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Her Dark Grave

Detective Madison Knight Series Book 12
Carolyn Arnold

2023 Silver Medal
280 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

2023     Silver Medal
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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

In the crime fiction Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold, detectives Madison and Terry investigate the gruesome murder of Tara Jackson. Tara's distraught roommate, Christina, hints at a romantic involvement with someone named Gabe. Madison and Terry gather information about Tara's involvement with a charity, discover suspicious items in a tote bag at a soup kitchen, and find her suitcase among homeless individuals' belongings in a park. Interrogating Gabe yields no concrete evidence, but when a similar murder occurs to victim Johanna Chase, Madison suggests showing Gabe's photo to a key witness. Leaving no stone unturned, the detectives investigate Tara's dating app connections and discover a silver truck near a crime scene. Links start to emerge with an older cold case, and the detectives believe they are dealing with a brutal serial killer—a serial killer who is secretly watching Madison's every move.

Her Dark Grave is book twelve in the prolific Carolyn Arnold's Detective Madison Knight series. The novel reads as a standalone, and I had no trouble whatsoever following Madison's personal life, which is tied in loosely as a subplot. Arnold is a master of classic crime twists, but weaving through Tara's alternating lifestyles and the men she's dated by scrolling through matches on a dating app really added a contemporary spin to the overall mystery. I liked that we had the killer themselves as a narrator and were brought along as he stalked his lineup of victims up to the moment of meeting. This includes Madison, whom he is also stalking, but Arnold keeps us in the dark on who he actually is. The tension threads through every single scene, and the locations and characters all come to life while the body count rises. Overall, this is a well-written and fully immersive novel, and I will absolutely be going back to Arnold's other books in the series for more. Very highly recommended.

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The Perfect Brother

Chris Patchell

2023 Gold Medal
448 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

2023     Gold Medal
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Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Perfect Brother by Chris Patchell is a murder mystery with a twist. The story follows Indira Saraf who was used to living in the shadow of her perfect brother, but she loved him too much to resent him. Coming from a traditional Indian family where boys were always better than girls, Indira knew that her job as a software engineer would never match up against college professor Amar Saraf. However, the perfect image of Amar was shattered when he was arrested for the murder of Mallory Riggins, his student and his lover. But Indira believed Amar was innocent and was simply being framed. She used her skills to look into the murder and hunt for any clue that could prove to be Amar’s salvation. But could Indira do it all before she became a victim herself?

I sympathized with Indira a lot. I understood why she fought so hard to gain her parents' praise and tried to compete with her brother without resenting him. Coming from a subcontinent household myself, where the male child always is the priority, I could understand her dilemma. But she loved Amar and that showed in how hard she worked to clear his name. Chris Patchell did wonders with this story. I would not have guessed who was behind the murders for the life of me. Realizing the identity of the killer was a guessing game, but I had no idea who it was until the climax. The details were fantastic and vivid, the dialogues were realistic, and the characters were wonderfully human! It doesn’t get better than this!

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Doodled to Death

Barkview Mysteries
C.B. Wilson

2023 Gold Medal
212 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

2023     Gold Medal
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Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

Cat Wright is shocked when she is called to the scene of a murder investigation, only to find out that the prime suspect is none other than her little sister. She jumps into action to find out why someone would want to frame a member of her family for such a heinous crime and this is where she discovers links to an unsolved murder from almost a century ago involving a famous personality in Barkley. With the aid of the ever-dependable G-Paw and some useful tips from Sky Barklay’s diary, Cat sets about to save her sister and clear the sullied reputation of Barkley’s most famous female aviator as the past and present collide in C.B. Wilson’s Doodled To Death.

Doodled To Death is a fast-paced mystery novel by C.B. Wilson. The author takes time to let the plot thicken as the anticipation builds up with each passing chapter. The characters are also impressive in their make-up. Cat juggling her sleuthing skills with salvaging the wreck that is her relationship with the dashing Russ Hawl makes for an interesting romance subplot that I found amusing and easy to relate to. It is obvious to see that C.B. Wilson knows her canines and the affectionate manner in which she injects G-Paw’s activities into what would otherwise have been a straightforward mystery is a credit to her impressive storytelling ability. If you are looking for a mystery to tax your clue-connecting skills then Doodled To Death is one novel you should read. Its quirky humor and intelligent banter give it the feel of a Nancy Drew and Miss Marple murder mysteries hybrid with an even more exciting conclusion.

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Bad

A Riveting Crime Mystery
Michael Golvach

2022 Finalist
304 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

2022     Finalist
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Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite

In every police officer's career, lines must sometimes be crossed; lines that blur the definitions of good or bad, legal or illegal. It's finding one's way back that's the hard part. Payden Beck and his partner Bryan Verrill's first big case ends badly in court, putting a vicious child murderer back on the street. When he sees the opportunity to ensure the criminal who got away never harms another soul, he must decide how far he'll go to get justice for the victims. Some lines should never be crossed, even when they must be.

