 

Amethyst, The Shallows is the second book in the series or companion book to author Kellye Abernathy’s middle-grade/young adult magical realism novel, The Aquamarine Surfboard, which I read a little over a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed. With its variety of characters’ experiences, multiple points of view, and atmospheric portrayal of the small oceanside community, this magical return trip to Dipitous Beach even surpasses the wonder of the first. 

The main characters are a core group of friends who attend the same school and share many of the same interests, perfect for their setting as a beach town, such as surfing, oceanography, and preservation of marine life. Their hometown is slowly coming out of quarantine after a devastating sickness has swept through the country, and the friends have suffered through a long period of isolation and fear. Many of their parents or adult acquaintances died during the pandemic, and the story reflects how grief continues to affect them all. The characters’ behaviors are individualized, showing that not everyone reacts to their loneliness, fear, or sorrow in the same ways. 

Two particularly interesting characters are Tad, Lorelei’s younger brother, and Isaac, the son of the aquarium director. Tad, who quickly became my favorite character, is doing his best to be there for his mother, who is in a coma and is still ill from the recent sickness. He is neurodivergent but growing in his ability to control his emotions, which he experiences as colors. Isaac has just arrived in town from back East to live with his non-custodial father after the death of his mother from the sickness. He’s angry and resentful and hates the beach and ocean. His only solace seems to come from music. He, too, is neurodivergent and experiences musical notes as colors. I loved these two very different characters together. 

As in the first book, there is a brief sojourn underwater for a couple of the characters. While this visit isn’t as extensive as the first, the wonder and the magic are still ever-present and provides some new surprises. 

While this book could be read independently, I feel it should be read after the first one for the best reading experience and comprehension. While time has passed and new life situations and struggles present themselves and are the focus of this companion story, the previous book lays a necessary and magical foundation on which these subsequent events rely. 

I recommend AMETHYST, THE SHALLOWS to middle-grade and young-adult readers of fantasy and magical realism.

 

For this and other book reviews and recommendations, visit BOYS' MOM READS!

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What the River Keeps

by

Cheryl Grey Bostrom

 

Damaged souls find healing much like the river valley where they live.

 

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is a complex and ultimately satisfying story of two damaged souls whose meeting sets them both on journeys of healing. Biologist Hildy Nybo leaves her life in Seattle and returns to her family’s fishing retreat in the Elwah Valley of the Pacific Northwest when her mother succumbs to early-onset dementia. She intends to oversee her mother’s care while taking a leading role in the ecological research needed prior to the removal of the two dams on the river, an overly ambitious plan from the get-go if you’ve ever been a caretaker for a loved one suffering from this horrible disease. 

Hildy is a wonderful underdog, scarred from a childhood of dealing with unexplainable misperceptions of her daily activities, the constant loss of random everyday objects, and later, the disappearance of her beloved father, the parent who had unconditionally accepted who she was and encouraged her love of nature and building things. The disconnect between what she thought she’d done during the day and what she was told she’d done had led her to some compulsive activities intended to ground her in the day and offer physical proof that what she remembered was true. However, these activities filled her small living spaces with collected objects that her older sister described as hoarding, and isolated Hildy from others, preventing her from building meaningful relationships. 

Luke Rimmer is a kind, nurturing man, recovering from his own tragedy. He sees similarities in his healing journey in Hildy and believes he can help, and soon develops deeper feelings for her. His love is not an easy path, as Hildy is so wounded by her past. His patience and faith are put to the test, but it is exactly what he and Hildy need. 

The details of Hildy and her team’s research in preparation for the dams coming down were fascinating and, at times, I just wanted to know more about their activities and observations. Their days in the field are both exciting and frustrating due to the uncooperative weather. The vivid descriptions of the natural areas created almost cinematic visuals and had me wanting to see these places for myself. 

The storytelling is compelling, and I read this book through in one evening, staying up late for the shocking resolution of the mysteries behind Hildy’s childhood experiences and missing father, with no regrets. I recommend WHAT THE RIVER KEEPS to readers of Christian fiction, domestic drama, and mystery. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through WOW! Women On Writing Book Tours.

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The Mysterious Case of the Missing Dog Walker

Redemption Detective Agency, #2

by

Michele Pariza Wacek

 

Sheer chaos and sheer entertainment!

 

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Dog Walker is the second book in author Michele Pariza Wacek’s fun and, at times, frenetic Redemption Detective Agency featuring a ‘fully-licensed’ private investigations firm staffed by three ‘mature’ sleuths (women of a ‘certain age’) with little professional training and even less practical experience in the field and the owner’s ‘straight-man’ niece who is trying to make a silk purse out of this investigative sow’s ear. What sounds like a recipe for disaster was a fun and entertaining tale, and a perfect way to kick back and enjoy the ensuing hilarity. 

