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The Long Way Home
A Samantha Church Mystery Book 6
Betta Ferrendelli
2022 Finalist
288 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The Long Way Home is a work of fiction in the mystery and suspense subgenres and was penned by author Betta Ferrendelli. It is intended for the general adult reading audience and forms the sixth installment of the Samantha Church Mystery series. In a chilling and thrilling novel with sleuthing and raw emotion at its heart, our protagonist Samantha Church is still reeling from the death of a dear friend and co-worker. On her journey to healing, Sam goes in search of her friend’s younger sister, Jenny, but this decision leads Sam into an intricate web of underworld networks and shady dealings in both the past and the present day.
If you’re a fan of slow-burning mysteries that build and build until you suddenly can’t look away, then this is the book for you. Author Betta Ferrendelli delivers a carefully-plotted story that has a great amount of detail, sensational pacing, and suspense, but also manages to still feel natural as it flows along, never forcing the audience into conventions of the plot. This is aided enormously by the loving work put into the portrayal of protagonist Sam, her emotional state, her loves and losses, which are sure to touch the heart of any mystery/thriller reader seeking a capable-but-vulnerable heroine at the center of events. I also really enjoyed the mystery around Jenny and her development as a character, and the Texan setting was full of vivid characters and life. Overall, I would definitely recommend The Long Way Home for fans of the existing series and newcomers to this great author.
The Long Way Home is a work of fiction in the mystery and suspense subgenres and was penned by author Betta Ferrendelli. It is intended for the general adult reading audience and forms the sixth installment of the Samantha Church Mystery series. In a chilling and thrilling novel with sleuthing and raw emotion at its heart, our protagonist Samantha Church is still reeling from the death of a dear friend and co-worker. On her journey to healing, Sam goes in search of her friend’s younger sister, Jenny, but this decision leads Sam into an intricate web of underworld networks and shady dealings in both the past and the present day.
If you’re a fan of slow-burning mysteries that build and build until you suddenly can’t look away, then this is the book for you. Author Betta Ferrendelli delivers a carefully-plotted story that has a great amount of detail, sensational pacing, and suspense, but also manages to still feel natural as it flows along, never forcing the audience into conventions of the plot. This is aided enormously by the loving work put into the portrayal of protagonist Sam, her emotional state, her loves and losses, which are sure to touch the heart of any mystery/thriller reader seeking a capable-but-vulnerable heroine at the center of events. I also really enjoyed the mystery around Jenny and her development as a character, and the Texan setting was full of vivid characters and life. Overall, I would definitely recommend The Long Way Home for fans of the existing series and newcomers to this great author.
Recommend this book:
Yesterday Calling
A Sam Dawson Mystery
Steven W. Horn
2022 Honorable Mention
326 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
Yesterday Calling by Steven W. Horn is a Sam Dawson Mystery. At 16, Sam had the same interests as any lad of his age - girls, cars, and fishing. He fell in love with a married woman, a woman he should have steered clear of, but fatal attraction lured him in. Now 50, Sam is paying the consequences of his early choices. His job is under threat, as are he and his daughter. Hank Thompson is a dangerous man and death is too good for his victims. With the past rushing back to haunt Sam, he knows he must pay the price but is that price too steep? With a psychopath on the rampage, Sam and Sydney must be one step ahead to stay alive but can they? Is there anything Thompson won't do to get his revenge? And is everything really what it seems at first glance?
Yesterday Calling by Steven W. Horn is the fifth book in the Sam Dawson mystery series. I haven’t read the rest but I would recommend anyone who chooses this book to read the entire series in order. This is an edge-of-your-seat story, a thriller of epic proportions that combines a coming-of-age story and all the trials and tribulations of growing up, with a haunting tale of revenge and reparation; a story of one man who must pay the price for choices he made years before. The primary characters are incredibly believable and easy to relate to, with realistic flaws and lives. This is action all the way through, with an attention-grabbing plot and lots of twists and turns before we get to the real truth and the explosive ending. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good thriller.
