The Swamp Ghost

Old New Orleans Bookshop Mystery, #2

by

Christi Keating Sumich

A mysterious ghost light in the swamp lures treasure hunters to their deaths.

The Swamp Ghost is the superb first book in author Christi Keating Sumich’s Old New Orleans Bookshop Mystery, following up on the full-length prequel that launched earlier this year and features the sleuthing skills of Mary Catherine Whitney, the young matriarch of the family. After their success unraveling the mystery of Dominique Yoo’s diary and becoming figures of local acclaim for the feat, Mary Catherine and her husband, bookshop owner Tobias, write and publish a popular action/adventure tale of the famed pirate or profiteer Captain Jean Lafitte. Their notoriety, though, led many residents of their hometown of New Orleans to their door in search of their assistance in solving other minor mysteries, and Mary Catherine has skillfully and patiently obliged, despite being in a delicate condition. Regardless of her misgivings and with the birth of her latest child imminent, Mary Catherine is swept into a new mystery, this one involving the appearance of a mysterious blue light in the swamp, pirate treasure, and whispers of paranormal vengeance. 

I loved this new adventure for the Whitney family and believe it may be even more exciting than their wonderful introductory story. With Mary Catherine in the lead, the story focuses on her life as a middle-class wife and mother, and on her family in New Orleans in the 1830s. She is a feisty woman, educated by Ursuline nuns, and fully in charge of her family, with a loving husband and two surviving young sons, and her natural wit and sharp observations prepare her well for following the few clues to what is occurring in the swamps around the digging of the New Basin Canal. Still, she is humble and puts her successes down to pure dumb luck. The final reveal of the truth behind the fifolet, the ghostly blue orb, is exciting and satisfying. 

The descriptions of New Orleans are vivid and atmospheric, making me want to visit the historic city for myself. The included details of the project and the experiences of the men involved in its construction are eye-opening, and the conditions in which they worked and the lives of the immigrant families waiting for them at home in the city are appalling. 

I recommend THE SWAMP GHOST and its sequel to readers of historical mysteries. 

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

Outage

by

Mike Trigg

An exciting domestic and psychological thriller about betrayal and geopolitical greed.

Outage by Mike Trigg is a mesmerizing tale of domestic suspense, geopolitical greed, and world domination via a scheme involving flawed computer chips. The action and suspense are non-stop, and the threats the Farrell family faces seem all too genuine and plausible in today's reality. I couldn't put this book down; I was so wrapped up in the drama! 

Rachel Farrell is ending her workday with a client when their Zoom meeting freezes and drops, and all internet access and cellphone service suddenly disappear. Her teenage children, Derek and Austin, both more tech-savvy than she is, are initially baffled by what is happening and quite put out by the disruption to their daily lives; her Washington lobbyist husband, Caleb, is unreachable. Soon, an unexpected visit from the wife of Caleb's business partner ramps up the suspense as she claims the two men are in trouble with the FBI because of their association with one of their clients, a Chinese computer chip manufacturer partnered with an American firm and suspected of initiating the current internet and cellphone outage that stretches across the entire country. Later, she finds a cryptic note from Caleb, a huge wad of cash, and a handgun in the family car's glove box hinting at danger. He doesn't return home that night, and a late-night FBI visit looking for him prompts Rachel to pack up the kids and head out to find him and some answers. 

Such a riveting story, I almost completed the entire book in one long, satisfying session! Rachel is an engaging and personable woman and justifiably frightened and angry at Caleb for leaving them alone and on their own without a clue as to what is going on. With only fear, speculation, and rumors to go on, she does her best to keep them safe and reunite the family. Like Rachel, I was glad when Caleb immediately owned his sins and offered a genuine, contrite apology and asked for forgiveness, giving everyone hope they could salvage their relationship. The author's character development was stellar, and I was particularly impressed by how well he portrayed the emotions, thoughts, dialogue, and actions of his female characters. While all his characters felt real, Rachel and her daughter, Austin, came alive for me. 

The plot unfolds at breakneck speed as Rachel and her teenage children make the harrowing journey to the coordinates Caleb's gives them for his location. The danger begins with looting and rioting near their home in Alexandria, Virginia, and quickly escalates as the internet outage disrupts everything from banking to shopping to school, and people get desperate. The isolation the outage causes is almost complete, given their reliance on smartphones and internet access. The story vibrates with tension as Rachel doesn't know who she can trust, and as she realizes that someone wants Caleb dead and will stop at nothing to get to her and their children to draw him out of hiding. 

The storyline hits close to home, utilizing current events and thinly disguised public figures as characters. Fox News is singled out as the purveyor of outrageous conspiracy theories, manipulative and manipulated media, and their viewers portrayed as gullible dupes. Early on, Rachel is established as knowing better but unfortunately comes across as insufferably smug during her speculations regarding Caleb's and her parents' political beliefs, so this otherwise exciting story may go flat for more conservative readers and prevent them from ever getting to the best parts, but somebody's got to be the bad guy. The journey, and what the Farrell family finds at the end of the road, really engaged me no matter the political opinion. 

I recommend OUTAGE to readers of domestic suspense and psychological thrillers. 

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

Red Flag for Murder

Pine Ridge Mystery, #2

by

Wanda McLaughlin

Intriguing murder mystery served up with down-home Southern charm.

Red Flag for Murder is the second book in author Wanda McLaughlin's delightful Pine Ridge Mystery series, set in small-town Arkansas and featuring divorced part-time criminal justice student and part-time Price Savers’ checker Darby Alexander and her 'ride or die' bestie, Lurlene Culpepper. In this new case, recent Pine Ridge resident and retired professional racecar driver, Leroy Crock, is found murdered at the grand opening of this car museum and racetrack by his wife, Brenda, and suspicions immediately fall on his FIANCE, the voluptuous, much younger woman, Savannah Sparks. Darby believes Savannah's protestations of innocence, but that's not the case for the county sheriff looking for a quick case closure, so when the young woman is arrested for Leroy's murder, Darby and Lurlene jump in to investigate. Of course, they do so in disregard of the town's chief of police, Scott Tipton, Darby's increasingly serious romantic interest. 

