daughter of mars

Daughter of Mars by Alden Globe

Reviewed by Diana Coyle

In “Daughter of Mars” by Alden Globe, the author takes us on a journey of realization and redemption. You see, Rave Map, the world’s greatest engineer, just lost her nephew. The family isn’t quite certain what happened, but will stop at nothing to find the cause of his death that no one could prevent. When the family tells Rave that they realize the back pain Tyler has been experiencing from a recent bicycle accident has caused him to buy some cheap knockoff pain pills off the black market, Rave sets out for redemption for her family and all the families who are losing relatives at an alarming rate due to toxic knockoff pills being sold on the web.  Purchase Here.

Part of the plan with a close friend and confidant, Mait, is to infiltrate the illegal drug markets that are producing these pills and selling them at low costs to everyone. They slowly start taking some of China’s drug labs down to help slow down their production of these illicit pills. They then move to Mexico, with the same agenda. No matter how difficult the task at hand may be for them, they put their lives on the line to stop as many of the pills from making it onto the black market. The only problem is, how can they stop China from setting up a drug club on Mars where if you can afford to buy a ticket, you can party with all the drugs you want?

I have to say that this story was extremely unique in storyline for me. The first thing that I want to mention is the author based this story loosely on the fact that he and his family lost their college age daughter because she took a fake Xanax that had a mix of toxic opioids in it. Her classmate gave it to her without realizing that it would be the very last time she saw her alive. When I found out the author’s emotional drive to write this story, I had to commend Mr. Globe for diving into a topic that would cause many mixed emotions for him while he extensively researched the topic of toxic black market drugs.

When he created Rave Maps, I liked her immediately because she seemed like a woman who knew what she wanted and would stop at nothing to achieve it. She was strong willed and she was the perfect character to team up with, Mait, her best friend and another no nonsense type of woman. Both of them have had military training, so when they set out to bring individual drug labs down in both China and Mexico, I figured they knew what they were both getting themselves into. These two women set out on dangerous missions to stop as much toxic drug production as they could and in the process they stopped at nothing to achieve this goal.

The only thing that I couldn’t seem to accept was that China was wanting to set up drug clubs on Mars, so participants that had millions of dollars to spend to travel to Mars, could party all they wanted there with any drugs they wanted to. Unbeknownst to the travelers, all the drugs were toxic and they very well wouldn’t be making the return trip back to the US. The author wrote this as a bit of a futuristic story set in 2029, so considering the timeframe isn’t that far off, I just couldn’t see this being something that would happen in the next four years. Other readers might challenge me on this, but for me it just wasn’t believable.

Overall, “Daughter of Mars” by Alden Globe is one story that will have you walking away thinking about the true statistical death rate these toxic drugs cause on innocent victims. Although it’s fictional, the loosely based factual storyline makes readers stop and want to take action themselves, no matter how small that action might be, to save someone’s life from being another statistic.

Down and Out in the River City

Down and Out in the River City by Wm. Stage

Reviewed by Rahul Gaur

How many of you remember what happened on September 15, 2017? Jason Stockley, a white former police officer, was found not guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting of a black man, Anthony Lamar Smith. This decision led to protests in St. Louis, some of which became violent. Wm. Stage picked this incident and beautifully weaved a story about life in St. Louis and how people deal with tough situations like protests, poverty, homeless encampments, murder, and addiction.  Purchase Here.

“The crowd outside the Civil Courts building surged with anger. Fists raised, voices echoed off the stone walls, and the tension felt like it could shatter the night.” This gripping opening scene from Down and Out in the River City throws readers into the middle of a protest, capturing the raw emotions of people demanding justice. The book follows the protagonist, Francis, a process server in St. Louis, as he navigates the aftermath of a controversial court verdict. He finds himself caught in the middle of the chaos when he exits the Civil Courts building and witnesses the escalating tension between protesters and police. As the story unfolds, Francis becomes entangled in the lives of various characters affected by the verdict and the ensuing turmoil. He encounters activists, militants, and opportunists, all driven by a sense of injustice and a desire for change. The story explores issues like racial tension, police violence, and the fight for fairness.