When successful financial manager Emily Hildebrandt’s life is suddenly upended, her only fallback plan is to accept the generous invitation of her elderly Aunt Tilde to come live with her in the nearby town of Redemption, Wisconsin, and take over management of her new business venture, the Redemption Detective Agency. Tilde, a retired nurse; Mildred, a teacher; and Nora, the owner of the used bookstore in the same strip center as the new PI office, are the well-meaning but woefully underprepared sleuths. But what they lack in knowledge, skills, and abilities, they more than make up for in enthusiasm and the desire to employ all the high-tech investigative gadgetry available (in the 1990s). 

When the girlfriend of the business’s attorney asks the ladies to find her elderly aunt’s dog, which went missing a year ago, and they readily accept, Emily figures it’s a case with little chance of success. But upon her initial contact with the new client, the aunt claims she didn’t have a dog a year ago and certainly not one that had gone missing, saying her niece was mistaken. However, Trish (the niece, girlfriend, and Emily’s oftentimes frenemy) insists that there was a dog, Rex, and the miscommunication is somehow Emily’s fault. Puzzled, her interest definitely piqued, Emily continues the case. In the meantime, a paying customer, a woman who thinks her husband is cheating on her hires the ladies to obtain solid proof she can use in a divorce proceeding, and the gungho trio are all in for a stake-out, surveillance, and the chance to obtain and use all detective tech they can get heir hands on. Emily tries to ride herd over it all, keeping the enthusiastic and unpredictable loose cannons from crossing too many ethical and legal lines, while metaphorically dipping her toe in the local dating pool. 

The pace of the story, while carefully building the setup, is still exuberant and frenetic at times. The clever and chaotic dialogue among the women had Emily and me both breathless with its “Who’s on first?” nature. The ladies are so intent on investigating (and wanting to mete out a little old school justice) and the results had me laughing even more. Emily tries her best to keep the legitimate investigation on track and enjoy a little downtime getting to know Jerome, the local school principal, and Nick Stewart, the guy who really makes her heart speed up and is dating the beautiful but obnoxious Trish. 

While this is the second book in the series, it works well as a standalone, and readers new to the story should have no trouble catching up. I recommend THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING DOG WALKER to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy stories including dogs and cats and, perhaps, a series headed toward the little less cozy in the future. 

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

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The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive

The Redemption Detective Agency, #1

by Michele Pariza Wacek

 

A fun start to a new cozy mystery series featuring a very unorthodox detective agency.

 

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive marks the debut of a new cozy mystery series by Michele Pariza Wacek. The Redemption Detective Agency is a spin-off from the author's Charlie Kingsley Mystery series and features several familiar faces. 

Emily Hildebrandt has just experienced a double-triple whammy: the loss of her job, car, fiancé, apartment, and money. However, her eccentric Aunt Tilde offers her a place to lick her wounds and recalibrate with her back in Redemption, Wisconsin, with a single phone call. Aunt Tilde has even lined her up with a new job: office manager/detective at Tilde's latest venture, The Redemption Detective Agency. As a reluctant but grateful Emily settles into her new job, the agency gets their first client: the mother of a young man she claims was wrongly convicted of murder. There's just one big catch: the young man confessed to the crime. 

Emily is an engaging, down-and-out underdog who you can't help but root for, and Aunt Tilde is a fun but quirky and kind-hearted woman. Rounding out the agency are two of Tilde's retirement-aged friends: Mildred, a retired schoolteacher, and Nora, the owner of a used bookstore located in the same strip center as the new detective agency. None of the ladies have any experience whatsoever as detectives. Emily is very much the straight-woman in this quirky, comedic, cozy mystery. Armed with a new lawyer for the son, the ladies work together to investigate, interview, and re-examine the facts of the case, which the police never had to bother with after Hal's confession. 

The book is fairly short, so the action starts immediately and never stops until the final conclusion. I was hooked by Emily's sad-sack story right from the start and enjoyed reading the entire book in one sitting. I was pleased with the resolution that not only brought justice but tied up other loose ends and promised more to come. 

I recommend THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING MOTIVE to cozy mystery fans, especially those who like more mature sleuths. 

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

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The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost

Redemption Detective Agency, #3

by

Michele Pariza Wacek

 

The detectives hit the jackpot for WEIRD when the spirit of a woman’s deceased husband goes missing.

 

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost is the third book in author Michele Pariza Wacek’s humorous cozy mystery series, the Redemption Detective Agency. This time, the ladies hit the jackpot for weird cases when they agree to find the ghost of an old friend’s deceased husband. But after all, Redemption, Wisconsin, is no stranger to missing people, as early in the town’s history, 1888, all the adults disappeared overnight, leaving only children behind. No explanation was ever discovered, nor were any of the missing individuals. But Aunt Tilde is determined to do better by her friend, Ruth. 

