The Lonely Australian of the Asian Night by Gregory Pakis 

A young drifter reflects on his past and anxiously awaits his future. 

The Lonely Australian of the Asian Night by Gregorg Pakis is a compelling short story of a young drifter, quickly approaching middle-age and who has been hiding out in his Siem Reap, Cambodia, hotel room to hopefully to fly under the radar of the local authorities and INTERPOL. Having fled his hometown of Melbourne, Australia, just ahead of the police, who have an interest in him for mostly petty offenses, he traveled to India and eventually other Asian cities seeking cheap living conditions and easy marks for his penny ante thefts and robberies. With a lot of time on his hands, he reflects on his past and while he clearly recalls his life as taking advantage of opportunities to profit from others, he fails to dredge up any remorse for taking the low road. 

The author’s writing is compelling and easy reading; I was absolutely drawn into Paul’s version of self-reflection. The descriptions of the places he traveled, and his experiences were absorbing and evocative. I would welcome a longer book with more of this character’s trainwreck of a life story. 

I recommend THE LONELY AUSTRALIAN OF THE ASIAN NIGHT to readers of crime fiction, travel tales, and literary fiction. 

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

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Men of the 65^th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War by Talia Aikens-Nuñez 

They were assigned the toughest tasks and outperformed the rest! 

Men of the 65^th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War is the amazingly clear and well-presented history of this special group of brave and patriotic fighting men, whom most people have never heard of before. Organized and celebrated for over 100 years ago, the infantry regiment’s incredible and spotless record was besmirched during their long service in the Korean War. Only in recent years were they exonerated. 

The 65^th was a segregated all-Puerto Rican infantry regiment in the United States Army with a ferocious reputation. Many of the soldiers spoke Spanish, creating a communication problem with some of their English-only officers. There even existed a lot of prejudice against these men by their white officers. However, in the years the 65^th fought in Korea, they were given some of the toughest, nastiest, and most hopeless assignments, and they still produced numerous examples of outstanding personal and regimental heroism. Still, near the end of the war, when the 65^th was at the limits of its trained personnel and resources, they were tasked with the impossible and, perhaps, the ill-planned, and some of the men had had enough. 

As the author mentions, the Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War,” probably because it followed closely behind two world wars and preceded VietNam. The study of this conflict barely got a mention in any U.S. history course I ever took, and I would go so far as to say most people’s knowledge of the Korean War is whatever they gleaned from the television show M*A*S*H. 

The author’s writing style is easy to read, and the storytelling and research are compelling. While the book targets a young adult audience, I think even older readers will find it fascinating reading. I know I did. 

I recommend MEN OF THE 65^TH: THE BORINQUENEERS OF THE KOREAN WAR to non-fiction readers interested in this little-known part of history. 

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

A Vengeful King Rises (House of Croft, #1) by Sophie Barnes 

Suspenseful and dark, a serial killer stalks the ballrooms of London. 

A Vengeful King Rises is the first book in author Sophie Barnes’s new historical mystery series, the House of Croft, and it is a fabulous debut. With engaging main characters pitting their wits against each other, a suspenseful plot, and a darkly atmospheric London setting, I was completely absorbed in the tale from its shocking opening to the final resolution. 

Adrian Croft turned his back on the family’s shady but lucrative business as soon as his father died. But when his younger sister becomes the mistaken victim of a serial killer stalking the upper-class debutantes who have developed “a reputation,” he decides to resurrect his father’s old organization to find the killer. Chief Constable Peter Kendrick, the lead investigator of the murders, has hit a brick wall, and his superiors are feeling the heat from even higher-ups. Rumors about the Croft family ‘business’ have circulated for decades, and more recent ones have hinted at its possible involvement in the deaths of the young society women, so Kendrick is tasked with ensnaring the new head of the family. The chief constable is more inclined to stay on the trail of the serial killer, and this smokescreen to divert attention from his lack of progress goes against the grain. 

