Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Murder of Paolo Mancuso: A Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian Crime Mystery, Book 5 is a hard-boiled sleuth mystery novel written by Owen Parr. While this is the fifth book in Parr’s series, the author gives enough background information within the story for it to be enjoyed as a standalone novel. When Tony (The Hammer) Falcone called Joey to his deathbed at Rikers Correctional Center, he gave Joey a name, Wetherley Stevens, and he told him to look in Barcelona. Joey had been waiting twenty years for a clue, any clue that could help him understand why there had been a hit placed on his father. Joey had been sixteen years old then, and thought of himself as part of the family. He had been there in that bar in Little Italy, with his dad and Tony the Hammer, when the man walked in and shot Tony and Joey’s dad. Tony survived, but Joey’s dad didn’t. Joey couldn’t understand why the family didn’t seek vengeance, nor did the police seem to do much to apprehend the killer, and the case quickly was consigned to the cold case files. Now, Tony’s deathbed confession finally gave Joey something to work with, and he was determined to find the answers which had so long evaded him.

The Murder of Paolo Mancuso is a tense and gripping tale about vengeance and a son’s need to understand the facts behind his father’s murder. This is the first Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian book that I’ve read, but it definitely won’t be the last. Parr quickly familiarized me with the main characters in his series, and I loved being in sunny Barcelona along with Joey as he investigates the Wetherley Stevens' clue. Parr’s Joey Mancuso speaks in the first person, a device that made me feel as if I were privy to his every thought and plan, and it was quite effective in keeping up the suspense. Parr’s characters are everything I could hope for in a detective/private eye series. Father Dom works quite well as Joey’s older brother and business partner, and Agnes, their office manager and “hacker extraordinaire,” is a perfect complement to the two brothers. The plot keeps the reader thinking, puzzling facts out along with Joey and being not quite sure what is going to happen throughout, and it is a positive delight for the armchair sleuth who likes their mysteries anything but cozy. And yes, I had a grand time reading this book. The Murder of Paolo Mancuso: A Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian Crime Mystery, Book 5 is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Canaan’s Secret is the sixth book in the Zack Tolliver, FBI series by R. Lawson Gamble, an entry that features murder and mystery. Zack Tolliver is back at home to spend time with family, leaving the FBI, when Libby’s sister calls. She is worried for her daughter after the murder of a high school classmate. When Libby finds out that Pru’s life is in danger, Zack sends his friend Eagle Feather to Kanab to investigate. The startling discovery that the murder can be linked to old bones in a cave up the summit of Mount Canaan begins an investigation into what seems even bigger than a murder case. But can Zack and his friend crack the heart of the mystery?

The opening of the novel is intriguing and I enjoyed the way the author captures the killer stalking the innkeeper’s son. The first lines make it impossible to stop reading. “It was as foretold. He was making a delivery to the Quality Inn in Kanab when he saw the boy lounging by the pool, shirtless, feet dangling in the water, leaning back on his elbows to catch the meager rays of the early spring sun. The boy's age, gender, hair, eyes, and black skin all matched the description given him by the Voice.” The author delves into the mind of the reader and offers fascinating images at this opening, plus the mention of a shadowy character heeding to the Voice creates a strong sense of mystery and makes readers want to know what this Voice is and who this character is. Canaan’s Secret is dark and intoxicating in a disturbing kind of way. R. Lawson Gamble’s characters are richly developed and the plot so deftly handled with twists and surprises that it keeps the reader turning from page to page. This is a great treat for fans of murder and mystery and readers who enjoy sleuth novels.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

On the Count of Three is the seventh book in the Brandon Fisher FBI series by Carolyn Arnold, a disturbing, psychologically strong, and emotionally rich thriller that will put readers on the edge of their seats. FBI Special Agent Brandon Fisher and his team are working together with Detective Kelly Marsh to uncover the whereabouts of a missing woman. She is believed to have been taken by a serial killer. The obvious connection between this case and other cold cases is the fact that the victims have had to serve time for vehicular homicide related to driving under the influence. Each has disappeared after their release. In a case involving a cunning serial killer, can the detectives beat personal prejudice and outsmart the killer?

There is a lot at stake in this fast-paced, engrossing thriller. The author succeeds in grabbing the attention of the reader from the onset and keeps it riveted until the explosive denouement. The narration is excellent, featuring timely paragraph breaks that reinforce the strength of the drama in the story. I enjoyed the conflict between the characters, the doubts, the differences in opinions that allow these characters to evolve through the story. The plot is cunningly done, with twists and turns that readers will want to follow. On the Count of Three is exciting, a read filled with thrills. Carolyn Arnold makes sure the reader gets no moment of respite from the dynamic action that punctuates the narrative. A real page-turner.

