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Recommend this book:
Life Without Shoes
The First Father Ambrose Mystery
Emma Cyrus
2019 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite
Emma Cyrus’ Life Without Shoes: The First Father Ambrose Mystery is a contemporary mystery novel set in Green Butte, Northern California. Father Ambrose is the abbot at the New Life Ecumenical Retreat, a spiritual community which practices meditation to guide its members in all aspects of life. The community sustains itself through farming, selling its products and processed foods locally, and throughout the US via online orders. In late August as the busy harvest begins, the peace and calm of the retreat are shattered when a young woman’s dismembered corpse is found in an orchard. Father Ambrose finds himself helping Sheriff Charlie Cormley in the murder investigation. The unforeseen and bewildering intrusion of the outside world tests Father Ambrose’s inner strength to guide New Life through an extremely harrowing time and to learn and grow from the experience.
I enjoyed reading Life Without Shoes: The First Father Ambrose Mystery because of the way Cyrus brings together Father Ambrose's experiences at the New Life Retreat, his insight into human nature, and his inner spiritual strength to help solve a murder. I also liked the way Cyrus weaves into her story how Ambrose guides the New Life community to work towards calmness, think meditatively, and focus on the harvest. As the investigation proceeds, Ambrose finds himself learning to think and see the outside world in different ways: at times like a cop; at times like a reporter; and at times like a chaplain and counselor. No matter whom Ambrose deals with, he keeps compassion as his guide.
Emma Cyrus’ Life Without Shoes: The First Father Ambrose Mystery is a contemporary mystery novel set in Green Butte, Northern California. Father Ambrose is the abbot at the New Life Ecumenical Retreat, a spiritual community which practices meditation to guide its members in all aspects of life. The community sustains itself through farming, selling its products and processed foods locally, and throughout the US via online orders. In late August as the busy harvest begins, the peace and calm of the retreat are shattered when a young woman’s dismembered corpse is found in an orchard. Father Ambrose finds himself helping Sheriff Charlie Cormley in the murder investigation. The unforeseen and bewildering intrusion of the outside world tests Father Ambrose’s inner strength to guide New Life through an extremely harrowing time and to learn and grow from the experience.
I enjoyed reading Life Without Shoes: The First Father Ambrose Mystery because of the way Cyrus brings together Father Ambrose's experiences at the New Life Retreat, his insight into human nature, and his inner spiritual strength to help solve a murder. I also liked the way Cyrus weaves into her story how Ambrose guides the New Life community to work towards calmness, think meditatively, and focus on the harvest. As the investigation proceeds, Ambrose finds himself learning to think and see the outside world in different ways: at times like a cop; at times like a reporter; and at times like a chaplain and counselor. No matter whom Ambrose deals with, he keeps compassion as his guide.
Recommend this book:
Death said the Gypsy Queen
A Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery Book 4
Susan Boles
2019 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Justine Reyes for Readers' Favorite
Death said the Gypsy Queen by Susan Boles is the fourth book in Boles' Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery series. The story begins with Lily Gayle retrieving her late husband's red 1965 Mustang from storage. The Mustang had been sitting in storage for eight years. With the help of her friend Dixie, Lily Gayle decides it's high time she conquers her fear of driving. Pulling over at a rest stop, Lily Gayle and Dixie meet an old gypsy woman who warns Lily Gayle to "beware the vampire blood." As fate would have it, Lily Gayle later finds the corpse of an old man. His cause of death? A stake through the chest.
If you are a fan of books like Agatha Raisin, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, or Sarah Graves' Home Repair is Homicide, then you will undoubtedly love Susan Boles' Death said the Gypsy Queen. This was my first Lily Gayle Lambert book, but it likely won't be my last. Death said the Gypsy Queen is the sort of novel you would want to unwind with after a long day of work. The cast of characters felt familiar to me, despite my never having read any other novel in the series before now. I guess that's due to Boles' tremendous writing talents. I felt like a welcome reader, free to come and go as I pleased. It isn't a mystery-thriller, but it is a cozy mystery at its finest. The sort of book that readers will pick up, knowing the author will deliver what is promised.