Yesterday Calling by Steven W. Horn is a Sam Dawson Mystery. At 16, Sam had the same interests as any lad of his age - girls, cars, and fishing. He fell in love with a married woman, a woman he should have steered clear of, but fatal attraction lured him in. Now 50, Sam is paying the consequences of his early choices. His job is under threat, as are he and his daughter. Hank Thompson is a dangerous man and death is too good for his victims. With the past rushing back to haunt Sam, he knows he must pay the price but is that price too steep? With a psychopath on the rampage, Sam and Sydney must be one step ahead to stay alive but can they? Is there anything Thompson won't do to get his revenge? And is everything really what it seems at first glance?
Yesterday Calling by Steven W. Horn is the fifth book in the Sam Dawson mystery series. I haven’t read the rest but I would recommend anyone who chooses this book to read the entire series in order. This is an edge-of-your-seat story, a thriller of epic proportions that combines a coming-of-age story and all the trials and tribulations of growing up, with a haunting tale of revenge and reparation; a story of one man who must pay the price for choices he made years before. The primary characters are incredibly believable and easy to relate to, with realistic flaws and lives. This is action all the way through, with an attention-grabbing plot and lots of twists and turns before we get to the real truth and the explosive ending. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good thriller.
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Out of Tupelo
Mark Gilleo
2022 Bronze Medal
402 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Scott Cahan for Readers' Favorite
Out of Tupelo by Mark Gilleo is a well-crafted crime drama about murder, grief, and the consequences of revenge. The story follows Edward, a grieving husband whose happy life is shattered by his wife’s sudden disappearance. At first, Edward puts his trust in the local law enforcement officials as they begin the investigation into what happened to his wife. Before long, he notices discrepancies in their findings and his trust in them begins to fade. Soon he begins his own investigations and finds himself caught in a web of secrets and lies. As Edward takes matters into his own hands, he makes a few mistakes of his own. His intentions are always pure, however. He wants to bring justice for what happened to his wife, but his path to find that justice takes him on many dark turns.
I found Out of Tupelo to be completely engaging and emotionally satisfying. The tension starts early on with his wife’s disappearance and never lets up until the final pages. The plot builds from a simple act of crime to a multi-tiered puzzle that involves many interesting characters and events. Mark Gilleo has a streamlined style of writing that kept me glued to the pages of his book. His characters are relatable and felt very real. His story is thoroughly researched and planned to the tee. When the final explanation came about of how all of the moving pieces of the plot fitted together, I was blown away. The mystery contained within this crime drama is masterfully constructed and very satisfying. I highly recommend Out of Tupelo. It’s thought-provoking, suspenseful, honest, and an all-round great read.
Out of Tupelo by Mark Gilleo is a well-crafted crime drama about murder, grief, and the consequences of revenge. The story follows Edward, a grieving husband whose happy life is shattered by his wife’s sudden disappearance. At first, Edward puts his trust in the local law enforcement officials as they begin the investigation into what happened to his wife. Before long, he notices discrepancies in their findings and his trust in them begins to fade. Soon he begins his own investigations and finds himself caught in a web of secrets and lies. As Edward takes matters into his own hands, he makes a few mistakes of his own. His intentions are always pure, however. He wants to bring justice for what happened to his wife, but his path to find that justice takes him on many dark turns.
I found Out of Tupelo to be completely engaging and emotionally satisfying. The tension starts early on with his wife’s disappearance and never lets up until the final pages. The plot builds from a simple act of crime to a multi-tiered puzzle that involves many interesting characters and events. Mark Gilleo has a streamlined style of writing that kept me glued to the pages of his book. His characters are relatable and felt very real. His story is thoroughly researched and planned to the tee. When the final explanation came about of how all of the moving pieces of the plot fitted together, I was blown away. The mystery contained within this crime drama is masterfully constructed and very satisfying. I highly recommend Out of Tupelo. It’s thought-provoking, suspenseful, honest, and an all-round great read.
