Review: Ghost Phone by Melissa Bowersock

Genre: Mystery/Paranormal/Detective

Description:

“When Sam first starts getting phone calls with no name and no number—and no one there on the line—he thinks it’s strange but not a big deal—just irritating. Without a number, there’s no way to trace the calls to either find out who it is that’s calling, or to block them and their annoying pranks. But then the calls take a darker turn, spewing an unintelligible stream of angry, garbled nonsense. The calls are very insistent, ringing through even when the phone is turned completely off. To save their sanity, Sam and Lacey have to figure out who—or what—is calling, and what it wants. But how?”

Author:

“Melissa Bowersock is an eclectic, award-winning author who writes in a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres: paranormal, biography, western, action, romance, fantasy, spiritual, and satire.”

For more visit Ms.Bowersock’s website and follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

If you’ve read a few of the 50 prior books in this series then you’ve come to expect certain elements. A house or some place seems to be haunted. Sam Firecloud is called in with his wife, Lacey Fitzpatrick, to figure things out. Sam, with his ability to communicate telepathically with spirits who have not yet left this world visits the haunted space and Sam describes what he’s seeing which Lacey records. Together they ponder with Lacey figuratively putting on her detective cap to help figure things out. As a team, they find what it will take to help resolve the unfinished issues preventing the spirit from peacefully moving on. It’s an engaging and thought-provoking pattern that the author has managed to keep entertaining with each of her stories keeping the reader guessing along with Sam and Lacey, just what you’d hope for in a mystery story.

This book throws a few twists into the pattern especially in the beginning, when they get calls that give no caller ID information and are silent on the other end, at least at first. Later, some of the calls have a voice that is too garbled to understand. How these calls evolve, how they figure out where they are coming from and ultimately how to communicate in a way they can understand with the being on the other end is full of twists and turns we haven’t seen in any other book in the series. Then where this leads them to resolve the issue at hand and how they get there is much different from any of the other books in the series. Sam’s connection with the spirit behind it all matters, but it felt like Lacey’s detective skills got much more of a workout than is typical for the series too. In the end, it was an entertaining read that shakes up the normal pattern, but that fans of the series are still going to enjoy, find entertaining, and make them work a bit harder trying unsuccessfully to figure out where things are going through most of the story. I’d call that a positive.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

While the 51^st first book in the series, each book stands alone.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 25-30,000 words

Review: Wok Walk by Melissa Bowersock

 

Genre: Mystery/Paranormal

Description:

“The Dancing Wok is a highly successful family-owned restaurant in LA’s Chinatown, but it has a problem: it’s haunted. The recently deceased owner is making his unrest known by moving things around at night and leaving them in places they don’t belong, throwing the restaurant into chaos every morning. Sam and Lacey are called in to connect with the unhappy spirit and find out why he’s still on the earth plane and causing problems for the surviving members of his family. Oh, and while they’re at it, it would also be nice if they could find out who murdered him.”

Author:

“Melissa Bowersock is an eclectic, award-winning author who writes in a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres: paranormal, biography, western, action, romance, fantasy, spiritual, and satire.”

For more visit Ms.Bowersock’s website and follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

As the 50th book in this series, those of you who already discovered the series and read more than a couple of the prior books have a rough idea of what you’ll find. Thnstallment should meet those expectations. The main characters, Lacey Fitzpatrick and Sam Firecloud, are a married couple. Sam, is a native and has the ability to communicate to the spirits of people who have passed on, but for some reason are unable to leave this world and go on to their next life. Lacey is a detective and assists Sam in putting together the clues he gleans from the departed in order to help them resolve whatever is preventing them taking their next steps.

