V Life Cover

V-Life: So It Begins (Sugar Bernstein RV-Living Vampire Series, Book 1) by Honey Parker

Reviewed by Lily Andrews

In “V-Life: So It Begins (Sugar Bernstein RV-Living Vampire Series, Book 1)” by Honey Parker, a young Jewish woman discovers empathy and a method to put an end to her long-standing pain, self-loathing, and wrath after gaining insight into the adversary’s mind, whom she has always wanted to murder.  Purchase Here.

Sugar Bernstein, a vampire and a former creative director for advertising, has made the decision to live alone, away from friends and family. This follows the death of her lover, Curtis, whose memory now remains deeply etched in her mind. She has no desire to socialize with anyone and prefers to travel the world in a luxury camper van.

Throughout her travels, she meets and gets acquainted with a vampire couple. She now has individuals who are like her and whom she does not need to hide anything from. As she engages with them, she learns and develops inner superhuman abilities that she never dreamed she had. This may be precisely what she needs to get revenge on an adversary who appears to have no trouble penetrating her thoughts and dreams. She quickly learns, though, that she underestimated the intensity of her opponent’s bloodlust when two shadowy creatures abruptly appear to kill her, both brandishing sharp swords and long, emerald-green coats.

This is a terrific vampire thriller that will not disappoint, with a plot that effortlessly balances comedy and dread. A major plot point is the protagonist’s love life, grief period, self-discovery, and desire for revenge. The protagonist experiences several mental episodes, each of which heightens the suspense and mood of the story. Through time, she changes from a young woman who has been beaten to an unlikely heroine who triumphs over a binding enchantment and a terrible hate-fueled conspiracy. One of the many poignant scenes is where the antagonist informs her of a secret regarding her deceased boyfriend. Many readers will be caught between two extremes at this crucial juncture.

Parker’s writing style combines elements of horror and slow-burn romance to chilling effect, putting a unique spin on vampires in the process. Many of the scenes have a humorous tone, and the language-melding prose along with the vivid world-building accomplishes much. Vibrant descriptions draw you in right away and tease you with what is ahead. There’s so much in “V-Life: So It Begins (Sugar Bernstein RV-Living Vampire Series, read 1)” that feels fresh. If you are searching for a book that will captivate you and leave a lasting impression, this is the right place to be.

The Goatman

The Goatman by Wallace Martin

Reviewed by Lily Andrews

“The Goatman” is a tightly plotted murder mystery written by Wallace Martin that packs a punch with its twists that keep coming. Set in North Georgia in the post-WW2 period, the book follows Zeb Barton, a fourteen-year-old boy who is plagued by terrifying visions and dreams that had begun a few months ago and often signaled impending danger. His mother had died when he was only four, and his irritable father spent much of his time devoted to his medical career. Much of Zeb’s parenting had been left to Thelka, their short-tempered maid, who formed an inscrutable bond with him. Much of Zeb’s adventures navigated around helping his father with his patients and spending time with his friend, Jake.  Purchase Here.

Meanwhile, a dark cloud looms around this quiet town whose residents are haunted by deep-rooted struggles of their own emanating from their past even as the despondent post-war period creates a long-lasting impact on their day-to-day lives. When horrific murders begin happening, Zeb is convinced that the Goatman, is behind these crimes and that the voices he has been hearing in his dreams and visions serve as a clue to unraveling the murders. However, those surrounding him largely believe that the Goatman is merely a character from a nursery rhyme and is simply non-existent. As the clock ticks and the body count rises, Zeb takes a desperate gamble to find answers with his investigation unearthing a dark and absorbing tale of determined evil.

In “The Goatman“, the truth is evasive and the enigmatic Goatman remains obscure for a large part of the book, creating a sense of foreboding that heightens the suspense even as the book draws to a satisfying close. Author Martin does an impeccable job creating misdirects and red herrings in equal measure, succeeding in developing the inner sleuths in readers, wondering who the real culprit of the murders was. A huge revival in the mystery genre, this text abounds with resonant and well-wrought characters that feel like next-door neighbors. The writer’s evocative descriptions accomplish much and unwrap the ominous and palpable tone that maintains the book’s emotional resonance.

