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Shudder Pulp

Charley Scott Mystery, #2

by

Vanessa Westermann

 

Complex plot with long-held secrets in an atmospheric Canadian cottage country setting.

 

Shudder Pulp is the second book in author Vanessa Westermann’s excellent Charley Scott Mystery series featuring artist Charley Scott, her family, and friends. It is set in Canada’s cottage country near Blue Heron Lake. As Charley is working on her art exhibit for the upcoming Halloween season, local financial manager Laura Bouchard, wet and disheveled, barges into the gallery and accuses her of trying to scare her to death and drown in the lake. Making little sense, claiming Charley and her art exhibit have awakened their local, mythical lake monster, she demands Charley to change the theme of her exhibit immediately before storming back out to her car and racing away. Only a few hours later, Laura’s body is found outside the office of the Blue Heron Lake Marina, her half-brother Roy’s business, a victim of the phenomenon known as dry drowning. But was her death initiated by accident or a physical attack like she had accused Charley of? 

Charley is a strong and smart protagonist, but she is still recuperating from the trauma she endured in the previous book. Although the official detective is Alex, who is Charley’s sister’s boyfriend, Charley is knee-deep in her own investigation, and, once again, her involvement almost gets her killed. Matt, Charley’s love interest, is a good backup but is distracted as he tries to regain his success with his chocolate creations. Meghan, Charley’s sister, keeps track of the case from all the angles she can, with the shared intent of getting the truth out in the open for all to see. 

The plot of this second mystery is complex, with intense action scenes, puzzling twists, and plenty of possible murder suspects to cross off the list. Laura had riled up any number of people in town, and her most recent proposal to the town council about upgrading the local dam from water control to hydroelectric power generation engendered even stronger emotions from some of the residents, including Roy. As the story progresses, the secrets underlying those emotions unwillingly come out into the open. 

The action takes place in the lakeland town of Oakcrest, which is near enough to Toronto to attract the cottage country crowd for summer vacations and weekend stays. However, with Thanksgiving just over (October in Canada), it is the off-season, and tourists are at a minimum, reducing the income for local mom-and-pop businesses that thrive on their trade to survive. The lake, the marina, and the surrounding area provide quite an atmospheric setting for the story, which features the possibility of a mythical lake monster coming to life. 

While this second Charley Scott mystery can be read and followed by readers new to the series, there is little backstory regarding the events of the previous book included to bring them up to date with the characters, so for the best understanding and enjoyment, I suggest reading book one before embarking on this latest adventure. I recommend SHUDDER PULP to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy characters who are artists or reporters or plots with an artistic theme. 

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

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Freedom Drop

Len Buonfiglio/Caribbean Mystery, #1

by

Brian Silverman

 

Exciting action, tragic deaths, and secrets someone will kill to keep hidden.

 

Freedom Drop is the first book in author Brian Silverman’s atmospheric Len Buonfiglio/Caribbean Mystery series set on the island of St. Pierre. The tale’s tough action and magnetic main character are definitely a winning combination. 

Having gained a reputation among his bar patrons and native neighbors for being able to help when the police can’t or won’t, bar owner Len Buonfiglio reluctantly takes on the case of a local man accused of complicity in the death of a tourist just as his 16-year-old daughter, Kasie, arrives for her spring break visit. His involvement is swiftly noticed by someone who doesn’t want him poking around in the case, and Len is soon visited by a pair of toughs with hard methods of persuasion in mind. Len Buonfiglio, or Mr. Len as he is known to the other inhabitants of St. Pierre, is a quiet, reluctant hero, dogged in his pursuit of the truth, and armed with only a sharp mind, clever wit, and  rusty martial arts skills. 

The plot follows Len as he learns of the arrest of “Big Tree” Rawle Johns, a local tourist guide known for his quiet, dignified manner and obvious love for his island home and her history. Well acquainted with the respected single father of one, Len is skeptical of Big Tree’s involvement in Deanna Gould’s death the previous year at the island’s historic and sacred landmark, the Freedom Drop, which until recently had been ruled an accident or suicide. 

