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.

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.

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.

The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper

by

S.M. Morgan

A likable and relatable main character and an adventuresome story from the past!

After his father's death, Teddy Larson's mother relocates them to the town of Ravenwood for a fresh start. School is already in full swing, so Teddy is a newcomer to Ravenwood Middle School in the middle of the semester. On his first day, he not only attracts a lot of stares from the other kids but also draws the attention of the school bully, Zane. 

With students having already formed their friends' groups, Teddy feels completely isolated, so he talks his mother into letting him skip school on Friday of his first week. His mother, a real estate agent, is readying a spooky old mansion in town for sale, inventorying its contents before listing, so Teddy accompanies her and explores the old place while she works. In a secret room, he discovers a box of old journals written by the house's previous owner when he was a boy, the same age as Teddy is now. Intrigued, Teddy takes the first volume of the journals home that night. 

Back at school, Zane and his cronies delight in tormenting the lonely boy. Still, when Teddy accidentally bloodies Zane's nose during an ambush in the boys' restroom, there are unexpected consequences. Three against one convince the principal that Zane's story that Teddy attacked HIM earns Teddy swats and a two-day suspension. However, on his return to school, he discovers that the story that he bested the bully has circulated throughout the school and has gained him some new friends. 

Bud Wiper's journals are riveting reading for the miserable Teddy. Beginning in 1949, they detail Bud's daily life, revealing that he, too, is lonely. As the only child of wealthy parents, Bud is often left at home in the care of the butler while his parents travel the world in search of treasure. However, one day the butler brings him a strange letter written in code, and when the secret message is revealed, Bud is shocked to learn that his parents have gone missing, and he needs to mount a rescue. The story hooks Teddy, and due to his continued school misfortunes, it may be the only thing that helps him make it through each day. 

The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper is a fun, adventure-filled story for middle-grade or older elementary-age readers that even reluctant readers will enjoy. Teddy is sweet, likable, and oh-so-misunderstood, making him a perfectly relatable hero sure to capture the imagination. 

The story switches point of view from Teddy to Bud as pages of the journal are read. While both boys experience a lot, Bud's adventures are much more action-hero-oriented: think "Indiana Jones." In Teddy's case, "Revenge of the Nerds" would be more apropos. Both are fun and compelling reading. 

The adults in Teddy's life are exceptionally clueless about what is going on between him and Zane. While I was somewhat disturbed by this, young readers will probably relate to a time when they felt they had been treated unfairly. The story leaves a couple of ideas unexplored that, hopefully, are bridges to future Bud Wiper journal adventures. I certainly would pick up any sequels to this book. 

With its likable and highly relatable main character and the adventuresome story from the past, I recommend THE LOST JOURNALS OF BUD WIPER to elementary students ready for chapter books and middle-grade readers, especially those falling in the reluctant reader category. 

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

The Bone Records

by

Rich Zahradnik

Unique and original, with so much action, I was compelled to read this book from cover to cover in one day.

The Bone Records is one of those books where the phrases “action-packed” and “non-stop action” genuinely apply. The story is tense, and the pace is breakneck. I was enthralled with Grigg from the opening. 

The story has an engaging, sympathetic protagonist in Grigg Orlov (Grigoriy Andeiovich). With his mixed heritage, he grew up an outsider in the Russian immigrant community of his father’s people. He didn’t fare much better later when he pursued his dream of becoming a New York City police officer. He was jumped by a couple of academy classmates and severely injured enough that he was forced to withdraw. He lost his mother at an early age, so it’s always been just him and his father, and when his father goes missing, and the police show little interest in finding him, he pursues the matter night and day on his own. Their reunion is sudden and ends quickly with tragic and shocking results. 

There is a growing sense of menace as the story progresses, assisted by the noirish descriptions of the neighborhood, his living in his empty childhood home after he’s sold it, and the places he visits – old haunts that hold lots of memories of times with his father. The Coney Island setting is especially moody with the included bits of its history. Grigg gets much-needed and timely assistance in his investigation from some unlikely sources, but I really liked the growing relationship between him and his work manager, Jamie Carmichael. Again, I was slated to be shocked by the outcome. 

The use of bone records in the story was unusual and original and sent me down some internet rabbit holes. There are actually some of these for sale on eBay! I’d never heard of these before, and I couldn’t help but read more about them.

 The book is set during the Clinton-Trump presidential campaign. It features computer hackers and whole warehouses of keyboard jockeys posting political memes, posts, and disinformation, from all party viewpoints, which stoked the emotions of the denizens of social media, dividing and conquering as intended. 

With its fast-paced action, originality, atmospheric settings, and engaging characters, I was in the dark and off-balance, never knowing what the resolution would be until the end. I recommend THE BONE RECORDS to mystery and thriller readers who would enjoy a unique plot or a New York City setting in 2016.

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