Wallace Martin wears his ingenuity on his sleeve, as readers will effortlessly observe in his work, and this makes his work all the more rewarding. He successfully manages to infuse complex themes such as the subject of racism and post-traumatic stress disorder portraying their long-term effects if left unaddressed. That he manages to create a compelling narrative from a childhood nursery rhyme is a win-win on his part as this demonstrates his creative ability. The dialogue too, is plausible, making the characters feel imminently present. The festering secrets that are revealed after a few chapters keep up the book’s momentum as does its brisk pacing.

“The Goatman” by Wallace Martin comes in at 383 pages but this should not discourage any reader as it delivers on its promise. Thriller and mystery enthusiasts, young adults and otherwise, should add this one to their bookshelves. I strongly recommend it.

Broken Chord

Broken Chord by Alice A. Jackson

Reviewed by Lisa Brown-Gilbert

Alice A. Jackson’s Broken Chord: A Music Row Mystery, offers a compelling collaboration of love betrayal, passion, intrigue, and murder set in Nashville’s famous Music Row.  Purchase Here.

Captivating from the outset, we meet relatable protagonist, the beautiful but middle aged-beleaguered, Sarah Ann Boswell. She finds herself beset by the throes of a middle of her life crisis, when not only does she turn fifty years old, loses her husband to unfaithfulness and divorce, and feels largely ignored by her children, as well as finding herself unceremoniously fired from her job. At a loss for direction or self-esteem, Sarah Ann does the unthinkable and tries to take her own life; nevertheless, she survives with the staunch love and support of her longtime friends, her prayer group.

While hospitalized Sarah Ann meets godsend, the savvy, smart and talented, Jill Edgerton, who offers her the promise of a renewed life with an offer to join Edgerton Group, her Nashville based talent management firm. Accepting the offer, Sarah Ann embarks on a new and happier journey through life and into the alluringly lucrative world of the country music business. They strike country music gold with the advent of newly discovered artist Jared Parson. Although he’s handsome, talented, and virile he also seems to harbor a secretive side. Besides turning out to be a cash cow for Edgerton group, Jared also starts to cause a divide between partners Sarah Ann and Jill, as an illicit relationship forms between him and Jill. Moreover, events take a turn for the twisted and mysterious when Jill Edgerton is found murdered, leading to an investigation focusing on multiple, possible suspects including Sarah Ann.

Wholly entertaining, Broken Chord: A Music Row Mystery turned out to be an enjoyable read that moved as a crescendo does, steadily paced with slow building intensity that culminates into a well-orchestrated conclusion. The story itself was well written. Author Alice A. Jackson writes in a literate, polished, easygoing style, while the overall story keeps you engaged with its setting, plot twists and cast of resonate, fleshed out and likable, characters. I especially liked Sarah Ann, whose honorable personality, struggles and triumphs were easy to commiserate with. Additionally, the character of Jared Parson was also done well; he was a character whose formidable personality made him an engaging personality, albeit it was a “love to hate” connection. This book would make a terrific read for adult fans of mystery reads.

 

Leave No Choice

Leave No Trace by A.J. Landau (Jon Land and Jeff Ayers)

Reviewed by Russel Ilg

LEAVE NO TRACE, the latest thriller from Jon Land writing under the pseudonym A. J. Landau, is subtitled “A National Parks Thriller” for good reason. The book opens with a domestic terrorist attack on the Statue of Liberty and ramps up from there with more of America’s most iconic parks, monuments and memorials in the crosshairs.  Purchase Here.

If you think that’s all, though, you haven’t read a Jon Land book in a while. He teams here with fellow thriller maven Jeff Ayers who just happens to be an expert on all things National Parks. Adding that bite of reality to a heavy dose of knife-edged action makes this not just a surefire pick for best thriller of 2024, but also the most relevant. See, the bad guys, most notably a white nationalist general, are targeting America’s icons because they intend to burn the country down and rebuild it from scratch. Viewed from that perspective, LEAVE NO TRACE reads like a harbinger of what might truly be in store for the United States if we continue down the road we’re on.