Death said the Gypsy Queen by Susan Boles is the fourth book in Boles' Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery series. The story begins with Lily Gayle retrieving her late husband's red 1965 Mustang from storage. The Mustang had been sitting in storage for eight years. With the help of her friend Dixie, Lily Gayle decides it's high time she conquers her fear of driving. Pulling over at a rest stop, Lily Gayle and Dixie meet an old gypsy woman who warns Lily Gayle to "beware the vampire blood." As fate would have it, Lily Gayle later finds the corpse of an old man. His cause of death? A stake through the chest.
If you are a fan of books like Agatha Raisin, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, or Sarah Graves' Home Repair is Homicide, then you will undoubtedly love Susan Boles' Death said the Gypsy Queen. This was my first Lily Gayle Lambert book, but it likely won't be my last. Death said the Gypsy Queen is the sort of novel you would want to unwind with after a long day of work. The cast of characters felt familiar to me, despite my never having read any other novel in the series before now. I guess that's due to Boles' tremendous writing talents. I felt like a welcome reader, free to come and go as I pleased. It isn't a mystery-thriller, but it is a cozy mystery at its finest. The sort of book that readers will pick up, knowing the author will deliver what is promised.
Recommend this book:
Death in Dulwich
The London Murder Mysteries Book 1
Alice Castle
2019 Bronze Medal
217 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
Beth Haldane is a single mother living in prestigious Dulwich with her young son, trying to make ends meet. She is thrilled when she gets a job as the assistant archivist at the very popular Wyatt's School. Beth has great hopes for her first day on the job. Dr. Alan Jenkins is her boss. Beth is taken by surprise when, on the first morning, Dr. Jenkins shows her to the office and promptly leaves her alone. As lunch time approaches, Beth decides to return to the main building and get something to eat. As she tries to find her way among the buildings, she finds Alan Jenkins lying behind some bins and obviously very dead. As the investigation begins and all of the school facility comes together to be questioned, Beth believes she might be considered the prime suspect since she is the 'new girl on the block.' She then decides to take matters into her own hands to try to help the police find the person responsible.
Death In Dulwich (The London Murder Mysteries Book 1) is a leisurely paced story with a decent plot and likable characters. There are all the makings for an old fashioned mystery story contained within these pages. I found Death In Dulwich to be a true crime mystery with a plot and characters that had me involved from beginning to end. Beth Haldane is the star of the story. There are many scary and dangerous situations that Beth finds herself in and so many twists and turns that she cannot be sure in which direction to turn and who to blame ... and nor can the reader. Author Alice Castle used words from her native England which, while I was unfamiliar with them, made for interesting reading and did not make the story any less exciting. If you are a fan of the crime, mystery, and suspense genres, you will definitely enjoy reading Death In Dulwich.
Beth Haldane is a single mother living in prestigious Dulwich with her young son, trying to make ends meet. She is thrilled when she gets a job as the assistant archivist at the very popular Wyatt's School. Beth has great hopes for her first day on the job. Dr. Alan Jenkins is her boss. Beth is taken by surprise when, on the first morning, Dr. Jenkins shows her to the office and promptly leaves her alone. As lunch time approaches, Beth decides to return to the main building and get something to eat. As she tries to find her way among the buildings, she finds Alan Jenkins lying behind some bins and obviously very dead. As the investigation begins and all of the school facility comes together to be questioned, Beth believes she might be considered the prime suspect since she is the 'new girl on the block.' She then decides to take matters into her own hands to try to help the police find the person responsible.
Death In Dulwich (The London Murder Mysteries Book 1) is a leisurely paced story with a decent plot and likable characters. There are all the makings for an old fashioned mystery story contained within these pages. I found Death In Dulwich to be a true crime mystery with a plot and characters that had me involved from beginning to end. Beth Haldane is the star of the story. There are many scary and dangerous situations that Beth finds herself in and so many twists and turns that she cannot be sure in which direction to turn and who to blame ... and nor can the reader. Author Alice Castle used words from her native England which, while I was unfamiliar with them, made for interesting reading and did not make the story any less exciting. If you are a fan of the crime, mystery, and suspense genres, you will definitely enjoy reading Death In Dulwich.