Recommend this book:
Black Irish Blues
A Caesar Stiles Mystery
Andrew Cotto
2022 Bronze Medal
159 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite
Black Irish Blues by Andrew Cotto tells the exciting story of Caesar Stiles – a young American with a kind heart and pleasant temperament - who returns to the town where he was raised to buy and renovate a run-down tavern. Having left home at the age of 13 due to family trauma, returning brings mixed feelings and emotions, as well as unveiling the shameful secrets of the local residents. His older brother chose to lead a life of crime and Caesar is left to deal with the repercussions thereof when his brother is sent to prison. Caesar finds himself in the middle of a spider’s web filled with crime, violence, and evidence that keeps this spell-binding story full of twists and turns. Using his wits, knowledge, and experience, Caesar manages to fulfill both his public mission and his personal agenda, despite being thrown into a variety of unexpected scenarios and circumstances that are beyond his control. An amiable crime boss enlists the help of his crew to assist Caesar in achieving his objectives.
Black Irish Blues is expertly written with many lively characters that we can all relate to, an exciting story, and the compelling plot is well thought out. This novel is a quick, easy read filled with intrigue and anticipation, all keeping the reader interested from beginning to end. I enjoyed this unusual and spell-binding story, the constant guessing as to what will happen next, and how Caesar manages to survive all that comes his way. The interwoven twists, turns, and intrigue make for a thrilling novel filled with action and surprises. There are no negative aspects to this story and I rate the novel a well-earned five out of five.
Black Irish Blues by Andrew Cotto tells the exciting story of Caesar Stiles – a young American with a kind heart and pleasant temperament - who returns to the town where he was raised to buy and renovate a run-down tavern. Having left home at the age of 13 due to family trauma, returning brings mixed feelings and emotions, as well as unveiling the shameful secrets of the local residents. His older brother chose to lead a life of crime and Caesar is left to deal with the repercussions thereof when his brother is sent to prison. Caesar finds himself in the middle of a spider’s web filled with crime, violence, and evidence that keeps this spell-binding story full of twists and turns. Using his wits, knowledge, and experience, Caesar manages to fulfill both his public mission and his personal agenda, despite being thrown into a variety of unexpected scenarios and circumstances that are beyond his control. An amiable crime boss enlists the help of his crew to assist Caesar in achieving his objectives.
Black Irish Blues is expertly written with many lively characters that we can all relate to, an exciting story, and the compelling plot is well thought out. This novel is a quick, easy read filled with intrigue and anticipation, all keeping the reader interested from beginning to end. I enjoyed this unusual and spell-binding story, the constant guessing as to what will happen next, and how Caesar manages to survive all that comes his way. The interwoven twists, turns, and intrigue make for a thrilling novel filled with action and surprises. There are no negative aspects to this story and I rate the novel a well-earned five out of five.
Recommend this book:
Danger at Sandpiper Bay
A Riley Harper Mystery Book 2
Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton
2022 Silver Medal
225 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Danger at Sandpiper Bay is a work of fiction in the cozy mystery subgenre. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and was penned by author team Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton. In this second novel of the Riley Harper mystery series, we find our relocated police officer learning to deal with the snowstorms and power cuts of Maine, a far cry from her previous life indeed. But when Riley and her partner Matthew find a dead body in the snow the next morning, everything changes. Why did the deceased ever come back to a town where everyone hated him, and who hated him enough that he wound up dead?
Cozy mystery fans are certain to adore the Riley Harper mystery series as author team Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton have got every detail mastered to deliver an unstoppably good story. One of the features I especially enjoyed about this novel was the small island setting, which really raises the stakes when there’s no support for Riley and Matthew and they’re on their own sorting through the dangerous facts of the case. With a killer on the loose and so much controversy, I thought that the unfolding of secrets and specific plot hooks were well timed and cleverly played so that nothing ever became too obvious before the big reveal. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Danger at Sandpiper Bay for cozy mystery fans seeking warm, engaging characters, a thrilling and unusual crime setting, and a well-crafted storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover.