To assist him in uncovering Adrian’s secrets is Miss Samantha Carmichael, a specially trained undercover operative and the perfect tool to gain Croft’s trust. She’s a fascinating main character, a modern woman, with her early childhood spent in an orphanage before being adopted by a member of the upper class. The result of her secret training has made her a clever and deadly foe of whomever she has in her sights. 

The plot hits the ground running, and the pace never slackens, with shocking twists and revelations complicating the intriguing mystery. The author tells a mesmerizing story, incorporating two different Londons: the privileged, high-flying one of the nobility and the dark and shadowy London of the poor and desperate. I felt like the killer was breathing down my neck as their thoughts became part of the narrative, someone obvious but hidden in plain sight. 

With its great characters, tense plot, and non-stop action, I recommend A VENGEFUL KING RISES to readers of historical mysteries and thrillers. 

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

A Cold, Cold World (Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery, #2) by Elena Taylor 

Wow! Complex characters and complicated circumstances! 

A Cold, Cold World is the second book in author Elena Taylor's Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery series, and readers are beckoned back to the small mountain town of Collier, Washington, and the secrets it hides. As a massive snowstorm pummels the little town, Sheriff Bet Rivers is confronted with a possible murder, a missing father and daughter, and a blood-soaked sleeping bag, all of which may be related. 

I really enjoyed Bet, the main character, who's gotten her feet under herself a little more firmly since the events in book one. Still, she retains some feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty and projects a vulnerability that makes her so very realistic and human. However, she's smart and makes better decisions than she realizes. In such a small town, she's investigating incidents that involve neighbors and lifelong friends, people who watched her grow up, and others she has witnessed do the same. What happens in this town is personal for her, and that takes its toll. She's also working under a lot of stress, with little sleep or time to eat properly as the storm descends. Clayton, her full-time deputy, is unavailable and in another town, as his wife goes into labor with their first child. 

The action takes place as great amounts of snow bury the town, bringing down trees and power lines and covering up footprints, tire tracks, and other possible clues critical to solving the ongoing investigations. The descriptions of the storm and crime scenes are vivid and atmospheric. I could feel the chill as I read. Each call for service brings with it a level of urgency that Bet must prioritize, but she's still pulled in several directions at once, even when she gets a little extra help. The story is a complete surprise as it unfolds. 

With its absorbing plot, eerie and dangerous snowstorm of a setting, and impressive main and secondary characters, I recommend A COLD, COLD WORLD to readers of mysteries, police procedurals, and thrillers. 

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

Kayan Goes to Mumbai

by

Rohit S. Loomba

Illustrated by Margherita Passarini

Cute, colorful, and fun!

In Kayan Goes to Mumbai, a young child prepares to travel across the world and visit family in the city of Mumbai, the most populous city in India. After a long plane ride, he lands in this amazing city and, once there, experiences all its exciting sights and sounds.

Kayan Goes to Mumbai is the latest children’s travel picture book in author Rohit S. Loomba’s Kayan Goes series for young ones. The illustrations are eye-catching and inspiring, and their beautiful colors make the scenes come alive. The main character is Kayan, and he’s so authentic and enthusiastic about his new destination and what he finds there, even when he’s about to step in something he really wants to avoid! (The family goes to a nature park where visitors and animals are free to roam throughout the grounds.) The story takes him to iconic locations as well as to everyday places where he can visit with family. (He goes to visit his Nana and Nani's flat.)

The story covers many aspects of what such a journey would entail and the activities that are out of the usual daily routine of a young child that might startle and stress them, including deciding what to take on the journey and packing for the trip, flying across the world, and seeing their destination for the first time from high above before landing, and then the various modes of transportation they will be using once there which might be very different from how the family gets around at home.

This book is a great way to excite and prepare children who are about to make a trip to this large (and what could be overwhelming) city. It would also be suitable as a fun story to share in pre-school when discovering different countries.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.