Recommend this book:
Fatal Fortune
A Dr Pippa Durrant Mystery Book 1 (Dr Pippa Durrant Mystery Series)
Miranda Rijks
2019 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Fatal Fortune is the first book in the Dr Pippa Durrant Mystery Series by Miranda Rijks, a compelling opening for a series that features sleuth and mystery. Pippa’s photo is found on the body of Leanne Smith, a lottery winner, and now it seems like someone intentionally did that to frame the psychologist. As a human polygraph, she believes she can weave through the lies and the media hype and find the killer. Both her career and her life are in jeopardy. It is not long before another body turns up. The tension mounts as Pippa races to identify the killer. Time is running out but she doesn’t just know when the next murder might happen and she could be next on the killer’s list. Can she solve the riddle before it is too late?
There are two things I look for in books like this — the complexity of the characters and the intricacy in plot development. Miranda Rijks does both perfectly. The author creates a female protagonist that is rich and vulnerable at the same time, qualities that win the sympathy of readers for her. I was hooked from the beginning of the narrative as the author puts readers into the twisted mind of the killer, using a stream of consciousness that establishes a direct link between this character and the reader. I wanted to know more about who this character is and what they will turn out to be. The cast list is wonderful: Pippa, who is losing clients because of her photo being released to the public as a suspect in the murder; the family of the victim that is devastated; and the shadowy killer who intrigues readers while eluding the authorities. Fatal Fortune is gripping crime fiction with powerful hints of mystery, and a real delight for fans of crime and sleuth novels.
Fatal Fortune is the first book in the Dr Pippa Durrant Mystery Series by Miranda Rijks, a compelling opening for a series that features sleuth and mystery. Pippa’s photo is found on the body of Leanne Smith, a lottery winner, and now it seems like someone intentionally did that to frame the psychologist. As a human polygraph, she believes she can weave through the lies and the media hype and find the killer. Both her career and her life are in jeopardy. It is not long before another body turns up. The tension mounts as Pippa races to identify the killer. Time is running out but she doesn’t just know when the next murder might happen and she could be next on the killer’s list. Can she solve the riddle before it is too late?
There are two things I look for in books like this — the complexity of the characters and the intricacy in plot development. Miranda Rijks does both perfectly. The author creates a female protagonist that is rich and vulnerable at the same time, qualities that win the sympathy of readers for her. I was hooked from the beginning of the narrative as the author puts readers into the twisted mind of the killer, using a stream of consciousness that establishes a direct link between this character and the reader. I wanted to know more about who this character is and what they will turn out to be. The cast list is wonderful: Pippa, who is losing clients because of her photo being released to the public as a suspect in the murder; the family of the victim that is devastated; and the shadowy killer who intrigues readers while eluding the authorities. Fatal Fortune is gripping crime fiction with powerful hints of mystery, and a real delight for fans of crime and sleuth novels.
Recommend this book:
Sharpe Shooter
Skeleton in the Closet (Maycroft Mysteries Book 1)
Lisa B. Thomas
2019 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
The heroine of Sharpe Shooter is Deena Sharpe who has been a teacher for thirty years and is ready for something new and exciting in her life. As she leaves teaching behind and begins looking for a new career, one finds her. When her uncle’s skeleton is discovered in a police locker, after he has been missing for over fifty years, Deena is presented with a brand new opportunity. Deena’s grandmother, aunt, and uncle call on her to search for clues and find out what happened so many years ago. Deena is faced with many twists, turns, and surprises. Her dead uncle is accused of being an assassin among other things. Deena now has to find his old friends and try to find out the details of her uncle’s life. She and her husband, Gary, and brother, Russell, quickly find themselves in several scary situations. This is a book that must be read for itself because if I tell you more, I would be revealing way too much and ruining it for you!