Number three in the multiple-award-winning Payden Beck Series leaves no doubt that Bad by Michael Golvach follows in the steps of 10-30 and Dormir as an intriguing episode in the life of a police detective who constantly struggles with the angels and demons that battle within him —while he battles outwardly with the scumbags that live in the gutters and toilets of his town. Golvach is adept at defining and revealing the good and the bad within characters that every reader can identify with by using short paragraphs, dialog, and an absence of explanatory detail. His writing style is in your face, cutting no slack, with the language of everyday people while pulling the reader into a world beneath the reality seen every day, but perhaps unrecognized.

Crime fiction is best when it's dirty, when it digs deep into the innermost cavities of man's inhumanity to man, the injustices of the justice system, and ultimately the victory of good over evil, regardless of the duration or the impact of the fact that the next battle is right around the corner. Michael Golvach is at the top of a shortlist of the very best crime fiction authors.

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Corrupted Souls

A Joe Erickson Mystery
Lynn-Steven Johanson

2022 Honorable Mention
224 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

2022     Honorable Mention
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Reviewed by Soumya Sreehari for Readers' Favorite

Detective Joe Erickson of the Chicago Police Department returns from a leave of absence to integrate back into work life. On the first day of his return, a high-profile murder falls on his desk. What was the motive to kill the young graduate student who was universally liked by everyone? These questions take on their own meanings in Lynn-Steven Johanson’s Corrupted Souls. As Joe and his partner Sam follow lead after lead, they find connections far into the past. Everyone has a back story. Getting almost killed twice makes Joe confident that there’s more to the crime than meets the eye.

Lynn-Steven Johanson weaves a story of many threads in Corrupted Souls. This murder mystery is a page-turner in a surprisingly unhurried manner. For me, the most interesting aspect was how the investigation was a part of the detectives’ lives. It was revealing to know that investigations are not all about spectacular moments but are a series of routine follow-ups and leg work. The story was not only about solving the murder but was also about the lives of all the people connected to it. Pick it up for a relaxing weekend read.

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Touch the Dead

E.S. Thornton

2022 Honorable Mention
352 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Touch the Dead is a sleuth murder mystery novel by E.S. Thornton. Nineteen-year-old Eden Sinclair returns to her Aunt Billie's Fox Dunes Lodge in Florida, determined to solve the mystery of the disappearance of her beloved cousin, Jess. But things don't go according to plan as her childhood crush, Jess's ex-boyfriend Johnny, still evokes conflicting feelings inside of her. Additionally, on top of being physically assaulted by Aunt Billie's boyfriend, Cap, Eden also receives multiple creepy messages from an unknown stalker. Thrown into the mix is Jess's twin brother's veteran friend, McCabe Jones, who is hell-bent on helping Eden solve the mystery. However, bodies keep piling up, and Eden finds herself unable to trust anyone. As past secrets are revealed, Eden finds herself more lost than ever.

A swirling mix of suspense, mystery, and romance makes Touch the Dead a captivating sleuth story you're hooked on from start to finish. The plotting is intricate and completely unpredictable. Author E.S. Thornton keeps his cards close to the chest as you find yourself wondering what's going to happen next till the climax. The twists and turns are immensely satisfying after being revealed, as you never see them coming. Eden is a compelling protagonist who is easy to sympathize with. Her resolve to discover what happened with Jess, even facing overwhelming odds, makes you root for her until the very end. The narrative flows past without a single hitch. I thoroughly enjoyed Touch the Dead and highly recommend it to anyone itching for an intriguing sleuth murder mystery.

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Texas Dead

A Mackenzie Michaels Mystery
William Gensburger

2022 Bronze Medal
288 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

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Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Texas Dead: A Mackenzie Michaels Mystery is a story that will keep you reading long into the night. The stars of the book are Detective Maxie and her partner Kobe. They are both very real, everyday people trying to do their job the best way they know how; to check carefully for all the clues. Curtis is the first person to be killed. We soon meet his cousin Devin, a newspaper journalist, who then becomes a vital person as a victim and a possible solver of the investigation. Devin, Maxie, and Kobe soon find themselves in danger around every corner as they get entangled in more than what they first believed was a local murder. The case also had all the signs of a gangland group wanting to move into Texas territory. Devin becoming a victim pushes Maxie even further into wanting to find answers to the crimes quickly.