Len is returning home from picking up Kasie at the airport when they witness police taking Big Tree into custody. He is soon contacted by the man’s elderly mother, who implores Len to intervene with the police on her son’s behalf. The story escalates quickly as strangers to the island interfere with Len’s low-key inquiries. At the same time, he attempts to reconnect with his only daughter on her first visit since the dissolution of his marriage to her mother five years earlier. The visits from outsiders are surprising, and the results are shocking. I could understand Len’s immediate concerns for his daughter’s safety and his conflicting emotions about ending her long-awaited and much-anticipated first visit earlier than planned, as well as what he would tell his ex-wife when he did so. 

The author’s writing absolutely drew me into his story from the very beginning, and Len and other characters, such as Tubby, soon felt like people I actually knew. Similarly, Silverman’s vivid, evocative descriptions of his settings placed me side by side with Len on St. Pierre. The plot is gritty, and the action is decisive as Len works his way to the truth behind the young woman’s death almost a year earlier. 

I recommend FREEDOM DROP to mystery readers who enjoy a reluctant and less traditional yet still resolute private investigator protagonist. 

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

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Dinked

Serenity Acres: Where Secrets Barely Stay Hidden, #1

by

Crystal Quast

 

Intriguing, complex, and highly entertaining, with a tantalizing underlayer of secrets throughout!

 

Dinked, the first book in author Crystal Quast's new Serenity Acres cozy mystery series, is sly and clever and filled to capacity with tantalizing hidden secrets. The community residents seem to have taken Sir Michael Caine's quote to heart. "Be a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like hell underneath." There's so much going on that is invisible, at first, to the naked eye. 

When an expansion to Serenity Acre's pickleball courts is presented at the annual general meeting, the community is strongly divided over the project. While some view the move as a way to inject new life into their slowly declining property values, others are opposed to encumbering the community's healthy emergency fund. But there's also a faction that may be loath to disturb the status quo to prevent the discovery of secrets they don't want brought into the light of day. 

As the debut novel in the series, the author has the daunting task of crafting a suitable fictional setting for the action and then populating it with the principal characters. Quast weaves a wonderful backdrop and diverse palette of players, with secrets and backstories that offer vast potential to draw upon for this book and the future. The characters are introduced organically as they interact with the main character, Margot Fields, and the resulting story is quite an ensemble effort. Still, it does take some time to develop the community and the myriad relationships; however, the payoff is well worth the reader's patience and attention to the presented details. The catty repartee and double-edged barbs make for delicious dialogue, strongly reminding me of the women who lived on Wisteria Lane in "Desperate Housewives." 

With its many twists and turns and sophisticated, clever plot, I recommend DINKED to cozy mystery readers, especially those with an interest in pickleball or enjoy country club-style shenanigans. 

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

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A Witch Awakens

Fire Circle Mystery, #1

by

Ellis Elliott

 

Strong, entertaining debut for this new Appalachian-set mystery series.

 

A Witch Awakens is the first book in author Ellis Elliott's new Fire Circle Mystery series featuring a disillusioned former dancer who abandons New York City to return home to Eureka Grove, Tennessee, to take over management of her grandmother's dance studio. When Jenny Newport, a long-time family friend and Cece's mentor, is murdered at a charity event, her grandmother's loyal handyman becomes suspect number one. Cece is drawn into the investigation to find justice for Jenny and clear Calvin's name. 

This was a unique and cozy mystery featuring interesting and engaging characters and a distinctive setting infused with plenty of Appalachian legend and lore. Tennessee "Cece" Chagall is the main character and, though disappointed her dance career didn't go as planned, remains upbeat about her return home and only occasionally succumbs to a little self-pity. 

Cece, however, has been dealing with another issue that has also prompted her to return to her roots; she has been having increased episodes where a random object triggers her to experience a smell, taste, or physical sensation. The occurrences, which only last seconds, have happened all her life. Her Aunt Granny (Grandmother's sister) called them her "peculiars," but they've never occurred as often as they are now. She hopes to get with Aunt Granny for answers to what is happening to her before resorting to another doctor and another MRI. Cece is relatable in her troubles, and I rooted for her determination to get to the bottom of what was behind Jenny's death. 

The story moves quickly, especially for the first book in a series, where the author must introduce readers to the characters, their backstories, and relationships, as well as the new setting. Elliott easily handles the heavy lifting without bogging down the story. I liked that Cece's high school sweetheart was still in town but had become a detective with the local police department. While they were already running into each other around town, the murder forces them into needful proximity and a different dynamic between the two forms. Naturally, he warns her away from his investigation, and just as naturally, she pays little attention and starts her own. The resolution is surprising but makes sense. 