Sharpe Shooter: Skeleton In the Closet (Maycroft Mysteries Book 1) is a different level of mystery sleuth story written by Lisa B. Thomas with humor, no gory violence or unnecessary sexual content. I found Sharpe Shooter to be an entertaining read; it was not too long and the action was continuous. The good guys had charm, humor, likability and good sense. The bad guys were annoying, evil and looking for trouble. Together they combined to make the perfect mystery story. Sharpe Shooter: Skeleton In the Closet is for fans of the mystery/sleuth genre, both young and old. Don’t miss out on reading this book!
The heroine of Sharpe Shooter is Deena Sharpe who has been a teacher for thirty years and is ready for something new and exciting in her life. As she leaves teaching behind and begins looking for a new career, one finds her. When her uncle’s skeleton is discovered in a police locker, after he has been missing for over fifty years, Deena is presented with a brand new opportunity. Deena’s grandmother, aunt, and uncle call on her to search for clues and find out what happened so many years ago. Deena is faced with many twists, turns, and surprises. Her dead uncle is accused of being an assassin among other things. Deena now has to find his old friends and try to find out the details of her uncle’s life. She and her husband, Gary, and brother, Russell, quickly find themselves in several scary situations. This is a book that must be read for itself because if I tell you more, I would be revealing way too much and ruining it for you!
Sharpe Shooter: Skeleton In the Closet (Maycroft Mysteries Book 1) is a different level of mystery sleuth story written by Lisa B. Thomas with humor, no gory violence or unnecessary sexual content. I found Sharpe Shooter to be an entertaining read; it was not too long and the action was continuous. The good guys had charm, humor, likability and good sense. The bad guys were annoying, evil and looking for trouble. Together they combined to make the perfect mystery story. Sharpe Shooter: Skeleton In the Closet is for fans of the mystery/sleuth genre, both young and old. Don’t miss out on reading this book!
Recommend this book:
 by Erin Huss. Cambria needs to find a job and a pl...){kind=link}
French Vanilla & Felonies
Cambria Clyne Mysteries Book 1
Erin Huss
2018 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
With her livelihood at risk, a novice apartment manager clumsily blunders her way through murder, exhibitionists, relationships, and cartons of ice cream in her desperation to maintain her new position in the hilarious sleuth mystery novel, French Vanilla & Felonies (Cambria Clyne Mysteries Book 1) by Erin Huss. Cambria needs to find a job and a place to live, as she and her small daughter are days away from being evicted from their home. Ignoring the fact that she knows nothing about property management, Cambria takes on the new position of apartment manager. Thrilled with having an income together with a home, Cambria figures she can Google how to run a housing complex. However, things don't go as smoothly as Cambria expects. On her first day, she falls into a dumpster while trying to retrieve a wallet and stumbles onto a dead man. From there, Cambria tackles midnight skinny-dipping, public urinating, illegal trade, and noisy lovemaking. The tenants are not impressed with her skills. They blame her for the calamities that have befallen their community and are threatening to move out. The police don't seem to be convinced of her innocence, and her boss isn't happy with the chaos. Believing the murderer is the culprit for most of her problems, Cambria sets out to unmask him.
French Vanilla & Felonies (Cambria Clyne Mysteries Book 1) by Erin Huss is a slapstick comedy involving murder and mayhem. With Cambria, the protagonist, literally stumbling from one absurd situation to the next, the story is laugh-out-loud funny from beginning to end. Her personality is lovable, easy to relate to, and quirky. Cambria may be a real klutz, but her clumsy tactlessness mixed with her compassion for others gives her a genuinely human aspect, thus making her a fully fleshed-out character. The story structure is sound, the plot is well-formatted and keeps a nice pace, the story line is engaging, and the story arc is satisfying. The suspense escalates from the beginning and keeps you guessing until the disclosure. All these elements make this a stunning novel and an enjoyable read. It is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery, and will delight those who love amateur sleuth mysteries complete with humor and homicide.