Danger at Sandpiper Bay is a work of fiction in the cozy mystery subgenre. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and was penned by author team Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton. In this second novel of the Riley Harper mystery series, we find our relocated police officer learning to deal with the snowstorms and power cuts of Maine, a far cry from her previous life indeed. But when Riley and her partner Matthew find a dead body in the snow the next morning, everything changes. Why did the deceased ever come back to a town where everyone hated him, and who hated him enough that he wound up dead?
Cozy mystery fans are certain to adore the Riley Harper mystery series as author team Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton have got every detail mastered to deliver an unstoppably good story. One of the features I especially enjoyed about this novel was the small island setting, which really raises the stakes when there’s no support for Riley and Matthew and they’re on their own sorting through the dangerous facts of the case. With a killer on the loose and so much controversy, I thought that the unfolding of secrets and specific plot hooks were well timed and cleverly played so that nothing ever became too obvious before the big reveal. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Danger at Sandpiper Bay for cozy mystery fans seeking warm, engaging characters, a thrilling and unusual crime setting, and a well-crafted storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover.
Recommend this book:
 by author Michael Pronko. Homicide Detective Hiroshi arrives at the headquarters of Senden Infinity, where the body of Onizuka, one of...){kind=link}
Tokyo Zangyo
Detective Hiroshi Series Book 4
Michael Pronko
2022 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
The suicide of a young woman and the death of a top executive have the police scrambling to find the connection that leads to murder in the sensational sleuth mystery, Tokyo Zangyo (Detective Hiroshi Series: Book 4) by author Michael Pronko. Homicide Detective Hiroshi arrives at the headquarters of Senden Infinity, where the body of Onizuka, one of their executives, is splattered all over their sidewalk. Hiroshi and his co-investigators must determine whether or not Onizuka committed suicide. Soon a connection between Onizuka's demise and the suicide of Mayu, his former employee, is established. Mayu's friends, family, and co-workers blame Onizuka's harassment and overtime as the cause for Mayu taking her life. The deeper Hiroshi investigates Onizuka's personal life, the more complicated the case becomes. Was his death an act of revenge? Or was it guilt?
Immersed in Japanese culture, Tokyo Zangyo (Detective Hiroshi Series: Book 4) by Michael Pronko is a riveting murder mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Brilliantly portraying the city, its people, and its culture, Mr. Pronko has skillfully captured the essence of Tokyo. Splendidly depicted, the metropolis, the characters, and the cultural lifestyles and traditions came to life. The story is impeccably written, with a stunning and deeply involved plot, an incredible setting, and extraordinary characters. With all of its twists and turns, the story gradually builds momentum until it finally culminates into an astonishing conclusion. Even though Tokyo Zangyo is the fourth book in a series, it is a fantastic stand-alone read too, and I highly recommend it to everyone who relishes sleuth mysteries with enigmatic detectives.
The suicide of a young woman and the death of a top executive have the police scrambling to find the connection that leads to murder in the sensational sleuth mystery, Tokyo Zangyo (Detective Hiroshi Series: Book 4) by author Michael Pronko. Homicide Detective Hiroshi arrives at the headquarters of Senden Infinity, where the body of Onizuka, one of their executives, is splattered all over their sidewalk. Hiroshi and his co-investigators must determine whether or not Onizuka committed suicide. Soon a connection between Onizuka's demise and the suicide of Mayu, his former employee, is established. Mayu's friends, family, and co-workers blame Onizuka's harassment and overtime as the cause for Mayu taking her life. The deeper Hiroshi investigates Onizuka's personal life, the more complicated the case becomes. Was his death an act of revenge? Or was it guilt?