I recommend A WITCH AWAKENS to cozy mystery readers who enjoy a touch of the paranormal in their stories. 

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

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Abandon Station

Dyson Bridge, #1

by

V.G. Harrison

 

Excellent start to this new sci-fi series!

 

SYNOPSIS FROM AMAZON:

"A thunderous explosion echoes through the vastness of space. The Bridgeway Space Station is rocked by a catastrophic blast, sending Chief Engineer Meridia Vail and her international crew spiraling into an alternate dimension. They awake to find themselves stranded on an Earth trapped technologically in the past.

As the gravitational forces of this backwards planet wreak havoc on their metabolisms, Meridia races against time to locate her missing crew members before they meet an ominous fate at the hands of this archaic world order’s military forces. Piecing together clues, she discovers that the Bridgeway somehow survived the interdimensional jump too, but is trapped in a rapidly decaying orbit that threatens to demolish this entire parallel Earth.

In a nail-biting showdown, Meridia must leverage the unmatched technological power of the Bridgeway to bargain for her crew's release from detainment before all-out war erupts between the planet's primitive defenses and the unimaginable alien spacecraft looming above.

With millions of innocent lives hanging in the balance, she gambles on an audacious attempt to escape her captors."

Abandon Station is the first book in author V.G. Harrison’s new Dyson Bridge sci-fi series, and while only a little over a hundred pages in length, it is a tense, dramatic story that slowly reveals an alternate vision of Earth rich with detail. 

The story is told from the perspective of mechanical engineer Meridia Vail, a likable and smart yet vulnerable main character. The opening includes a spirited exchange between Vail and her divorce attorney, representing her interests back on Earth in the dissolution of her marriage to her cheating skunk of a spouse. What follows is the exciting cause of the crew’s current jeopardy and subsequent efforts to return to their own time and dimension. 

The author’s writing style is engaging and easy to read despite the complexities of the technology and the situation. I was quickly absorbed by the story of Meridia’s and the crew’s plight. I enjoyed comparing their actual world and society to what they encountered on their ‘new’ Earth. As this book ends on a cliffhanger with their fate still up in the air, I look forward to the next installment and hope it appears soon! 

I recommend ABANDON STATION to science fiction readers who enjoy tense stories involving an alternate Earth. 

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

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Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic

Rufus & Magic, #3

by

Marilyn Levinson

 

Rufus meets his Uncle Hector, a rich and powerful witch with an evil reputation whom he never knew existed, at the annual Samhain celebration.

 

Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic is the third book in author Marilyn Levinson’s fun and exciting children’s fantasy series, featuring 5th-grade magic initiate Rufus Breckenridge and his family and friends. When the Breckenridge family attends the annual Samhain night celebration, they are surprised when Hector, Rufus’s father’s brother, shows up during the evening’s fireworks display. 

Rufus realizes Uncle Hector has come to the party looking for him even though they’ve never met before. Hector leaves after making eye contact with his young nephew; however, on the way home, Grandma Lavinia and Aunt Ruth caution Rufus to stay away from the evil witch, and for good reasons. But later that night, Uncle Hector makes another surprise visit, this time outside Rufus’s bedroom window. 

Rufus finds his uncle charming and fun and is persuaded to pursue a relationship with him despite his family’s warnings and without his parents’ knowledge. Uncle Hector has a beautiful estate but soon expresses some ideas and uses some magical spells that are contrary to what Rufus has been taught are right. But has Rufus gotten too close to his uncle to come clean with his family and escape his evil demands? 

Except for his magical gifts, Rufus is the epitome of what regular fifth-grade boys are like, and it was easy to understand how he was persuaded to disobey his parents and embrace the lavish lifestyle his uncle offered him. He is tempted to try out spells on his friends, even though he knows it is wrong to take advantage of them in this way, and crossing that line causes him to rethink his choices. Young readers will find the relationship between Rufus and his little sister, Griselda, relatable, and even younger children will be able to understand the lessons presented in the book when read aloud. The chapters are short enough to provide easy stopping points, and even though this is the third book in the series, the story can be read as a stand-alone. Readers new to the series should have no trouble jumping into the story at this point. 