While Darby is headstrong and determined to conduct her own BETTER investigation into the murder, she's also undeniably clever and an extremely likable main character. I loved that she included her best friend on every outing to gather information and clues about who the murderer might be, and that Lurlene was a willing and able participant, as well as a cautionary voice of reason. Their friendship is rock-solid, and Darby also supports Lurlene's new catering business. It was hard not to crave all the wonderful dishes mentioned in the story, especially some scrumptious-sounding Southern fried chicken! 

The plot moves at an exciting pace as the two women uncover details the sheriff's department investigators failed to pursue, drawing the ire of the unknown killer. Nice plot twists paired with plausible motives and suspects kept me from figuring out the truth until the final reveal. 

From the start, one of the things I enjoyed most was the clever, witty narrative and use of down-home colloquialisms. Polite Southern snark and self-examination run throughout. Darby's involvement in the case strains her growing relationship with Scott, the interim chief of police and widower with two young children. Based on earlier success, she's convinced she can help find the killer, while he is just as certain she needs to stay out of it, not only for the integrity of the case but her own safety. But as their feelings grow, he keeps their relationship hidden from his children, and Darby must make a tough but necessary decision to reconcile the two. 

Although this is the second book in the series, the author does a fabulous job providing just enough backstory to clarify the relationships without spoiling the mystery in the previous novel. Readers new to the series should have no problem starting with this latest adventure; however, they'll absolutely want to go back and read the first book for the pure enjoyment and added entertainment. 

I recommend RED FLAG FOR MURDER to readers of cozy mysteries. 

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

Dark Ugly Places

by

Ashley Mansour

Unbearable grief becomes a bid for revenge in this riveting psychological thriller.

Dark Ugly Places by Ashley Mansour is a riveting tale of loss, grief, mental health, and vengeance that will have readers on the edge of their seats, anxiously awaiting the final resolution. When a hit-and-run accident takes the life of her husband, Ben, and leaves the bodies and spirits of Nicola Holiday and her teenage daughter dashed on a LA street, their lives are forever altered. Six months later, due to mounting bills, they’ve lost even more: their house, car, and income, and still the perpetrator remains at large, the only witness being Nicola herself. But as their lives shrink and desperation grows, she begins to remember small details she noticed about the driver and the car before it left the scene. But when she suddenly realizes she’s come face to face with the man one day, something inside her, something long forgotten, pushes its way to the forefront of her consciousness, and that something is ready to take control and exact vengeance for what he’s done to them on its own terms. 

What an eerie, frightening, and compelling take on this riveting story of grief, mental health, and revenge! Nicola is the damaged wife and mother who saw her husband die before her very eyes, and her daughter and herself left for dead, and is living with one overriding emotion: an all-consuming rage. But what initially appears to be a long-running internal dialogue with herself, talking her through her day and her challenges, quickly becomes something else entirely. Nicola is also Martha, a long-suppressed alternate personality who is strong, decisive, and ready to take matters into her own hands. 

The story unfolds from multiple points of view: Nicola, Martha, and Bambi Renfern, the professional model-wife of famous film star and reckless driver Jason Renfern. As the women’s paths cross, the story becomes one of serendipitous connections and opportunity. The resolution is surprising but fits the twists and turns throughout the tale. 

I recommend DARK UGLY PLACES to readers of psychological thrillers and suspense. 

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

The Legend of Rachel Petersen

by

J.T. Baroni

Eerie tale of a malicious young spirit intent on setting the record straight!

The Legend of Rachel Petersen is a satisfying, spooky, entertaining story that might not have been the best choice for bedtime reading. The author cleverly juggles multiple points of view and timelines to create a fun and eerie tale that will keep readers wondering about the existence of ghosts and a murder that happened over 150 years ago. 

The main character, sportswriter Christian Kane, is fed up with his job at the Pittsburgh paper, where he has excelled for many years, and impulsively quits when passed over for a promotion. Instead, he decides to pursue his dreams of writing a best-selling novel. However, he is woefully unprepared for the daunting task of writing such a novel and for what it takes to get a book published once it's written. He's tentatively supported in this endeavor by his loving wife, Shelly, who worries about the practical aspects of their lives when he suddenly quits his well-paying job. While she is his most brutal critic, she is also his most enthusiastic cheerleader, continually boosting his spirits to keep trying. 

The plot is well-paced, and an eerie creepiness sets in the moment the couple discovers the long-hidden tombstone on a walk, especially when Christian repeatedly visits the gravesite of his new muse (Rachel Petersen). Headstones are a marvelous source of inspiration, and a child's marker is always heartbreaking and raises questions. I enjoyed how the author told the stories of the Kanes, the Yoders, and Rachel and the Tremont family in alternating chapters, each from a significant character's point of view, showing how the past was bleeding into the present. 

The rural Pennsylvania setting felt fresh and interesting, and I liked the inclusion of agricultural history and Civil War events near the farm. I enjoyed it when the Yoder family listened to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio, and the author included the names of real entertainers of the time, famous names readers may recognize. The small and large details gave me a real feel for the place and the area's remoteness, which compounded the brooding atmosphere and unsettled feeling I had while reading. I read this book in an evening, completely absorbed by Christian's, Thaddeus's, and Rachel's stories. 

I recommend THE LEGEND OF RACHEL PETERSEN to readers who enjoy paranormal thrillers and horror stories. 

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