The installment fits the big picture of the series, but if you’ve read lots of them and think you can guess where things are headed, I’ve never been able to do that before and this one throws a twist that I didn’t see coming as the issue at hand turned out to be a bit different than Sam, Lacey, and the readers would expect. As always, a fun, engaging, and enjoyable read. I’m already eager to start reading #51.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Review: Revenge on Ice by Linda LeBlanc

 Genre: Police Procedural/Mystery

Description:

“A frozen corpse. A mystery investigation explodes into an adventure thriller where Detectives Sara and Ryker must survive the most dangerous pursuit of their lives in a race against time.

They’re a razor-sharp duo--equal parts wit, grit, and heart—forced to confront how far they’ll go for justice, each other, and survival.

As they uncover a trail of revenge, every clue leads deeper into a web of lies tied to a tragic Everest expedition led by the victim. Each team member carries a secret and has a motive for murder: a beguiling woman with a jealous husband, a violin maker who lost three fingers, an offbeat sculptor with a temper, a man who fled within hours of the crime. A rival climber benefits from the victim’s death.

Every discovery exacts a price. And as the countdown tightens, so does the line between hunter and hunted.”

Author:

An avid world traveler, Linda LeBlanc had visited 74 countries as of 2025. Born in Denver, Colorado she explored the Rocky Mountains and later expanded her explorations to other parts of the world including the Himalayas. She’s written a few other books. This is the second one in the Sara/Ryker Mystery series.

Appraisal:

A frozen body discovered in the freezer at a meat packing plant isn’t quite the same old thing to kick off the day for Sara and Ryker, a team of detectives for the police department. Figuring out how this happened, who was responsible, and hopefully bringing them to justice takes this detective team (with the reader tagging along, of course) down some unexpected roads, both figurative and literal roads. Uncovering the why and who is difficult and takes some strange turns in their path to figuring things out. But it also involves some trips to places many of us (okay, most of us) have never been and I suspect most haven’t even read or otherwise been exposed to what things are like in such places as the area around Mt Everest. If you have no clue what is involved in getting acclimated to the increased elevation near the top of the world’s tallest mountains, you’ll find that kind of thing out along the way with Sara and Ryker.

The author’s unique travel and adventure experiences as detailed in her biography are put to good use, adding to the uniqueness of this story.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

While the second book in a series featuring Sara and Ryker, this book stands alone.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing misses.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Review: Shot For Justice by J.R. Wheeless

 

Genre: Suspense/Mystery

Description:

“After rival gangs kill his sister during a gun battle, an Army sniper returns home for revenge.

Travel with him as he makes his way across the nation to visit a wife of a fallen comrade before settling into his hometown of Modesto, CA. Along the way, his journey forces him to examine his own life and the past he thought he’d left behind.

Before he can get settled in, he meets Henry Clay Jackson, a retired lawman with ideas of his own. Then there’s the young lady and her son, who have an influence on his life. The only thing standing between him and happiness is a husband with a violent personality.

From the beginning, Detectives Peterson and Dempsey become a concern for our hero, a man determined to make someone pay for his sister’s death. As the bodies pile up, additional problems arise to slow him down. And his old partner from his army days arrives with issues of his own.

Will the man who is out for justice succeed in his quest? Can he deliver retribution?

Does he ever quench the anger that pierces his soul? Can he stay a step ahead of the detectives who are intent on putting him behind bars, all the while carrying out the plan he has laid out for himself?

And how does he handle the situation with the woman who comes into his life without getting her tangled up in his problems?

Dealing with his past and the obstacles determined to thwart his plans, our army veteran attempts to establish a new life for himself, only to face adversity at every turn.”

Author:

A writer all his life, J.R. Wheeless was writing a weekly column for his local newspaper as a high school senior. His writing was more personal for a lot of years, journals he kept for himself and such, but in 2015 he published his first book and he has had several since then, some fiction, some non-fiction, some novels, some short story collections.