Leading the charge to prevent that is the stalwart team of park service Investigative Services Branch agent Michael Walker and the FBI’s Gina Delgado who’s second-in-command at the FBI’s New York field office. Walker and Delgado cast aside their early jurisdictional squabbles to form a brave and able pair, as determined to stop the carnage as the villains are to murder ten million Americans in the centerpiece of their plan.

The action winds from Liberty Island, to Independence Hall, the Gateway Arch, and Zion National Park, before finally climaxing at Wind Cave National Park. Oh, and there’s also a flashback sequence on Mount Rainier where Michael lost both his wife and left foot in a violent confrontation with serial killers picking victims from park grounds. If you know your thrillers, you’ve probably already figured there’s more to that tragedy than meets the eye, ultimately forming the book’s biggest twist among many.

The fact that Michael has a prosthetic foot renders him the only current disabled hero in thriller fiction today, if memory serves. He’s the ultimate underdog, totally overmatched by the bad guys he’s taking on and yet able to prevail through a combination of guts, guile and knowledge of the rattlesnakes that call Zion National Park home. For her part, Gina serves up a comparable complement of gravitas and grit, especially in a harrowing sequence when she spirits the country’s first female president out of harm’s way and then must continue to protect her alone, since there’s no one left she can fully trust.

LEAVE NO TRACE is a rip-roaring, no-holds-barred thriller of the highest order that mines today’s political climate for a tale that should feel over the top, but instead flashes a bright red warning sign. That helps makes this series debut a stunning, truly terrifying triumph of pitch perfect storytelling, begging to be read in a single sitting. It’s the Super Bowl of thrillers where genre fans come out the biggest winners.

Every Silent Thing

Every Silent Thing by Alan Brenham

Reviewed by Douglas R. Cobb

Every Silent Thing, by author Alan Brenham, is a terrific read for all fans of the mystery genre. It was my first encounter reading anything by Brenham, but I hope it won’t be my last, for I totally enjoyed reading this novel. Now, also knowing that Every Silent Thing is the first of a trilogy of mystery novels featuring the shy and deaf twenty-three-year-old Claire Deveraux, who works as a foreign service officer at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, makes me want to check out the other two books is the series.  Purchase Here.

Right from the first page of Every Silent Thing, before I knew anything about the book, I felt myself drawn into the rapidly unfolding plot by the author’s style of writing. Deveraux witnesses an apparent murderer enter a women’s restroom at the Louvre, just before a woman does the same. When the man leaves a few minutes later, he locks eyes with Deveraux. Claire looks away, briefly, and the man melts into the crowd.

So, of course, what does Deveraux do, but let her curiosity get the better of her. She wonders about the woman who had entered the restroom but hadn’t yet come out of it. Upon entering the restroom, Claire sees a woman bleeding to death on the tiled floor.

For readers who dislike reading about any potential spoilers, don’t worry. I’ll try to limit them, but here are a few, so fair warning:

1.) Claire Deveraux is one of a set of triplets. Her two siblings are Megan and Boyd.
2.) Every Silent Thing contains a lot of knowledge about Europe in it and also great chase scenes.
3.) Claire’s identical appearance to her sister results in cases of mistaken identity.

The murder of the woman is tied into an international crime cartel. I enjoyed reading about how Claire Deveraux deals with the situation she finds herself in.  Another spoiler: Megan’s ex-boyfriend, Randy, gets killed after getting into a dispute over stolen diamonds. Randy’s death prompts Megan to flee to Paris.

Oh, yeah — one further spoiler: Their brother, Boyd, gets kidnapped by these nasty cartel members, who think that Megan somehow has the stolen diamonds. These are just a few examples of some of the other plot intricacies author Alan Brenham weaves into this fine novel. I highly recommend that if you love reading terrific mysteries, check out Brenham’s book, Every Silent Thing. If you haven’t read Every Silent Thing yet, add it to your reading lists today!