Wm. Stage has skillfully developed the characters in the book through a combination of detailed descriptions, authentic dialogue, and the exploration of their internal conflicts and motivations. For example, Francis represents a complex, morally ambiguous character. Or Jacob, despite his privileged upbringing, had to navigate the complexities of adolescence due to his speech challenge. Each character is given a distinct voice and personality. Readers would be able to visualize them and understand their backgrounds, and this background information helps them understand their motivations and the challenges they face.

The dialogue in the book is thoughtful and naturalistic. Through their conversations, characters accurately reveal their personalities, relationships, and conflicts. For instance, the interactions between Francis and Cleo are filled with tension and camaraderie, showcasing their complex friendship. Or a candid conversation between a couple who have been married for twenty-four years, highlighting their ability to communicate openly about their feelings and experiences.

Mr. Stage’s writing feels real and honest with documentary-like precision. He has successfully captured the essence of St. Louis, and the mix of reality with fantasy is flawless. One of the book’s strengths is its ability to balance action with introspection. The book doesn’t shy away from challenging perspectives. So, some readers might feel uncomfortable with its take on race and policing. But it’s powerful because it makes us think about things we usually try to ignore. For example, Judge Wilson’s inflammatory statement that “an urban heroin dealer not in possession of a firearm would be an anomaly” serves as a stark example of systemic racial stereotyping. He doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable realities, presenting a raw, unfiltered view of urban social dynamics.

As I closed the last page of Down and Out in the River City, I couldn’t stop thinking about its characters and their struggles. This book is more than a story. It’s a wake-up call about inequality and the systems that keep people trapped. It makes readers think about justice and fairness. It also shows the power of relationships to help people survive tough times. If you’re ready for a story that’s raw, emotional, and eye-opening, Down and Out in the River City is one you won’t forget.

 

 

 

Murder Takes Time

Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo (Friendship & Honor Series Book 1)

Reviewed by Chris Phillips

Giammatteo brings new life to the typical detective murder story. He takes the time to develop a complex plot into an attention-capturing tale of intrigue and friends betrayed, remade and destroyed.  Purchase Here.

“It’s not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath” – Aeschylus.

This quote begins the tale of a group of friends, perhaps unique in the way all Americans can be. Nicky “The Rat” Fusco, Frankie “Bugs” Donovan, Tony “The Brain” Sannullo, Tommy “Mick” McDermott form the core of this group and Chinski, Suit and Paulie finish out the gang. It seems that there is a destiny for them to be “friends forever” until years later.

“…Friendship means we look out for each other. Nobody ever rats or betrays anyone else…”

“…Honor means nobody fucks with one of us and not the others. We stick up for each other. And it means we don’t run, unless we all run…”

These fateful words and the consequences of making and trying to keep childhood promises provide all the tension for the plot. 20 years after these oaths are made, Frankie is a detective for the Brooklyn Police department. Tony is in heavy with the organized crime family in the same area. Nicky is the ex-con that precipitates the action. Frankie gets called into investigate a series of murders of some apparently unrelated men in the Brooklyn area. He begins to suspect soon that there is much more going on here then just someone being murdered.

Giammatteo writes each chapter from either a third person perspective or from Nicky’s personal accounting of his life with these friends. Due to the neighborhood they grow up in they live under the scrutiny of the local organized crime family, headed up by Mikey “The Face” Fagullo. Tony’s mother, Mama Rosa, and Sister Mary Thomas form the character building parts for the boys as they grow up. These two major influences keep the group active and bouncing around through their teenage years. Girls become something they have to consider but deal with as only kids and teens from this era and society can: clumsily, jerkily and very self-consciously.

As is the case with many such friends, they grow up and choose different paths. They see each other, but individual purposes and ambitions pull them away from each other. Girls, family problems and the lure of money impact the group, splitting them until a crisis arises. The gang maintains the oath for most of this time, until one fateful day when a rival gang comes looking for trouble. There are teen passions, pool cues and guns involved. Ultimately gun fire erupts and lives are changed forever.