The interactions among the elderly sleuths continued to delight as they bantered and argued their way through their latest caseload. And much to Emily’s exasperation, Aunt Tilde enlists the legal aid of Nick Stewart early on. While he tackles a most pressing problem for the widow, Emily is tasked with ghost hunting and solving the cold case murder of Ruth’s husband from ten years ago. 

Emily always appears to be the only sane person in the room, even though Aunt Tilde is one smart cookie and Mildred and Nora have their own moments in the sun. Nick shares the same plane of reality as Emily, and the romantic tension between the two is great fun. 

The story is fast-moving with the reveal of Ruth Jonasburg’s problems, and the race for resolution takes off immediately. Twists and turns kept my interest high, and I easily completed the story in one smile-filled sitting. 

I recommend THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING GHOST to cozy mystery readers, especially those who have enjoyed the previous novels in the series. 

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

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The Girl in the Maze

Martha Covington Thriller, #1

by

R.K. Jackson

 

Gripping tale of murder, greed, and mental health set around an endangered Georgia coastal community.

 

The Girl in the Maze is the first book in author R.K. Jackson’s Martha Covington Thriller series set along the Georgia coastline and featuring a dying Geechee community, the descendants of former slaves. Martha Covington, a young journalism student, had suffered a mental crisis while in school, which resulted in an extended hospitalization. When she was released, part of her easing her return to normal life was a light-duty internship with the Amberleen (Georgia) Historical Society, helping to record and transcribe interviews with the last surviving members of the local Geechee people living on nearby Shell Heap, a small, isolated barrier island along the coast. However, the untouched natural beauty of the island had finally caught the eyes of hungry developers, and the contents of their deep pockets had grabbed the attention of equally greedy county leaders. There was big money to be made if only the Geechee weren’t in the way. Lydia Dussault, Martha’s new boss at the historical society, is an important and politically-connected champion in the Geechee’s corner, and suddenly Martha finds herself smack in the middle of a dangerous, high-stakes fight not only for her hard-won sanity but for her very life. 

Martha is a unique main character who is suffering from debilitating mental health issues and is also receptive to voices and visions from the spirit world. From the start, I wasn’t sure how reliable a narrator she actually was, but her ensuing story made for riveting reading. She’s one of the most game protagonists I’ve ever encountered. Although she feels vulnerable and unprepared for her role, she’s willing to step outside her narrow comfort zone to complete critical tasks for her new employer, uncovering some outstanding clues, and this is before everything goes really sideways. 

The Geechee storyline was a fascinating element of the plot, and some of my favorite characters, Lady Albertha and Jarrell Humphries, were from the community. I really enjoyed the wisewoman aspects of the story. The Geechee people are a real and existing group, found in Georgia and several other southern states. 

The plot moves quickly, with twists and turns that kept me highly engaged, but completely off-balance as I attempted to guess what was really going on, especially as Martha’s mental state shifted. Early on, I began to wonder if what I’d been led to understand was the impact of mental illness was something else entirely. This question, and others, had me reading long and late into the night, and I felt completely rewarded for doing so. I’m delighted there’s a book two! 

I recommend THE GIRL IN THE MAZE to readers of mysteries and psychological thrillers. 

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

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Flight Test 101

Mischief, #6

by

Amanda M. Thrasher

 

A modern “Our Gang” series, with fairies!

 

Flight Test 101 is the sixth book in author Amanda M. Thrasher’s Mischief children’s fantasy series, which reminds me of the classic “Our Gang” television show, updated and featuring fairy friends. With its relatable young characters and dilemmas, this chapter book is engaging and entertaining and may keep the interest of the most reluctant readers. The book can be read as a standalone, so readers new to the series will have no trouble jumping right into the fairlings’ current adventure. 

As the fairy friends approach their first flight test, confident Jack, the fairling who has been living for this day, is accidentally injured and now won’t heal in time to participate. The delay will put him behind all his friends for freedom in flight, so as a group, the others loyally decide to wait and test when he’s rescheduled. Unfortunately, with the delay comes a twenty-five-point penalty on each late participant’s score, points that some of the fairlings will desperately need to pass. 

This latest Mischief adventure features all the fairling friends from the previous books and is full of giggles, slimy moss bomb fights, and fabulous treats baked by their resident spider friend, Broderick. Each small fairy is a distinct personality, some outgoing, some reserved, all with their particular likes and attitudes, including Pearle in her special chariot. They face a big decision and their fears when Jack, the best flier, is suddenly sidelined, feeling the need to choose to hang back with him rather than progress as scheduled without him. There are realistic discussions as a group about their feelings and how the alternative could impact everyone, especially Boris and Lilly, the two fairlings already struggling to achieve the needed scores to pass. Their gamble makes for an exciting and suspense-filled story. 

I recommend FLIGHT TEST 101 for chapter-book-ready elementary age readers and older. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.