With her livelihood at risk, a novice apartment manager clumsily blunders her way through murder, exhibitionists, relationships, and cartons of ice cream in her desperation to maintain her new position in the hilarious sleuth mystery novel, French Vanilla & Felonies (Cambria Clyne Mysteries Book 1) by Erin Huss. Cambria needs to find a job and a place to live, as she and her small daughter are days away from being evicted from their home. Ignoring the fact that she knows nothing about property management, Cambria takes on the new position of apartment manager. Thrilled with having an income together with a home, Cambria figures she can Google how to run a housing complex. However, things don't go as smoothly as Cambria expects. On her first day, she falls into a dumpster while trying to retrieve a wallet and stumbles onto a dead man. From there, Cambria tackles midnight skinny-dipping, public urinating, illegal trade, and noisy lovemaking. The tenants are not impressed with her skills. They blame her for the calamities that have befallen their community and are threatening to move out. The police don't seem to be convinced of her innocence, and her boss isn't happy with the chaos. Believing the murderer is the culprit for most of her problems, Cambria sets out to unmask him.
French Vanilla & Felonies (Cambria Clyne Mysteries Book 1) by Erin Huss is a slapstick comedy involving murder and mayhem. With Cambria, the protagonist, literally stumbling from one absurd situation to the next, the story is laugh-out-loud funny from beginning to end. Her personality is lovable, easy to relate to, and quirky. Cambria may be a real klutz, but her clumsy tactlessness mixed with her compassion for others gives her a genuinely human aspect, thus making her a fully fleshed-out character. The story structure is sound, the plot is well-formatted and keeps a nice pace, the story line is engaging, and the story arc is satisfying. The suspense escalates from the beginning and keeps you guessing until the disclosure. All these elements make this a stunning novel and an enjoyable read. It is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery, and will delight those who love amateur sleuth mysteries complete with humor and homicide.
Recommend this book:
Death at the Midnight Dragonfly
A Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery
Susan Boles
2018 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Death at the Midnight Dragonfly by Susan Boles is the third book in the Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery series, a wonderful blend of murder and mystery, set in the quaint neighborhood of Mercy, Mississippi, during the Christmas season. Lily Gayle’s childhood friend, Vlad Templeton, has returned to the city where he grew up to conduct his state-sponsored sleep study. When Vlad finds one of the participants in the study, the local bank manager, Tom Hammond, dead on his front porch, he knows this means trouble. Evidence makes Jack, the husband of one of Lily’s friends, one of the top suspects. Lily is out to help Dixie clear her husband’s name. As they get closer to unveiling the mystery, they suddenly become targets — this means they have to act fast or become the next victims.
A perfect read for fans of murder mystery and sleuth, the story is crafted in crisp prose and set against a cozy backdrop. Readers get a feel for life in the community and the cultural aspects of the setting, like Christmas activities, come out beautifully in the story. This author has a great sense of realism which she uses to give life to the setting and to create relationships between the characters and the world around them. You will love this novel if you are into stories that are suspenseful, and Susan Boles knows just what it takes to make readers eagerly anticipate what happens next in the story. She makes readers care about her characters so much that they begin to worry about them. Her skilful use of red herrings coupled with the sense of mystery make this book a page-turner. Death at the Midnight Dragonfly will keep you awake all night.
Death at the Midnight Dragonfly by Susan Boles is the third book in the Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery series, a wonderful blend of murder and mystery, set in the quaint neighborhood of Mercy, Mississippi, during the Christmas season. Lily Gayle’s childhood friend, Vlad Templeton, has returned to the city where he grew up to conduct his state-sponsored sleep study. When Vlad finds one of the participants in the study, the local bank manager, Tom Hammond, dead on his front porch, he knows this means trouble. Evidence makes Jack, the husband of one of Lily’s friends, one of the top suspects. Lily is out to help Dixie clear her husband’s name. As they get closer to unveiling the mystery, they suddenly become targets — this means they have to act fast or become the next victims.
A perfect read for fans of murder mystery and sleuth, the story is crafted in crisp prose and set against a cozy backdrop. Readers get a feel for life in the community and the cultural aspects of the setting, like Christmas activities, come out beautifully in the story. This author has a great sense of realism which she uses to give life to the setting and to create relationships between the characters and the world around them. You will love this novel if you are into stories that are suspenseful, and Susan Boles knows just what it takes to make readers eagerly anticipate what happens next in the story. She makes readers care about her characters so much that they begin to worry about them. Her skilful use of red herrings coupled with the sense of mystery make this book a page-turner. Death at the Midnight Dragonfly will keep you awake all night.
