Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

Stumble and Fall (A Legacy of Silence Book 2) is a thriller by Amy Rivers. Kate discovered a sex trafficking ring in her hometown of Alamogordo. She had lost her position as a school psychologist and opened a private practice. Kate picks up clues from her clients about who the leaders in the trafficking might be. After her father’s death, Kate remodeled her home and turned it into a fortress as a security measure because she was afraid that the sex traffickers would want to silence her. Some people did not want the truth to come out and the knowledge Kate obtained about sex trafficking put her life in danger. Kate planned to open a haven for victims of abuse. These victims deserved justice after everything they had been through. But how far will Kate go to find justice for these women?

The plot in Stumble and Fall is fast-paced and jam-packed with action. Amy Rivers created a dark world of crime, abuse, and sex trafficking. Amy paid attention to detail, and the events were descriptive. It was easy to be drawn into that world and I was hooked from the first page. With all the twists and turns, I never knew what to expect next. There was always a surprise waiting around the corner. The characters were authentic and compelling. Each character had their unique strengths and quirks. Their background contributed to the success of the story. The book was excellently written and can be read as a standalone. It was nothing like what I expected and exceeded my expectations by far.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Millen is a work of fiction in the thriller subgenre. It is aimed at mature readers and was penned by author Chris Nyst. In the aftermath of a violent murder in the remote town of Millengarra, veteran Brisbane detective Dave Hocking is sent to lead the investigation. Hocking is already fighting off corruption charges that could end his career and put him in prison, but now he must navigate a damaged community filled with lies. As his investigation peels back the layers of deceit between himself and the truth, Hocking hopes that any success in Millengarra will earn him redemption, but the truth will be hard to accept.

Straight out of the gate, this book sets an unforgettable tone of unsettling discomfort that only grows more sinister as the central web of lies is pulled away. Author Chris Nyst showcases an incredible gift for not just devising a complex and nuanced mystery but also for the gorgeous prose used to realize that mystery page after page. This book is a journey into darkness that delivers on its promise of exploring the darkest side of humanity, not just in the town of Millengarra and the secrets within it but also in protagonist Dave Hocking, whose personal demons add a stunning extra layer of nuance to an already dynamic narrative. Overall, if you love your mysteries to be deep and elaborate, making a disturbing commentary on the ugly side of human nature, and being investigated by a nuanced detective with baggage of their own, then Millen is the next read you’re looking for.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

Hide Her by Chris Patchell is a work of fiction in the crime genre. Officer Lacy James is late dropping off her children at her ex-husband’s for a camping weekend. She suddenly sees a figure in the road and slams on the brakes when she realizes it's a child standing in front of her. The child is very scared and traumatized and does not speak. Lacy can't get any information out of the child that could help in their search for her parents. Special Agent Alton Franklin is called in to help with the investigation. While watching television, the child points to a woman and speaks for the first time. This clue leads the investigation team to an unsolved case from six years ago.

Chris Patchell planned and executed an excellent plot in Hide Her. The story is fast-paced and moves forward quickly. All the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. I could not put it down, not even for a minute. The mystery and suspense kept me glued, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The characters were brilliantly developed. My favorite characters were Lacey and Eli. Their relationship gradually shifts from being that of partners to something more. I originally didn't like Caleb at all, but as the story progressed, his attitude toward Lacey gradually changed. This unique story is excellently written. I liked that the circumstances surrounding Joy were not discussed in detail. The major twist made for an excellent ending.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Dark Hollow Road is the second installment of the Possum Gap Novel series by Karen Ann Hopkins. When the body of a teenage boy is found by the river, Sheriff Sadie Mills is determined to solve the mystery. However, as she delves deeper into the investigation, she stumbles upon a four-year-old case of another boy who drowned in the Puissant River. Meanwhile, Possum Gap's new coroner Raymond Russo returns from his home in New Jersey, unknowingly bringing two of his family members on his trail. While Sadie moves forward from one clue to the other, Russo and his friend Darcy brave an interview with the Dover matriarch. Soon, Sadie and her friends unwittingly embroil themselves in a conspiracy involving drugs, murder, and betrayal that will have all of their lives in mortal danger.