With its themes of friendship, respecting boundaries, the use of power, and respecting parental rules, there are numerous opportunities for further discussion and enrichment. I recommend RUFUS AND THE DARK SIDE OF MAGIC to upper-elementary and middle-grade fantasy readers. 

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

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The Dream Lives On

by

Valeriya Goffe

 

Family secrets, a tense journey to safety, and hope for the future.

 

The Dream Lives On is a wonderful tale of adventure, romance, and family secrets that will seize the interest and warm the hearts of fiction lovers. As war comes to Ukraine, widower Viktor Yurchenko leaves his homeland for the safety of the United States with his large family, including three young children and his elderly mother. 

Viktor, a professor of finance at the local university, must put his personal desires to enlist in the military and defend his country from the Russian attacks; he’s the single father of three young children and the caretaker of his elderly mother, who has recently begun to decline physically. In the U.S., what Teresa Jameson thought was her happy family suddenly disintegrated when her husband of 16 years left her for the mother of his secret teenage daughter. In a surprising turn of events, Teresa agrees to open her home to a friend’s Ukrainian relatives fleeing the war, even as her shock and misery threaten to overtake her. 

The plot is riveting and well-paced as the various storylines converge. Long-held family secrets and plot twists galvanized the ensuing drama and kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how things would work out and what could possibly happen next. 

The author’s writing style and vivid descriptions make the scenes come frighteningly alive, such as the family’s journey to escape separation and the destruction of war and Maria and Olena’s scramble to get to safety when Kyiv comes under the attack of Russian forces. However, quieter scenes between characters are equally effective and, at times, intense, with emotions that leap off the page. 

With its frighteningly authentic portrayal of a country at war, exciting plot, and relatable and resilient characters stuck in the middle of it all, I recommend THE DREAM LIVES ON to readers of fiction, historical fiction, romance, and war-time stories. 

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

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The Winter Sorcerer and the Summer Witch

by

D. Lieber

 

An “opposites attract” spark sets off a delightful slow-burn romance in this magical marriage of convenience tale!

 

The Winter Sorcerer and the Summer Witch by D. Lieber is an absolutely delightful tale combining an ‘opposites attract’ and slow-burn romance with a marriage of convenience storyline. I enjoyed this book so much that I’m still smiling about it days later! 

Winter sorcerer Whittaker “Whit” Crawford must marry before the upcoming winter solstice, or his grandfather is going to change his will and leave the ancestral home, the only home Whit has ever known and has lovingly restored room by room, to a cousin with children. As all the winter witches he’s familiar with tend to be very cautious, careful planners and loath to make any decision without time-consuming deliberations, time Whit doesn’t have, he puts his chances of marrying one before the deadline as slim to none. Depressed and in need of cheering up, Whit and his best friend secretly crash a Halloween party in the woods held by the summer faction. There, he rescues a summer witch named Clover from the annoying attentions of one of the other guests. He is surprised and intrigued when she rewards his actions with a kiss. The next day, he begins to wonder if Clover Bronwen might be the answer to his problems. 

Clover and Whit are an adorably fun and relatable pair, both with hopes and dreams that aren’t much different from each other, although she’s sunshiny and spontaneous while he’s deliberate and far from impulsive – usually. They are perfect for each other. Their interactions, as they got to know each other, made me smile from the start, and I was all in for them to overcome all obstacles on their way to a happy ending. 

While the plot has all the earmarks of several romance tropes, they are combined with an unusual backstory that makes them feel fresh, fun, and exciting. The existence of two factions of magic users, based on the seasonal solstices of winter and summer, was an intriguing element that set up a wildly different “mixed marriage” scenario. Their slow-burn romance progressed at a pace that kept me completely engaged, making me read “just one more chapter” again and again. 

I recommend THE WINTER SORCERER AND THE SUMMER WITCH to romance readers who enjoy a paranormal element in their stories and fresh takes on the opposites attract, sunshine/grumpy, marriage of convenience, or slow-burn romantic tropes. 

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

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The Rise of the Mad March

by

Robert Espenscheid, Jr.

 

The birth of a punk rock band, where the music is the thing, but love and family are the results.