Appraisal:

As I was pondering this book one thing that struck me is how in a story like this it is possible for the reader to get behind and be pulling for a protagonist who could accurately be described as a mass murderer. As law enforcement is looking for him, trying to figure out who is doing this to arrest them, he’s doing his best to prevent that from happening and figure out who killed his sister, his ultimate target. As a reader, we’re pulling for him to meet his goal. Sometimes a “bad guy” by most definitions can still be a good guy. What the ultimate conclusion is, I’m not saying, other than to wonder if he’s done now or if there is more to come.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Review: Treacherous Hack by Kevin G. Chapman

 Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Description:

“When electronics store owner Lou Palazzo is gunned down at a snowy Manhattan intersection, NYPD homicide detectives Mike Stoneman and Jason Dickson catch a case that’s anything but ordinary. Back at Lou’s shop, two Chinese nationals linked to a powerful Shanghai cybercrime ring are dead. The only clue? A missing laptop computer, possibly containing something Lou was willing to die to protect.

Meanwhile, NYU student Ryan Gelb is panicking. His hacked laptop held the stolen university data — data he quietly gave to his Uncle Lou. Now Lou is dead, and whoever killed him is coming for the file. . . and for Ryan.

Caught between international cybercriminals, New York mobsters, and the police, Ryan is desperate to recover the file and avoid being expelled — or worse, executed.”

Author:

A lawyer specializing in labor and employment law by day, Kevin Chapman describes his real passions as playing tournament poker, rooting for the New York Mets, and writing fiction. For more, visit Mr Chapman’s website.

Appraisal:

I’ve read several of the books in the Mike Stoneman Thriller series of which this is the latest, and I’ve liked all of them I’ve read. Of course while they have the same main characters, Mike Stoneman and his partner Jason Dickson, they have unique aspects in each. In this one we not only get the story of Mike and Jason trying to figure out the murder of pawn shop owner Lou Palazzo, but another story thread with Lou’s nephew, Ryan trying to find some data that he shouldn’t have had, but passed on to his Uncle Lou. We’ve also got some interesting characters involved that … I’m not sure the word incestuous is the best word to describe things, but it’s got to be close with people with ties to the main characters complicating things for all concerned. Even though the reader knows a lot of things that the characters don’t know, this kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing all the way. An interesting and different story.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Although this book is part of a series each book in the series stands alone, so reading prior books in the series or the order you choose to read each book doesn’t matter.

Format/Typo Issues:

Based on an advance reviewer copy although based on that there were no significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Reprise Review: Blood Walk by Melissa Bowersock

 Genre: Mystery/Supernatural

Description:

“The paranormal investigation team of Lacey Fitzpatrick and medium Sam Firecloud is keeping tabs on a serial killer case that’s baffling the LAPD: four murders in a month, with no solid leads or suspects. When Sam and Lacey offer their assistance, the PD reluctantly agrees, but Sam gets more than he bargains for when he visits the crime scenes. In addition to picking up impressions from the victims, he’s also receiving feelings from the killer himself. Sam’s unusual connection to the murderer’s mind may help them catch the criminal, but it could also lead the murderer to them. In a deadly race against time, Sam and Lacey piece the clues together to catch the killer before he catches them.”

Author:

“Melissa Bowersock is an eclectic, award-winning author who writes in a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres: paranormal, biography, western, action, romance, fantasy, spiritual, and satire. She has been both traditionally and independently published and is a regular contributor to the superblog Indies Unlimited. She has a tattoo on the inside of her left wrist that says IMAGINE. In her next life, she plans to be an astronaut. She also writes under the pen name Amber Flame.”

Learn more about Ms. Bowersock and her other books on her website or stalk her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

I didn’t know what to expect in Blood Walk, I’ve gotten used to the way Sam and Lacey work. This time Ms. Bowersock throws the reader, along with Sam and Lacey, a curve ball that changes things up with unexpected consequences. Trying to catch a gruesome serial killer who seems to not have a discernable pattern besides the disposal of his victims. The police are perplexed and welcome Sam’s mediumistic assistance.