Immersed in Japanese culture, Tokyo Zangyo (Detective Hiroshi Series: Book 4) by Michael Pronko is a riveting murder mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Brilliantly portraying the city, its people, and its culture, Mr. Pronko has skillfully captured the essence of Tokyo. Splendidly depicted, the metropolis, the characters, and the cultural lifestyles and traditions came to life. The story is impeccably written, with a stunning and deeply involved plot, an incredible setting, and extraordinary characters. With all of its twists and turns, the story gradually builds momentum until it finally culminates into an astonishing conclusion. Even though Tokyo Zangyo is the fourth book in a series, it is a fantastic stand-alone read too, and I highly recommend it to everyone who relishes sleuth mysteries with enigmatic detectives.
Recommend this book:
Veritas
A Neil Baggio Suspense
Charles D'Amico
2021 Finalist
288 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Jose Cornelio for Readers' Favorite
Veritas: A Neil Baggio Suspense by Charles D'Amico is an engrossing crime thriller that follows a protagonist’s hunt for a serial killer. Neil Baggio is convinced he has found tranquility after his eventful days with the Bureau, but he is called back to investigate his former boss, Franklin Cappelano, also known as “Veritas,” a man with a sick and twisted mind, a serial killer who keeps on increasing body counts and taunting Neil who was once his student. It seems like he is out to teach Neil his last lesson and he plans to do so in the goriest of ways. This time around, Neil is determined to bring “Veritas” down once and for all and he plans to match wits with him and to use unorthodox means. But can he succeed with a killer who is always a step ahead of the Bureau?
This is a well-crafted thriller that will delight fans of James Patterson. Neil Baggio is an experienced agent of the Bureau called back to help investigate his former boss. A curious case, indeed. The killer’s plan is elaborate and his intelligence is behind the twists and stunning surprises that are registered in the plot. The first-person narrative voice is arresting and pulls the reader into the worldview of the protagonist. The writing is impeccably good and I enjoyed the dialogues and how the author uses these dialogues to spice up the plot and enrich the characters. Veritas: A Neil Baggio Suspense has a lot of potential to not only entertain readers but to become a blockbuster movie, thanks to the strong plot points, the rich characters, and the well-developed conflict.
Veritas: A Neil Baggio Suspense by Charles D'Amico is an engrossing crime thriller that follows a protagonist’s hunt for a serial killer. Neil Baggio is convinced he has found tranquility after his eventful days with the Bureau, but he is called back to investigate his former boss, Franklin Cappelano, also known as “Veritas,” a man with a sick and twisted mind, a serial killer who keeps on increasing body counts and taunting Neil who was once his student. It seems like he is out to teach Neil his last lesson and he plans to do so in the goriest of ways. This time around, Neil is determined to bring “Veritas” down once and for all and he plans to match wits with him and to use unorthodox means. But can he succeed with a killer who is always a step ahead of the Bureau?
This is a well-crafted thriller that will delight fans of James Patterson. Neil Baggio is an experienced agent of the Bureau called back to help investigate his former boss. A curious case, indeed. The killer’s plan is elaborate and his intelligence is behind the twists and stunning surprises that are registered in the plot. The first-person narrative voice is arresting and pulls the reader into the worldview of the protagonist. The writing is impeccably good and I enjoyed the dialogues and how the author uses these dialogues to spice up the plot and enrich the characters. Veritas: A Neil Baggio Suspense has a lot of potential to not only entertain readers but to become a blockbuster movie, thanks to the strong plot points, the rich characters, and the well-developed conflict.