Recommend this book:
Last Call
Phyllis Smallman
2018 Bronze Medal
298 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Justine Reyes for Readers' Favorite
Last Call by Phyllis Smallman is the seventh installment of Smallman’s Sherri Travis Mystery series. Last Call follows Sherri Travis and her best friend, Marley, in Key West, Florida. Sherri and Marley go out to the Rawhide to help a character called Lexi Divine figure out who has been pocketing money from the bar. It seems like your average cozy mystery, but after Marley suddenly goes missing, things take a turn. A storm is coming and as the city begins the evacuation process, chaos ensues as Sherri and Divine must find their friend before it is too late.
I don’t usually read contemporary sleuth novels, because I’ve always stuck it out with the classics such as Poirot, Marple, and Sherlock Holmes. I was also worried that I’d get lost since this was my first time reading this series. But my, oh my, this is one tremendously well-written story. Smallman knows how to build momentum. The pacing of her novel kept me reading and losing track of time, and I never found myself getting lost or confused.
Since the series revolves around a main protagonist, it should be added that Sherri Travis is wonderful. Sherri is a witty, good-natured and altogether likable character. Personally, and putting the plot aside, one of the best parts of Last Call was reading the interactions between Sherri, Marley, and Divine. Building character relationships in a series such as this is important. It made me, somebody who has never read any of the other Sherri Travis books, care about what happens to Sherri and her friends. This is easily a great choice for fans of sleuth novels.
Last Call by Phyllis Smallman is the seventh installment of Smallman’s Sherri Travis Mystery series. Last Call follows Sherri Travis and her best friend, Marley, in Key West, Florida. Sherri and Marley go out to the Rawhide to help a character called Lexi Divine figure out who has been pocketing money from the bar. It seems like your average cozy mystery, but after Marley suddenly goes missing, things take a turn. A storm is coming and as the city begins the evacuation process, chaos ensues as Sherri and Divine must find their friend before it is too late.
I don’t usually read contemporary sleuth novels, because I’ve always stuck it out with the classics such as Poirot, Marple, and Sherlock Holmes. I was also worried that I’d get lost since this was my first time reading this series. But my, oh my, this is one tremendously well-written story. Smallman knows how to build momentum. The pacing of her novel kept me reading and losing track of time, and I never found myself getting lost or confused.
Since the series revolves around a main protagonist, it should be added that Sherri Travis is wonderful. Sherri is a witty, good-natured and altogether likable character. Personally, and putting the plot aside, one of the best parts of Last Call was reading the interactions between Sherri, Marley, and Divine. Building character relationships in a series such as this is important. It made me, somebody who has never read any of the other Sherri Travis books, care about what happens to Sherri and her friends. This is easily a great choice for fans of sleuth novels.
Recommend this book:
Winslow
The Lost Hunters
David Francis Curran
2018 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Winslow: The Lost Hunters by David Francis Curran is a mystery that follows Winslow Doyle, a retired wilderness guide who has removed himself from public life following the death of his beloved wife, Lomahongva. His self-imposed exile and existence off the grid end when a father and his young daughter, both hunters, disappear into the thin wilderness air and he is called upon to help find them, whatever the outcome...and from the onset, the outcome doesn't look good. Written from the point of view of multiple characters, Winslow is a multifaceted murder mystery and suspenseful thriller, featuring a realistic main character, that takes place well off the beaten path.
David Francis Curran has done a magnificent job in bringing Winslow Doyle to life in Winslow: The Lost Hunters. There's no question this is the start of a string of mystery books featuring the namesake in a refreshing and wholly welcome new series. Winslow is so authentic and human, and my goodness, that Callie is one heck of a young woman. I loved how even the ancillary characters came to life, and the scenery and descriptions are really well done. Curran holds nothing back with a devastating introduction, but redemption for all – all right, redemption for most – comes with a set of twists and turns that will keep a dedicated reader returning for more. I'd recommend this book to any readers who enjoy quality murder mysteries with a protagonist that has all of the positive characteristics we always look for in a worthy lead.