The plot moves at a nice pace as Sam and Lacey try to identify the elusive killer and plan their wedding. Lacey has amazing Google skillz that offer as much guidance as Sam’s readings. (Honestly, I don’t know if Lacey uses Google. I just wanted to say Google skillz.) Blood Walk is well written with fully rounded characters and intelligent dialogue. The end of the first storyline is full of suspense, tension, and heart stopping action. The end of the story is heartwarming and may leave you with happy tears. It did me. I can’t wait for the next book. Anyone who loves mysteries with a small dose of the supernatural will enjoy this book. And the whole series.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Blood Walk is the eighth book in Ms. Bowersock’s A LACEY FITZPATRICK and SAM FIRECLOUD MYSTERY SERIES. Each of these mysteries can be read as a standalone if you choose. However, I am enjoying the relationship developing between Lacey and Sam, so I would recommend reading from the beginning to get the full benefit of their storyline.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Review: Cross Checking by Dennis Pierce

 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Description:

“A search for hidden treasure linked to a decades-old crime. A race against time to stop a fanatical church leader’s murderous plot. A well-educated mob boss who stands in the way of one of these goals—and could be the key to achieving the other.

In Cross Checking, book 2 of the Parker Hanson mystery series, former journalist turned private investigator Parker Hanson and Amalia Velasquez, his ex-Army Ranger neighbor, are back with not one but two major mysteries to solve.

When they aren’t trying to stop what they fear might be a large-scale assault, Parker and Amalia find themselves looking for a stolen painting that could help solve a 35-year-old crime.

Juggling two critical cases with far-reaching implications will require Parker and Amalia to summon every ounce of skill and resolve they possess. And when Parker is faced with a moral dilemma that could determine the fate of hundreds of people, how will he respond?

Featuring humor, pulse-pounding suspense, and plenty of hockey and pop culture references, this crime thriller set in New Hampshire from veteran journalist Dennis Pierce will keep readers engrossed until the very last page. If you’re a fan of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series or relatable, underdog heroes in general, you won’t want to miss this book.”

Author:

“Dennis Pierce is a freelance writer, author, and journalist. A graduate of Yale University, he began his professional career as an education journalist with eSchool Media, working his way from assistant editor to managing editor and editor-in-chief. In his last few years with the company, he served as director of content partnerships, working with advertisers to develop and execute content marketing campaigns. He has covered congressional hearings on Capitol Hill, interviewed former astronauts and Secretaries of Education, and ghostwritten thought leadership articles for company CEOs.”

Appraisal:

This was a fun, enjoyable read. I always enjoy a good mystery that keeps me engrossed in the story, trying to figure out what the answer is along with the protagonists makes for a fun read. With two cases intertwined in this story there was plenty to keep the reader engaged.

One thing that stood out in this book and set it apart in a good way from many mysteries was the subtle humor that is scattered throughout the story. There might be some things that I missed because I wasn’t clued in to a subtle reference, but I caught some that I suspect others might not pick up on. For example, if you aren’t enough of a music nerd to recognize the name Charlie Sexton, you won’t giggle like I did at one reference. But you ought to still enjoy the mystery.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Contains a minimal amount of adult language.

This is the second book in a series featuring Parker Hanson. However, each book is standalone.

Format/Typo Issues:

My review is based on an ARC (advance reviewer copy), so I can’t gauge the final product in this area.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Reprise Review: Demon Walk by Melissa Bowersock

 

Genre: Mystery/Supernatural

Description:

“Private investigator Lacey Fitzpatrick and Navajo medium Sam Firecloud are called in by the Director of Mission San Juan Capistrano to unravel the mystery surrounding an evil presence that is threatening the mission’s people and its liability, maybe its very existence. While Lacey digs into the research, Sam pulls out all the stops, planning to fight fire with fire and witchcraft with… witchcraft. Lacey finds his methods disturbing, but knows they have to combat the ancient, supernatural force that has killed before, and may very well kill again.”