 

A Bullet for Carlos

A Bullet for Carlos by Giacomo Giammatteo

Book reviewed by Chris Phillips

Giammatteo starts this new series with a blast. A drug sting goes bad and the cops go in knowing they would not have backup. Everything that can go wrong does for detective Connie Gianelli. In a moment of desperation, she makes a phone call for help.  Purchase here.

From there on, she seems set on a path with trouble on all sides and a very narrow line to follow to survive with her reputation and life intact. She runs into trouble at work and finally has to bring the family she knows but cannot acknowledge in to rescue her.

“La famiglia e tutto- Family is everything” – Dominic Mangini. This quote is the key to the whole story. Connie was raised by Maria, who everyone assumes is her mother. Only her uncles Dominic and Zeppo know the truth, and they are not talking. These are the pivotal characters when the story begins. As the trouble deepens, crimes committed come to the forefront. Connie is transferred to cold cases and meets Frankie Donovan, a hotshot homicide veteran who is investigating her case.

The characters are alive and full of very human flaws. They develop smoothly with the bumps that happen to all humans. Special circumstances awards go for Connie trying to solve some bloody, messy, rape murders crossing state lines and still trying to clear her own name. That is when the problems really begin.

Connie is a good cop with a good reputation, but a poor judgment call puts that all-in jeopardy. Frankie is a no-nonsense detective bound to find the truth and the missing drugs. Others come in to help and look deeper and still get the cases solved. Uncle Dominic is always in the background and he continues to “help” where he sees it making a difference. It would be better if he wasn’t a member of organized crime, a high-ranking member. Connie is encouraged to follow up on a cold case that takes her out of Brooklyn and to Texas. Everyone thinks this is a good place for her to stay so the problems don’t stay in anyone’s attention, but there is a problem. Evidence keeps disappearing or misleading the investigation. Problems develop in Texas and an undercover operation going bad leads to more suspicion and more guilt for Connie to cope with.

In a climax of supreme intensity, Connie comes face-to-face with a serial murder that is more vicious then even she can imagine. The book ends well but with cliff hanging events on all sides.

The tale is appropriate for adults because of the violence and the language. As stated at the beginning of the book, this is the first in a series “Blood Flows South.” This reviewer is waiting for the next one as well as the other series Giammatteo promises with a segment to entice readers.

Vessels of Wrath

Vessels of Wrath: A Big Ray Elmore Novel by Thomas Holland

Book Reviewed by Daniel Ryan Johnson

Vessels of Wrath is another strong showing from the talented Thomas D. Holland. Protagonist Ray Elmore, or “Big Ray” as he is commonly known to his chagrin, finds himself once again investigating a murder in the small, less-than-peaceful town of Split Tree, Arkansas. As the chief of police for this small town, Big Ray is pulled out of his normal routine when the county sheriff asks him for help investigating the apparent suicide of a friend.  Purchase Here.

This third installment in the Big Ray Elmore series does not require the reader to have previous knowledge of the series to enjoy the story. However, diving deeper into the happenings of Split Tree will certainly enhance the experience. Set in 1963, the novel details a small-town murder investigation set against the backdrop of a country in turmoil amid the civil rights movement and the growing anticipation of the U.S. fully entering into the Vietnam War.

Mr. Holland’s character work is in top form throughout the novel, painting a clear and realistic picture of the players. Ray Elmore is the quintessential reluctant hero. Never having sought a position of power, Big Ray had the role of police chief thrust upon him years earlier. Despite a clear affinity for the job, he consistently downplays his aptitude while quietly punishing himself for his self-perceived shortcomings.

Vessels of Wrath pulls you back through time and firmly sets you down in a fictional town that is all too real. While set sixty years in the past, the novel echoes back the violence, hatred, and uncertainty that abounds today. The story expands beyond the investigation of a crime in a small town to explore the larger issues present throughout the world.