In this tale, there is a lot of right, wrong and terribly, frighteningly gray. When the time comes and it is needed for oaths to be remembered, they are forgotten and life is never the same. The murders draw them inexorably together yet again. The common thread shows how badly a betrayal of friends can mess up the men that were always supposed to be oath-bound brothers.

The characters are smoothly real. Giammatteo takes the time to develop them naturally. Each takes their fated place and struggles with the people they become. Of course with this much time to cover there are details that grow in importance with each progressive revelation. The tragedy of the way these lives move brought tears to the eyes of this reviewer. The final betrayal is brokenheartedly realistic.

Although the switching of character and traveling back and forth in time might confuse the reader at first, the progression is for the right reasons and falls into place with a gripping conclusion.

The book is appropriate for adults because of the violence and language. As stated at the beginning of the book this is the first in a series “Friendship and Honor.” This reviewer is eagerly waiting for the next one.

Blood Memory Society

Blood Memory Society by D.A. Field

Reviewed by Chris Phillips

Who would have believed that Dr. Will Dunbar, would be involved in a national emergency of far reaching proportions.  Purchase Here.

While diving in the Bahamas, Dr. Dunbar, Will, is summoned to Washington by a friend’s desperate plea for assistance. When he sees his friend, Colonel Ross Chapman the years seem to disappear between now and then, when they were both at West Point.

Although Dr. Dunbar is about to become the head of reproductive medicine at the Mayo Clinic, his friend is able to sidetrack him into working on this issue.

For the first-time Dr. Dunbar hears of a secret organization, The Blood Memory Society, that the government has been running since the beginning of the government in the United States. In the current case, the society has been renamed the Inherited Memory Society.

After hearing about this organization, he finds that it is under attack and that even though there only 100- 150 people in this society, it has been kept in secret for hundreds of years. There are 27 in the United States at this time. Someone is killing all the people who belong in this society despite the secretive nature of the organization. The number has dwindled from 27 to 11 in the last few days.

Suddenly in the previous few days their number has been decimated. Dr. Dunbar must help find the survivors and help to keep them safe.

The story continues with many spins, twists and complications that seem to be insurmountable. As Will goes deeper into the mystery and the secrets of this group, he finds himself in more and more danger. He rescues one of the members, but in short order falls in love with her. Then the excitement peaks as he tries to find out about his own past, what the people killing these members are about and how he can save them from more losses.

The plot is deep and intriguing. The pace is just about right. The background information is a little deep at times, but if the basics are understood then the tale unfolds with many more twists and turns.

The characters are well developed and their interactions are well structured and complete.

The author has some in-depth knowledge of several fields of endeavor and uses that information to make a well-considered book.

This is written for the mature reader with some light sexual content as well as large amounts of violence. Profanity is used but infrequently.

This reviewer feels this is a great read and one worthy of attention for most adult readers.

 

Unicorns Can Be Deadly

Unicorns Can Be Deadly (A Discount Detective Mystery) by Charlotte Stuart

Reviewed by Daniel Ryan Johnson

Unicorns Can Be Deadly is an interesting twist on a classic mystery novel. The book is centered around a private detective agency that offers low rates to provide investigative services to people on a budget. While the story does have a central mystery that propels the narrative forward, the true focus of the book is on the myriad issues faced by the homeless population in Seattle and the lack of resources to address these complicated problems.  Purchase Here.

Author Charlotte Stuart jumps right into the action with the first sentence of the book introducing a young boy running for his life. Fortunately, this boy crosses paths with Cameron Chandler, a private investigator and single mother who sees him in danger and acts to protect him. This spontaneous action pulls Cameron and her investigative partner Yuri into a search for a missing homeless woman named Bess. Their inquiries bring them face-to-face with the homeless population of the city and force them to confront the many challenges faced by this community.