Author:

“Melissa Bowersock is an eclectic, award-winning author who writes in a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres: biography, contemporary, western, action, romance, fantasy, paranormal and spiritual. She has been both traditionally and independently published and is a regular contributor to the superblog Indies Unlimited. She lives in a small community in northern Arizona with her husband and an Airedale terrier. She also writes under the pen name Amber Flame.”

Learn more about Ms. Bowersock on her website or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

With Lacey and Sam’s notoriety growing they are contacted by the Director of Mission San Juan Capistrano to investigate the strange happenings going on at their mission. While Lacey looks for connections from the mission’s past, Sam searches the more esoteric connections.

With their combined resources and skills will Lacey and Sam be able to determine the source of the ancient magic they have to face and defeat? Find out as Ms. Bowersock includes more members of Sam’s family and challenges Lacey to believe in herself.

I found Demon Walk enthralling. Ms. Bowersock continues to captivate me with every story she spins. Her secondary characters are strong and make each story well-rounded, which aids in the suspension of disbelief. I highly recommend this series to readers of paranormal mysteries. I guarantee you’ll love Lacey and Sam. I can’t wait to see where their next case takes them.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Demon Walk is book six in A LACEY FITZPATRICK and SAM FIRECLOUD MYSTERY SERIES. Each of these mysteries can be read as a standalone if you choose. However, I am enjoying the relationship developing between Lacey and Sam, so I would recommend reading from the beginning to get the full benefit of their storyline.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues. 

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Review: All or None by Clive Fleury

 Genre: Hard-Boiled Mystery

Description:

“Returning to Sydney, Detective Ramesh Ryan is promoted to the Homicide Squad. Zoe Yang joins him there. Now a detective herself, she is assigned as his junior partner. Straight up, the cops are off and running-investigating the discovery of a murdered company director. Following the clues, Detective Ryan finds that this and a second murder may be linked to past events.

As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the detective finds that he too, is in the killer's crosshairs. But Ryan is distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to her recent medical tests? And there's another pressing problem-the plague of rats in his apartment block.

Detective Ryan's hands are well and truly full!”

Author:

“Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and screenplays and has worked all over the world as a Film/TV director, writer and producer. He has written six books, most recently All Or None, the second novel in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series.”

Appraisal:

This mystery has multiple story threads which keep things interesting and keep the reader guessing how things are going to turn out. First, we have the protagonist, Detective Ramesh Ryan, who has just been promoted to a new position as a homicide detective. The challenges of being in a new position and figuring out how to work with and interact with others in the department is a challenge. That his partner was just transferred from another city and is learning her job as well as the both of them figuring out how to make their team work complicates things still further. Throw in some happenings in Ryan’s personal life and things get more complicated. All of this just makes figuring out the mystery and where the story is going to go that much less clear for the reader which is a positive for a mystery. The results are an engaging and entertaining read that draws the reader in as you try to figure things out along with Detective Ryan.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

The author lives part of the time in Australia and some words that I’d describe as Australian (not commonly used in American English) are used a time or two, but it is no big deal.

Format/Typo Issues:

Review is based on an ARC (advance reviewer copy) so I can’t gauge the final product in this area.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Review: The German Client by Bruno Morchio

Genre: History/Mystery

Description:

There are three strands to this book: secret events of 1944 during the Nazi occupation of Italy (after the fall of Mussolini); a search for those secrets in ‘the present day’ (this book was first published, in Italian, in 2008); this second thread being displacement activity for Bacci Pagano, while he sits by the hospital bedside of his comatose girlfriend, Jasmine, who has been badly beaten waiting for her to wake or not wake – which is the third thread.

The events of 1944 are loosely based in fact, and the setting (Sestri and surrounding area near Genoa) is accurate.

One of the puffs at the front of the book, from Il Giornale di Brescia, claims this is “the best novel Morchio has written so far.” Telegraph Avenue adds that “This is the beauty and the distinctive trait of Italian noir. There is more than just crime: [there are also] history, politics, society, love, friendship.”