Texas Dead has twists and turns that I will not spoil for you but I will only say it is a worthwhile read. I enjoyed reading Texas Dead. I found it to have suspense, mystery, humor, romance, charming and lovable characters, and a very real plot. I am hoping for many more Mackenzie Michaels Mysteries as I am anxiously looking forward to sharing in more of their adventures. William Gensburger has created a charming, sweet, and very likable detective along with her friends, bringing Corpus Christi, Texas alive. I highly recommend Texas Dead as your next reading experience.

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The Truth About Rachel

A Rachel Emery Novel, Book One (Rachel Emery Series 1)
Deanna Lynn Sletten

2022 Silver Medal
220 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

2022     Silver Medal
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Reviewed by Ammaarah Seboa for Readers' Favorite

Has the urge ever struck you to Google yourself because your family hasn’t reached out to you over the last 35 years? Has that result shown your death 35 years ago at your older brother’s hand? After leaving town with her aunt and uncle at the age of 8, Rachel continued to move on from the life she knew and into a brighter world. Her return to town has stirred up trouble with the local sheriff, newspaper, and even the mayor. Join Rachel in Deanna Lynn Sletten’s The Truth About Rachel as she investigates the case of her supposed death that shook the little town of Casita, California.

The Truth About Rachel is the first book in Deanna Lynn Sletten’s Rachel Emery Series, and while it primarily focuses on murder-mystery and sleuth themes, there is some romance thrown in. This story is a beautiful blend of fiction and reality. Sletten explains police jargon and procedures throughout the book so that readers unfamiliar with the terminology aren’t lost. As a lover of cold cases and injustice, I enjoyed this book and the unexpected plot twist! Sletten’s writing immerses the reader in the story and events flow naturally into one other. She bypassed the dramatics that most writers adopt and instead focused on clear and concise storytelling. I was eager for any new information that was forthcoming about Rachel’s case. I even raced against the fictional investigators to solve it. Rachel’s development throughout the book is amazing, and I am excited to read the next installment.

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The Curse Of Matilija

Zack Tolliver, FBI Book 9
R Lawson Gamble

2022 Gold Medal
228 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

2022     Gold Medal
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Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Rich with detail and captivating characters, The Curse of Matilija (Zack Tolliver, FBI Book 9) by R Lawson Gamble is a murder mystery based on an intriguing ancient legend. To FBI agent Zack Tolliver, the accidental death of a man in the Matilija Wilderness seems like a straightforward case of archaeological looting. But things take a turn when Zack comes into contact with a deadly bacteria and the pot containing the infectious disease mysteriously disappears. Worse still, a ruthless assassin is on Zack’s trail, determined to tie loose ends from the past. Together with his Native American friend, Eagle Feather, Zack goes after the pot to stop a catastrophic pandemic while looking for the assassin. At every turn in their investigation, more dead bodies show up leading back to the ancient curse of Chief Matilija.

The Curse of Matilija is a consistently fascinating novel packed with gripping discoveries at every stage of the plot. I liked the book’s fast tempo and how the tension in the plot was maintained until its riveting final scene. I also liked the friendship between Zack and Eagle Feather and how the Chumash culture and other Native American cultures are explored in the book. R Lawson Gamble’s The Curse of Matilija is a page-turner that any fan of murder mysteries will not want to miss. It extends ancient events and current incidents and blends reality with mysticism. It is appealing for its depth, unique characters, and plot which is continuously enthralling.

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The Fog Ladies

A San Francisco Cozy Murder Mystery
Susan McCormick

2021 Finalist
332 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Murder

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Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

The Fog Ladies (A San Francisco Cozy Murder Mystery) by Susan McCormick is a delightful story of residents living in a prime location apartment building in San Francisco. We are introduced to each tenant and learn of their quirky personality. Sarah is the exception to the senior citizens; she is a young intern as her hospital rents the apartment building and she gets to live there. Sarah is friendly, compassionate, helpful, and has a special connection with each one of the Fog Ladies. The Fog Ladies have been close friends for many years. They share their life stories, their ups and downs, joy and worries willingly amongst themselves. The thing they love best is being able to gossip about each other. When one by one they begin to die under strange circumstances, the Fog Ladies believe murder might be involved and are determined to prove it and find the killer. Each one of the ladies has a very different idea of the hows and whys and whether or not it is really murder or just old age that has taken away their friends.

I really enjoyed reading The Fog Ladies as it is filled with laughter, fun, twists, and turns. The ladies all try hard to be detectives and they kept me well entertained. Sarah kept the women in line even as she struggled with her own problems and the ladies all watched over her like grandmas. Susan McCormick created the perfect combination of real people in a fictional situation. The Fog Ladies is a mystery, a story of friendship, and a thoroughly entertaining book that I strongly urge you to read; you will not be disappointed.
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