Charlotte Stuart does a great job of posing difficult questions about serious issues without weighing down the tone of the book. She weaves many moments of levity into the story while maintaining respect for the community she is writing about and the problems they are confronted with on a daily basis.

As the investigators in the story search for the missing homeless woman, they end up taking on several other cases revolving around the homeless community, with each case revealing additional issues that we as a society are not doing enough to address. While Unicorns Can Be Deadly highlights critical problems, Stuart does not preach an agenda but simply poses questions to the reader as food for thought.

Overall, Unicorns Can Be Deadly is an enjoyable and quick read. The plot keeps the reader engaged and keeps you turning the pages to find answers to the mysteries our investigative protagonist is trying to unravel. The characters are all well-defined and the heroes are quite likable making it easy to root for them. Unicorns Can Be Deadly is the 5th book in the Discount Detective Mystery series, and as my introduction to the characters, I look forward to going back and exploring their previous adventures while waiting to see what the author has planned for them next.

Third Place: The American Martyr by Richard W. Kelly

The American Martyr by Richard W. Kelly

Reviewed by Lilly Andrews

Richard W. Kelly’s yarn, The American Martyr, is a deeply penetrating and high stakes work that follows the tumultuous journey of a teenager whose childhood is robbed from him in a series of dramatic events. Brian Brample, a sixteen-year-old boy, had his whole life ahead of him. This changed when the American president drafted a bill that compelled sixteen-year-olds to be conscripted into the army and fight in an unpopular war in China that had nothing to do with being an American.  Purchase Here.

Unwilling to be part of a statistic in a losing battle to appease a few despots at the helm of power with selfish interests, Brian and his friends engage in a mass suicide in a mall, as their way of protesting against the government’s decision, in which he reluctantly survives. Following this, his life is thrown into chaos and anguish when he is charged with treason, terrorism, and murder. At his young age, Brian is forced to confront endless court battles, a crooked prison system,

government betrayal, and the endless fight for his freedom. With the help of a self-seeking lawyer, Iscariot Culberson, his transformational journey takes him into the corridors of civil rights activism in a powerful story that etches deep into the fabric of American society.

Throughout this 500+ narrative, conspiracy, propaganda, wrath, betrayal, and tenacity abound, giving readers a well-worth reading experience that ultimately pays off. Its lucid effort at instilling some moral sense in its plot gives the book an added poise above the usual tropes among books of its genre. The characters, vividly drawn, are introduced to readers through individual chapters before they are all intelligently woven into the budding storyline. Brian’s inner struggles are laid out through his introspections and pensive soliloquies, indicating a deeply flawed character with a strong desire to fight against injustice and save his generation from destruction. The author artfully uses direct and indirect exposition as a double-edged sword along the pages to lend voice to the characters’ temperaments and actions, grounding readers in their world.

The American Martyr by Richard W. Kelly is one of those books that promises and delivers and should best be started early in the morning. It is an ambitious take on what would otherwise look like random acts, exploring and unearthing the masked layers that would otherwise remain hidden. It is a book from a true novelist bound to captivate even the pickiest readers of thriller novels.

Third Place: Mystery/Thriller/ Horror/Suspense

 

The Evil to Come

The Evil to Come by Thomas Holland

Reviewed by Reyan Mishra

Good crime thrillers have it to engage and entertain readers in a multitude of ways. Some keep you hooked as long as you read it, while there are a few that leave you connecting the dots days after you are done reading. The story in question belongs to the latter category.  Purchase Here.

The fourth novel in the Big Ray Elmore series, “The Evil to Come” puts together an intriguing mix of both typical and rare elements of a satisfying thriller from something as obvious as painstaking investigation to something more complex such as an officer’s inner turmoil and collision of intellects.

Set in the town of Split Tree, Arkansas in 1964, the novel follows police chief Big Ray Elmore who is after a shrewd serial murderer. Several have lost their lives, and the town is shrouded in fear. Now, it’s upon Ray to catch the killer before he strikes again (and again means anytime). But the job is far from straightforward. The killer doesn’t leave behind decodable traces and always seems one step ahead. The officer is concurrently helping his wife with manic depression and training a rookie officer.  Additionally, his job is under threat as his ex-lover’s husband plots to oust him.