Reviewed by A. L. Peevey for Readers' Favorite

E.D. Degenfelder's novel, 7 Rook Lane, focuses on the restoration of a once-elegant mansion, previously owned by a married couple, John and Lisa Mindel, until Lisa disappeared under mysterious and tragic circumstances. The mansion is all but abandoned until a middle-aged couple, the Donahues, who are only vaguely aware of its sad history, buys it. In love with its potential to be restored to its former beauty, the Donahues hire Madeline Abbott, a talented and experienced house restoration specialist. Madeline organizes a crew of capable workers, but strange and unearthly events begin to occur, so she must soon hire a new crew. But, forces both ghostly and human seem determined to stop Madeline from completing her job. Can she and the handsome police detective, Scott Cooper, solve the mystery of 7 Rook Lane before it is too late?

This is a richly detailed story that is a mystery, a supernatural thriller, and a romance all in one. The novel is peopled with an ensemble of characters who seem real and fallible and who definitely share history with each other. They share tender moments and memories as well as humorous ones, but there are some scenes that are truly chilling, so readers must be ready for some genuine shivers. Scattered throughout the book are references to events in previous stories, showing that this is quite obviously not the first book by the author; in fact, 7 Rook Lane is the third in a series of books that can be read and enjoyed separately. For a thrilling and entertaining story full of mystery and adventure, definitely read this one. An engrossing story.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Death By Stalking: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery is a sleuth mystery novel written by Abigail Keam. Someone had killed Gage Cagle during the Bluegrass Antiques Auction, and Josiah’s friend, Rosie, was being held as the most likely killer. Josiah had actually found Rosie holding a likely weapon, with her brilliant yellow dress stained with Gage’s blood. Rosie and Gage had been at odds for what seemed like forever. Gage was a cranky and embittered old man who had resented his mother’s affection for Rosie when they were both children, and he never did accept the fact that his parents had sold a piece of their land to her and had granted her a right of way easement over his property. Earlier that evening, Gage had threatened to kill Josiah’s dog, Baby, and had hinted that he might actually shoot Josiah and Rosie as well. There were others, however, who were also not at all happy with the cantankerous old man. An antiques dealer at the auction was seen angrily remonstrating with him after a disastrous bid, and then there was that mysterious, elfin man no one recognized. Josiah had been depressed lately, but saving Rosie and getting to the bottom of this mystery was definitely getting her out of her slump.

Abigail Keam’s sleuth mystery novel, Death By Stalking, brings the English cozy mystery home to Kentucky’s Bluegrass in a most delightful way. Keam gives the new reader enough background information within the story for it to be enjoyed as a standalone, but you won’t want to miss a single book in the Josiah Reynolds Mystery series. Keam’s characters are well defined and credible, and her plot fairly bristles with red herrings for the armchair sleuth to consider while reading. I especially enjoyed the visit of Josiah’s daughter, Asa, whose expertise as an antiques appraiser is a joy to watch. Asa’s brilliant antiques knowledge reminds me of Jonathan Gash’s marvelous Lovejoy; I’m hoping to see a lot more of her in future books. Death By Stalking: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Justine Reyes for Readers' Favorite

In contrast to the tropical and beautiful setting of the warm Caribbean island of St. Thomas, Dark Paradise by Gene Desrochers stays true to its title. When Boise Montague's ideal life in Los Angeles falls into a shambles after the death of his wife, he decides to find some peace in St. Thomas, his childhood hometown. Boise wants to reconnect with an old childhood friend. Nevertheless, it isn't long until Boise discovers that his old friend has died because he was involved with the wrong sort of people. This newfound information pushes Boise into action. Readers will follow Boise Montague through danger and relentless turmoil as he uncovers the true nature of the island of St. Thomas.

Usually, I'm never surprised at what point of view authors of this genre use to tell the story, but the fact that Desrochers uses Boise Montague to narrate the story had me awestruck. Montague was written in such an evocative way that I was immediately submerged in the narrative. There are also little details which go further to explain the state of mind Boise is in without outwardly declaring it. One of the ways Desrochers shows this in Boise's character is through his constant inclination to drink beer. "I sat for a whole minute, contemplating my next beer as rain pattered." This seems like an unimportant detail, but the little things truly add a lot to who a character is; it helps readers understand and empathize.

Gene Desrochers is an outstanding storyteller. There is nothing as enticing as a well-paced and well-written mystery thriller, and Gene Desrochers' Dark Paradise: A Caribbean Noir Murder Mystery delivers both. Along with the absorbing backdrop of the Caribbean, there is a plethora of characters that will immerse readers in the story. Without giving away any spoilers, I implore anyone looking for a good thriller to see for themselves what Dark Paradise has to offer.