Winslow: The Lost Hunters by David Francis Curran is a mystery that follows Winslow Doyle, a retired wilderness guide who has removed himself from public life following the death of his beloved wife, Lomahongva. His self-imposed exile and existence off the grid end when a father and his young daughter, both hunters, disappear into the thin wilderness air and he is called upon to help find them, whatever the outcome...and from the onset, the outcome doesn't look good. Written from the point of view of multiple characters, Winslow is a multifaceted murder mystery and suspenseful thriller, featuring a realistic main character, that takes place well off the beaten path.
David Francis Curran has done a magnificent job in bringing Winslow Doyle to life in Winslow: The Lost Hunters. There's no question this is the start of a string of mystery books featuring the namesake in a refreshing and wholly welcome new series. Winslow is so authentic and human, and my goodness, that Callie is one heck of a young woman. I loved how even the ancillary characters came to life, and the scenery and descriptions are really well done. Curran holds nothing back with a devastating introduction, but redemption for all – all right, redemption for most – comes with a set of twists and turns that will keep a dedicated reader returning for more. I'd recommend this book to any readers who enjoy quality murder mysteries with a protagonist that has all of the positive characteristics we always look for in a worthy lead.
Recommend this book:
Climatized
A Max Ford Thriller
Sally Fernandez
2018 Honorable Mention
280 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Reviewed by Jane Finch for Readers' Favorite
Climatized: A Max Ford Thriller by Sally Fernandez follows the story of Max Ford’s first investigative case as a private investigator. Senator Sherman Spark dies mysteriously and his wife, Isabelle Spark, refuses to accept the official version that her husband committed suicide. Max takes on the case and finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy she could never have imagined. Three scientists coincidentally die, all three due to give evidence relating to climate change and global warming. When a fourth scientist goes missing, Max realizes that his testimony holds the key to the unbelievable and complex conspiracy that is unravelling before her eyes. She sets off on a quest to find the fourth scientist before he, too, is disposed of. What she discovers is for the president’s eyes and ears only, but can she get the information to him without losing her own life in the process?
Climatized literally starts with a cliffhanger and builds intrigue from the outset. The characters are well defined and given credibility by the well-researched factual aspects woven into the story. The author, Sally Fernandez, has crafted a detailed and plausible novel that has the reader wondering whether they are reading fact or fiction, which is a tribute to the writing skills of this author. I was enthralled from the beginning; this is truly a page-turner and impossible to put down. The settings and scenarios are well described and well written with visual descriptions and authentic characters. Certainly an author to read more of, Sally Fernandez does a very credible job in Climatized and Max Ford is a key character to follow.
Climatized: A Max Ford Thriller by Sally Fernandez follows the story of Max Ford’s first investigative case as a private investigator. Senator Sherman Spark dies mysteriously and his wife, Isabelle Spark, refuses to accept the official version that her husband committed suicide. Max takes on the case and finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy she could never have imagined. Three scientists coincidentally die, all three due to give evidence relating to climate change and global warming. When a fourth scientist goes missing, Max realizes that his testimony holds the key to the unbelievable and complex conspiracy that is unravelling before her eyes. She sets off on a quest to find the fourth scientist before he, too, is disposed of. What she discovers is for the president’s eyes and ears only, but can she get the information to him without losing her own life in the process?
Climatized literally starts with a cliffhanger and builds intrigue from the outset. The characters are well defined and given credibility by the well-researched factual aspects woven into the story. The author, Sally Fernandez, has crafted a detailed and plausible novel that has the reader wondering whether they are reading fact or fiction, which is a tribute to the writing skills of this author. I was enthralled from the beginning; this is truly a page-turner and impossible to put down. The settings and scenarios are well described and well written with visual descriptions and authentic characters. Certainly an author to read more of, Sally Fernandez does a very credible job in Climatized and Max Ford is a key character to follow.
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