As he attempts to solve the mystery surrounding the death of Ring Johnson, Big Ray is faced with battles on several fronts. Between allegations of misconduct, the threat of an escaped convict, relationship issues regarding those closest to him, a personal nemesis, and the ever-present ghosts of war, Big Ray has his hands full as he attempts to solve the crime and keep the town of Split Tree and its inhabitants safe from harm.

Far Out

Far Out by Khaled Talib

Book Reviewed by Timea Barabas

If you are looking for an unconventional story, look no further than Khaled Talib’s Far Out. The fun story is a unique mix of witty humor, a glamorous lifestyle, thrilling action, and psychological inserts that lead to an unexpected read.  Purchase Here.

Some readers may already be familiar with the main protagonists, Goldie Saint Helen and Blake Deco from Gun Kiss. However, those unfamiliar with Khaled Talib’s previous book can still enjoy this story as an independent read. The considerate author includes details about any references to the previous novel, so you will still benefit from the wider context.

Far Out opens with a scenic drive along Pacific Coast Highway that comes to an abrupt end as movie star Goldie Saint Helen is severely injured in a car crash. Fortunately, she is pulled out of the burning wreckage by a group of teenagers who attend to her until the ambulance arrives.

As Goldie recovers at the hospital, it quickly becomes apparent that she suffers from Dissociative Amnesia. The condition not only threatens her career but also her independence and freedom. Goldie awakens as Gypsy Star, a funky detective from the 60s ripped from the movie script of the actress’ upcoming project.

Gypsy Star is immersed in a high-profile case where she is tasked to track down a missing girl who ran away from home. Her chase leads her to the midst of a secret CIA project that tests experimental drugs on hippies.

Following the doctor’s recommendations, Goldie’s husband, Blake Deco, plays along as Gypsy Star’s assistant. This allows him to stay with his wife and shelter her from harm while prompting her recovery. From details like current songs playing on the radio to modern cell phones, her reaction to anachronisms is erratic and difficult to guess.

The author achieves a captivating overlay of Goldie’s projection of reality. The movie screen plot carves a way into the real world, as Gypsy’s missing girl materializes and a malicious plot unfolds around the detective.

Far Out flows as an action-packed Hollywood movie sprinkled with unexpected twists and fun pitstops along the way. An adult audience will appreciate the adventurous read and the wider discussion it prompts on the dangers of conservatorship.

 

Code Name: Juggernaut

Code Name: Juggernaut by Sherman E. Ross

Book Reviewed by Dianne Woodman

Code Name: Juggernaut by Sherman E. Ross is a hair-raising story. It revolves around white supremacists who commit deplorable acts of violence and square off with law enforcement agencies.  Purchase Here.

The primary instigators behind gut-wrenching atrocities are Jacqueline “Jackie” Lynch and Howard Brennan. Jackie is a hired assassin with ties to a white supremacist gang that extols Adolf Hitler’s ideologies. The gang members hold on like bulldogs to an extreme hatred of “mud races,” especially Afro-Americans and people of Jewish heritage. Howard Brennan, a top dog in the gang, has devised a plan to destroy the government and throw the country into utter chaos, with the end result of a populace comprised of only pure “Aryan” blood.

A thorn in the side of the white supremacists is FBI Special Agent Douglas Rabson, a member of the Bureau’s Domestic Counter-Terrorism Strike Force. Rabson is the lead coordinator for investigations into activities that point to Jackie and her accomplices as the ones behind vicious killings and the theft of nuclear materials.

Concurrent investigations by multiple law enforcement agencies have gotten underway to try and put an end to what is considered domestic terrorist acts. As Rabson’s investigation continues, he suspects the terrorists are planning to build an atomic bomb. It becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement and the white supremacists who allow racial hatred to be the cornerstone of their beliefs. Are the terrorists building a bomb, and what is their intended target if they do? Can law enforcement officers stop the terrorists before it is too late?

Code Name: Juggernaut is jam-packed with action, conflict, tension, and suspense. It includes professional hits, graphic descriptions of sadistic murders, elements of white supremacists’ ideologies and the motives behind their death-dealing acts, malicious harassment, and high-risk confrontations.