Karen Ann Hopkins weaves a gripping murder mystery yarn with twists and turns galore. Every time you feel you've figured out the plot, Hopkins pulls the rug from under your feet over and over again. All the main characters have well-thought-out backstories and their own plot threads that make them seem like real people with real emotions, motives, and inner conflicts. The town of Possum Gap feels lived-in, with the members of the Dover clan bringing a colorful dynamic to the proceedings, especially the scenes involving Grandma Dover. Hopkins keeps her cards close to her chest as the complete mystery only gets revealed in the last few pages. I thoroughly enjoyed Dark Hollow Road and am looking forward to reading other books from the series.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Throughout the DI Amy Winter thriller series by Caroline Mitchell, Amy has had to build her life around the knowledge of her family history, and a career of relentless criminal investigations. In book one, Truth and Lies, Amy must confront her psychopathic serial killer mother, Lillian Grimes, who offers victim locations in exchange for Amy's involvement. The Secret Child follows the kidnapping of a four-year-old whose mother is being forced into a modified Russian Roulette to save her. In book three, Amy investigates a Valentine's Day murder involving online daters. Left for Dead sees Amy tackling coastal suicides, uncovering community secrets, and continuing to face her past. In this book, In Cold Blood, a pregnant Amy confronts a serial killer duo abducting and harming victims, relying on her partner Donovan to intervene and, eventually, relying on her own mother for survival after being kidnapped.

In what is the most suspenseful book in the series yet, Caroline Mitchell goes all out on a reader and their anxiety levels with the fifth novel, In Cold Blood. The premise of an entrenched Detective Inspector with a serial killer mother is fascinating, but what elevates Amy's plight is that she is often forced to revisit that past in order to save others in her here and now. From my perspective, I genuinely feel like Amy has major issues with Imposter Syndrome. Her insecurities go so far as to keeping a pregnancy hidden out of fear she will be thought less of, and pushes the envelope further still while trying to solve cases...ultimately turning her own life into one. It's like what they say about journalists, once you become the story, it's over. Mitchell's writing is as immersive and brilliant as ever so I sincerely hope there is more of Amy Winter to come. In the meantime, I'm backtracking to read books one through four. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Fan Mail by Joseph Lewis is a compelling coming-of-age tale that crosses the suspense genre with an LGBTQ theme. They say blood is thicker than water, but could it apply to Brian who is an adopted child? His foster siblings, Randy and Bobby, along with their fellow band member and best friend, Danny, receive fan mail that becomes increasingly threatening. They don't pay attention to it until the sender notches up the game, causing the boys to spiral into a world of danger and taking its toll on their friendship. There might be jealousy involved, but the boys never imagined that it would be taken to such an extreme. Brian has already saved the lives of his brothers once during an unforgettable event in Arizona that left him with a deep emotional scar. Will he risk his life for them once again, now that someone out there is making wrong choices that disrupt the lives of the people he loves?

Some stories remain with you for a while and others for a lifetime. Fan Mail is likely to endure, as it is the type of novel that becomes popular by word of mouth. The plot grabs your attention, and it will not let you go until the last page. It's the kind of story that is perfect for a film adaptation to draw a mass audience of young adults. It is very much a part of the obsession or stalker film genre, which is truly creepy because it is a type of horror that exists in real life. It has a touching message to the young about the importance of family, which is conveyed effectively as Joseph Lewis devotes time to exploring his characters. The climax works rather well. There are many reasons why you should read this book.

Reviewed by Rolanda Lyles for Readers' Favorite

Carrie Brinkley suddenly loses her job as the IT Manager for Pilgrim Burgers, a small but fast-growing small business. Weeks later, her friend Teresa Dill also loses her job as the company's Chief Financial officer. Carrie's sudden job loss and her boyfriend's breakup prompt her to do something drastic during the opening weeks of the pandemic to reset her life in a positive direction. She decides to embark on a solo two-month cross-country bicycle trip from Virginia Beach to Mendocino, California. Teresa, however, decides to look more closely at the reasons for their termination. As the Chief Financial officer, she found documents with inconsistencies where the amounts were largely inflated to get more COVID funds, but there were documents showing that the money was being used for its intended purposes. Her curiosity was piqued, and she decided to take files with her when she left so she could do some more research. Teresa then shared those files with Carrie so she could look at them as well, but Carrie was more focused on her two-month bike journey of self-discovery. During Carrie's journey, she faces many obstacles that she has never encountered before in her sheltered life and makes a few friends along the way. What she doesn't know is that she is being stalked and her life could be in grave danger.