Reviewed by Ken Stark for Readers' Favorite

Cut-Throat Syndrome by Michael Allan Scott starts off with a bang. A commercial airliner is destroyed, and a hacker group called Vendetta claims responsibility for the massive death toll. Closer to home, a boy involved with Vendetta turns up dead, and it's up to a cop, an ex-SEAL turned PI, and a psychic named Lance Underphal to piece it all together. But in a world of hackers and criminals and alphabet-agencies willing to do anything to hide their deep, dark secrets, it's clear that they'll have to break a few rules to get anywhere close to the truth.

Cut-Throat Syndrome is the fourth book in the Lance Underphal series, and I wish I could give a more detailed synopsis, but there are so many delightful and gruesome twists and turns to the story that it would be a disservice to even try. From the inner workings of the intelligence community to the Dark Web to Lance's journeys through the nonphysical realm, this is a cleverly-woven tale of espionage, intrigue and shadowy entities playing one hand against the other, with just a touch of the paranormal to give it a kick in the pants. Clearly, a lot of research went into this story, and it shows. But as always, it comes down to characters.

Not having read any of the other three books, I thought I might be lost, but such is Michael Allan Scott's talent that I immediately knew every one of these characters, and I cared about them all. They are done to perfection. Real people with real personalities and real demons. And now that I know them, you can bet that I'll be traipsing back through time soon enough to get to know them better and see what other mischief they've been up to.

Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite

White Jaguar: An Inspector Marco Nayal Novel is a murder mystery by Preben Ormen that takes place in Mexico. It introduces Inspector Marco Kante Nayal Espinosa of the Federal Police, who is assigned to investigate the murder of a man found floating in the mangroves of northern Yucatan. Marco finds himself in a widening plot that produces more murder, reaches far beyond Mexico, and includes attempts on his own life as well. Assisted in the investigation by Detective Jesus Vicente Hernandez Campo, called Chuy, and aided by the inspiration of his Mayan spirit guide, the white jaguar, Marco follows the clues and forensic evidence from one witness, dangerous character, and scene to another until the plot reaches a crescendo with its unexpected conclusion.

If you like murder mysteries featuring investigative twists and turns, and plenty of forensic work along the way, White Jaguar is for you. Ormen builds the drama slowly at first, adding layer upon layer of characters, suspects, and motives. I enjoyed the Yucatan setting, the Mexican cultural references, and the touch of Mayan spirituality. Marco’s character is developed through his inner thoughts, his interviews of suspects and witnesses, and his interactions with Chuy and other members of his investigative team. The action moves at a good pace with well-described scenes. I’ve never been to Yucatan, but I could imagine being there. The plot twists held my interest, as what started out as an apparent theft and murder for agricultural technology became something far more threatening, sinister, and dangerous. An engaging read.

Reviewed by Sierra Edelen for Readers' Favorite

Jo Riskin is a woman trying to get past the worst disaster of her life after her husband was murdered. When a young girl's body turns up in the bad part of town, Jo and her partner, Lynae, are on the case to solve the crime, while also tracking down leads as to who killed her husband, Mike. With twists and turns all over, and leads going nowhere and everywhere, Warped Ambition by Debbie TenBrink is a wonderful novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat during every page. The real question is, will Jo be able to find the young girl's murderer as well as her husband's before it's too late and she is drawn into the madness and despair of losing everything? Or will she prevail and solve the case, bringing justice to the girl's family?

Warped Ambition is a very riveting read. It was a struggle to put down and made reading very enjoyable with the author's mastery of not revealing too much at any given point and giving just enough away to keep the reader guessing and coming up with their own theories until all is revealed. Having only recently gotten into murder mysteries, I found this to be a very refreshing story that kept my attention throughout with its well chosen words and plot twists as well as the style of writing. Anyone who is looking for a fresh new experience out of their comfort zone, as well as those who already love the genre, would enjoy this crime novel.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

Twisted Threads is a psychological thriller written by Kaylin McFarren. Akira used to be a geisha, but is forced to be an assassin working for the Yakuza boss. She hates herself for what she is doing. She is ordered to board a cruise ship to determine who killed her boss’s sister. A couple named Paul and Sara Lyons is under suspicion. One of them is the murderer and Akira must investigate to determine which one. If she succeeds, she can start a new life, but if she fails her mother will be killed. The Lyons couple is accompanied by their nephew, Devon Lyons. Akira befriends Devon to get information about his aunt and uncle. She realized she was starting to trust Devon. They work together to solve the murder and find themselves fighting for their lives.

I was captivated and intrigued by Twisted Threads by Kaylin McFarren. There is a lot of action in the story, and it is fast-paced. There are unexpected twists and turns in the plot I did not see coming. It is suspenseful and nail-biting from the beginning. I just kept reading until the finish because I had to know how it ended. The violence was descriptive and left nothing to the imagination. The characters were complicated and complex. They were authentic and I loved them. My favorite character is Akira. She is strong and well-trained and sometimes needs protection. Twisted Threads is well-written and developed. This mystery brings the themes of murder, revenge, and loyalty together. I guarantee that the ending will be a big surprise.