Bacci Pagano is the protagonist in a series of gumshoe-type investigations by Morchio. Italian readers are very fond of him. This is the fifteenth in the Pagano series and the first to be translated into English (in 2020) by Kazabo Publishing, which specialises in providing English translations of books which have been bestsellers in their original language but have never been available in English before. Perhaps unusually for series, especially this far in, Il Giornale’s review claims this series is hitting a new high note with this book.

Author:

Bruno Morchio lives in Genoa, Italy, where he worked as a psychologist. He has won two literary prizes for the mystery genre, the “Azzeccagarbugli” and the “Lomellina in Giallo” Prizes; and has been a finalist for the “Bancarella”, “Scerbanenco” and “Romiti” Prizes.

Appraisal:

Morchio is very knowledgeable about the area in which this book is set. It is a reasonable supposition that the local 1944 story piqued his interest, and led him to write this particular book. The Pagano books are not usually set in the past. The original 2008 publication date was already nudging the edges of plausibility for a WWII story, if your protagonist is going to be interviewing participants in that conflict in your book’s present. Even teenage partisans would have been about eighty in 2008, and the eponymous German, in his sixties, is the son of Hauptmann Hessen, the German in the story from 1944. Nevertheless, that strand of the story convinces. The tendency, forged in war-time, only to speak when absolutely necessary, not to inform on a comrade, and to maintain that tight-knit comradeship to the grave comes across strongly. In point of fact, all the characters are well drawn. In addition, Italian life sits lively on the page, the Italian way of life is there on the page, and the cultural life of this time and place shine through.

Unfortunately, the three plots do not entirely hang together. Why and how Pagano became enamoured of Jasmine is never fully explained. And how she ended up in the hands of the traffickers is kept from the reader until very late in the book, providing a mystery that I found more frustrating than intriguing. The mystery from 1944 turns out to be no mystery at all, except … no, I won’t give that away – it would be a mean spoiler.

The 1944 sections set in are the strongest part of the book: I always felt we were on firmer ground when Morchio took us back to that part of the story. And it does form the major part of the book, with a satisfying plot of its own.

I hope Kazabo feel it worthwhile to translate others in the Pagano series. And that somebody decides to turn them into a television series (in Italian or English, I don’t mind) now that we have run out of the Sicilian Montalbano novels to dramatise. Here we have just enjoyed the first series of Inspector Gerri, set in Puglia (at the other end of Italy from Genoa). But Telegraph Avenue is quite correct: there is a particular charm to Italian noir, on the page or on TV.

If you are a fan of Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano books, or you tried Pentimento Mori by Valeria Corciolani on the strength of my recent review, or you enjoy holidays in Italy or have felt you would really like to visit that country, or simply enjoy noir crime fiction, you will find much to enjoy in this novel.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: Judi Moore

Approximate word count: 65-70,000 words

Reprise Review: Finding Fiona by Donna Fasano

 Genre: Romantic Comedy/Chick-lit/Mystery

Description:

“If her husband turns up alive—she'll kill him!

Explaining to the seriously sexy cop why she hasn't noticed her husband has been missing for three days is both embarrassing and sobering. But the day Fiona Rowland lifts her head above the churning chaos of kids, carpools, and a million things to do, annoyance turns to fury...then to worry. Where is Stanley?

Having one of those wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee moments changes the way a woman looks at things: marriage, money, family, and friends. And when her best pal from high school arrives (packing her own secrets) to lend support, it turns out even the past isn't quite what it seems. Scrambling to make sense of the drama unfolding, Fiona discovers there's an upside to having your whole world turned upside down. It's easier to grab the good stuff.”

Author:

“USA Today Bestselling Author Donna Fasano has written over 40 women's fiction and romance titles that have sold over 4 million copies worldwide.”