E.A. Coe's Pedaling West is an action and suspense-packed coming-of-age story about Carrie, a young woman who has had the perfect but sheltered life with her parents and her job. She suddenly loses everything and the events force her to go out and discover who she is. A story about perseverance, endurance, and inner strength, packed with emotional highs and lows. Coe's writing is so vivid and descriptive that I found myself squeezing my imaginary bike brakes when I got to parts in the story where Carrie had near accidents. Coe's characters are ingeniously written. All the characters were carefully thought out and meticulously executed. I especially enjoyed how Coe added himself to the story at the end. It was kind of a reference to how Stan Lee always put himself in his movies as an extra. I found it humourous and a refreshing way to end the story. Each stop during the long trek taught Carrie something new about herself and her abilities just as, in life, our experiences should teach us something and make us better. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Pedaling West and I look forward to reading more of this author's works.

Reviewed by Alex Ndirangu for Readers' Favorite

Soldier Six waits for his seven companions to return from their final operation in the Vietnam jungle in the dead of night. However, gunfire startles him. This is not the American M16's trademark treble staccato sound. It is the Chinese AK's deep thuds. His friends are no longer alive. The enemy was aware that American soldiers were on their way, and they now knew where he was and would undoubtedly pursue him! In 1987, Robert Thornton, the man who betrayed his men to the enemy, returned to Chicago. He now runs the South Asian heroin cartel and will kill anyone who gets in his way. Detectives Marcelle and Bernie initially believe that the murders resulted from a feud between two drug cartels, but they soon discover that they are facing an even more dangerous threat. A skilled assassin who was once Robert's student wants to kill him to show that he is superior to his mentor. What perils will these two detectives face in their search for Robert?

David Rabin's military thriller In Danger of Judgement is a brilliant book that blends exciting action with fascinating characters. The time component provides a story with an event-to-event transition, moving the plot forward. I'm glad David Rabin took this into account by incorporating real-time dating into his writing, as it made the plot feel much more believable and clear. There was never a dull moment in the book. The author concentrated on the setting and avoided details that would slow down the story. This factor contributed significantly to the readability of this book. The author's use of thoughtful, vivid descriptions added an authentic touch. The author clearly did thorough research, which is evident in how he described special forces operations and military investigations. In Danger of Judgement is for you if you want a suspenseful investigative thriller. Enjoy!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Feathers: Case Thirteen is a work of fiction in the mystery, sleuthing, and action/adventure subgenres. It is intended for the general reading audience from mature teens upward and was penned by author Blair Howard. Continuing the hugely successful Lt. Kate Gazzara Murder Files, this new and exciting case sees Kate meet the grisly reality of young women who have all been killed in violent, throat-slitting circumstances. But what else might they have in common? There are only feathers to lead Kate forward into a mysterious and dark network of sinister connections, and all she can hope is that the tough, no-nonsense approach she’s built up over the years will be enough to help her survive the horrible truth.

It is evident in every page penned by author Blair Howard that this is a writer who knows how to craft procedural mysteries to a tee. The fine art of clue placement, pace, and exposition is always in balance, and just when readers think there’s nothing more to discover about a particular element of the case, Kate finds something that turns the plot on its head even more. I also really enjoyed the concise and confident control Howard takes of the narrative, cutting to the quick with relevant details, but also giving breathing room where it’s due for the deeper moments that need to sink in for all their chilling, suspense-building glory. Kate’s emotional arc was also interesting and far from generic, making Feathers a procedural mystery drama that fans of the existing series and newcomers alike will not want to miss.

Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

The Other Side of Good by E. A. Coe is a thrilling, suspenseful novel set in Cincinnati. Alleged drug dealer Theo Jackson offers to donate $5M for a new youth center and Officer Denton Jones, commander of the Cincinnati Central Business District police patrol, is assigned by Colonel Jack Fitzpatrick, chief of police, to negotiate the terms. Denton’s assignment leads him to believe that Jackson is protected by a dishonest bureaucrat. Theo uncovers evidence of an international criminal organization facilitating human trafficking in the city involving Chinese criminal Sun Yi who works for an organization called Santu. Together a pastor and city officials, Officer Denton and Theo hatch a plan to shut down Santu. In the process, the team is faced with the decision to do what is right or do what is easy, but will they make the right choices between good and bad when they are faced with the gray area in between?

Author E. A. Coe has certainly created a masterpiece. The Other Side of Good is filled with action, drama, and excitement. The story gives the reader a new perspective on what is right or wrong, good or bad. Coe’s writing style is fast-paced and smooth flowing from beginning to end. Theo and Denton’s relationship is intriguing and unusual, but it works for both the men and the story surrounding them. The numerous characters are all well-defined including law enforcement officials, criminals, and their associates. I mostly enjoyed the twists, turns, and surprises that Coe includes in this web of criminal activities and law enforcement. The Other Side of Good is highly recommended to all adults and is deserving of a place on any bookshelf.