Ross grabs readers’ attention from the start and keeps them engrossed all the way to the end as they follow in the footsteps of white supremacists and law enforcement personnel. The story’s action takes place in four states in the United States, including California, Washington, DC, Utah, and Colorado. Profanity used in the story fits the novel’s characters and tone. Ross is well-versed in scientific research, making the details pertaining to an atomic bomb credible.

Juggernaut is an emotionally impactful story that gives readers a bird’s eye view into the ideology behind racial violence and animosity toward government institutions, along with the challenges law enforcement personnel face to track down violent criminals who have no remorse for their actions.

View Trailer for Code Name:  Juggernaut

 

The Offspring

The Offspring by Bill Pinnell

Reviewed by Lisa Brown-Gilbert

Offering a read that simultaneously compels, repels, and excites, author Bill Pinnell’s The Offspring, peers into the dark side of human nature via family relationships, secrets, and racism, shown through a multi-layered, multigenerational, multi-perspective lens bringing together a set of characters whose lives intersect in interesting and at times intense ways. Purchase Here.

First, the curiosity is piqued by an intriguing prologue which fundamentally sets the tone of this complex character-driven story, as a vivid memory quickly turns from pleasure to horror, within the mind of a character seemingly beguiled by scenes from the past. Next focus moves to the backstory of the romance between Lemuel Decker and Irene Baxter. Both are students at Logan High School during the 1940s in rural Nebraska. Set apart by an age gap and personality the two almost seem to be polar opposites while Lemuel is a shy athletic farm boy, Irene is pretty, popular, and outgoing. Because of the difference in age in school their paths rarely directly cross. However, once they do each makes an impression on the other not soon to be forgotten. Shy farm boy Lemuel holds a soft spot for the pretty and friendly Irene, but his timid demeanor continues to keep him seemingly hopelessly infatuated and at a distance.

However, after Lemuel graduates, fate comes into play creating a set of circumstances combining love and chivalry that would bring the two together to build a life as a family but with Irene pregnant, leaving a cloud that hangs over the relationship, an unspoken secret within the family dynamic. Moreover, as time goes on, the happiness fades as life for the Decker family dissolves into dysfunction with life becoming increasingly difficult for the couple as the financial stressors of managing a farm and a family lead to arguments and tension which clouds the atmosphere of the once happy couple. Also, at play is the way the sons are raised with son Tommy (the oldest) always at odds with the preferential treatment that brother Hughie always seems to get especially from their father Lemuel. Consequently, life takes a turn for the worse as things deteriorate when Irene, longing for a different life away from the farm, leaves the family. The Decker boys wind up growing into very different people without their mother and stuck with an irascible father.

Next, the story focuses on Harold Simpson, the sheriff in Milrose county. He is one wicked racist son of a gun. His backstory, although somewhat sad, leaves no room for excuse for his wicked, self-satisfying antics and interactions with the people he is supposed to protect. As the story progresses, his presence stimulates a deep desire to see him get his just desserts as he terrorizes the people within his jurisdiction essentially, he is the town bully with a badge and a gun.

Moving on the narrative brings into view the Lake family, Joseph and Audrey, and sons Kenny and Sammy. Originally from Chicago, the family gets the opportunity to move from city life to a farm in Nebraska; however, they are the only black family within a hundred-mile radius and are neighbors to the Deckers. The Deckers are friendly to them with an amicable relationship ensuing between the two families, especially for sons Hughie Decker and Kenny Lake, who become quite close and what follows after is a journey through self-discovery, for the boys which culminates into a longtime friendship and holding onto a secret that remains submerged in the murky waters of the past.

Altogether, I enjoyed The Offspring. It was a read that held my interest until the intense finale. I enjoyed going through the layers of this intriguing tale, replete with well-developed characters, and an interesting storyline written with a crisp, eloquent style that keeps you engaged. This would make a great summer read and I look forward to more works by this author.

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