Appraisal:

Finding Fiona is many different, sometimes contradictory things. It starts with a mystery. Where’s Stanley? Fiona’s husband disappeared and there aren’t many clues as to where he might be. There’s romantic comedy in a few different ways as romance threatens to take hold, but there are times when the romantic side of things is way too serious to be funny. Fiona’s best friend from her high school days stumbles into the middle of this crisis and alternates between helping and exacerbating the situation.

This was a fun story that kept me guessing, both about the mystery part, but also the romance and relationship part. I wasn’t sure who was going to end up with who, or how the different conflicts would resolve. It kept me guessing and, even more importantly, I liked the characters enough to care how it turned out.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Review: The Cover Story by Deb Richardson-Moore

 

Genre: Mystery

Description:

“On most days for homeless man Malachi, invisibility comes his way unwanted, unsought. Today, he’s counting on it.

College student Charlie regains consciousness with her friend Janie Rose’s dying screams ringing in her ears. Charlie insists she was forced off the road by an old-fashioned hearse. But the police think their wreck was simply an accident.

Reporter Branigan Powers suspects that her niece Charlie may still be in danger. So when an abandoned hearse is found in Grambling’s Tent City, she teams up once more with her homeless friend Malachi to investigate. They track the vehicle to a local university.

As Branigan and Malachi explore the sometimes-bewildering Old South world of sororities and fraternities, more violence erupts. The trail of destruction grows, and the murderer always seems to be one step ahead. But like most people, the killer doesn’t see Malachi coming.”

Author:

“Deb Richardson-Moore is the author of six mystery/suspense titles and a memoir, The Weight of Mercy, about her early years as a pastor at the Triune Mercy Center in Greenville, S.C. A national award-winning former reporter for The Greenville News, Deb is a popular speaker at book clubs, universities and churches. She has also won numerous awards for her work in homeless services and community involvement.

A graduate of Wake Forest University and Erskine Theological Seminary, Deb lives with her husband in Greenville. They are the parents of three grown children.”

For more, visit her website.

Appraisal:

A reporter like Branigan Powers, the protagonist of this series, trying to figure out what happened in a car crash that resulted in one college student dying isn’t unusual. You’d expect a reporter might look into strange happenings. But teaming up with Malachi, a homeless man, to figure out what is going on is an interesting and unique twist.

As for the mystery, I was guessing the entire way, but never quite sure as Branigan and Malachi would uncover each clue making my previous guesses appear incorrect. As more came out I couldn’t help coming back to see how things turned out. A fun read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI

Although part of a series this book stands alone. I had no problem following what was happening in spite of not having read the first book in the series.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 75-80,000 words

Reprise Review: True Shifter (TOTEM Book 9) by Christine Rains

 

Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Mystery/Mythology

Description:

“Saskia Dorn can't bear to lose anyone else. But when the only man she's ever loved turns his back on her, she runs off to sacrifice herself to the totem quest.

With a disgusting kiss, a dying house spirit grants her the power to shift into any creature. Yet she has neither the time to train nor the imagination to utilize the gift to its fullest. How will she manage to defeat a villain who has mastered the ability and made her the person she is? Saskia only has a few freakin' hours to figure it out. After all, the fate of every shifter in the world depends on her victory.”

Author:

“Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not reading or writing, she's going on adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of S.C.I.F.I. and Untethered Realms. She has one novel and several novellas and short stories published. Her newest urban fantasy series, Totem, is almost complete at nine books.”

To learn more visit Ms Rains’ Facebook page.

Appraisal:

True Shifter, as far as I know, is the finale of the TOTEM series. And it packs a wallop! The tension and suspense ran high all through this novella. Saskia is faced with many challenges and conflicts, she’s intelligent and approached things in a logical manner. However, she is hard-headed, and still carries some insecurities. Watching her navigate the mysteries they are faced with to gain the remaining tokens is well written and enthralling.