Recommend this book:
Betrayed
Joseph Lewis
2021 Honorable Mention
339 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
When a friend vanishes in mysterious circumstances, three YA brothers fly to the Navajo Reservation to find him in the exciting suspense novel, Betrayed by Joseph Lewis. George's friend Rebecca calls him from his hometown to tell him someone has killed some of her family's sheep, and her brother Charles has disappeared without leaving a trace. Concerned, George's family makes plans, requesting the help of close friends in law enforcement. George and his two brothers, Brian and Brett, travel with an FBI agent and two detectives to Arizona. Upon their arrival, George joins Rebecca in her search. Because they are not Navajo and no one will talk to them, Brett and Brian decide to stay in the vicinity in case George should need them, and hunt elk. However, before they go off in their own directions, the three boys are confronted by a stranger and his armed thugs attempting to evict them from George's property, and threatening them with guns. Brian saves the day with his sharpshooting skills, but who is this man and his minions? Could he be behind Charles's disappearance?
Betrayed by Joseph Lewis is a compelling novel that explores the psychological depths and turmoil regarding the acceptance of sexual orientation. Not only brimming with suspense and action, the story also contains emotional upheavals and drama consistent with the questioning of sexual identity, as well as adolescent angst. Part of a sensational thriller series, the book does well as a standalone. Mr. Lewis does a fabulous job of weaving essential details from the previous books into the story so that I never got lost or confused. It is a thrilling adventure that I highly recommend to those who love fast-paced, action-packed novels with jaunty adolescent heroes. Although the main characters are adolescents, due to the graphic sexual content, LGBTQ references, violence, and strong language, the novel is more suitable for mature readers.
When a friend vanishes in mysterious circumstances, three YA brothers fly to the Navajo Reservation to find him in the exciting suspense novel, Betrayed by Joseph Lewis. George's friend Rebecca calls him from his hometown to tell him someone has killed some of her family's sheep, and her brother Charles has disappeared without leaving a trace. Concerned, George's family makes plans, requesting the help of close friends in law enforcement. George and his two brothers, Brian and Brett, travel with an FBI agent and two detectives to Arizona. Upon their arrival, George joins Rebecca in her search. Because they are not Navajo and no one will talk to them, Brett and Brian decide to stay in the vicinity in case George should need them, and hunt elk. However, before they go off in their own directions, the three boys are confronted by a stranger and his armed thugs attempting to evict them from George's property, and threatening them with guns. Brian saves the day with his sharpshooting skills, but who is this man and his minions? Could he be behind Charles's disappearance?
Betrayed by Joseph Lewis is a compelling novel that explores the psychological depths and turmoil regarding the acceptance of sexual orientation. Not only brimming with suspense and action, the story also contains emotional upheavals and drama consistent with the questioning of sexual identity, as well as adolescent angst. Part of a sensational thriller series, the book does well as a standalone. Mr. Lewis does a fabulous job of weaving essential details from the previous books into the story so that I never got lost or confused. It is a thrilling adventure that I highly recommend to those who love fast-paced, action-packed novels with jaunty adolescent heroes. Although the main characters are adolescents, due to the graphic sexual content, LGBTQ references, violence, and strong language, the novel is more suitable for mature readers.
Recommend this book:
Windfall
A Henry Lysyk Mystery
Byron TD Smith
2021 Bronze Medal
358 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Windfall: A Henry Lysyk Mystery is a work of fiction in the mystery, thriller, and suspense sub-genres, with notable influence from the grisly world of true crime, and is part of the Henry Lysyk series. It is aimed at adults, contains some non-graphic violence and explicit language, and was penned by author Byron T. D. Smith. The book explores a hypothetical solution to a real-world case that is currently unsolved, following a washed-up accountant on the run as he attempts to flee from his old life. But this only leads him to get dragged into a dangerous journey when he and his niece begin unraveling a deadly thread of secrets.
Author Byron T. D. Smith has crafted a masterful work of mystery, drama, and criminally good writing for this exciting journey. Beyond the excellent writing quality and dynamic presentation, there are two standout strengths to the work for me. The first is in the crafting and imagination surrounding the true-crime element, which takes a really clever perspective on an unsolved case that I, as a true crime fan, knew very well, and puts in realistic thrills and spills that blur the lines between fact and fiction so well. The second, for me personally, was the presentation of Henry and Frieda, which was filled with deeper nuances than one would usually expect from this genre, and utilizes their unique powers as characters to convey key plot points through their emotional reactions and dynamic dialogue. Overall, this makes Windfall an accomplished work that will have its hooks in you from the very first chapter.