Big Ray’s situation gets even direr when he realizes he himself might be the killer’s next target. Given everything going on in his life and the killer’s unmitigated cleverness, the officer knows getting his hands on the culprit is going to be a Herculean task. Though his investigation hits roadblocks multiple times, the officer is too determined to give up.

The author, Thomas Holland has written in a manner that with every page you feel as though layers are being peeled off that will lead you to the truth. It’s noteworthy that “The Evil to Come” isn’t yet another cop-after-killer thriller that follows the formula of a cat-and-mouse game. Instead, it’s a multi-faceted story exploring important themes including family, duty, mental health, and perseverance. The author gives such a vivid description of the surroundings that you begin thinking as one of the worried dwellers of the town by the time the story reaches meaty bits. Characters are well-developed and have got depth. There are several instances where you can relate to them.

Simply put, “The Evil to Come” is an intriguing read through and through. Though the novel is about 400 pages long, you aren’t likely to feel lost or out of touch at any point. If you’re on the lookout for a new book to accompany you on your metro journeys, we recommend you give this one a shot.

Cargo Hold 4

Cargo Hold 4 by Lonnie Busch

Reviewed by Douglas R. Cobb

Cargo Hold 4 is a Science Fiction/Horror novel by Lonnie Busch that takes the old trope of a stowaway aboard your spaceship to a different level. Perhaps the most famous example of having a stowaway aboard one’s spaceship in a Science Fiction movie is Alien. In literature and in movies, the trope of having a stowaway aboard a ship or even a train is a time-honored one.  As with using any trope, it’s what an author does within the framework of one that attracts and holds the attention of the reader or fails to so. If you are a fan of the Science Fiction genre, I’d highly recommend that you check out Cargo Hold 4, a book that plays within the framework and also one that held my attention from the very beginning to the end.  Purchase Here.

I don’t want to mention many spoilers, but it’s not a very big one to say that there’s a stowaway aboard the Gretel, the spaceship of interest in Cargo Hold 4. The woman commanding the Gretel is Captain Desna and Berlin is the spaceship’s First Mate. One twist here is that the rather noisy and troublesome stowaway is somehow not an organic being. According to the book’s very first paragraph:

“Everything they’d discovered on Planet J–S was stored in Cargo Hold 4, but none of it was organic, according to their scanners.”

I won’t give away how Busch deals with this issue. My desire to read how this could happen was one of the things that made me want to keep on reading, so I don’t want to ruin anybody else’s pleasure. Suffice it to say that Busch’s solution to this apparent problem of a nonorganic stowaway aboard the Gretel was a pretty cool one.

One of the other problems Captain Desna and her crew is confronted with is the ethical one of deciding exactly what should be done about the irksome stowaway.  Two of the other things making life difficult for Desna, Berlin, and everyone else aboard the Gretel include the necessity of their handling an unplanned spacewalk and also how they should attempt to dislodge the unwelcome alien that had stowed away in Cargo Hold 4.

I asked myself as I read Cargo Hold 4 questions like: “is the book’s plot fast-paced?” “Are the complications that Captain Desna and her crew have to deal with dealt with in a realistic way?” and “Does Cargo Hold 4 have a plot that holds my interest and keeps me want to keep on reading it?”

I’m glad I read Cargo Hold 4. Besides being a captivating, page-turning Sci-Fi/Horror thriller, I liked reading the book for the added reason of discovering how the book’s author, Lonnie Busch, came up with inventive ways to play within the confines of the stowaway trope. I highly recommend Cargo Hold 4 for anyone who enjoys reading intelligent, fast-paced examples of the Sci-Fi/ Horror genre. Check it out today!

First Place: Mystery/Thriller/Horror/Suspense
Second Place: Science Fiction
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.

First Place: Young Adult
Second Place: Mystery/Thriller/Horror/Suspense
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!