Family and relationship dynamics play heavily in the plot as the story twists and turns back on itself. It turns out to be an emotional journey for the whole group. I was extremely satisfied with the captivating images painted by Ms. Rains, and the heart-warming climax of this series.

I’m hoping we get to hear further stories about the Dorn sisters and their chosen mates in the future. After all Lucky and Ametta need a new house spirit (domovoi) for the manor, and the kikimora, domovoi’s wife, has been charged with finding one. Then there is Berton Ellsworth, the vampire, who is inviting a water dragon to his castle. Seems like a lot of fun times ahead to me. :)

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

True Shifter is book nine in the TOTEM series. It is important to read this series in order as events build, and the characters grow through the previous books in the series.

Be warned, there are several F-bombs dropped.

Format/Typo Issues:

I came across no significant issues in proofing or formatting.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Review: Pentimento Mori by Valeria Corciolani

 

Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

Description:

This fits into a number of genres. It is a history and mystery, also a police procedural murder mystery, also an art historical mystery. One thing is for certain: it is a work of fiction in which there is much mystery. And hens.

Author:

The author is an authority on history and art history – and her knowledge certainly shines through in this book. And she imparts that knowledge lightly: good! She is also an instructor in Fine Arts, and an accomplished illustrator and animator.

Since 2010 she has published in Italian, winning numerous awards. Her meat is crime. She has several series on the go. She has 20 titles on Goodreads. Her books are huge in Italy (all in Italian). This is the first one translated into English. We don’t usually get sent this sort of work by authors already so well-established. I’m very glad I found it in our listings. It has been an unusual read. I hope she succeeds in reaching the wider audience she seeks.

She was born, and lives in, Chiavari on the Italy Riviera (where Dr Silvera and her hens live in the book).

Appraisal:

This is an unusual and interesting book, for several reasons. The first is that it gives insights into Italian police procedures that one normally doesn’t find outside the Inspector Montalbano Mysteries (books and TV series, in Italian), or Signora Volpe (original TV series, in English, set in Italy).

The second reason is the joyous and flavourful backdrop of Italy, its scenery, its wine, its way of life in general. Bellissima!

The third is that, after clopping along for the first 25% of its length, it suddenly bursts into life and throws at the reader explanations of multi-panel paintings and the hierarchy of subjects and colours in fifteenth century art, Nazi art thefts, a reinterpretation of the treachery of Judas, and the shadier parts of the international art market. Nice.

If you are into fifteenth century European art, Christian conspiracy theories like The Da Vinci Code, alternative gospels such as The Gospel of Judas, Gnosticism, Nazi skullduggery or any combination of these, you will find much to enjoy this book.

I do have a few reservations. As I say, the book begins slowly. The plot only really kicks in around Chapter 16, by which time we have been shown a number of times how waspish and unreasonable Dottore Edna Silvera usually is. I found Dr Silvera unsympathetic as a protagonist, which was a pity as she was on stage for most of the book. The translator wanders between present and past tenses (sometimes in the same sentence) which tends to produce a headache in this reader. A fat bundle of coincidences enabled the plot to function. The pleasant cover was (as far as I could see) completely unrelated to the content of the book. (Checking back on the Italian edition – Con l'arte e con l'inganno – I see that cover also appears unrelated to the story, except for a bird flying past. Lascia perdere!)

However, the plot, the factual information, the characters, not forgetting the super-abundant use of qualifiers, all impel the book forward towards a most satisfying climax and made me forgive its infelicities.

Full disclosure: I have long been fascinated by Judas Iscariot, and some time ago wrote a story which revisits his role in the arrest of Jesus Christ. It’s in my book of short stories entitled Ice Cold Passion, and is available in the US and the UK for small money on Kindle, if you’re interested. (And no, I had no idea we would be meeting up with Judas when I picked up this book for review.)

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

Some proofreading and translation issues.

Rating: **** Four Stories

Reviewed by: Judi Moore

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words