 

The Rise of the Mad March by Rober Espenscheid, Jr., is the story of the making, life, and times of a scrappy, groundbreaking punk rock band in early 1970s Iowa. Henry Hollins had sworn to himself that if he got out of Vietnam in one piece, he would follow his heart and pursue a musical career, but it wasn't until a chance meeting with two young female felons at a state-run halfway house for offenders that he would find his path to fulfill his dream. 

While the narrative follows Henry Hollins's journey, it is truly an ensemble tale as he builds his band with three talented young women, a novelty even today. Individually, each of his new band members has a tragic backstory, but together, they find the support and family they need to heal. Just like any family, they don't always see eye-to-eye, and there are some epic disagreements. But they always return to each other with love. 

The plot tells the story of the band's formation, early days, and eventual success. I was surprised by how much work went into getting them to a point where they could take the stage to perform in front of a live audience. One of my favorite storylines was about the significant impact a seasoned sound engineer can have on the success of a live gig. Several serendipitous encounters of this type made all the difference in the band's trajectory. The relationships among the band members were very fluid, but they ultimately formed into a family, which gave the women a place of safety, love, and trust where they could finally heal from the traumas they had experienced in their pasts. However, neither their safe place nor the band's success prevents life from throwing the members another curveball. 

The story is easy to read except for one issue I encountered. I did have some trouble with the flow of the dialogue. Early on, the exchanges between characters felt choppy; the replies didn't quite align with what the characters were responding to at the time. This was particularly true of discussions between Henry and his wife, Esther. Sometimes, I couldn't really understand what she meant. Still, I was riveted to the story until the very last page. 

I recommend THE RISE OF THE MAD MARCH to readers of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in the music industry and punk rock bands. 

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

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Light Roast Larceny

Coastal Coffee Mystery, #1

by

Kate Montgomery

 

Great characters and an intriguing plot combine for an absorbing tale of mystery and murder.

 

Light Roast Larceny is the first book in Kate Montgomery’s intriguing new Coastal Coffee Mystery series. With its likable and relatable characters and fascinating plot, I was completely absorbed by the story from start to finish and absolutely ready for book two. 

The main character, Graciella “Cici” Larkin, is a recently laid-off twenty-something with two feisty little dogs and Brad, her very supportive husband, and living in a well-established Miami suburb of long-term older residents. When Francine, an elderly neighbor, has her wallet stolen and encounters disrespect and dismissal by local law enforcement, Cici steps in to advocate for serious action. While at the police station, she meets new employee and Louisiana bayou transplant, Officer Chandra Boudreaux, and the young women’s friendship quickly grows over their shared love of coffee and the delicious local breakfast pastries. They soon discover there’s been a rash of petty thefts occurring in Cici’s neighborhood over the previous couple of months, all targeting elderly residents who are treated in the same disappointing manner as Francine, and all dismissed with the pronouncement that they’ve just lost or forgotten where they’ve put their missing items. 

I really enjoyed this story for its fun characters and plot revolving around the elderly victims. Cici is such a well-developed, relatable, and memorable character with her reactions to being suddenly laid off, dealing with her unpleasant, self-appointed neighborhood watchdog, Edna Sparks, and her daily struggle for inspiration and producing an edible meal for the dinner table each night. Brad is a joy as he lends his support to her joint investigation with her new energetic, go-getter friend, Chandra. All three are dedicated coffee and breakfast enthusiasts, and the descriptions of their various meals and ethnic pastries are mouthwatering and serve to introduce Chandra to a new love interest. 

While elderly victims are not new in fiction, this story takes this theme further, with the wholesale gaslighting of the victims taking centerstage. Readers ‘of a certain age’ or those with close relationships with older individuals will easily relate to these victims’ treatment. This tactic literally angered me as I read, and I could relate to the characters’ frustration and humiliation. These vital, competent adults were, within seconds of the start of their interview, discredited and deemed unreliable and unworthy of further attention because of their perceived age. 

The perpetrators are gradually revealed, and a key element of the case remained elusive until almost the very end. However, even after the final reveal, I had questions regarding the motive for the mostly petty thefts. There doesn’t seem to be much return on investment for the extensive setup, as according to the story itself, until Gerald, the values of the items involved were minor and many of sentimental value only. Still, the story was a page-turner; I had to find out how it would all turn out. 

I recommend LIGHT ROAST LARCENY to cozy mystery fans, especially those with an affinity for coffee or those who enjoy stories featuring more mature characters. 

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