Windfall: A Henry Lysyk Mystery is a work of fiction in the mystery, thriller, and suspense sub-genres, with notable influence from the grisly world of true crime, and is part of the Henry Lysyk series. It is aimed at adults, contains some non-graphic violence and explicit language, and was penned by author Byron T. D. Smith. The book explores a hypothetical solution to a real-world case that is currently unsolved, following a washed-up accountant on the run as he attempts to flee from his old life. But this only leads him to get dragged into a dangerous journey when he and his niece begin unraveling a deadly thread of secrets.
Author Byron T. D. Smith has crafted a masterful work of mystery, drama, and criminally good writing for this exciting journey. Beyond the excellent writing quality and dynamic presentation, there are two standout strengths to the work for me. The first is in the crafting and imagination surrounding the true-crime element, which takes a really clever perspective on an unsolved case that I, as a true crime fan, knew very well, and puts in realistic thrills and spills that blur the lines between fact and fiction so well. The second, for me personally, was the presentation of Henry and Frieda, which was filled with deeper nuances than one would usually expect from this genre, and utilizes their unique powers as characters to convey key plot points through their emotional reactions and dynamic dialogue. Overall, this makes Windfall an accomplished work that will have its hooks in you from the very first chapter.
Recommend this book:
Crime Beat Girl
Geri L. Dreiling
2021 Silver Medal
258 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
When reporter Debbie Bradley returns to her home town, St. Louis, primarily to be at her mother’s side as she undergoes a mastectomy, Debbie anticipates that much will have changed about the city during her absence. What she doesn’t expect to discover is just who is behind the ongoing outbreak of stolen cars and violence that is shaking up the community. And why do a number of the crimes involve underage youths?
What struck me the most about Crime Beat Girl by Geri L. Dreiling was its uniqueness: here we have an author who knows how to write. Her style and formatting are flawless; her plot concept is different, and her characters are so lifelike readers immediately feel at home with them. That’s good writing. Dreiling keeps readers guessing, tempting us to determine who really is on Bradley’s side. No one will blame you if you zero in on the wrong perp. Dreiling does a great job of throwing our suspicions on the wrong person without even hinting who really is a threat to Bradley as she goes about her job of just trying to get at the truth for readers of her Crime Beat Girl column. If you’re interested in knowing what it’s like to be a reporter for a daily newspaper, this novel provides plenty of insight as Dreiling cleverly weaves the information into her story. Crime Beat Girl is a quick read that challenges your own sleuthing skills while reminding you that love and family support are what matters most in our lives. Nice job!
When reporter Debbie Bradley returns to her home town, St. Louis, primarily to be at her mother’s side as she undergoes a mastectomy, Debbie anticipates that much will have changed about the city during her absence. What she doesn’t expect to discover is just who is behind the ongoing outbreak of stolen cars and violence that is shaking up the community. And why do a number of the crimes involve underage youths?
What struck me the most about Crime Beat Girl by Geri L. Dreiling was its uniqueness: here we have an author who knows how to write. Her style and formatting are flawless; her plot concept is different, and her characters are so lifelike readers immediately feel at home with them. That’s good writing. Dreiling keeps readers guessing, tempting us to determine who really is on Bradley’s side. No one will blame you if you zero in on the wrong perp. Dreiling does a great job of throwing our suspicions on the wrong person without even hinting who really is a threat to Bradley as she goes about her job of just trying to get at the truth for readers of her Crime Beat Girl column. If you’re interested in knowing what it’s like to be a reporter for a daily newspaper, this novel provides plenty of insight as Dreiling cleverly weaves the information into her story. Crime Beat Girl is a quick read that challenges your own sleuthing skills while reminding you that love and family support are what matters most in our lives. Nice job!
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